"What?"
"I'm leaving. Or was it the statement that I'll be hanged that confuses you?" answered Caelum.
"Both!" hissed his teammates in unison, mindful to keep their volume down.
Caelum placed a hand on his hip and frowned. Raising a brow he explained or at least as much as he usually did in regards to personal affairs. "For the latter… well I can't tell you just yet."
Lukas was the one to show how exasperated he and the others were. Throwing his hands in the air and rolling his head along with his eyes he spat "Of course ya can't. Our heads on the line, yours literally and we're still keeping secrets."
Kaiser raised a hand and nodded, understanding of their frustrations. "I know, I know. Not now, but soon. That is… for those of you who come with me."
"I don't think you can simply leave, even with your abilities" mentioned Niel pointing at the far wall. All eyes glanced to see where Caelums mirror usually lay, was now an empty space. Ironwood, knowing of him and expecting his return had thoroughly searched their room.
Seeing Caelum had an answer to Niel's statement, Raiden interjected. "Wait, wait, wait. Shouldn't we focus on proving our innocence rather than exacerbating the issue? You and us by extension, will only look guilty if we run."
Caelum turned his gaze to Raiden. "And how do you suppose we prove our innocence?"
Surprisingly, Raiden stood his ground adamantly. "I don't know and thats why i'm asking before things get worse!"
As the two partners glared at eachother, Lukas sighed loudly. Kicking his feet atop his bed he began thinking aloud. "Ignoring the fact that the charges are something out of thin air on evidence we ain't even aware of, I'm sure they'll love to hear of our little venture as we defend ourselves in court. How we came out a little tired as opposed to Team SSSN who is now either dead or gimped. Sure that'll make us look great."
"We tell the truth" answered Niel. "We are not criminals."
Lukas raised his head from his pillow and gave a disbelieving look at Niel before turning to Caelum and back. "Really?"
"R-right" amended Niel, some of us, if not all but our team is not a threat to anyone. Our words will show our innocence."
Raiden cast a guilty glance at Caelum as Niel spoke, their teammate unaware of the falsehood he stated. Lukas was the one to deny his hopes. "Ah yeah, we'll just tell them this fucking nightmare monstrosity spoke to us after beating our asses. Then to solve the case Caelum here just sodomized the bastard and called it a day. That'll make them think we're good ol' boy scouts and they'll drop the case on 'Cae' here."
"You're sarcasm isn't helping us prove our innocence" grit Niel.
"Only thing innocent here is your head! Same as when you first came here! We have as much evidence that we're innocent as they do that we're guilty. The difference is that they run things!"
Niel grew defiant. "And what of Port? He defended us!"
"And Ozpin didn't! Bam! Just like that, we're left on our lonesome! Tell you what!" shouted Lukas as his head whipped to Caelum. "I'm in. Ain't the first time my families been on the run and I ain't gonna be locked up in an Atlas prison for some bullshit charge."
"No matter what you may believe or hope…" interrupted Caelum. "It does not change what I intend to do. I can say with certainty that no matter what we do, I will at best serve an undetermined prison sentence and at worst hang."
"That's insane" denied Raiden. "That goes against the human rights agreements of the Great War and the fair trial amendments."
Caelum gave a pitying look to Caelum. "I am not entitled to those rights."
"What do you-"
Before Raiden could continue, Caelum pressed on. "You three need to choose within the hour if not right now. Join me in freedom, or risk an unfair trial and imprisonment."
"That… is a lot to ask for a mere hour" responded Niel.
Caelum nodded, knowing of their perspective. Lukas however, was quick to push them to see their side of things. "We're already this far in" he reasoned. "Hate to say but Cae did give us chances to back out."
He turned his focus onto Raiden. "We all know you're outta your element but what would good ol' Ma and Pa say at hearing of your arrest?"
"And being on the run as a fugitive is so much better?." Raiden bit back.
"Maybe not but at least they'd know you're not rotting in a cell." Lukas turned to his partner who only raised a hand to stop him.
Niel took a deep breath before speaking, looking down between his legs and glancing sideways at Caelum. "You needn't convince me. My tribe does not have ties to these kingdoms as your families. I have less to lose here. Besides, my loyalty was sworn when I aided you in your ventures. I trust you with my life, and I feel I owe it to you now."
The admittance of loyalty had a profound effect on the team. Caelum even felt a tinge of guilt at having to keep his earnest companions in the dark as he forced them to make this difficult decision. Raiden looked down in thought as Lukas sobered up from his prior panic.
"Something…" muttered Raiden. "Something isn't right about all of this."
"Between my family ties and Caelum's secrets, nothing ever is" remarked Lukas.
He earned a dismissive wave from Raiden. "The obvious aside, How did they not know about it. Even Port seemed to not know. Then there's the matter of the lapse of national intelligence with this terrorist attack. Torchwick, of all people, leading the attack? Then there's Ozpin and General Ironwood linking arms in all of this. For national security and the Vytal festival, sure but for Vale internal and border security, a matter involving Beacon huntsmen? It all seems like there's much more going on behind it all. More than even our plans."
"Our?" asked Caelum with a raised brow.
Raide gave a reluctant nod followed by a sigh. "None of this is what I expected when I enrolled here. But when I met you I knew my life would get more interesting. Like Lukas said. I'm in too deep and too curious to back out now."
"But what of your family?" asked Niel. "Your father and you sounded close. Surely there will be further repercussions aside from house arrest?"
"Sharp of you to notice" praised Caelum raising a finger. "Just as you think, politics come into play. If there are two things Atlas fears the most, it's damage to their economy and arguably worse, their reputation."
Caelum glanced out the window to see the fleet still hovering over Vale, he noticed they had even removed the curtains from the windowsill. "After the Great war, Mantle rebranded as Atlas, and Atlas trying to detract from the past, sought to look like the future. Peace, fairness, freedom, and justice as their principles. Ironwood already took preemptive action against me and my family without any evidence. While I may be under the Atlesian Military's jurisdiction, my family is under the government's. He's overstepped and so can't go any further against them without giving his political opponents leverage against him."
"Won't the politicians side with the General?" asked Raiden. "He holds two council seats."
"A man with that much sway has as many enemies, they'll flock once they get the chance to denounce him" answered Caelum.
"What of your family?" asked Lukas.
"They may be worried, my mother and siblings, but my father and I have a mutual trust. Until either of us sees the other's corpse, we will not believe the other has passed. My brother will be safe from inheriting my position until I am captured. What matters is my family will be safe from all political parties who fight to persecute or use them and at worst, I'm branded a coward in my home country."
Caelum gave a snicker. "But who cares for Cloudchasers and their opinions? Of all this, I am unwaveringly sure. Just as I am sure that Ironwood will not compromise." He lowered his voice even more, just above a whisper. "If it is not tonight, Ironwood will have me aboard one of his ships awaiting a cell in Atlas by tomorrow."
His teammates shared unsure and anxious looks. They each gave a solemn nod.
"Very well. From here on, there truly is no turning back. Do you understand?" Their silence was telling of their nerves but also compliance. "Once the sun sets we'll act. Prepare yourselves and pack your essentials" instructed Caelum.
Hours passed in the room as the boys were quickly packed, interrupted only by the sound of soldiers changing shifts outside their room and checking inside hourly having provided them dinner with the last check in.
The sun had set across the bay of Vale not five minutes ago when the latest shift of soldiers opened their door unannounced and saw all four boys lying on their beds in boredom. The soldier glanced over the room before closing the door and locking it once more. With haste and as quietly as possible the boys emerged from their sheets dressed in full combat attire and drawing their luggage from under their beds.
Lights off and avoiding the exposed window, they turned to Caelum, waiting to see his grand plan when he began shifting his bed around. Flipping it over, he revealed a razor blade hidden within the corner. With a long swipe along the seam he opened up a large serration cutting the cheap thread he had sown it with. Plunging his arm within he withdrew a flat black square which he then unfolded into a small mirror, sized at two feet by two feet.
He placed the small reflective surface on the carpeted floor and raised a finger. An invisible aura emanated from his arm as the mirror rippled and he stuck a hand through. Then he pulled out a briefcase that barely fit through the mirror and tossed it to Lukas. "The lockers may be deactivated, but now you know why I had you all place larger mirrors in them."
The boys were impressed by the foresight as he handed Raiden and Niel their weapons too before retrieving his own. The four all felt more comfortable holding the cold steel and titanium in their arms as they dropped their bags through the mirror. Before Niel took the first step through, Caelum gathered their school-issued scrolls.
"You've left the recordings of the Wendigo on your scroll right Raden?"
Raiden nodded and handed a small flash drive, A small shiver emanated across Niel and Lukas at the thought of visual evidence of their fight. "It's hectic and I imagine it difficult to see with the fog, darkness, and combat being from my glasses HUD. But it's all there on the drive.
Caelum nodded, his partner couldn't confirm the clarity because he didn't want to relive that night and he couldn't blame any of his teammates for that. "Then with that, you'll all be cleared of any suspicions regarding the matter of Team SSSN. Now let's go."
At his insistence, Niel, then Lukas, then Raiden stepped through the mirror as one would diving off a cliff. Feet first, they found themselves in their bullhead hidden within Forever Fall forest. Before Caelum joined them, he took a longing look out the window. He was unsure what he was looking out for but maintained his expression for a lasting moment. He opened the window a crack and dove in, leaving nothing but the mirror in the center of the room.
It wasn't long after when a soldier peeked his head in spontaneously to inform the boys that they were to follow a strict curfew implemented solely for them. When no response was heard the soldier assumed they were asleep. Yet this peculiar one was ever attentive to his duties and found it strange that four teenagers were asleep before eight p.m. Quickly he flicked on the lights to ensure the four boys were asleep before turning them off again.
He froze as the light clicked off. Moonlight shone through the cracked window as a slight draft creaked it open a hair wider while he processed what he had seen. In a moment he threw the door open and turned the lights on once more. "Get up!" he demanded, panic in his voice as he looked at the empty beds. His fellow watchmen looked inside before calling up the chain of command and then informing Ironwood per his explicit orders in regards to the four boys.
As other soldiers rushed in from both sides of the halls to see the commotion, the two charged with watching the door felt immediate despair. It just had to happen on their shift.
Soon half the academy was wondering what the small Atlesian force of soldiers was doing running about campus. Thoughts of a drill or nightly training crossed the minds of the unaware. For Team Rwby and the school staff, however, they knew that Team CRLN could be the only cause.
It just so happened that in the headmaster's office, Glynda and Ozpin were discussing the very topic without being aware of the commotion below.
"I'm more than concerned Ozpin. I'm fearful about what's going on and what happened to those boys," stated Glynda. Ozpin seemed as contemplative as ever. He maintained thorough eye contact and listened attentively yet his composure was always a coin toss of assurance or irritation to those voicing themselves.
"I understand Glynda, I have seen such atrocities before-"
"But I haven't Ozpin. In all my years on Remnant, I have never encountered whatever it was that Port told me of. If his testimony is true then he was unconscious for most of the night. I can't imagine what they had to do, to experience! As first years no less. They are just children!"
"I'm all too aware" sighed Ozpin, trying to calm her nerves. It yielded the opposite effect.
"But we were not. The Grimm have been rising in number, attacks, settlements overrun or abandoned. Huntsman, people, and children are dying on our watch. What is happening?" asked Glynda.
Ozpin straightened himself and took a small sip of his coffee. "Glynda… you know I have never lied to you."
Her mouth almost instinctively rebuked him, instead, she kept it internal. "You have kept information to yourself until you deemed me ready"
"I do not know our enemy's movements or short-term goals. I can only predict and prepare our allies to the best of my ability. In that, I will not deny that I have failed Port and those children. While I cannot rectify that, I will do what I can to help them all. Please, tell me of their conditions."
Glynda reeled her emotions back slightly. Pity taking her tone. "Team SSSN-" her voice caught momentarily. "You already know of the fate regarding students Sage Ayana and Scarlett David who did not survive the mission. Neptune Vasillas is suffering from PTSD and survivor's guilt. He has still not recovered from the initial stages of shock."
A Grimm look crossed Ozpins features. "What of their leader? Mr. Wukong?
Glynda adjusted her glasses and took a steadying breath. "He is stabilized and alive. None of his wounds individually were fatal and the medical aid provided on-site by Team CRLN and the townsfolk of Figura are surely the reason he survived. But his wounds… they were no less than horrific."
Ozpin noticed Glynda's discomfort and released her of a small burden. "You may spare me the details, Glynda."
She nodded her thanks and continued. "The wounds seemed more in line with torture than mauling to say the least. In total, he suffered multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung from said ribs, hemorrhaging, concussions, a shattered pelvis, a broken collarbone, dislocated vertebrae in his spine, contusions of skin-"
"Details, Glynda. No need."
"That was without the details" she pointed out dismally. "That is not including the possible mental effects he will suffer upon regaining consciousness. "Unfortunately, His aura was unable to heal the damage to his spine, he may never walk again. If his mental state does not fare better when he wakes then…"
Ozpin sat in silence at the news. "What of Team CRLN?"
Glynda's words were much briefer, a small expression of relief conflicting with confusion as she spoke. "They are fine aside from bruises, abrasions, and drained aura pools."
Ozpin raised a curious brow. "What of their mental states?"
"We only had a brief medical observation under Ironwood and his soldier's supervision. There wasn't time nor tolerance for any prolonged tests. But even without, I am worried."
Ozpin's brow raised even higher. "Oh? It is my understanding this team grew on you despite your initial misgivings. What concerns you?"
Glynda hesitated as she recalled the faces of the four young men as they sat in their room being questioned by medical personnel. The exhausted emotions, empty and tired eyes that stared out, turning to every little movement and noise. The subtle twitches and hesitance at being touched. Perhaps most shocking of all to her was the glowering stare that young Mr. Hyalus bore into Ironwood and herself. As if directing the same hatred and contempt he harbored at that nights experience towards them.
"They seem unphased by that night and the deaths of their comrades. The signs of combat stress are prevalent even in Mr. Hyalus. It's clear that mission took its toll and changed them Ozpin but I can say for sure that it was not for the better. But for James it-"
"Might be for a weapon" finished Ozpin glumly.
Glynda remained quiet on the subject and continued. "I don't think the boys are addressing the aftermath of such a situation appropriately. And I think Mr. Hyalus may be influencing them to some degree."
"I see" stated Ozpin. A moment of silence took him as he typed something on his scroll and turned to Glynda once more. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will do what I can. Please get some sleep. For the both of us." Reluctantly, Glynda nodded and left.
As the elevator opened she had one last parting remark. "Another thing… Port has tendered his letter of resignation. He says he cannot bear to face himself let alone the students he failed."
"I… I see. Thank you once more" added Ozpin in mild shock.
As soon as the elevator began descending a pair of familiar footsteps arrived at Ozpins side. Without looking he took a sip. "I take it something has happened?
"Ol' Jimmy's been rustled."
"Oh my" commented Ozpin sarcastically at Qrow's joke.
"The kids are gone" deadpanned Qrow.
"Oh… What?"
"Your little inmates, Team CRLN was it? Yeah flew the coop."
Ozpin groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You were specifically assigned to monitor and prevent any further trouble."
"Jimmy knows too" added Qrow.
Ozpin took a deep breath, wincing at the ensuing headache and activating the camera relay on his deck to search the campus for the boys. "Is that all you wish to tell me?"
"You might wanna search this," said Qrow dropping a flash drive onto Ozpins desk. "Those kids have some good disappearing tricks. I think they even knew someone was watching them. They left this specifically apart from their scrolls."
"Then we shall search through it when we find them, for now, we must find those boys before James does or-"
"I don't think ol' Jimmy is gonna play ball Oz and neither are those kids."
Ozpin raised a suspicious brow as Qrow filled him in on what he had seen.
Ironwood and his soldiers had effectively torn the dorm room apart searching for further evidence. In his metallic hand, he held the four boys' scrolls. It took immense restraint to not crush them in his palm out of frustration.
INstead Ironwood roared orders. "I want this whole campus searched do you understand? Those boys are to be found, arrested, and held in confinement until they are fit for trial. Any evidence is the property of Atlas and will be treated as such with no outside interference, which means even the Beacon headmaster. Go." Ironwood turned with a huff, leaving his men to rush about.
Glancing out the dorm's open window, Ironwood saw his fleet hovering over Vale and the two assigned cruisers over Beacon. With a frown and determination to catch his criminals, he looked down at his feet to see the mirror he knew that Hyalus had snuck in and used. With the notice from the council of Atlas still fresh in his mind he glowered at this reflection in the glass.
'You have overstepped yourself in regards to the Hyalus family James. See to it that you do not do so again or else there will be an emergency vote regarding your council seats."
To the confusion of his soldier near him, Ironwood spoke down at his reflection. "You can run but justice will find you. Just as it did your bloodline and I will be the one to deliver your punishment boy." Ironwood then raised his boot and stomped on the mirror, shattering it before taking his leave.
"I believe that's our cue to hurry up." stated Caelum aloud. He had watched it all from the mirror placed aboard their hidden bullhead in Forever Falls. "Seems I was right about us being watched too" he muttered recalling the grizzled man who entered their room taking the flash drive and a sip from a flask immediately after they left. "Are the preparations done?"
"Data's scrubbed off the bullhead" affirmed Raiden.
"Got a crew of men from the syndicate prepped on the Nyx as well as all that material we need for the retrofit" confirmed Lukas.
"The explosives are set" finished Niel, steadily backing away from the crates of rigged high explosive material.
"Then come on in" ushered Caelum pointing at the mirror. His three teammates looked back as he set the autopilot on the bullhead before stepping through. On the other side they entered the bridge of the Nyx, now unrecognizable from months ago when they had first docked her.
"Not bad work, not bad at all" whistled Lukas as the other two were struck in amazement.
"For providing two percent of the local economy in labor by transport, legally seized material, and local contracts, it better have" snickered Caelum as he took a seat. The bridgehead glowed with purple lighting as the ship started, an announcement was made by both Caelum and Lukas to the syndicate employees who were now their crew. The ship was coming to life, strong humms of power and light came about as it hovered and the engines ignited.
Ground crews waved the ship to its exit from the dry dock as flood lights illuminated the surroundings. Soon with a fake schedule and manifest courtesy of the syndicate. A disguised Nyx was on its way out of Vale.
"So how are we staging our deaths again?" asked Lukas seeking clarity. With his teammates standing around him in the captain's chair as a few unknown syndicate employees were now aboard the bridge, steering it away.
"We're not staging anything. We're drawing attention away and warding off pursuers." Caelum spun in his seat and pointed at the mirror they had used to enter the bridge. It seemed his semblance had enhanced just as Raidens had. For the first time, his teammates could see what he did instead of their reflections within the mirror.
And what they saw was the perspective of their bullhead's pilot seat. Caelum had placed the mirror there before hitting the autopilot and leaving. Silently they watched as the bullhead took off from Forever fall, up through the red foliage before two beams of light settled onto it. As the bullhead increased elevation, the two Atlesian cruisers locked on and headed off the unmanned birds escape.
They watched anxiously as one of the cruisers flew directly in front of the bullheads flight path, the other firing a warning shot from one of its smaller cannons as it instructed the vehicle to land. The bullhead encroached closer to the cruiser as Caelum pulled a clacker out of his pocket.
Realization struck his teammates as their eyes shot back to the mirror. With the click of his hand, a sudden explosion erupted on the other side of the mirror as spiderweb cracks engulfed the item before going pitch black and fading back to their reflections.
-Chapter End-