Run on Caffeine Chapter 12:
Cold Harsh Night

Author's note: Hello everyone! Welcome back to another Chapter of Run On Caffeine Volume 2! I hope you are having a good day! I am excited to write again and post which I can't stress that enough! Anyway, without further ado enjoy the Chapter 12 of Run on Caffeine!

Meanwhile in the kingdom of Vale, Pepsi and Neberpop, the day after the incident at the docks, report back to Ozpin about their findings.

Ozpin sipped his cup of coffee then sat it back down on his desk. " So, Dr. RedJed Pepper fought Miss Pink? And yet, Strawberry and Pepper both dealt with the White Fang?"

"Not together, but it looks to be that way sir," Pepsi explained as he crossed his arms. "It's very strange, all of the dust that was returned looks to also be Strawberry's doing. Apparently, according to what we learn from the police, she has protected some dust shops from being robbed earlier this week."

"And didn't take a single crystal or spec of dust, all untouched and safe and sound," Neberpop added while she twirled her hair. "What I don't get is why did PHD Can throw hands with her?"

"I'm afraid that explanation is a bit more complicated than I care to admit," Ozpin leaned forward with his hands on the desk.

"You sure? Strawberry was on the same team as Cherry, back when they attended your school, old man," Pepsi tapped his foot in a rhythmic pattern. He raised his eyebrow at Ozpin and looked at him knowing very well something was up. Neberpop tilted her head as she continued to twirl her hair while bewildered.

"Yes, indeed she was on the same team," Ozpin confirmed. "But I'm afraid I can't share any further details, I do value my students' privacy."

"That kid fought Strawberry for a damn good reason, Ozpin!" Pepsi went over to Ozpin's desk and slammed his hands on it. "The docks blew up sky high because of it! He didn't exactly give a straight answer as to why he was there. What is going on, Oz?!"

"And that is his choice to do so, anything else to report, Jerry?" Ozpin leaned back in chair and rested his head on his hand.

Pepsi formed fists and tightened his grip all the while he grunted as he was heavily annoyed. However, Pepsi's anger only lasted a moment before he sighed deeply. "No sir."

"Then both of you are dismissed," Ozpin stated. Pepsi slid his hands off the desk and stomped his way over to the elevator. Neberpop had stopped playing with her hair and felt dejected. She never liked seeing Pepsi like this. Regardless, she followed him to the elevator before he left without her.

The elevator ride was dreadfully silent. Neberpop awkwardly stood there and just stared at Pepsi. Pepsi, on the other hand, was very frustrated to no end. He couldn't believe Ozpin refused to elaborate on anything. Pepsi wondered, Ozpin does realize one of his current students and one of his former students, just destroyed most of Vale's docks? It's flat out gone! It's a miracle that something was left from such an event.

Halfway through the elevator ride, Neberpop decided to speak. "Pepsiman, are you alright? You seem…very frustrated," asked Neberpop. She sounded somewhat reluctant to even ask but she had to try to help him.

"... Yeah I am," Pepsi groaned. "Dusting Ozpin, still secretive as ever, how can anyone work with this guy? I'm about to shove his stupid cane up his ass, if this keeps up."

Neberpop giggled quietly. "To be fair, a good headmaster would respect the privacy of his students. Can't fault him for that, can we?"

"Even if it destroys all of downtown Vale?" Pepsi asked as he looked at Neberpop.

"Let's not be dramatic now, what are you? Your mother?" Neberpop joked a little.

Pepsi rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Very funny, Sugar." Pepsi put his hands on his sides and looked disappointed.

"But for real, why are you fixated on the little PHD can for?" Neberpop asked, very curiously. She let her body sway back and forth as she gave the question.

Pepsi took a long deep breath and composed himself before he answered. "I feel like this is only the tip of the iceberg. The beginning of something terrible, that kid didn't happen to be at the docks. I think he was after something, but what?"

"Uh and why do you care? Don't you hate him? I don't think it matters that much why he was there," Neberpop commented.

"I do hate him, however, I care about my little brother's future and well being. I even care about my mother, despite her being selfish at times," Pepsi shivered in disgust. "I knew Cherry, when I was attending Beacon. And if there's one thing I remember the most about her, that was her determination. Her son definitely has some of that."

"And you think he will do everything and anything to do whatever he is doing?" Neberpop asked.

"Bingo! And I like the Kingdom of Vale to be still standing, when Pepto possibly goes to Beacon or wherever life takes him. As an option at least, anyway." Pepsi admitted.

"What about this Strawberry character? From what we heard, she's not right in the head. I was under the impression that team CRRS (Cherries) was still working together," said Neberpop.

"Yeah, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense," Pepsi was cut off by the elevator reaching its destination. Both he and Neberpop stepped out of the elevator and began walking down the hallway. "She looked to have head screwed on right from what I remember."

"You said they were famous, right? Don't you keep up with the news?" Neberpop asked as she looked at him. "When was the last thing you heard about them doing?"

Pepsi placed his hand on his chin and scratched it. He went into deep thought trying to think when he saw anything. It took a minute or so, until he realized it's been quite some time. He hasn't seen any recent mention, in the news, relating to team CRRS. "Huh, odd, I Actually can't think of anything within the last few years."

"Maybe we should try searching them up in the CCT for a clue? I mean, our current mission is to locate Strawberry after all. She might know something about Roman's whereabouts," Neberpop suggested.

"That is true, we still don't know why or how she found out the White Fang were gonna be at the docks," Pepsi added on. They both exit the building and turn towards the CCT Tower. "Although, she did stop a few dust shop robberies. Probably got some info from that or at least a place to start looking."

Pepsi and Neberpop went into the CCT tower to possibly find the answers to those questions. They went to the front desk and asked if there was a free terminal. The lady at the desk directed them to a terminal on the far right. They thanked the woman and headed over there. When they got to it, their search began. Pepsi was the one operating it, meanwhile Neberpop was standing next to him.

"Alright, Strawberry Pink…" Pepsi mumbled to himself, as he typed on the terminal. Pepsi would press enter and many results instantly popped up. Pepsi scrolled through multiple news articles about how team CRRS saved the day etc. Each news piece would range from all sorts of crimes being prevented or an operation being stopped. Some talked about the team receiving countless metals and thanks from headmasters, helping out with public events and such.

"By the brothers, I'm shocked I never heard about them till now!" Neberpop was very intrigued by how many news networks even bother, much less, cover a single team to this extent. "When did this all take place?"

"It looks like, not too long after we got our licenses," Pepsi squinted his eyes while trying to skim each page. "And that was…maybe a year or so after? And that was….20 ish years ago?"

"Damn, that's some dedication. Oh! I know! Let's try something more recent?" Neberpop's eyes lit up like fireworks. She was getting pumped up for this.

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea. Probably should have started there, but oh well! Live and learn," Pepsi scrolled all the way to the most recent news about team CRRS. "Let's see here ... .What the? Huh? Da hell is this?"

"Whatcha find?" Neberpop leaned forward next to Pepsi's head, to see what was on the screen.

"The last two articles are dated almost 6 years ago. Did they disband the team? What happened?" Pepsi clicked on the first article titled, "White Fang Hideout raid gone wrong!" Within the content of said news was that, team CRRS were chosen by General Ironwood to investigate an abandoned Schnee Dust Company Warehouse on the outskirts of Mantle. The mission was going smoothly, with cleaning out the warehouse in question. Unfortunately, towards the final bits of clean up, a single member of the White Fang was missed and had triggered a gravity dust infused bomb. Most members of team CRRS were unharmed, except for one, Strawberry Pink was reported being the one caught in its blast radius. She was rushed immediately to the hospital for treatment.

"Oh, oh shit! Does it say more?" Neberpop was quite taken back.

"No, it doesn't. What the hell?" Pepsi clicked on the other article, dated a few weeks later after the mission. The story explains that multiple people went missing from Atlas, those people being: Cherry Pepper, Strawberry Pink, Raisin Bran, and Cherry's son Dr. RedJed Pepper. Cherry's husband, Huckleberry Pepper, was questioned by police for any leads. Sadly, Huckleberry knew nothing about what had taken place nor where they went. Huntsman and Police searched the whole neighborhood for clues, asked all around and found nothing. The only thing that was discovered was that whatever did take place happened fast. Too fast for anyone to witness. The last member of team CRRS, Raspberry Jam, was also contacted for information about her teammates. However, when authorities interviewed Raspberry, they learned she last saw her teammates, when they were visiting Strawberry in the hospital. A few days before Strawberry's release.

"Dust me, they've been missing for 6 years?!" Pepsi was utterly in horror and shock learning that most of team CRRS were missing. Pepsi stood up from the terminal while he took off his buller hat. He was sweating bullets and rubbing his hair just trying to take in it.

Meanwhile, Neberpop had her hands over her mouth and stood still in silence. She was stunned beyond belief. She simply couldn't believe that a team that famous, went up and disappeared. On top of that, for 6 years without some kind of lead or clue! "Holy crap! I don't understand! How do people, much more, famous huntresses leave without a trace? It said this took place in Atlas, yeah?"

Pepsi nodded. "Yeah, it did! You think news like this would spread like wildfire, then again, this was almost 6 years ago. Besides, no one even saw what happened. But the next question is, did Ozpin know about this? Is that why he wanted it hush hush?"

"Maybe? Oh gods, I can't even comprehend this! Nevermind that, does Ozpin know that Pepper went missing 6 years ago and is now in his own damn school?" Asked Neberpop.

"He has to know, right? Surely, he's aware of this! He has to be! No way he doesn't, assuming he did his research," Pepsi then took out his scroll. He plugged it into the terminal and started downloading both of the articles. "Right, Imma download these articles and we will discuss our next course of actions. Alright?"

"Sounds good, Pepsiman, can we get some food on the way home? I need something to calm myself down," Neberpop was sweating up a storm and looked very much stressed out.

"Yeah, food sounds great right now," Pepsi agreed. The download finished some time later. He then pocket his scroll and turned off the terminal. "Let's head out." Pepsi ordered. Neberpop nodded and both of them quickly left the CCT Tower.