Jessica walked around the base and her eyes constantly went at every aspect. A small part of her couldn't help but stare in awe at the mighty buildings and facilities. She saw another platform being constructed and wondered what it was for, but she heard talk that it was another platform to either put food or for people to practice their daily rituals. The Gears were an odd faction in the eyes of many.
They could be someone's best friend or worst enemy, depending on the situation and she was glad she wasn't on the end of their weapons. She had seen them fight firsthand and saw why people held them in such high regards. The younger members were battle hungry, eager to prove themselves to Walker, but would soon be humbled by battle. If their attitudes didn't shape up then a senior member would join their squad and force them to.
In some ways, it was beneficial, because that meant they could learn from others. She's never really seen Gears fight one another, but she's heard that they come to blows sometimes over some things. They were usually sent to the brig and their if their attitudes didn't shape up in there then they personally met with the higher ups. She's seen what they do, it's more or less a pit where they settled their difference in a fight.
They'd let their anger and differences out with each strike, then eventually put aside their differences when there was either a victor or if neither one could get back up. There were times when it went on for several minutes, neither one willing to back down. It further showed people how resilient they were. From what she's heard, even Walker had gone against some people.
Most of the fights he won, but the rare occasions he did lose, he would put aside his pride and come to better understand the other person's personal perspective. It helped him learn more about them, what they were like, and how to establish a good bond between them. It was another reason so many people viewed him in such high regards; he was willing to admit his own faults and improve upon them.
A few of the BSS operatives she had tagged along seen their daily routine. Their physical exercises were rigorous and some might even call it cruel, but it explained why they were so strong. After the physical exercises came the mental exercises, which would look almost ritualistic with how much they practiced it. The group had watched an entire room of Gears kneel and recite concepts countless times.
Weapon drills and tactics were the next thing, and the combat instructors made sure every single person understood it. Their lives depended on learning these tactics and still keeping an open mind that a situation could change in the blink of an eye. It kept them flexible to adapt to the situation.
She visited the memorial and saw it. It was quiet, but it was peaceful. The fallen Gears had their tags placed or their ashes placed in urns on shelves. In the middle of the back wall was a large skull inside of a cog, staring down at the person who dared enter the place. It made her shiver when she first saw it, like some silent guardian was there to look over the dead.
That was another thing she noticed about the mysterious faction. They had somewhat of an obsession with skulls. It was designed on their armor, weapons, their little trinkets they carried, and even in the residential and commercial district. There was always a skull on something. It made the place feel more morbid than what it should be. There was a reasoning for it though.
It was to remind people that one day in the future, they'd pass away. As cruel as it sounded, it worked with people and taught them to not fear death as much. They learned to accept it if their time came and it humbled people. It made them realize that they weren't immortal beings that were invincible, but people who would eventually pass away and their souls would go to an unknown place.
She honestly thought that was the bravest thing about them. They fought to survive against a merciless enemy, but had come to terms that this was war and they might not come back.
"Jessica?" A voice called out, making her stop and turn to see Blake walking next to her.
"Oh! Hi, Ms. Belladonna." Jessica saluted.
"You don't need to do that here." Blake laughed softly, making the younger Faunus nod a bit and relax.
"What are you doing out here?" Jessica asked.
"I take walks around the base sometimes." Blake said.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to drive though?" Jessica asked.
"It would, but if I'm not in a hurry or I have free time... I just like to feel the breeze on my skin." Blake answered as she walked alongside her. The younger Faunus looked up to Blake, seeing her as a good role model. A lot of Faunus did when they looked at the Gears, seeing countless others in the ranks and deciding to take the chance to possibly better their lives.
Walker even employed Fish Faunus, using them primarily for underwater operations and repair. While others wrote them off as handicaps, since they sometimes lacked legs, but he simply claimed they were useful in the right situations and that people were fools to think otherwise. Beneath the waves were small farms and the Fish Faunus would harvest the crops and fish.
It was always odd how he saw the use in nearly everyone and everything.
"I have a question." Jessica looked up at her.
"I might have an answer." Blake quipped.
"Why don't we just bring all the people on the mainland here?" Jessica asked. They stopped and she feared she might have upset her.
"We would if we could, but we don't have enough space. It's why we're trying to expand as much as we can, so that people can have a place to fall back to. There's two hundred thousand people in the safe zones, and at least a couple hundred in the scattered camps in the city. Our base can hold at least five thousand of them." Blake said.
"So you all save who you can?" Jessica asked.
"We do what we can. We're in terrible times right now, and there is only so much we can do. While we do live comfortable, we also provide assistance to those who need it." Blake explained.
"Sometimes I wish we can do more though." Jessica said.
"I do too, but it's the world we live in. People die and sometimes we must come to terms with that and move on." Blake said.
"I get it." Jessica nodded. While she didn't like it sometimes, she did understand what hard times they were all living in now. In two and half months, it would be the first anniversary of the war against the Locusts.
"I'm glad." Blake said and the two simply walked side by side. While she was still being taught by some of the older staff members, she was also teaching the younger ones underneath her command. She had formed bonds with the ones who both taught her and the ones who she taught herself. It was like a steady flow of experience and information all in one bundle.
It was nice, and she was glad that this was her path rather than being stuck at Beacon.
"What's the new platform for?" Jessica asked.
"It might be for a park or more apartments." Blake answered.
"Why a park?" Jessica asked.
"Well, people feel a little homesick and there isn't exactly a place for people to lounge outside. It'll provide them with a good place to recharge if that's the option we go with. Chances are looking low though, since things are getting worse on the mainland." Blake answered.
"How do you all afford this?" Jessica asked.
"Well, the council is paying us and the BSS a lot of lien. Not to mention they're spending more on the newly established military than the academies." Blake answered. They continued to walk in the street of the commercial district, still deciding what shop to enter.
"How much funding were the academies being given?" Jessica asked. Going to one of the famous academies never really appealed to her so she never paid any attention to them.
"More than what they deserve. Nearly all of their funding goes towards the architecture and other things, but they have no form of defenses." Blake rolled her eyes. The more she looked at it, the more she realized how screwed they were if the Locust decided to invade. Vacuo was a perfect example.
"I feel like it's too much." Jessica commented.
"It is. Nobody hears anything from Vacuo because the Locust destroyed the tower there." Blake answered.
"So why can we still communicate? I thought all four towers need to be operational?" Jessica asked.
"Atlas repurposed the Amity Colosseum into a communications device. The project was approved by the remaining councils and made public knowledge. Not to mention we also have a sort of communication tower." Blake answered her next question.
"That's a lot of resources and money." Jessica said.
"It is." Blake nodded. Nearly everyone knew and she found it to be one of the greatest achievements Atlas had ever done, which was hard to say in her opinion. The only person who claimed it wasn't impressive was Walker, who claimed they should have done it long ago. He also kept questioning the security of it, which in turn made the Gears tighten their own security.
The more money that was spent towards their home, the more of an impenetrable fortress it became. Its fighters and citizens were loyal to one another and were fiercely defensive of their home. She had seen some of the others react when a Huntsman spoke about the Gears. At first they ignored it and merely did their own thing, but it turned into a different story when their home and families were talked about.
A majority of the labor was built by robotic hands, who were able to tirelessly continue to work. It sped up production time and the only thing they required was programming and maintenance. While they could use them for combat, they didn't want to run the risk of them being hacked and turned on their owners. Not to mention they couldn't fathom if the Locust got a hold of them.
The two of them talked for a little, with Blake giving advice to Jessica while the younger girl just listened and took mental notes.
Walker stared out his window and gazed at the many platforms, seeing the countless buildings stand mighty. The guns constantly rotated, scanning the skies and waters for threats and troops could be seen mixed in with the people. The large ship from the other company remained still in the water as workers could be seen tending to it. The fuel source was almost switched out and the ship would depart shortly after, rounding up refugees and other fighters.
The people started calling him Lord Commander, much to his chagrin. To them, it was the highest honor they could collectively bestow upon him and it showed their respect and devotion towards him. Compared to other leaders in the past, he was willing to fight alongside his men. In some ways, it felt more natural doing that. He didn't cower behind a screen like most. He was a frontline Gear and would forever remain one until the day he died.
He wouldn't ask his men to do anything that he couldn't do himself.
Deciding it was a good time to call it quits for the day, he shut everything down before locking his office door. He took the elevator to the floor where his apartment was at and waited for several seconds. His back popped when he stretched and twisted before letting his arms slump down when the doors opened. He walked down the hall towards his apartment and heard crying, making him sigh a bit before unlocking the door.
Jaune's face was in the living room carpet, Red was busy cooking, and Blake was holding Amiya. The infant cried and Blake winced a bit as she screamed in her ear, her little legs kicking fussily.
"How long's she been like this?" He asked.
"About seven minutes." Blake answered as she gently pat her back.
"Give her here." He held his hands out. Blake handed Amiya to him and he gently took her into his arms, holding her close before going towards the middle of the living room. He kicked Jaune a bit to get him to move a bit before setting her down on a black and blue blanket. Her body was swaddled in the blanket carefully and he picked her up, bringing her close to him while swaying gently.
The crying started to turn into noises of small protests before they eventually stopped altogether. Her blue eyes gazed around the room and her head lifted a bit before it plopped against his shoulder again. The other three just looked at him in disbelief and he ignored them before walking up to the kitchen and next to Red, he bumped his hip against hers and she let him take over.
"How?" Jaune asked.
"It's not that hard." Walker responded. It really wasn't considering he had to do it with his little brother numerous times. Those times when his mom was so engrossed with her work or was too tired to even get up made him step up to the task. His dad was busy fighting the Locusts and was rarely home, leaving it to him to look after his little infant brother.
It wasn't like his mom was neglectful, because she wasn't, it was just that sometimes she got too into her work. There were some nights when Ajay was crying and she got up to tend to him, only to see that Walker was already caring for his brother. It forced him to grow up faster than some, but it did instill a sense of responsibility into his young mind.
The other three just looked as he stirred the food while carrying Amiya in his right arm. He bounced up and down gently to keep her from getting upset and turned on some music to help her relax a bit. The smell of beef stew entered their nostrils and it made their stomachs gurgle a bit. Velvet had asked them all to babysit for a few hours while she ran some errands and relaxed a bit. A couple of bottles of her breast milk were in the fridge and other supplies were packed neatly inside of a bag.
"Dinner will be done in fifteen minutes or so." Walker said as he tapped the spoon against the pot and looked at them. He noticed that they were just staring at him, making him turn his entire body towards them and stare right back. It was quiet and awkward before he made a gesture with his hand to make them speak what was on their minds.
"You look like a dad." Jaune blurted out.
"How?" Walker asked, putting some water in a smaller pot and turning on another burner. He went to the fridge and brought out one of the bottles and put it on the counter.
"You really aren't seeing it?" Blake raised an eyebrow.
"No." He answered. The water started to heat up and he put the bottle in the pot before turning to them.
"Either you're ignoring it or you really don't see it." Red said.
"I don't see it." He shook his head. None of them said anything before bringing out their scrolls and taking a picture before showing them to him. He just looked at them then at the pictures and shrugged before turning away. There wasn't anything special about what he was doing, it was what any decent person would do.
"Are you sure it's good to feed her that, the milk tasted kind of funny." Jaune said as he drank some water, making the girls whip their heads towards him.
"That's because it's Velvet's breast milk." Walker said. He heard Jaune choke on his drink and cough a bit while the girls just bit the inside of their cheeks and tried not to laugh. Blake wheezed into her hands and her chest started to bounce in laughter while Red just turned away and tried to hide her smile.
"Stop laughing! It's not funny!" Jaune cried out. His face turned a shade of red in embarrassment and they continued to laugh.
"How did you not know?" Walker turned to him.
"I wasn't paying attention." Jaune admitted and turned away. He wasn't lying and just grabbed the first thing in the fridge that wasn't water or a protein shake. It wasn't his fault the milk he grabbed wasn't in a baby bottle.
"You're an idiot." Walker commented, taking the bottle out of the warm water and walking towards the living room. He sat down on the couch and Blake tested the warmth before nodding to him.
"How'd it taste?" Red let out a smug smile. These four were the only ones who got to see her so expressive.
"Shut up." Jaune put his face in his hands as he sat on the chair.
Amiya let out a squeak and gurgled as Walker flipped the bottle around and put it in her mouth. She gnawed on the nipple and drank the milk while he just used his chin to balance the bottle and turned on the TV. The news channel covered the recent events and the four just watched in boredom. There wasn't anything new and everything that was reported they already knew.
He took the bottle out of her mouth when she was done nursing on it and brought her upright. His hand gently pat her back for the next few minutes until a small burp was heard from her. She spit up some milk along with her burp and Blake wiped it away with a napkin before throwing it away. He handed Amiya to her and leaned back into the cushion while Red just put her legs across his lap.
"Hey, Walker... isn't the food done?" Jaune pointed out.
"Oh crap." Walker said quickly and bolted up, stirring the stew a bit. He turned off the burner and continued to stir the food for the next thirty seconds then put the lid back on it. As soon as he announced that the food was done, the other three quickly got up and grabbed a bowl, making him take Amiya once more.
The coffee table was moved to the side and he set her down on a soft blanket, unwrapping her and gently flipping her onto her stomach. He took his helmet off so she would recognize him if he ever wasn't wearing it and lied down in front of her. Her small head lifted and she looked at him for a short period of time before her head plopped down. She shakily pushed herself up and let out a toothless smile before plopping back down.
He stuck the tip of his tongue out and blew a small raspberry. She tried to copy him and her legs kicked a bit while her arms did their best to keep her head up. He just blew another raspberry and made her gurgle a bit in excitement. A squeak was heard from her when he put his helmet back on and softly bumped his forehead against hers. He barely tapped it before he plopped his head on the ground and she followed shortly after.
It was like he was with Ajay again, back when he was first born and Walker was still a kid. Back when he could smile despite being aware that the Locusts were still destroying humanity. He doesn't remember a time when Jacinto didn't look like a shithole with its overpopulated space, but it was one he would defend to his last breath. It broke his heart to see his home fall, but it needed to be done. Not all his friends made it out, a lot of them died during the evacuation, and the ones that did survive shortly perished when the Sovereign was destroyed.
By the end of the war, he didn't have a single childhood friend by his side. His best friend died during Operation: Hollow Storm and Walker continued to carry his COG tags to this day.
The other three just looked at him and smiled a bit, seeing that for once, he wasn't worried about the war. He wasn't coming up with the hundredth contingency plan, staying up until the early hours of the morning, or going on missions. It was just him enjoying the moment and not shouldering the weight of the world while others simply messed around.
For once, he truly seemed happy and it was endearing in a way.
Two days before they departed, he had been called to the R&D platform to look at the latest project. He walked through the halls to see the latest projects being designed and stopped when he saw them working on some grenades. They saw his retreating form and he simply walked to a room and entered it. In the middle was a workbench with countless tools and parts organized neatly.
Lying still on the table was a a metallic skull with cybernetic enhancements. Inside its left eye socket was a lone, blue optic that gave it the appearance of an eye. Its right eye was fitted with a large optic with three lenses that had different magnifications. A large metal spinal structure hung from the skull and several tubes were shoved closely to it. On the sides of its head were little extensions. He saw thin, but strong metal claws, a syringe filled with blue fluid, and a miniature gun that pulsed every so often.
They explained to him what it was and he just listened calmly and quietly. It was like Hal in a sense, but to a lesser extent. He backed up a bit as it turned on and hovered in the air, it looked around and eventually zoomed up to him, scanning him carefully. It let out a deep, binary sound and simply floated by his side. His hand brushed over its smooth surface and it made a menacing noise.
He called Hal out and the bot appeared, scanning the skull before letting out a confused beep and observing it some more. The staff members just watched Walker and Hal observe their work; they avoided saying anything because it was like the three were in a trance. They knew that Walker took a liking to machinery, but never once relied on them for combat. So they came up with an alternative, something that would assist him in combat but mainly let him do the work.
"What can it do?" He asked, turning to them.
"Well, a multitude of things." One of them answered.
"I'm going to need a better explanation..." He said.
"Right... storing files, communications, reconnaissance and combat assistance, recording important conversations should the command be given, and even provides light in dark areas." Another one said after clearing their throat.
"What if it falls into the wrong hands?" He asked.
"It will detonate and deny any foe the data. We have a few more meant for secretarial work, but yours is the first one that's ready" The first one said.
"Hmm." He hummed and looked at the floating skull some more. Hal gave a pleasant beep and tapped it with one of his claws, while the skull just floated silently.
"So, do you like it?" A third one asked hopefully.
"I do. Good work." He nodded, turning back to metallic skull. They beamed a bit and started to explain to him the different functions of it; he could see the pride they felt when they talked about it. Each painstakingly hour they poured into creating it, the passion they put into it made him nod a bit in respect. He could turn it off any moment he desired, just like Hal, and the anti-gravity generator in the skull made almost no noise.
However, it couldn't disappear like Hal nor could it rip doors open like him. It was limited in some aspects and that's what made Hal special, not to mention it didn't have much of a personality. It just floated there silently, waiting for the next command but he did sense that it was loyal to him. He knew it was expensive to make and they had told him it could take more punishment than Atlas' worthless knights.
Not to mention, he still liked Hal more.
"We're also making one for the other three in your team." One of them said.
"Show me." He ordered and they nodded before leading him to another bench. There were three other robotic skulls on it and each one was different in a sense.
Blake's was a darker color with purple optics and had four pincers and there was a small screen in front of it. It allowed her to constantly have a source of information and a variety of other things. Little openings on the base of the top of the skull would release a smoke screen to cover the area and allow its owner to escape.
Red's skull was a deep crimson color while the skull's optics were like his in a sense, only they had numerous magnifications on them. There was also a pouch that carried supplies for long missions that required her to stay out in the field longer. A pair of goggles sat next to him and he observed it before turning to the others. They explained to him that the goggles were linked to the skull, allowing her to see through its eyes.
Jaune's had more armor on his, able to take more punishment and had heavier weapons on it. It was a white and gold color, while it did stand out in some cases, they quickly told him that they would adjust its appearance a bit. He just nodded and listened to them say that his skull was able to launch a temporary shield wall. The only downside was that it required a lot of Dust and the shields were weak, only able to take a few rounds before breaking.
Needless to say, he was impressed and let them finish working on the other three skulls. Hal beeped and he pat the robot's head in affection before seeing him disappear from sight. He walked outside and listened to the crashing of the waves against the platforms. It was a nice day outside, and he looked to still see the BSS ship docked nearby. He knew they were leaving soon, but they helped expand the base a bit while they received a new fuel source in return. Not to mention some Gears would be stationed on there.
He saw Theresa walking nearby while eating a muffin from the bakery. She seemed to beam in delight and he saw that her entire bag was full of muffins. He walked towards her and people stared at the robotic skull following him. They shivered a bit when it gazed around and floated silently behind its owner. It was ominous and offered a small sense of morbid comfort to some.
"Good afternoon, doctor." He greeted, watching as she turned around.
"Oh my god!" She jumped in fright. Behind him was a drone-like skull that stared at her ominously. Her heart seemed to slam against her chest and she held her hand up to it to try and calm herself down.
"It's a new device the boys in the R&D made for us." He answered.
"Oh... that's nice..." She trailed off.
"I'm sorry it scared you." He apologized.
"It's fine. I wasn't expecting it is all." She dismissed. It was like a Halloween decoration, the initial sight scared her but it was quickly overcame.
"Again, sorry." He said.
"No, it's fine. What brings you around here?" She asked, walking alongside him.
"Well, the staff at R&D called me about this and I wanted to walk around the base a bit." He answered.
"It is a nice day." She nodded.
"What brings you out here?" He asked.
"I just got off work and wanted to grab something to eat." She said, lifting the bag and shaking it a bit.
"You're going to eat all those muffins by yourself?" He asked.
"Well, no... most of them are for me, but a few of them are for Michael." She answered.
"Oh?" He asked lightly.
"Zip it, young man." She jabbed.
"Alright, my lips are sealed." He made the gesture, his helmet blocked his face but she still got it. She just nodded and knew that he wasn't going to pry on her personal business. It didn't concern him and she was grateful he made no effort to intrude.
"So how's Jessica?" She asked.
"Rook? She's alright, green as grass but a good kid." He nodded.
"She really is." She said lightly. Jessica was an honest soul, often doing what was in her limits to assist people. Sometimes, it she ended up overdoing it and people found it irritating before pushing her away. It hurt her a bit but she didn't let it get to her in the end. The death of her mother affected her more than what she let on, and there were often times when she didn't sleep for at least a day.
So she smiled, because it was the only thing she could do in the end. It was a heartbreaking thing to witness though. Theresa had seen her aimlessly stumbling through the halls late at night; eyes red and puffy from crying. When she was asked about it the next morning, she would just smile and claim she was fine. Others were fooled, but Theresa wasn't.
There were times when she thinks that the young Faunus wants to die, which is why she joined the combat division.
"The kid isn't alright... is she?" He asked after a while. They walked to the edge of the platform and leaned on the railing, staring out at the open sea.
"No." Theresa answered after some time.
"I'm guessing it's because her mom?" He asked.
"How'd you know?" She asked back.
"She told me when the hospital was attacked. Back when she first was assigned to us through the exchange program." He answered.
"Her mother was all she had left." She said.
"..." He didn't say anything and the two of them continued to stare out at the horizon. The wind blew her hair gently and made the skull's metallic spine and tubes move just a tad bit. He could see it in her eyes when he first met her, the hopelessness and despair beneath the determination and smile.
"I worry about her at times." She admitted.
"It's to be expected. Any good leader would worry about the ones underneath their command." He said.
"Nobody as young as her should be fighting." She said.
"You're right." He agreed.
"You'll keep her safe, right?" She asked.
"I can't guarantee her safety, doctor. Nobody's safety is guaranteed during these times." He answered truthfully. It would be wrong of him to lie to her and say that he'd keep her safe. Nobody was truly safe in the end, it was considered a luxury nowadays.
"I know. Just... promise you'll look out for her, alright?" She looked at him.
"I'll try." He nodded at her.
"Alright. I have to go though, it was a pleasure talking to you." She looked at her scroll and leaned off the railing.
"Have fun on your date." He quipped, making her tense up for a second.
"It's not a date." She said almost instantly, making him raise an eyebrow underneath his helmet.
"Sure." He chuckled and she just shook her head before walking away. His gaze turned back to the horizon and saw the sun overhead, making him take his cigar out and place it in between his lips. It's been a couple of months since he's had a puff and he simply ignited it. He blew smoke out and saw the sun start to set quickly; there wasn't any pain in his body from his leaning position due to the cigar.
He extinguished it and simply gazed at the sunset, seeing it slowly deep over the waves. The skull and Hal remained by his sides, although the latter stayed hidden. His group would be leaving their home for a while and deploy the Resonator so they could finally start striking back at the Grubs. For the last ten months, they had done nothing but play on the defense. It was all they could do for now and he was quite sick of it, a lot of people were.
That missile that Atlas had worried him to be honest, because there was no telling what they intended to do with it. He hoped that they would at least be smart enough to aim it at the Locusts or Grimm, but he wouldn't be surprised if they aimed it at the base. There was already enough life lost to the two threats and he didn't need another enemy to add to the list.
To him. He just needed to carefully plan it all and people would make it out alright. If they weren't trying to win this war, then they were an obstacle that would be trampled and he'd show no mercy while doing it.
Scorn calmly walked through the streets of a city. His mace dripped with copious amounts of blood and chunks of brain could be seen stuck to it. The ground shook faintly with each step he took and he felt the rain pelt his thick hide. He recently heard about a city tucked in the mountains of Mistral, a place where corruption ran through it like a sick infection through one's veins.
The neon lights seemed to light up the area from a distance and it easily cut through the fog that shrouded the location. It lacked walls for defense and the anti-air turrets were useless against the Horde. They sprung up from the tunnels and in front of the many entrances and exits, ensuring not a single person escaped. The Horde swarmed them instantly, massacring them all and causing a surge in terror.
Grimm converged on the area, but were dealt with by the beast tamers. Every single one they killed, the closer they got to enslaving the creatures for their own gain.
The inhabitants fought back, better than what he expected, but weren't used to the might of the Horde. A few of them quickly surmised that he was the one leading them and tried to kill him.
There was a scream of effort and he turned towards the assailant quicker than she expected. His large, gloved hand caught her by the throat and she gagged. He stared at her calmly before raising his mace and slamming it down on top of her skull. A sickening crack was heard as her skull caved in, causing one of her eyes to pop out from the socket.
"Pathetic." He shook his head before tossing the mangled corpse to the side. The body crashed into a wooden stall and knocked its contents over as blood pooled around it. A disgusted snarl was heard from him as he walked through the street again, hearing the various screams mixed in with gunfire. The ground shook as a Brumak stomped and roared before firing a missile at a building. It illuminated the area in a fiery inferno and he spotted more Locusts rush through the street.
He stopped when an E-Hole opened up more troops climbed up, giving their cruel roars before rushing off to their nearest victim. Ignoring them as they dashed by him, he continued forward and nodded in silent approval as more and more people fell underneath the Horde's feet. He looked to his left and saw Grenadiers kick a door open before throwing grenades inside. Explosions rattled the house and glass shattered before flying out, the sound of body parts splattering was music to his ears.
When he looked to his right, he saw a pack of Wretches tearing into an unfortunate victim. They reached a hand out of the pile of of razor sharp teeth and claws, only to have their arm bitten. The tearing of flesh and cracking of bones from their body made him stare at them apathetically and he kicked their mutilated arm back into the feeding frenzy before walking again.
He swung his mace and killed an unfortunate Faunus that was on fire, killing them almost instantly as their head caved in. The scent of burning flesh met his nose and he found it slightly pleasant and appetizing. The small number of Rock Worms in the Hollow made food scarce so they had to resort to alternative means, animals and Faunus. The latter were plenty abundant and if they weren't killed outright, they were taken to the pens for later consumption.
His destination finally came to an end when he arrived at a large house. He threw the door open and saw the occupants being held hostage, the scent of death filled the room and Scorn ignored it and simply stood in front of them. One of his scouts had told him that a certain individual was controlling Grimm using a necklace. It's another reason he had come to this location after finding out the individual wasn't leaving for a while.
So they stalked this place for two weeks, planning every possible move and cutting off any escape route. The people here were so used to Grimm and the next person that would stab them in the back that it's all they focused on. He used that to his advantage and when they least expected it, he launched the attack. The Locusts found a sick sense of glee killing the Grimm, as if it relaxed them while the people panicked.
"Where is the item to control them?" He asked calmly, throwing the hostages into silence. None of them dared to look at him and their eyes were glued to the floor and beads of sweat trickled down their faces.
"..." They just gulped in terror and didn't look at him. None of them expected this thing to speak, and it seemed their lack of an answer was the wrong choice. Scorn just snarled loudly before raising his mace and bringing it down on one of their heads. A sickening crack and crunch was heard as he repeatedly bashed the victim's head in violently.
"Where?" He asked again and was met with silence once again. The mace was swung upwards and the next victim's head snapped back, tearing the flesh and exposing their spine. Blood squirted from the wound and they fell to the side before he moved onto the next.
"Fine! Fuck! Okay, I have it!" The man shouted. He winced when the barrel of a Hammerburst was pressed against his head and he just scooted forward a bit. Scorn bent down to his level and gripped his head in his hand, staring deep into the man's eyes. His eyes trailed down to the necklace and ripped it off his neck, staring at it with interest and wrapped it around his left wrist.
"Take the Faunus to our home... find some use for them." Scorn ordered. The Faunus in the room struggled as they were hauled out and all that was left was the man who previously owned the necklace.
"What do you want? Lien? I can get you that-" The man gagged when Scorn lifted him by his face and started to squeeze. He let out a muffled scream as the pressure started to increase and he could faintly hear the bones in his face crack. Blood started to rush in several directions and his right eye slowly slid out from its socket. It turned red and he gave a muffled, agonized scream when it finally burst from the pressure.
All that was heard from his was one last scream of agony before Scorn crushed his face, splattering blood onto the ground. The body hung limp in his grasp and he flicked it away, watching as it smacked against the wall and crumbled to the ground. He just stared at the corpse before shaking his head and walking outside, seeing the whole area on fire.
Bodies littered the street and gunfire could still be heard in the distance while the screaming was quick before being snuffed out by snarls.
He made his way towards the edge of the city of corruption and held his hand out when a horde of Grimm rushed towards the Locusts. His troops looked at him and made got out of his way as he trekked towards the horde of Grimm. He item glowed brightly and they bowed down, some let out whines of pain when he twisted his hand and clenched his fists.
"Serve me." He hissed out and stared at the mass of creatures. Bat-like Grimm swarmed the dark sky and their eyes glowed blue, several dozen swarmed around him. Their screeches filled the air and he held his hand out, seeing one of them land on it and screech loudly before taking off again. He spotted a survivor and and pointed a finger at them, making the bats speed towards them.
Howls of agony echoed across the land and mixed in with screeches as the bats tore into them. Blood flew through the air as their razor sharp teeth stripped the flesh from their bones; tearing their organs out in mere seconds. They fell to the ground and tried to fend off the Grimm, but quickly succumbed to their wounds.
With a flick of his wrist, the bats flew up into the sky and left the body. He saw that it was nothing but a mangled corpse with vicious bite marks and torn flesh. He noticed that they were sensitive to light, much like the Kryll. It would be best if he blackened out the sky during the daylight attacks, allowing these beasts to work most efficiently.
He felt powerful and he knew that somewhere on this weak planet was an individual who matched his cruelty.
Don't have much to say.