Voltaria (wearing her Victoria Arc persona) was walking through the markets of Mistral with her friend and Qrow. They were buying some items and food for dinner that they were going to cook. Ruby was looking around the weapon vendor stand to admire the weapons. Nora was getting free samples of food, which Jaune and Ren had to drag her away when she was attempting to steal the said free samples. Tabitha was spying on Lionheart if he tried anything to betray them. But all in all, everything was peaceful.
"Hey, did you hear?" Asked one of the vendors that were selling fruits to his friend, who was selling drinks. "Atlas is sending a bounty for the Grimm Girl."
Voltaria stops from her tracks, secretly glancing towards the two chatting men. Listening to their conversation about Atlas.
"Yeah, they're really putting a huge bounty on her." Said the Drink Vender. "I thought after helping catch the culprits they would give her some credit."
The fruit vendor nodded his head. "Mm-hm, I still remember how she found those missing girls? It was still a shocker to learn that they were being held captive on some island. And being used as some sort of test subject of some kind."
While the two men chatted, Voltaria was lost in thoughts at their words. That incident has yet left her mind. For it still plagues her till this day.
"Hey, are you okay?" Oscar asked, coming over to her with bags of grocery.
Voltaria glanced at the worried Oscar and gave a nod. "Kind of…we should head back."
Voltaria walks away from the chatting vendors with Oscar following her. The young farmer was curious about what Voltaria was thinking about. She became very quiet when the vendors were talking about some missing girls.
"You're probably wondering what those vendors were talking about?" Voltaria questions him through his mind.
Oscar flinched, startled by her voice. He's still not used to her voice in his head. He looks at her with a nervous expression. "H-how did you-"
"I could hear your loud thoughts. You should really think quietly." She said telepathically, making Oscar blush in embarrassment.
"You should really stop thinking so loudly, Oscar." Mari said through his mind.
"Mari…" Oscar mutters out with a sigh. "Sorry, I just…well…want to get to know you…that's all."
Voltaria looked at him blankly for a few seconds before turning away with a sigh. "Truth be told, the missing girls were actually kidnapped by someone that was messing the security network at the Emerald Forest." Voltaria explains to Oscar.
"Wh-who was doing it?" Oscar asked through his mind, still getting used to this.
"The culprit used to be part of this old company called Merlot Industries." Voltaria explains to Oscar.
"I…I never heard of that company before." Oscar said while scratching his head.
"That's because the company was made before we were even born. It was a research and development corporation, but it was crippled by the collapse of Mountain Glenn, where it lost its primary facility and chief staff members. They were unable to recover from that incident and eventually shut down."
"O-Oh…but why kidnapped young girls?"
"Let's just say…the mad scientist was trying to create a new wave of evolution, but he was missing a key ingredient for his plan."
"…And that is?"
"Me."
*Flashback before Vytal Festival*
Team WAVE, RWBY, Zwei, and JNPR were standing on a platform with a Bullhead aircraft in front of them. They accept a mission in search and perimeter defense. With them was Glynda Goodwitch. She explains to them that there was an issue with the Security Network at the Emerald Forest. Their mission was to restore the network and destroy any Grimm that came in their way. And that they should be careful when venturing to the deeper parts of the Emerald Forest. While they're there, Professor Peter Port will keep tabs on them as well as guiding them through their Scrolls as he has the map of the area.
"Remember, students, this mission is not like any other." Glynda said towards the group. "There's been reports of recent Grimm activities near the security networks at the Emerald Forest. We need to investigate, secure the network, and eradicate any Grimm as possible, understood?"
"Yes, Professor Goodwitch." Everyone said unison.
Glynda glances at Voltaria, who looks at her under her mask. "Ms. Eclipse, are your entities ready?" She asked telepathically.
We are ready for your signal, Professor Goodwitch. Regina said respectfully.
We'll keep an eye on the kids. Wraith spoke next.
Glynda nodded and turned to the Bullhead. "Now, let's move."
The group got into the airship as it took off to Emerald Forest. There, they watched the airship passing above the trees. Heading towards their certain destination. As the aircraft flew above the trees, Amaryllis the Indominus Rex and Ripper the Indoraptor were following it beneath the shadows, sensing the packmates were inside the aircraft. Once it dropped them off and took off, the hybrids came out from the undergrowth and greeted their packmates happily.
"D'aaww! It's good to see you too, Rippy." Ruby said with a smile, hugging Ripper's head.
Zwei barks happily and jumps on Ripper's head, earning a gentle warble from the Indoraptor.
"Since we're all here, we need to find the security control center, it allows us to find the source of the problem." Glynda said to the group.
They nodded and followed Glynda through the forest. They carefully made their way through some landscape while fighting off some Grimm, with the help of Voltaria's entities and the hybrids. After taking down a pack of Grimm, they stumble upon some ruins that once belonged to a kingdom.
"Who do you think built these?" Blake asked, looking at the broken pillar.
"I'm not entirely sure, the Emerald Forest is filled with ruins of ancient kingdoms." Glynda said to the students. "Even Ozpin has yet to tell me about the kingdoms that were once here at the age of magic."
"I bet Regina knows about this place." Ruby said with a smile.
Indeed, Regina responded kindly.
"Do you know the name of this kingdom?" AJ asked Regina.
Of course, this was once the Kingdom of Briareus. Regina answered them, who were looking at the ruins of the kingdom with curious expressions. The Kingdom of Briareus was strong and powerful, known for its vast army and fighters. It was once ruled by the last king that goes by the name Barret Gerald Montagne the III. He ruled Briareus with an iron fist, commanding his army, bringing fear to the people, and has five wives.
"Hold up!" Weiss stops Regina from speaking. "Are you saying that a tyrant has five wives?"
Oh, yes, five wives who gave birth to him ten sons and six daughters. Regina answered. And it was a blessing to him to have ten sons, for he believed that only a male could rule his kingdom. While he sold his daughters for marriage purposes.
"Some dad he turned out to be." Yang mutters blankly, feeling sorry for those girls that were force into marriage.
"Guess he doesn't have to worry about having male heirs." Wade mutters sarcastically.
Indeed, however, even though he has male heirs, he finds them not worthy to rule his kingdom.
"Great, a tyrannical and obsessive ruler that wants a stronger son and doesn't care for his daughters." Weiss said sarcastically, thinking that the king's personality is like her father.
You have no idea. He even thought of getting another wife but this time, his sixth wife would be a goddess.
The record scratch could be heard from the background as the students, minus Voltaria, and Glynda stared at Regina with wide and shocked eyes. As if they couldn't believe what they were hearing. They couldn't believe that there was a king that wishes to marry a goddess.
"Did…did I hear you right?" Jaune asked hesitantly. "You said that King Barret wants to marry a goddess?"
It's true, Jaune. King Barret wishes to marry a goddess, but not just any goddess, the goddess of the night.
"Wait, isn't she the one that is friends with the God of Light and the God of Darkness?" Blake questions out, hiking up a rock with the others.
That is correct, Blake. King Barret believes that having the Goddess of the Night to be his sixth wife, will give him a child that is half human and half god.
"A demigod child." Glynda spoke, walking alongside Voltaria.
"Why would he want a demigod?" Ren asked, following them from behind while Nora rode on Ripper.
King Barret believed that his generation would be strong if they had the blood of a god. And the goddess, Lunaria, is known to have the great power of the stars, and rumors to predict the future. And he believes that if he has a child with the goddess, his child and his next of kin will have that ability to see the future…
"There's a big but in the end, isn't there?" Yang asked her.
Oh, yes, even though he was determined, King Barret had no idea that he had angered the God of Darkness. He heard his plan and what he will do to his friend. So, he disguises himself as an old traveler, tricking King Barret to tell him his reason for why he wishes to make Lunaria his sixth wife.
"Let me guess, he spilled the beans?" Wade asked, hands behind his head as he walked besides his girlfriend.
Every word that came from his fowl mouth was the truth. He bragged on how he will capture the goddess and make her give him children. And that was enough to anger the God of Darkness. He revealed his true self and King Barret was on his knees, begging for mercy and forgiveness, trying to tell him that it was all a misunderstanding.
"Misunderstanding!? That idiot king tried to make a goddess to be his sixth wife!" Weiss points out with arms forward.
Yeah, well, that coward just entered a lion's den without even thinking about the consequences. Wraith said, recalling the story from Regina long ago.
Wraith is correct, King Barret was too late to realize his mistakes as he angered the God of Darkness. The God cursed King Barret that he will never see the moon, the sun, sky, nor the stars, for he shall live only to see darkness. And he was cast to the deepest darkest abyss and his kingdom was destroyed by Grimm. The once great Kingdom of Briareus was now fallen by the arrogance and pride of their last king.
"Damn, no wonder this place was a wreck." Wade said, looking at the ruins. "That king of theirs ruined it all."
"Agreed." Evo agrees with his leader.
"So…what happened to the people? His sons?" Pyrrha asked, curious about what had happened to King Barret's people and sons.
From what I recall in my past life, there were survivors and three of his youngest sons were able to escape the onslaught. Unlike their older half-brothers, who relied on strength and fear, they were diplomats and kindhearted leaders to build a safe village for the people to live. Regina explains to them.
"At least three of his sons did the right thing." Glynda said to the group.
"Here! Here!" Nora whooped while riding on Ripper who has Zwei resting on his head.
The group continued venturing through the forest before reaching the cave. The security control center was inside of the cave and what they found kinda shocked them. Inside the cave was the security center, but there was a strange device with a weird symbol attached to it. But that's not all. There were even cages inside that had the same symbols that were on the device.
Evo, being the tech expert of the group, examines it, and tells everyone that it was sabotaging the security networks. It will take him time to fix it. While he does that, his friends, Glydna, and the hybrids fight off the incoming Grimm. Voltaria finds it strange when he fights Grimm. Some were tamable but as tried, they hesitated, like they were fighting off her controls. Voltaria didn't have time to guess as she decided to end those Grimm. After they got rid of the Grimm, Evo was able to fix that machine, getting the security network online.
"Good job, Evo!" Wade praised, gently slapping the Snake Faunus' back.
Evo grins and does a two-finger salute. "Thanks, it took a while to fix it. The coding in this bad boy was hard to crack."
"Speaking of which, who made this anyway?" AJ asked, looking at the device that Evo removed. "It has the same symbol as the cages."
"Wonder who owns them?" Asked Yang, looking at the cages.
"A circus?" Nora asked, standing on top of the cage with Ripper and Ripper looking at her.
"Why would you think a circus did it?" Asked AJ in confusion, earning a shrug from Nora.
"I don't think so." Voltaria responded, eyeing the cages suspiciously. "These cages were brought here with the Grimm inside."
"What?" Glynda questions loudly in surprise. The others share the same surprised expression at Voltaria's words. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Voltaria said, tracing her hand on the symbol on the cage. "All of these cages were transporting Grimm. I can still feel their presence within the cages before we slain them."
"By whom? Who is doing this?" Asked Pyrrha, looking at the cages with a suspicious look. "Does it have to do with this strange symbol?"
"That symbol belongs to a company known as Merlot Industries." Voltaria answered, turning towards the group.
Glynda was visibly surprised by this. "Merlot Industries?"
"What's Merlot Industries?" Jaune asked.
"Merlot Industries was an old research and development corporation, far before your time." Glynda explains to the students.
"What happened to it?" Weiss asked, curious about the company.
"As you recall what happened to Mountain Glenn?" Glynda questions the students, earning nods from them. "Merlot Industries' primary facility was at the settlement of Mountain Glenn, but you all know what happened to that."
"Yeah, the massive Grimm attack." Yang said sadly, recalling how the people of Glenn lost their lives on that day.
Ripper, sensing his Auntie Goldie's sadness, gently nudges her back, crooning at her in assurance. Yang smiles and strokes Ripper's head gently.
"Yes, because of the fall of Mount Glenn, the company was forced to shut down. No one has heard of it for years but…why is their symbol showing up now?" Glynda wondered out loud.
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this Merlot Industries." Voltaria said to the group.
They continued venturing the area, finding other security networks, only to be sabotaged by the same company. Wanting to find out what's going on, Glynda contacts Oobleck and tells him about the situation. When he heard about this, Oobleck had suspicion that there might be survivors from Merlot Industries that managed to escape the onslaught of Mount Glenn. To find out more about the company, they went to Mount Glenn to find out the source. They went to the old abandoned building of Merlot Industries. However, upon arrival, they were attacked by Grimm, and they had to defend themselves. Team RWBY, WAVE, JNPR, Glynda, and the two hybrids fought fiercely at the Grimm until the building of Merlot Industries collapsed, causing everyone to fall into Mountain Glenn's subterranean levels. They were lucky that Voltaria's entities saved them before they could hit the ground. They had trouble getting a signal and decided to find a way out. But as they travel deeper, they discover that a section of the cavern has been booby-trapped with a large bomb that would go off at any moment. They couldn't think about who placed it here in the first place as they needed to think of a way to get it out. Fortunately, they got their signal back and Oobleck (who could see the two hybrids because of Voltaria's entities) was there to help. Both he and Evo knew that physically tapering with the device or the cart it's attached to could possibly trigger an explosion, which terrified everyone, minus Voltaria.
Luckily, the tracks lead to a deep chasm and underground river that could stop the explosion. However, with the way the device is rigged, they have to power the cart's engine. So, they have to gather as many Dust crystals as they can find and fast because Grimm came out of nowhere. However, these Creatures of Grimm weren't the ones they fought before. They looked different, mutated, or better, they've been modified.
Unlike all other Grimm, their eyes, markings and inside of their bodies were green instead of red. Their spikes took on an appearance like glowing green crystals. And unlike the Grimm, mutated Grimm possessed powers like exploding and creating waves of crystal-like bone spikes.
It took the group a while to take them down, they were lucky that Voltaria's entities and hybrids were helping them, for their strength helped them take down those mutated Grimm as they managed to contain the explosion by dropping the bomb down a large chasm.
"Okay, this is messed up." Yang said, taking a breather after she and the others just took down many mutant Grimm while the explosion in the chasm released a huge stream of fire. "Why are the Grimm like this?!"
"I know right!" Nora exclaims, leaning on Magnhild. "They're everywhere!"
Ruby, lying on her back against Ripper's side, was panting heavily with her arms spread wide. Zwei whimpers at Ruby with worry as she was out of breath.
"Heh…heh…yeah…where did they come from?" Ruby asked weakly between pants.
Voltaria, on the other hand, was investigating the depleting corpse of the mutated Creep. Unlike the regular Grimm, it doesn't emit smoke. Instead, it slowly disintegrated like burning paper. She narrows her eyes at the mutated Grimm's eyes, searching for clues.
"Hmm…"
Glynda notices Volatria's silence and goes to her. "Is something wrong, Voltaria?"
"These Grimm are not like any other." Voltaria said to them calmly. "It's like…they were altered to be like this."
"Wait, you're saying someone made those Grimm?" Wade questions Voltaria in shock.
"Yes, but I don't think it was our enemy." Voltaria said, referring to Salem.
"If not here, then who?" Glynda asked, wanting to know who made these Grimm.
"I'm about to find out." Voltaria said, glaring at the eyes of the mutant Grimm under her mask.
Soon, Voltaria saw vivid images of the past, seeing an elderly man with disheveled gray hair, a matching mustache and beard and prominent eyebrows. His left eye is robotic and glows red and around it was noticeable claw marks. He was working on something with some scientists assisting him. Followed by Grimm being captured and experimented on. Another vision shows him again and was experimenting on some Grimm. And then the image of Merlot Industries in Mount Glenn, followed by the destruction of it and the city.
Voltaria gasped as she withdrew from the vision, panting heavily, while the mutated Grimm was gone. Glynda and her friends came next to her, checking if she was okay. Voltaria took deep breaths, letting out heavy sighs, trying to calm herself.
"V? You okay?" Wade asked in concern.
"What did you see?" AJ asked, noticing the cold sweat Voltaria was emitting.
Voltaria steady her breathing and looks at them. "I saw…Merlot Industries…they were…they were experimenting with Grimm; they were trying to enhance them, control them, but…but they couldn't. In the end, it only brought more Grimm…it was the reason for the fall of Mount Glenn…they captured Grimm and experimented with them and…and it lured more Grimm, and Mount Glenn fell because of it."
This information shocked everyone, especially Glynda. She and the other professors have their suspicions, but they never knew that company caused that great tragedy.
"So…Mount Glenn's massive Grimm attack…it wasn't caused by them…" Wade slowly put the pieces together along with the others. "They were lured there…by people…experimenting with the Grimm that they captured."
"All those innocent lives on Mount Glenn…" Yang whispers, fists clenched together. "They could've been alive…"
"Why…why did they do that?" Pyrrha asked in horror. She couldn't imagine why some people brought those Grimm in the first place.
Voltaria slowly gets up with the help of Glynda and looks at them under her mask. "I am not sure…but I do know it…they only did it for the sake of science."
Her words spoke the truth. The people that were working under Merlot Industries must have been terrible people that brought the fall of Mountain Glenn. They were experimenting and mutating Grimm for their research and the result was the destruction and death of a community.
Yang was angered by this as she blindly punches a cage that has the Merlot Industries logo with a powerful yell. It broke down instantly due to her strength. She was angered by the fact that those working under that company allowed that horrible tragedy to happen. And now…now they're back. And needed to be stopped.
"We need to find out more about what Merlot Industries is up to." Blake said, sharing the same anger as Yang.
"Agreed, that company needs to be shut down for good." Glynda agrees, hating the idea of that company being active and causing harm again.
They all agreed before they heard Oobleck from their communicators.
-Hello?! Team!? Professor Goodwitch?! Are you still there?! Answer me!- Asked loudly through the communicator.
Wade was the one who answered. "We're fine, Dr. Oobleck, we took care of the bomb."
They heard Oobleck letting out a sigh of relief.
-Well…I'm glad everyone was able to keep their cool…and not explode…that would've made for an uncomfortable parent/teacher conference.-
"I heard that." Glynda said through the communicator, for she is Voltaria's guardian.
Oobleck chuckles nervously before clearing his throat. -Right, but still we have a lot of ground to cover. For starters, who reprogrammed the security network? Who set that trap? And where in the world did the mutated Grimm come from? I have several theories…and none of them are good news.-
They agreed and ventured off through the cavern, following a path that leads them out. Surprisingly, they found themselves in Forever Fall. They walked through the path while investigating the trail left behind by Merlot Industries. There, they discover more disturbing evidence of Merlot's unhealthy practices, such as a Temple that was used as a Grimm holding facility and more mutated Grimm, including new mutant Beowolves. At the end of the trail, they discovered a ship filled with cargos that have faded logos of Vale and Schnee Dust Company. They showed the ship to Oobleck, who immediately recognized it.
-Team, this discovery is a bit unexpected and is worse than I feared. That appears to be an active Merlot Industries ship. But Dr. Merlot hasn't been heard from or seen in ages…I must inform Ozpin at once. Meanwhile, I want you to investigate the ship, but please keep a safe distance.-
"We will stay in touch." Glynda said to Oobleck through the communicator.
"Wait, who's Dr. Merlot?" Jaune asked in confusion.
"Dr. Merlot was the founder of Merlot Industries." Glynda explains to the students. "He was also the head scientist of that company."
"You think he was the one that caused the fall of Mount Glenn?" Asked Ren.
"He could be, after all, I think I saw him in my vision." Voltaria said to the group. "He was the one calling the shots."
"But how is it possible?" Weiss asked in shock. "Dr. Oobleck said that he hadn't been heard or seen for years when Mount Glenn fell."
"Did they at least recover any bodies from the wreckage?" AJ asked Glynda and the others.
Blake was the one who answered as she shook her head, "No, Dr. Oobleck told us that the people of Mount Glenn retreated to the underground sub levels as a safe haven, cutting themselves off from the surface." Blake lowers her head in sadness. "But it didn't last long because there was an explosion that opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. Forcing the Kingdom to officially seal off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb."
"A lot of bodies were not recovered from that day," Voltaria said, glaring towards the ship. "To him, it was an opportunity to fake his death in order to continue his work in secret."
"That bastard." Wade mutters darkly. "He's gonna pay when we find him."
"Yeah!" Ruby, Yang, and Nora agreed.
The group carefully went through the cargo containers, as they attempted to infiltrate the Merlot Industries ship coming in to dock. Amaryllis uses her camouflage ability to be undetected while Ripper sneaks through the shadows. They hid behind the cover of shipping containers, in hopes to get a better look, but get trapped when the container they are hiding is suddenly loaded onto the departing ship. They could not escape as they were ready off to who knows where. Unaware that Oobleck was trying to contact them.
-Team?! Where are you? Report in! Students, Professor Goodwitch, please!-
No reply from them as the Merlot Industries ship took off to unknown location, severing communication.
-Oh dear. Ozpin's not going to be happy about this.-
When they lost communication, they were temporarily radio silence. They tried to figure out how to get out, but Voltaria suggested that they should wait, for they might find out the truth of Merlot's Industries location. It took them approximately a couple of hours before they reached their destination. They were able to get out of the crate, thanks to Ripper's claws, and found themselves on a remote island that has an abandoned facility.
"Uh…where are we?" Jaune asked nervously.
"I don't know, but we're a long way from Vale." Wade answered to Jaune.
"Oh, great…" Jaune mutters fearfully.
Ruby looks around while Amaryllis, Ripper, and Zwei sniff around. Searching for any signs of danger. "Are we on some kind of island?"
"Looks that way." Voltaria said, examining the dock.
Soon, there was radio static on their communicators. They checked that Oobleck was attempting to contact them, but couldn't, due to the fact that something was blocking their signal.
"Dr. Oobleck? Is that you? Ooohh, you're breaking up!" Ruby said, trying to contact Oobleck, but to no avail. The signal was bad, and they couldn't hear him.
"We need to get to higher ground for a better signal." Wade said to the group.
"Hey, look over there!" Ruby pointed out to a tower in the distance. "Maybe we can get a signal if we reach that tower!"
Glynda and the others follow her gaze. "Hm…it could work." Glynda commented. "But stay close, we don't know what we might encounter here."
Acknowledging her words, they venture to the tower. But in doing so, they found out that this island wasn't so remote. Turns out, there were powerful security androids on the island. These androids were different from the AK-200, they were bigger and wielded a double-bladed weapon that was imbued with dust.
"What the Hell?!" Wade readied his Justiceshot, loading them with Fire Dust.
"Where did these androids come from?!" Yang yelled in surprise, readying her Ember Celica.
"Guess we're not alone on this island afterall." Evo said, transforming his Musicshocker to its battle ax form.
Glynda points The Disciplinarian at the androids. "Students! Stay close and get ready!"
Ruby readies her Crescent Rose while Amaryllis and Ripper growled at the androids with Zwei barking on top of Ripper's head. "Let's show these buckets of bolts who's boss!" Ruby said to the team.
Voltaria projects a Fire Dust sword and agrees with Ruby. "Let's."
The team fought against the androids with their might. Yang dodges incoming slash attacks from one and punching/shooting at the same time, before uppercutting it under the chin, sending the android's head flying. Weiss points her Myrtenaster at the androids and uses her Glyphs, creating sharp ice projectiles at the androids. Blake, Ren, and AJ transformed their weapons into their bladed form before charging at the androids with incredible speed, cutting the legs, arms, and head off the robots. Nora turns Magnhild into its hammer form and slams at three incoming androids with one hit, sending them flying. Evo did the same, turning his Musicshocker into a guitar before slamming it down, creating a shockwave that shuts down the androids near him. Wade shoots the androids on the heads and does a roundhouse kick on the android's head clean off. Glynda points The Disciplinarian and uses her telekinesis to stop the androids from their tracks, before slamming them together. Voltaria easily maneuvers through the sea of androids, cutting them down with her Fire Dust Sword. Jaune and Pyrrha work together to take down upcoming androids. Jaune uses his shield to block the android's attack, allowing Pyrrha to cut off its head. Amaryllis and Ripper worked together to mow down the androids, biting their heads off or tearing them to pieces. Zwei was on Ripper's back, cheering his fellow packmate.
They fought their way to the tower to get a signal. However, when they did, they only received a radio static and Ooblcek indecipherable voice.
"Awwww, dang it, it's still all scrambled!" Ruby said in annoyance before firing a bullet at an incoming android.
Everyone, Hannibal spotted another tower nearby, we can get a better signal there. Tabitha informed them.
They went to the next tower but had trouble getting there as they were fighting through a pack of Grimm that were on the island. They even had to break through a metal door to get to the other side. When they got closer, they got a weak signal and they could barely hear Oobleck's voice.
-[Radio static] Whatever you do…just keep doing that! The radio [unintelligible speaking] …somewhere else on the island. You must… [radio static] …and then… [radio static]. Understood?-
Sadly, no one understood him, at all.
"Dr. Oobleck, we kinda heard you." Ruby responded awkwardly.
"Rubs, we barely heard him." Yang said to her sister.
"Only we heard bits of it." Weiss added.
"Uh, let's keep exploring, team!" Ruby said, changing the subject.
The group headed towards the tower to get a signal. There is less radio static than before, allowing them to hear Oobleck a little clearly.
-Team! It's working. The signal seems better but…for some reason I'm not sure if you can still hear me. A little more and I can pinpoint your location on the island and if you can't do that, you will all die! Nevertheless, keep it up!-
"Thanks for the motivation, Dr. Oobleck." Voltaria mutters sarcastically before they run off to the last tower.
"There's the last tower!" Ruby points out, dogging an incoming Grimm which Ripper grabs with his jaw and rips it to pieces. "This way!"
They venture to the last tower, which was bigger than the two towers, and fight off the incoming Grimm. Due to its size, the group was able to get a better signal as it could give out a wide range. They quickly contact Oobleck.
"Hello? Dr. Oobleck? Are you there?" Ruby asked through her scroll.
-Ahhh, that's better. Sorry, but the reception is always so bad all the way out here. I hope you're enjoying your stay on the island.- Said an unknown man's voice from the scroll, surprising everyone. -You're the first visitors I've had in, well, hmm…you are the first.-
"Umm…you're not Dr. Oobleck." Ruby said nervously while Ripper and Zwei growled at the strange man.
"Who the hell is this?" Wade demanded, glaring at the scroll.
-Oh, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. My name's Dr. Merlot. You don't know me, but I most certainly know who you are, especially you, Ms. Voltaria Eclipse.
Everyone, minus Voltaria, gasped at his words. "It's him! Dr. Merlot!" Ruby exclaims in shock.
"How the hell did he get to this channel?!" Wade exclaims in shock.
"Yeah! And aren't you supposed to be dead?!" Nora added in anger.
"What do you want from us and how do you know about Voltaria?" Glynda demanded, glaring at Ruby's scroll.
-Oh, such rudeness. Nevertheless, I'm thrilled you're all here. You might be exactly what I need for a very important...experiment.- He said the last part with sick amusement.
They didn't like the word experiment. Already dreading the outcome.
"Why does he mean by experiment?" Jaune asked nervously.
-For such terrific students as yourselves along with a professional huntsman, this should be an easy test, right?-
"We ain't your lab rats, Dr. Merlot." Wade said angrily. "This game of yours needs to end."
-Oh, dear boy, it's just the beginning.- Dr. Merlot said with a sly tone in his voice.
Before they could ask him what he meant, they were suddenly attacked by the Creatures of Grimm. Most likely been lured here by Merlot. Annoyed, the group was forced to fight them. Voltaria uses her ability to tame some of the Grimm, ordering them to fight rogues, which they did. While the Grimm that Voltaria tamed fights off half the horde, Merlot was laughing through the scroll.
-Excellent! As expected for the infamous Grimm Girl.- Merlot said amusingly.
"Your compliment means nothing." Voltaria responded, slashing a Grimm in half with her blade.
-Oh, it means something, my dear. For you are one of a kind.-
"Okay, you're getting creepier by the minute, buster!" Nora exclaimed, wrestling an Ursa, smashing her hammer on its head multiple times with an angry yell.
Soon, Ozpin came into the conversation. Due to the lack of signal, he can only speak and hear through the scroll, and is not able to see. Which was a good thing since he didn't know that Ripper and Amaryllis were here, and they were fighting off some Grimm at a distance from their conversation.
-So we meet again, Dr. Merlot.-
-Ozpin? Or shall I call you Oz like old times, chum?-
Wade was holding the arms of the Beowolf, averting his head from getting chewed by the Grimm. "Chum? Since when was Professor Ozpin friends with this lunatic?!" He asked loudly before kicking the Grimm at the stomach, firing multiple rounds at it.
"He was once a promising ally, but I guess we were wrong." Glynda said, using her Semblance to toss away three Grimm.
-I thought you perished in the Mountain Glenn disaster, a tragedy you played no small part in.-
-Twas a mere speed bump on the superhighway of scientific progress. You couldn't possibly imagine the ramifications of my latest research.-
-The world was a much safer place without you, Merlot.- Ozpin stated in a deadpan tone.
-You're calling me the reckless one? Sending your students out on an excursion like this?- Merlot mocks, stating about the students and Glynda fighting off the Grimm.
"HEY!" The students, minus Voltaria, yelled unison before resuming their fight against the Grimm.
-They're more than a match for your mindless robots. What you're doing here is wrong, Merlot.- Ozpin said to Merlot in a dead serious tone.
-Trying to make the world a better place is wrong? Say what you will about me. It won't change the fact that you're powerless to stop me.-
"Watch it, buster!" Nora yelled, slamming her hammer on the Creep's head.
-You'll botch this somehow. You always do.- Ozpin stated the facts to Merlot.
But Merlot just brushes it off. -Well, let's agree to disagree. I tell you Oz, it has been truly a pleasure catching up, but, unfortunately, it's time for me to run. Farewell, old chum.-
When Merlot leaves the communication, everyone agrees that he was the worst man ever.
"Okay, that guy is going down." Yang said before yelling as she punched a Beowolf hard that sent it flying.
"Professor Ozpin, is there a way for you to find our location?" Wade asked, shooting a Grimm on the head and kicking a Creep away from him.
-We've been attempting to locate Merlot's Island, but we've yet to obtain its coordinates. I need you to continue exploring the island and contact me when you find any evidence of his whereabouts.-
"Roger that!" Ruby said before slicing incoming Grimm with her scythe.
The group ventures further and deeper into Merlot's Island. This part of the island was dark, covered with pipes and strange machines, resembling a nuclear power plant. It was also producing a mysterious radioactive substance oozing in the pipes that were connected to the toxic pools around them. The pungent odor makes everyone, including the hybrids and Zwei, feel absolute disgust of the horrible smell.
"Ewww…this place smells terrible!" Ruby complains, pinching her nose.
"Yeah, it smells worse than my drunken uncle." Wade said grimace.
"Eugh, I think I'm going to puke." Evo said, wanting to throw up.
Voltaria kneels down and touches the ground with her hand. She senses that the island was producing this weird substance. She could feel a strange energy from it. It felt like…a boost to the Grimm, yet it felt like poison at the same time.
"This island…this island is producing this substance." Voltaria informs them. "It's deadly to us but to the Grimm…it's like a boost of energy for them…"
"Maybe that's why this place is favored by that asshole of a scientist." Wade said, still annoyed by the fact that Merlot was using them as his personal lab rats.
"By the way, Professor Goodwitch?" AJ questions the huntress with them. "How does Professor Ozpin know about Dr. Merlot?"
Glynda looks at her and then to the area filled with these toxic pools. "Well, long before you were born, Dr. Merlot…was supposed to be a professor of Beacon to teach students of the variant of Grimm."
The students, even Voltaria, stare at Glynda in disbelief, as they couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"He was going to be our professor!?" Yang exclaims in disbelief.
"No way!" Nora and Ruby exclaim in shock.
"He was?!" Weiss eye twitched at this.
"Please tell me you're joking?" Blake added, grimacing at the thought of Merlot being their professor.
"I wish I was," Glynda mutters out. "However, he didn't get to be due to some complaints from the professors, he didn't get the job. Professor Port did."
Thank the Gods for that. Regina said to Glynda. I do not appreciate how Dr. Merlot was speaking to Voltaria like that.
Yeah, he sounds like a pedophilia to me. Wraith mutters out.
Yet, he seems to be more interested in Voltaria taming Grimm than us. I wonder why? Said Tabitha.
"Whatever he wants with me, he better stay away, I am not comfortable with that thought." Voltaria said in disgust.
They ventured through the disgusting area, not wanting to fall into the toxic pool. They noticed many pipes that were connected to these substances. Voltaria theorizes that turning off the valves will stop the flow of these substances from going through the pipes. Preventing Merlot's experimentation to go one as well as following the pipeline that would lead them straight to Merlot. So, they closed all the valves while fighting against Merlot's mutant Grimm and androids (which they learn that he has another version that carries a huge cannon).
-It's amazing that you survived the disaster in Mountain Glenn, Merlot. Was it sheer luck or part of your master plan?-
-Would you believe me if I told you it wasn't my fault?- Merlot questions with fake innocence.
"NO!" Everyone yelled in unison, still fighting off Merlot's mutant Grimm and androids.
-I believe that you wouldn't take accountability for your actions.-
-Admittedly, Mountain Glenn is a bit of a sore spot for me. Decades of hard work, countless research projects, not to mention all of the specimen I'd collected over the years - all lost without a trace.- Merlot said, sound upset and disappointed.
"Wait a freaking minute, you're upset because you lost your messed up research?!" Evo exclaimed, slamming his Musicshocker, in guitar form, on to a Beowolf hard.
"You're more messed up than ever!" Ruby added in annoyance, slicing five Beowolves in half with her scythe.
-The work done at Merlot Industries was critical in the advancement of artificial intelligence and genetics. Without it, Remnant would still be in the dark ages.-
"It's the opposant on what you are saying." Voltaria counter acts, commanding some nearby Grimm to attack the mutant ones, which they did, "You were going to put Remnant back to the dark ages by mutating the Grimm with these substances."
Merlot chuckles in amusement. -Ah, you are one clever girl, Ms. Eclipse. I can see why Oz has taken you in to his school.-
-Enough of this banter. You've missed the point! An entire city was laid to waste. Countless lives were lost. My only question is how much of the damage were you personally responsible for?!-
-Well, how else was I supposed to conduct my research? Our supply of test subjects was running thin.- Merlots said to Ozpin with fake innocence.
"Your 'research' forced the city's population to go underground!" Blake yelled, dodging an android's sharp blade before it was punched away by Yang.
-Do you believe things happen for a reason?- Merlot questions them. -I mean, as Oz's little prodigies, you all practically washed ashore here on my island. Well, except for Ms. Eclipse of course, she is allowed on my island as my honored guest.-
All in favor that he's a sick demented asshole say: 'Aye'. Wraith said to the teens.
"Aye!" All Voltaria's friends said unison telepathically.
-I'm not sure what you're getting at and your sick interest with Ms. Eclipse, Merlot.- Ozpin said to Merlot.
-Oh, you will never understand her, for she is one of a kind. As for your students, maybe they can be of some use to me after all? How serendipitous.- Merlot said in sick amusement. -Unfortunately, you won't be able to watch, Oz.-
-Merlot, don't…-
Merlot cuts the link, preventing the team from contacting Ozpin or others. Forcing them to be on their own. Glynda mutters under her breath how twisted Merlot was. They venture deeper to the island and find a facility that was inside a cave. When they entered, they found themselves inside a laboratory of some kind that had pipes on the walls and ceiling, along with cameras and computer screens, and most of the floor tiles were hexagon shaped.
"What is this place?" Weiss asked the group.
"You think this is the lab?" Asked Nora as they entered the facility.
Just then, Merlot was on the screen, and he spoke proudly of this place. - Greetings, and welcome to Merlot Industries, where we're building a better tomorrow...today!-
The group and the hybrids stared at the screen with confused and blank expressions. Thinking that Merlot may have bipolar disorder or that he's downright crazy.
"I think we found the place." Ren said to the group with awkwardness.
"Hooray…" Voltaria sarcastically said.
"This just keeps getting weirder." Ruby whines in disarray with Zwei and the hybrids agreeing with her.
The group searched for clues until they were attacked by Merlot's security androids and mutant Grimm. The hybrids roar and charge at the robots at full speed, taking them down by stomping or biting them as their blades have no effect on them. The group took down the Mutant Grimm giving Glynda time to open the door. When their path was clear, they entered a big elevator that could fit both Ripper and Amaryllis, as it brought them to the lower level. They then found a door with Merlot on top of the screen, smiling wickedly at them.
- Making yourselves at home, I see? I want my guests to feel welcome, but my security team rarely feels the same way.-
"Gee, we're feeling the warm welcome here after you send your killer robots and mutated Grimm." Yang said sarcastically to Merlot.
They ignored Merlot and entered a room that was the atrium. But upon arrival, they were attacked by security robots yet again along with mutated Grimm. While Merlot, who wouldn't shut up, talks about his organization.
- Here at Merlot Industries, we take pride in innovation. Together, with your help... and a little of your special spark, we will build a better tomorrow!-
"For you, doc, there won't be any tomorrow to 'restore'." Wade said sarcastically before punching a robot hard.
The group then reaches the elevator and Wade is about to press a button when it suddenly goes down.
"Uhhh, did someone hit a button on the elevator? I SWEAR it wasn't me this time." Nora said.
"It wasn't you, Nora, it's Dr. Merlot." Voltaria said, "He's the one controlling the facility.
When they reached the floor, they found themselves in a laboratory facility with tanks filled with those substances that were mutating the Grimm. Everyone was shocked and disgusted by the sight before them.
"What in the…" Before Weiss could speak, Merlot yet again explained about this place.
-Here before you are the stage two processing tanks!-
"Ugh…the tanks of goo. They're attracting more mutants!" Ruby said, grimacing at the sight.
Glynda glares at those tanks and to the mutated Grimm before pointing The Disciplinarian at the robots. "Students, destroy the tanks, if we cut off his supplies, he won't be able to create more of these mutants."
"She's right." Voltaria said, projecting two Fire Dust Blades.
"Okay!" Everyone said with the hybrids roaring in agreement.
Working together, they destroyed each tank while fighting off the threat. After destroying Merlot's robots, mutant Grimm, and tanks, he doesn't show any sign of aggression, he only continues his tour of the nightmarish facility.
"So…we destroyed his stuff and he's not even mad?" Ruby questions out in confusion.
"I feel like this is all an elaborate set up." Ren said in discomfort.
"Same here." Voltaria said before they venture to the open the elevator where it took them to another floor, which appears to be the engineering room.
-Here we have the Engineering wing, the so-called 'brains' of the operation, if you're not counting my own intellect.- Merlot laughs to himself. -Don't be timid, there aren't any traps here...yet.-
"Only knowing you for an hour, I doubt it." Yang said in annoyance.
"You never keep your promises." Jaune added in Yang's comment.
"Wow…check out all these computers!" Ruby commented, looking around the room.
"I guess this room runs the entire island." Evo said, being a tech expert.
"Hmm…" Glynda inspects the room. "See if you can find any terminals that we can acess."
"Why?" Wade asked the professor.
"If we reach the terminal, we can access the data and layouts of this facility…"
Evo understood her. "So, we know about his work and facility! We can hack through it."
"How long will it take for you to hack it?" Blake asked.
"Leave that to Regina." Evo said telepathically. "Merlot will never expect an entity doing it."
Clever idea, Evo. Regina complimented.
They search through the computers to find the terminal, while fighting off the security robots, before getting Regina to hack into the system. Merlot has no idea how they hack so fast, but they did, which was impossible feet unless you have an entity.
-Wait, did you just…oh no…how could I be so stupid?!-
Hehehe, he confessed he's stupid. Wraith said, earning snickers from Ruby, Nora, and Yang.
"Regina, did you find anything?" Voltaria asked her entity.
Yes, go to the lower levels to the manufacturing wing. But be warned, Dr. Merlot is probably waiting. Regina informs them.
They understood and headed there. While they go there, Regina informs them that the coordinates to Merlot's secret lab were contained within the data retrieved from the terminal. Regina will send a distress beacon to Ozpin to send an airship for them and will rendezvous with them shortly after they deal with Merlot. However, before she could do it, a mutant Beowolf appeared in front of them. But strangely, unlike the other mutant Grimm, this one wasn't attacking. Instead, it just stood there, staring at them.
"Um…why is that mutant Grimm staring at us?" Juane asked nervously.
"You think it's waiting for us to attack?" Nora whispers, readying her harmer.
Pyrrha shook her head. "I don't think so."
Ruby leans over to Voltaria. "Hey, Volty…do you think you can…I don't know…communicate with it?" She whispers to her friend.
"I don't know, I attempted to do it before, but it didn't work." Voltaria said to her friends and professor. "I'm not sure it will work now?"
"At least try." Glynda said to Voltaria. "This one seems to be more…calmer than the rest."
She's right…this one shows no aggression but signs of…intelligence? Interesting… Regina murmurs.
Maybe this is one evolved from the experiments and Merlot didn't know about it. Tabitha suggested.
"Well then…it's worth a shot." Voltaria mutters out before going over to the Grimm. "Listen to me, help us find a way to stop Merlot."
The Mutated Grimm froze, its body started shaking slightly. The group were worried that the Mutant Grimm would attack, but it did not, it did something that caused everyone, including Voltaria, to be in shock.
Help…me…please
Everyone was taken back by this. The mutant Grimm in front of them…it spoke! In their minds! It was impossible and the Grimm sounded like a girl no doubt. Voltaria looks at her shocked teammates and professor before turning back to the shaken Grimm.
"What's wrong?" She asked it telepathically.
He won't…let us go…
"He?" Glynda whispers out in shock.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who this Mutant Grimm was talking about. "What did Dr. Merlot has done to you?" Voltaria asked the Mutated Grimm, speaking to it or her like a person.
The Mutated Grimm slowly speaks to her.
He…captured…me…others…he won't…let us…go…
"Did he turn you into this?" Pyrrha asked in horror.
No…he…traps…us…to control…them…with our…minds… The mutated Grimm tries to explain to them. The mutated Grimm holds its head. This…poison…hurts…our heads…make it…stop…please…please…
The girl that was controlling the Mutated Grimm pleaded, begging them to save her and the others. They figure that Merlot kidnapped her and did a horrible experiment. There could be more of them. And they have to save them. But first, they need to stop Merlot's serum from harming her. Regine instructs them to go to the power facility as they destroyed everything that may be vital to Merlot's operation. And boy they didn't show any hesitation. The hybrids help their pack to take down the tanks, destroying the machines, and smashing his robots.
"This stuff looks important! Sure would be a shame if someone totally wrecked all of it." Jaune joked while Pyrrha smashes a computer.
"Hammer Time!" Nora yelled, slamming her hammer onto a tank, breaking it and spilling the serum to the floor.
The Mutated Grimm with them smashed the control councils as Voltaria instructed her to follow them, which Mutant Grimm did. Merlot was watching the whole thing in pure horror as his laboratory was being wrecked by children!
-You're not authorized to be in here!-
"Don't need to, you bastard!" Wade yelled, shooting an incoming android.
"Destroy everything!" Ruby whooped, slicing more robots.
When they destroyed the power facility, they moved to the next room, with Regina instructing them. According to the map of the lab, this room contains more processing equipment for his serum. And they have to take it out, all of it.
-My serum...- Merlot sighs in frustration, trying to keep his cool. -No matter...Thankfully, I may have already synthesized the perfect combination. It's still in a test phase, but so far the data is looking very impressive.-
"I doubt it." Voltaria mutters before they run to another hallway. There, the mutated Grimm that was with them was showing the way to a private facility. But as they walked through the railings, it suddenly broke, causing Voltaria, Ruby, and Amaryllis to fall into the hole.
Their teammates, Ripper, and Glynda yelled for them as they were about to grab them until the ground shook, forcing them to retreat. The Mutant Grimm leads them to the safety of another room, quickly entering and the metal door closes behind them when debris falls off the ceiling.
"Oh, gods, we left them behind!" Wade yelled out.
"We have to go back! We have to…to…oh my…" Yang trails off when she sees something that made her jaw drop.
They followed her gaze, and their jaws to drop at the sight. In front of them was a huge metal room, wires and monitors were connected to multiple monoplace chambers. And inside those chambers were young human and Faunus girls, the same age as Voltaria, all to be in some comatose state. But what's more shocking was that they have EEG headsets. Their hearts were monitored on the screen. And to their relief, these girls are still alive, for now.
"What is Merlot doing to them?" Weiss asked in horror.
"A-are they…you know…" Jaune dares not to finish his question.
"No, they're not dead," Evo assures, examining the tech, "They're trapped in some sort of suspended animation."
"But why?" AJ questions out loud, wondering why Merlot was doing something so heinous.
Before they could theorize, the mutant Grimm that came along walked over to one of the pods. Inside was a young girl that has black afro hair, mocha skin, and has lion ears and tail. The mutant Beowolf pointed its claw at her and said to them this.
This…is…me…Aysha…
They all gasped in horror at her words. They slowly realize that Merlot kidnapped these girls and was trying to transfer these girls' subconsciousness into the mutant Grimm!
"Wh-wha…why…how…" Pyrrha whispers in horror, covering her mouth in pure shock as these innocent girls were experimented on by that cruel man.
We…don't know…he just took us…all we want…is to go home…please help us…please…
They understood that Aysha wants to be free and save the other girls.
"We'll help you, Aysha, don't worry." Jaune assures the young girl that was controlling the Mutated Grimm.
"But why did Merlot only kidnap only girls?" Nora asked, looking at the slumbering girls in their chambers with a worried expression. "What do they have in common?"
He…said…that we…share…the same aura…as her…and he…wants us to be like her. Aysha said to them.
Wade raised a brow. "Same aura?" He mutters out in confusion until he asks. "And who is her?"
Aysha made the mutant Grimm points at the opened small screen on the wall. Her…
They looked at the small screen and Evo went over to it. Using his tech skills, he was able to open the screen that was containing files of Merlot's work and experiments. Evo reads through before letting out a loud gasp, catching everyone's attention.
"Evo, what's wrong?" Ren asked in concern.
"What's in those files?" Glynda asked him.
Evo turns to them, showing his shocked look under his visor. "Merlot kidnapped them because he believed they shared the same aura as…Voltaria." He answered, earning gasps from the group.
"What?" Glynda whispers in shock.
"Merlot has a terrifying obsession towards Voltaria. He's been trying to get her, study her, trying to learn her abilities on how to control Grimm." Evo types in some keys and the files were shown to the big screen. Everyone stared at the screen in shock as there were pictures of Voltaria in wanted posters, in her school, with her team, and her friends at the courtyard.
"Merlot's been stalking V?" Wade questions in disgust with Ripper growling slowly.
"Disgusting." Yang spat out in anger, disgusted by how Merlot had been watching their friend.
"Why is he so obsessed with V?" Nora asked worriedly.
"Apparently, he wants to know the secrets of her ability, that's why he sent a secret bounty to her. But she always got away. So, the closest thing he could do is to recreate her. That's why he kidnapped these girls. He believes that due to their same age and auras, he can make them to be like Voltaria, to become his very own Grimm Girls." Evo explains to the whole group with a worried look in his eyes.
Glynda glares at the screen. There were multiple reports of missing girls from the other kingdoms and villages, mostly girls that are twelve years old, the same age as Voltaria. And a mysterious high price bounty on Voltaria was given by an anonymous sponsor. Glynda and Ozpin could not find out who sent those bounty until now. All this time, they thought he perished, but it was an excuse to continue his experiments and try to get Voltaria. Now, he's experimenting on young girls to be like her.
"Evo, can you find a way to free these girls from their prison?" Glynda asked Evo, walking over to him.
"I can try, but I'm gonna need help." Evo said.
"We're on it." Weiss said, referring to her and Blake.
While Evo, Weiss, and Blake figure out the codes to release the girls, Aysha's mutant Grimm was staring at her sleeping form. Glynda walked to her, glancing at the Mutant Grimm and then to Aysha's sleeping form.
I…I want to go home…back to my moms…my brothers…
"We will get you home and the others," Glynda assures her. "We just need your help and cooperation in helping us stop Merlot to free you all."
"Speaking of which, where are the others? You know, ones like you?" Asked Yang.
Hiding…from Merlot…afraid of him…to use us…as his experiments. We don't…want him to find us…or he'll trap us in the Grimm, just like Minden.
"Minden? Who is Minden? And what did he do to her?" Glynda asked Aysha in concern.
Aysha made the mutant Grimm go to a pod with a girl that has dark short wavy hair, sleeping peacefully. Aysha points at the girl and says to Glynda.
Minden…was the first…to be a success…but then…he made her stay too long…in the big one…
"B-Big one?" Jaune stutters nervously.
Aysha points at the Mutated Grimm's claws on a big screen. That…big one…
They followed her direction and looked at the screen with dread. Sure enough, the 'Big One' that Minden was in was actually a Mutated Deathstalker.
And they have a bad feeling that Ruby, Voltaria, and Amaryllis were going to encounter it.
Ruby, Voltaria, and Amaryllis were falling to a pit. Ruby screams while Amaryllis roars in panic. Unlike them, Voltaria kept her cool and ordered her entities to land them to safety. Which they did, and the shadows surrounded them before bringing the three to safety. Ruby sighs in relief and smiles.
"Thanks, guys." Ruby thanked the entities gratefully.
Are you alright? Regina asked in concern.
"I think so…but where are we?" Ruby asked in concern, looking around the area.
Before Voltaria could respond, the lights opened, revealing a pit-like arena. Voltaria and Ruby ready themselves while Amaryllis growls in any direction, ready to defend her mothers. Just then, Merlot appeared on the screen. His smug look hides his anger from the girls.
-Welcome to the testing grounds, dear students! Why don't you go ahead and get acquainted with my test subjects? They could use the exercise.-
"Merlot, quit playing games and let us out." Voltaria said coldly, projecting two ice blades.
-Oh, the games are not over yet, Ms. Eclipse. For I have yet to see your full potential.-
"What do you want from Volty, you creep!" Ruby yelled, readying her scythe.
-I just want what I came for, seeing the infamous Grimm Girl to show her true power!-
"Then why were you kidnapping people?" Voltaria questions the scientist in a cold tone.
-Kidnapping? OH! You are referring to my test subjects, I am surprised you were able to communicate with one of them.-
Ruby grips her weapon tightly. "Why did you take them?! They have a family!"
-Oh, I'm doing them a big favor! Their daughters share the same aura as you, Ms. Eclipse. They can become one with my creations. However, they can only control one, but you…you Ms. Eclipse, you control them as if they were your army! You are the perfect being to be amongst the Grimm!-
While Merlot babbled, Voltaria gave her entities an order to find her friends and Glynda. Regina and Tabitha go while Wraith and Hannibal stay behind to help Voltaria and Ruby.
"If they weren't a success, why don't you let them go?" Ruby asked the craze scientist.
-My dear, they may be failures, but they can still be improve by your DNA.-
"MY DNA?" Voltaria growled. "You think giving my DNA would allow them to have the same ability to command Grimm?!"
-Not just command, they can also be one with them! For years, I've been trying to perfect the Creatures of Grimm through science that nature and evolution failed for years, and I thought I would give up. Until you, Ms. Eclipse, came to light. You were the missing key ingredient for perfecting the Grimm. You were like a gift sent by the heavens above.-
"You are mad, you know that, right?" Voltaria growled at him.
-Mad? No, dear. I am thrilled to know of your existence. That you came to this imperfect world, followed by two unknown dinosaurs that shows rare genetics of hybridism. You could command them and the Grimm as a war chief! The test subjects cannot compare your ability, for you are born with a rare power! And they must have it to be perfect! To make Remnant a perfect world!-
His words were disgusting in their ears. Why on Remnant why would he try to make Remnant perfect? As if. There is no such thing as perfect. Voltaria recalls from her mother when she was young that everyone has flaws, but that makes them special and unique in their own way. And Merlot doesn't see that. He only sees himself as some sort of 'God of Grimm' which he is not.
"You are indeed the vilest man ever to exist." Voltaria said before glaring at his screen. "And you will be stopped. RUBY! AMA!"
"Ready!" Ruby readies her weapon and Amaryllis bears her fang.
-So be it. If you won't cooperate, then I have to use force!- Merlot said before sending his mutant Grimm and security androids at the girls.
Both Ruby and Voltaria scissor crossed through the horde of mutated Grimm while Amaryllis took down the robots with sheer force and her brutal strength. While they fought them off, and ignoring Merlot's ranting, their friends were trying to figure out how to free the girls in their slumbery prison. Ripper and Zwei were sniffing around to find clues before they found a desk with a journal. They called out to their packmates, and Glynda went over to them.
"What is it?" Glynda asked the hybrid and dog.
Ripper nudges the journal to Glynda and the huntress picks it up, reading through the notes and words that were written by Merlot. Glynda's eyes skimmed through Merlot's notes and found out he was planning to create his own Grimm Girl army. By fusing Voltaria's DNA with the girls that he captured. He believed that if they have the same aura as Voltaria, then her DNA fused with them will allow the girls to have the power of controlling Grimm. Glynda glares at this and grips the journal tightly, almost crumpling the papers. The students don't know about this, but Regina warned Glynda beforehand when the school was required for their annual check-up. As it turns out, Voltaria's blood was infused with the venoms of a Deathstalker and a Manticore. Two deadly and venomous Grimm. With those venoms in Voltaria's blood, it would've killed her, but no, her body proved to be immune to the venom as she was immune to it, making it her defense mechanism against those who wish to use her blood would end up killing themselves. Glynda allowed the entities to hide the truth in order to protect Voltaria, no one should know about this, not even Merlot. That is why she needs to get everyone out.
"How are we doing, buddy?" Wade asked his Snake Faunus friend.
"So far so good, we just need to get past these encryptions." Evo said as he, Weis, and Blake typed as fast they could.
Soon, Regina and Tabitha appeared before them, both relieved to see them alive.
Oh, thank the gods that you are all alright! Regina said in relief. We need to get you all out of here and fast! Merlot is trying to get Voltaria to be his test subject.
"We know! But we're trying to free them!" Jaune points at the sleeping girls.
Just then Aysha lifted her head and listened to something and spoke.
More of Merlot's…creations are coming here…
"Shit!" Wade curses as he and the others ready their weapons. "You guys finish decoding, we'll handle Merlot's abomination."
I will assist you all. Regina said before possessing the computers to help the three to hack through Merlot's codes.
Aysha made the mutant Grimm to come forward. I…will…help…
Yang smiles at her. "Thanks, Aysha."
"What about Ruby, Voltaria, and Ama?" Jaune asked.
The others…saw their…bravery…they want…to fight back…but Minden…I cannot hear her.
Sure enough, the other girls that were hiding within the Mutated Grimm, came to assist Ruby, Voltaria, and Amaryllis, fighting the androids and the rest of the mutation. Ruby was shocked to see this, but quickly calms down when Voltaria informs them that those Mutated Grimm are the girls trapped within them. They're fighting for their freedom. They worked together to take down Merlot's mutant Grimm.
-I'm beginning to think I've made a huge mistake!-
"Give it up, Merlot! It's over!" Ruby yelled out.
-No! I will not lose to you, ever!-
Merlot brought forth a mutant Deathstalker. It was bigger and deadlier than the other.
Ruby gasped in alarm. "A mutated Deathstalker!"
-Don't be shy, students. You could learn a lot from this enhanced specimen. They won't teach you a thing about this back at Beacon. For nature couldn't make a beast this deadly, so I did!-
"Ruby, Ama, stand clear from the stinger! Its venom is more dangerous than the original." Voltaria warns Ruby telepathically.
"Right!" Ruby agrees with Amaryllis growls in agreement.
The mutated Deathstalker let loose a powerful roar that echoed through the facility. It even reaches to the room where the others were, who took down Merlot's experiments. Evo, Weiss, and Blake were almost done, they just needed to get the girls off the connection from the machine. Aysha hears the roar and instantly looks up. Alarmed and worried as she knew who it was.
Minden… Minden is going to fight them…
"Minden? Wait, are you saying…" Wade trailed off when Regina showed them the footage.
Oh, gods…they're going to fight Minden! Regina said in alarm.
"Is there a way to help them?!" Yang asked, punching a mutated Grimm away from her while Ripper tore it up.
Speak…to Minden…I and the others… can't connect to her…she is trapped… Aysha said.
"Merlot must have forced her to stay in control of the Deathstalker." AJ said in shock. "And if she stayed there too long…"
She will lose her humanity. Tabitha said. We must inform them about Minden.
Tabitha, go and connect with Voltaria, we must inform her about Minden. Regina said to Tabitha.
With that, Tabitha contacted Voltaria. She, Ruby, and Amaryllis were busy fighting off the Deathstalker, avoiding its attacks, pincers, and poison stinger. The other girls posing their mutated Grimm tried to help but were swatted away by the Deathstalker. Just before Voltaria could attack, Tabitha informs her about Minden being trapped in the Deathstalker's mind. Voltaria understood and had to find out more about Minden. She quickly charges forward, dodging the Deathstalker's attacks with ease, before jumping on top of its head and lands on it. And soon, she quickly mind-link to the creature.
"Minden!" Voltaria yelled through telepathy, causing the Deathstalker to freeze from its spot. "Minden! I know you can hear me!"
The Deathstalker shook, as it attempted to gain control, but Voltaria wasn't letting it. Digging deeper within Minden's subconsciousness to get into her memories.
"You are Minden Yolie. You have a mom, a dad, and an older sister. You live together in the city of Argus. Both your parents own a diner called the Yolie Diner. You and your sister work as waitresses while your parents cook. You often cook together with them. You love to cook. You don't want to fight!"
-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GET HERE!- Merlot yelled to the Deathstalker that was shaking like a leaf.
I…I…
Voltaria could hear Minden's soft voice, desperate to call for help. "Minden, you don't have to listen to him. He has no hold over you. Don't you want to go home? To your family?"
I…I…I want…
Memories flashed through Minden's mind, recalling about her family, her friends, and her life. She wants that back. She hates it here, she hates being trapped.
I want to go home…please help me.
Minden begged and pleaded, wanting to get out of here. The others also wish to get out as well, longing to go back to their family.
"You will, all you need to do…is to disconnect from the mutated Grimm." Voltaria instructed.
But…we don't know…how… Minden whispers fearfully.
"Don't worry, I will help you."
With that, Voltaria slowly helps Minden, Aysha, and the rest of the girls to disconnect their Mutated Grimm vessels. And soon, all the mutated Grimm they possess suddenly went limp, slowly disintegrating. Turns out, before the girls disconnect, Voltaria made the mutated Grimm to be killed on their own, kinda like a self-destruct system. And once they were free, Evo, Blake, and Weiss were able to discard the girls' connection with the machine, freeing them from the prison. The group quickly brought the girls out of there and checked on them, and to their relief, they were alive and well.
"We need to get them out of here." Glynda said, placing a sleeping girl down.
"How are we gonna do that?" Asked Yang.
Just then, Ripper lets out a roar, causing everyone to turn to him and sees the hybrid standing near what appears to be a trailer of some kind.
"Attaboy, Rippy!" Wade compliments with a grin.
As they loaded the girls in the trailer, Weiss was using her glyphs to attach the trailer onto Ripper while Glynda uses her telekinesis to keep the girls' strapped safe. But before they leave Evo picks up his Musicshocker, guitar form, before embedding it with lightning dust.
"Evo, what are you doing?" Jaune asked.
"Making sure that crazy scientist won't harm another." Evo answered before letting out a hiss as he smashed his guitar at the monitor, destroying all files and data that were stored inside. Evo got on the trailer as Wade, Yang, and Nora blow up a wall to make an entrance to escape.
Meanwhile, Voltaria jumps off the slowly denigrating Mutated Deathstalker before Ruby fires a single bullet (which was boosted up by Hannibal) before it explodes.
"Take that you big bully!" Ruby cheered as Amaryllis roared at their victory.
-No! Nooooo! My one of a kind specimen! This is inconceivable!- Merlot yelled in anguish.
"It's all over, Merlot." Voltaria glares at the screen. "We've taken down your creations and your serum. You've got nothing left."
Merlot glares at her from the screen, refusing to lose.
-There is something I can do.- Merlot said before alarms started blaring like crazy and the ground began to shake. -Let's end this with a bang!-
Ruby and Voltaria look around in alarm. Merlot must have activated his self-destruct system that was not only for his lab, but the entire freaking island!
"What's happening?! What's going on!?" Ruby yelled in alarm.
"Merlot is going to blow up the entire island!" Voltaria said, glaring at the broken screen.
"We have to get everyone out of here!" Ruby screams.
"I send Wraith and Hannibal to get and hack through Merlot Industries ship, it will arrive shortly." Voltaria informs her.
"But what about the others?!"
Then, there was a loud 'BOOM!' coming from the walls. Turning towards it, they saw Ripper strapped on the trailer by Weiss's Glyphs and saw their friends and the unconscious girls.
"Need a ride!?" Wade asked with a grin.
"Guys! You made it!" Ruby cheered as she and Voltaria got on.
"Yeah, and it wasn't easy." Yang said as she helped her sister and friend up. "But we'll tell you later after we get out of here. Weiss!
"On it! Let's go, Ripper!" Weiss said as she made her glyphs hold onto Ripper.
The Indoraptor roared and ran off with Amaryllis following. They dodged fallen debris and pipes as Regina guides him through by the map she memorized. They rushed towards the bridge and to the open hanger doors. There, there was a landing platform. But no ships.
"Where's Wraith and Hannibal?!" Ruby screams, holding onto Zwei.
"They said they will arrive with the ship!" Voltaria yells her answer.
As they were cornered, a Merlot Industries ship appeared before them.
Hop aboard, you maggots! Wraith ordered as he took control of the ship.
"Wraith, ya beautiful sonofabitch!" Wade grins as Ripper carries them in the ship with Amaryllis following them and are now safely inside.
"Get us out of here, Wraith!" Voltaria ordered.
On it! Hannibal, give us a boost!
Okay!
Hannibal gives the ship a powerup, allowing it to go into full speed, escaping the destruction of the island. Wraith made sure to remove any malware that Merlot implanted on his ship, preventing it from being hacked or exploded, but Regina double checked because there was often more than one. Wraith made the ship go to Vale, but not before they secretly bring the hybrids back to the Emerald Forest, hiding any known trace of their presence in the island. Once arriving to Beacon, they immediately called a medical team to bring the girls to the hospital. The girls were brought to the hospital and were checked on. Fortunately, all the girls show no signs of infection or diseases. They were still unconscious and most likely won't remember what had happened. Which was good, since no one wants them to recall that terrible event that transpired on them. The council sent an investigation team to search for the remains of Merlot. However, all they could find was a fabric of his lab coat with his name tag attached to it.
Everyone believed that he didn't survive, but some believed that he was hiding. After all, it wasn't the first time he cheated death.
"How is she?" Glynda asked Voltaria, walking over to the young girl.
Voltaria sits next to a sleeping Aysha, who is currently resting on the hospital bed. She and the other girls have yet to awaken from their slumber.
"The doctors said that she will wake up soon, but they're still running tests." Voltaria said softly, looking at the sleeping Aysha with an unreadable expression. "I…heard Professor Ozpin was able to contact all the parents about their daughters being found."
"Yes, they are arriving as we speak." Glynda said as she looked at Aysha. "From what I heard…Aysha was taken from her home, Vacuo."
"So, it's true then, Merlot kidnapped the girls from different parts of the kingdom and village." Voltaria murmured. "It's a good thing that Regina erased their memories of their minds being trapped inside the mutated Grimm. She and the others are…still recovering…mostly Minden."
"Indeed, but she is recovering slowly like the others." Glynda said before looking at Voltaria. She hasn't left Aysha's side since yesterday. "What about you? How are you feeling?"
"…To be honest…I'm not sure."
"Why is that?"
Voltaria gestures to the sleeping girl. "They were kidnapped because of me. They were taken from their homes and families, all because of Merlot's obsession of creating 'The Perfect Beings'…I'm the one to blame for their misery."
Suddenly, Voltaria felt a gentle hand on her shoulder, causing the girl to look up at Glynda in surprise, which was hidden under her mask. "The only one to blame is Merlot's ludicrous idea of believing that turning these girls into becoming like you. But it didn't happen, you saved them from that fate, freed them from their prison, and now…they will be united with their families. Unlike you, he wanted to force them to have your ability and force them to be his weapon. But you prevented it from ever happening…You are not at fault, Voltaria, remember that."
Hearing her words, Voltaria relaxed, feeling a sense of comfort from her professor/guardian was enough for her to feel more at ease.
"Thank you…Professor Goodwitch."
*End of Flashback*
"After that, the girls were reunited with their families, safe and sound." Voltaria finished her tale, reaching their temporary home where they were staying.
Oscar and Mari were in awe of her story. They couldn't believe that a mad scientist was attempting to experiment on those girls and make them his army to control Grimm.
"Are they…okay?" Oscar asked quietly as they entered the kitchen to put the groceries away.
Voltaria responded with a nod. "Yes, Aysha, Minden, and the others are all okay, but have no memories of what had happened to them, which was a good thing since we don't want them to remember." She recalls the girls reunited with their families, remembering seeing Aysha crying with her relieved mothers and her two younger brothers.
"Oh…does your headmaster know about this?"
"In a way, but he and General Ironwood didn't have the full story because we only told them that Merlot was attempting to transfer the girls' subconscious mind into the mutated Grimm in hopes to create the 'Perfect Being' and not adding the part that he wanted them to turn into me."
"Wow, your friends really cared about you." Oscar said with a smile.
"Yes, they wanted to keep me safe and to prevent anyone from knowing more about Merlot's attempt in creating another Grimm Girl."
Oscar and Marie felt pity towards her. They knew she suffered a lot and that she may have trust issues, but she slowly starts to warm up to people again. Which was good.
"By the way, those anonymous bounties on you…they were sent by Melrot, right?" Oscar asked, earning a nod from Voltaria. "Do you think he was the one that sent the Terminus Group on you?"
"Most likely, he was the one who secretly contacted them through a secure and private channel, that is how he stays out of the communication channels and avoids authorities."
"So that's how…" Oscar said in surprise. "I bet they must have regretted ever taking the job."
"In a way, but the result was the leader holding a deep grudge against me." Voltaria said before looking at the window. "I sometimes feel a small pang of regret for killing his daughter. If they just leave me alone, then she would've lived."
Oscar looks at her with a concerned expression. He knows that Voltaria had no choice when it comes to fighting, but the only one to blame was the leader, Ivan Makarov, sending his daughter and her squad after Voltaria.
"To be fair, you didn't do anything wrong, you just…want to be left alone." Oscar said, hoping to give her enough comfort and support.
Voltaria simply glanced at him and nodded. "Thank you…Oscar."
Oscar smiles at her kindly. "You're welcome, Voltaria."
I am soooo, sorry for the late post. I was adding this part of the chapter since I watched people playing RWBY: Grimm Eclipse and to figure out the story line.
And I'm still thinking of the voice actor and description for Ivan Makarov. If you have ideas for him and the next chapter, leave it in the comments below.
I hope you all like it!