Chapter 36
Never surrender
Week 9: Day 69
Kou Kuan, Menagarie
Market place
(Kali's POV)
I ducked underneath a barrage of heated spikes as it slammed into the wall behind me, burning a hole in the stone somehow. A militia man; Sahara something, name escapes me at the moment. Was beside me poked his head out and fired off his AK style assault rifle. Dressed in full desert camouflage armor, donkey ears poking out of the top of his helmet. A militia fox faunus laid dead beside us, chest full of those awful spikes. I was behind a stone wall as some alien like beings were killing anyone around them. Big hulking ape like beings, one held a massive hammer as it swatted a cart aside like it was a beach ball. No idea what happened to that guy, most likely still raining terror on innocent people. Few bird like beings with sharpshooter like guns picked off anyone unlucky enough to get in cross hairs. The ones with a air tank on their back were hardly a threat, except in large groups and with their massive cannons. Cries of pain and agony filled the streets, as well as gunfire and the whine of the alien's weaponry.
Rain pelted my ravaged city as a massive purple ship hovered above, sun setting over the ocean as lightning lit up the sky. I'm not sure what happened exactly or how many there are. I was just enjoying a simple shopping trip at the local market, getting fresh veggies for the stew I wanted to make. Suddenly the air raid siren started blaring, that massive ship popped down from the heavens. It unleashed enough aircraft to put the biggest Lancer nest to shame. They just started killing people. No warning, no mercy, no hesitation, not even any prior contact beyond the whoosh of their fighters. Slaughtering everyone in their path. I honestly miss the local Grimm at this point. Those we know how to fight, these beings we know nothing about. Local militia was doing their best fighting this new threat, our bullets seemed to bounce off some type of personal shielding the bigger ones got. Almost like Aura but it visibly recharges a whole lot faster. The little bird like ones have larger shields on their wrists that deflect bullets. Ghira was in the front lines trying to co-ordinate everyone and hopefully repel these beings. With Menagerie having no standing military, militia aside, it was a lot easier said than done. All their gear was either left over from the Great war, the Faunus rights revolution, or the user bought it with their own Lein.
The man's rifle barked more. The rounds tore though the chest of the bird like ones, and a couple hitting the big ape thing. The ape one close by fired off more heated spike rounds. The man barely got down before the massive rounds embedded themselves in the wall his head was just at. He swore reloading his rifle. I held the common pistol knife combo from our fallen friend in one hand, one of the bird being's shields in my other. Using it to deflect some of the incoming fire as I tried to cover the guy beside me. On my belt was a cast iron skillet, this thing has saved my butt a lot today. Somehow and some way it is able to deflect their bullets and knock them out if I smack them hard enough. It was all I could grab on a short notice, now I am glad I picked it up.
"Great, we're pinned down with no where to go, hostiles on all sides, and no idea what the hell these things even are!" Sahara grumbled poking out and firing off his rifle some more. His rounds all impacted the big ape guy, making his shield's pop. Lightning cracked as the beast yelled and tried to throw something at us, but was quickly ran over a truck, skidding to the side with several people jumping out. Another milita group, these guys holding up shields from the fallen bird things to help even the odds. One got to the side of the vehicle and shouldered a rocket launcher of some sort, the others scattered out and kept their fire on the advancing alien army. One of the purple aircraft soared on by, a large puff of smoke and the rocket raced out. The aircraft rolled left to avoid the rocket and fired off a green bomb. It slammed into the vehicle and caused it to erupt into a plum of dust and debris, the explosion engulfed the man, his last known words being short screams of pain. I covered my mouth from the horror. What in Oum's name are these beings?! One of the men raced over to our position and ducked under cover beside us, ram faunus. One in command if the patch on his shoulder was any guess. Radio piece in his ear with a short pack on his back, probably to communicate with the others. Shotgun in hand with a bandier around his chest half empty.
"How we doing out there?" I asked handing him over my now red alien shield. Maybe a few hits and it's done for. He'll make better use out of it than I will. My black dress was long past torn and burnt up, had to slip on one of the armored vests from a fallen friend. Hair was a mess, cat ears laid flat against my head under a helmet I threw on quickly. Won't hold up that much against their weaponry, but it is better than nothing. At least it would give me a chance to survive this.
"Captain Ash. Ma'am. We lost the harbor and west flank within minutes, they destroyed our communication's tower first upon landing. We're pulling back to the workshop district. Ghari's men already have a perimeter established there. Not much but it is better than nothing." He answered in a swift voice, using the shield to deflect debris from a poorly thrown grenade by someone. More cries of pain echoed out as my friend fired off his rifle in return. "They'll hold out but I don't know for how long. We got as many as we could in defensible positions, but these things just keep coming. Oum knows how many more are still on that ship of theirs. May he help us if they decide to target anyone with that ship." He informed as I poked from cover and shot a few rounds off, with most of them hitting the short stubby grey one in the body and head. Never thought I'd have to take a life, but it is either us or them. They are well beyond obviously here to slaughter as many of us as possible, I just wanted to get some veggies for a stew today Oum damn it! I did not want to get sucked into the middle of a war zone!
Some type of bug like tank floated down from lord knows where, it extended it's legs and locked down on the ground not far from us. Looked like a large blood red and steel grey armored tick, like what it looks like, this thing must be out for blood. It opened up it's back and let loose a large servo of missiles. "Hit the deck!" He yelled covering me and him behind the shield. The missiles zoomed all to our area and detonated. The air echoed as a ear deafening explosion rang out, several more hit the area around us. Rocks and debris flew everywhere as the captain raised the shield to block any of it from hitting me, shorting out the alien shield. We crumpled backward from the force of the explosion, wall that defended our hides shattered. The captain stood up as something massive broke though the clouds above. Sleek and grey ship of some sort descended down from the heavens above, on the side read 'DD-163 Last Rose of Summer' in bold grey writing with a white rose insignia on the back half. It's engines could be heard from where I was. In the blink of an eye, a large beam of light shot forth from it's nose with a large metallic sonic boom. The attack hit the purple ship dead on, causing it's shields to flare up as a second blast smacked into it. A second, more damaged ship, broke thought the clouds right behind the first one. It read 'DD-102 Birds of a Feather' as this one started getting closer to the ground than it's twin, heading for the workshop district. The purple ship started it's main engines back up and moved to meet these new threats. Both of which were several time smaller than the purple one.
"Is that one of the Kingdoms? They got our call for help?" I asked as the ship shot several black objects down from under it's belly. With a whistle, these black egg like objects slammed into ground, one smashing into the tick thing not far from here, and a few in front of us. The fronts popped on them as people clad in full black armor ran forward from their transports, barking orders to one another. They were organized, lining up beside the local militia and helped fire away into the aliens onslaught.
"We got Bravo Kilo's on the ground. I repeat, we have Brutes on the field. Jess, find a perch and target those commanders. I want them as disorganized as possible. Zack and Jude, help push a way though to get the locals the rally point Alpha." a larger one yelled in different armor. When the rounds hit his body, a shield similar to that of the aliens flared up. He stood tall, barking orders all around as he fired off his rifle. Each time it barked, one of the smaller alien's died.
"Doesn't matter, We got help when we need it. I won't question it. Come on people, let's push these dirty apes back!" Ash yelled pumping his shotgun and running up to join the unknown soldiers. I reloaded my pistol and rushed forward to join them. We got some help, might as well figure out who the hell dropped down to help. I hope they really are here to help.
(Summer's POV)
Last Rose of Summer
"Activate point defense guns, target those Banshees. Keep them away from the city." I ordered as a Banshee passed by us, hitting our port side with a fuel rod bomb. The explosion rang though out the ship. Red flickered on her table as the point defense guns fired at the daring pilot, who's aircraft got destroyed as soon as he tried to go in for another pass. The Cruiser was turning so she could face us head on. No idea what that captain is thinking, but it is buying us some time to charge up another MAC shot. Won't do much damage but it is better than nothing. Then again, we're like two mice taking on a cat right now. Not sure how we're going to win. I know we're not going to lose easily.
"Direct hit on the port side, damage to the outer hull. Deck 5 is venting atmosphere." Red informed as Qrow's ship hovered down to over what looked like the workshop area, firing off his defense guns as a squadron of star fighters made a pass over that way. The guns took out a few but not before they could drop their payload. Several clouds of green jutted out across her hull as the squadron begun to turn around for another pass. I don't know if they hit anything important, but I can tell she won't last much longer. I couldn't get the Pelican out with all this air traffic right now. It would be shot down in seconds.
Ground squads reported something strange with the local population. Something about them having animal like characteristics. One private was stupid enough to ask if they should shoot them. My response was quite clear. Are they shooting at us? No. there was his answer. Less enemies we have in this fight the better. We can't exactly call for reinforcements right now, I can't get anyone on the BattleNet aside from Qrow. So we're stuck in this fight with under a hundred or so ODST and Marines, a lone Fireteam of four Spartans, couple of Cyclopse Exosuits, a Gauss gun Warthog or two, a M808b battle Tank, two old Destroyers, and a Pelican that somehow survived the fall of Reach. Most of the stuff we have was scavenged from the remains of Reach. Higher ups said they were still usable and gave them to us instead of the newer everything. Meanwhile the cruiser has thousands of troops, vehicles, a lot bigger and deadlier of a ship, plus a lot bigger guns. We are the very definition of being up shit creek without a paddle. We survive this fight, I'll buy everyone who survives the entire damn bar.
"Divert power to engines, that ship is going to attack soon and I know it." I ordered as the ship groaned once more. Her old bones won't last too long in this fight, I can feel it now. Rain pelted the hull as lightning crackled behind us. We might be able to use this storm to our advantage, not sure how just yet. The old ship jolted as another banshee dive bombed us. Deck 3 now breached. Lord help us survive this fight. The cruiser now faced us and unleashed a large swarm of blue plasma balls our way.
"Cruiser has launched plasma torpedoes. ETA till impact, thirty seconds." Red informed. Over confident captain it has, faithful that the plasma torpedoes will be enough to take us down. Strange that they decided to fire them off in atmosphere. I might have to pull a page from Jacob Key's book to survive this fight. He was faced with worse odds and somehow came up on top. Then again he was Captain Keys, never liked going down without a fight. And he was fighting in the vacuum of space instead of in atmosphere. So his range of tactics were a lot wider then mine right now.
"Activate starboard emergency thusters on my signal. Increase speed by one third." I ordered watching the burning blue balls racing toward us. I could feel the engines of this old girl rumble as she sped up to meet the burning death balls. Red warning signs flashed all over the console as they got closer. Just a little but more, long enough for them to follow us . . . "NOW!" I yelled. The entire ship jolted left as we barely missed being incinerated by the plasma balls, the ship still maintained it's speed as the death balls now started to follow us.
"Torpedoes have locked on. MAC gun at 35%" Red informed. With engine 3 down, we won't be able to go as fast as we can, but we'll be fast enough to do what I have in mind. From what I can make out, we have a few advantages over the Cruiser. Speed and Agility mostly. While she packed a lot bigger punch and can take a lot more damage, we can out speed her and hopefully out flank her. Risky but we have no other options. We already used our element of surprise and the first strike advantages, that helped out a lot by damaging her shields. At least enough for this part to work. Not sure if the Key's loop would work in atmosphere, but we can't go back up to space right now. Qrow's ship can't survive another minute outside atmosphere because their life support is dead, and we're starting to leak atmosphere. So we can't go back up to orbit right now. Maybe we could have used that shattered moon to our advantage. We raced toward the advancing cruiser as it started opening fire on us with it's plasma cannons. Bolts of blue shot past us as we ran right into it's line of fire, several hitting the sides of the outer hull and grazing it. Red warning signs flash all around the console as we grew closer to the ship.
"Pull up forty degrees, full speed." I ordered. The old ship jolted up as we started climbing upward, bolts of plasma smacking into the underbelly of the ship as we barely scrapped the shields of the massive cruiser, and just in time as well. The ship's own plasma torpedoes slammed into it's shields at full force, it flickered and flared as it begun to fail. But somehow it remained strong and stayed up. Damn, those shields are tougher than I thought. Resourceful captain maybe? Saw what we were doing and diverted power from the plasma lances to strengthen the shields. I wouldn't be too surprised. "Decrease speed by two thirds. Damage report." Have to lower our speed for a few moments. Can't strain the engines any more then I am already. Don't need another one failing on me right now.
"Extensive damage though out the ship, breaches on several decks. Engine four has been hit, damaged but still functional. Operating at 68% optimal performance. May I suggest we try a less suicidal approach next time." Red informed as the entire ship shook. I held onto my chair as the lights along the bridge flickered. "Reactor bay has been breached by plasma turret fire. One more volley in that area, we'll lose all power and follow gravity to the ground. Cruiser is in striking position, charging up their forward plasma lancers once more." Damn it, There has to be something we can do. Those guns will melt right though our hull with ease in we don't get out of their range. Can't do that because we need to stay this close so they don't focus all that firepower on the ground. We need a miracle right now. Lightning flashed right in front of the ship and struck the star port side. The old girl creaked the groaned as she struggled to stay up in atmosphere. "Lightning strike on the star port hull. Damage minimal. Large interference with our tracking equipment." . . . this gives me an idea. Crazy but it just might work with our smaller size. Extremely risky but it could work.
"Set course for the storm clouds Red. Bring us right in the middle of it." I ordered as another flash of lightning illuminated the night sky before us.
" Aye aye Ma'am. Steering us into the eye of the storm. Start praying to whatever god or gods you believe in before we get slaughtered." Red informed sarcastically as the ship begun to straighten out and point toward the black clouds as a long stream of green passed by the bridge window inches from us. I had to move my hand in front of my eyes to block out the light, heart jumped all the way to my throat as the unmistakable sound of plasma firing filled the air. Just as quickly as it popped up, it vanished. God damn that was way too close. "Cruiser has fired it's plasma lance. Missed by a dozen meters. Looks like God smiled upon us today." I gripped the edges of my armrest as we narrowly avoided being hit by a lance of searing hot plasma. Thankfully we managed to get into the cover of the clouds, lightning sparked and flew around us. I could feel the charge in the air right now. If we're lucky, hopefully these clouds will help mask our ship enough to get the jump on them. Or long enough to deploy the pelican out. Lord know they need that tank ground side right now. MAC guns are sitting at 57%. Just a little longer, we'll be able to dish out another blast. Qrow has the only SHIV nuke between us, so I'm limited to my MAC gun being the only effective thing against that ship. Archer missiles are an option but only if the shields are down or as a distraction. Lord I hope this plan works. "We're in the storm Ma'am. Cruiser is hot on our tail. Something about this storm is interfering with our equipment. Hopefully theirs as well."
"Hard port, let's get those engines aimed away from them, mask them in the storm. Kill all lights, reduce engines speed to a hover, trickle excess energy into the MAC guns. We're waiting this one out for a bit." I ordered as fresh rain pelted the glass of the bridge. Hopefully this storm will help camouflage our ship enough to get a surprise attack in on them. No way we can take that ship head on again. Going to have to be sneaky and smart about this. The ship moved on course as Red made the necessary calculations, we banked a wide right as we dived deeper into the storm. Lights all across the outer shell of the ship and bridge shut off, leaving us in the dark with Red piloting. Bridge crew of ten huddled over their screens as we collectively held out breath. Praying this works. Another flash of lightning illuminated the night sky in front of us. Bolt of lightning jumping between two clouds, showing a bulb of purple as the cruiser kept at it's course. "Cut comms for a moment Red, don't give them any way to find us. Prepare a bay of Archer missiles for a distraction." I ordered as another metallic groan echoed though the ship. Going to have to use the missiles as a distraction for now. Can't rely on this storm to conceal us for ever. Now stealth is normally a Prowler's job and specialty, we're using the best of our surroundings to try to hide in plain sight. Not easy but we have to at least try. The electrical charge from the thunder clouds should disrupt part of their scanners, forcing them to rely on visuals from their camera's. With the standard black and grey color pattern our Destroyer has going for it, we won't be easily spotted against storm clouds at night. Got to get a sneak attack in, hopefully lower the shields enough for the Archer missiles to do any damage. How their shield are still up from two near full charged MAC blasts and it's own plasma torpedoes, I don't have the slightest idea. This idea is pretty stupid, down right suicidal if I'm wrong. But lord knows we need every advantage we can get. Right now, we have to make our own and pray for the best. One wrong move, we're dead.
(Qrow's POV)
Birds of a Feather
"Damage to engine two, port defense gun 1 has been destroyed, Saraph squadrons are turning around for another pass." Black beauty informed from her table. Her avatar took on the form of a young woman in a Japanese kimono with cat ears. No amount of booze will help me understand why she picked that of all things to look like. My bridge shook and sparked as a trio of banshee's passed by, bombarding the sides of my poor ship. Haven't you put this old girl though enough you goddam heathens!
"Use what guns you have and focus on those fighters. We can't afford too many more hits right now." I ordered as the old girl shook once more. Grey uniform was long past stained with grease, torn in several areas, messy black hair hair, red eyes scanning the dispay before me as if it would tell me anything I didn't know. Head felt like someone was pounding on it with a sledgehammer. Windows to the bridge were mostly cracked and ready to break, they got destroyed when the fighters begun targeting the bridge. We're doing our best to keep them from bombing the city, lot easier said than done. This old girl doesn't have much fight left in her. Summer ordered me to set her down above the city to act as some cover for the civilians and to deploy my troops. Already sent out the Cyclopes MECH suits down there. Warthog raced out of the Cargo bay as fast as it could to run though the streets. Ordered that team to lay down covering fire for anyone trying to reach this area. We're strengthening the defensive perimeter that the locals already have established. Not bad, but it will have to do for now. We're not as well equip to handle ground operations as the Spirit of Fire is. So we got to make due with that we have around us. I may have the only nuke, but Summer has the only Tank and Pelican. Rather hold on to the nuke until the time is right to set it off. Nuclear winter is the last thing I want to bring upon these people.
My poor ship got hammered hard during the ambush. Half the crew is dead, I'm alone on the bridge with Blake Beauty in control of everything I can't handle, somehow we're still up and running. Reactor has been breached so we can't output as much energy as we would like. Only enough to keep the engines running and maybe trickle a bit into the MAC guns. We're at 13% for the only one we can fire. The other one took a direct hit from a plasma torpedo. Damaged the coils on the inside, we can only fire the lower one now and even then it can't be a full charge. The compactors would overload if we tried a full charge right now. Missles are down to a few pods, if that. Structural damage all around, too many hull breaches to count, lord knows how we're not crashing into the ground below. Rain echoed though out the bridge as lightning light up the sky above. I could make out the outline for the cruiser. Couldn't see Summer's ship in the clouds at all. One of the advantages of being smaller. Easier to hide in plain sight.
What is she thinking? Taking on that cruiser all alone. These tiny ships wouldn't last for too long against their weaponry. Not even if they were brand spanking new, fresh out of the shipyard. These things are ancient, made two years before the Covenant attacked Harvest. These things may have survived a lot, but they are on their last legs. Everyone in the entire Navy knows it would be cheaper and easier to scrap and rebuild the two destroyers than to fix them up. Lord knows how they survived this long. But Summer had to talk Lord Hood out of it. Even though we got painfully inaccurate slip space drives, no shields, and barely refit with better equipment than we originally had. Being older and less valuable than the newer star ships, we've naturally been given the shit end of everything that none of the others want. New shielding technology? Let's slap it on this frigate instead, we'll somehow survive without it. Faster engines? We don't need that, our old ones still work just fine. Let's give it to this Corvette, you'll live without it. Better MAC guns? Don't make the ordinance manager laugh, ours are good enough for escort. Why they haven't scrapped these rust heaps, I will never understand it. The bridge shook and sparked as another fuel rod bomb slammed into the side of my damaged hull.
"Med bay has been breached. Unknown casualties though out the ship. I can only hold them off for so much longer." Black Beauty informed as a trio of Saraph aircraft sped past. Damn I hate those things. Point defense guns can only do so much at once. Only so much I can do in atmosphere. Were I in the vacuum of space, I could spin the ship to make it harder for them to hit anything important. Right now, I am just standing here like a sitting duck. Getting bombarded on all sides by fighters.
"Do we have everything we need down there?" I asked.
"Affirmative, our cargo bay is empty and a Base of Operations has been set up down below. All teams are conjoining with the locals in a defense." Black Beauty informed as the ship shook once more. "Breach along decks 9 and 10. Confirmed hit to the starboard thrusters."
"Start up the engines and set speed to two thirds. Prep the archer missiles. Send us into that storm after them" I ordered holding my head. Damn this headache is getting worse.
(Johnathan's POV)
Vale hospital
Doctor's have given the green light for us to go see Yang. Rhode had to stay back because Blake and Weiss were still asleep on her. Ruby woke up not too long after the doctor told us the news. I let her know Yang's options. Told her that it is her choice on what we do next. We can go the robotic arm route I picked (Still regret it some days but this arm has saved my life on several occasions), I can try to get a old 'friend' to reattach her arm assuming we can get to the old woman, or we wait to see if Ironwood can come up with something better. Without Cole or a multiverse portal projector of any sort, we're limited on our options. Right now a robotic arm is looking like the most plausible options.
JNPR (Minus the J) called in to let me know that Elaia was fine and that Pyrrha may have learned the hard way why she needs to keep a close eye on Elaia's vocabulary. Apparently they said she shouted something word she learned from the dragon soul and Pyrrha ended up as a block of ice. Confirms my theory that she learned a new shout, not entirely sure how without visiting a word wall from her world, but I am in no position to question it now. Well I'm honestly glad she has a new way to defend herself, no so much on the hand that she might abuse it if I can't teach her self control.
Ruby was beside me as the doc lead us down the hall to Yang's room. Hospital staff gave me a wide birth, bandaged myself up while the docs took care of Yang. I'll be fine, going to take more than a few rounds to the gut to kill me. Not the first time high powered rounds tore though me, and I doubt this will be the last. Still hurts like hell, but I'll live for now. Helmet under my arm as I glanced over the room numbers. Yang's was room number 251. Let's see. 245 . . . 247 . . . 249 . . . here it is, 251. I looked down to Ruby as she anxiously knocked on the wood frame leading into the room. Sterile white walls surrounded the room, beeping of machinery echoed from the silence within the room.
"Come in." Yang replied nearly emotionless. Not a good sign, not a good sign at all. Ruby head in first as I followed shortly behind her. Sunrise barely illuminated the room as we got a good look at Yang now. Her hair was pulled back with her face covered in bruises and scrapes, her left arm nub was cleaned up and wrapped. Yang herself was in a normal hospital gown gazing out the window. I know this scene all too well. How I first was the night I woke up after cutting off my arm. The sudden realization that your life will never be the same again, questioning how much everything is going to change, crippling depression, the phantom pain from the lost limb.
"Hey Yang, how you feeling?" I asked as we walked in. Yang let out a deep breath as the morning sun continued it's early arc.
"Honestly, I don't know what to feel. Right now. It feels like something is there, still attached, yet when I try to move those fingers, nothing happens." She explained as Ruby sat down beside her. "Doctors say they can't reattach it, didn't get why. Something about my nerves. I'm just glad Ruby came out of it better than I did. Even though I shouldn't ever be looking forward to a niece or nephew now." She continued ruffling Ruby's hair with her remaining hand. Wow, she is handling this a lot better than I did. I remember trying to get out of bed only to fall face first when I realized that the arm was missing, the pain in the backside trying to adjust to only living with one arm. I'm thankful Dad was able to call in a few favors to get me a robotic arm. It was a royal pain in the ass to adjust to, but it worked out in the end. "How do you do it Johnny?" She asked. I raised my eyebrow as I set my helmet aside on the bedside. "How do you go on knowing apart of you is missing forever? Knowing you'll be a burden on those around you? That your life will never be the same again?" Exactly what I was expecting.
"I'm still having nightmares on when I lost my arm." I responded sitting down beside her as she wrapped her remaining arm around Ruby. "I don't believe I ever shared why I lost my arm in the first place."
"You had to cut it off to stop a toxin from reaching your heart." Yang noted looking back at me puzzled.
"Correct but what lead up to that point is another story. One that weights heavily on me every night." I responded looking down at my robotic hand, stretching it out and flexing a few fingers as I studied my appendage. "About four years ago, a friend of mine talked me into sneaking into the multiverse, to study some extinct animals she was dying to get close to. Sarah was her name, beautiful Latino woman. Tropical tan skin, dark brown hair, deep green eyes. She reminds me a bit of Coco, only with less fashion sense. Now keep in mind, I was pretty damn stupid and hopped up on hormones then to be thinking straight. I'll be honest and admit I thought I might get lucky if I went along with her crazy idea. Maybe things could have turned out different if I was thinking with the right head then." That got a slight chuckle from the pun master. "Serena opened up a portal for us using an old projector. At the time we thought it would be a simple 'go in and get out' type of deal. Armed with only a rifle and a pistol between us, we headed into the abyss. What we didn't expect was how unstable the old equipment was. Now the old projectors were notorious for overheating and destroying themselves. Useful for a few trips if that. One we used was on it's final legs. It blew a fuse from her end, created a shock wave of some sorts blocking all forms of transport out of that world. Kind of like now, only less willing. Stupid me figured it would only take a hour or two for Serena to fix, nothing to worry about."
"Hours turned into days, which seemed to never end when you're always on the run from something trying to eat you. I couldn't even take a shit without something trying to bite off my head. We were stuck on that island full of massive animals and hungry predators. The first few days we slept in a abandoned workers hut. Blocked the door with what ever we could find, ate the smaller dinos we could take on plus what ever fruits we could find. We held our own for a while, that is until we learned just how stupid we were. Just how much danger we were in from the beginning." I responded closing my mechanical hand at the painful memories. Those noises still haunt my dreams, those eyes. Permanently seared into my soul. Can't forget those monsters no mater how hard I try.
"What happened?" Yang asked.
"We got ambushed, we walked right into a deathtrap. We fell for the oldest trick in the book. At the time, we figured it was just a wounded animal, easy meal. Once we got close, they sprung their trap. The things that bit Velvet a month or two ago, exact same bastards. Came at us from all sides, two blocked off out escape route, rest circled us as we drew out guns. Sarah fired first, grazed past it's head as it rushed us. Sarah got bit in the leg, the damn thing just didn't know when to let go. I had to bash hi in the head with my rifle to get him to let go." I had to close my eyes on this one. I can still remember her final words to me. Her final moments. "I dragged her across the jungle, shooting off my rifle at them. Missed just about every shot, but it held them back long enough for me to get her away. Lost the rifle somehow but we escaped their trap. But by then it was already too late."
"I kicked down a door, her weary body hanging on mine as we rushed in. using our combined weight we kept the door shut. The animals have a fast acting toxin that attacks the central nervous system. Can take down a full grown adult in minutes without some form of anti-bionics to keep it at bay, requires a powerful counter agent that alone can kill you if it isn't fighting the toxin. Exhausted, wounded, and hungry. We were in a bad situation and we knew it. We both knew the inevitable. Once the toxin sets in, it leaves you paralyzed, to which the animal comes back and either feasts on your body while you're helpless to watch . . ." I paused there I replied breathing deep as I tried to accurately remember how that night went.
"Or?" Ruby asks horse fully, sounded like she ate a entire box of nails, and washed it down with lemon juice.
"Or they'll make a nest out of your still living body. Using you to keep their eggs warm until they hatch, then they'll eat you from the inside out. All while your helpless to stop them. Can't scream, can't say a word, can't move, all you can do is watch as you slowly are eaten alive." I answered as she gasps in horror. "We held out for as long as we could. Hoping, praying that Serena fixes that projector soon and gets us out of that hell. But Sarah was getting worse by the second. She couldn't walk straight, she could barely breath, barely see right. She knew she was at her end, so she handed me her pistol. Begging with me to end her suffering, pleading with me to save her from that grizzly fate. I refused to, I just couldn't. She was my friend, the only one I had on that god forsaken island. I couldn't kill her, I tried to reason with her. She finally convinced me to do the deed, sever heart filled pleas later. I took hold of her pistol and told her sorry and how much I loved her. Her final words struck me deep in the heart after she gave me a good bye kiss." I remembered as her voice echoed in the back of my mind once more, adding more weight to my already guilty conscience.
"What did she say?" Yang asked.
"She said in her weakened state, 'Don't think of it . . . as killing me. . . . Think of it . . . as saving me . . . from those monsters' before placing her forehead over the barrel of the pistol with one bullet left, smile on her face knowing she won't suffer a far worse fate than death. Deep down, I knew that was the only option we had. So I fulfilled her final wish. I had to close my eyes and look away, right before I pulled the trigger. Sealing her fate on that island. Still unsure if I saved her from suffering, or if I murdered her." I answered as my grip on nothing tightened. "Once it was over, I threw the pistol aside and held my dead friend in my arms. Crying and apologizing to her lifeless corpse. Daylight broke, I buried her body by the beach, deep enough that no passing predators would be able to dig for her. Spend the next few weeks trying to survive, held out hope that Serena would find me. Troodons were always after me the entire time, always around the next corner, always in the shadows, always waiting. Watching me, studying me, waiting for me to let my guard down. One night I got reckless, figured enough was enough and tried to take them on. Armed with only a rusty blade, tracked them down to a maintenance tunnel I decided to take them head on."
"If it wasn't clear by now, I was a massive idiot then. How I survived, I am still trying to figure that out. I didn't even take out one before I got bit and nearly overrun. Had to retreat, forced my body to keep going until I found a storage room, blocked off the door and vents. I knew time wasn't on my side. I had minutes left to live, if that. So I did the only thing I possibly could. I tightened my belt over my arm, brought out my blade, and you can figure out the rest from there.. My recklessness cost me my best friend and my arm, but I learned from it. My body won't allow another arm to be grafted on, so I keep this machine as a symbol. Bare it every day to remind me that I'm not immortal, that being reckless will get me or those I love killed." I shared loosening my grip on the air. softly putting my hand on her shoulder as I let out a deep sigh. Yang tensed up as my cold gloved hand grazed her skin."I know what it's like. I know what is going though your head right now. I'll save you the motivational bullshit speech and recite what an old friend once told me. 'Your mistakes don't define who you are. They just open the doors for who you're going to be. All you have to do is pick which one'. Don't wallow in self pity like I did. Unlike when I lost mine, you have options and a chance at a normal life again. You can go my route and we get a robotic arm fitted for you, you can stay the same and learn to live life with only one arm, or we chance it in the multiverse to see if a friend of mine can get it back on. The choice is all yours Yang. You can talk it over with Ruby if you want, I'll be in the waiting room to see if the others have woken up yet." With that, I stood up and made my way to the door, grabbing my helmet as I walked by. I'm not one for motivational bullshit. I tell it how it is, don't sugar coat anything. If Yang was smart, she'd at least consider my offer. I reached the door frame when I heard Yang call out for me. I looked back to see her look up at me with her lilac eyes, full of sorrow yet some curiosity mixed it oddly enough.
"Do you still regret the choice you made? Do you still think of her?" Yang asked. I looked down to my metal arm, the scuffed and damaged Star wars Duranium plating over the Halo prosthetic. The compartment housing the grappling hook on my forearm was worn and indented. I can still feel the pain sometimes when I take this arm off, as fresh as the day I cut it off. I clenched my mechanical hand as I let out a deep depressed sign.
"Every night I can still hear her voice, tormenting me for not being stronger. Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't let the sorrow consume you. Push yourself harder and keep moving forward. Because the minute you stop trying and give in to your inner void, is the minute you kill any chance of life getting better. I don't want to see anyone else go though hell as well." I answered putting my helmet on as I walked out of the room. I need to bury my emotions right. I lose focus after today and it could cost more people their lives. Emily has made it clear she wants a fight, and is willing to do what ever it takes to get to me. If it's a fight she wants, it's war she is going to get. I'm not marching into battle half cocked, no plan and give her every advantage in the book. No, I got to think though this carefully. Try to figure out her next step, her next move. No doubt that she is coming for my blood, that I can confirm. I hope Yang chooses wisely. If we're going into the multiverse to fix Yang's arm, I might need to get some more guns and equipment. I'll need all the firepower I can get. I hope Valhen doesn't mind me popping in, few things in the X-com universe I might need if I want my friends in this world to survive. I know they can hold their own in a normal fight, but this world is going to hell fast. And I know it will only get a whole lot worse before anything gets better. And I now have a funny feeling that MERC isn't going to be merciful for letting us stay here for so long. This isn't the end of anything. Not by a long shot. "I'm afraid this is only the beginning of something much worse I put in motion." I said to myself quietly.
(Coco's POV)
Jade forest
"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch. Who ever took our bun bun, I'm gonna rip their head off." I ranted as we plowed though a creek bed. Fox and Yastu were in the back holding on for dear life as I drove the Jeep. Earl was next to me gripping the edge of his seat like it was his life line. Someone kidnapped our bun bun last night, I'm going to find out who it is and tear them to pieces. No one steals my team mate and walks away in one piece. Theta called me on my scroll less then half an hour ago, said that they were currently kidnapped and heading into the forest. I got Fox and Yastu the instant I heard Velvet cry out in terror over the video. Our Jeep bounced as it ran over large puddle, water sprayed up all over the windshield and showered the male members of my team. I kept my eyes focused on the area ahead. Earl looked scared out of his wits right now."Something kidnapped our team mate. Something big. What kind of problem has your village been experiencing exactly! So I don't want any sugar coated bullshit, no lies, no waiting until later, nothing but damn the truth. Or so help me, I'll rip your leg off and beat you to death with it. " I demanded as my foot pressed down on the gas harder. Yastu has Velvet's scroll signal on radar. He'll let me know when we're close.
"It started little over two months ago. First with a small herd of large spike tailed ones. Two large adults, three sub adults, and a few babies. They were massive, about as big as a small house. Ate a large portion of our outer crop fields. At first we thought they were a new species someone decided to dump on our island for fun. Then some massive predator chased a herd of orange bird things though a weird purple portal into our island. Then the long necked ones, few frilled ones that shoot a blinding venom. We're barely harvesting enough crops to feed ourselves right now. This keeps up, we'll be forced to move to another location Local Grimm have been calm as of late, I think it's because they are too busy trying to stay alive and avoid the new residence." Earl explained holding his head in shame. Damn right you better be ashamed for not telling us this shit. Purple portal he says? Johnathan would be interested to hear this. Sounds more around his territory.
"So you lied to get a Beacon team down here to take care of your problem?" Fox questioned. "Sure, why not. Let's send in a bunch of school kids to get eaten because they were grossly under informed on the danger they are faced against. On top of us still have no idea what we're suppose to do. Yeah. Great job buddy, consider your ass haunted if I die today."
"I know you guys can handle it better than we can. I'm the only other one here who knows how to shoot. Everyone else just tends to the fields or livestock." Earl explained. Fox was ready to say something smart when Yastu's scroll started beeping. I slammed on he breaks as we skid across the shallow creek. Fox was thrown from his seat and slammed into the windshield. I quickly tore off my seat belt as I grabbed a hold of Fashion Sense and jumped out of the vehicle.
"Next time. Velvet's Driving! Damn that hurts!" Fox yelled rubbing his head as the vehicle creaked when Yastu jumped out. Earl tried to get up but Yastu held him back in his seat.
"You've done enough damage by not telling us. Stay here." He said. Yastu rarely speaks, the fact that he told Earl to stay in the car, shows how he feels right now. I pushed my sun glasses up as I begun running forward across the water. I'll deal with the wet boots and soggy socks later, right now Velvet is close by and we're going to find her ass. Yastu's scroll beeped as the radar screen flashed, she's close. 50 meters at the most. I couldn't see the jeep anymore. I took a quick peek at his Scroll, we should be right on top of her. But where?
"Velvet!" Fox yelled as i transformed Fashion sense into her mini-gun form. I can only assume what ever took Velvet is close by as well. I doubt that much in the multiverse can survive a full auto burst from my baby here. Then again, I don't know what all it holds.
"Velvet!" I yelled looking around.
"Velv!" Yastu yelled.
"Velvet Scarlatina!" Fox yelled again. I deadpanned as I cast my gaze onto the blind idiot on my team. What the hell is he thinking right now?
"Fox, how many Velvets do you think are on this island?" I asked looking around calling her name again. Fox shrugged his shoulder as he called out her name once again, as some thing snapped from the tree line. My gaze move my from Fox to the tree line as a low bellow came from it. Birds quickly took flight as the thundering foot steps got closer. I pulled the charging bolt on Fashion Sense and got ready to mow down what ever was pop out of those trees.
"What is it?" Fox asked. Almost as quickly as he asked it, the universe seemed to answer it. pushing though the trees was a large green quadruped animal. Plates on it's back with a large spiked tail. It bellowed as it pushed though the trees. The damn thing was about as big as a house. I stepped back in surprise as more started popping up. One not far away from the first as a tree slammed down on the creek bed. Another one nudged a bunch of smaller ones though, little ones were up to my waist at the most. From the size of the animals, I'm guessing they are still babies. I jumped in surprise as one pushed though the tree line behind us, but it paid us no mind. I bellowed as it passed us, light shining though a few small holes on it's plates, obvious battle damage.
"Holy shit, they're huge!" I noted keeping Fashion Sense aimed at what ever one got closer, Yastu reached his hand out and lowered the barrel away from them. I looked up at him as he gazed upon the giant animals.
"They mean us no harm. They're just passing though." He observed as the herd passed right by us.
"How do you know? " I asked.
"Because they would have attacked us already if they wanted us dead." He replied taking his hand off my gun and lowered the volume on his scroll. Well damn, he has a point. I grunted as I turned Fashion Sense into her handbag form. The one that passed by us looked back at me as my handbag clicked and shifted. It gave a short bellow, as if a warning. I cautiously took a step back as the massive beast's tail passed by me. those spikes are at least a foot or two long. I do not want to be impaled by those things. The animal snorted as it walked away. Maybe it thought i wasn't a threat. I was pushed forward a bit as something collided with my backside. I turned on my heel to see the culprit who dares tough my ass. Shaking it's head was one of the babies. It limped on it's back left leg as it backed up, plates barely grown on it's back, spiked tail barely threatening. I tried to put it's back leg down but kept jerking it back up in pain as it now looked at me. it's leg looked swollen compared to the other.
"Hey there little guy . . . or girl." I cooed looking down at the animal. Yastu back up from the animal as it looked around between the three of us. It tensely squeaked as it backed up, wincing in pain as it's back leg moved. This little guy is hurt, any idiot can tell that by first glance. I carefully held out a hand and let the animal sniff it as i slowly knelt down to it's level. The bellow of the adults in the background let me know they they were watching me closely. "It's okay little one. I won't hurt you." I softly cooed reaching out to touch it. It looked at me confused as it backed up a little bit more. How it managed to keep up with the adults on a injured back leg is beyond me.
"It's hurt." Yastu noted stabbing his sword into the ground as he knelt down on it's other side. the animal looked to Yastu and squeaked. Yastu calmly kept his hands where the animal could see them, slowly reaching into his pocket. The baby looked at him with some mild curiosity as Yastu pulled out a blueberry breakfast bar, unwrapping it he moved the snack to the left as the animal's eyes followed, and to the right with the same results. "Here Coco, keep his attention. Fox look at the leg." He asked slowly handing me the breakfast bar. I calmly took it as the animal squeaked at me.
"You want the snack?" I asked. Velvet is close, most likely in the herd somewhere. If i know her by now, she managed to escape and is now up in a tree trying to get a good photo of the herd as they move. I would be surprised if she was doing literally anything else. I calmly moved the delicious bar to the animal. It curiously sniffed it as Fox moved in closer to the back leg. It reached its head out and took a bite. It munched on the bar once . . . twice. . . thrice. . . and swallowed. It let out a weird hum as it chewed. I couldn't help but laugh as I used my free hand to pet it's head. Yastu moved to the animal's other side and gave it a soft pat.
"You do realize we have no idea what that thing even is right?" Fox asked as he carefully felt around it's leg. The animal squeaked as it took another large bite from the bar, humming as it chewed.
"That doesn't make her any less adorable." I replied as the animal in question messily chewed it's food, leaning forward and taking the rest of the bar in it's mouth as it's smiley tongue licked it out of my hands. Good thing I got a small stash of these in my back pocket. I reached behind me and pulled out another one, cherry this time. Low calorie so i don't have to worry about ruining my already perfect figure. plus they taste good. Yastu softly touched up and down it's leg to gauge what kind of response the animal gave. For the most part it didn't care so long as I kept it fed, until he reached near the knee joint. It gave a small wince of pain before it devoured the snack bar in a single bite. I cooed softly as I pat it's neck. The baby hummed happily as it chewed.
"Leg is broken, fracture around the Femur near the knee joint. We can't be certain without an X-ray of the leg." Fox noted moving back. "We'll need to set it if you want this thing to live longer."
"How bad is it?" I asked.
"My mother was a vet, she taught me a thing or two about quadruplicate animals. It is pretty bad, I'd say this little girl got in a fight or got it hit bard by something or stepped on. If it doesn't get set properly the baby will die. It won't heal right, she won't be able to run or walk for that long. Predator will pick her before she is a few months old. It's be a death sentence in the wild." He replied as the baby.
"What do you want us to do about it, we got to find Velvet." I asked as the baby, I'm going to call her Claire for now, nudged my hand for more snacks.
"I think I got an idea where she's at." Yastu noted. I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. He pointed up toward the herd. I moved my eyes to follow his finger as Claire nudged my leg. I ignored her and kept my eye on the tree. I see something up there, something brown with a little purple.
"Well I'll be damned." I swore. Up in the trees not that far from the first animal was our rabbit girl. near the top, holding on like her life depended on it. Her arms shook as her skin was devoid of all color. Rabbit ears folded back against her head as she seemed to be arguing with a hovering purple light, obviously Theta. I can't tell what she was saying, but if the rapid shaking of her head was anything to go by, I'm assuming she is saying no to what ever he is suggesting.
"Velvet!" Fox yelled. She shrieked loudly in surprise and lost her grip on the tree, leaning backwards on the branch and started tumbling downward, hitting just about every branch on the way down. The tree snapped and cracked each time she hit a branch, I winced every time she hit a tree limb. She tried to grab one but it snapped in half on her Her body glowed light brown with each hit as she moved closer to the ground, and slammed face down on the creek bed as her Aura broke on impact. Ouch, that is going to hurt in the morning. She lifted herself up just in time to be smacked in the head by her falling combat tote and collapsed scroll beside her, yet the damn thing still remained intact. That is going to leave a mark for sure.
"Velv!" I yelled running over to her, splashing the whole way as I sprinted. The animals just gazed my way as I ran over to her as he tried to get back up, shaking the whole time and moaning in pain. Claire seemed to be attached to me for some reason as she tried to run behind me, hopping some of the way to keep pressure off her broken leg. Yastu and Fox were not that far behind me as i skid to a stop beside Velvet. "You okay? Anything hurt?" I asked in rapid session as I helped Velvet up. Her combat clothes were torn where the branches snagged. She groaned in agony as Yastu ran in and helped her up. Strangely enough she left a her shaped indent in the ground where she landed.
"I'll live, just a little sore." She answered as Claire ran over to us squeaking the whole way. She nudged up beside Velvet as she helped her regain her balance. Looked up to see the snapped branched and where she fell from. Why is Claire trying to help Velvet? or even following me? Is it because I fed her? I have no idea.
"That is a fifty foot drop you survived at least. How did you get all the way up there?" I asked as Velvet rubbed her head, wiping mud off her face and the front of her body. Claire nudged Velvet's hand as she gave her a soft scratch behind her neck. The animal hummed happily as it allowed Velvet to scratch her.
"Some long neck animal left me up there after getting a bit to eat with her friend. I left the hotel to see what was making all the noise outside. The thing got curious about me and tried to nudge me for food." She answered holding her chest in pain. " But it lifted it's head up as I fell over her snout, and I went for a long and scary ride. I've been stuck up there for over an hour. Couldn't get down without falling." She explained Well that explains it. glaring at Fox, who sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry." He apologized. Claire squeaked scared like as she tried to hide behind me, as something I recognize started to snarl and roar. I looked at the tree line as a Ursa broke though the trees, it roared mightily as the near by adults bellowed back, the plates on their back flush red as they moved between the Ursa and their babies near us. one turned to the side and started swinging the spiked tail. This was a obvious warning to anything with half a brain that wants to live. Back off.
I flicked Fashion Sense into her minigun form and aimed it at the Ursa as Claire howled behind me. I turned back to find three Biowolves on all fours charging toward us. Yastu readied his sword as Fox helped steady Velvet. One thought it could leap for it and jumped toward us, only to be swatted aside by one of the adults. The closest adult threw the biowolf aside with a single swipe of it's tail. i could hear bones snap and crack after the smack. Poor bastard was dead before he hit the ground. The Biowolf landed on the ground and slammed into his brothers. The adult moved between the living Biowolves and us, bellowing as it turned. The Ursa reared up on it's hind legs and roared. The nearest adult swung it's tail back and forth as it turned use it's bulk to protect her young, bellowing back at the large Grimm. The Ursa bellowed back as it tried to make itself look bigger. It didn't work because the adult (what ever that is) is bigger, had babies to protect, and was pissed off. The biowolves behind us barked and snarled as they tried to circle us. The adult beside us bellowed back as Yastu readied his sword for the worst.
"I don't know what the hell these animals are, but I'm liking them" I noted as the adult took a swing at the Ursa who backed up, it reared forward and tried to go for a bite only to be smacked in the face by the tail as it whipped back. The force of the whip made the Ursa hold it's head as it's bone mask cracked. "I'm liking them a lot. The other adults were using themselves as a protective barrier around the babies as they stood close to them, using their bodies as shields. Claire squeaked as the adult near us bellowed back at the small Biowolf pack, slamming it's tail on the ground to show it wasn't backing down. The Ursa moved back and tried to take a swipe at the adult as it swung again, not getting close because of that tail. One Biowolf bolted left as the other went straight for us. The adult charged and slammed into the Biowolf with all her weight, she knocked it on the ground as she reared up on her hind legs, and crushed down on it's skull. Never thought I'd hear a Biowolf's skull get crushed so easily, check that off the bucket list. The remaining Biowolf got on all fours and tried to run around the adult. the Ursa roared back as the adult swung again, this time the Ursa learned from it's past mistake and reared back only to crash it's paws forward and hold the tail down as it slowed down. the adult tried to pull it's tail back but the Ursa firmly held it in place. I would help but I'm afraid i'll hit one of the bigger ones and piss off the rest of the herd. I rather not have these things after my ass, thank you very much. the Lone Biowolf jumped over the adult's head, learning that the tail is the main thing it needs to worry about, as it tried to pounce on us. Yastu swung his sword as hard as he could, cleaving the beast in two up the middle. The other adult successfully pulled it's tail back as another moved from protecting the babies and charged the Ursa. It turned only to be struck by at least twenty tons of flesh. The adult was pushing the Ursa across the creek as it bellowed in anger, head under the bear's gut as the Ursa latched it's large jaws on one of the animals plates. The adult shook and groaned as it tried to remove the massive bear from it's body. The adult near us bellowed to the danger one as the alpha moved to save her herd mate. The Ursa let go of the animal as a large spiked tail slammed into it's backside, puncturing it in at least two places, it was forcefully thrown off the adult by the alpha whatever. The Ursa roared in pain as the Alpha brought it's tail back and waved it around, bellowing as it's plates were a bright red. This animal was pissed off. the Ursa picked it self back up and roared at the Alpha, charging it on all fours. The Alpha reared it's tail back and swung it like a bolt of electricity. The tail collided with the Ursa's neck this time, snapping it on impact. The beast fell to the ground dead as the Alpha bellowed in victory, looking around the creek for any more threats.
"Awesome! I never thought I'd see real Stegosaurus fight!" Theta yelled popping up on Velvet's shoulder. "Did you see that! That was epic!"
"It was something alright." I agreed as the herd seemed to have calmed down. The Alpha bellowed out to the herd as it started moving, nudging one of the babies along with it. The rest of the herd seemed to follow suit as they followed along, nudging the young ones along. The adult near us passed us by as it bellowed, Claire squeaked as she tried to move out behind me, limping the whole way. I folded Fashion Sense back up and held my hands up where the adult could see them. I know when it is time to kick ass and when to stand back, right now I do not want to fight this herd. Not high up on my list of things to do. Claire limped as she tried to run to meet up with the adult, who started leaving. Claire squeaked back to the adult as she tried to catch up, only to fall in the creek on her side, with the adults still moving. What the hell?!
"Hey idiots, you forgot your baby!" I yelled to the adult 'Stegosaurus' as they seemed to have ignored me and the baby's cry for help. Why would they leave the kid here? After they just tried to protect it! These animals make no sense. I ran up and helped Claire get back up on her legs again. She squeaked trying to take off after her herd.
"Sorry Coco, but they know the child won't survive long on her own and will only slow the herd down." Fox tried to comfort as Claire tried to run to get to her herd again but fell again. "I'm sorry, I don't know these animals but if I were to guess." He said as Claire howled again for help. "I'd say they abandoned her. She only was able to keep up with them shortly after the injury. Obviously taking it's toll on her now." I helped Claire up once more as she looked back to her herd move though the trees, bellowing once more for her family, who started to vanish from sight. I gave Claire a soft pat on her neck as she squeaked softly, possibly realizing what happened.
"We can't leave her here. She'll die on her own. Grimm will kill her the moment we leave." Velvet noted shaking as she move up beside Claire, shushing her cries with some affection.
"What do you suggest we do. Have Yastu pick her up and hoist her back to the Jeep, fix her leg up and take her back to Beacon to be our pet? Sell her shit to farmers and feed her what ever greens we can grab." Fox asked. I looked at Velvet as she seemed to have the same idea i did, Yastu nodded his head as Fox looked between the three of us. "No fucking way Coco! We don't know what this thing even is. Let alone how to take care of one. For all we know, it could piss acid and try to eat us in our sleep."
"Johnathan will teach us. I'm sure he saw some on his travels." Velvet replied.
"Ozpin let Johnathan keep his killing machines for Raptors. Claire won't be too out of the question." I added.
"Let's put it to a vote. We'll get nowhere other wise." Yastu spoke. "All in favor of leaving her here raise your hand." Only Fox did. "And to bring her back." Velvet and I raised our hands. "Majority rules, we take her back."
"We get in trouble at all, I'm blaming you two for this." Fox noted as I knelt down next to Claire, unwrapping another cereal bar for her.
"It will be okay baby. We're here for you." I cooed as she nudged the bar away. Velvet softly pet the animal down her back as she hummed to her softly. I don't know how we're going to take care of her, but I know we won't abandon her. "I know what it's like sweetie. Don't you worry, We'll be your new family now. We won't abandon you." I cooed softly as Claire finally took the cereal bar, eating the whole thing in a single bite. Oh lord will Johnathan be surprised when he hears about this. Hell, Ozpin will be surprised once he hears this. I can pretty much see the long ass chewing we're going to get from Glynda. But I won't leave this baby behind. My father may have abandoned me, I know the pain. I don't want this animal to feel that same pain alone. No one does. I looked to Yastu as he sheathed his sword.
"For the record. I'm not for or against this." He noted.
That's a wrap people. Looks like CFVY for themselves a new pet. Sorry if that bit seems a bit out of place, but it does happen in the wild. Menagerie gets invaded by the Covenant and a whole bunch of randomness really. It all will follow the plot (assuming i even have one at this point) but for the most part i am making shit up as i go, editing it all to flow better. I got a general idea on how i want this to go, but in reality i got a direction i want to go and i kind of zig zag though it. Emily will make another appearance next chapter. All though i got a question. Could Adam be able to take on a Sith apprentice? I had this badass fight scene between him and Emily in mind. Not sure if i want to go though with it yet or not, but it is just an idea for now. We learn more on Johnathan's past and how he thinks. Which path do you think Yang will choose? As of right now i got plans for the multiverse. Things are about to get a little crazy for the next few chapters. Ending this after the Breach. Confirmed i will, i feel this has been going on far too long. I'll pack as much as i can into this until then, but i can't say what all I'm going to pack. Small hint, there are some explorers in Johnathan's department that will be more than happy to 'take him out of the picture' if you catch my drift. I believe your writer has officially gone insane. See you all next chapter.
~Dgreen20