Miracle I got anything done and can't vouch for quality. Today was rough. One investor has fallen through and it's looking like it'll be a rough closure. Expected, but still painful see the hopes of some dashed as to preserving their jobs.

Cover Art: Kirire

Chapter 109

The week's wait for the former facility to be handed over to them was spent in quiet paranoia on Blake's part. While ARC Corp made sure every anomaly and record was removed or destroyed, they were also making sure the facility was harmless for her and Jaune to take over, which had Blake wondering just how far they'd go in exerting control.

Surveillance around the facility and on the computers was obvious, and every anomaly they brought in would be logged and tracked. Should any be deemed too dangerous, they'd assuredly send out the order for it to be destroyed regardless of how good a job she and Jaune did containing it. That kind of interference would be frustrating, but it wouldn't be too bad.

What Blake really worried about was some kind of self-destruct mechanism, and specifically the risk of it falling into Saphron's hands. Jaune's father was a brutal man, but he had been mostly fair in a cruel and uncompromising kind of way. Unless Jaune did something wrong, Nicholas wasn't going to kill them. Saphron, on the other hand, was one errant twitch away from declaring them a threat to the masquerade ARC Corp had worked so hard to create.

Blake worried what would happen when Nicholas died and she took over ARC Corp, because she didn't think it would bode well for their office. If Saphron was feeling nice, she might demand they comply with policy and destroy all anomalies. If not, she might decide to be proactive and kill them along with them.

Sensing her distress, Timothy ambled over, all six feet of spider grinding against her body to try and share its warmth with her. "I'm okay," she mumbled, caressing the thing's flat face. Its molars rotated, making its typical grinding noise. "But if anyone threatens you, I'm not going to be held responsible for what I do to them."

"Skreee..."

Blake sighed and rubbed his head. Timothy would be expected to live in the facility as well, at which point ARC Corp would want him kept in a cell. Jaune had implied that they might leave him off official records so he could continue to live in Vale with her, but that was yet another risk for Saphron to find as reason they were breaking the rules.

Which they were, obviously, but she'd be damned if she let them lock this poor thing away.

"I almost wish we never found the facility," she told the spider. "But then we'd just be running the same risks here in the city. It's not like Saphron only hates us because of this. It's just another reason in a list of others."

Timothy made clicking sounds with his legs. It was always up in the air how much he actually understood, but it was a lot more than nothing. Maybe this was how people thought of dogs, except that a six-foot spider with fiery blue pits for eyes was obviously much cuter than a stupid, scruffy, evil little dog.

Things had calmed down in Vale in the wake of the Vytal Festival ending and the tree-bloom epidemic (as they were calling it) going away. Sun had left with his team back to Haven in Mistral, and though they'd said their goodbyes to one another, there hadn't been any tears or heartfelt promises. That was probably sign enough they'd never been serious, and the fact that they'd been "dating" for a little over two weeks without ever moving past kissing should have been the first sign. Sun had completely panicked at the suggestion they take it further, but then she supposed he considered his first time precious, while hers had been given to Adam long ago.

It didn't help her mood in either case. Sun had suggested they "keep in touch" but if he thought she was going to sit around being chaste for the three years it'd take him to graduate, he had another thing coming.

I'll be lucky to survive three years in this job...

Blake buried her face in Timothy's back and let out another long sigh.

"You can keep sighing as much as you like," said Jaune, reading a newspaper behind his desk, "but it won't make the process go any faster."

He ignored her glare, and Timothy's hiss, and turned a page with one gloved hand. He had his suit off but shirt on, and she could just make out the faint glow of magma-like light from under his collar, splashed up the contours of his neck. Rather than highlight his jaw and make him look handsome, it made him appear sickly and gaunt, and radioactive. But it was more comfortable for him like this, and there was no one here to see anything they shouldn't. Blake would have been fine for him to go around topless, but then he'd set fire to furniture.

I bet Ruby would like that, she thought, only faintly amused. She'd seen Jaune without his shirt a few times and it was hard to call the ruin of his body handsome. Those weren't scars to be ignored, but the hellish landscape of some molten planet churning with volcanic rock and lava. He looked more natural disaster than human sometimes.

"How are you so calm about all this?" she asked.

"That's the best part – I'm not. I just know when it's pointless to worry about things like this." He turned another page. "It won't help us to worry about what will be."

"And if they slip in some bomb to kill us?"

"If ARC Corp decide it's time for us to die then we'll die. Like I said, there's no use worrying about it when they could kick the door down and kill us right now."

"Would we go down without a fight?"

"Depends, really. They know I don't have aura so it'll probably be a bullet from Terra rather than a frontal attack." He snapped his fingers by his left temple and mimed jerking his head the other way. "Boom. Dead before I know it. They'd have to go a little more gung-ho with you, but that's probably Pyrrha and Saphron's job. Though they might offer you a chance to transfer to their office first."

"I'd rather die."

"And I'd rather you didn't," he replied, pleasantly. "Holding loyalty to me when I'm dead isn't exactly a winning strategy, nor something I'd ask for. If I die, I'd rather you live."

"They'd kill Timothy," she argued. "I can't accept that."

"Ah." He pulled the paper down and glanced over the top at the spider. "Well, I can't fault that. Make them bleed, I suppose, but they wouldn't attack unless they were certain we'd both die, so I wouldn't hold out any hope. That's also why I don't bother to worry. We'll die the moment they decide to kill us. Fates sealed and all that. Not much point agonising over if or when it'll happen when we could instead focus on being on our best behaviour so they won't feel the need."

Except they weren't on their best behaviour and Jaune never had been. He sponsored a damned bar for anomalies who wanted to live normally in Vale, they lied about Timothy, and they even helped smuggle a bunch of anomalies off to Menagerie and then created a cover for them to hide there.

Blake didn't believe he was as unbothered as he acted, either. Even if he didn't care for his own life, he had to be worried about what would happen to Alistair and the others if someone more militant took over Vale. It wouldn't take them long to bump into one of Alistair's people, and then it'd be a war for survival.

With Coda able to influence any electronic device, the anomalies in the city would actually be in a rather good position, able to track every member of ARC Corp coming in and out the city. The problem would come once Saphron realised that, because she might just decide an anomaly with internet access was a threat worth destroying Vale for. After all, they could always annihilate the city and then call it Grimm breaking in from Mountain Glenn. Just another tragedy to add to an ever growing list.

Great. Now I'm being extra miserable. Go me.

"It's too quiet."

"Stop tempting fate," said Jaune.

"But it's too quiet. We haven't had a job in a while."

He eyed the phone on his desk, then glared at Blake when it didn't ring. "I know what you're doing but reality doesn't work on the basis of dramatic irony. And things haven't been quiet, you're just catastrophising over what the Fist Office might do and have run out of things to distract yourself with."

"Yeah, well, they're all evil. Can't we have Anomalous & Sons write us up a contract for the facility and get them to sign it? We could put some clauses in about how they can't terminate us without due process."

"And admit to the rest of my family that we're thinking of such things? That won't look suspicious at all."

"I'd rather be suspicious than dead."

"The two will probably go together, so looking suspicious will lead to our deaths. Besides, ARC Corp would never sign. The contract would become an anomaly, and it's company policy to destroy them, not aid in the creation of more."

"I just—"

Jaune's scroll vibrated.

"Damn it," he hissed, picking it up and checking the ID. "Damn it even more! It's Saphron."

Not a job, then. Blake's mood plummeted. The call rang three times before Jaune answered. It might have been dangerous to let it go to voicemail – that might give Saphron ideas they were up to something they shouldn't be. Jaune answered, and set it to speaker so she could listen in.

"Director Jaune here, Containments Office. What can I do for you, Associate-Director?"

"You can lend me your assistant."

Jaune froze. "I... What...?"

"Your assistant, the Belladonna girl. I need her for a job."

That was as surprising to her as it was to Jaune, who had obviously been expecting this to be about the facility being ready to be handed over to them. He looked to her, and she shook her head, even going so far as to cross her arms in front of her in a big x-shape. She was prepared to do many things, up to and including being a terrorist, reforming, and even killing her ex-boyfriend by sacrificing him to a lake monster.

But put up with Saphron Arc for more than ten minutes?

Hell no.

"I'm not sure she's entirely enthusiastic about that request," Jaune said, in less words than she would have used. "What is this about?"

"Terra is pregnant."

"... Congratulations...? Wait, are we talking naturally pregnant or unnaturally?"

"It's not an anomalous pregnancy. It was a planned decision on our parts in light of our physical limitations in having offspring."

Physical limitations? Blake didn't think she'd ever heard someone in a lesbian relationship refer to their lack of male genitals as a "limitation", particularly when the relationship ought to imply that having them would be a turnoff for both parties. Then again, ARC Corp was going to need the next generation, wasn't it? If Saphron and Terra could die at any moment then it made sense to pass their genes, and their responsibility, onto the next set of future directors.

"Terra has been pregnant for a while but she's at a stage where it would be dangerous to be in the field. I, meanwhile, am stuck dealing with this facility you want handed over to you. We have an anomalous problem outside of Argus and I'm loathe to dispatch Pyrrha alone."

"Then you want Blake to work with Pyrrha and not you?"

"Terra will be there and in command, but she'll not be in the field. They won't be without leadership, simply without me. Will that be enough to calm the girl I'm sure is listening in right now? Or is she afraid of so much as the thought of me in the same continent?"

"Bitch," Blake hissed.

Jaune winced. "The scroll picked that up."

"It did," Saphron replied coolly.

"I speak only the truth," Blake said. "And, Associate-Director, I'm not sure I entirely trust your office—" Jaune waved his head and arms wildly, shaking his head side to side. A little too late for that, though. "You've been nothing but antagonistic towards us and now you want to separate us? That feels like a prelude to some aggression on your part. Split us up so you can deal with one or both of us while we're alone."

Jaune banged his head on the desk.

"Don't be so dramatic," Saphron scoffed. "Should I want you both `dealt with` I certainly wouldn't need to resort to splitting you up. It would be quicker and easier to kill you both at once and in the same place. Father wouldn't stand for it anyway, so your life is safe. And I'm stuck here trying to make heads or tails of this blasted Schnee facility. It's one anomaly. Go to Argus, do as Terra says, hunt the thing down, kill it, and you can be home before I have to return. With luck, neither of us shall have to interact with the other."

"That does sound nice. I'll think about it."

"You'll what? This is an ord—"

Blake reached over Jaune's shoulder and ended the call.

"Blaaake," he groaned. "You're going to get yourself in trouble. Would it have killed you to at least pretend to be polite to her?"

"Yes. I'd have died from the attempt." She crossed her arms. "Do I have a choice or not?"

It was a fair question. As an employee, with all the rights granted by Vale, she should have the freedom to turn down what felt like an unreasonable and sudden demand to travel. But then there was the fact that ARC Corp really didn't care for the law and could demand almost anything they wanted of anyone.

"You could say no but then the next demand might be to send me instead – and they'll remember this."

"Would it help us in any way...?"

"It'd make me feel less like we're on her bad side."

Blake's eyebrow rose.

"Okay, fine, it might earn us some small favour, especially if you do a good job and impress Terra and Pyrrha."

"They hate me."

"They hate me," he stressed. "And they distrust you by association. But show them you're more than just an extension of me and you might find some common ground. At the very least, them seeing you're a normal person should make them less likely to call for your death in the future." Jaune pointed at her. "Plus, you were going on about how bored you were not ten minutes ago. Here's your excitement."

"I want my boredom back."

Jaune smirked. "I'll text Saphron and tell her you've agreed."

"I've said no such thing."

"Do you really want her to come here and convince you in person? Timothy is right behind you and quite visible."

Blake swore. "Fine. Tell her I'll take a flight to Argus tonight."

/-/

Pyrrha Nikos was a tall redhead in a huge cloak as red as her hair, with gold schooling in the depiction of dragons, worn over a pristine black suit. She stood out like a Beowolf in a preschool, which made the paper card she was holding that read "BLAKE BELLADONNA" more than a little superfluous.

"Are you serious?" Blake asked, wearing her own dark blue overcoat that didn't look half as expensive or stylish, but was much more practical. Theirs kept out the rain, while the Fist Office's looked like it belonged on some old mafia. Or on a catwalk. "I know who you are, so why do you think I wouldn't recognise you?"

"It's called being polite."

Look it up, Pyrrha's expression suggested.

Bitch.

"Well, I'm here and ready for this... what is this? An exchange program?"

"Not here." Pyrrha turned. "With me."

They walked through the airport drawing every gaze their way. If their outfits weren't enough to make them look like they were off a movie set, then Pyrrha Nikos' former fame in Argus certainly was. The girl was a homegrown hero who had spontaneously and rather mysteriously decided she didn't want to compete or become a huntress. The decision hadn't been taken well by many from what Blake could see, but most had assumed she was cashing out to live a lazy life, so it was a little strange when she instead joined some organisation no one had heard of.

"Given how we like to avoid attention," Blake said, avoiding their company name. "I'm a little surprised they bothered to hire someone with your level of media attention."

"Quality is worth the cost."

"Arrogant, much?"

"It's not arrogant to say I'm an exceptionally skilled fighter," Pyrrha replied. "I've won more tournaments than anyone before me. Associate-Director Saphron considered it worth the risk to recruit me, and for that I'm grateful."

Blake let it go. "So, Terra is pregnant?"

"Yes. Saphron and Terra have decided to take the next step in their relationship. I believe the egg is Saphron's, though I'm not sure who the male donor is. I assumed it would be her father's with an egg from Terra—"

Blake grimaced. "Ew."

"I didn't mean it like that." Pyrrha blushed herself. "I meant that if his sperm and her egg, it would be the same genetic material as Saphron – so as close to her getting Terra pregnant as possible."

Except for Jaune, of course, but it wasn't difficult to understand why they hadn't come to him.

"But it's not him if it's Saphron's egg."

"No. I'm sure they vetted and selected someone based on their own criteria, which you and I don't need to know. Terra is still mobile but she doesn't want to take any risks and has just started feeling nauseous and showing signs."

Pyrrha brought them outside and into a taxi, which took them a short ride to a dedicated office building given to them and them alone. Blake glanced through the windows at the people running it, including a receptionist to take calls and several staff handling admin. As the second-in-command, she was sure Saphron got some extra responsibilities Jaune didn't, necessitating extra staff.

But, at the same time, it felt like the Fist Office had a lot more than the Containments Office did. They had to beg and argue to repurpose an old facility, and meanwhile worked out of a tiny apartment, while these lot got their own office building and a full team of support staff. Blake shook her head, even as she admitted deep inside that having extra staff would be a security risk of its own thanks to their constant rule breaking. It was probably for the best they didn't have anyone who might turn on them.

Saphron's office was in use despite the woman being away, and Terra was sat behind the desk cradling her stomach with one hand and, ruining the maternal image somewhat, holding a paper bag she was vomiting into with the other.

Pyrrha took a step back, as did Blake.

"Shall I fetch a doctor, Terra?" asked Pyrrha.

"N—No. I'm fine. Just... ugh. Difficulties keeping breakfast down. E—Everyone talks about how great it feels, and no one comments on this. Ugh." She set the paper bag into a bin under the desk. It didn't smell good. "My apologies for that. And welcome to the Fist Office, Agent Belladonna."

"Yes... well..." It didn't feel fair to be cruel to a sickly, pregnant woman. "Thanks for having me. I can see why you're not in any state to go into field work. How long are you going to take off from work?"

"We're not decided yet. I'll have some period to recover after the birth but... well, that's for Saphron and I to talk about. I don't intend to leave her in danger alone. You needn't worry about being dragged out here full-time. We've recalled Lavender and Amber to join the Fist Office, but they're currently in Atlas and Vacuo. It'll take them a week to set their affairs in order. Vacuo isn't in a great state since the deaths in Mountain Glenn..."

Right. Not all of Jaune's sisters had come back. Blake couldn't remember if there'd even been a funeral, though it wouldn't surprise her if they just hadn't been invited. "It's just the one job, then?"

"It's a week."

Blake's smile was brittle. "Saphron failed to mention that. She said it'd be one job."

"It probably will be," Pyrrha interrupted. "We rarely ever have more than one job a week as it is, and you're not officially a member of this office so I'm sure you can just hang around Argus or even commute back to Vale if you like. It's only a few hours by flight. We just need someone on hand in the event of work, as Terra is incapacitated, Saphron is busy and it's company policy not to send anyone out alone."

"Jaune worked alone for years before I joined."

"Yes... well... it's company policy for most offices." Pyrrha trailed off, realising how bad that sounded. "Anyway, we have a job currently, which is why we needed you here today and this urgent."

Terra cleared her throat.

Then threw up.

And then wiped her mouth clean and continued, while Pyrrha and Blake pinched their noses. "R—Right, then. There have been cattle disappearances in a ranch outside Argus. Everyone is saying aliens are abducting them – because of course that's the first thing extraterrestrial life would go after. Cows on an abandoned ranch where they could be taking the lone humans with ease."

Blake snorted. "True."

"Anyway, we're 99% sure it's an anomaly feeding off the cattle. It leaves unusual residue and traces that don't fit any animals and further corroborates their `alien` story. You're going to be sent in to deal with it, locate and kill the anomaly, and then fabricate a convincing cover story for the ranch owner. Personally, I'd feed their delusions and convince them it was aliens. No one will believe them and it'll pass on as some urban legend within a few years."

Pyrrha smiled faintly. "Will the ranch owner be willing to show us around?"

"Yes. He's a big Pyrrha Nikos fan."

Her smile dropped. "Oh. That sounds fun..."

"Work together and watch one another's backs." Terra's expression hardened. "I know the two of you have some... professional rivalry between you." That was a polite way of putting it. "But I expect you to put it behind you on a mission. I'm sure Associate-Director Saphron and Director Jaune expect the same. The lives of innocent people depend on the eradication of this dangerous anomaly."

Potentially dangerous. Blake refrained from saying it, knowing it wasn't a case of "dangerous until proven innocent" here, but "dangerous and killed no matter what evidence to the contrary". There was a reason she wasn't feeling confident about this.

"Am I understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," they said, in unison.

"Also, ma'am..." Pyrrha pointed helplessly. "You have a little... you... on your chin..."

Terra wiped the vomit away, blushing angrily. "Dismissed. And someone fetch me another sick bag!" she yelled to the office outside. "And clean this one out. It's making me feel sick having to smell it—urp. Urp!"

Pyrrha and Blake fled before Mount Terra erupted once more.

Next Chapter: 22nd July

Like my work? Please consider supporting me, even if it's only a little a month or even for a whole year, so I can keep writing so many stories as often as I do. Even a little means a lot and helps me dedicate more time and resources to my work.

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur