Snippet 275
Dustpunk 20XX 2
Genre: Adventure/Drama/Cyberpunk/Crime
Pairs: Emerald/Mercury
AU-Type: RWBY
Tags: Rational Fic, Neo speaks, Time Displaced RWBY has a rough patch, Cyberpunk 2077 inspired, GTA elements too, Referencing some of Psyga315's work, XanTech's here.
Notes: Some details to note here, basically ignore most of the RWBY novels as I won't be acknowledging them for this (or the Neo one for any of my work as it's hot garbage).
Yang was eager for the fight…not just for testing out her new gear out…but to unleash her anger. Anger at her failings and at herself. She needed this outlet.
"Calistena, what are we in for?" Ruby asked.
"The Brothers Grimm. Peep the dark clothes and Grimm masks…some of those fuckers came from the scraps of the Branwen Tribe." Calistena said getting out an M16. "From what I saw it was about five vehicles, a small bunch. Probably scouting around Quicksilver turf for easy marks."
The vehicles came to the stop near then as weapons were drawn. Yang wouldn't even allow for words as she shot the big guy right in the face, splattering his skull all over the sand. Bullets flew as people used their cars for cover. Weiss was putting to use the few gun lessons she had done with Winter to use in how she fired at them. Ruby got in position to snipe who she could…but Blake was steeling herself.
"Let's do this…" Blake said before activating her cyberware.
Her eyes widened as her Sandevistan whirred to life with a faint glow as Blake watched everything slow down around her. She walked…gilded past bullets around to the thugs in question. One had a kukri…and while it was not a katana…she'd use it. She slashed about three necks before she could feel the Sandevistan time out. For everyone else, they just saw a black blur zip through and three guys' necks exploding from cuts.
"One of them got a Sandy!" One of the Brothers Grimm said.
Fighting through the brief bit of first time fatigue, she opened fire on the goons before throwing the kukri into the head of a mook. Using her semblance, Ruby rushed the last two using her momentum to hurl them into the car allowing for Calistena to shoot them dead.
"You haven't lost your touch." Calistena said putting her gun away. "And right on time…"
The sounds of an airship got them all to look up. It looked like a more advanced Bullhead that bore the logo of another company…XanTech. It descended down to the ground before opening up revealing a pair of corpos…fraternal twins. Both pale redheads in dark onyx suits, ice blue ties, dark glasses that covered the whole area around their eyes, and tell-tale cyber-threading. Their suits bore the symbol of the company on their shoulders.
"Calistena…I see we have company…"
"Don't worry, they're hired help of mine. Don't worry about the corpo looking one, she's stole the clothes off a corpse, Theo." Calistena said. "I wouldn't ruin our working relationship."
"And the corpses?"
"Tia, it was some Brothers Grimm. You know they like lurking around the camp." Calistena mused.
The way the twins was of a lowered tone, near monotone leaning on stoicism and professional.
"We may have to work on setting a safer meeting place." Theo said before turning to Team RWBY. "Thank you for protecting our business partner and leaving no witnesses."
"Yeah, sure." Yang said awkward as Calistena got a briefcase.
"Here it is. Your cut of the profits." Calistena said giving to Tia.
She opened it up, counted the cash, and closed it. Tia's eyes looked over to Weiss.
"The dead corpo that you got those clothes off of…" Tia droned before using her visor to project an image. "This her?"
"Yes." Weiss confirmed.
"Most pleasant news. That bitch and her little mob of friends had stolen from us…and I assume her posse is also deceased." Theo said with his stoicism slipping for a moment.
"Yeah, drug overdose. From the looks of things…it was likely laced." Blake affirmed.
"Good. And from the looks of things. They used to make the custom cyberware you have installed." Tia remarked. "Don't worry about it. We don't want it back…instead I'm more interested…in having you four work for us."
"Your cyberware makeup is most unusual. Tolerance that high is…rather rare." Theo firmly stated. "But here…for your work in protecting our business partner."
The four would get about 10,000 lien each deposited into their 'accounts'. Tia would go in the ship before returning with each of the team an ice white microcube.
"This is a microcube. Use it to take the spoils to leave with little trace." Tia said giving to Ruby.
The exchange was completed with Calistena getting her merchandise. The System (and also Penny) would explain that the microcube they were given were basically mobile storage garages and that they got the Small variant. Those could fit two cars…or four motorcycles.
"Wait, if I can interject. If you need a place to do these meets…why not Redsands East? There's a fast-food place there…I don't think anyone will question if you're just going out for food in the boonies." Ruby suggested.
"That's not a bad idea…" Theo mused.
Team RWBY would get the twins' contact information before they left…and bid the four farewells.
"You guys can keep the spoils. My way of paying you since the twins covered the bulk." Calistena said before starting to load her truck.
The team checked the bodies first as Blake suggested Yang take the kukri for herself citing Yang had a stronger swing than her. Yang found a sheathed katana, a 2020 Arasaka model, and tossed it to Blake citing she needed it. Weiss would find a katana that the Relic identified as a Black Unicorn katana. The black blade had dust detailing and a smile formed on Weiss's face at the find. In terms of melee weapons, Ruby would find a combat knife and a red baseball bat with black bolts on it. Next was the matter of dividing up the firearms.
"I think we should try to have a variety of weapons, even outside our weapons. We can carry multiple guns at once…we should use that to our advantage." Ruby stated as she got agreements from everyone.
Ruby took up a camo patterned Militech M-10AF Lexington that had a ClearVue Mk. 8 long scope attachment to give to Weiss citing it was for close range fighting. She was geeked to even see the futuristic looking guns…but a bit saddened that mecha-shifting weapons have fallen out of favor.
"Yang, I'd suggest you take this."
Ruby tossed Yang a Nokota D5 Copperhead.
"An automatic assault rifle can cover where your shotguns can't." Ruby said sagely taking the neon variant pair of Militech M221 Saratogas. "I'll keep these for myself."
Blake would obtain a pair of neon variant Darra Polytechnic DR-5 Nova revolvers with a pair of Add-Vantage short scopes. The pair glittered thanks to their golden sheen and she confidently twirled them.
"I noticed their cars don't have their gang's branding…looks like a stealth squad. Makes it easier for to take them though." Calistena said as she finished loading her Sandking up.
Thanks to the Relic, the team was able to take the money off the dead before they turned their attention to the cars. There were three cars and a motorcycle, all in shades of black and gray with modifications to traverse off-road easier.
"I'll take the bike." Weiss said walking to it.
A black and gray ARCH Nazaré "Racer" that had a bit of armor plating on it. She could say goodbye to her old bike for this one.
"If it's okay with you, can I take your old bike off your hands?" Calistena asked as Weiss nodded. "Cool thanks…"
She loaded that into her van. It left the Quadra Type-66 Avenger, a Sabre Turbo, and a ZR-350.
"Dibs on the muscle car." Yang said before using her cubes to store her bike.
She gets in the Sabre Turbo after taking the keys off the corpse. She looked within feeling it needed some more work done, along with a paint job. Ruby took the Type-66 Avenger for herself after using the cube to store her Freeway. She admired the inside and had several ideas in how to upgrade the car further. Blake would use hers to store her bike before getting the ZR-350. The three would be a bit of money in the glovebox along with something else. Yang found Synth-Coke which she tossed immediately. Blake found condoms…and a Sir John Phallustiff. It was a small one-handed club…that doubled as a vibrator. She decided to keep it…given the nights could get lonely. Ruby found a burner phone and a text came up.
'I have the 'party favors' you paid for…come to the Sunset Motel to get them.'
"Jackpot." She thought.
The group would return to the Quicksilver camp…where there were people waiting for them. Ruby noticed those at the entrance were clearly armed fighters.
"We got a problem?" Calistena asked.
One came up to her window.
"The leaders wish to speak to you…all of you."
Calistena sighed as she and Team RWBY got out of their rides to be escorted. In the middle of the camp was bizarrely what appeared to be a house with a distinctive shade of silver for the walls and a green roof. Painted on the home were two emblems in a circle. The one who spoke to Calistena came up to the house and knocked stating that Calistena and her party were here. He'd speak back as the door opened. They were slightly older, but Team RWBY immediately recognized them. And they had recognized them in turn.
"So am I in trouble or…not? Because I was just going to pay my dues and get my weapons." Calistena said sheepishly.
"If it's about the cars, we can explain. We got them dead people…and if it's the clothes, we also got them off dead people." Weiss exclaimed.
"We know it's you, Weiss." Emerald said with a sigh. "It's just you haven't aged a day since we last met."
"And you barely have…must be good cyberware." Yang snarked.
"I assume you have questions, I-"
"Mom, I'm back with the-What the fuck?"
A teenager came up, and it was clearly she was their child from looks alone.
"Dante, your mother and I are dealing with something. Can you please escort Calistena back to her spot?" Mercury requested as Dante nodded.
RWBY found themselves invited inside and sitting around the kitchen table. Emerald asked how they're not dead to which Ruby explained everything about the Ever After. Emerald and Mercury were beyond pleased to know Cinder was dead and gone. Mercury even consoled Ruby about doing the deed…before they got into what happened while they were gone.
"Neo saved the world…and she used that to her advantage to get a pardon for all her past shit. And after the war ended, people wanted to put Salem's cronies…and the lot of you under the sword. The people of Atlas wanted blood. That's why I killed Tyrian aside from the psychotic fuck deserving it…lead to us to getting pardoned." Mercury explained.
"Helps…we did lie that Cinder and Salem threatened us to help them." Emerald said nonchalantly.
"That doesn't surprise me." Yang sniped.
"Considering what you did to Ironwood, I wouldn't exactly be throwing stones. Especially when you're in the safety of our tribe's turf." Emerald remarked with a glare. "If anything, you walked away luckier then your friends."
"No, they're not dead. But considering the court case, things weren't so bad. Oscar…Ozpin…whatever he is essentially threw you guys under the bus. Yeah, a lot of people were throwing people under the bus. In the end, your huntsmen licenses were posthumously revoked. Your friends lost theirs too and the only reason they're in jail is because they helped fight in the war. Jaune and Nora refused to testify against you…but Ren did. He was pretty pissed…" Mercury stated before getting a beer out of the fridge.
"Do you know what became of them?" Ruby asked.
"We had already cut ties. What we know is from word of mouth and the media coverage on it. What I do know is your friends never got seen to prison…and you should be lucky you showed up when the warrant and the statute expired." Emerald said.
"And consider us even for that shit we pulled at the Vytal Festival. We did clear your name on that in the trial." Mercury affirmed. "And we are letting you waltz into our camp without issue."
Yang held her tongue as Dante returned.
"Given the circumstances for what you did for Emerald, we are inclined to give you a status of being a friend of the Quicksilver Tribe. Don't blow it…and about Calistena…"
Ruby would take to telling Mercury and Emerald what happened.
"XanTech. I'm surprised she's willing to keep that secret given we literally have one of their products…but I'll keep that in mind. As long as she hasn't betrayed the group and help with dues, it's inconsequential. You four can go." Mercury said as the team took their leave.
Yang was still sour over the past, but she knew considering the help of the tribe…she was not going to make it an issue. They were in a whole new Remnant…and any help was needed. Blake collected the MTL1 in the cube as the group readied to depart. The System would mark the place as a 'Fast Travel' point as they would with Redsands East. A welcome relief as they descended into the badlands as the sun began to set. They use their maps to find the I-9 before coming up to the motel in question. Despite some graffiti, the place had a bright atmosphere. Ruby eyed the parking lot noticing a woman. A rather dark skinned one with gold studs, a septum, circular glasses, a black faux mohawk, and silverish eyes all in punk clothing. The System pegged her as a weapons vendor…and she parked near the vendor's Columbus V340-F Freight. She motioned to her team to hang back for a moment.
"Excuse me." Ruby said as she got out of the car with the burner phone. "I'm here for the party favors."
"You're not my client." The vendor said.
"That's not my car either, but he's dead. You texted his other phone when he tried to jump me and my friends. So, I want his party favors. They're already paid for." Ruby stated as she tossed the vendor the burner phone.
"You got massive guts, kid. Brothers Grimm ain't to be fucked with. What's your name, slick?"
"Ruby." Ruby hastily said, offering her hand.
"Amara." Amara said shaking it. "And as for his party favors…"
She got out a small box.
"It was a dozen CHAR Incendiary Grenades." Amara spoke with a grin. "Real spicy stuff."
Ruby was happy to take it and inquired about getting a knife.
"Sorry, kid. I don't sell melee weapons. But just guns and specs." Amara said as she caught Ruby's interest on specs. "Say you like making weapons?"
For a brief moment, Amara could see a Ruby that had one point had nothing but wonder and optimism in her eyes. She requested to buy all her specs…which was only two, but Ruby wanted them. She wanted to learn…and if anything, she loved a challenge.
"I'd also like to buy a pistol. What do you recommend?" Ruby asked.
"I got a several. Depends on your poison. Smart weapons to link to your smart link, power pistols that charge shots-"
"The second one." Ruby interrupted. "Sorry…I don't have a smart link…and the power pistol sounds more my speed."
"Don't worry about it. Here's the JKE-X2 Kenshin, the military variant. Probably some of the good shit Arasaka makes." Amara said noticing Ruby was admiring the weapon.
She had also had her eye on the composition and its make before deciding to purchase it. Amara returned the burner phone to her citing that it has her contact information on it. Ruby returned to her car as Weiss wheeled up next to her.
"I know we can go in and get some rest. There's just problem…we don't have a change of clothes." Weiss said.
"There's a clothing vendor back in Redsands East. You should be able to get there and back from the Interstate. It's a straight shot eastward. Vendors should be probably marked on your map now…my apologies."
Penny's voice was in the heads of the team as their maps updated. Without question, they got to moving.
"You think that vendor is going to take the clothes off those bodies?" Blake asked.
"Blake, what the fuck?" Weiss responded mortified.
"Look, considering this is the boonies and I doubt any companies would sell shit out here…it's likely that vendor is selling used clothes. If we can get a discount…I'll go for the bodies." Blake said making a turn.
Ruby did not want to, but she knew she may as well. They went back and stripped the bodies of their clothes. Except for their underwear…Weiss had demanded they don't even dare take them. Given one had soiled himself, there was little argument. They'd return to Redsands East to find the vendor near the filling station. The pale blonde vendor adjusted her hat as she was approached.
"You're lucky you came before I was about to close." Frieda said as they showed they had clothes to sell. "But suddenly, I'm not so bothered."
"We want to trade…we just need a change of clothes for tomorrow." Ruby said. "It's all used stuff, right?"
"Sure as shit. No one ships shit out here. Don't worry, the bras and underwear are new. Thank Tennessee for that." Frieda bantered. "But it's all Maxiwear."
"As long as it's new, I couldn't be bothered." Weiss sputtered out in relief.
To the four's reliefs, clothes purchased were stored allowing them to be to access at any 'safehouse' they would get that has a closet…or wardrobe. Knowing that got them to buy a few more things before Frieda closed shop.
"Next time, aim for the head." Frieda joked. "But in all seriousness, you find any clothes that you can scavenge…I'll buy them off of you."
RWBY would return to the Sunset Motel, tired and a bit at ease. They'd park, meet Noah, and cash in the favor for a motel room. Merely kicking off her boots, Ruby tossed off the jacket before flopping on the bed…too tired to bother with anything other than sleep. Weiss would peel off her clothes and immediately take a shower. The muggy heat…and the fact she was wearing the clothes of a dead woman had her craving a bath.
Guilt permeated in her mind along with a sense of worry over the state of her family. She did not tell the rest of the team…but knowing that her father died directly because of their choices haunted her. He was awful, but he was her father. She wanted to bring him to justice. And there was the rest of her shattered family…would they even be happy to see her? Could she even find Winter? Her mother? While she could find her brother, she was hesitant to just stroll into his life. Weiss found herself saying the words she promised never to say.
"I need a drink."
Blake was preoccupied with wanting to relax a bit before bed. She wanted to give her new vibrating club a test run. She found her purr after the first try and she hoped the walls were soundproof. Yang was not her in her room but in the bar with a strawberry sunrise in her hands. The drink was bittersweet to her…but she needed the burn. Weiss would come down to the motel's bar back in the suit, but without the suit jacket and tie.
"I thought you wanted a shower." Yang remarked.
"I did get one, but…I need a drink." Weiss said before asking Noah for a shot of homemade eggnog.
Unlike regular eggnog, the 'homemade' version had whiskey in it…it was a favorite of her mother's during the winter season. Noah put the drink down as Weiss looked at it like it was taunting her.
"Yang, what the fuck are we going to even do now? We really going to be mercenaries?" Weiss inquired.
"You got another option?" Yang asked sarcastically. "This Remnant is a whole new world…and we're relics of it's uglier past. We need the money…and do you honestly any of us having a 'normal job'. Ruby's a gun nut, you're an heiress who's never had to work, Blake's a former terrorist, and even before all this shit…I likely got a record from wrecking that club. Yeah, it was covered up, but seeing we were thrown under the bus…that's probably out in the open."
Weiss took up the glass.
"I guess here's to our new lives…"
"Yeah, but at least Salem's dead."
The two clinked glasses before finally downing their drinks.
(A/N: I felt that Emerald and Mercury as nomads fit quite well. Aside from that, I enjoyed writing this up dealing with the fallout of the combat and it really sinking in for them that this is their lives now. On a side note, chapters 272, 273, and 274 were edited for errors. That's why I'm releasing this chapter now…and you're getting a small update this time.)