Planet Remnant - 3 AM
The Kingdom Aeronautics and Space Administration (KASA) was headquartered inside a low rent warehouse on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Vale. Its most outstanding feature was the large catadioptric telescope attached to the roof, though a dedicated hobbyist with money to throw around could have outdone them flat. What once started as Vale's ambitious dream to conquer the stars, quickly collapsed in on itself.
On Remnant, the mysterious phenomena of Dust fueled everything from military airships and industrial facilities to household products and children's toys. All existing technology was built on its esoteric properties and, despite the best efforts of KASA, it always became inert once it left the atmosphere.
When the reality that Remnantians would never reach the stars set it, the organization was stripped of its funding and reduced to an asteroid and meteor observation bureau. Their new job was to protect the Kingdom of Vale from the odd incoming space debris. A job that, despite its scientists' best efforts, it was currently failing spectacularly at.
Loud alarms blared through the small room and different screens lit up with frighting images, each more disturbing than the last.
Director Carlyle Drake discreetly clenched and unclenched her fists, publicly maintaining an unyielding composure as around her the room exploded into chaos.
"Explain what you mean by 'Its course corrected for the planet', because that is just not possible," she demanded through clenched teeth.
"We don't know-"
"Oh, you don't know, well let's just call it a day then. Chalk up all the casualties to the mystical whimsies of the gods''. Her subordinates' incompetence was draining on the best of days, but now…
"When will it make landfall and what will it hit? Can anyone answer me that!?"
"Um..." a different, but no less incompetent scientist spoke up, "We think it will hit largely south of our major population centers, possibly even near Mt. Glenn. However, the explosive shockwave and debris generated has the potential to destroy dozens of towns and villages and that's not accounting for damage to our country's infrastructure and agriculture networks".
"And it will be arriving when…" her patience growing thin.
"Um *gulp* it will enter the atmosphere in 17 hours".
"17 hours?!" one of the ̶s̶c̶i̶e̶n̶t̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ idiots cried, "That doesn't even give us a day to prepare"
That looming realization injected unadulterated terror into the room. Fearful stammering left the lips the skeleton crew and some even began whimpering.
"Quiet all of you! You are professionals, and the leaders of your respective academic disciplines. Act like it!"
The director's harsh gaze lazer focused on the scientist she had been interrogating. Wordlessly her expression demanded good news.
Sputtering, they continued, "I-it appears that all major cities are well outside of the blast radius… uh ma'am". It was truly pathetic the stock of people she had to work with.
Drake mulled over the calamity report. Gears turned in her head, analyzing the situation from all aspects.
"I want to be alerted Immediately when that changes".
"Um, sorry ma'am," the moron asked. "What do you mean 'when that changes?"
"What do you think I mean? No, everyone," she arrested the entire room's attention. "What do you think I mean by that!?"
"We are in crisis mode because that right there," pointing at the largest screen, "decided to hurtle itself towards the planet. It wasn't nudged or pulled by our gravity well. It moved on its own free will, and if it changed its course once it will do so again!".
Illuminating the tight room on a massive screen was the live telescope feed of Remnant's shattered moon. Highlighted on it, and every computer in sight, was a fragment of the moon that, in direct violation of the laws of physics, broke free of the satellite's orbit and began making its way towards the planet.
"I want you all to run every calculation and formula you've ever learned and find me a behavioral pattern that explains what is going on" she ordered the team of morose faces. "None of you are leaving until that rock makes landfall, am I clear".
It was not a question. The frantic scientists broke into a mad scramble. Discreetly, some sent messages to their family members, warning them of the coming calamity.
As Director Carlyle Drake watched the massive asteroid inch closer and closer, a thought broke into her mind. This catastrophe, if it did not eradicate civilization, would finally make the world see the importance of KASA. She only needed to play her cards right and ensure that no one could blame her.
What if….
"I have seen everything that has ever happened. Ever will happen. Ever could happen. And yet, what the hell is this!?
-The Watcher
…Ruby was VENOM
Issue 1. Ohana Means Family
Vale Skydocks - Early Morning (13 hours until Impact)
The massive airship parted the early morning clouds as it began its gradient towards the sky dock. Watching its descent, eyes filled with determination were Vale's next generation of Hunters. The young adults that stood here today were warriors without equal. Their selflessness and dedication to the world revealed itself in their choice to take part in the most dangerous and noble career on Remnant. These were the future heroes who would push back the monsters of darkness and pave the way for a new bright future. And the tearful friends and families surrounding them could not be prouder.
Hugs, adulation, and tears flowed throughout the station. But off to the outskirts two colors stood alone. Like the rest, their eyes were locked onto the ship. Red's filled with an excited spark, and Yellow's filled with the embers of determination. Embers that began to flicker as the ship drew closer.
"Urgh Yang! What is taking Dad so long!? He's been off parking the car for the last 30 minutes. He's going to miss sending you off!?" the red figure asked in distress.
The taller yellow, now named Yang, looked down to see her sister pout. The action looked quite adorable, especially combined with the red superhero-esque cape she always broke out for special occasions.
"I don't think it really matters Ruby. I'll go through this all again after each time I visit you".
"Of Course it matters! This the greatest day of your life, so far. When you finally accept your destiny as the Super-Awesome-Invincible Superhero!" Each word punctuated by an awkward karate chop. "Our Dad Needs To Be Here!" she stomped down hard, wincing a bit from the pain. Careful not to show it, she continued her rant.
"This is why we should have gotten a cab. 12 lien and boom, the entire family is here. I told you'll that, but you didn't listen. No one ever listens to me!"
"…. I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. Did you say something?" Yang asked in a serious tone.
Ruby's eye twitched with utter rage at her older sister's now smirking face.
"Come on Rubes, you know I'm only Yanging your chain," she winked.
"…."
"Yanging your chain"
"Yanging your-"
"Guuuhhh. Stop it, stop it, stop it. That is so lame!" She sighed in complete exasperation before letting out a chuckle. That chuckle soon gave way to a smile, which broke into laughter.
"I knew you couldn't resist my witty humor," she joked, joining in on the laughter.
HA HA! HA H-*COUGH! COUGH!*". A vicious coughing fit overcame Ruby bringing her to her knees. Injured lungs exerted far beyond their limits. Vision swimming from the spasms, she was forced to support herself on her twin canes. The involuntary fit increased in fever and soon she was hacking up large globs of blood.
Yang was on her in an instance, the laughter completely gone from her face.
"Are You Ok!? Look At Me! How Much Blood Was That!? Did You Tear Anything!? Where Are Your Pills!?" she let loose a barrage of frantic questions, prepared to rush to the hospital if the answers demanded it.
Ruby stayed hunched over, unable to respond. Looking down at her worn-out canes, she ruminated on that day, so long ago, that made life like this.
◎⃝⃘
She was 4 when she found out Mom wasn't coming back, but she couldn't understand why. Home wasn't that hard to find, just follow the windy dirt path through the forest. Maybe she was off the island, but then she could take a boat? It didn't make any sense! Didn't she know how sad she's making everyone?
Dad was still crying and hadn't left their bedroom in weeks. Uncle Qrow kept drinking that stuff that makes adults act all funny. But this time, instead of those weird jokes her parents didn't want her to hear, it just made him cry like Dad.
Yang was the only one who wasn't broken. That made sense, her big sister was the strongest person she knew!
In Yang's head the gears rotated against an immense weight. Something she had been grappling with since even before their mom's death. Fueled by intense determination, she turned to her sister.
"Ruby, what if…" she cut off before steeling herself. "What if we could bring Mom back?"
"What! You know where Mom is!? Where!?"
"No, not Mom, but a mom. Mine". She brought a worn photograph out of her pocket "I found this in the attic when we played hide and seek- I know, we're not allowed up there, but that's what made it the best hiding spot".
The photo showed their dad in a loving embrace with a woman who was not Summer Rose. A woman who looked impossibly like her sister. Same cocky smirk, same distinctive hair locks, though they were black not gold. Her eyes even glowed red like Yang's when she used her semblance. An older, goth version of her sister.
"I've always thought it was weird. I can see a lot of me in Dad, like we have the same gold hair, same sense of humor, but I couldn't see any of that with Mom, not like you. You're just like her, eyes and everything".
"What do you mean Yang?".
"Ruby, I think this person is my mom, and I think we can find her and bring her back". Yang's lilac eyes lit up and for the first time in weeks she smiled.
"Yang, I don't get it. What do you mean by another mom? Mom is Mom".
"I… its, I'll explain once we find her, ok?".
"Can we really get her back!?" she excitedly asked.
Yang looked down at her little sister, hope exploding in her eyes, and knew this was the right choice.
"We're gonna go bring back Mom".
"Together?" Red put out her pinky, "Together!" and yellow interlocked and shook.
That night, after making sure both adults were sound asleep, Yang woke her little sister and took her on an adventure.
The forests of Patch were much different than they were during the day. The trees became dark twisting shapes that could hide all manner of monstrosities. Not even their flashlights could penetrate the thicket.
...The Beowolf watched from the tree line and took its time descending on the two children. Ruby was the first who saw it emerge from the shadows. Inside the wagon, she watched if fear as the monster came closer and closer.
It was inky black, even compared to the darkness surrounding it. Its hideous frame soon overtook her entire field of view, blotting out the horizon. Its two yellow eyes surrounded by the bone mask glinted with primal forms of anticipation.
Yang Xiao-Long stood between it and Ruby, arms spread as wide as possible. Terror-fueled determination etched into her face as every fiber of her being trembled.
Its claws glinted against the moonlight and forearm length teeth twisted upward in a macabre grin. Muscles budged as it prepared to pounce, and Ruby ran! She ran and ran as fast as her short legs could carry her. Right past her sister and into the mouth of the wolf.
Fangs tore into her tiny body, spraying viscera and innards out the open wounds. The monster twisted its head back and forth with Ruby clamped inside its teeth, drenching the clearing with blood.
Yang screamed and screamed and screamed! She screamed so loud that the entire world could hear her. She screamed as her Ruby's blood covered her face. She kept screaming when her uncle suddenly appeared and slayed the beast.
She screamed when her sister's mangled frame was air lifted to the hospital. She screamed when they wheeled her away into the operating room. She kept screaming and crying and screaming until there was nothing left to scream.
Restrained on the operating table, with most of her organs torn apart and lying beside her, Ruby Rose felt only vindication. She had done it. She'd saved her sister and became a hero, just like her mom. Her fading mind couldn't help but be happy, even as the surgeons cut away everything that couldn't be saved.
Throughout the entire operation, she smiled.
It was the weirdest operation the surgeon team had ever performed.
◎⃝⃘
At the Skydocks, Ruby reached into the medical pouch and leafed through its contents for the right pill bottle. Four metal fingers on her left hand closed in tandem with the surviving digit. With practice ease she flipped off the lid and plopped two half inch pills into her mouth. A quick gulp down and they began stabilizing her vitals in ways her weak aura couldn't.
"Did you remember to take your morning doses too?" Yang was now uncomfortably close. "If you forget to take any or mix 'em up your dosage your organs will fail again!"
"I'm fine Yang. Come on, I've been doing this for like 10 years now. I got this''. She flashed a reassuring grin that failed to dissuade her sister.
Internally she sighed. Ruby didn't mind Yang's very invested role in her care. At times, with all the different medications, physical therapy, and general handicaps, it was a blessing to have someone in her corner. What bothered Ruby was that once again, her health became the sole focus.
"I just– I'm going away, and there's all these things that can go wrong and… I need you to be ok sis!".
"I'm fine Yang, and I'm gonna keep being fine. And I'll come visit you every chance I get to prove I'm still fine". The offer brought only more worry to her sister's face.
"You don't have to come. It's too dangerous of a trip. What if something goes wrong on the airship? And we don't even know if the campus is handicap accessible!".
"Nope! It is. I looked up the Headmaster's info, the guy using a cane in all his pictures. He definitely wouldn't tolerate an inaccessible school".
"Ruby… I think the cane's a fashion statement" Yang said, but Ruby wasn't listening.
"I can't wait to meet him. He's gonna be so jealous of my two canes. We're practically already besties. Two members of a secret society of alt-walkers," her face lit up at the her fantasy and Yang couldn't help but chuckle at the crazy logic. 'VICTORY!' Ruby screamed inside her mind.
"You have to introduce me ASAP" she demanded.
"Ok, I'll be sure to do that once I've settled in".
"Or get sent to his office" Ruby cheekily remarked, remembering what was an all-too-common occurrence back on Patch.
A tic mark formed on Yang's head and in response a little bird landed on her raised hand.
"*Gasp!* No bad words Yang! 5 lien in the swear jar now!". Yang, of course, refused on principle. Instantly both sisters were embattled in a lovingly trivial argument on vocab morality, neither noticing the airship coming closer.
Its final descent cast a shadow on everything below. As it touched down it set off a wave of wind against the station's crowds. The two sisters had to brace themselves against the sudden current. Both hair and clothes intertwined in a sporadic dance until the gale abated. Yang's ship had landed. Seeing the immense vessel loom over her, Yang realized something incredibly crucial.
"I don't deserve this".
"What The Heck Did You Just SAY!?" Ruby's head whipped toward her sister at breakneck speed.
"I don't deserve-"
"NOPE!"
"I don't deserve-"
"NOPE!"
"I DON'T DESERVE TO BE HERE! She screamed, "I'm not good enough!"
Ruby grabbed her sister at the shoulders and, with strength gained from lifting her entire body weight for each step through her arms alone, ripped her sister around and pulled her down to eye level. "Yang Xiao-Long, you listen here, and you listen good! You deserve to be here more than anyone else". "No! Don't talk! Listen".
"You are the most hardworking student Signal Academy has ever seen. While everybody spent their free time hanging out or having social lives, you did nothing but train.
"Ruby, you're exaggerating"
"I AM NOT! I was there for every training session, every spar, every weapons drill, everything!" She was now quite literally trying to shake sense into Yang. An impressive feat considering the balance required to stay on her canes.
"I watched you go from someone getting knocked down by their own shotgun gauntlets to going undefeated our senior year".
"Our?"
"Yes, ours. I got to coach you from your corner. I don't know if I was a good coach, and sometimes I say things that don't really make sense and drag my points too long, losing the thread and momentum, only to just trail off in a nervous wreck…. But it must have helped because here you are! Accepted into the best Hunter's school on Remnant!". At this point the surrounding crowd began to take notice of the commotion.
"You've made the top of every class. What doesn't come to you naturally, we worked on it together until you became the best on Patch PERIOD!" she tallied each accomplishment on her fingers.
"Ruby, please people are staring-" "OF COURSE THEY'RE STARRING! They're wondering why you would throw away everything we both worked so hard for. So, you're going to get on that ship, kick butt in all your classes, and become the greatest Huntress Remnant has ever seen. Do You Understand!?" Grabbing her face, she jerked her sister's head up and down in a parody of affirmation.
"Rube, please stop!" she let out through the violent ups and downs, "Please can just not do this in front of everyone?"
"Fine, but this is not over until you are happy". Her eyes darted to an empty bench away from the crowds. Letting go of her sister, she began making the arduous journey towards the bench.
Instantly Yang noticed her sister's struggles.
"Let me help you"
"I'm Fine" she spoke through clenched teeth. It was only 20 meters away. For no one else would this be a cause for concern. Still, if Ruby ever got ahold of the person who put it so far, she would hit them upside the head with her cane.
'No Ruby, bad thoughts' she spoke inside her mind, suppressing the aggression.
"Please let me help".
"If you want to help, fine, but only if you promise to get on that ship. You're not gonna throw away your future just because of me" she snapped back, exhausted. It was always the same. Yang was just about to be happy, only for Ruby to take it all away. People needed to see that she was fine, that she was living life full of optimism! But struggling to walk twenty paces didn't help that image...
She felt herself be picked up from behind and carried to the bench.
They sat in silence, watching the crowd snake towards the ship. Happy, proud faces making their way forward.
"So, this means you're going to Beacon right?" she questioned with a hopeful edge.
"…"
"Someone has to start this semester off with a Yang". She weakly elbowed her sister in the side.
Yang let out a long sigh and stared at the ground. "Yah, I'm going".
"OK! Great great. You realized you deserved it right?".
Yang clenched and unclenched her right hand, slowly at first, but steadily building speed. It was a nervous tic that began when Ruby was first taken behind those OR doors. In the years since, with every repeat surgery, every close call, it got worse.
Ruby's hand grabbed hers and she looked up to see her sister's smiling face. It was the same smile that her mother always gave them, one that meant everything would be alright. Her spasms waned and soon abated. They would be back again, but they were gone for now.
"I can't say how much I appreciate what you've done for me sis. I really don't–".
"Yang, if you keep insulting yourself, I swear to Oum, I will whack with my canes!".
Said canes were raised and prepared to strike. "I mean it. My arms are my legs, I'm crazy swole up here".
Yang could always count on her sister to make her smile. That cute face, combined with the burning determination to enact violence, was a ridiculous oxymoron. If only it wasn't marred with scars.
"I don't blame you Yang. I never did".
"You should, everyone does. And they're right! What was I thinking, taking you into Grimm infested woods to find a stranger"?
"We both agreed to find her together. I'm just as responsible as you are" Ruby consoled.
"You were 4–
"And you were 6!" she smacked the floor with her cane, accidently launching it out of her hands "It's not your fault this happened, it's not anyone's fault! It was just bad luck".
"Bad luck huh," she snorted, eyeing where the cane landed. "That's a shitty excuse and you know it,"
"Yang, swear jar–
"I am not putting money in the FUCKING jar!". Her lilac eyes flashed red! "Take this seriously Ruby. I hurt you, my little sister. And nothing you say is gonna make that ok".
Ruby felt tears build as her sister turned back to look at her. This… wasn't fair. None of this- It was all too cruel. The water burned, threatening to flood out.
But she couldn't let that happen because...
Heroes Don't Cry!
"Ok then, forget about me right now. Focus on yourself. This is a clean slate. Nobody at Beacon knows what happened. They won't be cruel to you like the people on Patch. It's a great chance you've more than earned". Despite the painful effort it caused, Ruby twisted to face Yang. On instinct Yang helped her make the process bearable.
"You'll get to go out and be someone really special and I'm so proud of my big sis!".
"And what about your second chance Rube? This," she gestured toward the airship, "was all your dream. You wanted to be a hero. I just wanted to have fun and shoot things. I stole this from you!"
"You didn't steal anything from me! I wanted to be a hero, so I became one. And now it's your turn." She nodded towards the ship, "Go be a hero Yang''.
"You make it sound that simple"
"It was for me. You were in danger, so I saved you".
"Nothing about what happened was simple"
"Only cause everyone makes it so complicated! You, Dad, everyone I ever meet. You all act like I'm dead or dying when I'm not!
"I Am Happy! And I'm perfectly happy with the way things turned out because you're ok".
Yang stared at her sister incredulously. How could anyone be happy with this? How could someone sit next to the person who ruined their life and wish them well?
She looked down at Ruby's silver cane and caught the reflection of the airship within it. Was Ruby right? Would this path really make up for what she did to her sister?
Her eyes traveled to the other cane, the one that had gone flying during her sister's outburst. It flew just under two meters, but to Ruby it might as well be the Grimmlands. She would not be able to reach it and without it, she would never leave this bench on her own.
Wordlessly, Yang got up and retrieved the contraption. No, Beacon would not erase what she did to her. Nothing on Remnant would.
◎⃝⃘
The airship rose back into the sky taking all the student prospects with it. The crowd below erupted into cheers and those aboard felt the warmth and praise wash over them. For them, this really was the happiest moment of their lives.
For Yang, it didn't matter. She was on the ship, but it didn't matter. She would go to Beacon because Ruby wanted her too. She would give it her all because that's what Ruby would do in her place.
When the school would finally realize she wasn't hero material, she would come back and pursue a path she actually fit for. Hopefully it would happen before she got someone hurt again.
Ruby cheered as loud as she could with half a lung, trying desperately to reach Yang one final time. Even though the ship was now a speck she continued to cheer until she was the only one still screaming.
A heavy convulsion filled her mouth with blood, and she was forced to stop. When she looked back up, Yang and the ship were gone.
"She got on, that means she's gonna be ok now, right?"
No one was there to give her any answers. All alone, she made her way out of the Skydock.
Outside City Hall - 5pm (3 hour until impact)
Director Drake was in her car, tucked away in the City Hall parking structure. They would blame her for this. It was the logical choice, not because of any fault on her part, but because it was the easiest. No one would want responsibility for this destruction, but the people would demand heads, and who's better than the Head of KASA? Never working again would be the least of her worries. Hundreds expected dead, possibly millions in damages. They would kill her for this.
No, she had to make sure she'd be blameless of this catastrophe. No, not just that, she had to become the hero of this story.
She checked her scroll once again. None of the urgent emails sent to the Council were answered. It was expected. Any contact from KASA was always ignored, no matter how arresting the subject line. The same was true for phone calls, always on hold or given the machine.
She made sure to record each calls and save all her emails to a secure server. They would not brush away this paper trail. But this alone was not enough. She had to do something incredibly drastic. Something eye-catching and desperate.
Heading towards City Hall, she reviewed every aspect of the plan. There'd be one shot to save both her life and bury those who ruined KASA.
Ripping open a pepper packet she'd brought from the break room, she poured the grinds directly into her eyes. Immediately they went bright red with popping veins exploding on the surface.
The glass sliding door reflected an shaggy person with bulging bloodshot eyes.
Perfect!
Putting on her winter gloves, by far the most important part of her plan, Drake walked through the doors, into the calm reception area. She took a deep breath and yelled, "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
Island of Patch - 7:10pm (Calamity Imminent)
It was unnaturally cold at the top of the cliff. Frost was already forming on her metal fingers. It felt like frozen knives stabbing into her stumps. Ruby tried to cover up as best she could, but the chill always found its ways inside. Clenching chattering teeth, she focused on what she came here for.
"Hi mom, it's me again"
"..."
"Sorry I haven't been around much, but I've been a little busy. Prepping Yang to go to Beacon"
"..."
"It went… ok" she lied.
"...?"
"Ok fine. It sucked. I messed everything up. Again! And then I go and lie to you. I don't even know why I did that". She threw up her hands, only to quickly fall back on her canes.
Her mom looked down at her, towering over, stony face giving no expression. "So… uh- You're looking good, Mom. Dad make you another headstone? Love the 'larger than life' vibe this one has. Personally, I think he nailed it on the 5th go but everyone needs a hobby". She gave a weak smile and tried to inch closer to the grave.
Stepping across the icy ground was frustratingly difficult for someone like her. Weight had to be balanced equally on both canes. Any slight reposition could mean a slip into the ground. So instead, she had to twist them forward slowly, inch by inch, never leaving the frozen dirt.
A normal person could've just worn snowshoes.
Eventually she made it and could talk to her mom face to face.
"…Dad couldn't make it today. I know, it's not his fault he got stuck in a parking nightmare, but not being there- It may make people think that he blames Yang for this".
"I know he doesn't, what dad would? And I'm pretty sure Yang knows so as well, it's just… It didn't look good, and Yang really needed absolute certainty that we're all in her corner".
"..."
"That's a great idea! We'll go up and surprise her as a family. Me, Dad, Uncle Qrow, you… I could probably chip a rock off your stone and take it with? Is that morbid or sweet?". As she rambled, she took out another one of her pill bottles and worked the tight lid.
"He could've said something to help today. Oum knows I couldn't do anything," She kept twisting but the lid wouldn't budge.
"She keeps hating herself and nothing I try to do helps" The cap refused to move. "I *twist* really needed *crrrekk* Some Help Today!
*KRACK* The lid must have frozen shut because when it snapped off, it took half of the bottle with it.
"No no no no no no no no!" She frantically tied to keep track of the explosion of pills. Losing even one wasn't an option! Out of prescription, each one costed more than heat in the winter.
A painful whimper escaped her mouth as Ruby tried to bend down on her canes. Getting down on knobbly knees and blinking through tears, she reached for the closest pill. An uncomfortable lurch in her core let her know that some of her organs had slid out of place again.
Her mom watched the entire thing in silence.
Ruby popped a yellow pill into her mouth and swallowed. It was twice as big as the Skydocks ones and made her insides feel like they were dunked in acid, but it forced her to keep living, so trade-offs.
Using her canes, she dragged the remaining pills over to herself and lightly rested on them. She could pick 'em up later, but for now they would stay here.
Sighing she straitened up to address Mom-*KAPOW!* The sudden gunshot startled Ruby into an erratic jolt, knocking her to the floor.
"Miss Rose," a synthesized voice called out. "You appear to have fallen. Would you like assistance?"
Standing over her was a metallic being carrying a smoking rifle. On the horizon lay a dissolving Grimm corpse.
Quickly checking underneath, saw to her relief she'd managed to keep the pills secured.
Thank Oum for small miracles.
"No Arnie, I'm fine," she coughed
"You appear to be coughing up large volumes of blood. Shall I call your father?"
"No Don't!"
"Calling Taiyang Xiao-Long"
"Cancel That Call!"
"Taiyang Xiao-Long call-in progress"
"CANCEL THAT FUCKING CALL!" she screamed at the machine
"Canceling call..."
*Cough-Cough* "Thank you," Ruby wheezed out, ignoring the spats of blood on the snow.
She hated swearing. It was ugly and mean and only sad, angry people swore. But she was alone here, with only the Atlas Knight her uncle got her.
It was an incredibly thoughtful gift and must have cost up a lot of favors. Thanks to it, she could visit her mom alone, or go shopping alone, or hobble on a stroll alone.
She just wished it didn't have a hair trigger directive to call her dad, but both her dad and uncle were adamant on that inclusion. She sighed.
"I only make people worry Mom. No matter what I do, it can't overshadow this".
"I'm a drag on everyone's life. Yang can't even look at me without hating herself and I don't want that! I don't want to keep hurting people!".
"And why is this even happening!? What happened to 'the hero saving the day and everyone living happily ever after' Mom!? I did my part! I fucking saved the day! So why doesn't everyone get it?!
"Why can't I save anyone anymore?" she sobbed.
Her mom didn't have an answer to that.
Up above, the evening sky darkened into night, and soon, a strange glow made its way across the horizon.
Vale Council Reception Room - (10 Minutes to Impact)
"I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU SIMPLETON, FOR THE LAST 3 HOURS! THE ENTIRE CONTINENT COULD BE IN GRAVE DANGER, MAYBE EVEN THE WORLD!"
Kept at bay from this mad woman by only a short receptionist desk, the receptionist could only conclude one thing.
"I don't get paid enough for this"
"What did you say!?"
"Oh, did I say that part out loud," the receptionist snidely remarked, "I meant to say that of course the Council will see anyone off the street screaming about the end times".
"Off the street, OFF THE STREET!" she screamed in indignation. "I've told you who I am! I am the Head Director of the Kingdom Aeronautics and Space Administration!"
"I'm pretty sure we defunded you years ago"
Her eye twitched. "We get by with generous donations from the more enlightened individuals".
"Well, I'll be sure to let the Council know that the billionaires' tax write-off charity is here to see them".
Carlyle Drake was fuming! what started as an act became an attack on the very merit of her organization. By a part-timer, no less!
"Now you listen here, and you listen well. I have tried every manner of communication in existence to reach the Council. All the while monitoring a grave threat to our country and trying to coordinate appropriate evacuation measures. The latter of which I cannot begin to do without Council approval!
"I have been patient, even though our time is running out, to allow due process to take its course and we could all work together for the good of the people. But I have had it up to here!" she screamed at the clerk. Behind her a sizable crowd was filming the entire confrontations. Some were even live streaming it and the hashtag "#screamingscientist" was already trending.
"If you do not let me in this instant, then I will be forced to go through you to protect our people!" She slammed her hands against the table and stared down the man with bloodshot eyes.
She would admit, she was laying it on a little thick. But she was so close to it paying off.
"Ma'am ENOUGH!" Finally, a reaction.
"My finger is on the panic button. One tiny press and our station police will muzzle you," he said with the utmost contempt, "Do you understand me, Faunus filth?"
It became deathly silent.
The director's crocodile eyes did not meet the condescension in the clerk's. Sharp teeth ground inside her mouth. Without warning her left hand lashed out, gripping the human supremacist's. The shock nearly caused him to squeeze the button.
Dr. Carlyle Drake made no attempt to remove the clerk's hand. Keeping his hand locked, she pushed down the button with a gloved finger.
"I understand this Council doesn't want responsibility. Power yes, but never responsibility. They'll never admit to crippling the only organization that could have countered this catastrophe. They won't admit to squandering the little time left to prepare by ignoring all my warnings. They will only admit that a racist clerk prevented them from knowing about the catastrophic threat".
She looked up at the man with a terrifyingly tranquil expression and released the panic button.
"It's all on your head now, part-timer?"
Dr. Drake backed away from the desk, smiling, never breaking eye contact. As she walked away, police burst through the door and began shouting commands. Calmly she raised her hands to the sky in surrender. It did little to prevent getting tackled to the floor.
The receptionists watched her leg bend the wrong way, before bone snapped through the skin. His eyes met hers and he saw with rocketing unease that she was still smiling.
In Atmosphere
Ruby watched with wonder as the sky lit up. A shooting star, so massive it could be mistaken for the sun, raced down.
"Mom Are You Seeing This!?"
Her mom was struck speechless as the cacophony of colors washed over her headstone.
"Miss Rose, we must leave! It is no longer safe here". The knight's cool metal handpicked Ruby off her feet.
"Hey wait- Stop that! I want to stay! I need to see this!" she screamed, but the robot paid no heed.
"You Can't Take Me!"
"It has become too dangerous for someone of your health" it said as it carried her down the hill.
Oum damn it again! Everytime it was her Fucking Health!
She looked back to see the shooting star, already disappearing behind the hill's peak, and began to cry.
"Please Mom," she cried. "Please send me a friend. Someone who doesn't see only the injuries. Someone who treats me like I'm whole, with their entire life ahead. Maybe someone who could rely on me for a change".
The hill now blotted out most of the night sky. Only a twinkle of that new star remained. Though strangely... did it seem to be getting brighter?
◎⃝⃘
KASA was in utter pandemonium. The meteorite had done it once again; it'd changed course and was now heading straight for the City of Vale.
"HAS ANYONE REACHED DIRECTOR DRAKE!?" a scientist shrieked.
"NO! HER PHONE'S FUCKING DEAD!"
In the corners, some scientists broke down into sobs.
"What The Fuck Do We Do!? What The Fuck Do We Do!? What The Fuck Do We Do!?" repeated one, rocking back and forth in a fetal position. "No one listened to us. No one knows what's coming. No time to hide! No Place to Hide!"
"WHOEVER'S THE FUCK NOW INCHARGE!" screamed someone from the front, "IT'S MOVING AGAIN!"
To everyone's mounting horror the asteroid's path jerked in impossible ways. Its stone seemed to bulge outward, as if thrust from some internal force. Deep fissures raced up the small mountain and it broke apart with tremendous force, stone fragments firing off in wildly different directions.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!? WHERE ARE THEY HEADED!?"
A researcher near a computer quickly ran the new calculations. "Oh my Oum!" he gasped, "They're all heading towards the planet's populated areas"
◎⃝⃘
Tearing through clouds, the fragments twisted themselves with no regard for gravity. On Patch, Ruby saw a the bright red light crest over her hill, enshrouded it with a cape light. Its coming roar uprooted entire trees, pulling her up into the sky! Only her mechanized guardian hydraulic grip kept her grounded.
Ruby saw it! The ball of fire and death eating her horizon. There was nothing she could do. Nothing anyone could do! Death was mere moments away and all she could say was:
"Oh…"
The bolide crashed into the hill vaporizing it.
In a sizable community to the east of Vale proper, structures that had stood for centuries were blown away in an instant. Elsewhere, the city of Kuchinashi, Mistral lost half its population in a flash. Another megalith streaked into the Emerald Forest, detonating a blast that shattered every glass plane in Beacon. Yang, who moments before had been drowning in an awkward conversation of her own making, threw herself on top the bookworm as the ceiling collapsed on them!
All over the planet's face cosmic rain collided with the peaceful world.
Then, from deep within each rock, something eldritch broke loose.
On the shores of Vacuo red and gold tendons burst through the surf and contorted their way upwards. Their anatomy was fundamentally all wrong. No creature in a rational universe would ever evolve like that. Not even the Grimm were this perverse!
The alien creature snaked its way along the beach, connecting itself to life wherever it could and sucking them dry. As it moved further inland it encountered people drawn by the asteroid's impact. None of them survived.
All over remnant these incongruous lifeforms broke free from their transport. Some were instantaneously beset upon by flames from their craters. Their horrid screams filled the night as they were turned swiftly to vapors. These were the weak ones.
The strong survived the cull, crawling out into the new world in search of hosts.
◎⃝⃘
Lying in a mangled mess on the ground, Ruby realized she was dying. Blood gushed out in buckets, eight of her ribs burst through her chest, and right arm was liquified. But with growing dismay she realized her spine was cruelly not broken.
She Could Feel Everything!
Off to the side were the broken remains of her Atlas Knight.
'Killed by a meteor,' she thought, 'A fucking meteor!'.
A howl in the distance and what blood she still had ran cold.
'I… just need to die before they get here' she thought 'Easy enough-*THUDD!* The meteorite in the new clearing shook. Painfully, Ruby craned to see it shake.
*THUDD* *THUDD* THUDD* it echoed out, until…
*KRACK!* A tentacle of cosmic darkness burst into Remnant's air, spiraling up into the sky. No sooner had it done so, the surrounding flames sprang up on the creature.
It shrieked and writhed in pain. Corkscrewing on the superheated ground as it desperately tried to extinguish itself.
Watching on in horror, Ruby saw massive boils appear all over the midnight blue mass. They rapidly bursting into smoke, dramatically fractioning the creature down to a tiny dreg.
'That creature, they came from the asteroid? They crashed here!' she she gasped around her punctured lung. 'They crashed, and now they're dying'.
In its mind the symbiote continued to scream. How could this be happening? They'd promised this would be safe! This was a new world with endless sustenance. One where none would be hunted for food. Yet, all there was was Agonizing Pain!
The last bits of its body were almost gone, just a quarter coin size drop that the fire greedily raced to consume. The Venom Symbiote knew it would die.
*SLAP!* A warm bloody weight fell on top, smothering the flames! In a microsecond the symbiote assimilated itself into the meat. "What" or "who" didn't matter, only that it was now safe.
Navigating through the body it felt that almost every biological system was completely destroyed. That was to be expected. This dying husk did stand at ground zero. Oddly though, some of the damage appeared almost a decade old.
What injuries did, or didn't happen to this life form was irrelevant. While not its intent to kill a possible host, fixing this broken mess would put it in a near catatonic state. No, it would be better to consume what it could and find a more deserving host.
The pantone speck squirmed its way toward her brain by following the delicious taste of adrenaline; extending feelers into the grey matter and drinking her delicious fear.
Invading the sensory centers of the brain it could see them, her final moments. The alien watched as the creature's body burnt to cinders. Their aguish was tremendous, possibly exceeding its own.
That's why what she did next amazed it to their very core!
Ruby Rose dragged herself across the fiery earth, exposed ribs snagging on every crack and crevice. The pain she felt was beyond comprehension, threatening to send her into shock. Yet she had to continue towards the creator's center. Toward them! Because they were in need.
Hanging on by threads, she made it just as the flames washed over and snuffed them out with her body!
◎⃝⃘ ◎⃝⃘ ◎⃝⃘
The Beowolf stalked down the lip of the crater. With its enhanced hearing it could detect a faint heartbeat.
Good. Dying- not dead. It could still hurt her. The monster stood over the girl and raked its claw across her back.
*Mmruugh glurg!* The little human's eyes filled with pain, terror, and tears. The wolf raked across once more. Backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards. Each tear brought beautiful whimpers to its ears.
Blood, filled the wolf's nose, but this had a burnt smell. A powerful strike flipped the Dustling over, exposing her destroyed chest.
Yellow eyes met silver and a macabre grin grew once more. Ruby tried to be brave as the beast raised its arm high once more.
The monster struck down with the intent on ripping out her ribs to use as chew toys. Time slowed down and its claws inched forward in barely perceivable increments. Unconsciously, Ruby somehow knew that this level of perception was wrong for any human to have.
The obsidian paw struck out, and an ebony arm intercepted!
The Beowolf screamed as it staggered back in agony. Black ichor spewed from shoulder stump where its arm once connected.
The mangled human's every pour exploded with black tendrils, coating the girl. They coalesced into thick tendrillars that pushed her onto immense muscled feet. Hunched over, the dark mass began reconstructing her face.
The new 'thing' staggered about as organs leaked out of their body. Taking what must be an opening, the Beowolf launched itself at the girl.
Without looking, a hand shot out and grabbed the monster's throat. A *CRACK* filled the crater and the hellhound became quadriplegic.
From the back of her midnight body a tentacle burst forth. It swept across the ground bringing all the lost blood and organs back into the fold.
Looking into the eyes of the Grimm, an oily baritone came out that could belong to no little girl.
"What big teeth you have, tiny wolf". Shark claws dug in just above the spinal break eliciting pained gasps. "The better to eat your prey with…." They chuckled.
"Look how big our teeth are". The symbiotic being's jaw expanded and stretched to hideous proportions, making room for the sharp chattels springing forth.
The last sight the wolf ever saw was rows and rows of gigantic white teeth closing down with a Crunch!
Next Time on:
What if Ruby was VENOM…
Issue 2. Run, Ruby, Run
A.N.
Finally, I finished this chapter. Lesson learned, do not save the cosmic horror portion for last. Combining the dictionary for Lovecraftian descriptors is a time-consuming but rewarding process.
I would like to thank everyone who read my story. It truly means the world to me, and you are all AMAZING!