-~Content warning: Trafficking, and drug mention

Atlas. Huntsman Training Simulation area:

Keoth was called into the training hall. With the help of Neon who did not stop constantly talking.

Keoth was starting to get annoyed by her constant yapping, and having to repeat himself a lot.

"... So how do you see where you're going when you can't see?" She asked again for what Keoth felt was the thousandth time.

Keoth growled "I can't actually see. I'm able to find my way around thanks to you and your endless yapping."

Neon was taken aback by his statement. "Oh… sorry."

Keoth sighed. "Sorry. I just hate repeating myself."

Neon nodded "I'm sorry. I'll be quieter. Oh we're here anyway."

Winter stood at ease before the training room "Thank you Neon. You may leave him to me."

Neon bowed "Right, gotta go. Bye Keoth!" She then zipped off.

Winter sighed.

"Is something the matter?" Keoth asked.

Winter shook her head "No, nothing's wrong." The door behind her opened "Let's head into the training room."

Keoth glanced around.

Winter winced "Right… blind." She mumbled.

So Winter guided Keoth into the training room. Then stood in front of him "In order for you to be an Ace Op, you need to be able to fight without your sight."

Keoth snorted "That's gonna be difficult to do. Since I've relied on my sight all my life."

"And that is why we're here. I will demonstrate one of my movements. I want you to listen to the sound my sword makes when I swing it."

Winter drew her sword and took three practice swings. She noticed Keoth's ears twitched.

"As I figured." She prepared a battle ready stance "As a fox faunus your hearing is immaculate. So much so that I bet you could almost sense where my blade was."

Keoth shrugged "I mean yeah I could hear your sword swing as well as feel where the tip was."

Winter made a pleasant smile. "That's good to know. Now then, draw your sword."

Keoth fumbled slightly before drawing his own blade.

"Now try to sense where my blade will strike." She took a swing to Keoth's left.

Keoth thought she was going for an overhead strike, resulting in his side being impacted. Thankfully his aura blocked the blow for him. Keoth groaned in pain still "Ow…"

Winter returned to her battle stance. "I do this because your enemies won't show you kindness. They won't let you get your bearings if you lose them for even a moment. Try to "see" where my blade will end up without actually seeing it."

"I'll try, but I don't know how you expect-" Keoth complained.

Winter cut him off "Just trust me. Please."

Keoth groaned and rolled his eyes. He then got into a ready position.

Winter took another slice.

This time he felt the air around her blade and accurately predicted where it was heading. He also heard something from her blade click and release with a second sharp wind heading straight at him.

He remembered that Winter's sword was a pair of dual swords. He drew his wakizashi to intercept the incoming second blade.

The blades connected. Keoth then slid his main blade off of Winter's own main weapon and tried to attack Winter.

Winter saw this coming and dodged backwards to avoid it. Seeing an opening she went in for an overhead strike.

Keoth parried that attack and went in for an attack from the side.

Winter intercepted and deflected the attack away from her. At the same time she jumped back outside Keoth's range.

She made a small smile, "You're improving faster than I anticipated."

Keoth shrugged "It becomes easier after listening for the whistle of the blade through the air."

She combined her blades and sheathed her sword. "Exactly as I explained."

Just then the door to the training room with a dark skinned, fairly tall woman entering.

"Harriet" Winter greeted.

Harriet saluted Winter "Ma'am. I was told by Ironwood to help train our blind recruit."

Winter raised an eyebrow "Bring him out for a mission? That sounds reckless for Ironwood."

Harriet shrugged "I don't question his decisions. Just bring him to the landing bay."

"I'm blind not deaf." Keoth commented.

Harriet glanced at Keoth "Did I address you?"

Before Keoth could retort, Winter intervened with a question "Let me rephrase my previous statement. Why does Ironwood want him?"

Harriet shrugged "He didn't give an answer." She then turned to Keoth "Now are you coming or not?"

Keoth curled an eyebrow "Sure, if you can help me get where we're going."

Harriate rolled her eyes "Fine whatever. Just get ready, rookie we have a long day ahead." And like that she stormed off.

Winter sighed "I apologize. But this training session will have to conclude prematurely."

Keoth nodded "Yeah that's fair. Unlike calling a blind person out to battle." He chuckled.

Winter stifled a chuckle. "Very well. I will escort you out."

Hours later Harriet and Keoth slayed a multitude of small scale grimm. Sabertooths and Raptors mostly.

Harriet turned to Keoth and commended him "Looks like you're getting the hang of fighting without your sight."

Keoth groaned. "Yeah, but it's still not ideal." He said as he glanced in the general direction of Harriet.

In truth, Keoth still wanted vengeance against Cinder for what she did to him. He took a sigh as he tried to come up with a plan to get back at her when he heard footsteps somewhere behind him.

"Harriet, humor me for a moment." Keoth said "I hear footsteps behind me. Is there something behind me."

Harriet rolled her eyes and glanced behind Keoth expecting it to be civilians. Instead she found two men in cloaks that darted around the corner. "I mean… something suspicious is happening."

Keoth turned around and started to follow the two suspicious people with nothing but the sounds of their boots against the pavement. Harriet followed close behind, not too sure how Keoth is able to navigate without seeing anything.

Harriet and Keoth hid around the corner into the alleyway and noticed a door those aforementioned figures were. Keoth was able to hear the phrase "Color of blood" From one of them.

Keoth then told Harriet. "We're gonna need disguises. Like a cloak or something. Perhaps there's a discarded clothing bin or something?"

"Or we can use this open window to the basement right next to us." Harriet pointed out.

Keoth sighed "Or we can do that." He then thought of that one time he and Justin had a similar exchange on Sea of Thieves and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Harriet noticed "Something funny Keoth?"

"Just a funny memory." Keoth said, glancing in Harriet's general direction. "By the way I need a bit of help finding this window you mentioned."

"Just follow my voice, it's right where I am." Harriet said as she climbed into the window. "Now kneel down and crawl to me, feet first."

"You don't need to baby me." Keoth complained while crawling through the window.

Harriet crossed her arms with a smirk "But you're blind. Surely you need a play-by-play."

Keoth glared in Harriet's general direction.

Harriet turned around and ordered Keoth "Let's go, if we're here any longer we're going to end up caught."

Keoth shrugged and followed Harriet's footsteps.

They snaked their way through the corridors, silently taking out any sentries or anyone who would detect them.

Once the duo made their way inside, and into an area they were sure they were safe in. They decided to whisper to one another. "You're really good at stealth." Harriet noted.

Keoth nodded. "Well. I'm just more aware of my surroundings, more so after losing my sight." he then shrugged "Besides, i've got plenty of experience with stealth unlike Achilles."

Harriet snorted. "Achilles? What did he do?"

Keoth made a slight chuckle before he answered. "There was this incident a while back in a video game where we were planning on doing things stealthy. But then that asshole goes "Did someone say machine gun?" and then lagged out."

Harriet kept herself from laughing. "Seriously?"

Keoth gave a quick nod "Yes. Now we should get moving again, I heard footsteps and they seem to be coming this way."

"Ahead or behind?" Harriet asked as she composed herself.

"Ahead." Keoth answered.

They managed to hide themselves inside a broom closet in that same room while two men walked past.

"Isn't it kinda weird our leader has some sort of hate-boner against the Vermilions?" One of them asked.

The other one sighed in annoyance "If you remember the history that most tend to forget. Then no, I do not find it "kinda weird." Answered the other one.

"But I do. Like what did these people do to him?" Asked the first guy.

A sharp turn of the heel could be heard as the other one he was talking to warned. "If you continue to ask questions like that, Apostolis will remove your tongue. Do you want to be a silent monk like the others?"

The first guy seemed to have quieted down.

"Exactly.' Said the second guy. "Now shut up, we need to head to the meeting area. His lieutenant has some sort of message from the boss."

Harriet turned to Keoth and asked him "Apostolis? Who names themselves that?"

Keoth scoffed "An edgelord clearly."

Harriet cracked open the door to check if anyone was around.

It seemed to her no one was. "It seems safe for now. What do you think?"

Keoth stayed silent for a moment before answering. "I only hear more footsteps heading towards that area I'm assuming those two were talking about."

Harriet sighed "Great, makes stealth more difficult."

Keoth shrugged, "I've had worse."

Harriet grabbed his wrist. "Alright, I'm going to use my semblance to get us to another hiding place."

Keoth nodded "Sounds good. Not like I can see anyway."

Harriet glanced back at him with concern "I figured that your sight would have returned by now."

Keoth fired back "Yeah, if it was normal fire probably. Not against a bitch that can set things on fire with the palm of her hand."

Harriet raised an eyebrow "You mean Cinder?"

Keoth threw his hands out to the side "No I mean Sinder. You know, with an S" He said sarcastically.

Harriet rolled her eyes "No need for sarcasm."

She then used her semblance to speed to another hiding place, which was a pillar against the wall. Conveniently wide enough for both of them to hide behind.

Harriet peaked her head out to see if anyone was close. She saw two people talking to each other.

Harriet turned to Keoth and asked. "Can you hear them?"

Keoth nodded "barely though. They're talking about the meeting that's happening. And the illegal weapons they smuggled."

Harriet's heart skipped a beat "Illegal weapons?"

Keoth nodded "That is what I just said isn't it?"

Harriet turned her head again to confirm they were still there. "We should interrogate them." She noted.

"And risk them sounding the alarm? No thank you." Keoth warned.

Harriet shook her head "We could silence them when we're done."

Keoth sighed "Fine, but we should hide them. Wouldn't want anyone to find them knocked out."

Harriet shrugged. "Like we haven't already done that."

Harriet started sneaking up to one of them, with Keoth following close behind.

In tandem, Harriet and Keoth grabbed the pair from behind. Keoth held his wakizashi up to the neck of one of them while Harriet held the other in a tight headlock. Harriet then asked "Where are the illegal weapons you were talking about?"

"Like we'll tell ya sellout." He spat.

"Talk or your friend will know how sharp my blade is." Keoth threatened.

The first grunt sighed. "Third room on the left," Said the one that Harriet was holding firm.

"Dude!" said the second that Keoth kept his wakizashi level with his neck.

Keoth then took his blade and slammed the kashira (the end of the handle on japanese style blades) into the head of the one he held, knocking him out instantly.

Harriet followed suit and slammed her exosuit fist into the head of the one she held captive.

The duo then dragged them into a nearby room and closed the door.

Harriet locked eyes with Keoth and nodded at him.

Keoth then said "I have no idea what you just did." He waved his hand across his face "Blind, remember?"

Harriet apologized "Oh right, sorry. Let's go find those weapons."

Keoth pointed in Harriet's general direction "See, that's better."

Harriet rolled her eyes and continued down the corridor.

"Don't think I didn't hear you roll your eyes" Keoth growled.

Harriet snarked "How? Did you hear the fluids in my eyes change?"

The duo shared a chuckle as they found the room that was pointed out to them. Inside the room were the aforementioned weapons such as RPG launchers, machine guns, rifles of large calibers, and crates that had the Schnee Dust Company logo on them.

Harriet made a low whistle "Looks like they're preparing for war." she noted.

Keoth felt the guns and noticed something on them. "No serial numbers either it feels like. Probably sanded off." That was when he heard a moan. It was soft and sounded like they were in a lot of pain. Keoth's blood ran cold.

Harriet noticed "Are you alright-?"

"SHHH!" Keoth shushed her with a finger in the air at her. He heard it again. He tried to ascertain where it was coming from. It was frequent enough for him to follow.

Harret, worried for Keoth, followed him to a room that was 20 feet away from the armory room they were just in.

Keoth leaned his ear to the door to hear a faint " -hungry… Thirsty…" He backed up and kicked the door.

It wouldn't budge.

He tried again but Harriet stopped him. "Allow me." She offered. She then used her exosuit to break the door knob, and by extension the lock, She then opened the door slowly to a dark room. But enough light shined through that she saw people that went missing over the last few years, and some that weren't in any missing persons database. Faunus and human both seemingly down to the bone. At this moment, she wished she was blind.

"Keoth, call for backup. We need a team to extract these people." she ordered.

Keoth raised an eyebrow "How? I don't-"

She then sharply turned to him and placed an earpiece in his right ear. "There, now call them in."

"O…kay?" Keoth confirmed though confused. He then radioed the other AceOps as well as Ironwood.

Harriet turned back to the victims and quietly announced "Help is coming."

"Harriet, what's the address here?" Keoth asked "Did you manage to get it?"

{Razormind- Simon Viklund Payday 2 OST}

"Building at the end of 21st street, blocked out windows with wood made of brick. Tell them that." Harriet ordered.

Keoth repeated what she said. "They said they'll be here in 15 minutes." Keoth told Harriet."

She nodded to reassure herself "Good, let's go." Before she could leave, one of the victims grabbed her foot.

Harriet initially jumped and looked at the person that grabbed her foot. "Please…" Pleaded the victim "They… experimented… us…" She weakly told Harriet before she passed out.

Harriet's blood boiled. Her fist clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Keoth felt the same as Harriet. The fact that someone would experiment on people like that, It reminds him too much of things that could happen on Earth. "Let's clear this building." He simply said.

Harriet turned to the door and agreed "Let's do this."

She then heard the footsteps of some grunts "Radio signal came from here." They announced.

"Well, so much for stealth." Harriet sighed.

Keoth noted "And they can listen for radio signals."

Harriet just said "Yep…"

Keoth pushed his katana up with his thumb and announced "Now for the Achilles approach."

The grunts opened fire. Keoth managed to hear the incoming bullets and cut them in half while Harriet used her semblance to close the distance, dodging the slow moving bullets in her way. With three powerful punches she sent the three of them into nearby walls.

Keoth heard footsteps behind him and unsheathed his main weapon again to intercept a blade that was just inches away from hitting him, knocking it away and countering with his own attack. Keoth slashed horizontally towards the grunt who parried his blade away and tried for an attack of his own.

Harriet saw an opening and used her semblance to close the distance again and punched him with both of her fists, which with her momentum much like the previous three grunts, sending him into a wall which broke.

Harriet and Keoth ran down the corridor, taking out anyone that stood in their way. Keoth slashed at the neck, the torso, anything his blade could find.

Harriet was much more brutal, she rarely stopped at one punch. At one point she threw a grunt down and mercilessly stomped him until his brains were covering the bottom of her boot.

They managed to find their way into the main auditorium where an ambush was waiting for them.

"So you infiltrated my hideout." Said the cloaked figure in the catwalks above them "Most impressive for a bunch of sellout Hunters."

Harriet gritted her teeth hard. "Why would you experiment on those people? They've done nothing!"

The cloaked figure laughed "You claim their innocence, yet whenever anything happens. Whether it's a robbery or someone is being harmed, most would just pass by as if it's nothing to do with them." He then paced with his hands behind his back as he continued "Huntsmen, huntresses… Heroes to all and allied with no kingdom… except you AceOps." He then stopped "How are you supposed to help those in need when you're at the beckon call of Ironwood? How are you supposed to be the Hunters that we need for the grimm when you're here in Atlas?"

Keoth responded "Simple, we're sent in to deal with threats no one else can."

The figure laughed again then paused. Examining Keoth with intent. His teeth gritted. "Wait… you're with him aren't you?"

Keoth raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

The figure unfolded a blade that went under his arm and slammed it into a nearby box out of anger. Slashing it in half. "Do not feign ignorance with me! You are with Achilles Vermilion!"

Keoth pushed his blade up with his thumb "So what if I am?"

The figure's blade vanished into his sleeve. And just as suddenly a revolver popped out, one that Harriet noted, had a cross at the end of its barrel. He aimed it at Keoth and pulled the trigger.

Keoth deflected the bullet into one of the grunts that was to the right of him.

The figure raised the revolver to the ceiling and made an amused chuckle "Even without your sight, you're still a problem." He then ordered "Kill them, make sure there's nothing left." The figure then walked away

Harriet yelled "Freeze!" Which was responded with 7 blades coming down at her in slow motion as she activated her semblance in that same moment.

She activated her semblance and ran around the grunts committing to melee. She ducked under one blade and gave a jab at the midsection side and head. Disabling them first. Moving onto the others, she jabbed one in the stomach and head. Another she tripped and slammed her elbow into their ribcage. The last one she grappled with her thighs and wrapped her arms around their legs. Suffocating the grunt and making them pass out.

Keoth meanwhile had his blade find plenty of necks and chest to slice open. He deflected one attack with the back of his blade and reposted into a devastating loss of an arm for the grunt he faced off against.

The grunt bellowed "MY ARM!"

Keoth replied "Get disarmed, idiot."

Harriet chuckled.

The others realized melee would be useless and sheathed their weapons in favor of the assault rifles on their back.

She took Keoth and hid in cover. "Damnit, there's too many, and I'm almost out of aura."

Keoth took a moment to hear the chaos of the battlefield then raised his weapon to his blinded eyes. He knew he couldn't see it. But he had a feeling about something. "Harriet, do you have enough to use your semblance one more time?"

She shook her head. "No, If anything I'd be more willing to use it to get us out of this situation."

Keoth sighed "Then I will use this."

He channeled his semblance into his blade, making it glow blue before he jumped out and slashed horizontal, creating a blue arc that decimated a good number of them. "There, that should help."

Harriet, wide-eyed, asked "How did you do that? And how did you know you could?"

Keoth shrugged "Channeled my aura into my blade. And I didn't."

Just before Harriet could say another word, a barrage of bullets started flying again.

Keoth considered using his semblance attack one more time. Before he could, he heard a voice yell "Stay!"

Harriet peaked her head over their cover to see Marrow as well as the other AceOps. She tapped Keoth's shoulder "Backup's here."

Keoth stood, as the AceOps tied the gravity bolases on the wrists of the grunts.

Clover walked up to them "You really should have called sooner." He scolded "Especially with a new recruit Harriet. You should know better."

Harriet stood at attention as she recounted "I'm sorry sir. But when I saw the state those people were in. I just had to get retribution for them."

Clover pinched his nose ridge "Harriet, I understand where you're coming from, however, as your leader I am urging you to exercise more caution."

Harriet nodded "Understood sir."

Clover then turned to Keoth "And you." He walked up to him as Keoth rested his wrist on his katana "For a first outing, this isn't bad. But you were definitely over your head. I will place you in further training until I feel you are ready for the field."

Keoth gave a nod "Understood."

Clover then patted his shoulder "Though that was an impressive display, I had no idea aura could do that."

Harriet then pointed out "Yes, but it seemed to have drained half his aura." She noted glancing down at her scroll.

Cover placed his fist under his chin "So it should be used as a last resort."

Soldiers then approached him. "Clover, sir, the victims are secure and heading to nearby hospitals to get treated. We fear some may not make it due to the extent of their injuries and overall mental state."

Vine pointed out "Even then, it will be good for the families to know they're now freed."

Keoth then reported "It seems there's a ringleader too. He tried to fire something at me. Sounded like a pistol round."

Harriet recounted "It was a revolver, a rather big one too. Had a cross at the end of the barrel. Can't imagine what type of round that fired. It also had a blade that popped out from underneath."

Keoth's mind raced. It sounded familiar but why?

Clover placed his fist under his chin "Interesting combination. A huntsman perhaps?"

"What huntsman would want to kill us and experiment on the people they're supposed to protect?" Elm asked.

Vine answered "A few that feel that the world has crossed them. It's not unheard of."

Keoth was still trying to remember something. Wasn't that one of Aaron's weapons? If so, what was its name…

"Well whatever this guy's deal is, that round put a decent sized hole in the floor." Harriet pointed out as she pointed to where the leader took a potshot at Keoth.

Marrow noted "That's a pretty big hole."

That's when Keoth suddenly remembered "Judas Priest!" He blurted

The AceOps glanced at each other then to Keoth as Clover asked. "Sorry what?"

Keoth explained. "My friend's weapons, Judas Priest. It's a Smith and Wesson 500 and a blade.

"Sorry, Smith and Wesson 500?" Elm asked

Keoth thought of how best to explain. He figured the best way was the way he knew best "On Earth there exists a gun called a Smith and Wesson 500 made by the company Smith and Wesson. Firing the aptly named 500 S and W magnum. A hand cannon that was designed for hunting."

"Hunting?" Harriet questioned "What in your world needs a cartridge that big?"

"Oh you know… Bears, elephants, Rhinos, just to name a few." He then continued "It was made when "Big gun" was popular."

Vine wondered "So if this gun is as powerful as you say, why didn't your friend keep it?"

Keoth sighed "Probably has something to do with Beacon."

"You mean when he killed Roman?" Elm asked.

Keoth nodded "From what Aaron recounts, Roman slammed his finger into the trigger."

Clover glanced back at the grunts they have arrested "We'll talk more about this later. We need to process the arrests of this gang."

Elm nodded "Agreed."

Hours later in Ironwood's office

Ironwood was staring outside, taking in the details in the report he just received "By the Brothers… I never would have guessed there was an underbelly of that scale."

Keoth, standing at attention, gave one last part "There's also the matter of the leader having my friend's old weapons."

Ironwood turned around "Ah yes, Judas Priest if I recall."

Keoth nodded "Correct. Though I can imagine why he would let them go."

Ironwood quirked an eyebrow "You mean to say he sold them?"

Keoth shrugged "Maybe, or he threw them out in favor of new ones. Who knows?"

Ironwood stroked his beard in thought.

Clover came in just as Ironwood was finishing his thoughts "Sir… the lab reports came in."

Ironwood gave Clover the floor "Go ahead Clover."

Clover pulled out a file and read a page from it "Though they don't know what it is for sure, there's evidence of drugs in their blood."

Keoth shot his head over to Clover.

Clover noticed and gave a solemn sigh "So it seems Harriet wasn't hearing things when she told me."

Ironwood approached Clover and took the file out of his hand. He read the file as he walked back over to his desk. He remarked "Astonishing… The amount of chemicals in their blood. It's a miracle any of them survived."

Keoth interjected "Not luck, just me and Harriet in the right place at the right time."

Ironwood stored the file in his desk. He then brought his attention back to Keoth "Regardless, I think today was a remarkable day for our rookie. Wouldn't you agree, Clover?"

Clover nodded "I would say, but I feel as though a little more training is required before I send him out onto the field."

Ironwood confirmed "I trust your wisdom." He then turned to Keoth "From this day forward you are now an Ace Operative. Congratulations Keoth."

Keoth made a bow "Thank you sir, it's an honor."

Ironwood then ordered "Before I release you to Clover's, no doubt, extensive training. I will give you this order. Keep tabs on that group you captured. We arrested a lot, yes. But I doubt that was all of them. Knowing most criminals they tend to spread themselves out so as to not draw attention to themselves."

Keoth nodded. "Understood Ironheart."

Clover saluted Ironwood.

Ironwood then ordered "Dismissed."