Chapter 38
Unwanted discoveries
(Week 9: Day 70)
Old war bunker, Vale
(Ilia's POV)
I got a bad feeling about that cloaked human girl, if she even is human. I was suppose to inform her that Adam wants a word with her over an hour ago. She didn't respond no matter how much I knocked and asked. Kept hearing her talk to herself so I let myself in, only to find half the room floating with her talking about an Empire and our world being a acceptable gift. I tried to talk my way away from her but she choked me from across the room. Her hands never touched me but I could feel her cold fingers squeezing down on my throat. Forcing me to gasp for air as she lifted me off the ground with a mere thought. When she ignited her plasma sword, I could feel it's heat from across the room. My heart felt like it was going to explode just gazing upon the cursed red blade. I've heard rumors on what that sword can do. Burns though aura and slice off limbs like they were butter, cut though Atlasian military grade steel hulls, I doubt much can stand up to her blades. I had to agree to not say what I saw or else I was going to be her next victim. I fell to the ground gasping for air as she walked away. forcing the sweet oxygen into my lungs as I breathed at last. Her 'friend' the Meta I know better than to stalk again. His AI friend said he was merciful by letting me go, instead of letting him tear me apart with his bare hands. I am not entirely sure if working with these people is the right thing to do. The one man apocalypse has already proven to be a brutal killing machine, the girl is just beyond words on how scary she is. Lightning from her fingertips, throwing people across the room and choking them without touching a hair on their body, mind control, there is no telling what all she can do. Then there is the flaming girl and her misfits. I'd rather take her instead of the cloaked girl. Not sure where they are now, but I rather not find out.
I walked down the halls of the old abandoned bunker, my hand softly skimming along the cold cement walls, deep in thought as i headed toward the main conference room. Wondering if it is worth following the new path the cloaked girl set us down. I want the Schnee's to pay dearly, pay for all the pain and suffering they inflicted on my family. But blowing up their house, irradiating the entire are to a unlivable hell storm for Monty knows how long, I'm not sure if this is the right way to go. Do we sink even lower just to have our voice heard, or do we try to turn back before we dig our graves too deep. Whole world seems to only be getting worse, and no one knows why it is all happening. Strange portals popping up all over the place, Monty knows what all is coming out. Enormous carnivorous animals, aliens invading Beacon, Inter-continental nuclear warhead launching machines of war, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. World is changing, and it is changing fast. My free hand fell onto my rapidly beating heart, still shaken up over her threat.
I'm not sure which side will make it out of this alive, the cloaked human girl or her Freelancer foe. She has abilities I thought were impossible to possess just a few months ago, even with a sembalance. She has the Meta rip a portal between universes from some type of 'armor enhancement unit' he stole, bring though Monty knows what next, and kills anyone who gets in her way. Human, Faunus, Grimm, machine, alien, she don't care. She slices though everything as if they were disposable cannon fodder. Her main target is interesting. I don't know much about him outside what she told us and what we seen on the news, but he will not be a easy fight should he find us here. His swords might be a match for hers, he is physically stronger and faster, heavily skilled in close quarters, proficient marksmen, large kinetic weapon that kills tanks. The girl wants to kill him herself, but I'm starting to see that we're all just tools in her grand scheme. Waiting for her to 'dispose' of us when we exceed our use for her needs. I was closing in the conference room with the Meta standing right outside the door with his arms crossed. Alien grenade launcher on his back. His 'girlfriend' beside him happily licking a trio-colored ice cream cone that matched her outfit. I didn't look into his visor as he growled at me, motioning for me to go inside. I got a bad feeling about this.
"This has gone on too long witch! Too many have already died for you! Twenty five of my men were slaughtered last night, just so that asshole Roman can feed his massive ego! Not only is the machine destroyed; we convinced no one to join, we are running out of time for Cinder's plan to go into effect, and we are still putting my people in danger just to feed that damn pet of yours!" Adam screamed as a loud crash echoed though the door. "We still have no idea what your plan even is, or why we should even be going along with it in the first place!"
"All will be reveled when the time comes. Roman has done his part. You just stay ready to do yours, We won't have a second opportunity." Emily said calmly as I walked into the room. Adam had cracked the table where his fist made impact. His Grimm mask hiding his face from the world, Brush and Wilt at his hip, red hair in a mess as his Aura surged in anger. I can feel it rolling off him. Emily sat at her end of the table completely calm, sipping a cup of 'Death-Starbuck' Coffee. Had a weird helmet as the logo on the cup. Her commander beside her with his large rifle (A/N think the DLT-19) on his back. Few White fang guards were beside Adam as he was infuriated at the moment."While true, Johnathan and his allies have proven to be more resourceful and irritating than I initially thought. I will deal with him personally very soon."
"That is not what I'm getting at." Adam tried to calmly say but ended up coming out more pissed off than earlier. "I'm saying we're done following your orders. I will not send anyone else to their deaths over a plan we know nothing about, or even if it would benefit us at all! I'm sick of the secrets, sick of being in the dark, sick of it all! For a human no less!" He raged slamming his fist on the table. Emily smile contently as she calmly sipped her coffee.
"My dear Adam, sometimes the best things in life come to those who wait. Other times you just have to take it the first chance you get it." She explained as a orange lifted up off the table. She twirled her fingers around as the orange floated to her. "Your world is like this piece of fruit. Juicy yet useless as it stands. But if you tear it apart a little, peel away the unsavory bits. " She explained as the fruit flew into her hand, where she proceeded to peel the skin with little effort. "You get to the real valuable parts. The flesh, the juice, the seeds. The skin is just in the way, unneeded and so annoying. Once exposed, it becomes easier to enjoy the juice and flesh. So much value in such a simple fruit, yet so fragile." She said crushing it in her hand to emphasize her point. "In the grand scale of the multiverse, your world's no more important than this simple orange. Your 'revolution' no more than a water balloon fight compared to what I've seen elsewhere. You think that just because you got an army at your back and a righteous cause makes you a big shot? That you can bark away orders to those obviously superior to you in every way. I'd admire your courage were it not for the fact that I could kill you and everyone else in this bunker before I even finish my coffee. " She asked laughed. "You have no idea . . . what is really out there. Not a damn clue how tiny and worthless all this petty bullshit really is. All just fabricated to make a decent sub-plot for an American anime series, absolutely nothing more and nothing less." Adam's hand went toward Brush and Wilt but he was thrown against the wall, guards pushed with him flat on their butts. Emily had her hand out holding him against the wall, closing her fist as she begun to choke him. I moved to try to help but the Meta held my arm as he growled, shaking his finger and clicking his tongue. Adam held his hand over his throat as Emily lifted him higher, scrunching her face in anger as she moved toward him. Guards couldn't move, she held all three at once without touching them. Choking Adam as he clawed for air.
"I've killed god like beings just to test my limits, studied heavily in the ways of the force, dived deep into the dark side, trained mercilessly with Lord Vader and Emperor Palpatine himself. I've been broken down to my very core, left to die on a volcanic landscape. The dark lords of the Sith rebuilt me from the ground up with hatred and anger, hand crafted me to be their perfect assassin. I've come too far, sacrificed far too much to let some simpleton edge lord fuck it all up just because he can't see the bigger picture!" She yelled as Adam struggled at the ceiling. I tried to run, but the Meta held me in place, forcing me to stay there as I could feel the waves of anger pulsing off Emily. "My goal is to destroy the man who broke me, break him down till there is nothing left. No one, and I repeat NO ONE! Is going to stand in my way! Especially not some animal pretending to be some big bad mafia boss when he is nothing more than a gangster wannabe." She said as the Commander tapped her shoulder lightly. She turned to face him as he whispered something in her ear. A rather pleased smile came across her face as she turned back to Adam. "Well, that is good news, almost make up for this little spat. It seems like I am ahead of schedule after all." She said releasing him, he fell to the ground clenching his throat as he struggled to breath. "Commander Riley informed me that my master is going to let me use my personally refit Acclamator. So your services are no longer of any use to me. Looks like you're getting your request after all Mister Taurus. My people shall leave you to your dues momentary." She said as the Meta let me go. I rushed over to help Adam up. He coughed and wheezed as Emily begun walking out the door. Stopped at the end and looked back over her shoulder. "Meta, would you kindly open up a portal. Halo sector, region zero eight one five. Universe two zero zero one. Right above Substance in the Coelest system. Somewhere around the Library will due. But only keep it open for a minute." She ordered with her wolf like grin growing wider. The Meta growled in response as he crossed his arms. Some weird purple glow popped up behind him as it expanded, forming a vortex of some type. He stepped aside and readied his grenade launcher, as if he was expecting trouble.
"For being so helpful. I am giving you a little reward. I must warn you, can be quite troublesome." He said motioning to the portal as something popped out of it. Some type of sickly looking bulbous thing plopped out in front of the portal. Kind of green-ish brown with fibrous tentacles sprouting out the front. It let out a low ominous meep sound as it turned to the guards, another one popped out beside it, then another, then another. All scurrying around a bit confused as they were looking for something. I helped Adam up as we watched the new life forms slowly pile up by the portal entrance. Dozens of them. I took a few steps back, almost directly under the air vent. I have a really bad feeling. Adam has his hand to his sword as the guards just begun to get back up. The blob things turned to us, moving it's weird appendages all over the place. "Adam Taurus, here is your reward for being such a big help. I leave you with some help bringing the humans to their knees. Good luck trying to control them, they got a nasty temper and a real short fuse. Perhaps you can relate?" She said starting to walk off as the blob things had us surrounded, leaving her completely alone as the portal collapsed. "Do try not to let any escape this bunker, they are kind of a pain to get rid of once they establish themselves on a planet. Last race that dealt with them had to exterminate an entire galaxy to starve them off before they could consume everything in sight. I hope that won't be too much of a problem for you. I do trust my ex to come in and clean up should it get messy." She said wickedly as one the blobs jumped right at us.
(Johnathan's POV)
Freelancer Offsite storage facility
RVB subverse #3
A deep cold chill shivered down my spine, I can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen. I was staring at the giant portal projector, helmet under my arm as I waited for RWBY to walk though the vortex. Mu has informed me that Yang took me up on my offer for a bionic prosthetic. I'm having F.I.L.L.S prepare the med bay for bionic augmentation surgeries. Luckily it is just an arm replacement, it can be automated easily. Nothing FILLS can't handle with Mu's help. I know this is the best option we have at the moment for Yang, can't risk multiple jumps with her injured when I have no idea how to work the new armor enhancement. F.I.L.L.S tells me it is locked behind some serious security. The Director wanted no chance of it falling into the wrong hands, one of the few good things he did in his life. As Emily has proven ruthlessly, multiverse tech in the wrong hands can lead to catastrophic results. Remnant isn't anywhere close to ready for that level of technology just yet. But sadly it already came to them, whether they were ready for it or not.
Rhode and I already moved several crates of weapons and ammunition to this room for ease of transport. Mostly the SRS99-AM, the M392 DMR, and my favorite the BR55 service rifle. On the plus side, we now have a ungodly surplus of 7.62x51mm ammo. Think we are somewhere in the seven million round range, maybe. Lost count with all the crates I had to haul. I took a deep breath as the portal zapped and sparked, indicating someone has walked though. Alice casually walked though with Yang leaning on her shoulder, Yang dressed in her normal yellow outfit, coughing hard as Weiss and Ruby followed shortly behind them. Weiss held her head in agony as Ruby looked back to the portal mesmerized. Alice was completely unaffected as she helped Yang move.
"You will be nauseous from the jump, it is completely normal. Headaches and temporary blindness are uncommon but normal. You will be fine after a few minutes while your minds catch up. Use this time to collect yourself. The first jump is always the worst." I informed calmly as the new universe jumpers looked around the room. Weiss wasted no time rushing to the nearest trash bin and heaving her breakfast out.
"That explains why I can't see a thing. I thought it was just really dark in here." Yang replied as she leaned to Alice for support, rubbing her eyes with her clothed arm nub. Jumper sickness, nasty little bastard it is. During a universe jump, occasionally the mind fails to keep up with the rest of the body with several functions. Most notionally vision and balance. The body adjusts after so many jumps, but until that point it is a absolute nightmare. Side effect of basically being deconstructed and rebuilt in a completely different universe.
"So this is the fabled 'Project Freelancer'." Alice noted looking around, Pyrrha popping though shortly. She shook her head and looked around blinking rapidly. I had her and Blake switch jobs since Pyrrha would be more useful getting the equipment over with her semblance than Blake could. With Carolina gone, the odds of the two running into each other are slim. I'm not sure what would happen if they meet, seeing as how I now theorize they share the same voice actor after hearing Carolina's voice again. Nothing should happen but I wouldn't want to find out. Multiverse has a way of keeping things in check. If, for example, two Yangs' were to meet it would be catastrophic (Aside from the non-stop horrible puns between the two). One of the two would have to leave the universe or else the multiverse will find a way to 'remove' them so the number is back to 1, most of the time it is not a fate I would wish on my worst enemy. Last time I can recall something like that happening was a year ago in the Anime sector. What was the name of the place again? My Hero Acadimia or something along those lines. I know it had two Miniru Mineta's, ended with the 'copy' being ran over by a semi-truck going at least 50, dragged down the road by his entrails, then dropped off about two to three kilometers away by a factory drive way only to be run over endlessly by oncoming traffic for hours. I'm not sure if that is grounds for him to get Isekai into some type of game or fantasy like universe? Perhaps he is with Aqua and Megumin now or something. Worst part is I saw it happen and tried to get the driver to stop. By the time he did stop, poor boy was long past dead with his everything all down the road. By the time I got to him, he was nothing more than a long red stain on the road. It was a horrible sight, not sure how the driver didn't know he hit someone. I'm not sure what happened to Mineta B's universe, perhaps the event line found a way to continue without him. I don't follow that anime too well, so I don't know if he was a major or minor character or even useful to their universe what so ever. I do hope he is at least happy in the afterlife now.
"Around this time, Freelancer has been disbanded with only a handful of agents still active. Rhode and I being some of the few still kicking. We are at the offsite storage facility, designed to keep the project running in the event of catastrophic damage to the main facility." I informed as Weiss collected herself. Ruby was purely focused on the sniper rifle about as big as herself. Eyes about the size of dinner plates with some drool dripping from the side of her mouth. Yeah, Ruby is in heaven, all the guns she can ogle over. No doubt she'll want to keep a few for herself. "Yes Ruby, I'll let you fire off a few rounds when we get them to the other side. Grab what you can and start moving it over. We don't have a lot of time, F.I.L.L.S or Rhode will brief you guys on where the essentials are at. Alice, you're with me bringing Yang to the Medbay then we're going to the high security storage for the more dangerous equipment. We got all of two hours max before the facility runs out of power, so don't waste time bullshitting or site seeing. Focus on equipment first, what ever you think you can get over without too many jumps. Be sure you are on the other side before the 2 hour mark is up. Have JNPR on the other side to transport the material as you throw what you can over. Don't try jumping any more than you have to, it will mess up with your nervous system after a few jumps in a row." I informed as Penny popped up on my shoulder. I wonder if her replacement body can handle a few armor enhancements? But which one would be most practical for Penny's skills and weapons? The domed barrier, active camouflage, over-shield, holographic projection? Tough call to make if it is even possible.
"Salutation." Penny greeted, strangely not in her normal chipper tone. She must still be thinking about the Director and why I wanted her to come with me. With her being an AI construct sort of, she needed to see how far is considered too far. But was it too far for survival, or for love? I don't even know the answer to that one myself.
"Greeting everyone. Welcome to the Freelancer offsite storage facility. You may call me FILLS or Shella." F.I.L.L.S greeted though the loud speakers in her normal happy tone. Still trying to figure out how we are going to transfer her central core to Beacon. Can't move her like Mu, going to have to risk using a hard line though the portal, I pray nothing goes wrong in the transfer. But even then, where am I going to put her? Not like Ozpin would let me hook her up to the school's mainframe or Ironwood's battleship. I did not think this part though. "I am pleased to report that the operation table is prepared and warmed up for bionic augmentation procedures. Shall I start the per-operation routine?" F.I.L.L.S asked
"Of course F.I.L.L.S, mark my bionic replacements for retrieval. Set a facility wide alert for 20 minutes before the portal closes." I ordered. "Everyone get to work once you feel like yourself again. Alice, follow me this way to the med bay this way."
(A/N this is where I left off before work begun kicking my ass hard. So from here on out of me trying to get back into the style and rhythm of writing again. I apologize for it being not as good of quality as my other chapters.)
"Out of curiosity, what are the chances of this resulting in horrible failure?" Yang asked nervously as Alice sat her down on the operating table, dozens of machines were lined along the table, whizzing and whirling to life. Brings back memories of my own augmentation. Thankfully Yang is not getting the same treatment Alice and I had, so she won't wake up feeling like a battleship blew her to hell and back, then slammed her into an acidic ocean of pain and misery. Entire room was bright white with various machines and LCD screens littering the roof and walls. FILLS should be able to handle something this simple alone. Yang increasingly begun to look around the room and at the various drills and laser cutters. Safe to say her vision has returned, but not the best sight to look at. Operating table had restraints built in for some reason, I honestly have no clue why.
"If my augmentation is anything to go by, you'll be fine. This is going to be easier than a full on bionic augmentation. F.I.L.L.S will just be preparing your arm in a similar manner to my own. It is much easier and quicker this way for everyone involved, no more than an hour max." I tried to comfort as she laid down on the table, taking a deep breath and letting it out. "Ready F.I.L.L.S?" I asked to the ceiling.
"Ready when you are, we just have one minor issue I can not solve." F.I.L.L.S responded. Yang's eyes immediately went wide at the sound of a problem. I don't blame her, I never like hearing that there is a problem. "We seem to be out of anesthesia and morphine in the injectors. I'm afraid that the surgery will have to be done without any form of pain killers if she wishes to continue."
"And you waited until we got here to tell us this WHY! Damn it I should have known it wouldn't be this easy." I swore holding my head. Of course we're out of the most important part of the augmentation, what the hell happened to all the painkillers . . .now I know what the restraints are for. Without the anesthesia, she'll fell every cut and incision made, and all the agony of the lasers binding circuits to her nervous system, while survivable it is as far from pleasant as one would expect. I look down to Yang. Her eyes were still wide with fear, but she seemed to be deep in thought. "I'm not going to lie, it will be excruciatingly painful without the anesthesia. You can still back out of this if you. . ."
"No, we keep going." She interrupted. I was honestly taken back by this, I fully expected her to want to try something else after hearing that we got nothing to numb the pain. "Ruby nearly died yesterday from my stupidity, I lost my arm because I wasn't paying attention to the REX. It made me realize just how. . . weak I truly am." She began. In her defense, a good chunk of the Multiverse is beyond overpowered it is not funny; Mostly the Anime and Video Game sectors. And she hasn't even seen a fraction of what I've seen. "I need to get stronger, not for myself, but to protect Ruby; protect all that I love. We don't know when the next horror is going to hit out world, but I know we don't have time to find another alternative. I NEED to be ready for what ever comes next. I'll go on without the anesthesia, just promise me that you won't leave without me." She said. While I admire her selflessness for wanting to get stronger, I can't help but feel like this is all my fault. She knows it will hurt like a bitch, yet wants to continue anyway. I looked over to Alice as if silently asking her to stay and comfort Yang during the operation.
"I'll stay with the kid, go grab the equipment you need." Alice replied. I let out a sigh as I looked to the ceiling. I am already hating myself for even suggesting we get her a bionic arm here. I'm sure Dr Valhan would be more than willing to help, Hell if needed I'd call in a favor that Zoidburg owes me. That damn crab may have nearly killed me twice, but he is the only other option I got unless I want to hunt down Halsey again. . . now that I think of it, this is a lot less painful than whatever that stupid crab can do. At least we'd know it was done right with all her important parts still intact. On the other hand, it would be entertaining to see Yang turn him into crab cakes.
"Proceed with the surgery F.I.L.L.S and please be careful." I ordered as the various machines in the room whirled and whizzed about. Yang laid down on the operating table, Alice begun to strap her in with Yang looking terrified the entire time. I walked over and gently took her hand in mine. Unlike with Velvet, I'm not doing this as a sign of affection, but rather for comfort. Letting her know she is not alone here. She gently squeezed my hand in response as her lilac eyes turned to me. "You're not going to be left behind. We'll come back for you when the surgery is done, you have my word." I promised. She nodded at me as Alice moved in behind me. Replacing my hand with hers, telling Yang to squeeze her hand to help with the pain. Her arm nub locked into place with several laser cutters and grafters surrounding it. I started walking out just as the machines begun their work. As the lasers begun cutting into the flesh I heard her muffled cries of pain and agony. I can only imagine what she must be going though. I sighed heavily as I marched down the hall toward the 'trophy vault' as F.I.L.L.S calls it. I'm not sure what all I'll find there, but right now I need every advantage I can get. I just pray it won't be too little, too late.
Pyrrha's POV
Half hour later
"It isn't a good idea to wonder off like this. We don't know out way around here and I for one don't want anyone else trapped in another universe." Weiss called from behind me but I ignored her. I know we are suppose to be moving the equipment to our universe, but I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something this way, something I am suppose to see. We did get a good portion of equipment on the other side but something in my gut told me I needed to look around for a minute. Like something was calling to me yet I can't hear it but I can feel it. I traced my hand along the wall's design, following my gut as it basically 'pulled' me along. Down the hall laid a single door. Weiss called out to me once more as I walked down the hall in a almost mesmerized like state. I looked around once more at the marvels around me, the various crates of weapons and ammunition, Monty knows what type of armor enhancements were in the mix that Johnathan mentioned once or twice, and for some reason a ball with a light on one of it's faces. Strange, this whole place feels familiar yet at the same time odd and new. Feels like I've been here before yet at the same time not. I can't describe how weird it feels, but my gut is telling me that behind that door holds so many answers to questions I haven't even asked yet. I stopped in front of the door as Weiss nearly collided with me as my sudden stop.
"Pyrrha, why did you wander off? I expected it from Ruby, but not someone as mentally mature as you." Weiss scolded as I put my hand on the metal door. Cool to the touch, fingers grazed the plaque worded 'portal control room'. Behind this door, lays all the answers to my questions. Especially my biggest ones since Johnathan told us about the Multiverse. Why are we here? What even are we? Am I even real? Or are we just like a cartoon with no free will, following a predetermined path of pain and misery? If so, why? My fight with that Elite, we were so severely outmatched it wasn't even a fight. I'll be the first to admit we won by sheer luck. He could have killed us anytime he wanted
"I just can't shake the feeling that there is something this way I need to see. Something important." I answered as I opened the door. A cloud of mist fell from the opening and onto the ground with a chill, felt like I was opening up a walk in freezer.
Slowly I walked in, nearly blinded by a large array of LCD screens and some type of spinning bright purple gyro like thingy in the middle of the room, the mist rolled down the vents but parted away from the gyro thing. Each screen was littered with line after line of non-stop moving text. A few showed videos and images of things I've never seen before, yet some are familiar. One showed some type of battle between an unknown army with green lasers, a bunch of human like soldiers with white and blue on their armor, and some type of handsome looking man with a blue laser sword leading the soldiers. I do not want to go there any time soon, I heard war is hell but that puts it on another level. Another showed a aquatic environment with a single man swimming around with some type of underwater glider, collecting anything in sight while trying to avoid some long toothed sharks that seem to be trying to eat some scrap metal. Looks peaceful yet I still would avoid because I don't like to swim with sharks. Another showed a green cloaked man with a shield on his arm and some type of raccoon Faunus, only she had both the ears and tail, barely coming up to the man's shoulders as she slashed though a bunch of living orange balloons. I think I might like that world a little bit. I could adjust easily. Another showed a ranch style home with hard light pens filled with various types of . . . slimes. Cat looking once, pink ones, one that look like a bee, some that explode, yet they all looked so happy and strangely adorable. If I had a choice of universe to live in for the rest of my life, that would be it. Sure I'd be wasting my potential but it would be a peaceful and quiet life. And I have a feeling I'd live a lot longer than in the other universes.
"Miss Nikos and Miss Schee, I would highly advise not to go exploring in that room! Work still needs to be done transporting the equipment to the other side. Agent Rhode Island has the forklift to transport a bulk of it though. But a vast majority still needs moved." F.I.L.L.S . . .Shella yelled though the speakers. I couldn't help but ignore her, what caught my attention the most was myself, fighting much more viciously than I normally do and with no restraint what so ever against a woman who conjurers fire from her palms, said woman fighting like it was nothing more than a game. I'm not familiar of where the fight is taking place, I want to say the CCT or Ozpin's office, but I am not sure. Weiss was as fixed on the screen as I was. A dragon Grimm Flying around outside, I can't see much else beyond that, screen was fixed solely on the two fighting. The feeling in my gut faded away as I gazed on the screen at the other me.
"Shella, what are we watching on screen . . . two . . . three. . . four . . D" Weiss asked counting a little bit. The other me held the older woman in a choke hold with Milo, but didn't last long as the older woman burned though the spear and threw the other me aside as the dragon grimm clipped the tower. Shattering glass and forcing the roof to be loop sided. The other me struggled to get up as the older woman looked completely unfazed. I'm not sure what I am watching, is this the events of the future or events of a completely separate world from our own with a different time line?
"That would have to be the climatic event from one of your worlds during the end of volume 3, not long into the Vytal festival during the semi-finals. I've been doing mild research on your sector, by far my favorite character would have to be the pink Juggernaut known as Nora because of how fun she looks like to be around. Weiss or Ruby would have to be a close second based on character development and design." Shella answered as the other me manipulated the various metal objects in the room and threw them at the woman who dodged or melted her way through them, until she looked up to see she was surrounded by floating gears. "I would highly recommend you both leave the room immediately. It is heavily ill advised you keep watching." She warned as the older woman in the feed used her fire powers to send the gears flying, slamming one into the other me as her aura broke against the wall.
"I want to watch. Can you put audio on please." I replied for the first time since going though those doors. My hand touched the screen the other me was on. I want to cheer the other me on to keep fighting and to not give up, but all I can do is hope the other me gets out of there since she is up against a superior opponent. But she instead threw her shield at the older woman as said woman notched a arrow and fired. It would have hit the arrow had it not disassembled around the shield and reassembled on the other side, hitting the other me in the heel, right at the Achilles's tendon, forcing her to the ground in a cry of agony. The older woman walked over in a taunting manner, lifting the other me's head as she taunted more. The other me only spoke one sentence in that moment since the fight began.
"Do you believe in destiny?" The other me asked, the older woman said yes as she notched another arrow aimed right at my chest. That world's Ruby showed up from the side of the ruined tower just as the woman let go of the arrow, embedding in deep in the other me's chest and through the spine. My hands went to my mouth as I gasped in horror with the other Ruby. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. The other me cried in pain and agony as the arrow sizzled on her flesh, gasping for breath right before the other woman put her hand on my counterpart's forehead. Engulfing her in a orange light, then the other me proceeded to fade away like she was just ash in the wind. The screen went black after that with the words 'Transmission terminated by Operator'.
"I'm sorry, but Agent Ohio has instructed me to terminate all feed from that universe until he can get here to see for himself what is going on and explain it." Shella explained as I fell to my knees, eyes still wide in horror. I just saw myself . . . die, and it didn't look like a painless death either. I got too many questions to even begin to ask. Weiss knelt down beside me and wrapped her arms around me. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I collapsed in Weiss's grip and just cried. Is that the fate of our world. . . is that my fate? What could compel the other me to fight with such suicidal odds against her. If that is my fate, than what reason do I have to keep going? Vytal festive is maybe a month away, a month until my own death. What should I do . . . what can I do?
Johnathan's POV
Minutes earlier
I stepped though the heavily reinforced doorway to the vault after following F.I.L.L.S's directions. Whole area screamed killbox to me. Steel beams as thick as I am tall supported the roof above, cement covered the walls and floor, hallways was long and narrow with no form of cover from the door to the turn with turrets littering the roof of the hall in a V pattern, I can even spy some explosives around the support beams to collapse the whole hallway should the need require it. I looked around the vault and whistled in amusement. There were pedestals with various types of weapons, equipment, and power ups.
I can see a BFG 9000 on the far right pedestal surrounded by lasers, by far the most overpowered gun in the entire known multiverse I've ever had the pleasure of holding and firing. I almost moaned in pleasure just looking at that beautiful killing machine. A portal and gravity gun locked up with a simple glass case beside it, while neither are too dangerous alone but are both still useful. Wooden crates of several vigors and placids from Bioshock littered a whole row, I wonder if they would consider these Sembalances in a bottle back at beacon? A green mushroom from the Mario universe, still wouldn't eat mushrooms even if they were the last scrap of food in the whole multiverse or a overpowered power up. On a side note, keep Nora from touching it along with the fire flower. Phoenix down from Final Fantasy, could come in handy at some point. A duel bladed lightsaber sat on another one beside them, I'll stick to my energy swords. They provide better wrist protection and harder to for my opponent to disarm me, plus I enjoy the design of them a lot more than a plasma stick. Based on the design and size, I'd have to say Old republic era, easily. I want to say from Satele Shan but I am not sure.
A small grey cylinder caught my attention off to the side by Mjnior the hammer from the MCU, how the Director got it here I will never know. I wonder who is 'worthy' enough to wield it in our group here? Mostly likely either Pyrrha or Ruby with how pure both are. Maybe Nora since she is the closest to Thor we have. I walked up to the cylinder looked at the sign. 'Multiverse portal armor enhancement mark VII', yep. This is what I came here for, rest I'll move over once I figure out the best place to put them. I picked up the cylinder from it's pedestal, damn thing was barely smaller than my hand. Strange how something this small can hold the power to travel places considered impossible to a great many.
"Agent Ohio, I would highly recommend you go to the Portal control room immediately." F.I.L.L.S informed as I pocketed the devise. I'll get Serena to install it later, right now I got bigger problems to worry about. Quick look at the mission countdown clock . . . still an hour left before the base runs out of power. Yang should be done with her surgery by now. What in the world could she want me to do in the control room?
"What happened? Did Ruby push a button she shouldn't have and is now running from a Moa?" I asked putting my hand around Mjnior's handle and pulled up, damn thing didn't even budge an inch. I knew I wasn't worthy but couldn't hurt to try anyway. I looked beside the pedestal to find an assassin's hidden wrist blade. I know who would put this to good use, I picked it up and begun inspecting it when F.I.L.L.S gave me the worst news I can hear right now.
"Worse, Miss Nikos and Schnee are both in the room watching a different Miss Nikos death. I strongly advised them both to leave but they refused to listen." F.I.L.L.S replied, making me stop dead in my tracks and nearly drop the blade. This is bad, this is very bad news.
"Cut transmission, don't let them leave the room until I can get there. I don't want them doing something rash." I ordered grabbing the saberstaff next and bolted out of the room toward the portal control room. Once more, I know exactly who would make the best use of this weapon, and right now she needs all the comfort she can get after seeing her own death. With the weapon magnetically attached to my belt, I bolted down the cement and steel halls as fast as my augmentation would let me, skidding against the ground as I took a turn too fast and nearly collided with a shipping box of grenades. I got up and bolted faster, passing by Ruby as she happily inspected a SRS99-AM. Rhode tried to wave to me from the forklift but I went by too quickly she her to get a word off. I spotted the control room door. I braced myself as I clashed with the door and broke it off the hinges by my weight and skid to a stop. Pyrrha was on the ground in the fetal position crying as Weiss tried her best to comfort her.
"What happened? I bolted here the second F.I.L.L.S told me the basics." I asked looking around the room and at the various LCD screens. Multiverse portal stabilizer in the center of the room spinning freely in it's gyro. One on the Clone wars Battle of Umbara with the 501st and Anakin trying to get a though, one on the Subnautica world . . . Rising of a shield hero universe. . . One on Slime rancher weirdly enough. By far the most stupidly adorable universe I've visited to date. Most notable one was the black screen I had F.I.L.L.S shut off. Most likely the one that did the damage. "F.I.L.L.S, resume transmission to screen 4D, rewind transmission to the point where the girls came in. I want to know what they saw and exactly where this is from." I ordered leaning over the console as the screen returned to color. Sure enough it showed another Pyrrha fighting viciously against someone who looks familiar yet I can't put a name on them right now. First minute into the fight and I can tell it is going to be extremely one sided, and it not looking good for the other Pyrrha.
"Transmission coming from spy probes in the Core-verse of the RWBY sector. All probes utilize Sanghellii active camouflage technology to keep them hidden and at a safe distance for optimal observation without any form of interference." F.I.L.L.S informed. I let out a sharp hiss as soon as I heard 'Core-verse'. That is not a good sign, if it is happening in the core-verse, then it is apart of the event-line. I watched as the other Pyrrha struggled to fight the other woman, and ultimately perished. Fight lasted not even 5 minutes.
"Son. of. a. BITCH!" I yelled slamming my fist on the console in frustration, leaving a fist sized indent in the panel as it sparked. This is the worst part of my job, by far the worst. Knowing something terrible is going to happen yet being completely powerless to stop it. Why, why does this always happen to me? Which God did I piss off to deserve this hell? And Pyrrha of all people?! Why her? Par from Velvet and Ruby, she is by far the sweetest and nicest person from their world I've meet. Why do the good ones always die so young?! Every fucking time!
"So does that mean. . ." Weiss tried to ask quietly.
"Unfortunately, it is unavoidable if it is apart of the event-line." I interrupted, clenching my fist as I kept my eyes on the screen, showing the other Pyrrha fading into the wind under the other woman's touch. No way of her coming back after that, not without some uber anime level bullshit story writing. "How long F.I.L.L.S?" I asked in almost a whisper.
"If I am correct, then the events that take place in the transmission will come to pass in over a month or two, assuming the events that happened prior take place in a similar manner. I don't know much about the Event-line so I can only speculate. The director has only begun documentation for little under a year." She explained. Once again I slammed my fist into the console in frustration even harder, making it spark more around me. Great, just perfect. I find out their world is going to go to hell even without mine or Emily's interference, not only that but a good friend is going to die a rather horrible death, and there isn't a goddamn thing I can do to stop it. . . . but that still won't stop me from trying.
"She is not going to die. . . not if I have anything to say about it." I whispered to myself. Straightening my back as I looked to the various screens. I took a deep breath as I breathed in the cold mist and let it out slowly. I turned around and knelt down to the prone form of Pyrrha as Weiss moved aside. "Weiss, go back though the portal and find Serena; tell her we got a code 470 yellow and to bring a pint of ice cream. What ever flavor Pyrrha likes best, warn Ren and Nora about the situation without going into too much detail. I've got it handled from here." I ordered as I think I heard Pyrrha meekly ask for mint. Weiss said nothing as she walked out the door and down the hall. Code 470 yellow is Jumper code for 'Character learned of their inevitable death, possible suicide watch at hand'. I've seen what happens to people when they learn that their death is inevitable, this can go one of two ways. She can accept her fate and live the rest of her life to the fullest she can . . . or decide to end it all prematurely. Sadly I have yet to see an in between. Pyrrha doesn't come across as the type to be suicidal, but those are the people to watch out for the most, Sayori comes to mind first. They know how to hide their pain better, how to fake a smile to keep others from worrying about them. I myself do it quite often to keep Serena and Elaia from worrying about me after a long mission. So I know that the last thing Pyrrha needs right now is to be alone (A/N For the most part, I'm going to be using my own suicidal experience with this and what convinced me out of it. I apologize if this is too sensitive of a topic for people. Feel free to take it with a grain of salt, I am by no means an expert or a therapist). She needs to be around people she knows cares for her.
I took off my helmet and set it aside, softly put my human hand on her shoulder, she looked up at me with her green eyes reddened by her tears. She reminds me so much of Carolina, yet they are practically polar opposites. "I know this is a lot to take in at once. It's never easy knowing your time is limited, especially when you seen how your own death is going to go. But know that you're not alone, far from it." I began thinking carefully how I want to word this. Everyone is different, a speech for one may have the opposite effect on another. I let out a deep sigh and dropped my shoulders. I've never been good with delicate situations like this. "Pyrrha I'm going to be brief with you, I know what you must feel right now. I know what it's like to feel hopeless and powerless when faced with something of this scale. Scared because there is so much more you deserve than a fate like that. To be honest, I'm scared too. Terrified beyond all doubt." I said looking into the mist as Pyrrha wrapped her arms around me, crying into my shoulder as I sat down beside her. Velvet is going to kill me if she saw this out of context, but Pyrrha needs comfort right now. "I'm scared that I won't be enough to protect my family. I'm scared that I'll be the last one standing in the end again when all those around me were killed. I'm scared your world is going to suffer because of me, because I am choosing to stay rather than go back to MERC like I should. I'm scared that my enemies will go after you guys and my family to get to me." I answered just saying my thought right now as I stared off into space. "I've buried more friends than I can count out in the Multiverse. I've survived when I should by all right be the one getting buried. I always stand at the grave in the end wishing it were me instead. You're not going to die Pyrrha, not like that. Not if I can help it. I don't care what the Event-line says, I'm not burying any more friends. You're going to live the long, happy life you deserve. I swear it on my name." I promised as her tears ran down my shoulder like a waterfall. I pat her back softly as she cried.
"Johnathan, I'm not sure how you plan on keeping a promise like that." She croaked out. I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure how I plan on keeping it either. If worst comes to worst, I'll be the one taking her place. No doubt I'd get killed, but I sure as hell won't be going down easily. I already know my end won't be pleasant. I'm going down covered in blood with a blade in hand. I already know I won't live the long life I want. Not when I got so many powerful enemies.
"You let me worry about that, I'll think of something. I might know a person or two to talk to about changing your fate. You worry about next week's dance before anything else, then we'll go from there, one day at a time." I replied wiping the tears off her eyes and patted her back softly. "For now, let's get you to the other side and get you a big bowl of ice cream. With lots of whipped cream and caramel." I know of only one man who has given the Event-line both middle fingers. As much as I hate even being in the same sector as that drunk, egotistical, know it all asshole of a dickhead: I made Pyrrha a promise. Looks like I'm going to have to be giving Rick Sanchez a visit sometime soon. If anyone can tell the event-line to go fuck off, it is him. I just hope I get the son of a bitch in a good mood.
Coco's POV
Jade Forest
RWBY subverse
I swore and cursed as we struggled to get Claire into the jeep. Yasu, Fox, and I were pushing with all out strength to lift her into the back of the jeep. Velvet sat in the passenger seat with a cold pack on her head, groaning in pain. Claire for the most part seemed to want to get in but we were having a hard time because of how heavy she was. Damn, who knew that babies could even weigh so much. She must be at least 5-6 hundred pounds easy, maybe seven. Earl was off to the side swearing we were insane for wanting to keep the child. The 'stegosaurus' was kicking her back legs to try to wiggle her fat ass into the jeep.
"First thing we're doing when we get home is putting her on a diet. For an animal they eats nothing but plants, by Monty she feels like weighs a ton." Fox complained as we gave Claire a final push and she managed to get her footing on the tailgate, using her good leg to lift herself into the car. I let out a exhausted huff as we closed up the trunk. Claire squeaked at me as I scratched her neck softly.
"There there Claire, You'll be okay. First thing you're getting when we get home is a nice warm bath and a trip to the vet." I cooed softly as she closed her eyes and leaned into my hand, almost like a dog. A four hundred pound scaly dog that could easily crush me in my sleep. Claire let out a low moan as I scratched right where I think her ears would me, well ear holes. I forget the technical term for them.
"Okay, you found your team mate and got a new pet. Now what are you going to do?" Earl asked irritatingly. He is really starting to get on my nerves. Sadly there is not much I can do about it, we still need him for full credit and a paycheck. So as much as I want to leave him here to walk back, we can't, at least not yet.
"I got to make a call to a friend later. He might have an idea what is going on and how to minimize it." I answered softly petting Claire down her head and across her back, tracing the bony plates. They feel so smooth, and warm. I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. I do hope Johnathan has an idea or two about how to take care of her, because I am at a complete loss on how. I'm going to assume it is just like taking care of a big cow. Can't be too much different aside that I need to watch out for her tail more so than a cow's.
"We are going to get so much shi. . ." Fox said stopping half way though his sentence. I stopped petting Claire as he stared off into the jungle behind us, eyes narrowing as I felt a distant thump though the ground, causing a near by puddle to ripple. That can't be good. "Everyone in the car. We need to leave, now!" He yelled nose diving over the side into the jeep as Earl looked at him weirdly. I wasted no time running to the front seat and patting down my pockets for the keys. My gut is telling me something is coming this way, something big, and I doubt it's Claire's parents coming back for her. Yastu grabbed Earl by his shirt and threw him in beside Claire and jumped in himself as I found the key. Another thud but this one sounded a lot closer as the trees behind us shook. "Coco, get this running! We got five seconds!" Fox yelled. Thank Monty for his Semblance. I can't remember how it works right off hand, I know it is kind of like sonar.
I turned the key and put the car in gear just as a large bi-pedal carnivore erupted from the tree-line. Smaller than the Rex from earlier this year, but it was built much more lean with a shorter neck and a larger snout. A blueish-grey body, a cream underbelly, light grey stripes covering its entire back, and a pair of red brow crests above its eyes. It broke into a run as it roared at us. I floored the gas pedal and the jeep jolted forward. Claire barked in fear as the hunter ran closer toward us.
"Must go faster! Must go faster! The Allosaurus is gaining on us! Go faster!" Theta yelled beside me as the beast roared. At least Theta knows what these things are, so we can get an idea what to ask Johnathan when we call him later. Not much he can do right now unless he can teleport to the other side of the continent. Earl was swearing his head off as we took off down the river bank with the beast on our tail. I didn't dare look back, I already know it was gaining on us.
"The pedal is already at the floor, what more do you want!" I yelled.
"Too much weight. The engine can't handle this much weight at once." Earl said. I don't know cars that well, but that can't be true. The pedal was at the floor yet we were still going at a snail pace, I swear the universe is doing this just to piss me off. As if I wasn't pissed off enough already.
"Turn right!" Fox yelled. I swerved right to avoid the snapping jaws of another 'Allosaurus' bursting from the tree line ahead of us. These things hunt in packs?! I thought most large carnivores hunted alone. We went speeding up a hill and went flying for the better part of a minute. We crashed down on the ground with Claire still barking in fear. Trying to back up only to be stepping on Earl who groaned in pain as she stood on his manhood if the cries of pain were anything to go by.
"Ditch the big baby! She'll distract them!" Earl cried out from the sounds of it trying to push Claire off him.
"We are not ditching Claire to be eaten!" I yelled back as I turned to avoid the jaws of the first Allo. Damn it. I can't deploy Fashion sense and drive at the same time. Velvet was in no condition to drive and the boys were both in the back with Fox slapping his hand on the side of the jeep yelling 'Go! Go! Go!' like I wasn't already! I doubt Theta can hack into the jeep and drive it himself. No one else can handle my gun on full auto except for me, and I'm the only one with a gun big enough that can even hope to hurt something as thick skinned as these brutes. One tried running along side me and roared at it snapped it's jaws. I grabbed my purse by it's strap and hit the beast upside the jaw with it as hard as I could, which was enough to make it topple over and skid across the dirt. Kicking it's feet as it tried to get back up again. I looked back out at the 'road' and my eyes went wide. "Everyone duck!" I yelled putting my head up against the steering wheel, I can only hope everyone else listened as the entire top half of our jeep just for ripped off from a low hanging tree branch at least as thick as I was. I poked my head up and did a quick head count, Velv. .Theta. . . Fox. . Yastu. . Claire . . . wait, where is Earl! I looked back to see Earl roll across the ground with one of the Allos was basically right on top of him as he picked himself up and started running toward us.
"HEY! Don't leave me!" He yelled running as fast as he could away from the charging beast. No way we can turn around and pick him up in time before either he or we become those thing's lunch. Damn it I hate tough calls like this, but my team's safety comes first.
"I'm sorry." I whispered as I kept my foot on the gas and looked at the side mirror as the Allo smashed though the tree branch and chomped down on Earl from above, shaking him in it's jaws as he screamed in pain. Earning me a horrible pit feeling in my gut as I heard his cries of anguish.
"Earl!" Velvet yelled just as the other Allo stopped chasing us and went with his friend, who threw Earl up in the air, one catching him by his chest while the other got his legs, ripping him apart at the waist as they both ate their catch in a single gulp. I too a deep breath and kept driving, at least it was a quick death. Look to the positives here. Velvet let out a terrified gasp as she covered her mouth in horror. I could feel Yastu and Fox's stares of horror and anguish without even looking back at them. Velvet slowly looked to me, I already knew what she was going to say.
"They were already on top of him and would have eaten him whether I stopped or not. There wasn't much we could have done without one of us sacrificing ourselves to save him. My team's safety is my top priority, anything else comes second. I'll take full responsibility for this." I started keeping as much of a stoic facade up as I could. "The second we can Velvet, call your boyfriend, tell him what is going on and if we can even stop it. We couldn't save Earl but I'll be dammed if we can't try saving his town in his place. I'll be the one to break the news to them, I should be the one to get all the shit for his death. Theta, I want you to tell us everything you know about these creatures and how you know of them. Tomorrow we're going to hunt down the portal and figure out how to close it. We'll figure things out for the town from there."
The world is going to hell in a hand basket, that bit is obvious. These creatures shouldn't be here by any means of the imagination. . . and this is only the beginning. I can't help but wonder just how we stack up in the grand scale of everything. I took a deep breath and let it out as Claire gave a low squeak in anguish. I won't let my team down, I can't let them down. This is beyond a grimm extermination or a simple school assignment. This is now a fight to try and save as many as we can from a similar fate. But once we close the portal, what do we do about the creatures already over on this side? We can't kill them all, and it is obvious living with them will take a tremendous and costly effort on the town's part. Damn it I hate seriously tough calls.
A/N: That's a wrap people. 3 years of looking at a page and trying to get inspired once more. I apologize it took so long. Work and life have been routinely kicking my ass something fierce. Now that I have more free time and actual time to myself to relax and enjoy life. I know the chapter feels a bit rushed after the author's note to show where I stopped three years ago and where I began again. I'm trying to get back into the rhythm again and it is going to take me some time. Next chapter will see Johnathan divided on what to do. With the Flood on Remnant, CFVY needing assistance, and dealing with Pyrrha's now discovered inevitable death. Which in my opinion was brutal and broke my heart since she was my favorite well known character for the time aside from Velvet. Who do you guys think will be worthy enough to lift Mjnior aside from Nora for obvious reasons (Basicly being the thor of RWBY). I got plans and challenges for the road ahead until chapter 50 where I'm ending it. So we're almost done. Yes I found a way to sneak Rick into the mayhem as well. Going back and rewriting some of the shorter chapters and combining a few that make no sense as separate chapters. I'm not sure when I'll get around to that but I'll post when it is done. Until then, stay safe people.
~Dgreen20