chapter2: Operation Catspaw

Sam

BBinJapan: Yes am in Japan.

"Shouldn't Blake have perfect English?" Cliff asked, peering over my shoulder. I guess he

decided this way more exciting than SQL.

"Yeah," I agreed. "But maybe she doesn't know how to use the technology so she's going

through someone else."

Cliff made a funny noise. "I dunno, it seems pretty thin. You should probably ask."

SamDaMan: Are you communicating through someone else?

BBinJapan: Yes, I am go through middle person.

That was actually kind of surprising. Damn Cliff and his logic. "Huh. I guess you're right."

SamDaMan: So you're staying with a bunch of

"What the hell is a polite term for cat furries?"

"Nekkomaki or Nekkomusume," Isaac called from the living room.

SamDaMan: Nekko-people.

BBinJapan: yes, good Group.

SamDaMan: Doing okay?

BBinJapan: yes, is Fine.

"Well, at least she's safe," I muttered. "Probably."

SamDaMan: You're not the only one here. Ruby and Weiss are waiting here in Canada.

We're gonna figure out a way to get everyone together.

BBinJapan: Okay sounds fun.

Cliff voiced basically the exact thing I was thinking. "Well, that's an odd choice of phrase."

"Yeah, no shit," I agreed. "Damn English to Japanese to English conversion."

SamDaMan: Do you think we could meet in Tokyo later this week?

I waited anxiously for a response.

BBinJapan: okay I see you soon

"That's it?" Cliff asked.

I nodded. "That's it."

"Well, this is going to be a lot easier than last time." He paused. "I hope I didn't just jinx it."

Blake Belladonna

I couldn't sleep.

It wasn't the fact that I was in a strange bed in a stranger's house. I had done that far too

many times to count, and far too many times for it to worry me in the slightest. There was a

time where I would sleep wherever I could; in public, in a secluded spot, in a friend's home,

in a stranger's home. It wasn't a life I wanted to go back to, but it wasn't one I could forget.

Even then, I knew where I was, how I got there, where I was going to go. The answers to

those questions were often unpleasant, but I had the answers. I was in control- or at least as

in control as I could be, given the circumstances.

But now, I had no idea. I had so many questions.

What was that language they were speaking? Why had I never heard it before?

Where was this place, really? Was this Japan? Why did she think I was from the United

States? Was that even a real map?

How did I get here? Why was I here? Why couldn't I remember?

Where was the rest of my team? Did they abandon me on purpose? Were they forced to

abandon me? Did I run off on my own?

Who were these Faunus? Why were they gathering? What are they doing?

Was this some kind of joke? An elaborate prank? Was it an insane accident? Or was it

something more sinister?

And what was that strange feeling? Everything felt off. The environment, the people, just

the atmosphere around me. Maybe it wasn't just one thing. Maybe it was many things. I

couldn't place it. Maybe if I had some time to think, but I couldn't focus on anything long

enough.

I tossed and turned in the strange, small bed. I thought about leaving, going out to find out

more, but what could I learn? Not much on my own. I would try to talk to Yuko again

tomorrow.

Sam

"So, we're going to Japan," I announced theatrically. Probably unnecessary, but whatever.

"Not gonna lie, this is gonna be a vacation after Donetsk," Cliff said.

"Let's get the hard part out of the way first," Ben suggested.

"Yeah. Money."

"Rooster Teeth!" Isaac replied. "We can get more money from them hopefully."

I raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully?"

"Hopefully."

"Let's face it, we're gonna be in debt up to our asses by the end of this," Ben said cynically.

"Yeah, especially you," Cliff remarked. "And you, Sam."

"Why us?" Ben objected.

"Simple. You have money," he replied.

"You do too!"

"Yeah, but I never get money. It's like... immutable money."

"Fine, whatever." As much as I liked to tease him about it, Cliff was being honest. He's had

pretty much the same amount of money in the bank for years. Even still, he did invest in the

Donetsk mission a bit.

"So, who's going this time?" Isaac asked.

"You want to go, right?"

Isaac nodded.

I turned to Cliff. "Cliff, since you're-"

"Fuck you," he snapped.

"But you do want to go to Akihabara, don't you?"

"Fuck you," he agreed.

"And Ben's financing it... so you three."

"Not coming?" Ben asked.

"No, we don't have the money to send a huge team, we don't need to send a huge team, and I

have school to catch up on."

"Fair enough," he replied.

"Timetable?" Cliff asked.

I considered it for a moment. Faster is better. "We take the first flight out to Tokyo, then

come back on the weekend."

"Okay. Does our grand plan need a name?" Cliff asked.

"It's not a really a big operation like Donetsk, but yeah, for consistency, we should," I

answered. "Ruby?"

"Operation Kitty... Operation Cat, uh..." She twiddled her thumbs before exclaiming,

"Operation Catspaw!"

"Catspaw?" Weiss questioned.

I shrugged. "Sure, why not?"