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Spork

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The sisters signed their contracts and moved out of Patch in the same day, but they only partially moved into their shared room on the ship. Two cots, a large dresser covered in old scars, dents, worn stickers, and streaks of paint, and a thick rug were all they put in their room. A bookshelf and a workbench instead went in the corner of her docking bay, where Ruby laid out tools, components, spare parts and more in a bunch of color-coded little buckets on the bottom shelves, and magazines, books and rolled up schematics on the upper ones.

"Plans, for old upgrades and parts and stuff." Yang explained when she asked about it, standing at the nose of her ship and watching Ruby meticulously arrange things in. "My arm, her eyes- We need maintenance, and Ruby likes to tinker. Improve 'em."

"I suppose I did hire you two for that reason, in part…"

"Her tinkering, my ass kicking." Yang nodded, then shrugged and amended herself, "Or, well, my muscles. Speaking of, I got the sensors loaded into the bay earlier. But sis had an idea."

"Oh?" Weiss smiled, in spite of herself, "So soon?"

"We aim to please." The blonde shrugged, "We had a barrel in our room-"

"A barrel?"

"We just kept garbage in there, really." Yang waved her off, "I made Ruby throw out whatever wasn't working. Point is, it's decent sized, and we're heading to the ocean, yeah?"

"Yes…"

"So," Yang smiled wider, "I happen to know a great way to rig up a barrel, some pipes and a tarp to desalinate water and collect the salt."

"You do?"

"Old man taught me, when I was younger." She explained, "It'll keep me busy, though. I have to stir the water as it boils off, so the salt doesn't burn onto the barrel."

"I see…" It wasn't a terrible idea, really. They could drink the water and sell or use the salt themselves. "If we have the time, we can consider it. I already want to bring on some fish while we're there, and a barrel large enough for the water to matter could just as easily hold water to keep fish fresh."

"I can boil it off after, too." Yang shrugged, "Water will taste nasty, though…"

"Oh, I'm sure…" She sighed, "I doubt it will entirely sanitary either. Just aim for the salt, and use it to stock us up. Alright?"

"Aye, aye, Cap'n." The blonde nodded, "We're ready to head out whenever, by the by."

"Good." Weiss nodded, turning to head to her room to look over the mission paperwork one last time - more out of paranoia than anything else. She called over her shoulder as they left, "We leave when Pyrrha arrives. She will take us out."

Half an hour later, Weiss felt the ship moving under her in her room. It was almost startling, how different it felt to be simply on the ship instead of controlling its descent. Her stomach sank, and she clutched the edge of her bed as anxiety rocked her and memories tried to overwhelm her. Memories of a ship listing, sirens screaming, before everything went dark. Dark and red…

"You're fine." She told herself, the ship leveling out under her before it turned south and west, headed towards the distant coastline. "Just fine…"

Far to the south-west of where Atlas held itself now, the land grew more sparse and arid, nearly endless trees, meadows and grasslands giving way first to dry shrublands and then breaking up around badlands and stretches of sand. Even on the ship, high in the air, the heat was dry and irritating. But they continued on, past it towards the coastline where once more the dry lands gave way, this time to sparse woodlands made of titanic trees that towered over the land. Each one was like its own skyscraper, and Weiss knew entire ecosystems grew in and around them. Vines that bore fruit and flowers for birds and monkeys she caught glimpses of in the tree-tops. Shrubbery on the ground where armored herbivores dug up roots and water to get by in the dry forest, and where they dug dens amidst the roots. Towering herbivores wandered the vast distances between the trees, using their long necks to eat leaves from the lowest branches while others climbed higher.

"Gorgeous…" Weiss murmured, leaning against the railing and looking down as they reached the vast stretches of nearly pristine white sand.

"Why thank you." A familiar voice laughed from behind her, making Weiss flinch and spin, leaning against the railing as Pyrrha came to join her. Tapping her breastplate, the woman laughed and said, "And here I thought my armor was truly not that extravagant."

"Y-You're fine." Both her brows rose and Weiss cleared her throat, amending herself, "I-I mean, your armor is fine, Pyrrha. I, was, uh, talking about the redwood forest, though."

"Oh so I'm not gorgeous…?" Pyrrha pouted, cocking her head and sighing. "And here I was, about to ride that compliment for the day…"

"N-No, I, uh, I mean-" Pyrrha's smirk let Weiss' excuses fade out, and the Schnee rolled her eyes and turned back to watching the forest below. "Rude…"

"I just happen to think you're cute when you're flustered." Heat shot up Weiss' neck at that, and she tried to stammer something, but Pyrrha just sighed and asked. "Where are we landing anyway? You mentioned a water landing, and Ruby has made sure the sails and engines are ready for it."

"A-Ah, right, um…" She cleared her throat and pointed ahead of them, to a spot where the coastline curved in at the mouth of a river, and said. "A shallow bay, there. Far too small to be any real use, but it should keep the larger aquatic Grimm from sneaking up on us. And the mouth of the river will be great for fishing."

"Indeed." Pyrrha nodded, laying a hand on the small of her back when an updraft sent tremors through the ship and Weiss stumbled a bit. "Are you going to land us?"

"Would you like to?"

"I am not very experienced at water landings…"

"I-I can help?" Weiss offered, "It'd be useful for you to know in the future."

"Alright." She nodded, turning to head towards the wheel. "Shall we?"

A water landing for an airship was not an overly complex thing, at least for one their size, but there were several things that had to be seen to before it could be done. The hull had to be waxed and sealed, and the engine's protocols had to be prepared to seal out water. And, as you came down, you had to bring in the side-sails at just the right moment to keep the water from ripping them apart but also avoid damaging the hull or structure on a hard impact. Weiss had done it a few times, training under her sister.

But only on larger ships, with more powerful frames…

So as they came down, Weiss held her breath while sea-water and foam flew around their prow and splattered across the deck. Yang ducked as water sprayed across her and turned, scowling up from the stairs below-decks and shaking her hair out. But she cocked her head as Ruby's voice echoed from below and, after a second, held up a single thumb and nodded - no leaks, and the engines was fine…

That was good news.

"Double check everything!" Weiss called out, turning the ship to face out towards the sea, "And bring out the dinghies! We need to get to work."

"Time is money!" Yang laughed from below, "On it, Cap'n!"

Weiss just rolled her eyes - she'd never understand why Yang insisted on calling her that.

The next couple of hours passed quickly, deploying the same remote sensors as they had before, set up in and around decades old dilapidated houses. These, though, installed at coordinates scattered along the beach's contours and up against the towering redwood trees, sheltered in part by them. Like everything else in the region, Weiss considered, looking up at the wide canopy that cast most of the world below it in shade. A little blue-furred monkey looked down at her, chittering excitedly before it vanished into the trees, and she couldn't help but smile just a bit.

It was nice, when things were peaceful…

By the time she made it back, the rest of her small crew had already finished up as well and were arrayed across the beach. Pyrrha was patrolling, watching for Grimm, while Ruby and Yang were out in the water with long metal poles with nets on the ends, and the barrel between them. They moved slowly, until Ruby's arm snapped down and out and swept up a large fish that thrashed about as she turned to shove it in the barrel, fighting with the pole to, Weiss assumed, get it out of her net while her sister watched and laughed at her struggling.

It was quiet, and peaceful…

Weiss should have expected something to happen.

A gunshot split the air suddenly and Weiss spun, watching Pyrrha dance back with her rifle in hand as a Beowolf as large as she was collapsed in front of her, head hanging by thin strands of muscle and fur. A second armoured wolf rushed her and she put two rounds through its mouth, blowing out the back in a spray of bone and flesh while a third turned, rushing towards Weiss. She reached for Myrtenaster as she staggered away, but her foot slipped in the sand and she stumbled on the draw, nearly falling as it leapt for her.

A blonde missile slammed into its side before it reached her, though. The Grimm and Yang rolled in the sand until she came up on top, pummeling her mechanised fist into its jaw hard enough to shatter it and leave it hanging to the side. Still the beast clawed at her, but Yang didn't seem to care, driving two more blows down and into its face. A third blow finally killed it, its face a misshapen mass of ruined flesh and bone armor.

"Weiss!" The blonde barked, jumping off the dead thing as Pyrrha rushed towards them, sweeping the treeline for more targets.

"W-What-"

"We need to leave!" Yang snapped, "Now!"

"But you just-" A distant rumble of a roar, deep and full of bass, cut her off. It was so deep she felt it down to her bones, vibrating painfully in her arms and legs while Yang reeled and clutched at her arm. It was impossible to tell where the sound even came from, it was so heady and all-encompassing.

Finally, as it faded, Pyrrha shot past her, grabbing her arm and dragging her behind her towards one of the dinghies pinned to the beach. Two of her drones were waiting to help them in, and she turned to help them in turn before Yang stopped her and pushed off of the beach.

"But they're-"

"No time!" Yang snapped, grabbing the oars and paddling with all her strength while Pyrrha kept her rifle on the tree-line. Her rifle barked twice as an Ursa Major, easily three times Weiss' size, lumbered out of the woods. It bellowed as one round took its eye and brought its arm up to protect itself, but…

Weiss' gaze was drawn past it, to a shadow moving through the woods.

A hand as large as her ship emerged from the trees, gripping one of the closest Redwoods with enough force the bark splintered between bone-white fingers. Its hand gave way to titanic, dark arms, each as wide as the trees themselves, and a shaggy chest as broad as her ship was. Legs covered in scaly white bone armor sank deep into the sand as the Cyclops lumbered out of the trees, its baleful eye watching them from within an armored, nearly perfectly round head of scars, bullet marks and cracks. The head split at the middle, opening as Weiss was hefted onto Yang's shoulders and the blonde leapt, abandoning the dinghy to get onto a ship that was already turning, its engines whining as Ruby pushed it to start.

This time, its bellowing roar hurt like Wiess was coming undone, from her false eye all the way down to her toes. She clutched at her head and collapsed, screaming soundlessly - or at least, so silently she couldn't hear it - until the roar ended. She rolled over and tried to stand, but the world spun around her and she stumbled against the railing of the ship. Water splashed her face as the ship pulled away, and Weiss looked up as the titan rushed across the sands, coming for them.

The only thing that saved them was when it slipped in the sand, its huge feet unable to balance properly on it, and it fell into the water.

It was up moments later, water exploding around it as it came for them, and all Weiss could do was stare. Down, at the monster reaching for her ship as it pulled up and away, engines screaming in protest. She felt the whole ship shudder and smoke trailed behind them as one of the engines failed to cope with the sudden strain. The smoke billowed around the Grimm as it reached for them.

In the end, it was that, she was sure, that saved them, she was sure.

The Grimm's clawed fingers missed her ship by mere feet, turning at the last moment and carving shallow gouges in the wood and shattering one of the supports on one of the lateral sails as Ruby yanked them to the side and up, away from it. Even that impact was enough to send Weiss and Pyrrha both reeling across the deck, and Yang into the mast with enough force Weiss saw her Aura flare brightly. She hit the deck, holding her right shoulder and gritting her teeth, and Weiss pushed herself up.

"Weiss…" She looked up at Pyrrha, kneeling beside her and sucking in deep breaths, eyes wide and hands trembling. "Are you…?"

"I'm fine." She murmured, forcing herself up and turning as Ruby shot by.

"Yang!" Her sister leaned on Ruby as she pulled herself up, rolling her shoulder slowly and gring her teeth. "Are you hurt…?"

"A bit." The blonde sighed, "But I'll be fine in a bit. You, Rubes?"

"M'fine." The engineer ducked her head, turning and asking, "A-Are you guys okay?"

"Aside from a headache…" And a painful throb in her eye, she didn't add, knowing it would worry Pyrrha. Pushing it aside, she focused on the task at hand and turned for the steerage, "Pyrrha, keep an eye out for anything flying. And do you know what, exactly, that was?"

"A Polyphemian."

"Good," Weiss nodded, "make up a report to hand in to Atlas."

"Right…"

"Yang, shake it off and take inventory." She added as she took the wheel, raising her voice to be heard over the distance. "And Ruby, catalogue damage and fix whatever you can."

Ruby appeared at the top of the stairs in a flash of petals, stammering nervously, "I-I don't think-"

"I'm not asking for miracles, or for you to replace the very likely ruined Dust-core in our engine." She was no engineer herself, of course, but even she could guess the cause of the smoke they were trailing. And the tremors that were regularly rocking the ship. "Just get us home. We'll… Go from there, but you're the only one with any real skill at this."

"I…" Ruby paused, fingers fussing with each other nervously, and Weiss met her gaze. Finally, she nodded, "A-Alright… I'll, um, do whatever I can."

"That's all I ask." Weiss nodded, smiling, "Thank you."

She watched the girl vanish again, and watched Yang and Pyrrha turn to get on their own tasks, before she let herself press a hand against the side of her face. It was a vain effort to stem the throbbing pain, there, but it was all she could do for the moment. She just needed to get them home…

"So much for how peaceful it was…"

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Adam Taurus paced the cramped captain's quarters of the scout ship he'd taken command of and growled lowly, his dark robes billowing behind him as he padded to and fro, "I don't understand…"

"They escaped." Blake spoke quietly, leaning against the door with her hood drawn up. Unlike him, she was in her scouting uniform - a pair of long tight black pants under loose brown robes cinched tightly at the waist and above her bust, with a dark green cloak and hood that hung around her. "It happens. And besides, why-"

"Twice?" He cut her off, flicking her a look and sighing tiredly as he collapsed onto the bed. "Damn Schnees… I need a new plan."

"What other plan is there?" Blake murmured, "And besides, we have other things that need doing."

"You think I don't know that?"

"I think you do." She frowned, "But I think we both know how prone to emotional decision making you can be…"

His glare was as heated as it was expected, but she knew better than to blink. He needed the push back - it was why he'd made her his second. And, as expected, he eventually sighed and nodded, voice more calm when he spoke again, "Fine… I trust you mapped out the sensors while they laid them?"

"Ilia helped."

"Good." He stood, "We should return, then, and make a report."

"Right." She nodded, turning to leave, "I'll get us moving."

He didn't speak, simply laying down and going to sleep. Not that she blamed him - he'd been up for fourteen hours already, as she had. Once she handed out orders, she and Ilia would be falling into their own cots to get some rest too.

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They managed to limp back to Atlas well enough where, seeing their damage, a trio of blocky grey airships half her own ship's size came out to meet them. Each had long, segmented wings that swept out above the hull and back to either side of a single large nacelle engine. The airships met her speed and matched it, their wings rotating a bit so the smaller engines built into them could keep them aloft even without the lift from speed they normally relied on. Side-doors slid open and Weiss watched warily as cables were thrown and two pairs of soldiers came over on little bars with engines attached, boarding her ship while under careful watch of two armored soldiers on heavy machine guns on each ship.

"Captain Schnee?" One asked as he reached her, most of his face invisible behind the dull grey visor built into his dark blue helmet. The red stripe down the arm and breast was all that really told her he was in charge.

"Yes." She nodded, "How can I help you?"

"We're here inspecting you due to the state of your ship." He explained, "My men will sweep the hold for terrorists."

"Very well…" It was entirely unnecessary and, frankly, she'd have rather they didn't. But it was protocol, and she watched the other three vanish into the ship's insides with a frown. While they waited, she explained, "We were struck by a Titan while on a job. We got away, but the damage was… Well, it didn't kill us, but it certainly hurt."

"So I could see on the hull." The man nodded, lips curling down in a frown. "From the scarring… A Dreadnoughtus?"

"A Polyphemian." Weiss shook her head, "Which I think I am glad to have gotten rather than a Dreadnoughtus."

"Wise." The man nodded, "Dreadnoughtus are deceptively silent…"

Weiss nodded and looked down as the soldiers emerged and signalled something up to the man. He frowned just a bit deeper, turned, and went down to speak with them. Two of them huddled close to speak to him quietly while one watched her and the door, hands tight on his rifle. What on Remnant they could possibly have seen to make them suspect that made her just the least bit nervous… Before she figured out the trick and pursed her lips.

Her being nervous was the trick, she realised.

They'd found nothing and thus come back up. And now they acted as if they had to get her nervous. 'Nervous people make mistakes' her father had always told her, in their rare talks in the steerage cabin when she was young. 'So do not be nervous.'

It was good advice…

Finally, apparently satisfied, the commander turned and called out, "You're clear to proceed! Safe sailing, Captain!"

"And to you as well." She smiled and nodded, adding a polite and friendly, "Be safe!"

She watched the two interceptor-boarders withdraw, headed towards a larger Atlesian warship shaped charitably like a giant, winged torpedo. Then, finally, she pushed on for home, turning to watch the smoke trail they left behind. It was thinner now, thanks to Ruby's efforts no doubt, but… Still there. And her right side had slowly started to sag a bit as they travelled, resting now at a gentle four or five degree tilt that the secondary sails on that side just couldn't overcome.

Finally, she settled her ship in the landing bay, sending a code to cue up the ventilation systems to keep the smoke at bay as the ship settled in its landing clamps.

"Weiss!" She turned as Ruby appeared, holding a little folder in her hands that she held out nervously. "I-I, uh, I found all the problems I could- There's a lot."

"So I imagined." Weiss nodded, skimming the pages quickly.

The solar sail had lost half its support struts, which was why it hadn't been providing as much lift - and why it was degrading as they travelled. And the engine's internal structure had been badly compromised, from the Dust core which had shattered on impact to the internal emissions transmissions systems and piping, half of which had been overheated when the Dust core went off and another third of which had been crushed. Ruby's efforts had been marked in margins next to every damaged item, including three instances she'd done more damage trying to repair it - which annoyed Weiss for the briefest moment, before she collected herself.

Emergency repairs were always risky, especially when the system was in use - she could hardly hold them against Ruby just because she was in a bad mood.

"I don't see an itinerary on replacement parts…"

"I-I didn't have time, to-"

"You do now." Weiss cut her off, handing the folder back and stepping past her. "Get the list made and work with your sister for pricing."

"R-Right…"

The quiet, scared voice made Weiss pause. And, taking a breath, she turned to add, "And… Thank you, Ruby. You did as best as anyone could."

"Oh…" She nodded after a second, smiling ever so slightly, "O-Of course! It's, uh, kinda my job."

"I know." Weiss smiled as she turned, ignoring the fire all along the side of her face, "I did hire you."

She gave Yang a nod as she descended the stairs, heading for her quarters. She managed to keep her composure at least long enough to get inside, before she gasped and clutched at the side of her head, stumbling towards her bed. And the emergency medicine she kept in a tin under it. She made it halfway before her vision swam and she tripped, hitting the ground and groaning. She forced herself up to try and get to the bed-

But powerful hands grabbed her shoulders before she could try, pulling her upright and against their shoulder while Pyrrha's familiar voice rumbled, "Oh, Weiss…"

"I'm fine." She tried to argue, trying - and failing - to pull away from the woman. But Pyrrha was stronger than Weiss on her best day, and didn't let her go, instead wrapping an arm around her and very nearly carrying Weiss towards the bed. Defeated, the Schnee murmured, "I just need medicine…"

"I know, I could tell you were in pain." She chuckled, "I worried you may need help, which is why I came."

"I-I was not that obvious…"

"To me," Pyrrha said simply, "it was as obvious as the weather."

Pyrrha laid Weiss on the bed gently, helping her settle her head in on the pillow before she vanished from Weiss' blurry vision. She returned a moment later, with a bottle of water and three of the four pills Weiss had kept aside. A normal dose was two, of course, but Weiss didn't argue as the taller woman sat and helped her take them. Then, while her vision swam, she helped Weiss out of her shirt and wrapped her blanket around her, pulling her against her shoulder and sighing.

"Just wait it out, your medicine will start working soon." She murmured, "I'll wait until you fall asleep."

"B-But the ship-"

"I will handle it." Pyrrha cut her off, "Rest."

She tried to argue but, medicine kicking in, adrenaline fading away, and a long day ending wrapped up in warm blankets? She couldn't quite manage more than, "M'fine."

Which even sounded weak to her.

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She wasn't quite sure how long she slept, but it was long enough that a lidded tray of food had been brought and left on the floor by her someone had started playing music loud enough to break through the solid wood of the ship so she could hear it, faintly, even in her room. Her arms ached from sleeping too long, too, and that told her a bit more. But even so, she forced herself to sit up, shivering when the cool air hit her bare back and chest. Pulling her shirt back on - and grimacing at the stale smell - she staggered out of bed to collect her food. It was fried fish and some potatoes, which at least told her they'd managed to get the fish on board before they left, and tasted wonderful in spite of being cold.

Though, that she felt like she hadn't eaten in a month likely helped that some.

Feeling much better, she finally stepped out into the hall-

And nearly ran straight into Yang, who tried to both dodge her and keep hold of the crate of parts she'd been carrying up from below-decks, hissing a, "Damn!"

"Sorry!" Weiss gasped, pushing herself back against her door to let Yang have the space she needed to twist and turn and, finally, recover her balance.

"Damn…" Yang grunted, hefting the box and flicking Weiss a look. She was tired looking, face smeared in dust and oil and other grime, but she still smiled widely. "And you're fine, Cap'n. Red's up on steerage, if you want a word."

"Should I…?"

"I mean, yeah?" She looked confused, "Especially after… Well, whatever. She's been in charge while you were out of it, so figured you'd want an update."

"Ah." Weiss blinked, "Fair enough."

"Yep." She turned, heading up before Weiss could.

When she got up on deck, she walked into a lot of noise.

Bassy music echoed from a set of old, worn speakers set up on the railings by the boarding ramp, a scratchy voiced vocalist screaming her heart out in the vocals. Droids came and went, carrying crates off the ship while a pulley lowered a newly-repaired looking solar sail for their side into place. When she went to watch it come into place, she saw damaged sections of wood scattered out across her bay, along with a pile of ruined wood she knew to be the ruined struts from her solar sail, with a handful of neat ones set up near the edge of the raised walking area. Ruby was working there, carefully slotting the wood into place and bolting it in while she nodded along to the music. Yang came to join her, then, taking the heavy red bolt-gun from her and taking her job, too, while Ruby turned to work on reinstalling the solar sail instead.

From what she could tell, it looked like they were doing good work.

A hand landed on her shoulder and she jumped and spun, looking up at a worn looking Pyrrha's smile. She turned and nodded for the door out of the bay, at the end of the room, and Weiss shrugged and nodded.

Out in the hall, the heady music was as muted as it had been when she'd been in the ship, and Weiss took advantage of the silence to say, "You've all done a lot… How long was I asleep?"

"Ten hours." The redhead shrugged, crossing her arms over a smear-covered cover-all and white shirt. "I explained that your implant was acting up badly, and they suggested letting you rest before I even could. They are a decent sort."

"Yeah." Weiss sighed, "I guess you are a fairly good judge of character."

"I should think so." She smiled, "I elected to stay with you, after all."

"R-Right…" Weiss nodded, changing subjects before heat could creep past her neck - again. "I-I wanted to thank you, by the by. For helping me taking my medicine. And… Staying with me. It was very kind of you to do, and you didn't have to."

"Of course I did." Pyrrha shrugged, brows furrowing, "You needed the comfort. How could I leave?"

"I just meant…" She struggled, for a moment, to put her words into thoughts. Or at least, thoughts that wouldn't insult Pyrrha. Finally, she settled on, "I would have understood if you had."

"Oh?" And Pyrrha sounded as amused as she did offended which, for a moment, made Weiss nervous. Then she pushed off the wall and closed on her, leaning on an arm against the wall, and over Weiss a bit, before she said. "Then I think you have either misunderstood a few things… Or failed to understand them at all."

"What…?"

Pyrrha only shrugged and turned, heading back into the bay and calling back, voice raised over the music, "Come on. There's much to catch you up on, spending wise and regarding repairs."

Weiss just nodded and followed.

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Ooooh, drama AND big monsters AND some plot? XD

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Rohan Vos :

Well, there was SOMETHING large and SOMEONE got a large payout, lmao….