Intermission

The World of Remnant

Baymax

Heh, hey it's me again. (Cough, Qrow, cough)

Boy, do I got a doozy to tell you this time.

(The slowly lights up, showing a red armored machine with wings)

You grow up reading comic books about superheroes or watch superhero cartoons? I bet you probably did and if so, you're going to love to hear about this.

Remnant is big on heroes or at least people you might consider to be heroes:

(To highlight his point, certain people are shown who might be considered heroes:)

(A woman in a white cloak wielding an axe)

(A woman with a white Grimm mask wielding a red glowing sword)

(A man with blond hair, using his fists)

(A man with a red cape, wielding a scythe) (Cough, Show-Off,)

But none of them turn out to be flashy as this guy. Actually, he's not a guy.

(The red armored machine is shown again)

He's not even an 'he' technically.

No one knows where he came from, only that he showed up first in Atlas which probably explains where he was built.

(The machine is then shown flying around the map of Remnant)

Since then, he has gone on to take Remnant by storm. Taking down Grimm, bandits attacking outer villages, locating apprehending criminal syndicates, a literal machine has become the poster boy for Huntsmen everywhere.

(The outlines of James Ironwood, Leonardo Lionheart, Ozpin and Theodore are now shown on a podium)

Everyone wonders who built this machine.

Was it the eggheads in Atlas?

The good General there doesn't think so.

No kingdom has claimed responsibility and so far, barely anyone is able to get a good look at it when they're not on the receiving end of its fist.

(Various criminals are now shown in jail)

All anyone can say is that it's big, it's powerful and no one stands a chance.

So, you might understand why an unstoppable machine has everyone on edge.

(A table is shown with newspapers landing on it, all of their headlines shown: )

(What is the Crimson Sentinel?

(Who made it?

(Where did it come from?)

A lot of people would pay a lot of money to find out where this machine came from, who made it, and if they get one of their own…For various reasons.

(Men in coats were shown lurking through streets and back alleys)

So far though, everyone has turned up empty and trust me a LOT of people have been fishing for answers.

(Qrow himself was shown sitting in a bar, listening as people chatted behind him)

And yet, no one has been able to find out where this machine came from. A machine the media dubbed the Crimson Defender, or the Crimson Giant or the Iron Defender.

It all depends on you ask.

Still, it's out there right now…

(The Machine is shown again, turning to face the screen as its visor glows)

And for better or worse, it's here to stay.


In the parking building, there were very little cars around. This was supposed to be the meeting place of some of the biggest crime lords on Remnant, agreeing to meet here to discuss the current…problem. Already a trio had arrived, consisting of two young girls who were clearly twins, having black hair and green eyes. One had long black hair with a straight fringe that covered her eyebrows wore an off-white strapless dress with a cyan tint in some places and white thigh high shoes with blades attached at the heels. She also wears a flower hairpin, a white scarf, white forearm length gloves, 'wings', a silver belt, and makeup.

The other one had her hair short in a bob style with a straight fringe and her eyes highlighted by heavy red makeup. She wore a red strapless dress that was patterned with newspaper articles with the headings 'A New York la pop art di Alborghetti', 'Amity Arena', and 'New York Fine Art'. Her dress had black and dark red lace layered tulle that hangs down more than the dress. She had an off-centered bow belt around her waist and wears a pair of red thigh-high boots with black heels and soles alongside white lace-up detail.

Twin silver chains run round from the back of the boots connecting to layer armor plating on the front of her boots. She wears lacy black stockings that peek out over the top of her boots accompanied by black garter straps that supposedly connect to her underwear. She sported a pair of black fingerless forearm length gloves with red lining around the tips of the fingers. Her gloves sported a newspaper design similar to her dress running from the backs of her hands to her forearms with a light brown frill trim peeking out of the ends.

Her accessories include a large, long wing-like red feather and two short white feathers above her left ear and a short black fur shrug held by four beaded chains with a white gemstone in the center.

The one leading them was a heavy-set middle-aged woman with light skin and short blonde hair kept in a bob haircut. She had a spider in its web tattooed on her left shoulder, a beauty mark under her right eye, lipstick on her upper lip and purple nail polish on her fingernails. The top of her dress was white and backless, with long sleeves and details, such as beads and straps, in purple. Below was a purple corset, and a long-pleated skirt that is yellow on its top layer, purple in the middle one, and white in the lower layer.

Her shoes were brown and decorated with a green ribbon.

"Now, where is everyone?" The middle aged woman asked, pulling out a fan that she waved at her face. "Don't they know it's rude to keep ladies waiting?"

"Are you actually a lady?"

The women narrowed their eyes as a pair of men dressed in red suits emerged from the shadows. "Robin Redcap, Junior and Senior."

The younger man stood around 5'8, had short red hair, wore a golden necklace, black pants and shoes, rolled up sleeves, and a red button up shirt.

The elder one had a…grotesque appearance, only standing around 5'2, hunched back, sharp needle like teeth with a large misshapen nose, pointed nails, a red pointed hat, overweight and near black eyes.

These two were the leaders of the Redcaps, a ruthless criminal gang that had surfaced in Vale, trafficking weapons, Lien, drugs and were even known to be involved in slave trading.

It wasn't just them though.

"So, Lil Miss Malachite and the Red Caps." Another voice said as a man stepped out, followed by several men in gold suits.

He was over 5'6 feet tall, wore a gold and black leather armored jacket with designs all over it, a golden tie, several tattoos across his neck and face that includes a crown, a skull, barbed wire and other several threatening symbols. He wore sunglasses, has short black hair, black dress pants and shoes, a scar on his left cheek and golden kingly crown on his head.

Malachite narrowed her eyes at him. "Midas Goult."

This man was a crime lord in Mistral, leader of the Gold Gang, a contender with Lil' Miss Malachite for biggest crime lord in Mistral.

"So, you're here to about the big problem we've all been having huh?" Midas remarked with a small smile.

Malachite turned away, not even bothering to answer the man as several more crime lords and gang bosses stepped into the building. "So, who called us here?"

"I did." A young woman's voice spoke, and they turned to see a woman in a red dress, black hair and fiery amber eyes approaching them in a slow but confident manner, followed by a girl with green hair and a boy with grey hair. "Welcome, everyone."

"And you are?" Robin Redcap Senior asked.

"She's the one who has come to solve all our problems." A voice spoke from behind her.

Malachite and her daughters narrowed their eyes as the man stepped out from behind the woman, knowing him very well. He strolled towards them in his signature white coat and wearing his hat over his orange hair that had been uniquely styled and even had the gall to be lighting a cigarette in front of them, as if they were not a threat to him at all.

"Roman Torchwick."

"Oh, hi honey!" Roman waved happily to Malachite. "Sorry, I forgot to call ahead and tell ya I was coming."

"You have some nerve showing your face to me." Malachite remarked, glaring at the man. "After everything you cost me. And alone too, unless you have your hench-wenches hiding somewhere around here."

"Now, now, I know I broke your rules and ruined your expansion plans and all, but I think we can work things out and let bygones be bygones, all things considered. And I see you brought the kids." Roman twirled his cane in one hand, glancing at the two younger girls who glared at him. "Well, except the eldest. What happened to her?"

"None of your business." The three Malachites snapped.

"Oh, touchy. Now, now, no need to get testy." Roman waved one finger. "After all, we've all had a string of back luck in the last couple of years."

"So, the Red Colossus has been a pain in the rear end for you too, huh?" Robin Redcap Senior asked stoically.

"So that's what you call it huh? And a pain in the rear end? Give me a few drugs and a cigar and that would be easy to take care of." Roman narrowed his eyes. "That hulking machine has nearly caught me a dozen times and each time was too close for comfort for me and my crew…But thanks to its persistence…ALL MY OPERATIONS IN VALE HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN!"

BANG!

Roman banged his cane on the ground, taking a moment to calm down before looking at his fellow crime lords. "But you guys have had your problems with that rust bucket, which has brought us to our little proposition."

"We're listening." Midas replied.

"What say we pool our resources together…tear that machine to pieces and we split up its remains?" Roman suggested.

Miss Malachite actually laughed, followed immediately by her daughters. "Working together, Roman? Is this your new scheme?"

"I would be a lot more of a solo act if this was just my scheme, Missy." Roman twirled his cane again. "I'm more of the spokesperson for this little tete-a-tete-a-tete. So let's be frank, all the cops and Huntsmen on Remnant wouldn't dare touch any of us at one point. We all got something that made us untouchable in the eyes of the law and then…" Roman snapped his fingers. "A red machine, muscular enough that you actually wonder if it works out in the most top gym around, shows up, beats our crew down, leaving them to be caught by the cops, forcing us to abandon them or waste money to set bail, and then it shows and foils every single idea we have to make a dishonest buck."

He stopped twirling his cane and banging it on the ground again.

"How many of your guys has it put away in the last year? Hm? How many shipments of precious cargo has it intercepted before anything could be bought and sold? And just how close have we all come to almost being caught?" Roman looked around the parking area, looking each of them in the eye. "The answer is likely: Too many, too much and too close. And now the cops and Huntsmen in every kingdom now got the idea we're not as untouchable as we made them think and they're hunting us down, trying to either catch us before the robot does or just get in on the glory. Am I right…Or am I right?"

"And you propose we somehow team up and scrap this machine?" Robin Redcap Junior finally spoke. "If it's so simple, why haven't you done it yet?"

"Well for one, it's not as simple as I make it sound. Truth is, it's going to be insanely hard and maybe more than half of us might not make it back. And secondly if you're good at something you never do it for free." Roman shrugged, causing the crime lords to glare at him. "Luckily, I'm not the one who is spearheading this enterprise of madness."

"And who is?" Redcap Senior glanced to the woman in the red dress. "Her?"

"Actually, no." The woman answered. "But I know who is."

Another pair of footsteps were heard and from the shadows came a a tall, dark skinned man with red hair.

He wore a dark grey pig mask, and a red leather jacket and pants. Furthermore, he wore fingerless gloves.

"I present Vermillion Raddock of Hana's Guild." The woman introduced.

The man stepped forward, giving off a cold air as he glanced to everyone before speaking with a deep accent. "Thank you all for coming."

"You want us to work for you?" Miss Malachite questioned with a glare.

"Not for, with us. Each group here only represent a single cell that can become part of a much larger organization. The Red Caps operate strictly in Vale alongside Mr. Torchwick," Vermillion paused as Roman waved one hand. "But I come forward with the offer of forging connections to each group present and those that have yet to hear from us. The Ebu Gogo of Kuchinashi which operate alongside the Spiders and Hana's Guild in Mistral, the Nimerigars in Higanbana of Anima, the Brownies of Mantle, the Orcs and the Crown of Vacuo, and the Gremlins of Wind Path. Together, we can become the most dangerous syndicate in the history of Remnant."

"And how will this work?" Midas asked skeptically.

"Each group will be allowed to maintain their independence from each other, operating under a lose but under a truce to not violate any of each other's territories. Individually we would lose but together with the backing of one who agreed to work with us." Vermillion held up his Scroll and it projected a logo for everyone to see.

"The Diamond Dust Company." Robin Redcap Senior raised an eyebrow.

"They have agreed to provide us funding for our plans." Vermillion lowered his Scroll. "The CEO has a vendetta of his own and he's agreed to help us if we agree to help him. In exchange for that, he will be happy to finance us handsomely."

"Not exactly the wealthiest company on Remnant." Midas crossed his arms. "If you said you had someone in the SDC, maybe I would be more willing to give this a shot."

"He's right." Robin Senior nodded. "The Diamond Dust company is miniscule compared to the wealth amassed by the SDC even if they have helped fund us. Though we could barely stomach the SDC since they treat their animals like real people."

"True, not the biggest money bag on the planet but are we really so lousy at being criminals, we expect others to do our jobs for us." Roman spoke up again. "I may not look like it, but I'm more of a 'you want something done right, you have to do it yourself kind of guy'. Less chance of being backstabbed and more of a chance of keeping all of the reward for yourself."

"Hmph." The Malachite twins crossed their arms and scoffed at Roman's comment.

"Ignoring your own personal beliefs for the moment, Roman I think the biggest question is not a matter of funding and offers but of trust." Miss Malachite stated as she glared mostly at Roman. "The question being why should I trust you or any of you for that matter? Midas is my biggest competitor right now for control of the underworld in Mistral and that is hard enough with Lionheart and that machine in our way. Meanwhile Roman, I have not forgotten how you foiled my attempts to expand into Vale just to take control yourself so I wonder why I shouldn't just kill you here and now."

Roman looked sheepish as he stepped back, noticing the Malachite Sisters reaching for their weapons but Vermillion stood between the trio and their target.

"It is not a matter of trust, Miss Malachite but a matter of survival." Vermillion answered to which Malachite raised an eyebrow. "One way or another, the Red Giant will find us, and we will have to decide whether or not to stand united or fall divided."

"It's not so much an alliance but more a co-op if you think about it." Roman spoke again, feeling safe behind Vermillion. "Everyone is free to join or back out when they feel like it. You just don't have to worry about being alone anymore."

"And you're such the poster boy for trust, Roman." Malachite glared again at him.

"True, but you can trust me to value my own survival over grudges, the need to come out on top and so and so on." Roman shrugged. "You guys keep Mistral and I'll stick to Vale while anyone else can hold onto Atlas and Vacuo, if they want to try. We just kindly give each other a heads up on trouble and maybe some guys if we're in need of some extra muscle. Pig Man here is volunteering to be the go-to guy for all that, rather than the official leader."

Vermillion showed no indication of hearing Roman's nickname for him.

"So, what do you say?" Roman leaned forward on his cane. "Are you in or out?"


To think it all come to this.

Jacques Gele looked out the window of his office, staring across the lake from the headquarters of the Diamond Dust Company.

It was too warm.

He should been in Atlas, basking in the sweet cooling office he would have had if his plans to marry the Schnee Heiress had gone through.

But it hadn't.

He had been rejected.

Mocked.

Ridiculed.

Fired.

And exiled.

And that wretch Ansem the Wise took everything that should have been his!

He could only take over a lesser-known company rather than the Mistral Trading Company after having been forced to leave Atlas when the scandal reached the ears of the public.

The man who should have had it all now barely could keep a roof over his head.

But Jacques had learned the virtue of patience and he knew he would have a chance at revenge soon.

Sure enough, his scroll beeped, and he answered it. "Yes."

"The criminal gangs have agreed to let the Diamond Dust Company fund their activities." The caller immediately spoke.

"Good." Jacques sat down at his desk. "Let's make sure to have all the necessary accounts open and make sure none of them can be traced back."

"Of course, Mr. Gele."

Jacques ended the call and placed his Scroll on his desk, glaring up at door. "So, is this what you had in mind?"

"Just the start, Jacky-Boy." The mocking tone of Vanitas chuckled from his mask as he walked in. "Sure, you might not have imagined this is how things would be but at least you're starting your climb to the top."

"I'm negotiating with criminals." Jacques snorted. "Hardly what I wanted."

"Ha! Newsflash Jacky, you are a criminal. Always have been." Vanitas taunted, pointing at the man. "Whether here or at the top, you would have done the same things as you do now. The only difference is you could have afforded a good PR team, but of course there is the old saying 'There's no such thing as bad press', right? And you would have been caught sooner or later because guys with such egos always go too far and never stop to use their little brains."

Jacques reached for a glass of Mistrali wine, feeling a headache from just hearing his…ally. "Is that what you believe?"

"It's what I know. You are hardly the only business…client I have met, and they all thought the same. Always wanting more and never thinking you have enough." Vanitas chuckled. "And they say all you need is a good career to get ahead in life."

"You get ahead in life by being smarter than everyone and not being afraid to push aside whoever is in your way." Jacques sipped from his glass.

"Really? That's not what good old Ansem thinks and he's ahead of everyone." Vanitas retorted.

CRACK!

Vanitas paused when he saw Jacques clenching the glass in his hand so tightly, it cracked. "Oh, struck a nerve, did I? Can't handle the truth?"

"Shut up!" Jacques threw the glass at Vanitas who tilted his head to the right, allowing the glass to fly past him and shatter against the wall. "I will not be mocked like this! And I will not hear the name of the man who stole everything from me!"

"Oh…Boohoo." Vanitas brought a hand to his mask, pretending to rub his eye and he mockingly cried. "Boohoo, hoo. It's so sad to see you like this, acting like a child throwing away a broken toy just because you didn't get your way."

Jacques snarled.

"Lighten up, Jacky." Vanitas lowered his hand. "Like it or not, Ansem outwitted you, outplayed you and showed himself to be much more clever than you could ever hope to be. Not that it's much an accomplishment. The only reason I'm even bothering to help is because I am looking for some entertainment while I am waiting."

"Oh really? For what?" Jacques snapped.

"Just when an old friend is ready to play again." Vanitas chuckled. "Wait till she sees what we're going to be doing, Jacky. Now get yourself cleaned up. We're going to visit another friend I've made."

Jacques barely had time to blink before darkness rose up from the ground and covered his vision, making him let out a scream before he vanished along with the masked boy.

No one heard his screams or knew what happened.

Or where they had gone.