Games Afoot

The past three days were interesting ones, with Kotek out at locations set by the Schnee patriarch. Something Lelith found to be intriguing as she watched from the shadows as he stood guard over civilians with the Pariah by his side.

Well, she watched until he left for the mine outside Atlas and Mantle's shadow.

Now she sat watching Emerald with her two friends. Odd, really, that a girl like her gained yet another friend, let alone the one from that hotel.

Yellow eyes flicked nervously between them all and Lelith tilted her head.

Why stay with people younger than herself? She was four years older than Emerald and from her understanding of humans, that was a large gap to have.

Then again, she could ask herself the same question; why did she befriend Emerald when the gap was well into nine millennia?

Unlike the new one, she had an answer; because she could… and wanted to.

Why not? There were plenty of people out there to sap the suffering off of, what was one small girl going to do to that? It was physically impossible to remove the lust for satiating the need for the suffering of others, it was built into the True Born much the same way genetics created your looks.

Lelith picked a slice of meat up off the plate and bit into it. Seasoned and mouthwatering meat.

Cinder blinked in confusion at her, and Lelith knew why; apparently eating raw meat was not recommended for humans. Technically it wasn't for Aeldari either, but she always found raw, uncooked meat to be something of a guilty pleasure.

Whether it was from a live captive to delicacies prepared by the best serfs and slaves her Cult had to offer, it mattered not.

Besides, she could cook but here was the fun in being what they considered 'normal' when the reactions were far more amusing?

The only one who didn't bat an eye much at her was Emerald, who rose a brow and gave her an odd look, then went back to talking about whatever it was they enjoyed so much.

Was it the entertainment channels on the television or a video on their Scrolls? A book?

"What are you talking about?" she asked once she swallowed the bite of meat,

Emerald looked up, "there's a guy being mean to Ilia,"

"Oh?" Lelith tilted her head and placed her cheek in her palm, dropping the meat in her mouth with the other,

"He's just mean, he likes putting gum in my hair," Ilia said with a frown,

Lelith rolled her eyes, "have you tried… what is something violent but generally accepted by humans?"

"What?" Cinder gave her a baffled look, "why?"

"One language every species understands is violence," Lelith said, "speak to him with it,"

Emerald sighed while Cinder scoffed at her, "Ils can't just punch a bitch,"

Lelith chuckled, "no, she can't punch me,"

"Ugh," Emerald rolled her eyes, "you're never helpful,"

"Who taught you how to complete spin mid-air?"

"Fuck off,"

Ilia giggled, "see, you are friends,"

"Regrettably most days," Emerald glared at her and Lelith smiled smugly back,

Cinder watched on in pure confusion for a few more moments as the insults grew in intensity, "I am beyond baffled by this…" she muttered.

Ilia nodded and looked up at her, "yeah, they do this,"

"Does Lelith always wear so little?" Cinder whispered to Ilia,

Ilia blushed a bit, "yeah… I've been friends with Emerald for a while now, and every time I'm here Lelith is in as little as possible," she giggled behind her hand, "I don't think she knows what pants are,"

Lelith stopped her miniature argument and rose a brow at Ilia, "I do, I chose not to wear them,"

"It's inappropriate," Cinder scowled, "especially around children,"

Lelith snorted and finished off the meat, "I do not care for what you and your kind deem inappropriate of me, I will do it anyway,"

Emerald scoffed and muttered, "like come back from a club smelling funny,"

The Succubus rolled her eyes and rose, "I am bored."

She left once she put her armour on to go find this mine and see how well Kotek really was at guarding something just as Celestine walked in the door.

Snow whipped around him, catching and melting on golden armour. Camera crews moved hastily to and fro wherever they needed, though they still paused briefly when he was in sight.

He made an impressive sight for a mortal to behold, he supposed. With his red cloths being blown in the wind, the pristine white snow as a backdrop to his golden stature. They most likely were amazed at the fact he could stand so still for so long; at least three of them were amazed… they would need to keep their voice down next time.

In the farthest distance, one could barely make out Atlas on the horizon. So far from them. So, so, far.

And yet and an advertisement was to be made.

There were vastly larger threats for a being of his stature to deal with, not defend a patch of mine while a rich man recorded himself.

Kotek would have refused any other time if it was anyone else, but gaining the goodwill of someone of Jacques Schnee's status could be of great use. Even if it was left as an unexploited avenue, it was better to have it than not at all. And the added Lien he was able to convince out of the man was an added benefit. Between Celestine, Greyfax and himself, there was more than enough Lien for if they needed to go into hiding or were cut off from the Imperium as a whole.

He made a mental note to withdraw the Lien the moment it was in his custody.

Eyes ever vigilant, he scoured the snowy tundra and hills for any threat. The odd Grimm let curiosity get the better of them and drew too close to the mine, but they became nothing more than black ichor across the snow.

It was an interesting curiosity that when he killed the creatures, they faded into nothing, whereas Celestine's kills remained like regular corpses.

She was something more, that was always obvious. But now he suspected something else; she was the key, the one they were all here to support, not anyone else.

Not the hardest thing to believe given that she was the first here.

Kotek exhaled and glanced up at the cliff the mine was constructed against and led into; it wasn't the highest of cliffs or the most impressive. But if a mortal were to fall over the edge it would be a miracle if they survived.

He glanced over to the other two walls, or more accurately, the corners of them, and found nothing of note happening with them.

So that left him here at the front gate after doing anything the man asked, no matter how petty his requests were. Like, stand stock still at the front gate of the mine for promotional pictures.

For who, Kotek had not figured out yet. Either the General or Jacques himself wanted them. It mattered little, an image of him in armour was nothing as blending in would be impossible; not even able to pass as an Astartes of some kind thanks to the fact there were none around.

In the distance, a small cloud of snow was kicked up. More press and businessmen coming. More to protect.

"Grimm still patrolling the outskirts, no sign of personnel,"

The Vox in his helm crackled, "they've gone to ground after Mountain Glenn, we'll only be seeing regular daemons for now,"

"They are not Daemons, Inquisitor, this we've figured," he rebuked,

"Aye, but it's a fitting name for the blight they are on this world," the Greyfax sighed, "and the Anathema?"

"In the mines, inspecting for threats,"

"I assume none so far?"

Her constant need for information would annoy anyone else, yet he was much the same, "no, if there was you would all know,"

"Copied, I'll pass it on to Celestine," and the line went silent once more.

Now, if they could figure out a form of efficient communication for Alexea, that would be another problem solved. He could understand her just fine, but the others struggled to look at the Null-infused gestures and texting in battle was simply not viable.

Unfortunately, that would still leave him with as many problems as he started with as the vehicle grew closer. It was an Atlesian off-roader, a civilian variant of the Military ones he'd seen over the past months. Though this one held a symbol as well; a white wolf's head in a white circle.

Activists. Easy to deal with through words or sheer intimidation. Depending on who led this group would determine which was leant into the most.

When the vehicle was a kilometre away he stepped into the middle of the road with the Guardian Spear held vertically, his finger over the activation rune.

The convoy of three cars came to a stop at a respectable distance away from Kotek and the main gate. The doors of the front car opened first and a small girl landed in the snow.

Short black hair framed yellow eyes as she stared up at him. Though she was soon overshadowed by a massive man, one only a tad smaller than an Astartes and by far the biggest threat so far.

The man looked Kotek up and down before dismissing him and focusing on the guards of the mine who in turn dismissed the man for Kotek himself.

Of everyone outside of a select few, the guards knew the danger the Custodian presented through his fighting with the stray Grimm. But one does not overestimate their own ability and downplay another. No, assume they will always win and act accordingly.

"Greetings," Kotek's voice startled the man and child, "welcome to the Greyst Mines,"

The large man collected himself faster than Kotek expected and slowly walked up to him, "Hello there, I represent the White Fang. I heard Jacques Schnee was here,"

A leak. A problem for the Inquisitor. Kotek nodded, "He is, but this mine is off-limits to all who are not working for the Schnee Dust Corporation,"

The man frowned the girl ran to a woman who just left the car, "Ah, that is unfortunate, I have heard violations of Faunus rights and wish to disprove them myself,"

"And who would you be?"

The man held a large hand out with a pleasant smile, "Ghira Belladonna,"

Kotek regarded the hand for less than a moment and shook it with his, ensuring his grip was tight enough for a pinch of pain to cross his face. Though Ghira gave a decent attempt, his strength never matched that of-

"Hetaeron Guard Kotek," he introduced himself, "current commander of the Atlesian Specialists and security of this facility,"

They released the grip only once Kotek let go and Ghira subtly flexed his hand, "I see. Would it be possible for my family to at least enter the barracks for a while? It's been awfully long of a drive and the cold is getting to them…"

Kotek glanced to the human guards and nodded for them to open the gate, "you have two hours at the absolute maximum. We have a schedule to adhere to,"

Ghira nodded in thanks, "we appreciate it, thank you,"

Kotek nodded and opened his Vox channel, "Activists on sight looking for the Schnee patriarch. They knew he was here,"

"I'll start looking for the leak and put Celestine on standby. If I had to bet, Tanner is the leak," was the only response he got from the Inquisitor as he followed the vehicle inside.

The Major was a rare sight with only glimpses of him being caught. And given the fact he barely showed after the interrogation… There was the possibility the man could not stomach the Inquisitor's methods. Perhaps he was hiding to avoid the same fate if caught. Either way, the man will be found again.

Kotek made sure the Gates closed behind him before he continued after the family's convoy.

Damp was the best word to describe the shafts. Cold as well.

Throw miserable on there.

Even during the filming process, the mines still functioned. Crystals of all types of colours were drilled and hammered out by the workers. Carts moved up and down massive rails that hung overhead.

Each worker pelted rock and stone and granite away as if their life depended on it.

Alexea could care less about their labour, they were doing their job so she could do hers. Congratulations, the bare minimum had been achieved.

A full security sweep for an aristocrat. The joy. She rolled her eyes at the memory of his nasal voice and the dead look from his wife, and for once it wasn't her Null that caused it.

The deeper she went into the mines, the busier it got with dozens upon dozens of workers mining machinery of all sorts. Not to mention the tunnels got smaller and smaller till two people could barely move with their backs to each other. Naturally, she ignored the gags from the people that brushed her.

The tunnels twisted and turned, and the air grew heavier but at least it was somewhat warmer with all the body heat trapped.

The cave shook as small explosives detonated. The workers paused till the shaking stopped and the dust settled, then went back to work.

She continued down the tunnels until the workers began to spread thin to a few per metre, one per metre and eventually none. Though the tunnel kept going, as did the electrical lights.

Alexea took a quick glance behind her and marched down the tunnel, her Null intensified so anyone close enough would make some noise. Gene Stealer Cults was something she didn't want to deal with. Not today, not ever.

The tunnel rocked again as explosions detonated, though this time there was an audible bang that echoed from further down.

She took a breath and cocked the Bolter as she made her way down towards an intersection.

Alexea paused just before the end of the tunnel she was in, unsure which way was the correct one, so, she chose to bide her time and wait for the next series of explosions to guide her. She stared ahead, down the tunnel in front of her, on the lookout for any sort of threat.

The tunnel shook once more. The bang echoed from the left. Well, she hoped her hearing was good enough to guess that.

The moment she turned down that tunnel her Bolter was raised and ready to fire.

"Hurry up! The longer we take the less time we have!" echoed down towards her and she slowed her pace and placed her feet carefully as she walked,

"More like the less time these fucks have." another scoffed, "the damn 'upgrades' Merlot gave them is killing them!"

"Yeah, how the hell are we gonna get shit done without them!"

Merlot? Isn't that a guy Greyfax is after? She thought to herself.

The tunnel bent and tapered slightly so she came to a halt, only tilting her head around slightly. Finding more tunnels, she edged around slowly until it opened up into a relatively large cavern.

Large piles of rock and boulders sat arranged into makeshift barriers to protect crates and presumably people. A few corpses lay unceremoniously across the floor, like they couldn't escape the explosions in time or dropped dead on the spot from exhaustion.

"I honestly thought I saw one move earlier," a woman to the left spoke,

A man laughed, "fuck off, they're dead. Ain't no coming back from that,"

A second man snorted, "any of you know what Tyrian want's from down here?"

With that name spoken, Alexea moved back around the corner and readied to move the moment the next set of explosives were detonated.

"Hell no, that man's out of his mind," the woman scoffed, "but hey, we're sticking it to the kingdoms and getting fed so I could care less about what we do,"

"Fair enough," the second man said, "the explosives are ready, get to cover,"

The sounds of footsteps echoed for a few seconds before they went silent. Then the world became deafening loud as the explosives detonated and a few seconds later, Bolterfire joined.

Of the three, only one was able to raise a weapon before her body was mutilated by the mass reaction shells, sending viscera, blood and bone across the piles of rubble.

A couple of prisoners were caught in the fire, ending their lives as well, leaving only one of them alive, squirming on the floor clutching her chest in pain.

Alexea paid little attention to her, favouring a search of the Cultist's corpses for anything of value to the Inquisitor. She patted down the intact corpses first and found a few pieces of paper; one was a list and the other appeared to be objectives of some sort.

What they were, she couldn't tell as it was written in a type of symbolistic code. Katarinya'll have a field day with this.

The woman behind her suddenly began to screech, her bellowing echoed off the walls as she began to convulse on her back. With her body arched to the roof and shaking wildly, her screeches grew in pitch and intensity. Her veins darkened and bulged out of her skin and her ribcage snapped audibly.

In a moment, the bottom of her spine fractured and pierced skin, a mix of red and black gushed out of the wound and any preexisting orifice.

Bits of skin around her chest pealed and tore away as the ribs expanded outward like legs, and the spinal column separated from the body until the ribcage became its own standing point over the mutilated corpse. Organs and skin still hung from what kept them in place, seeping fluids of all sorts onto the floor in puddles.

Morbid curiosity held Alexea in place as the thing became more active, like a newborn calf awakening, until the woman's head spun around and stared through blood-red eyes and liquids pouring out the orifices. Its mouth hung open, most likely detached when it was once the screaming woman.

Remembering the Cultist's comment on a corpse moving, Alexea's eyes darted over to the other corpses and found the same things standing there, staring at her. And in the corner was a pile of more bodies, all of their ribcages shifting beneath the skin as whatever these things are awoke.

The woman's head unleashed an ear-piercing shriek and sped towards her, as did the others.

The Bolter rang as she backed down the cavern. As soon as the exit tunnel filled her peripheral vision, she fired a few rounds into the crate of explosives and booked it down the tunnel as fast as she could, ignoring the shrieks and explosions behind her. And most definitely ignoring the scattering of multiple of those things running after her.

She forced her Null to amplify as high as it could go in an attempt to keep the things behind her as far away as possible.

Why the Gene Cult comparison!? She berated herself, the fuckers are like 'Nids!

She quickly spun and fired a few wild shots behind her before continuing her sprint back up the tunnel, especially as more shrieks and screeches followed up behind her.

How many were there!? She internally screamed as she prayed Kotek knew what was happening.

He had to remove the helmet, otherwise, he wouldn't fit in the building. He kept it upsidedown in his arms, so the click of the Vox was easier to hear.

"So, how have the workers been treated so far?" the woman asked. She had a set of peculiar ears atop her head. Like a Felinid in a way. Looking at the child in her lap, the mother was most definitely her. "Good I hope,"

"As far as I have seen, yes," his concern over worker treatment was nothing unless an uprising happened, though saying that would do the opposite of what he wanted, "no violations have been spotted nor reported,"

Ghira hummed, "well, I suppose it's a case of misinformation then,"

No, it's been hidden and we both know it, "it is always a possibility, yes, however, chasing up all leads is a tiresome and resource expending ordeal,"

The woman nodded, "yes, I guess it is," a small embarrassed gasp left her, "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, Kali Belladonna. And this-" she waved to the girl- "is Blake,"

He nodded gently, "Hetaeron Guard Kotek,"

Blake waved up as she stared at his face, "h-hello,"

Kotek faced Ghira, "What were the reports that brought you out here?"

"Underpay, overtime, lack of food and sleep being granted, assault…" Ghira trailed off when he looked to his daughter, not wanting to continue in front of her "we'll be here in Atlas for the festival in a few weeks anyway, so I'll have time to look into it fully later,"

Kotek agreed, "Time and patience are valuable things,"

"They are indeed, especially with a daughter!"

Kali shot him a false glare, "try having a husband, it hurts your brain,"

Ghira laughed, "fair point, Dear,"

Both Kotek, Kali and Blake all shot their heads towards the door and Kotek placed his helmet back on. A small rumble echoed.

"Was that a gunshot?"

Kotek shook his head, "Bolterfire,"

He forced himself out the doorway, uncaring of the damage to the door frame. Dozens upon dozens of workers were fleeing out of the main mineshaft in a constant tide.

Screeches followed them out, as did the retort of Bolterfire.

Kotek faced the nearest guard, "put the camp on lockdown and mobilise the guards!"

He didn't wait for a response as he rushed through the tide of panicked workers and stumbling guards towards the entrance to the mine.

The Guardian Spear swung over Alexea's head, slicing a creature mid-air as it pounced. If it was alive when it hit the ground, his sabatons crushed it anyway. Kotek's Bolter joined the cacophony of noise and carnage, eradicating any of the creatures that came into sight.

"Greyfax," he spoke into his Vox, "We found your new Grimm,"

His weapon continued to tear the creatures apart as he awaited a response.

Alexea continued to pull back as the tide of the creatures continued to come, her own weapon slowly becoming useless as the gap between her and the creatures narrowed.

The Null set in, enough for even Kotek to feel its effects slightly and drove some of the creatures back. But not all. A few continued to try and attack through the field, some fell into a crazed state as their minds collapsed in on themselves.

Guards' weapons fire joined as they finally drew themselves together enough to fight, the bullets' Dust contents detonated against anything they hit leaving chunks of ice, molten rock and even more earth where they hit. The projectiles tore them apart all the same, and that's all of what could be asked for.

Kotek took the chance to put a part of his attention to his Vox, "Inquisitor?"

The line remained quiet.

His head swivelled to the nearest guard, "Send an emergency signal out on all channels,"

"Why? we have this under control,"

"My channel is jammed, something else is happening," his voice was clear of emotion but hard. The Guard nodded quickly and jogged to the barracks.

The Vox may be on different channels, but an all-encompassing jamming signal could block it.

The weapons fire drew to a close as the creature drew back into the tunnel. Though Alexea beat one with a pickaxe repeatedly until it was nothing more than a pool of broken bone and blood, apparently forgetting the Greatbalde on her back.

He turned away from the brutalisation and over to the administration building. Jacques was going to be livid at this. Though the camera crews recording him was not expected. A propaganda film perhaps? It was some promotional material, he was sure.

Kotek glanced to the gate, the Guards remained at their posts despite being shaken.

There was a tap on his armour.

"Who're they?"

He glanced behind him, Ghira peaked out of the building sightly.

Kotek sighed. Civilians are civilians and do not use common sense. They may be what drove him to fight, but by His grace were they lacking survival skills of the most basic design.

"Get back inside!" he bellowed and looked to Alexea, "make sure they stay there, I will keep the tunnel on lockdown,"

Alexea begrudgingly nodded, clearly not wanting to deal with civilians but jogged off anyway.

Kotek looked to a cowering miner, "blow the tunnel, trap the creatures inside!"

The miner blinked and nodded shakily, while some guards stared in shock at his order.

Her ire was more than burning at the cold and now the unwanted images of the Grimm things.

They'll all die eventually, that much was certain.

She approached the door to the barracks, though it was much wider than she last saw it, and dropped the bloodied pickaxe just outside before she entered.

"You're here?"

Her gaze flicked to the speaker and found him to be familiar. The town from when I first got here?

She nodded, unsure of how to respond and pushed them away from the opening to the back corner. Once that was done, she shoved the table to the door and put it on its side, blocking the entrance of snow and potential Grimm.

Not that it would stop the things, of course, but at least the beady red eyes wouldn't see them.

"What happened out there?"

She didn't respond as she tightened the Bolter's strap and hid the weapon under her cloak and held the Executioner Greatblade in both hands, ready to strike.

"Hello?" the man stood with a small frown, "what happened?"

She looked up at him blankly with a cocked eyebrow. He stared back at her for a moment more until his body forced him to look away.

Footsteps barreled down the only hall to the seating area and a guard nearly ran into her, "shit, sorry!"

He made to run but she grabbed him by the arm and spun him around. He registered who it was at the second glance and looked away as he hurriedly spoke, "all comms are down and the EWS pylons are off the char-"

His sentence and life were cut short by a bullet piercing his skull from down the hallway.

Alexea snapped her body in the direction of the bullet and found a single guard with a smoking gun raised. They snapped the barrel in her direction and fired a shot.

It went wide and blew the corner of the wall out.

The Faunus family screamed as more gunfire picked up outside and the odd bullet tore holes in the walls. So, at least they found some cultists… if only the Inquisitor was here, things would be made much easier.

Or Celestine… or even Lelith, then maybe the asshole might get her torture kink satiated enough to not be insufferable for a few minutes.

Alexea sped forward, making sure to move as much as possible to the sides at random, and slashed sideways when the guard was in range. The blade cut through wall and guard alike with ease.

She continued down into the building, searching for any more friendlies or enemies all the same.

Only two more hostels were found, while the rest of the guards were either dead or unconscious. Alexea slowly trailed into the comms room and held her guard high in anticipation.

Empty. Only sparking controls and broken monitors and, thankfully, the room was only filled with corpses. Ones missing their ribcages and heads. If she could speak, only profanity would be heard from her mouth. But the little voice, known as her subconscious, swore like a sailor in a bar.

Alexea paused at the creaking and rapid skittering in the vents above; the family!

With wide eyes, she spun and bolted back down the halls to the entrance. If they died, she'd fail the orders of a Custodian and despite her graveness with the order, the idea of it felt like a knife through her heart.

As she made it to the second last bend, she noticed the skittering nearing a visible part of the vent.

Alexea slashed up at it and failing that, she pulled the Bolter into her hand and fired the last few rounds up at it. Black ichor and blood drained through the gaps while other creatures in the shadows hopped past while she reloaded the weapon.

Cocked the weapon and held it in one hand and the blade in the other as she took off again down the hall.

The scurrying continued but stopping to fire accurately would be as useless as firing now., so instead, she pushed her legs to the limit and burst into the seating area just as one of the things jumped out of the vents.

She fired the Bolter with one hand, regretting it as pain shot from her wrist and up her arm. The braces of her armour were the only thing to prevent an outright break of her wrist.

And slashed at the next two that fell out as well, bisecting both on the initial swing and return.

A third fell onto the floor and she stamped on the neck of the thing, pinning it to the floor. It hissed and gurgled up at her and tried to tear at her sabaton, only for the human teeth to break against it.

Alexea tilted her head and watched as its blazing orange eyes bore up at her and the facial muscles twitched reflexively at the Null field increasing.

It was still somewhat human, or it utilised the human brain to survive. How far did this thing count as a parasite? Was it a growing thing in the chest or a dormant being that awoke when ready or triggered?

She shoved the blade in its mouth and pushed, separating the top half of the skull from the bottom jaw, killing it.

"What is that?"

Alexea looked at a horrified and disgusted Kali and shrugged indifferently.

"Are the long-range Comms functional?" Kotek's voice came over her Comm-bead.

She tapped twice.

He sighed, "Very well. Do not trust the guards, but do not kill them on sight unless they fire first"

With a single tap, she rose her foot and flicked the creature off it.

Then the mine's defences droned out the handheld weapons fire.

Alexea's eyes flattened and she wanted to groan. Because of course, there was Grimm. She rolled her shoulders with a crack of her neck and marched over to the makeshift barrier she made at the entrence. She let the Bolter dangle off her shoulder and shoved the table away from the door.

Before she put a foot through the exit, she turned to the Belladonna family and pointed at them before jabbing her index finger towards the floor. Stay.

It was the best communication she could give, and willing to give them as she pulled the table back into place once she left the building.

Almost immediately, her Bolter joined the chaos that became the clearing and she couldn't help but draw comparisons to the Gene Stealers at the way hostels, guards and miners alike used tools as basic weapons.

A truck even lay on its side burning with massive dents in its side from where the nearby Kotek toppled it.

She was brought out of her observations by a hostile who swung her drill at her with a growl.

Alexea parried with the Greatblade and slashed down through the drill bit on the backswing.

The woman backpedalled and tossed the tool at her in an attempt to buy time.

The Sister sidestepped the attack and swiped up diagonally, cutting open the female miners' stomach, chest and neck.

Alexea took one more look around at the ensuing melee and odd firefight. The Bolter wouldn't be the most useful.

She pulled the straps tighter and hid the weapon back behind her cape and charged into the fray with the Blade held out to her side, both hands on the hilt. She spun when a cultist came into range, adding more red to the grounds inside the mine while black coated the outside of the walls.

She pulled her blades out of a decaying Sabyr.

Was this really the best the Grimm in the area had?

Lelith snorted and continued her leisurely pace towards the echoing Bolters. Fun was to be had ahead and no one was going to stop her, not when Bolters were being fired.

She waltzed through the snow in a jog, letting the cold snow burn her feet. Perhaps shoes of some type would have been a better idea, but the pain wasn't unwelcome. It gave reason for her to make her blood run hot in combat.

Was it Grimm?

The added gunfire told her no, not just Grimm.

One of the centipede types burst from the tundra's ground and hissed down at her.

The thing though it could scare her? Lelith snorted at the idea of it being able to 'think' and it scaring anyone worth their weight in blood.

She danced around its dive and slashed upward with one blade and across with the other as she spun. The creature ignored it and continued to the ground, earning a frown from the Succubus.

"Coward," she muttered. But her frown was wiped when the ground vibrated slightly.

It grew in intensity below her feet.

The snow began to visibly vibrate and she waited. Even as it got closer and closer and closer.

Lelith closed her eyes and imagined the moment it would break the surface, and the moment it began to, she dashed to the side.

The Centipede rose above her, the rest of its body still under the snow and dirt.

Clearly, the thing wasn't as smart as the professors and Hunters preached it to be as she dodged and weaved around its attacks. But she had a feeling their fears were negated the moment it was applied to her.

Her blades came up and she went left as it tried to tear at her, the caprice on its face tore easily enough with added force.

Good.

She brought them down into its neck and through what would have been a vein of some type as black ooze shot from it. And like its attacks, Lelith dodged that too.

The centipede spent little time diving into the ground and Lelith lashed at its body of it as it disappeared.

Over a minute of waiting, nothing came back to Lelith's irritation. Not even the creatures that locked humanity in four Kingdoms were not a good enough fight.

Lelith snarled at the hole left in the creature's wake and spun angrily on a heel.

And the ground trembled again.

She paused and tilted her head to look over her shoulder. The ground was being thrust up in a line gunning it towards her.

The woman grinned and turned with a twirl of her blades.

Emotion drew these creatures in, unlike Daemons. Or traditional ones at least.

Metres in front of her, the same creature burst through the ground and dived at her.

She moved left and used her blade as a climbing point in the thing's skin. She propelled herself on the top of it and slashed away at the back of its skull before vaulting off with a summersault to avoid being buried.

But it let little respite as it broke ground again behind her.

Lelith slashed and dashed again, this time cutting along its body. When it came back up, she wasted no time mounting the thing and embedding her blades in the creature.

She tore them out as if they were scissors and cut the centipede in half- one half disintegrated while the other fell into the snow with a screech.

Immobilised, Lelith waltzed up to the head and bent over, to stare coldly into its many eyes,

"Pitiful creature. I've had bedders last longer in a fight than you," she mumbled and thrust her blades into where she estimated its 'brain' to be and in seconds, it began to dissipate into nothing.

Lelith turned with her blades in hand and continued to her newfound release. However, the closer she got, the more Grimm threw themselves at the walls. It was one way in, but they already proved to be less than capable foes.

They didn't even release panic or fear in their final moments. What useless wastes of space. The people on the other hand…

She grinned, even as she caught sight of a few people at the top of the cliff overlooking the mine.

In a blink, she changed course and moved as fast as she could to get around and up to them. If they weren't hostile they might get to live… maybe. But if they were.

Seconds passed and the Bolterfire ceased but the sounds of fighting, however, did not. Not that it mattered. She knew at minimum, the Custodian would survive.

She knew she would, and the man was on her level.

"The fucking golden thing is tearing us apart!"

Lelith came to an abrupt halt and watched the group argue amongst themselves for a moment over something. Until one ignored the rest and shouldered a rudimentary rocket launcher.

So the theory of getting weapons for that underground city is possibly true, and interesting but useless at the moment.

Lelith dashed forward and simply kicked the rocket-wielding cultist over the edge and spun on the rest, cleaving clean through them, Aura and all.

Though one, lone cultist became of interest to her.

Her knives, only out sharpened by her mind, did not penetrate their Aura but deflected off it. It didn't the third time, but it was proof that they were learning and adapting.

Aura, as far as she knew, could protect against all manner of things and heal lots more. Only if one was proficient in its uses and applications though.

That meant one of two things; the person was lucky, or they were being trained.

Either way, more fights were to be had in the chaos of the coming war.

She looked over the bodies, not doubting her skill but ensuring Aura hadn't brought any back somehow and noticed a flare gun.

Lelith tilted her head and picked it up out of the snow and looked over the edge into the mine's yard. Three buildings stood within the walls, presumably the administration, workers and guard house.

One had no door and a destroyed doorway with a metal slab blocking it off, while the others were locked, bar the smallest one as it burned freely like the turned-over truck.

But of more interest was the group near a small shelter with vehicles under it, more than that though, there was a large, cylindrical container laid horizontally. Multiple, leaking holes punctured its red body.

She levelled the flare gun at it with a wide smile. Burning to death was always a fun thing to watch. She depressed the trigger and a bright green flare shot out at the fuel tank with a whistle and she realised one thing; were those friendlies?

Lelith shrugged since Kotek and the Anathema were busy defending a Miner directly below her, "time to find out~"

It hit the side and fell into the puddle of liquid Dust that went up in bright, purple flames and rushed up the tank.

A fireball melted the snow and incinerated all around it. Confusion and panic set in almost immediately as the Administration building caught the brunt of it and shattered all windows in the mine.

Lelith closed her eyes and took a breath in, the smoke and fumes of fuel burned her lungs, almost as much as the pain for few who burned alive satisfied her unendingly.

It came to an end when a flash of gold burned through her eyelids and the cliff shook with an explosion at the same time. She opened her eyes to the bursts of energy from the Saint outside the walls and rising dust from the entrance to the mines below her.

She let her body tilt forward over the edge to the few clearings of snow below and hit the ground in a roll that ended with her dashing from one victim to the next, their lives coming to an abrupt and violent end. Yet none would call it painless or quick.

Arteries and tendons were cut, severing the use of hands and feet as they bled out into the snow, filling the air with the smell of iron.

Lelith bend back under the Guardian Spear's blade as it lashed out at another hostile,

"Hesperax, find leave one alive!" Kotek ordered before he spoke into his helmet, undoubtedly the Inquisitor, "the jammer was near the fuel tank when it detonated,"

She sighed. Well, if they were allies, they died for a worthy cause she supposed.

Whatever. Their pain-riddled deaths were more than worth it despite being nowhere near as gratifying as a Haemonculi victim. But they had a cause to die for, they were now learning what death entailed.

"Jacques will not be happy about this," Kotek said as the fighting died to a halt.

Lelith shrugged, "oh no…"

The giant shook his head, "why am I not surprised you are here, the moment there was a fight, you came running,"

He never noticed? Lelith grinned as a bit of pride got boosted, "it was not much, but these vermin dying in droves was satisfying,"

Kotek sighed and turned away from her to the collapsed entrance to the mine, "I suppose it would be for you." he tilted his helmet forward minimally and spoke into it, "Traitors within the guards and miners. Alexea saw them mining deep in the mines… yes, Inquisitor, the General is to be made aware. Copied, we will start the clean-up and monitor the situation."

The man marched off wordlessly to the front gate, leaving Lelith standing in a circle of corpses and unsure of what to do now the fighting was over.

Though the physical fighting was over, the verbal kept going.

Guards and miners fought, blaming each other out of fear the other was a traitor, a parasite of some type, in disguise. It didn't last long, unfortunately, with either the Pariah glaring from behind the mouthpiece or Celestine's bright reentrance to the camp once the final few Creatures of Grimm were taken care of.

Even that fun type of conflict didn't last long.

Then the Inquisitor was bound to arrive any minute now. It was amazing how quickly she went from entertaining to a complete bore, not even her perpetual anger and paranoia were something interesting to observe.

She was dull.

Lelith sighed and placed a neutral expression on her face. Other things had entertainment, the prisoners back in Atlas could be made one of them… and Greyfax wouldn't mind if one went missing, would she?

Surely… as that plan began to form, so did another addition to it.

Emerald was yet to have her first human kill, so why not try and baptise her. If she couldn't get used to the inevitable death she'd cause, it would destroy her…

Slowly, even that plan began to change as one thing stood in the way. One thing that refused to move no matter how hard Lelith tried and that scared her more than she'd admit.

What if throwing Emerald into that would push her away?

Lelith hated that question, and everything attached to it. It was unknown, not something easily fought. It didn't bring serenity or thrill as combat did, but a cold pang in her chest.

Was this what Celestine felt like about the girl?

She glanced at the golden woman and immediately knew she didn't. Her faith kept her standing without question, believing that the cards will fall where they may and deal with them from there. She knew the Saint feared things, it was evident with the caution and niceness she treated the girl after unintentionally antagonising her, or in the now rare, moments of weakness, the girl had.

Lelith stared at the side of the Saint's head as she conversed with Kotek, searching her for answers that she knew wasn't there on the surface.

Ironwood held a hand over his mouth as the recording played to its end. He sighed and looked up to Kotek, "and this is the new Grimm?"

Kotek nodded, as much as he wished he didn't… "al-alright, I'll start having the routine physios of all soldiers checked for any anomalies,"

"Good," Greyfax spoke up, "the things could be anywhere,"

He nodded and looked to the final three people, Celestine, Lelith and Alexea, "Celestine, I want you to keep watch over the mine, I'll have it placed under quarantine so we can dig out what they were mining for,"

The Saint nodded firmly and looked at Lelith, "you'll be joining me,"

"Oh really?" the woman asked,

"You want to kill things, there are things to kill," Celestine shrugged, "have at it,"

Was this really how they kept the woman under some form of control? Let her kill and fight things? Ironwood mentally shook his head and looked to Alexea, "when they… appeared, was it while the host was alive?"

She shook her head and Kotek translated her sign language, "they burst from the bodies of the infected dead, there's no way to tell who is infected by visual appearance," she shrugged, "Merlot is apparently responsible for their existence,"

Ironwood and even Greyfax groaned at that, only he let his head fall into a hand, "alright… Inquisitor, consider the doors unlocked for you. Find the bastard and put him down, don't let anyone stand in your way,"

The woman didn't respond, only turn and leave after taking a damaged piece of paper from the Sister of Silence.

"Same goes for you as well, Custodian," Ironwood said, ignoring all that Ozpin told him. These people got the job done, not stand around and make plans that never got used. Two years since being told of Salem.

Two years of nothing.

Not a single move against her, yet here were five people more than willing to take action and be effective in this stupid silent war.

"I am trusting you to not abuse this power," Ironwood said after banishing his thoughts, "I am still in charge, and I expect you all to make a shining example of Atlas,"

Even as he spoke, he couldn't help but feel he played into what they all silently hoped would happen. He sighed and pushed it aside, there were things more important to deal with.

Now, If he could find Major Tanner to have some form of a leash on the Inquisitor.

"I have to inform the other Kingdoms of this," he sat up straight and looked in each of their eyes, "I worry about their reactions to this news,"

"Push them to start fighting back," Kotek said, "if this is the level they are at, we are woefully unprepared and need to buy time to prepare fully,"

Ironwood nodded, "take initiative, pre-emptive strikes…" he took a breath, "we can start doing that on our soil, but if the other Kingdoms will not, then it is their loss,"

Celestine frowned, "Ozpin will not, we know he won't,"

A sharp laugh left Lelith who sat on the side of his desk, fiddling with a small chess piece between her fingers, "I will do all the fighting for him,"

The Saint rolled her eyes and Ironwood noticed the flash of fondness- No, something less than that but still friendly- in her eyes, "you would fight a super-nova if you could,"

"That would be an interesting fight," Lelith humoured her, "but I would need more than my blades with me,"

Ironwood cleared his throat to gain their attention, "do not strike on your own, inform me and we can organise a battlegroup,"

"That is advisable, yes," Celestine and Alexea nodded at Kotek's words,

He blinked in surprise at the easy agreement. If it were Glynda or Qrow they'd fight him to the ends of the planet at the use of his army as Gods forbid, an army.

Ironwood clicked his fingers and pointed at the Saint, "a bit off-topic, but you would be delighted to hear that Emerald's little stunt at the hotel came through; Cinder may officially be an orphan again, but at least she's out of there,"

The woman smiled, as did even the Sister of Silence, "she'd be thrilled,"

"I'm sure," Ironwood grinned back, "she'll be given a few choices; regular schooling, Academy prep or military prep. She'll have to choose one, though it's better than no education," he sniffed, "speaking of which, Emerald will have to start something fully,"

Celestine nodded, "yes, I realise this as well,"

"She'll have only civilian schooling available due to her age, but once that hurdle is over she can go wherever," Ironwood tapped his fingers on the desk, "though with you all training her in combat, I think I know where she's going,"

Celestine glanced at Alexea and Kotek then shrugged, "the choice is her's,"

The General nodded and rubbed his eyes, "I'll start informing the Councils now if that is all?"

Kotek nodded, "it is,"

"Very well," Ironwood nodded, "I'll be starting the necessary preparations tomorrow,"

As the group left, Ironwood slumped further into his seat. Ozpin would be pissed at the military action, but more people were dying the longer they waited. That wasn't something he could allow, not any longer.

If the Imperium was real or not didn't matter anymore, what did was that there were people who could start a fight and end it. Insane or not, there was power and skill that they needed in them. If Salem wanted a war to fight, he'd give her one to remember.

He pressed a button on his desk and the blast shields lowered as the Holographic table rose.

A drink before he had to deal with politics wouldn't hurt.

The Major clutched his pen in his hands as he sat at his desk in his home. The Inquisitor's stone face as she pulled at nails and tortured the prisoners bore into his mind.

There was nothing she could do to stop her; Ironwood cared little for their lives, even if he refused to admit it. Did he even know she was the one to give them those wounds? Did the report reach his desk?

The man was not one to allow that to happen, no. He was what so many in Atlas strived to be. Some were against his more progressive views of the Faunus.

He would never allow the abuse of a single person.

The pen snapped in his hand. The Inquisitor intercepted the report.

The door to his office creaked and he jumped in his seat.

Greyfax was a walking monster, everyone who spent a minute in her presence knew it. Even those who only saw her could she was something- something void of mercy. She showed none to the prisoners, the cultists at 'Glenn and even others who worked under her.

Especially them, like they were more of a threat than everything else.

"Ordo Hereticus," he mumbled as he picked his glass of whisky up. The name made sense now, even the old 'Inquisitor' title. She was a hunter, never the prey. Everyone under her was a threat…

He went to take a sip but something fell in with a plop just before his lips. Tanner held the glass up and searched the amber liquid for the offending item.

Ash swirled around a soaked cigarette bud and his eyes widened as a hand slammed his head into the desk, shattering the glass on his forehead.

A knife pierced his abdomen before he could get his Aura up and was torn up into his chest. The Major screamed even as a lung collapsed and breathing became a laboured and conscious task.

The world went sideways as he was shoved out of his chair and a boot slammed down on the knife, driving it out his back.

A/N

Surprise, two in one day! Life is scheduled to get in the way the next few weeks, maybe months, so I wanted to get something more out before I disappear for a little bit. It's not meant to be a flowing chapter, but from the next one onwards they will start to get their lengths and flow back.

Some Lelith being a careless asshole to others, but surprisingly thoughtful of Emerald. Sadly for Lelith, she has caught a terminal case of Plutonic Feelings. I'm trying to keep her as Drukhari as possible while having a slightly softer side, and yes, you'll all see what her final plan to get Emerald her first human kill looks like eventually.

So the chest of the bandit that collapsed back when Celestine and Greyfax first met? Yeah, you know why. It was the Grimm parasite dying because of the arrows Greyfax shot into him being blessed the way they are.

And now the plot can begin once more!

What were they mining under Jacques' nose?

Will Schnee be happy?

What's the note?

Find out next time on Dragon- no. I'm not finishing the joke. Celestine and Lelith venture into the mines to find out what's down there, while Greyfax starts the hunt for Marcus in Atlas. And maybe, just maybe, a bit of Ozpin...

And now for something completely different.

Review time? (does it count if it's only been a few hours? lol)

187: Emerald finally rescued Cinder. Good. This way she won't become a power hungry bitch. Also really love the "So were innocent" scene. The cultural clash of it is what I love the most. Remnant much like Earth has that policy that "we don't have anything incriminating on you therefore we cant arrest you." Why the Imperium is more like "we didn't found anything YET but we will either way you are still fucked."

Moments like these make me realize how lucky Remnant is since they are not an Imperial world. Cuz if they were well oh boy you can bet your ass Salem would be taken down from the get go, also Roman and Neo would probably quit being criminals altogether.

She finally did it, and got to be smug about it.

Yeah, Greyfax just barging in, making up half-hearted excuses because she knows there's something, then not so subtly using her bolter to intimidate them was fun to write. Especially her forcing Emerald to try and convince her to do something.

Roman is going to still regret being a Criminal, don't worry. It's coming.

Saitama1155: Yes you brought in everyone's fabulous hawk boy sanguinius as well as mentioning Vulcan and Rogal dorn. Looks like cinder going to be saved from her abuse it make sense why she turned out all fucked up cant wait for the next chapter.

I wanted Sanguinius, so I got him. Fight me… no don't pls.

Surprise, here's the next chapter! Earlier than anticipated!

Monster King: Awesome work please continue

I shall!