Chapter 1: Crossroads
Ruby (Code Name: "Silver")
Ruby stared at the faint glimmer of moonlight cutting through the cracked blinds of her apartment, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of Crescent Rose. She sat in silence, surrounded by empty rooms and old, hollowed-out dreams of a Huntress life that once felt close enough to touch. Now, she was "Silver"—a name she used to keep her real self hidden, tucked safely behind the mask of her contracts.
The latest job offer had come through a single, simple message on her scroll. No background, no details, just an address and a payout sum large enough to rouse her curiosity. She needed the money, yes, but something about the job's vagueness unsettled her.
She leaned forward, examining her weapon with a mechanic's care, tightening bolts and checking mechanisms. The work was a small comfort, a familiar rhythm in her otherwise fractured world. Whatever the night held, she'd be ready.
Weiss (Code Name: "Ivory")
In the sterile solitude of a hotel suite, Weiss leaned against the window, her fingers grazing the cool glass. The city sprawled below her, pulsing with life, none of which touched her own. She had given up everything—family, fortune, even her name—to become "Ivory," a bounty hunter unbound by anyone's expectations but her own. It was a path she had chosen, one that allowed her to forget who she'd been.
Her scroll lit up with a message, the quiet in the room amplifying the sound.
"Ivory," the voice was calm, detached. "There's an assignment for you. Coordinates and payout attached."
The call ended as abruptly as it began. Weiss studied the number on her screen, an unfamiliar one. The reward was considerable, almost suspiciously so, but she shrugged off the hesitation. It wasn't unusual for clients to use disposable numbers, and work like hers came with risks.
She grabbed her weapon, slid her scroll into her pocket, and exited the room, becoming one with the night.
Blake (Code Name: "Shadow")
Blake moved through the White Fang's hideout with quiet steps, keeping to the edges of the room as she approached Sienna Khan's quarters. The soft glow of candlelight poured out from under the door, casting elongated shadows in the hallway. She knocked once, waiting until Sienna's voice called her in.
The room was an eclectic blend of elegance and raw power, decorated with relics from old missions and symbols of Faunus pride. Sienna sat at her desk, fingers steepled, her gaze thoughtful.
"Shadow," Sienna greeted her by code name. "We've received a request."
Blake tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. Sienna usually reserved personal requests for the higher ranks within the White Fang, and Blake, now second in command, had quickly proven her loyalty by cutting down anyone who threatened the organization's vision.
"It's vague," Sienna continued, tapping a piece of paper on her desk. "But lucrative. You've done well with less information in the past."
Blake nodded, her mind already moving through the possible angles. Vague jobs were not uncommon, but they required precision and a willingness to improvise. She looked at Sienna, noting the hint of reservation in her expression.
"Any reason you're sending me on this one?" Blake asked carefully.
Sienna's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Consider it a test of loyalty, Shadow. This request came through different channels. I want you to handle it."
Blake accepted the slip of paper with the coordinates and payout details. With a nod, she slipped it into her pocket and left the room, her mind already calculating the steps of the mission to come.
Yang (Code Name: "Sunfire")
At a lavish gala teeming with Remnant's elite, Yang stood along the edge of the grand ballroom, arms crossed as she scanned the crowd. Dressed in a sleek black outfit with her prosthetic Atlas-made arm glinting under the chandelier lights, she looked every bit the part of a bodyguard—silent, watchful, and deadly. She was here not for enjoyment but because Raven, her mother and the leader of her tribe, needed her close.
Across the room, Raven laughed among a group of wealthy patrons, her feigned elegance disguising the fierce leader beneath. She was here to extract information and secure funds, a philanthropic guise masking far more dangerous intentions.
Yang's scroll vibrated in her pocket. Frowning, she stepped away from the crowd and answered, expecting nothing more than an update from another tribe member. Instead, an unfamiliar voice filled her ear.
"Sunfire," the voice spoke smoothly. "There's an opportunity for you. Coordinates and details to follow."
The call ended as abruptly as it began, leaving Yang staring at the screen in surprise.
Just as she was about to show Raven, a woman approached, one of Raven's "generous patrons," who wore an expression just shy of smug. She gave Yang a conspiratorial smile and leaned in.
"You seem out of place here," she murmured, glancing toward Raven, who continued her charm offensive on the crowd. "There's a job waiting for you if you're interested."
Yang raised an eyebrow, glancing at the message on her scroll that matched the woman's words. "Is that so?"
The woman shrugged, feigning indifference. "The details are vague, but I imagine someone of your skill can handle it."
Yang's lips curled into a smirk. "Guess I'll have to find out."
The woman gave her a knowing nod before slipping back into the crowd. Raven noticed Yang's subtle shift in stance and approached, her eyes sharp.
"What was that about?" Raven asked, her voice low.
"Job offer. Good money." Yang studied Raven's expression, noting the way her mother's gaze darkened slightly.
"Be careful," Raven warned. "Something doesn't feel right. Don't trust anyone too quickly."
With a nod, Yang tucked the message away, mentally preparing herself for whatever lay ahead.
Jaune (Code Name: "Stray")
In a dimly lit corner of a run-down diner, Jaune sat nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee, his scroll glowing faintly in his hands. He stared at the messages and missed calls, none of which brought him any closer to the purpose he'd once sought. Once upon a time, he'd dreamed of being a Huntsman, but that dream had shattered the moment he was caught in his deception, leaving him a mercenary with a fractured sense of purpose.
"Stray," he called himself now. Fitting for a man without direction.
The scroll in his hand buzzed, breaking through the melancholy. The message was from an unknown number, offering a payout that was almost surreal in its size. He stared at it, rereading it three times.
"Stray," the message read, "I have a job for you. Coordinates attached. Immediate response required."
Jaune leaned back in his chair, the silence of the diner amplifying the offer's gravity. He'd been taking whatever jobs he could to keep afloat, but this sum was different. It hinted at a chance to pull himself out of this rut. If he was lucky, maybe even a chance to start over.
He didn't hesitate long. Finishing his coffee, he grabbed his weapon and slipped out of the diner, setting his sights on the coordinates he'd been given.
The Warehouse
It was past midnight by the time Ruby arrived at the location. The coordinates had led her to a derelict warehouse on the outskirts of the city, its windows dark, the structure barely visible beneath the shadows of the towering buildings surrounding it. The quiet was thick, broken only by the occasional whisper of wind through broken glass.
She adjusted her hood, glancing around to ensure she wasn't being followed. The payout for this job was unusually high—enough to set her up for months, if not longer. But the lack of details gnawed at her, a subtle reminder of how quickly things could go wrong. She had worked enough contracts to know that jobs like these rarely came without complications.
Drawing a breath, she felt the familiar weight of Crescent Rose at her side, the only comfort in this uncertain moment. She moved forward, her eyes sharp as she approached the rusted doors.
Inside, the shadows felt almost alive, coiling around her as she stepped into the darkness. Her hand hovered near her weapon, instinctively ready, as her gaze swept the cavernous space. She wondered briefly if she was the first to arrive or if there were others lurking in the shadows, waiting to see who would step into the light.
The thought that others were here for the same reason unsettled her, but she pushed it aside. Whatever dangers lay ahead, Ruby knew she'd face them. It was, after all, what she had been trained to do—fight and survive.
As she took another step, she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hope this job is worth it."