Chapter 33
Mental Meta Metal Gear
Week 9: Day 67
Maine's POV
(Vale Industrial district)
Minutes earlier
I growled in annoyance as Neo defiantly sat on my shoulders, happily eating her vanilla ice cream as it dripped on my visor. I told her a million times not to let it get on my suit, but the little munchkin listens about as well as Omega or Gamma do. Roman was preparing the area for his speech, the Fang members were carefully loading a warhead into the railgun of the massive beast of a machine. A ram faunus and a lion faunus were hoisting the heavy explosive into the loading compartment of the machine. Normally this would be done by machines before hand. But since we don't have those machines and didn't want to risk a premature detonation or firing, Roman agreed to keep the nukes unarmed and out of the machine till today.
The two nearly got the warhead into the loading slot, right before the ram dropped his end and the lion was forced to let go of his before he could go tumbling over the edge. Making the deadly warhead come crashing to the hard cement ground. A hard and violent crash echoed though out the warehouse as everyone held their breath. I know first hand how sensitive those warheads can be. If it were to go off, it would have done so by now, and this half of Vale would be a radioactive crater. So either this one is a dud or needs much more force to set it off. Either way we're extremely lucky it didn't go off here.
"Careful you idiots! Do you want to blow us all to hell!" Roman yelled picking the ram up by the collar of his shirt. "That thing can easily kill everyone here before you would have realized you fucked up!"
"Sorry boss, but it is just too heavy." The ram complained as Roman set him down. I growled in alert as Neo jumped from my back, ice cream still in hand. I pushed people aside to get to the bomb, grabbing the explosive device with both hands and hoisted it up like a gym weight. Not that heavy compared to other types of explosives, Can't be no bigger than an old FERRIS warhead. Probably has a similar nuclear yield. Rather have a HAVOC to be honest, good destructive yield. NOVA I wouldn't set off here, that is too over powering for this world because it can quite literally crack the planet wide open and kill everyone. Over all shape wasn't dented too bad, except for the large crack along the side. I growled confused as I felt alone the zig zag crack. Inch or two deep, about six long, around where the uranium would be at and away from the conventional explosives. Not sure if that was lucky it didn't set them off or not.
"Damn it you morons, how the hell did you manage to crack an active warhead and not set it off!" Roman yelled holding his cigar and looking ready to rip his hair out. I growled to Neo and gave her the 'stay back' signal. Beginning to like her somewhat, higher up on my liked list then most people. Don't want her to get radiation sickness and I'll have to put her out of her misery. For once she listened as I took several steps back to keep her away from the leak. Farther someone is from the leak the better. Radiation levels wern't enough to be harmful out right, but if exposed to it for too long everyone here would be wishing they were dead. I'm fine because of my armor, Roman and Neo are perfectly alright because their Aura will soak up the blunt of the radiation. To what extent I have no idea, nor do I want to know. Should be fine for now, the warhead won't be here for long. The others are a different story that I don't care about. Sigma popped up on my shoulder and shook his head.
"The warhead is cracked and slowly leaking radiation. Not enough to immediately kill you but enough to be worried." He noted turning to Roman. "We need to get it out of here as quickly as possible."
"Put it in the Rex. We'll lob that one at the Schnee's house first in a few minutes anyway. Don't see any reason to waste a perfectly good radioactive weapon of mass destruction." Roman ordered putting his high end cigar back in his mouth. "Do what you can to contain the leak first. We got too much invested in this already to let a single moron's screw up ruin it all. And as for YOU!" He pointed to the ram, who looked ready to soil himself. "Go help the beaver guy with the lights or something far from the REX. I'm keeping you as far as I can from the warheads now! You're obviously too stupid to be trusted near them!"
Great, this is just perfect. How the hell do I contain a radiation leak? Well it doesn't have to be permanent, just to last enough till it is away from us and well on it's way to Atlas. I have no fucking clue what to use to contain a leak like this? What do I use, superglue and several wads of chewing gum?! I'm a rouge killer, not a nuclear physicist. I don't know this shit! I growled to Sigma as he flashed over to the warhead I was holding.
"Not sure what we can use right off hand. Delta would be invaluable right now. We can't weld it with the warhead still active, can't replace the plate either. Can't deactivate it now, would throw everything off schedule. Going to have to cover it up for now, best we can do for the time being. Fill in the crack till it's time to launch. I'll start calculating adjustments to the firing solution." Sigma noted snapping his fingers. Instantly two Fang members stood to attention. A deer male and a reptile female that can change color. What was her name again. Ilia something I think, sounds like some type of color. Which I am beginning to find a trend of with this world. I'm honestly indifferent about her in general. She gets whatever job Sigma asks her to do done, rarely complains about anything, all though she is quite interested in my AI. She tried spying on me a few weeks ago to see if I was human or not. Rumor went around that I was part Grimm or something like that. I never took off my armor around the Faunus, nor did I go walking around without it too much; aside from the forced break Cinder and Emily had me take. Doesn't work so well when I can go completely invisible while she can only blend into the background. Ended with her nearly losing a head when I brought my baby out. Had it's blade up to her neck befoe she could draw her weapon. Didn't kill her for two reasons. One, I didn't feel like hiding the body that day, had better stuff to waste my time digging holes or throwing her in a incinerator. Two, too many questions would be raised if I did kill her. Like where she went or why was I the last one to have seen her. No just scared the living shit out of her and had Sigma warn her not to spy on me again. I rarely give out mercy, never let the same person walk away twice. Next time I'll break her legs and let Neo have her fun with her. Beginning to like Neo's sick sense of humor. Reminds me a little of myself. Perhaps too much of myself, I'll keep an eye on her just in case. "You two. Get the Meta some lead foil if we have any. We don't got any, find something quickly before you all loss the ability to reproduce. Just about anything remotely radioactive resistant will do for now." He ordered.
I shook my head and readjusted my grip on the warhead to have it on my shoulder, cracked side facing away from me. The two faunus were smart and listened to Sigma, running away to search for something to cover this with. This bomb had better make a massive crater in Atlas or I'll be pissed. Too much work went into stealing this, sure we got three others but that is beside the point. We're sending a message and creating chaos. I looked down to my motion tracker to see a red wave pulse by. Strange, it has never done that before. Only time I can recall my motion tracker doing that is when Ohio . . . . . . He's close by. I growled to Sigma as he looked toward the front gate.
"Our sister is close by Meta, and so is Ohio. He will not be underestimated this time. " Sigma observed with a smile on his face. "Change of plans Roman, we're starting now. Tell the guards to let people in. Meta, load up the nuke and prepare to fire ASAP. Ohio will more then likely have a few of his allies close by. Do not engage unless directed otherwise. We start killing in front of a crowd without reason, we lose all our support. Can't resupply on this world without a skilled ammo smith. Let's give these people something to remember."
(Blake's POV)
Minutes later
"We're in place Ohio. Radio silence from here." I replied from my scroll. Whole area just felt wrong entirely, couldn't escape the tingling feeling in my gut. Not entirely sure if it is my instincts trying to warn me of something, or what it is. Sun wasn't too far behind me, we both had Grimm masks on. Sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight. I peaked out from behind the brick corner of an old factory. Three guards stood watch as they let in a faunus couple. A deer female and a hare male. All the guards were bigger then me in terms of raw mass but not as big as Johnathan or Alice.
"Creepy armed guards in the most questionable part of Vale, whole area feels like we're walking into a death trap in a warehouse older than dirt, no idea what to expect, and we got a being from another universe giving us sniper support with a weapon no one here has ever seen or used before. Does any of that seem out of place to you or am I just going crazy?" Sun asked from behind me adjusting the mask I gave him. Then there is Sun's sense of humor I have to deal with. I'll admit this isn't the best laid out plan, but a loose plan is better than no plan at all, right?
"You got a better idea for answers, I'm all ears." I replied calmly taking off my bow and carefully stuffing it in my pocket. As much as I dread walking around with out it, they won't let me inside unless I prove I'm a faunus. Answers come before personal feelings.
"Copy that Intruder. Light is green to go. Be careful down there." Johnathan replied over the scroll softly. Helps ease my mind knowing I got someone close by to get us out if things get bad. But I don't know if I can trust Johnathan. Too many things we still don't know about him. Biggest thing I want to know is, what exactly did Freelancer do during his time there? I know Ohio and Rhode told me a little bit. Mu is apart of the reason why Freelancer existed I think, but what exactly did Johnathan do in it? How many beings has he killed? What were the reasons for most of them? How does he cope with all that he has supposedly done? Too many questions and not enough answers if someone asked me. I trust him to get me out if things get serious, but I'm not sure how far that trust will go? I'll think of a back up plan should this one fail.
"I'm sure Nora would be happy to provide enough of a distraction should we need it." Sun replied as we slipped away from our cover and headed toward the guards. I can't find any way to counter that. With the new toy she 'borrowed' from that insane multiverse jumper, I doubt too much can stand in her way now. I feel sorry for Cardin. Not saying he didn't have it coming, but to get hit in the private parts with something like that. I wouldn't wish a pain like that upon anyone, not even Adam.
As we got closer, I noticed at least three things wrong compared to normal White Fang recruitment meetings. First of all, they guards are all nervous. Why would they be nervous about, Getting caught by the cops? Second, the first guard isn't wearing a mask. Always wearing a mask is literally the first thing they teach the look outs at day one. That is the first thing they teach pretty much everyone at day one. Third, they were openly chatting about something or another. Again, first thing they teach any new recruit is to keep information at a 'need to know' basis. Less chance of a newbie mole or a snake to leave the ranks with valuable information.
"I swear to Monty that the Mech is fucking massive and looks like it could cause serious thought the Paladins were trouble for us. That beast of a machine looks like it eats them for breakfast every morning! The main gun on it alone is bigger then the Paladin, and way cooler. I don't think Atlas could even touch that monster if they tried." The bear one boasted to the other two, an alligator and scorpion faunus. All in the standard gear, all coming off as complete idiots to me. Why would Adam allow them to stand guard in the first place? Or any high up White Fang leader of any sort? They might as well scream 'come arrest us, we're planning something massive with a high body count'!
"That has me worried. A machine like that in our mist, who's to say it won't be turned on us? They could very easily aim it our way and wipe us out. If Atlas won't stand a chance a against it, what hope would we have." The alligator one responded, seeming like the most intelligent one of the three, but still moronic.
"I'm more worried about the man who got it for us. I hear rumor he bedded with the little short ice cream themed munchkin. The one that slit Olive's throat last week for hitting on her. Man has serious balls of steel to get that close to her and live. I do not envy who ever picks a fight with him." The scorpion replied. Are they serious! Either their boss is beyond confident with their new toy to let these morons stand guard, or they are beyond low on options. Sun just coughed to get their attention. The three morons snapped their attention to us, completely dropping their conversation to try and look big and though, especially the Bear one.
"Welcome to the White Fang Recruitment. How tough are you?" The Bear asked. Is he being serious? How tough we are depends on if we're getting in or not?! Wow, just when I thought the Fang couldn't get cheap on lookouts, these idiots go and proved me wrong. Sun just puffed out his chest and marched on forward. Great, just what I need. Few males hopped on on testosterone. He gets us killed, I'm haunting his ass in the afterlife.
"How tough am I? How tough am I! I watch every episode of the walking dead. " He boasted.
"Yeah so? Everyone has seen it." The Alligator replied
"And I laughed every time someone died." Sun replied. SERIOUSLY! That is the best you got to get us inside. Well apparently it worked because the Bear faunus scrabbled out of his way and opened up the door for him.
"Right this way you crazy lunatic. Sorry to keep you waiting." He said waving Sun inside. Sun looked at me, shrugged his shoulders, and walked on in. Wow men are idiots. I walked forward only to be stopped by the scorpion's tail.
"And what about you. How tough are you?" He asked. Well, if Sun's stupid excuse is enough to get though, these three will believe anything.
"I rode shotgun in a four wheeled death machine while an psychotic portal maker was driving, and killing beings with swords that can melt though metal like it is nothing." I replied. Easily the craziest thing I've done to date. Never letting Cole drive me anywhere, and from what Ruby was welling me, Don't let Johnathan drive either. The Scorpion shot his hands in the air and backed up.
"She can pass. Anyone who is willing to be in the same car as Raven is more then tough enough for us. Let her in." He replied sounding down right afraid. Wow that was easy. I walked past the moron and farther in with Sun close by. As soon as the door closed behind me, I knew it was going to be a absolute pain to get out if anything went wrong.
Once inside, it became apparent to me that the Fang has seriously upgraded it's firepower. A large curtain covered the back half of the stage in front of everything. Couldn't see what was behind it, but if the massive barrel sticking out from over top was anything to go by, I would say they've gotten themselves a new toy. Dozens of Faunus from all walks of life filled the building. Everyone from simple farmers in overalls, to businessmen in expensive suits. All wearing different styles of Grimm masks, all talking to one another while waiting for something to happen. Beside them was a large group of organized Fang soldiers. Regular ones, not high up in the ranks. Whole place felt different to standard recruitment rallies. Guards were positioned carefully around the room, some with some heavy weaponry I've never seen before. Massive rifle about as big as Ruby, solid black with rails along the barrel. Long leather strap helped a polar bear faunus keep it on his back. If I were to bet money, I would say that it wasn't from around here.
"Am I the only one feeling like we've walked right into the slaughter house?" Sun whispered to me carefully.
"You're not the only one." I replied as someone came on stage. Large guy in a standard Fang lieutenant outfit, only with his sleeves cut off. Large Mask obscured his facial features. Now this guy looks like he could take on Alice or Johnathan. Might lose because they have better training, but he would make it a tough fight.
"Thank you all for coming." He began. "For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, Allow me to introduce a few special comm rads of ours." He continued as heavy footsteps echoed though out the warehouse. I am not liking the sound of this. "I can assure you, they are the key to obtaining what we've been fighting for, for so long. One might frighten you all, but he's sworn not to harm anyone tonight, so long as we don't harm him first." After the words passed the lieutenant's lips, my blood ran cold with fear for who walked up on stage. Standing tall in his white armor is none other then the Meta, growling as he cracked his knuckles and neck. Sun visibly tenses as he walked for all to see. Grenade launcher on his back with the blade shining in the light, looking sharp enough to split a hair. Good to see he recovered so quickly after Johnathan nearly killed him. No doubt he's back for blood, our blood. Roman not too far behind him casually walking out, with his ice cream themed bodyguard in tow. Out of the three of them, she looks the least threatening. But looks can be deceiving. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Meta. Deadliest man known to Remanent. He's taken on heavily armed cargo freighters by himself and come out on top, dealt crushing blows to the Schnee's. He's offered his services in exchange for a small price of lein. Roman you all know from the news stories. Nothing to share about him."
"Ready for round two? Think we can take him this time?" Sun asked me as the crowd grew quite as the Meta stood face to face with the lieutenant. He towered over him by at least a foot. Large domed helmet masking the face of a ruthless killer.
"Thank you. Thank you. Please, hold your applause." Roman greeted as the crowd erupted in a show of boos. I don't blame them, he is a despicable man. Honestly like the Meta more. Meta straight up tried to kill me. He didn't beat around the bush and monologue. Not sure if he can monologue or not.
"What's a human doing here?" A deer faunus asked.
"Glad you asked deery. I assure you the Meta is far from Human. I myself am not entirely sure what to make of him. Demon would be a better word to use." Roman responded holding his hands behind his back, cane in hand as the Meta growled something I can't make out. "It was meant as a compliment. Anyway, back to business." He replied to the mute before addressing the crowd. "Our world is about to change. Like it or not, we're all on the same level when shit starts hitting the fan. Rock bottom with no way out. I'm not talking a shift in climate, the rise or fall of kingdoms, or a political shift. I'm taking about how we view our place in the universe . . . NO! The Multiverse! Endless worlds, all vastly different yet the same. Perhaps there is a universe out there where humans are the ones at the bottom, where Faunus rule like gods over them. Perhaps there is another, one where humanity never existed in the first place. We have the means of going to some of these places, not easy but we got the technology from a questionable 'friend' of mine." And back to the deadly silence. I'm not liking where this is going. "As much as it pains me to say it, but we're seriously . . . . . hilariously outmatched compared to several I've been informed of. Our weaponry may be unique and deadly, but it is outclassed by many others. I've seen blades of plasma cut thought our toughest metal like it was made of wet paper. I've seen machines of war powerful enough to eat an Atlasian paladin for breakfast. I've heard tale of weapons out there capable of destroying entire planets, weapons that can wipe out sentient life on a scale we can't even hope to imagine. Even biological weapons capable of turning the healthy into mindless, flesh eating monsters. Tales of that sound way too insane to be real or even considered worthy of belonging on someone's crappy internet web story. But I can assure you, they are. Every last one you've ever heard." He informed earning himself a cluster of whispers. "We are not alone ladies and gentlemen, far from it. In order to keep up with the change we've got to take control of the reins and force it to our whims. Harness it and use it for our needs. Other wise we'll all be running around like a bunch of idiots when change does poke it's ugly head around the corner." He boasted, earning a curious whisper from the crowd around me. He has multiverse technology! Not good, Johnathan definitely has to know about this. "Not too long ago the Meta and myself partook in a grand heist to acquire one of these machines of war. It wasn't easy to say in the least. We had to crack open a few skulls and let the Meta go ape shit on a pretty boy spy trying to stand in our way, but we've gotten our hands on one of those big bad girls, and man is she beast of a machine." He snapped his fingers, the veil dropped and showed to everyone what was behind it. A massive mech bigger then the one Adam and I fought when I left the Fang. Fang symbol painted on the side with two massive grey arm cannons.
"Oh, that is a big robot." Sun replied from behind me.
"How did he get that?" I asked as Roman looked back at it and scratched his head. The Meta growled and tilted his head to cloak behind the machine.
"Oops, my bad. Wrong mech. One we've stolen was bigger and a whole lot deadlier. This is a standard Paladin prototype we took from under Ironwood's nose. Swiped a couple of them as well for shits and giggles. Never know when one might come in handy." He replied bringing his hands together over his cane. "How did I get the two confused? Meta, if you would be so kind." He replied as the Meta whistled loud enough to bust an ear. The cloak erupted into a shower of fabric as a even bigger machine bust though it, swatted the Paladin aside with it's massive gun and let out a ear damming roar. Everyone covered their ears as the new machine stood tall and proud. The Paladin it swatted hit the wall with enough force to smash the bricks around it. I uncovered my ears as the last of the cloak fell down from the massive machine. The ground below us shook with every step it took. Armed guards from all around the room erupted into a cheerful applaud. "Now that's more like it. Beautiful, elegant, and oh so very deadly. Almost brings a tear to my eyes." We might need more then sniper support to get out of this one. Thinking full fleet support from Ironwood, at minimum. Hell, we need the entire Atlasian Marine Corp to even stand a chance.
"I think I need a new pair of pants." Someone said faintly off in the crowd.
"And that's an even bigger, deadlier, scarier robot." Sun squeaked sounding unsure of himself. My eyes were as big as dinner plates. I'm not even sure if we can take it on. "So getting out is a no go?" He asked. I nodded in agreement as I looked over the massive machine.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. I give you the Metal Gear REX. Capable of sending a fifteen megaton nuclear warhead anywhere in the world. No way for anyone to tell it's coming for them until it's too late and they're staring at an irradiated mushroom cloud. Thick laminated steel hull makes it one tough nut to crack open, lot harder then a Palidin for sure. This thing can tank hits like it's nothing and dish out just as much. Laser under the cockpit can burn though just about anything you can throw at it. It has rapid fire Rotary canons, high explosive missiles, and yes it does have a cup holder. Not something to underestimate for sure. We've managed to have gotten our hands on quite a few nukes to go with it. The destructive force of just one alone is enough to absolutely level a small mountain, while making the surrounding area radioactive to the point of being uninhabitable for years to come. Quite an impressive work of machinery if I must admit." He informed as the machine lowered down and the cockpit opened, showing no one inside. "It was a pain in our asses to get a hold of. But is well worth the trouble for this one moment. Now you may be wondering to yourselves, 'Roman, with a machine like that. Who in the world deserves the punishment it can dish out'? Now let me ask you all a simple question before you demand for my head on a silver plate." He replied crossing his arms behind his back as he walked around stage. "Who has wronged you all more then anyone else on this planet? Who out of anyone in our world deserves to feel the full untamed fury of the White Fang?"
"Every instinct inside me is screaming that we should run. No way in hell we'll beat that thing AND the Meta. One if we're lucky, but not both." Sun informed as the Meta casually scanned across the room, like a cold blooded killer. Arms crossed and head turning on a swivel. I nodded my head in agreement as Roman continued. Johnny, we could really use a distraction right around now! Looked toward the door, Bear faunus from earlier was guarding it. No other way in or out beside though the massive doors behind the Metal Gear. No way out unnoticed. Johnathan you better have a good plan to get us out, because I got nothing right now.
"Why the Schnee's of course. Don't you want payback for all the pain they caused you? Both with your wallet and brethren." He asked getting several approved cheers from the crowd. "Don't you want them to pay for the constant exploitation in labor from your fellow faunus? Using them to mine for Dust in the deepest hells of our world, only to sell it for outrageous prices and keep a huge chunk of change per purchse? They practically own the Dust market right now, exploiting the labor of countless Faunus to get rich and stay rich. The little guys like You or I don't stand a chance taking them on alone. I got the tech needed to bring them to their knees, you all got the man and woman power we need to take the fight to them." He asked, earning more approved cheers. He's not seriously going to do what I think he is?! "I'm here to give you the chance at revenge. To inflict the pain of all your brothers and sisters working under their slimy and pampered asses have suffered. The Schnee's are as bad as. . . no. Correction, they're worse then the Grimm. Grimm will just straight up kill you. Plain and simple, no beating around the bush. The Schnee's will work you to death, bring you back to life just to work you some more, then leave you to rot in the depths of their Dust mines once you no longer become useful. You all know it, and I know it. " Valid point but not the correct path we should be taking. Launching that nuke would only stoop us to a lower level than them. Yes they need to pay, but not like this. Apparently I was the only one who thought this as the approved chatter of those around me got louder. "Now what's the best way to get rid of a problem that grows like a weed? You pluck it from the roots and make sure they don't come back. Fortunately I got the best solution for that little problem right behind me." He replied pointing to the sever ton war machine. "We're going to bomb the absolute shit out of their house, hopefully with some of them inside. An eye for an eye, as it were." He replied in a grim tone walking back and forth on stage. "You want revenge for all the pain and suffering humanity has caused you, I can promise you that there is no finer piece of technology in this universe! More fit for the job. No machine capible enough to even come close to it's potential. All it requires is a willing pilot." A small flaming man burst into existence beside the Meta's shoulder. Another AI. One of Mu's brothers I think. I thought Johnny got them all? "Sigma, everything set?" He asked the little AI.
"Nuke is primed to launch. REX is ready to fire on your command. Atlas has no idea what is about to hit them." Sigma replied folding his arms behind his back as Roman clapped his hands. The roof above us started to creek and groan as it retracted. I looked up to see the old metal roof slowly fold away and open up to a clear star filled sky, our shattered moon full and up high in the sky.
"Perfect. Now all that is left to do is push the button and send the first strike of a age of war. " He informed tapping his chin looking over the crowd. "It would be quite rude of me to wave this new toy around so many new faces and not let one of you play with it. The existing members already had their turns playing with it. Wouldn't let them use any of the weapons, but they drove it. It would be more symbolic for one of you to do the honors. To symbolize the start of a serious rebellion against the world, a new business venture to put a end to the Schnee's and their unlawful practices. So . . . . any takers?" He asked. I flattened my ears to my head as everyone around me erupted into various responses, all pointing toward they deserve to blow the Schnees to hell. "Alright then, since it seems everyone wants a chance I guess I'm going to have to pick one. But who?" He asked looking around the room before clapping his hands. "I know just what to do." He replied swapping his cane with his body guard. "Safety first, can't be wave a loaded firearm around at you all. Don't want it to go off and hurt someone." He informed pointing the umbrella at a random faunus in the crowd (A/N Warning to all Walking Dead fans. Negan reference ahead! I can't resist but to put this in there. Let's face it, Roman would do something like this if he had to pick someone in this situation. Got to appear good to the masses). "Eenie." He pointed to another random faunus. "Meenie." Pointing to another. "Miny." Now to Sun. "Moe." Why do I have a bad feeling someone is going to get their head smashed in soon? Roman walked around the stage pointing the umbrella at random people with each word. "Catch. A. Tiger, no offense sweetie. By. The. Toe." He calmly looked round the room once more twirling the umbrella by the hook between each word. "If. She. Howlers. Let her go." The Meta growled in annoyance as the tiny one impatiently tapped her foot. Roman rolled his eyes at them yet kept going. "My mother told me to pick only the very best one." He said rapidly spinning the odd device around, Everyone dead quiet in anticipation. "And." He pointed to the deer faunus from earlier. "You." Now to the tiger again. "Are." Now to a random bull faunus. "It." Now to me.I had to shield my eyes as a spotlight shined directly at me from above. "Come on up here Kitty and claim your prize. Just hop right in and push the big red button to spark the flames of a new age of warfare." He informed with a sly smile, like he knows who I am. I practically froze like a deer in the headlights.
They want me to nuke Weiss's house. Her HOUSE! If given the same offer a few years ago, I might have taken it. Now I am not so sure. Yes her father needs to pay for the pain he has caused, but this is way too extreme. Even by Nora's . . . . Hell, even Johnathan's standards. I can't do it. I won't orphan Weiss, I'm not that kind of person anymore. I'd never forgive myself. As big of a pain in my backside as Weiss is, I can't do anything like this to her. Not on this severe of a scale! Few rude comments toward faunus are one thing, but blowing her family's house to hell and making it a radioactive crater is way out of line! I wouldn't even do that to Cardin, and he's been more of a dickhead then Weiss has been a bitch. Got to draw the line somewhere, so we don't become the very thing we set out to destroy. I turned to try to walk out only to be pushed forward by the crowd, lost sight of Sun as several soldiers helped 'guide' me up front. The closer I got, the deadlier the machine looked. The Meta growled something I can't make out as he looked my way. He recognizes me, but why isn't he attacking?. Only one thing going though my mind right now as people clapped my shoulder and pushed me toward the stage right before the fuse box was shot by a large orange bolt, and killed the lights inside entirely.
OH SHIT!
(Johnathan's POV)
Minutes earlier
Why can't anything in my life ever be easy. There's the enemy, shoot the enemy, and go home. Guess it wouldn't be fun if life was easy. I kept the scope of my Lightrifle trained on the warehouse, Rhode right behind me covering my six incase of an ambush. Both staying as low as possible to avoid being seen by any well trained eyes. Having a glowing orange rifle doesn't help at all. I switched between my P-vison and regular zoom. Both confirmed I am not imagining things. Geiger counter flickered with a sharp crack, something in that building is radioactive or leaking. If I'm to be betting money, I'd say it was a nuke in the Mech. But they're normally shielded to protect against radiation from leaking out. Not like one cracked open or something. With how obstructed my view is though my P-vision, I can't confirm much. Green speckles of radiation lit up on my HUD like stars in the night sky. Had Mu reset the Geiger counter to go off when it hits dangerous levels. God dammit I hate my luck sometimes.
"A Metal gear. It had to be a fucking Metal Gear. Why can't it ever be something simple like a Power Ranger's Zord, or a Construction MECH. Those I can handle. But NO! It has to be a mother fucking Metal Gear!" I swore training my rifle back to Roman, who was walking around on stage like a mega egotistical maniac. Can't read lip too well, nothing Mu can hack into to get me ears in there without drawing suspicion from the Meta. Let's see, how to get Blake out without the Meta killing her? Tough call to make. I can shoot the Meta from here and be done with him, but he more then likely has his overshields up. Might take a while to penetrate though those. Roman I can take out easily from here, but the shot will spir everyone into a uncontrollable frenzy, not an option. Don't have the ammo or time to kill everyone in there, plus it looked like Roman said the right words to stir the pot. Plus I have no idea how Hardlight does against Aura. Could be like a rock, paper, scissors type thing for all I know.
Okay, let's think tactical for a second. There are more bad guys in my line of sight then I got ammo in the mag, could take down a few tough ones to make Blake's escape easier but it will be extremely risky due to the tracer effect the hardlight rounds have. Powerful little bastards that pack one hell of a punch, but at a fair cost of stealth. After the first shot our position will be compromised. Got to make it count. I'll admit I was not a good sniper during my time with Project Freelancer, but I have gotten better since I left. Kind of need to be a good shot with nearly everything I pick up unless I want to wind up dead or worse. A cold shiver ran down my spine as my cross hairs lined up nearly perfectly with the little ice cream themed munchkin's head, right between her mismatched brown and pink eyes. For some reason she looks bored . . . . and is awfully close to the Meta. I might be able to take her out right now, wouldn't take more than a pull of the trigger.
"Fuse box, off to top right by the Latino like Ram Faunus. Few meters away from the war machine. Could be a decent distraction." Rhode noted as I readjusted my aim. It's around there somewhere. Few seconds of searching and I found where Rhode was describing. Black box with various coated wires and cables connected to it. Large red handle in the 'ON' position by some wording. Not going to bother reading it from here. The Ram she described was clapping to something the thief on stage said. Time is running low, got to do something fast.
"Most faunus have excellent night vision. Damn near perfect if I' m informed correctly. Shooting that would make it hard for Roman and his body guard to find anything, but the Fang and the Meta would still see perfectly fine. Remember our helmets have built in night vision." I informed taking my eye off the scope for a second to rest my eye. "Could provide Blake and Sun the neccesary distraction to get out, provided the Fang is mostly comprised of idiots and newbies. Anyone with basic military training wouldn't be as effected by it. They're in a tough jam down there."
"Well we better do something quick. Roman is doing something or another." She replied. My eye went back to see though the advanced scope. I readjusted my aim once more to find the ginger on stage, pointing at random faunus with a umbrella. Wait a second . . . . . I know what he's doing. The classic game of 'Eenie meanie miny moe'. I myself use it in my head when faced with choices with all similar outcomes. His umbrella stopped and aimed at Blake, who was blinded by a spotlight. "Times up Ohio. Pick something and shoot it." I ground my teeth as I took aim at the fuse box. Got no choice, no other option on the table. It might create a moment of confusion among the crowd, hopefully enough time for Blake to get free and for her or Sun to bolt out. We're too outgunned to take on a Metal Gear. Seriously need my railgun or our rocket launchers to even think of taking it on.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, cross hairs right where the fuse box is. I calmly and gently pulled the trigger. A loud womp eched out of my rifle as a charged round of hardlight raced though the air. It smashed though the window and hit my target dead on. The box exploded in a torment of sparks as the lights inside the werehouse died out. The Ram faunus by the fusebox had to cover his face to prevent the sparks from blinding him. I took aim once more and send a round though his head. The Ram's head exploded as the hardlight slammed into it. More I take out now, less Blake has to deal with. I took aim once again and pulled the trigger three more times in rapid session, taking out the bouncers guarding the door.
"Rhode, keep me informed. I'm taking out the guards. Can't keep an eye on everything" I ordered taking aim once again. Mag nearly half empty. Got to make the next 7 shots count. Only have a few more mags for this rifle. I fired once more and blew the head off a Monitor lizard Faunus guard holding a heavy blaster rifle. No idea where he got Star wars tech from. Very little in this would can stand up to blasters. Oh how screwed everyone would be if the Galactic Empire decided to invade. I know Darth Vader can probably take on all of Atlas by himself. He does not go down easy. Wonder who would win in a fight between him and Goku? Probally Goku because some type of power level bullshit or something.
"There is a massive panic. People are running like hell toward the exits, some screaming bloody murder. Blake kicked the guy pushing her forward in the knee, now she's bolting for the exit. Sun is pushing his way though the crowd as they try getting out. Meta is looking around for us, knows we're here. I'd avoid using your P-vision so it don't pop up on his motion tracker. The munchkin is a bit confused on what the hell just happened. Wait what is Roman. . . . oh sweet merciful Jesus!" She inform as I let loose another hardlight round, this one going though the chest of a kangaroo white Fang guard. Or was it a wallaby? I can't tell the difference.
"What's going on. I'm a little busy to look around." I replied as the body fell forward, hole right where his heart would be, with the round hitting the foot of a rhino guard.
"Roman's getting in the Metal gear, and Sigma is with him!" Rhode informed pulling out her assault rifle and chambered in a new mag. Tell me I misheard her. Sweet merciful Odin, Please tell me she didn't say what I think she said. I nailed the rhino guard right between the eyes before I looked up from my Lightrifle.
"Wait. Roman is doing what!" I yelled right before a loud crash echoed though out the area. I turned my attention away from my rifle and looked toward the source of the sound. Huge dust cloud stirred though as part of the west wall nearly collapsed. Standing tall and proud out of the dust was the massive war machine, shaking some of the debris off as it turned toward me.
"Hello kiddies. Let's see what this thing can really do." Roman called out from the speakers as the rotary cannons beside the cockpit begun spinning. Now let me make a comparison right now. Coco's gun is sort of like a rotary cannon. Same basic concept, but entirely different calibers. Her gun uses I think a 20mm round. The REX uses a 30mm round. Ruby uses a 50BMG I believe. All are powerful rounds but the REX would come out on top due to it's size and how fast it can crack them off.
"Get down!" I yelled as I jumped and pushed Rhode out of the way. The REX opened fire with it's rotary canon, tearing apart everything around us with it's massive thirty millimeter rounds. The cement ledge was being torn to shreds, vent walls turned to swiss cheese in a matter of seconds, we rolled aside as the rounds hit the ground where we once stood. "Aim for the radar dome! It's the only way to get that thing open!" I yelled as I raised my Lightrifle and took aim, sending the charged bolts of hardlight right at the Radome. Said bolts slammed dead center into the Radome but didn't penetrate the armor. Rhode rolled away from the spray of lead as she opened a concentrated burst on the dish with her assault rifle. The rounds had the same effect as mine and didn't do shit. Mu popped up on my HUD, looking worried as ever.
"I don't even need to tell you what the odds of surviving this are." Mu replied. Roman laughed as the Rex stomped forward, making the ground around it shake and tremble with each step. I reloaded my Lightrifle as the Rex got closer. Five mags left. Got to use this ammo smart. Do not think I can make more anytime soon.
"Kid, you're going to need a lot bigger guns if you hope to take this thing on." Roman taunted as the leg launchers opened up and reveled several missiles. I looked to Rhode as the missiles launched from the machine right to us. We both seemed to have mentally agreed on the best course of action here. I hooked the rifle to my back and ran for the edge. Rhode followed suit as Roman let loose another volley with the rotary cannons. The top of the building went up in flames as the missiles hit their mark. We rolled across the roof of a smaller building and took off running. Going up against a Metal gear with an assault rifle and a high tech alien sharpshooter is not a good idea. In fact I'd rank it up as down right suicide without the right cover. "Where you going? The fun as just started."
"Mu, get Serena on the. I need her assistance and we need it right fucking now!" I ordered as Rhode and I jumped off the edge to another building. The REX's thunderous footsteps could be felt as it followed us. Roman isn't running, he's chasing us. He knows he can win easily, he knows he has nothing to lose in that machine. He has nothing to gain by running. And nothing to lose chasing us. Mu pulled up the scroll number for my back up. Blake I'm sure she has the rest of RWBY on the line right now. Not too worried about her. More worried about staying alive!
"Great way to spice up the night huh?" Rhode asked we vaulted over a vent duct and kept on running.
"Why can't this ever be simple. There's the enemy, shoot the enemy, and go home." I replied as looked back. Sure enough the Rex was right behind us. Thunderous footsteps crushing everything under it. I think I heard someone's car alarm go off. Bet insurance won't cover this. Would hate to be the guy who takes this call. Speaking of calls. Someone finally decided to pick up.
"You okay Johnathan. What's going on?" Serena asked as Rhode and I ran out of roof tops to run across. Next one is two stories up and at least a ten foot gap between the buildings, with at least a thirty foot drop below us. I cursed my bad luck as we turned to face the machine. Roman laughed as the laser under the cockpit fired.
"No time for questions Serena, how close are you to my weapon's locker? I need something that goes boom and I need it fast." I replied as Rhode and I jumped off the roof to avoid being sliced in half by the laser. If we can survive jumping out of a flaming Pelican at insane speeds and into the gates of hell, then we will surely survive this small fall. I flailed my arms in the air as we fell down from the crumbling roof top. Rhode reached out and grabbed a hold of a dangling cable. Her weight snapped it from one end but let her ride it out to the other side of the ally. She hit the wall feet first and held on to the wire tightly. Stopping her from falling any farther. Me, I kept my feet facing down and hit the ground hard, cracking the pavement below me. I rolled forward to disperse my momentum and shouldered my Lightrifle once more as Rhode slid down the cable.
"I'm helping Ironwood get Penny back into her body. So an entire tower up and in another building." Serena replied as the REX stomped back into view. It's massive foot crushed a parking meter like it was nothing more then a twig. The cockpit turned to face us with the guns spinning around, ready to fire.
"There you two pests are." Roman called out firing off the rotary cannons again. We ran like bats out of hell as the rounds slammed into the pavement right behind us. I am naturally this fast thanks to my augmentation. Rhode has to rely on her willow skin to even hope to have a reaction timing like mine or Alice has. Bad news is it slowly tears at her mind. She uses it too long she risks having mental backlash. Closest thing I have to describe it is what happened to Carolina after she fought Texas the first time after her AI implants. Not something I want to see again and the only way to snap her out of it is to knock her out. Not an option when we're facing a who knows how many ton death machine.
"Get to my locker and load it up with anything that makes a big explosion. Fang got their hands on a Metal gear. I need some bigger guns and I need them NOW!" I ordered tackling Rhode to behind a large industrial grade dumpster to avoid being made into swiss cheese, filled to the brim with trash. Plenty there to dampen the blow of the rounds, hopefully. Never been up against a Metal Gear before for a good reason, so I have no idea how to effectively destroy it. All though with my radiation counter slowly going up by the minute, do I want to destroy it? Has a leaking nuke so I need to dispose of it somehow. Can't let him launch it to where ever he is planning on, and I can't leave the nuke here. So I have to somehow disable the machine without destroying it or damaging the railgun in any way. Great, talk about being between a rock and a radiated hard place.
"Can you repeat that? You cut out there for a minute. I only heard you need bigger guns." Serena asked as Roman stopped his onslaught of gun fire. The REX stomped on the ground once as the laser cut the fire escape above us, sending the metal frame and several brick raining down on top of us. I covered Rhode as the metal frame fell on top of me. I grunted from the impact as it slammed down on top of my back. My armor and aura took the bulk of the blow, doesn't make it any less painful. Aura meter tells me I'm down to 80%. I forced myself up and threw the bulky steel frame off my back with who knows how much destroyed brick. Damn that hurts.
"Metal Gear! The Fang got their hands on a goddamn, mother fucking, Metal Gear REX! Send the BIG guns!" I yelled into my comm link as the REX roared once more. I looked back to see it take two massive steps back as the leg launchers popped open, with the missiles poking up and ready to launch. "Run for it Rhode!" I yelled grabbing her by the back of her armor and helped her up before I ran for it. She didn't hesitate and took off. The REX launched several missiles as we ran like bats out of hell. I could hear them soaring though the air down the ally and hitting the edge on either side of the buildings. Cement and brick cracked and shattered as the building around us begun to collapse in on themselves. I jumped over a fallen roof piece while dodging rotary cannon fire. Rhode slid past a falling window and kept on running. We bush though the end of the ally as the ends of the buildings behind us collapsed and blanketed the area in a large cloud of dust. We stopped before an overpass overlooking the water front to catch out breath as Rhode held her gut.
"I think we lost him." She informed. I was about to agree with her as the ground trembled and quaked. I looked back to see the REX stomped over the rubble and was looking back at us once more. It's massive legs crushed the brick underneath it to dust Roman just flat out cackled in joy over the machine's speakers. "I now retract my previous statement."
"I must admit this one thing Freelancers." He taunted as the REX kicked an old grey Sudan out of the way, it skipped across the ground and slammed into the side of a old factory. Effectively totaling it. Man, this guy is pissed off. "I am deeply enjoying this machine. I'll take this walking tank over a Palidin any day of the week." He replied as I looked around for any form of cover I can use. Nothing that can stand up to anything that machine can throw my way. I ground my teeth as I pulled out my Lightrifle once more. If I'm going out tonight; I am going out kicking, screaming, and covered in someone else's blood. Rhode pulled her assault rifle out and chambered in a new mag. Won't help but it is better then standing around, waiting for death to claim us. "Thank you Sith bitch for letting me borrow your tech to get this." Emily gave the Fang and the Meta multiverse jumping tech! I knew she was working with them, didn't know she gave them tech! Why the hell didn't my suit warn me before hand? It detects natural portals no problem, it should be able to pick up created ones MERC tech makes as well. Makes no sense on why I didn't know about it till now.
"Blake, Yang, Weiss, Ruby. Where the hell are you girls?" I asked myself as the REX looked right at us with it's rotary canons waiting to fire.
"Jo. . . . I'll sen . . . . Ho. . . ." Serena tried saying something to me but the radiation was messing with my comms the closer the REX got. I can barely make out a word she is saying. I ground my teeth as I got in front of Rhode with my Sembalance at the ready to spring forward. No idea how my shield will stand up to that monster of a machine, but I have to try something. The guns begun spinning as lifted my human arm up like it had a shield and prepared for the worst. He was about to fire before the unmistakable sound of Ruby's monstrous weapon going off echoed though the air. The right rotary canon was encased in ice when the round him. Roman stopped firing as the REX tried to shake the ice off. I looked to the rooftop of another building to find Ruby there looking though the scope of her scythe, Weiss not far behind her with a glyph up. Where the hell did she come from? "About time you showed up! I am getting sick of being target practice!" I yelled as Rhode and I used this moment of confusion to make a run for better cover behind the bridge pillars. Not much but it will do to keep us out of his line of sight. The REX's cannons spun at full speed as the ice broke off and shattered, directing toward Ruby and Weiss. Now where the hell are Blake and Yang? I swore as I charged toward the massive machine in some hopes of catching him off guard.
(Serena' POV)
Beacon academy
I was running, no . . . sprinting down the hall with terror flowing though my veins, Johnathan's railgun in my hands as I ran like a bat out of hell. Railgun was perfectly fixed up and ready to fire, just needs a power source. Johnathan is up again a Metal Gear. A freaking Metal Gear! How in the hell did the White Fang get their hands on one of those? Wouldn't Snake or Raiden be suspicious that a weapon of mass destruction suddenly was taken from their world. I shook my head and rounded the corner at top speed, skidding a bit but picked myself back up and kept running. I am no where close to as fast as my twin, but I am also not augmented or trained for physical combat. My job was to provide tech support and monitor the world Johnathan is in. What it is connected to, how it effects our world, if it has anything useful to use outside it's own system.
I had to get back to the dorm. I left the power pack there for this beast there. Completely forgot to give it to Johnathan till now. He looked so happy in this world, genuinely happy. Think it's the first time in a few months I've seen him with a real smile on his face, instead of a forced one for Elaia's sake. These people deeply effected him in the short time he has been here. I can see it in his eyes. He care for this place, the people in it, especially Velvet. Every time he looks at her, I can see two things in his eyes. Hope and despair. Despair for the fact that he'll have to leave and hurt her in the process, yet hope because he is happy whenever she is with him. I can't recall the last time I've seen my twin with any sliver of hope in his sights. He always fights to protect me and Elaia, always kept himself distant to a point to protect us. To see him happy and enjoying himself on this world, I couldn't bare the thought of breaking that up. So I hid the battery, I knew the minute he gets his railgun back online he'd go hunting for the Meta or Emily. That would only bring him pain and suffering in the end, now I am wishing I told him about the replacement battery. I slid down the hall and narrowly missed the Dorm doors. I patted myself down and frantically searched for my scroll to open this damn door.
"Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?!" I asked in a panicked state patting all my pockets and anywhere it could be in. Please tell me I didn't leave it in Ozpin's office when I bolted out. I can not afford to run back there and pick it up if I did. Just as I was beginning to run out of places to search the handle jiggled and moved. I stood there confused for a minute before the door opened up, on the other side was Rosa. Opening the door with her jaws locked on the knob, growling as she twisted and turned the round object. She let go of the knob and barked happily, wagging her entire back end in the process. "Clever girl. Good job Rosa." I praised as I pushed past her and threw the railgun on the bed. Azula poked her head up from her bed and growled at me. "Not right now Azula, I'm not in the mood for your shit." I swore diving toward my bed and frantically searching under it. I know I hid it under here somewhere.
I threw aside my folded up Alice pack and ODST chest plate. Got to be under here somewhere. I know I hid them both under here. Had to let the pack recharge for it to be of any use later on. Been what . . . . a few days since I plugged the pack in. I know I tinkered with it to automatically shut off after it is fully charged. Wasn't easy to do, nor do I want to tinker with something that complex ever again. I reached all the way against the wall and grabbed a hold of something large and square. I pulled it out to find exactly what I was looking for. The BA-53635/PLMD battery for a Spartan Laser hooked up by a cable to the miniature PP-16979/AM-SH recharger. Neither were easy to get and the power pack was a pain to tear out of a decommissioned Spartan Laser and shape to fit my brother's railgun power slot. The recharger was the bigger pain in the ass to get and miniaturize. The UNSC doesn't like loosing nearly half of a million credits worth of equipment. Had to do a lot of favors in the Halo sector to get my hands on a that expensive and powerful battery pack. As well as a few things I am not particularly proud of and would like to forget entirely, but anything to be sure he has the equipment he needs to survive out in the Multiverse. He likes to forget but he's also all I have left as well. He dies then I'd only have Elaia or Mu with me. As much as I love those two, we're much better off with Johnathan in the picture.
"There you are." I said joyfully as I unhooked the wire connected to the rather large pack. It was no bigger then Johnathan's old power pack, maybe slightly bulkier. I pushed a small button on the side, lights lit up and blinked twice. Full battery, plenty of juice for him to use. I jumped across the room and grabbed ahold of his railgun. Johnathan's railgun looked just like the Cobalt blue ARK-920 it was retrofited from. Barrel had a dark steel grey stripe that appered to wrap around it, his emblem ettched and painted into either side right above where the rails split. He installed a ammo counter interface with a power meter beside it, button on the side to open up the internal magazine he installed, several clips on the stock to hold spare ammo, upgraded the electro-magnetic coils in the barrel to be able to hold the charge longer to give him time to aim. Small and thin steel plate with a single name etched into it was welded below the trigger guard. Arcflash was it's name. Saved my brother's life more times then I can imagine. I opened up the power compartment and shoved the battery pack in. Everything inside still lined up petty much perfectly. Great, makes my job a lot easier. I slammed close the compartment door and flipped the safey off.
"Please work. Please work. Please work." I prayed watching the barrel spark and cackled painfully slowly yet refused to remain lit. It's been a while since he wired something wrong or I got the pack in wrong. It should spark on automatically after the safety is off. "Come on!" I yelled slapping the power pack farther into it's compartment. Rosa barked and jumped back as the entire barrel lit up and cackled to life. Sparks flying between the rails and the ammo counter sprung to life. Two rounds in the internal mag, out of five. He's going to need a lot more to take on a REX. I flipped the safety on and shouldered the massive rifle. It died down as I opened up one of Johnathan's rocket lockers and shoved it inside. I ran across the room and begun digging though Johnathan's stuff. Rosa and Azula stood there and looked at me funny. I don't blame them. Azula barked to Rosa as the two begun chatting about something or another. I dug though Johnathan's spare ammo crate he keeps in the side of the room and pulled out several clips with up to five 16mm X 65mm titanium slugs. I threw those in the locker as I shoved the door shut. Both raptors barked and jumped from their spots in surprise as I moved on to the locker that held the rocket launchers and their special dust HEAT rounds. Only could make three mags for them to use. One has a fire dust payload, one a ice one, and the last has a gravity one. Punching in the code to lock on to Johnathan's last known location and send to him.
"Hold tight little brother. Help is on the way." I quietly said typing a few thing into the locker pad and ran to open the window. The lockers buzzed and whirled as they tilted down and aimed out of the open window. I ducked out of the way just as the lockers took off in a flash of light and trail of smoke. Two trails flew out the door and into the night sky. I sent a silent prayer to what ever god or gods that rule this universe, to keep my brother and his friends safe.
(Winter's POV)
(A/N OC belongs to Le MAO XXIII. He won the easter egg hunt in the privite messaging. I am a man of my word, I put his idea into the story. He will not be a major character. More like someone I pop in for funny shit and to get a chuckle or two from my readers)
Atlas multi-research facility, Vale
I wiped a single bead of sweat from my brow as I collapsed in my desk. Today has been a massive pain in my ass. One after another, after another, after another. First I had to deal with Careless Whisper as he decided to act as my alarm clock. For a hyper advanced AI over tens of thousands of years old, he acts like a complete child to anything remotely new. Had to sit there and listen to him rant on about how our Aura and sembalances could have helped in the fight against the Flood, or how dust crystals are molecularity similar to Blamite from some moon for hours. I lost interest after 'protocol dictates'. Then I had to deal with the killer robot escaping not too long after. Pain to trick back in an air and wireless connection tight chamber where he can't teleport out. Lost nine soldiers getting that thing back to where it goes. Then the Nightstalkers got out an hour ago. They weren't that bad in comparison, just so many of the little annoyances. Then I have the jabbering pink boob. I swear to Monty, I've never wanted to kill a horse as much as I do that thing. Can't do that, few of the big brains think they can get something useful out of her. I say she is basically useless to anything beyond cooking sweets. Aside from that, the horse is completely and utterly useless. Waste of resources to keep alive here if someone asked me, I say throw her into the next portal that pops up and to hell on where it goes. So long as that boob is out of my hair. Elizabeth has by far been the best out of them all as of late. Let her roam the facility freely not too long ago, she doesn't appear to be anywhere close to as dangerous as the others in the holding rooms. She was casually brushing the little 'Eevee' like it were a lap dog in the other room, beginning to like both. The 'eevee' I have no idea what it is about the fuzzy critter, but I kind of like the fox/dog thing. Like the pet I never had growing up. She doesn't get into trouble. If anything the worst she does is raid the kitchen for food every now and again. Sometimes shooting out a black plasma orb from her mouth and hitting the scientists when they agitate her. Occasionally needing to go outside to relieve herself on the soil. She is pretty smart for an animal, understands what I am saying perfectly clear and helps out where she can. Father would freak out of he even caught wiff of something like her. Her genetic makeup is seriously unstable, yet she seems to be able to live perfectly healthy and happy. Wonder what could have made her to evolve like that. Radioactivity? Stressful environment? Drugs from a bottom of the barrel area? I have absolutely no idea.
"You appear to be stressed Reclaimer." Careless Whisper noted floating down to my level to look me in the eye, with what I assume is his eye.
"You have absolutely no idea." I replied holding my head in agony. Room I hid away in was pretty spacious for the facility. No bigger then a studio apartment. Temporary living quarters till Ironwood throws me somewhere else. Simple queen sized bed, small mini fridge, much like the dorms at Beacon except there is only one bed in the room. Dresser beside the bed held all my cloths in the facility. Recently decided to stop trying to dress all regal like. What's the point in wasting all that money when the clothes will be torn to shreds in minutes.
Just last month I lost my favorite blouse to some type of giant white bunny beasts with red grimm like markings, among a dozen other beasts that made me wish for Grimm. They slaughtered and ATE an entire village in a matter of minutes. Rounded dozens up in a bag like arm and blended them together with their blade like claws like the villagers were veggies. It was horrific to watch. Took over two hours to kill them all with a little help from Qrow, who popped in just to annoy me and help contain the beasts, and the military of Vale and Atlas. The Grimm took one look at those things and ran like bats out of hell the other way. Now when the creatures of Grimm are running away from something in FEAR, usually means that it is something no one wants to mess with. We found that out the hard way. Nearly lost my head and got a long cut up my upper torso to prove it. Still burns when I wash over it.
We killed them all one massive fleet strike, had to destroy the entire village to ensure they wouldn't survive and terrorize the rest of the kingdoms. I was the one who made the call, We couldn't fight them any longer on the ground. Their claws pieced though Aura and out toughest body armed as if it were melted butter. We took as many as we could on foot, but still didn't help the civilians. There were no civilian survivors by the time the airstrikes begun. Airships bombarded the village from the air with high explosive and incendiary missiles, pretty much taking the village off the map for good, along with anything that moved. Sacrifice the few, save the many. That is what I've been telling myself since this all started a few months ago. Slowly beginning to wonder if this madness will ever end.
Part of the reason why I am stuck in this mini hell. Ironwood tasked me with the responsibility of figuring out exactly how outmatched we are and how we can still improve. So far he won't like the results one bit. Bottom line is that we need help, some serious help from the outside. Someone who knows what is beyond our grasp and knows what direction to go in. Right now we're running around like chickens with out heads blown off. Sadly the list of people who can help is painfully short. Careless Whisper can only provide so much knowledge, I can get very little information from the specimens here, Ozpin has Johnathan and his 'family'. I'll admit that guy has peaked my curiosity. Appeared from one of the portals that plague our world, nearly died defending beacon from an alien attack, befriended and is dating one of the students there if I am informed correctly. Man is a mystery with a million surprises, maybe he can help shed some light on this insanity we're faced with. I'll ask Ironwood to send him here to see what he knows.
"Is there any way I can help you Reclaimer?" Whisper asked as his center eye pulsed with each word. Though this floating light bulb has my attention some days. He is rather interesting to study whenever he shuts up about protocols. This happens to be one of the few times. One of the few specimens in this facility I can not contain no matter how hard I try. We throw him in a box, he melts right though it with his laser face, or picks the lock. Gave up and let him roam around freely. He isn't as bad as I originally thought. Main down side is him constantly calling me a Reclaimer. Absolutely no idea what it means or why he insists on calling me it. With us far from his 'installation' he has reverted to helping us where he can send his Sentinels. Those things I am not sure whether to make heads or tails on them. Floating machines with lasers that can fix machinery yet slice though flesh with ease. They do practically nothing expect repair and keep the deadlier beings here in check. Aside from that, they're perfectly harmless.
"Unless you can make some high quality wine appear out of thin air, I can not think of any way you can possibly help." I replied rubbing my temples. Now normally I don't drink, well not outside of a good party or to relax, but this job has been pushing me to my limit. The tentacled beast alone is enough to make me want to drink a liquor store dry. Why in the hell does that thing think it is going to get into my pants? I sliced off who knows how many tentacles yet he keeps on trying. I even had to make due on my threat earlier. I tore off a tentacle and shoved it up what I assume was his rectum. He hasn't bothered me since. Think he finally got the point, or at least he better. Next time I'll throw him to the killer rabbit and let the two fight to the death. I win either way and lose a headache.
I'd have my money on the rabbit. Don't let it's size or looks make you a fool. The thing took out several atlesian knights before we captured it. Keeping it partially for study, partially to use on the White Fang should we find their main hub of operations. Plan is to release the rabbit on them during a important meeting, run like hell away, and listen as it kills everyone in the room. At least that is what the big brains are thinking of using it for. I can already find several things wrong with that plan. I say kill it, cook it up, and serve it as dinner on a silver plate. Can't do that because it is too valuable . . . . somehow.
"Reclaimer, there appears to be a radiation fluctuation in Vale. I would suggest sending someone in to investigate. Could be the Flood, but highly doubtful. I can do little without my installation to stop them." Whisper warned as I looked up at my screen and kept rubbing my headache away. Radiation fluctuation, must be another portal or something. I groaned as I pulled up the keyboard. Please tell me this is another glitch. I can not deal with another portal so soon.
"Please be another glitch." I prayed. Hoping I can get a view of the area though some security cameras or satellites. Use the program to see if I can see what pops out of the portal, assess the situation and respond accordingly. A small loading screen popped up, lots of interference in the area. I reached over to grab my cup of tea and took a long sip, and then spit it all out once the screen finished loading. Little fuzzy but I can make out most of the picture. A massive beast of a machine stood tall as it fired off it's massive machine guns, orange bolts of light hit a radar dome. The massive beast lifted it's foot and crashed it down where a flurry of rose petals just were. Assault rifle and sniper round fire can be heard in the background from various angles. The machine turned to it's left to crack off more rounds from it's main guns, only for them to be effectively encased in ice from some well placed ice missiles, the big gun glowing as it appeared to be charging up for something. Wait a second.
I got up from my seat and leaned in closer to the video, to see who exactly was firing what. I can faintly make out two armored figured blasting away at the machine, one armed with an assault rifle while the other had a glowing orange sharpshooter. Agents Ohio and Rhode Island from Beacon, part of Team "Freelancer'. Why are they called Freelancer, why didn't Ozpin name them after a color or make their team name even sound like one? A girl in red with silver eyes dashing all over the place while firing off sniper grade rounds from a massive sythe gun, I think Weiss wrote to me about her partner having a weapon just like it, Ruby Rose if I am informed correctly. Leader of Team RWBY. Interesting that Ozpin picked Ruby over my little sister. I'm sure he has his reasons, I'll find out next trip I make to Beacon. Another was a girl in white using gyphs to . . . . wait a second. Is that . . . "WEISS!" I yelled as I watched my little sister mercilessly send out a rather large storm of ice shards toward the machine. The machine hunkered itself down and tanked though the slaughter of shards. Using it's bulky hull to protect the radar dome. Obviously something of importance to the machine. Why in the hell is my sister fighting that thing?! She should be back at beacon, studying and not getting herself into suicidal fights. I'm going to have a serious talk with her very soon. Trip to Vale is happening a whole lot sooner then expected. Going to take a while to get there, hopefully she lasts that long for me to arrive. As much as I hate leaving things to chance, I have no choice right now.
"Whisper, do we have any bullheads fueled up and ready to go?" I asked
"I'm sorry to report but there are no Bullheads in the area. Nearest one is at least an hour out." Whisper informed as I watched in horror as Weiss stabbed her Rapier into the ground to create a wall of ice that blocked a massive wall of lead that few her way. I'm stuck here, I'm trapped in this hell with these boobs while my sister is in grave danger. I reached over to grab the phone when a loud warping sound tore though the air. I jumped up and drew my dueling sword toward the strange noise. A large purple portal erupted not even five feet from me.
"Seriously, in my quarters. These things are not very bright on where they show up at." I said aiming the bladed end toward the portal, eyes narrowed and ready to take down what ever came out the other side. What I didn't prepare for was some cowboy styled lunatic jumping out, arms flailing, screaming 'SON OF A BITCH'. As he ran toward me blindly. I side swept him and kicked him into a wall before the portal collapsed on itself when he met his destination head first. Weird man was a tad taller then I. Rather lean and muscular, white sleeveless shirt with a checkered vest, blue denim jeans with a large brass belt buckle. Brown cowboy boots and hat to match. Can't see much about his facial features. He popped in from one of those portals, he is not to be trusted. Best I subdue him before he pulls any tricks out his sleeves. He groaned in agony as he turned to face me. Dark shades prevented me from seeing his eyes, weird facial hair combo. Side burns, goatee, an mustache all linked together. He stumbled back and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"You there. Intruder, State your business." I ordered holding my ground and had my sword nearly on his throat. He threw his hands up in the air in surrender as the blade barely touched the skin of his throat. Smart man, knows when it is best to surrender then to fight.
"My name is Jason Jones, and I'm sorry to burst in here like this." He greeted as a bead of sweat dripped down from his eyebrow, shaking his head as he "Well I'll be damned. Snow angels DO exist. Guess I owe that crazy hobo an apology." Okay, he is obviously an idiot because he made one major mistake. Never flirt with someone pointing a sword at your throat. I spun on my heel and roundhouse kicked him in the head, effectively knocking the moron out. Well that was a lot easier then I thought. I sheathed my swords as Whisper floated down with a few Sentinels. Good, he already knows what I am going to say.
"Take him to Elizabeth's old cell. I'll interrogate him later." I ordered looking back at the monitor. Wiess was doing her hardest not to be made into ribbons by that mysterious machine. "Monty protect her." I prayed.
(Johnathan's POV)
Vale industrial district
I rolled behind a cement pillar to avoid being sprayed by a hail of bullets. The REX was fighting four different people on all sides. Ruby dashing in, firing off her monstrous rounds at it, Weiss trying to user her gyphs to slow it down where she can from on top of a half destroyed building, Rhode unloading a storm of lead from her assault rifle on the Radome, me shooting off my hardlight where I can while barking orders. Ruby narrowly avoided being stomped on by the massive foot as a laser sliced though a road barrier she passed. This isn't working. I can't reach Serena, Blake and Yang ain't responding, I'm running low on patience and ammo, and I think Weiss is almost out of dust to use. Situation is growing into a shitstorm and fast.
"Ice flower combo on the legs! Rhode, give them cover fire!" I ordered poking out of my cover and opened fire on the massive machine. Rounds are still doing shit but we're separating his attention across a wide area. Geiger counter clicking higher and higher with each passing minute. Background radiation levels are now around what a normal nuclear power plant produces. My aura is slowly dropping as the radiation rises. Aura reader confirms the same with Weiss and Ruby. Their aura is slowly being drained with each passing minute. Weiss is almost drained, Ruby is just below a quarter, I'm nearly depleted. Radiation slowly bleeds away Aura levels, good to know for future reference. Rhode isn't effected in the least by the rads. Our armor is radiation resistant. So once my Aura runs dead, I should be alright for a while. Not so sure about Ruby or Weiss. Where the hell are Blake and Yang?! I can use a heavy hitter right now. Then again kind of a good thing they're not here. Tough enough for me to co-ordinate with 4 people against that thing. Adding in Yang's normal recklessness and I don't think I can handle being in charge at the moment. Ruby is too inexperienced for something of this level, I know Rhode wouldn't want to, and I doubt Weiss would even want to try.
I hope Serena heard me when I said we need bigger guns. Rhode ran from her cover and opened fire on the Radome as I did. Roman directed his attention toward us as a rotary cannons peppered the AO. Weiss jumped down from her perch as Ruby ran up to her and planted her scythe in the ground. Weiss summoned a glyph in front of them as Ruby opened fire. 50BMG rounds of ice impacted the area around the REX's left leg. Didn't in case it enough as it just smashed though the ice with great ease. Great, this is not going well. It turned it's attention back to Ruby and opened fire with it's laser. Weiss rolled out of the way just in time as it cut though the asphalt like it was wet paper. Ruby darted away from the deadly beam and nearly teleported beside me. Damn she runs fast.
"I don't thing . . . we can . . . keep this up. . . much longer." She reported huffing and puffing as she leaned against the pillar, in cover while the REX diverted it's attention to Rhode and Weiss. I flattened my back against the pillar and looked down to poor Ruby. She is suffering from Aura exhaustion. She's been using her semblance non stop the entire fight. Taking it's toll on her young body. I ground my teeth and peaked from my cover to focused on the area in front of Weiss. Light beams from all around and wrapped around her to give her a overshield of sorts. Good thing too because she just took several 30mm rounds to the chest, right before she rolled to cover and away from the REX'S line of sight. Hardlight shielding is handy to provide as support, yet taxing on me. Saved Weiss's life so worth the energy loss. Roman just cackles like a mad man the entire time.
"We need a new plan of attack. All we're doing is wasting ammo right now." Rhode informed using our TEAMCOM channel. Extremely short ranged and mostly based on line of sight. I slammed in my second last mag to my light rifle. Been mainly using it to provide cover fire for Ruby and Weiss to get to cover. Orange tracer rounds diverted his attention to me for a few moments. That was all they needed to get out his his line of sight.
"Get to cover Rhode with Weiss. Tell her to save her strength for a minute. We need to re-evaluate our 're obviously going nowhere fast." I ordered as Roman fired off his rotary cannons once more. 30mm rounds peppered the ground around us as I forced Ruby to get down, one of said rounds nearly took off her head. Had it been a inch closer she might not have lived. Quick look at my Geiger counter, radiation is getting worse by the minute. Like we're in the middle of a active reactor. Got to end this quickly somehow.
A deep and oddly familiar rumble echoed though the area. I looked up just in time to find a locker soaring over the REX. Roman moved the REX just in time for the locket to clip the edge of the machine. It spiraled out of control and dug into the ground between me and the next support pillar. Roman didn't waste time laying down a mere wall of lead Rhode's way. A second locket crashed down where Rhode was. It opened up and showed a M41 SPNKR rocket launcher. The first locker didn't open up, as the door was facing the ground. Has to be another rocket launcher. Odds just leaned a little more our way. "Thank you Serena." I whispered putting my near empty Lightrifle on my back, electro magnets held it in place.
"Ohio! We got our rockets!" Rhode yelled over the TEAMCOM. I smirked as I begun formulating a new plan of attack in my head. The 102mm HEAT rocket has enough punch to destroy/cripple tanks. But since we don't have access to rockets uses by the UNSC, we had to make our own. Tracking is still a feature, just not as are Dust warhead rounds mostly, Serena's own design to help us in battle a bit. Which ones she sent, I have no idea.
"New plan. I'll draw his fire. On my signal you go get your rocket and send one toward the Radome if you can, other wise hit the legs. Rose, you join up with Weiss and pelt that thing with what ever you two can come up with to slow him down. Show no mercy." I ordered keeping my gaze on the locker. Good bulk of my plan relies on what is inside. Hoping it is either a rocket launcher or incineration cannon. If it is the Forerunner cannon, then this is going to be over quick. " And. . . . Engage!" I yell as I took a running start from cover toward the locker, picking up a rebar pipe and throwing it like a spear toward the REX. The rebar bounced off the metal hull but re-diverted Roman's attention toward me. He opened fire once more with the Rotary cannons. I ducked under just in time to kick up a wooden sheet, and launch it toward the REX fat end out. The rounds tore though the plywood sheet like it was melted butter. I rolled behind the next pillar, the locker mere feet away from me. I looked back to find Rhode shoulder her Rocket launcher and fire off one of the rounds. The entire front half of the REX was covered in a icy block, forcing it to stagger back. I ran for the locket and skid to a stop right beside it. Rhode fired off another round, the entire right leg of the REX was locked to the ground. Good, we bought us a little time.
"Dang, these rounds are crazy good." Rhode commented as I pushed the locker around. Definitely something small inside. I can hear it rattling around to a point in there. Can't be more assault rifle ammo, I asked her for the big guns. Damn it, door was jammed shut. A long and loud crack split the air around us as the REX broke free of it's icy prison, and shook off the ice. "Never mind, they're crap." Ruby darted between pillars and broken building parts while firing round after round at the REX. She has a powerful round, sadly her rounds barely dented the armor. Damn thing must be at least a few hundred tons in metal alone to be able to shrug off 50BMG like that. Roman growled in annoyance and swung the massive railgun like it were a baseball bat toward Ruby. She tried to duck but the long rail caught her in the chest and effectively threw her across the waterfront and into a building. The wall cracked and chipped once she hit it, with her Aura breaking, she fell with a loud 'oof' and hit the ground knees first. Roman raised the REX's massive foot over the silver eyed child, slowly getting up from being a human baseball.
"RUBY!" Someone yelled as the unique sound of Yang's shotgun gauntlets went off, with a seriously pissed off Yang burst though the wall of one of the fallen buildings and stood in front of her sister. The REX stomped it's foot down with all it's might, only to be caught my the busty brawler. "No. One. Hurts. My. Little. Sister!" Yang growled as the 500 ton machine rested on the palms of her hands, yet she held her ground and kept him from crushing her sister, grunting in pain in the process. She is a lot stronger then I give her credit for. She brought one of her gauntlets back and hit the monstrous foot dead center. The resulting blast knocked the REX completely off balance and stomp back several times as the enraged blonde stood between the machine and her beloved sister. I'll admit, that was pretty badass.
"Rhode, what do you have to work with?" I asked bringing my hand back and punching a hole in the jammed locker. The REX got back up as Yang took a few steps forward and cracked her knuckle, Ruby darting away to get some distance between the REX and her pissed off sister. Not that I blame her, Yang scares me when she is mad. And I've went up against a pack of six Hunters without hesitation. That alone says enough.
"Two conventional rockets, two fire Dust payload, and two more with a ice Dust payload. What's the plan Ohio?" Rhode replied as I ripped the locker door off it's hinges and threw it aside. I was left completely speechless as I gazed upon my elegant weapon from a more civilized age. I reached in and took hold of my baby. Ammo counter sprung to life on my HUD as I gripped the weapon properly. Two rounds in the internal mag, with several clips scattered around the inside of the locker, and it has a full battery charge. I flipped the safety off to test my gut instinct right now. The barrel sparked to life as I carefully pumped the trigger, doesn't fire until the barrel is fully charged. My thumb ran over the nameplate below the trigger guard. Arcflash, my beloved railgun.
"I'm back in buisness, baby." I noted to myself with a sly grin. Roman has no idea how fucked he is now. I reached into the locker and begun fastening the clips to the side of the railgun. Ten in all. I got over 52 rounds to fire of from this beast. The REX roared once more as it regained it's balance. Yang kept her gaze on the massive machine. "Things just tipped heavily in our favor. Ruby, order your team. Call out your combos. Rhode and I will do a few of our own. We got some heavy hitters to play with." I ordered charging up my rifle. She fells as great as the day I refit her. Sparks fluidly and feels nice all the way though. Roman unleashed a hailstorm of bullets toward Yang, she was smart and rolled out of the way before firing off a few concussion rounds. The round hit the REX yet like the rest of our weaponry earlier, it did shit.
I took aim and let the barrel crackle to optimal charge as I got behind one of the pillars. Weiss used her glyph to jump forward and encase the REX's right joint in ice, before she jumped back and was caught by Ruby before taking off again. Good, they're working together and constantly moving. Rhode let loose one of the rockets, engulfing the entire back half of the REX in a fireball. Roman groaned as the REX was pushed forward. I let go of the trigger and let loose one of the massive titanium slugs. The sound of the railgun going off was music to my ears once more. A loud metallic screech filled the air as the round left the barrel of my rifle. It was going so fast it lit the air around it to a plasma like state. The round hit the REX dead center. The REX was hit dead center of the cockpit. Almost forgot how kick this thing has to it. Kicks like a mule on crack, hits like one as well. Wonder if I can use the recoil from this to do the fancy moves Ruby and the others do? Never thought about it, many outside this region wouldn't be expecting it, yet it wastes ammo I run low on so easily. I'll look into that another time.
"That's it! I've had it up to here with you pesky kids! No more Mr. Nice guy!" Roman roared as the REX fired off a volley of missiles all around him, heading right toward all of us. I kept a firm grip on Arcflash and bolted out of the way, Ruby grabbed a hold of Weiss and bolted for cover who knows where, Rhode got behind a thick cement wall, Yang rolled out of the way between explosions as we all ducked for cover. I put Arcflash on back and pulled my Lightrifle out. This calls for a little more pinpoint rapid fire than destructive power. I raised my rifle and took aim. World around me seemed to be made of honey, moving slowly yet at the same time rapidly. This can be one of a few things in my experience.
1. This is something like a adrenaline rush SPARTANS get, best dubbed as 'Spartan time' by Kelly-087. Because of my augmentation and the MJOLNIR armor. In simple terms, means I can react to things a lot faster then a normal human would. All Spartans can, part of what gives them an advantage in close quarters. My mind and body are working faster then normal people can even comprehend. Serena tried to chart my reaction timing once, can't get a accurate reading no matter what tech we used. If the Halo lore is anything to go by, somewhere around twenty milliseconds I believe. Even faster with an A.I. Assistance or in certain combat situations. Right now I got both, so I wouldn't rule that out. Doesn't happen too often with me yet it is something I grown so use to after all these years in this armor, it is barely noticeable unless I am focusing on something in particular.
2. The Meta is using his time distortion unit. I'm less effected because of the reasons stated above. Slow compared to the Meta when he activates it, but I still react and take note of what is around me. Seeing as how everything is just moving slow and not stopping all together, I'm going with option A, unless there is a major glitch in his systems that Azula clawed out. Less likely one of the two, the Meta wouldn't use his Time distortion enhancement unless it were to get him out of a bad situation. Uses up too much power and AI attention to regulate. Wyoming could for long periods of time, but that was also due to the enhanced power cell for his armor made special for that enhancement. . . . .
Or 3. There could be a time glyph right below my stupid ass. Goddamn it Weiss! Give me a heads up before you throw me into some type of time loop or something screwing with the laws of physics. Great communication here, A+ for effort. You want a cookie when we get back to Beacon? That was rhetorical, she doesn't do too well outside her team or realm of knowledge. Communication seems to be one of them, because of this I wasted a good few seconds about this when I could have been shooting down missile. In the heat of combat, every millisecond counts. End the battle quickly and with as few innocent casualties as possible. That is how Freelancer trained me.
I took aim and fired off a streak of hardlight toward the first missile. I didn't see if it connected as I switched targets, spinning on my heel I shot at a missile heading toward Rhode. Switching targets once more and fired at one aiming for Ruby. I carefully and gracefully shot down the missiles one by one Moving like a machine on auto-kill. Turn, shoot, find a new target, shot, repeat steps one though three until all missiles are down. The glyph faded away as explosions filled the air around me. Damn I am a good shot with this thing. I lowered the rifle and put in the last mag as Yang looked at me in amazement.
"You sure are a lot better then you appear to be in combat class." She noted before being nearly sliced in half by a long river of lead. I bolted left as Yang ran like hell right. Ruby popped out of her cover and fired off a few rounds from her rifle before ducking behind a road barricade. She is resorting to hit and run style tactics. I applaud her for thinking tactical like in this situation. Apparently Roman thought Yang was a higher priority target as the rounds followed her. He changed tactic and dodged her punch somehow rather quickly with a 500 ton machine of war, and fire the laser at the worst possible time for her. The deadly beam sliced though her left arm. Severing it from the rest of her body just above the elbow.
"YANG!" I yelled as she screamed in pain as she fell to the ground, her arm landing not far away from her. The REX took a menacing step toward her as she tried to pick herself up with her good arm only to fall, holding her sliced off numb in pain. Ruby uncharacteristically threw aside her beloved scythe and made a mad dash toward her fallen sister. I raised Arcflash and begun charging it up. The REX fired off a volley from it's rotary cannons at the young reaper. Ruby ducked and dodged the rounds as they flew all around her. Rhode ran out and fired off another rocket toward the REX just as I fired Arcflash. The rocket collided with the REX's back side, encasing it in a block of ice just as my round hit the front end. It demolished one of the rotary cannons and tore a hole though the backside, flinging my arm back with the massive recoil in the process. Roman responded by firing his laser my way.
I ducked out of the way as it sliced though a building behind me, making the top half of it collapse. I bolted out of the way from the destroyed building as it smashed into the ground and broke apart on impact. Roman fired off more missiles as they scattered all around once more. Ruby hoisted Yang up as the blonde groaned in pain from her severed limb. I bolted out of the way as incoming missiles hit the ground around me. Weiss conjured up a icy dome to protect her from the blast. Rhode did a baseball slide to get behind cover once more as a missile impacted the area she was just at.
"As much fun as it is beating you kids into a pulp with this thing, I am beginning to grow tired of this one way slaughter." Roman taunted over the REX's speakers shooting the remaining rotary cannon at me. I called forth on my semblance as the light around me conjoined over my human arm to form my shield, the massive rounds hit my shield one after another. Sending me skidding backward with each hit. And I thought Pyrrha hit hard when she shoots pop cans. My shield cracked and spider webbed as each round hit. After a long volly of lead, my shield finally shattered. Countless 30mm rounds flew all around me, several going though me in many unarmored places. Hurt like a son of a bitch as the massive rounds tore though my side, Forcing Arcflash to fly out of my grip and skid along the ground. I fell to my knees clinching my bleeding gut as he moved on to his next target, firing toward Rhode and Weiss. "You kids have been a massive pain in my backside for weeks! Now it's my turn to be a pain in yours!" Yang used what was left of her strength to hold herself up as she faced the massive machine once more. Poor Ruby trying to pull her good arm away from the fight, obviously afraid on what would happen next.
"Mu, status update." I ordered forcing myself up as I held onto my bleeding side. Rhode dodged and darted between bursts like she had been doing it her whole life, Weiss's ice dome finally collasped as the rounds that took me town tore though her defenses. She resorted to using a speed glyph to get her out of it, exhausting her farther if the panting was anything to go by.
"You have bullet wounds along your lower abdomen, biofoam injectors are operating at minimal complicity, you didn't resupply them fully with the can Alice gave you the other week. Painkillers are being injected into your bloodstream now." Mu informed as the numbing coolness of morphine entered my blood stream though my chest. Had to refill the painkiller injectors with this worlds variety of morphine, which is incredibility powerful. Enough to make my bleeding gut, which felt like someone stabbed me with a flaming smore stick, feel no worse then a needle injection. I forced myself back up as Rhode ducked behind the cover of a destroyed vehicle and Weiss fell to her knees not far from my location, Myrtenaster held firmly in her left hand yet her skin looked burned, like she spilled a entire pot of hot coffee on them. That isn't right, she hasn't touched anything burning, unless her weapon had some sort of side effect from using fire dust. Bad news for her is that Roman targeted her next.
I put one foot in front of the other as I took off for the fallen Schnee as Roman fired off another servo from the last rotary cannon. The rounds hit the ground coming up to Weiss as I bolted to save her life, world around me slowed down to a crawl as I forced myself to go faster, pushing my body to the brink. Mind was racing as I tried my best to get a grip of the situation in front of me. Yang was dismambered, Rhode is exhausted behind cover, Ruby is doing her best to keep her sister from going on a suicide run to get revenge, Weiss down for the count in front of me as I was racing 30mm rounds to try and save her. I would classify this as FUNBAR if there were a better use for the term.
I reached down and plucked poor Weiss off her knees just as the rounds started hitting her location. She lost her grip on her rapier as she was forced back and tackled by me. She yelped in surprise as I threw her over my shoulder and bolted for cover behind a road barricade. I put my back up against the cement barricade as the massive rounds demolished the area we were just at.
"You okay?" I asked letting go of Weiss as she tried to cover her hand with her sleeve.
"I'm fine, just a minor burn." She replied. Geiger counter on my HUD is telling me otherwise. Area is loaded with radiation right now, enough to do some serious harm if left untreated. I got to get these three out of here, at least to Beacon. It should be out of the range of death as I call it.
"Mu, Bioscan her. Tell me exactly what is wrong. Don't sugar coat it." I ordered as Weiss coughed up a fit."Let me take a look real quick. I can help." I asked gentely grasping her hand.
"I said I'm fine." She countered jerking her hand back for another coughing fit, this time drawing up a bit of blood. Oh no, it's happening faster then I thought. With her Aura down to a mere sliver, she is much more susceptible to the Rads. The round of another rocket hitting it's mark lets me know Rhode is still up and kicking, yet the return gunfire from the REX lets me know so is it.
"Fine would be a massive understatement. You're radiation count is well over acceptable levels, ulsters and internal bleeding in your stomach, exposed skin seeing a nasty burn and some blistering along your lower fore arms. My prognosis would be early to mid stage radiation sickness. You'll survive but you need medical attention right away. Bioscan shows Ruby is suffering a similar fate right now. Yang is in the early stages but her exposed blood veins is accelerating the effects. I suggest she seek a professional surgeon immediately to get her arm reattached if possible." Mu informed over my helmet's speakers. "My suggestion, get her away from the irradiated area, burn the exposed clothes, and have a professional doctor look at her ASAP." I swore under my breath as Weiss tried to force herself back up, I grabbed ahold of her by the shoulder and brought her back down. No way in hell am I letting her back out there. Her team would kick my ass and have my head as a footstool. Then her family would have their turn to 'take care of me' Godfather style. I shutter as to what her sister would have in mind.
"Let me go, I can still fight! They need me out there!" She insisted trying to wiggle her way out of my iron grip.
"Not going to happen Princess Snowflake. I am not going to let you kill yourself to prove some point." I informed holding her down as she struggled to break free of my iron grip.
"I'm not trying to prove any point. I just want to help and not be useless." She countered still trying to force herself out of my grip. I held Weiss in place and forced her to look into my visor. I depolarize it just so she can look at my face while I talk. Feature I forgot I added a while back. Never needed it till now. She saw my face except for my cheeks, which were hidden behind the helmet's cheek guards. saved my ass more than once.
"Listen to what I'm saying for just one fucking minute!" I yelled keeping her still, explosions all around so I have to yell to be heard. "We both know you won't survive if you keep fighting like this. Yang's already injured, Ruby is suffering like you are.I'll order her to go for a tactical retreat. Get to safety, get proper help. Let me and Rhode handle this from here. We're better equip for the job."
"We're not leaving you two here to that monster. We can help do something to take that thing down. Anything!" Weiss countered as a laser from the REX nearly took off our heads. I paid it no heed as I kept a straight face while still talking to her.
"Then start by saving yourselves. Rhode and I are protected by a bulk of the radiation with our armor, you three have next to nothing to stop it from killing you. We can't stop what we're doing all the time to save your hides." I explained letting go of her. She looked back at me stunned. "I get your not weak, I get you want to prove you can take care of yourselves, but this is not the time or place for anything of the sort to prove it. Best thing you can do is eliminate yourselves from the situation, and let those better equip handle it. I rather not have the next grave I dig be any of yours." A explosion caught my attention as Rhode skipped across the ground and hit the wall not far from us, Rocket launcher skidding across the asphalt close to the water. Rhode picked herself up and ran behind cover not far from me. Yang shot herself forward with her good arm landed a good punch on the massive machine, forced the REX to backup, then simply used the movement gained from the swing to kick Yang across the destroyed urban area and into a second story window. I'll give her credit where she earn it. Takes guts to keep on fighting after you lost an arm, even more so against something like this. Ruby took hold of Yang's severed arm and made a dash for her beloved scythe. She knows she can't win, collecting what she needs and is going to bolt for Yang. Smart woman. We're seriously getting our asses handed to us out here."We can't watch your backs while keeping ours intact. Any farther and you'll be more of a liability then an asset. You get what I'm saying." I replied in a much kinder tone. Situation has grown too risky to let RWBY help any farther. Can't risk them getting hurt worse by the radiation or have Roman kill them with that Mech. Weiss opened her mouth to say something else but ended up coughing up some more blood. I pulled out a cloth from my upper breastplate pocket and wiped it off her chin. She looked to be in thought for a moment before signing in defeat.
"Alright, I understand." She replied defeated as I pointed my robotic arm toward her fallen rapier and fired the grappling hook. It grabbed a hold of her weapon and reeled it back to me just as the REX open up another missile volley toward a speedy Ruby, failing to hit anything on her if her terrified screams are anything to go by. I handed her the weapon as she grudgingly took it in her left hand. "That doesn't mean I have to like it."
"Duly noted." I responded polarizing my visor once more to a icy blue tone. "I'll draw his fire, you FORCE Yang and Ruby out of here, by any means you can." I peered out over cover to scope out the battlefield for my railgun. I won't survive without it. REX was looking around as well, Ruby found cover behind a demolished vehicle, holding on to her scythe and Yang's severed arm tightly, but apparent she can only hold one and run fast enough to dodge the gunfire. Yang pushed herself up and stood up from a second story window, bleeding in several places from where her Aura shattered, still holding her numb of an arm in agony. Memories of when I lost my arm came to mind as I watched her stagger to hold herself back upright. She is doing a lot better then I did. For one she was able to pick herself up and punch the asshole responsible, plus she is still up and ready to fight despite being in unspeakable pain. I have a whole new level of respect for this woman, she is a beast. Roman cackled like a madman over the REX's speakers.
"Oh I love this machine!" He yelled as the REX stomped on a barricade, crushing it to dust under it's monstrous foot as he opened fire on Ruby's position, pinning her to her location effectively, which was right next to Yang. Barrel of the massive railgun begun glowing, sparks flew between the rails. I know that sight all too well. He's charging up the railgun to fire. Main downside to using a railgun/coilgun/gauss cannon, you need to wait for it to charge up before you can fire it. Leaves plenty of time for opponents to close the gap and kill the wielder, if they were unskilled. In the hands of a skilled wielder, they can be a force to be feared. I myself have wiped out armies with just my railgun and swords. This thing is a whole lot bigger than mine, and doesn't only deliver metal slugs. We don't have long. Minute or two at the most. Back to my original problem. Can't leave the leaking warhead here, and we can't let him fire it for it to blow some place off the map. What did I do to deserve this kind of luck? Seriously, what did I do to piss off God or any god for that matter enough to deserve this special hell.
"What's the plan Ohio?" Rhode asked over the TEAMCOM.
"We'll draw his fire as the girls EVAC from the area. Once they're in the clear, head for your Rockets. I'll keep his attention on me as I make a dash for Arcflash. Hit him with everything you got. Don't hold back." I ordered holding a hand up so Weiss knows when to go.
"Copy that." Rhode replied shouldering her assault rifle and chambered in a new mag. Roman sprayed Ruby's area with more rounds as she ducked even lower behind her vehicle, trying not to get hit by the massive rounds. She's pinned down with nowhere to run. Yang slung down beside her, clenching her severed numb in pain. If there were a time to call the Calvary, now would be that time.
"And . . . Engage!" I yelled jumping over my cover and bolting toward the REX. I raised my Lightrifle and fired a few hardlight rounds at the damaged Radome. He ended his rain of lead on Ruby as he faced me. I reached down to grab a rock and threw it as hard as I could at him. Without Arcflash I might as well do just that. Effects are the same either way.
"Back for more." Roman replied firing off several missiles from the REX's legs in rapid session. I quickened my pace and raced to the next form of available cover. The missiles exploded all around me, sending debris and asphalt all over the place. I kept going as Rhode jumped from her cover and raced to her rocket. Weiss was the last to go as she used her glyphs to speed her way to poor Ruby, collapsing as she barely made it.
I leaned down and scooped Arcflash off the ground and rolled behind a support pillar. Plucked one of the clips on the stock and prayed for the best. I pushed a button and the ammo counter opened up to expose the internal mag. I lined up the clip to the edge of the internal mag, pushed the metal slugs down, snapped the empty clip back on the stock of the stock. I pushed the ammo counter back where it goes, it lit up and showed a updated number. 5 slugs in the mag. I raised Arcflash and flipped the safety off. The barrel crackled to life as I held down the trigger to get a early charge going. 'New devide' By Linkin Park begun blasting though my suit's speakers. Mu you sneaky girl, getting the music pumping for a possible slaughter. Well, It's make or break time. Show me what you got Roman. I got out of 'cover and fired right for the cockpit.
Weiss's POV
As much as it pains me to admit it, but Johnathan is right. We need to get out of here and let 'Freelancer' do it's thing. I can barely move forward in a straight line right now, exhausted all around, skin patches feeling like they're ready to burst open and bleed me dry. Ruby isn't looking too much. Yang is barely able to keep herself up with one arm. Ruby held on to her sister's arm like it was her very life. Yang on the other hand was in the best shape between the three of us. Despite having a severed arm she has minor cuts and scraped, few patches of burnt hair, and maybe a few fractured ribs. Facts right in front of us, we're in deep trouble right now. No way around it, we are seriously outmatched in this fight. Were it not for the radiation we would have had Roman by his ear. If only there were a way we can counter it? The ungodly screeching of Johnathan's railgun going off let me know he is back in the fight and not holding back. Rhode's rockets blowing up as well told me they're not going to go down easy, yet the steady fire from the lone machine gun also let me know Roman is not going down without a fight. Things just got a lot more high risk then I anticipated. If I had knows we'd be fighting something that eats Paladins for a snack, I would have brought more Dust for us to use.
"Ruby you alright?" I asked kneeling beside her.
"We need . . . a new plan . . . of attack." She replied exhausted and holding her sides. Yang nodded in agreement as she finally settled down, part of her pants have been ripped off to use as a makeshift bandage, protecting the numb from farther infection. I hope Johnathan knows a really good surgeon, other wise we'll have to amputate the rest of the arm. Infection is no joke, it can be deadly if left untreated. No idea as to how radiation effects open wounds. I would hazard a guess and say not as well as I think.
"What about you Yang?" I asked.
"Tis but a flesh wound." She replied with a soft chuckle. "But seriously, it hurts like hell and I have a whole new level of respect for Johnny. Mine was sliced off, he cut his off willingly. Monty damn that had to take a lot of guts." I can't find a way to argue with that. She has a good point.
"He ordered us to get out of here. Too dangerous for us to help any farther." I informed as Ruby coughed up a bit of blood. Yang reached over and wiped it off her chin. "He said we need to get out of here and seek help. Preferably a doctor for obvious reasons.
"Were our situation even the slightest bit less dire, I would disagree and keep on kicking ass." Yang replied wincing as she held her makeshift bandage in place. Explosions echoed all around us. How can Johnathan and Elizabeth fight so easily in this while keeping their communication to a minimal? Radio chat only can carry someone so far in a fight. "Right now there isn't much we can do. Armor is too thick for us to penetrate without special dust rounds, damn machine seems to never run out of ammo of all sorta, and I still need my strawberry sunrise." To which Ruby playfully smacked Yang upside the head.
"We got to try something." Ruby replied
"What would you suggest we do then? We hit that beast with everything we had. I only have a small vial of lightning dust left, you're on your last mag, Yang is too injured to keep on going without killing herself. What can we do exactly?" I asked.
"Maybe this can give them a hand." Yang joked holding up her severed arm. My face met my palm in record speed as something tore though the upper part of the vehicle and soared out to explode on what was left of a factory. We all ducked down lower as the gunfire increased. If I were to guess, that was one of Johnathan's rounds. I looked over the side of the overturned vehicle to see how Rhode and Johnathan were doing. Johnny rolled out of the way of a laser blast as Rhode fired a rocket to the back. Metal went flying yet the machine turned around to pepper her with a crap load if gun fire. She rolled out of the way, reloading as she went while Johnathan charged up another shot. They're fighting so flawlessly and so quickly. Like it's natural to the two of them. Rhode ducked under gunfire as Johnathan shot off his railgun, tearing though the right side of the machine and taking out some of the back. Roman didn't just stand there and take it, he fired off missiles all around him, as they soared though the air he fired off another servo from the machine gun, all while Johnathan and Elizebeth dodged and moved around to make it a whole lot harder to hit them. Meanwhile the massive gun on the machine glowed and cackled like Johnathan's railgun. I assume to launch something. With it so massive, it takes more time to charge. What I wouldn't give to have Nora right now. She'd charge that thing head on and smash it's cockpit in with her new alien hammer, or duel wield her hammer with it. I am terrified of that image in my head. But she would help out a lot.
"We need to do something. We can't just leave them like this." Ruby asked. I tapped Myrtenaster on the ground as I tried to think. I know Johnathan ordered us to leave but we can't just run away like cowards. But the longer we're effected by this radiation the shorter our lives will become. But if we don't take out that machine then a whole lot of lives would be cut short. The part of me that wants to give my Father the middle finger is telling me to stay and fight, while the rest of my body is screaming at me to seek medical help. Ruby looked back at me like a worried kid. . . . she is a worried kid. In fact we're all nothing but worried kids in this situation. Only ones who are really adults are technically Johnathan and Elizabeth, and they're fighting for their lives right now. We go we risk Johnathan or Rhode dying from lack of back up, we stay and we'll only get in their way and risk death ourselves.
(Johnathan's POV)
I ducked underneath the REX's laser. We've been dealing some heavy damage to the REX. Nothing notable to slow it down or stop it from killing us. Doing everything we can to distract him and not fire off that warhead. So far seems to be working but I don't know to what extent. Rhode and I were doing a combo we call 'Rock and Rail'. I use my railgun to gain his attention while Rhody shoots her rockets at the high value areas. So far he moves quicker then the rockets so they mostly impact the bulkier part of the hull. We've managed to do quite a bit of damage in a short amount of time. Areas are exposed on the backside, several large dents around the cockpit, Radome was some how still intact. Rhode was hiding behind a heavily damaged support pillar as Roman fired off the rotary cannon at my position. I rolled behind the cover of a road barricade as my side begun to sting again. Biofoam is breaking apart, not going to last much longer. Rhode jumped out of her cover and fired off her last rocket in the tube. It smacked dead center on the cockpit as the REX was forced to back up by the impact alone, till it stepped forward once more and literally shook off the explosion like it was nothing. Why can't anything be easy anymore.
"Nice try Agent Rhode Island, but you're already too late." Sigma taunted firing the rotary at her, forcing her to return to her cover as the rounds chipped away at the pillar. One of the larger chunks that got cut away fell off right over Rhode. I yelled to warn her but the chunk already fell on her leg, making her scream in pain as it pinned her to the ground. "My railgun is fully charged and just waiting for Roman to push the button." The rounds cut a line clean though the support piller, make it snap under the weight. I hooked Arcflash to my back beside the Lightrifle and bolted once more. The entire pillar from the cut up begun to come crashing down, yet the bridge remained up somehow. I won't question it, just going with it. Luckily Rhode wasn't far from my position as I spread both my arms and caught the massive hunk of rock from hitting her. I grunted in pain and was forced yell out in pain, arm servos whining and squealing at me as my human parts were screaming at me in agony. God damn it this thing is heavy. How much does this thing weigh?!
"Miss Schnee, I'm afraid you're going to have to re-plan your welcome home party." Sigma taunted as the REX's railgun sparked and flashed brighter, with the machine planting the foot spikes deep in the ground and aiming the massive gun north at a large angle. I took a deep breath and used what strength I could summon on a dime to throw the piller aside, falling to my knees as every fiber in my body screamed at me to rest. I can't let him win, I can't let him launch that nuke. "Forecast for the Schnee manor calls for nuclear winter and radiation."
"Ohio, take out that Raingun!" Rhode yelled trying to pry her foot free from it's prison. I forced myself up and raised Arcflash once more, aiming for the main joint of the railgun. I got to get that thing off course. I charged up Arcflash as Roman laughed his ass off in that machine. Last round in the mag. I got to make this count.
"Forecast this, cockbite." I taunted firing my raingun. My slug flew out of the barrel of my gun and flew toward his, just as his went off as well. Time crept to a crawl as my round raced to meet the its target, painfully inching forward as the static discharge from his exposing the warhead as it raced down the rails in a disposable rail casing, blinding the area around it in a shower of sparks. I watched helplessly as my round was being outraced by the much larger and deadlier one. His exited the muzzle just as mine slammed into the joint where his railgun met the hull. Time returned to normal as an ear damming sonic boom and metallic screech echoed though out the entire city, windows shattered and car alarms blared like crazy. Wonder why no cops showed up yet? We're not in Chicago or Detroit so large amounts of gunfire and explosions are not a typical night. My round smashed though the joint and effectively severing it from the massive body. A large glowing yellow trail soared though the air as his payload took flight, the weapon it fired out of fell to the ground after being severed from it's body.
The REX roared as it back peddled. I was about to start running for cover, but the angered screams of one extremely pissed off Schnee forced my attention elsewhere. She used her glyphs to boost her speed and ran right for Roman. Roman saw her and begun firing the laser once more at her. Ruby popped in and shot forward toward the laser dish from behind, severing it with her scythe as Weiss jumped up and stabbed her Rapier on the REX's back, holding onto her Rapier as the REX begun to move all over the place and tried to shake her off. Now why in the hell didn't they do that in the first place? Then again, anger makes people act rash and attack without reason. And man does Weiss look pissed off. I mean pissed enough to make South at her worst look like Pinkie pie in comparison. That alone says plenty.
"What in the hell are those girls thinking?" I asked grabbing a hold of the rock pinning Rhode in place and throwing it aside.
"Most admirable trait about humanity. When backed against a wall, you human refuse to quit and fight to the bloody end. Regardless of the outcome." Mu noted as Ruby raced around the REX, carefully dodging the rotary cannon fire as Weiss begun pulling wires from the exposed parts she can reach. The cannon shut off after Weiss pulled one of the right wires.
"What are you kids doing!" Roman roared slamming the cockpit into a wall, nearly knocking Weiss off. She held onto a hole Rhode made and forced herself up as Ruby flashed in front of the REX to fire off a few round. I'll admire their courage on this, or it could be their stupidity. Fine line between the two with no solid definition of which is which. I grabbed Arcflash and bolted toward them. They'll need some serious help. . . . . I got a crazy, maybe even suicidal, plan.
(Weiss's POV)
I was furious, no . . . pissed off at Roman right now. He launched a radioactive warhead at my house. MY HOUSE! Out of all the terrible and vial things someone could do to my family, this is by far the worst of the worst. Screw Johnathan's orders, I won't sit idly back while Roman launched a freaking nuclear warhead my MY DAMN HOUSE! If I die today, then I better make sure I take this scum with me. I held onto a burnt hold in the hull as he tried shaking me off, Myrtenaster embedded deep in the top of the hull, vial of lightning dust loaded and read to be dispersed on the blade. I reached into the hole to find something else to grab on to but only ended up pulling more wire out. The machine roared and blared in alarm as I grabbed hand fulls of wires and started yanking. One of these has to be important. I was nearly thrown to the side as Roman tried to stomp on Ruby, who was darting around and trying to keep Roman distracted on her. I'll he honest, I feel ready to pass out right here and fall to the ground, but I must keep going. I can't let Roman get away with this. I got to warn my family, but first I need to kick Roman's slimy butt out of this machine and strangle him with my bare hands. I can't call my mother because the radiation screwed with my scroll's signal. No calls going in or out right now.
"WEISS!" Johnathan yelled running as I looked down. He had his railgun in his hands, reloading it as he charged our way. "Stab your Rapier right at the top, as powerful of a strike as you can make with the lightning dust! I'll hit him hard from below! Short circuit the bastard!" I reached up and grabbed onto something a lot more solid then wire, pulling myself up I moved higher up and grabbed a hold of a crack. Metal cut into my skin as I pulled myself up farther but I was long past the point of caring. This thing needs to die right now. I reached up once more and grabbed a seam in the hull. Almost there Weiss, just one more pull and you're up top. Roman was thrashing around and trying to shake me off. The screech of Johnathan's railgun going off echoed though out the grounds as a blinding streak of light tore though the hull of the machine mere inches from where I was. I raised my arm to protect my face from the flying metal. Bits of sharp metal lodged themselves in my skin but I forced myself to ignore the pain, I have to keep going. I raised my bloody hand up once more and grabbed the hilt of Myrtenaster to force myself to get up. Blood dribbled from all across my body as I yanked my rapier from the top of the machine and summoned a glyph below me to keep my feet on the machine. Johnathan was in view with his railgun charged up again and aimed right at the bulky hull of this machine. Now or never Weiss, time to end this. I clicked a button on Myrtenaster as the cylinder spun to the right 'ammo' as selected. My blade begun to spark as the final vial of potent dust coated my blade. I held the blade pointed down at the top of the hull with both hands on the hilt. Every part of me ached and felt ready to collapse.
I cried out in agony as I thrust my blade straight down and embedded it deep into the massive machine as Johnathan fired his raingun once more. Electricity jolted all though my body as it sparked all around the hull, feels like someone set my nerves on fire. Roman screamed in agony as it must have effected him as well. Johnathan's railgun bolt slammed into the thickest part of the hull and tore it's way out, Rhode fire off one of her rockets as it slammed into the leg of the machine in a great fireball. I forced myself to hold on to my blade as the lightning dust sparked and flew all around me, crackling off the end where the machine's railgun was destroyed. The monstrous machine gave a final roar as it collapsed on itself and fell face first toward the water, knocking a support pillar down with it.
My gyph faded away as I went flying. I flailed thought the air before finally hitting the water hard. My back ached in protest as I broke thought the water with a loud 'slosh'. The freezing bay washed over me and numbed the pain of being electrocuted. I held my breath and tried to swim back up, only to be sunk back down as a large chunk of metal and rock got hooked on the helm of my skirt, forcing me to go down ever farther. I frantically tried to get free, lungs burning for air. I wrestled with the button on my skirt to get it off but it was stuck. I almost got it undone when something hard smacked into the back of my head. I let out the breath I held in as everything begun to fade to black.
A/N: That's a wrap people. I feel as if this chapter has been going on far enough, but I did purposely leave some things unexplained. Like what the hell were Blake, Sun, and Neptune doing while the others were getting their asses whooped. Will Yang get a robot arm like in V4 or will Johnathan bring her to one of his 'friends' from the RVB universe. We all know who I am talking about. Only have two options and neither are good for anyone. I was going to include the OC of someone from Deviant art but I promised myself I would have this out today. Plus I am running on fumes right now, I'll add your Spartan next chapter. He won't show up as much as Alice, maybe as a news article or humor bit. Also;
Holy, fucking, HELL! This was a long chapter to write. About 25k words, yeah that shit is not easy to write on a dime. This is where most my time has been spent as of late.
Today is my birthday so today I can legally drink and by my own ammo. So I am celebrating the American way with beer, guns, and explosives. Is there any finer way to celebrate. Also Jason belongs to Le MOA XXIII. He requested I pair his OC with Winter for comedy shits and giggles. He won the Easter egg contest. So far only two people entered. Figured a lot more would. Oh well. I need sleep. I'll work on the next chapter in the morning, enjoy this half rushed craziness. I will edit it when I actually get some real sleep and not hopped up on a metric shit-ton of caffeine. Beginning to think it is the reason i can't sleep too well at night. So long guys.
~Dgreen20