Last two chapters focused on the two hayley sisters involved in their own separate battles for freedom or against certain enemies. But lets return to vale because someone facade may just crack belongs to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. I own the OC's, AU. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 48:Broken Mask
Back with the others at the camp in the messhall right now mainly. Some of them were just finishing up breakfast but right now zane was looking very worse to wear. For starters he still had the collar on as his dark bags slightly got darker.
"So did you guys hear that those ships finally arrived to take some people back to vauo"jae asked
"Hmm yeah can't wait to go back home. Bro probably worried sick"rob said as he joined them today. For the last two days hes been busy helping paul with maintaining the base so it didn't fall apart.
"Your right though gonna miss you guys. Most of us in our little group got people in vacuo"yuma added
"Bummer though are you excited to head to menagerie?"xander asked looking at eden.
The bear faunus was still in her wheelchair but now changed out of those ratty patients clothes. She now wore wore dark blue jeans that alos had a belt around it with an apple on the buckle. Though she wore some simple red shoes. But for a shirt she wore a peach color shirted under a deep emerald cardigan sweater with black buttons. She felt relived to be in real clothes.
"Oh i'm more than excited. I get to see my little sister after two years"eden said with a tear forming.
Zane chuckled slightly"yeah piper will be happy to see you along with mari"he said lazily as he layed his head down opening and closing his eyes several times. This made xander worry if he even got sleep last night.
"Hey did you sleep alright last night? Because you look pretty bad like your half dead"xander asked concerned but zane just waved him off.
"I'm fine…i've died like twice now. Gotta look the part now anyway"zane joked but very close by a certain table overheard this.
Gwen looked very annoyed as she groaned clenching her utesnil tight in her metal hand. While the others discuss what they'll do when they get back.
"So when i get back im taking a nice hot shower. Then doing a little spa treatment"earl said as he used a pocket mirror to fix his hair. He parted it to the side slightly.
"Seriously we live in a continent that depends on survival. And your the one guy who guy who cares about his looks everyday"opehlia said as she finally got that arm sling off but needed to rest still.
"Sorry that i care about my looks unlike you"earl spat sticking his tongue out in annoyance. Opehlia then yanked his tail making his yelp slightly. They laughed as he rubbed his now sore down gently.
"Beside pretty boy you guys excited to tell the others we took a grimm knight down"octavia said
"Uhh actually it was that took that sabyr grimm knight out"dew corrected to the girl annoyance because she was right.
But with gwen she soon crunched the metal fork in hand as it folded over. It got all the group attention as she seemed very pissed off right now. They had to ask what up with her.
"Alright what up with you? Because for starters you seem very mad right now"ophelia pointed the obvious out. Gwen just looked over toward the table close by which made them look. They all watched as zane was joking around like him usual self it seems.
"Why you staring at that grimm freak?"earl asked as his tail flicked.
"Oh let me guess the jerk decided to throw another one of his stupid jokes in"octavia asked knwoingly with slightly anger.
"He did seriously hes starting to piss me off. He keeps joking around like what he did wasn't wrong"gwen replied very annoyed.
"I gotta agree he may have been under mental suggestion. But he needs to own up what he helped start"earl adeed with malice in his tone as he took a bit of his eggs.
"Yeah he could at least take some of the blame for it. Probably doens't feel any guilt"octvia spat.
This was when dew wanted to speak up but stopped not wanting to cause a scene. Nebula told her not tell them about it because they'll probably press him for it. She surprised they haven;t asked her to check his emotions.
"I know right plus nebs told us to stay away from him this morning. I don't why shes taking his side now"gwen said very annoyed. She understands she their leader but why does she want them to not mess with the guy.
Though she was just sick of it at this point he needed to be confronted about this. She watched as he left the dinning hall by himself as he walked off somewhere. Without a word gwen stood up chasing him down which made octavia and earl join her. While ophelia eyed dew for a moment deciding to ask something.
"Question…your semblance is related to emotion right?"she asked
"Yes i'm guessing your wondering if he even feels guilt for what he helped cause?"dew asked as the leader of team OZNE nodded
"Yeah i kinda don't like the guy but from how i've seen things. He hasn't slept in the last couple days, probably from sleeping on the ground."ophelia asked
"Well for starters he does feel guilt. Those two are going to cause problems we gotta stop them"dew said as they stood up following after them. But this might in a certain person snapping finally.
Meanwhile across town where the others were right now all of them were in a fight for their lives. Mainly because the manticore was firing fireballs at the group.
"Everyone scatter!"port ordered as they all split away since all of them were dealing with grimm. But mainly yumi and may were guarding miyuki along with tia. The boxer kept taking pot shots at the apporahcing beowulf that howled trying to swarm their new prey.
But one lunged toward may but as he swiped at it hit nothing as it looked confused for a second. Then from the side an axe came down taking its head clean off as may smirekd. Another grimm came swiping at her sending her back a bit but she quickly recovery. Then using her semblance she created some mirages of herself to confuse the grimm monetarily.
The grimm kept swiping at what it though it was its prey but quickly as it swiped through three of them. From behind may quickly brought out her sniper taking aim then pressed down on the trigger. A purple beam shot foward blowings it head clean off.
With yumi she was doing her best to dodge a griffin that dived bomb at her. But she dodgd the predatory birds beak as it cawed at her snapping at her. She was quicker as she unfrialed her fans then began to slice repeatedly into the grimm several times. The bird cried in pain as she then tossed a fan blade into its head killing it as it vanihsed into dust.
"Keep up our formation we can't let it get her"yumi said as the two made their formation around miyuki.
"What about me?"tia asked as she kept firing at the approaching grimm.
"Oh right protect the former faunus hater"may joked reciivng an annoyed look from tia as they kept defending their positon.
With the others the manticore swung its large paw into akasha launching her back hard onto the ground. She rolled for a bit as her aura took the hit for her but she groaned slightly. She got up from the ground beginning to return fire from her shotgun but at her current range it was ineffective. Nebula had her crossbow out firing several bolts into the manitcore. It roared as the bolt detonated on impact dealing some damage to it.
"Seriously i'm lucky these things don't live in vacuo"nebula stated loading a new bolt into her crossbow.
"Yeah well try living on an island covered mostly by grimm"akasha replied
"Look does anyone know how to take this thing down. Because its pretty tough"cardin asked as he fired a couple fireball into it but it barely scratched it.
Port hacked away at an approaching grimm cleaving it in two. Then he got swated at by another grimm but he held his ground standing it. The old man then pulled his blunderbuss up as he fired into the grimm sending it back into a nearby car wreckcage. The beast died being impaled as it slowly turned into dust.
Port looked at the large cat like grimm as recalled what he knew of the beast.
"For starters we need to ground the beast. By taking those wings it has out"port ordered as their group quickly regrouped. Vance parked his bike in a nearby alleyway with the stuff they had. He rather not see his bike become trashed after today along with the stuff he brought.
"I'm all ears old man for that plan. Yo rabbit ears you got anything that can help you take out those wings?"vances aksed
Velvet thought for a moment nodding as she quickly digitizd crescent rose tiwlring it for a moment nodding. Then as they slowly regroup the manticore roared as something gleaned in its maw. Soon that something flew as landed close by to them since it towered over them.
But what fell was near the falcon faunus who curiously looked at it. What she saw was a very broken pair of glasses that looked very old timey. Though as she eyed it for a moment a thought crossed her mind.
"Hold on…oh we've ran into this guy before"akasha said getting their attention.
Vance loaded a new clip in his pistol"really? What don't tell me its one of those smart grimms"he asked
"No uh that radio broadcast we made. We needed to head topside for it to work some old guy named ethan made a homemade radar dish"akasha replied luckily they were behind as the grimm was slowly apporahcing its new prey for the day. Nebula fired into a grimm piercing its skull killing it.
"Why does that matter right now?"nebula asked
Cardin quickly noticed a sad look on her face as he quickly figured out what happened to the guy.
"Let me guess this grimm kill the old guy?"cardin asked as she nodded.
Akasha racked a new shell into her shotgun"lets kill this thing for that guy. Owe him that much for making sure we all got out of that safeouse"she stated as they nodded
"Alright children take outs its legs and skewer its wings!"prot ordered as velvet quickly flipped crescent rose back. Then with a pull of a trigger she was launched forward as the grimm swiped at her. But she luckily she avoid it large paws as she quickly slashed its legs. The grimm roared in pain as it legs couldn't supported it slashed leg cauisng it to fall over under its own weight.
This gave the others the chance as yumi eyed miyuki for a moment who noticed this. She gave an approving nod and without question she started to look deep inside herself for that power. After a bit of time she found it as her eyes glowed two blue flames.
Then she looked toward the manticore as it fired a couple fireball toward cardin as it sent him back into vance. The two stumbled for a bit as they layed ontop of each, vance groaned as he quickly hoped up. Then helped cardin up but soon the two were quickly met as a grimm lunged toward the two. Cardin though pulled his mace back as the grimm got close then he cracked it hard against the skull killing it.
Another one swiped repeatly at the lynx but he kept doging its hits several times. He qukcly rolled to the side swiping at it with his knife as it howled in pain. Then he brought his pistol out as began to fire several dust bullets into its skull ultimatly killing it.
Port the old huntsman quickly hacked away giving it his all as he took down a large uras to its knees. Then he brought his fist back engaging in fistycup with the beast as he punched it in the jaw. The uras roared swiping at him tearing his clothing slightly. But this result in him giving it the good old one two as he punched the grimm so hard he sent it flying into a building.
But with miyuki she focused as she placed her palm on the ground smacking it. Then a white glow appeared under the manticore as soon several ice spikes shot up pieiricng it. The grimm cried in pain as it slowly died as they all dealt with their enemies. They watched as the grimm remains scattered to the winds in dust.
"Phew that was something….seriously is this what being a huntresses is like?"tia asked panting
"Well we never know what crazy adventures will get into"yumi replied sheathing her weapon.
Cardin laughed"yeah wonder how the others have been doing. Heard that some of them fought off grimm on a ferry while delivieing a baby"he said
Port gave a hearty laugh"well that quite a tale that reminds me of the time i slayed a king tajtu. Me and an old student of mine fought tooth and nail against that thing with our bear hands"he begun his tale.
Vance retrieved his bike chuckling"tell us on the way to base. I hope this stuff will cheer my cousin up if atlas didn't take him to jail"he said as they decided to head back to base
But over in the baseright now at the makeshift landing pad was glynda and nezumi waiting for the ship that were just landing. Because a small manta ship was making it descent along with a bullhead painted with the despardo colors on it. This confused nezumi a little wondering why atlas was here.
"I'm still confused why atlas is here now of all times. I thought they would arrive tomorrow for the inspection"nezumi said
Merlot cupped his chin"my guess is picto sent word to command that they have a grimm knight. But without world communication it doesn't make sense."he said
"Their probably here early. I don't mind if they came to give us supplies."tulip replied
"Though that also means you will be leaving us doctor merlot. With those files you have it will prove beneficial to stopping those grimm knights"glynda said
"Yes though the captain still insist we take bodie. I'm very much against the idea of it the man family neds closure"merlot said
"I agree with you. Me and that guy would spar with his partner back in the day"mulberry added
They all decided to see who their guest where as the two ships made their descents. As they did some soldier were on standby to greet them though something surprising happened as the bullhead doors opened. Then out stepped decker with a cigarette in his mouth as he took a puff of it.
Nezumi was surprised to see him here saluting here"i..i..um sir what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at base?"neuzmi asked as decker chuckled walking over blowing his cigarette.
"Relax kid don't gotta do that saulteing crap to me."decker said as she lowered her hand sighing in relief a little.
"Hmm what bring you here. I take it too tell us your pulling your troops out of vale?"glynda asked but it was the opposite.
"Nope i got good news. Recently we got a flood of new recruits measured in the three hundreds. Gonna send some here to assist you"decker said which made them feel relieved to have some reniforcments. They also had good news as the bullhead other passenger disembarked.
Fenix jumped out offering a hand to bastet helping her out. Lavi jumped out as he caught her placing her on the ground. Glynda looked surprised to see that lion faunus and his family here.
"Excuse us miss were new here and we don't know our way around."fenix said cocky as he grinned at her.
"Pretty sure you don't remember my ugly mug but i;m.."fenix was stopped by her
"I know its you fenix. Its nice to see you here along with your bastet"glynda said hugging the women who returned it. Lavi just kept looking around for someone specific it seems that being a certain lynx.
"Its nice to se you too glynda. Its been oh how many year"bastet said trying to recall.
"About eight now since i came to see your daughter birth. Though why is your family here?"glynd asked as from the bullhead its last passenger stepped out that being jaki hayley. The cold weaponsmith walked forward with his hands behind his back as mulberry smiled at him.
"Jaki my old friend nice to see you again!"mulberry called out offering a hug as the cold man returned it. The two qucikyl separated as jaki chuckled as he dusted himself off quickly.
"Pleasure all mine old friends. Its nice to be visiting vale again though its terrible seeing it like this"jaki replied
"Yeah well we've been putting in good work on getting rid of the grimm here."mulberry replied rpoduly.
"Though what brings you all here exactly?"glynda asked them again.
"Oh fen and his family were marked as targets by the unseen eye. They tried kidnapping his wife and kid. Seems their next target is.."decker coudln't even finish as his second in command did.
"Their attacking havan academy next we know."nezumi said to their surprise they already know the next target for the white fang.
"Hmm saves us the trouble having to explain that to you then. Though where is mrs scarltina?"jaki coldly asked the group.
"Here she went out on a supply run with some others. Should be back pretty soon guess will wanted you to check on her"mulberry asked as he nodded. But glynda looked toward fenix family guessing their also here for someone else. Because bastet keeps looking around for someone.
"Are you looking for someone?"glynda asked catching bastet offguard. The women was about to answer until her daughter did.
"Wheres uncle vance?"lavi asked innocently as her tail swayed around. Nezumi chuckled at hearing that little girl call the kid an uncle.
Bastet laughed patting her head"that who were looking for. Since were planning on heading to mistral we planned to take him to his aunt. "She replied
"Along with grabbing some of his things. Let him visit his father and cousin graves. Maybe help him with his grief"fenix aded but soon they decided to reveal something surprising.
"Actually hes grieving for uh one family member right now. Kids been all smiles for three days sort of"nezumi corrected to their confused. Before they could question further the mantis ships passenger soon emerged as the doors opened up. The frist to step out was marrow as he stretched his back for a bit.
"Man that was a long ride down. Seriously were here to just make a dropoff and do an inspection"marrow joked
Hariet stepped out chuckled"come on wags were just here to help them out. With two grimm knights they need those supresants"she replied tapping his side as he chuckled. Thought the final passenger stepped out with a small brief case in hand. While inside someone grabbed something else.
But once carmine stepped out as she adjusted her glasses she scanend the crowd as someone caught her eye. That being her mentor who exhcnaged glances with her as a smile came to his.
"Merlot?!"carmine shouted in joy catching the two ace ops offguard. The two looked seeing him their as marrow went slack jaw as his tail drooped. Hairet close his jaw because she wasn't expecting this today. Carmine rushed over as she hugged the man overjoyed to see him after so long.
"Your actually alive! I thought that madman killed you or put you in some jail"carmine sqeeled in joy as he chuckled undoing the embrace.
"As of late dear i was transferred here to provide test subjects. Though good news that awful man is dead. Along with poor diego soul being put at rest"melrot said
Carmine was caught offguard hearing that as some tears formed in her eyes as she wiped them away.
"Thats nice to hear he passed. I guess him, aarrne and that little boy life i ruined are at peace"carmine sadly said
"Enough doc i know you miss the kid. But he died as a huntsman or whatever"marrow said annoyed as his tail swayed.
"What the heck are you two ace ops doing here?"nezumi quesiotned as hariet offered her old friend a fist bump as she returned it.
"Just here to escort the doctor to delvier some supresant. But seeing that you killed one you might not need them. "Hariet replied
"Your also forgetting that gift for that lynx kid"marrow reminded as hariet knew that already. But jaki decided to ask something that was said early.
"Excuse me what did you mean by that wheeler boy grieving for one family member. My daughters leader is dead"jaki coldy said making the others attention get grabbed. Glynda just sighed waving her crop around for them to follow her.
"For starters follow me, but instead of explaining i'll show you"glynda said as the new arrival followed her which confused them. But someone decided to confront that grimm hybrid right now at a very bad time.
In the middle of the camp zane tried to keep his balance but his lack of sleep was getting to him. His legs felt like jelly right now as he leaned against a crate panting.
"Dammit….just gotta last until tonight. Then i'll head to menagerie"zane said to himself trying to keep himself up.
"Hmm alright but uh look out you got pissed off people coming behind you"bane warned as he turned seeing gwen, earl and octavia approaching him. He sighed deciding to put his mask back on facing them.
"Uhh you three desert rats need something"he joked
Gwen glared at him"do we need something. How about you stop pretending you did nothing wrong"gwen said making him go wide eyed slightly.
"She right quit joking around like nothing wrong for helping cause the fall"octvai added
"Those two are right. And do you even feel guilt because you keep joking around like its nothing.
"Come on its just some harmless jokes..i um..need to go"zane tired to leave but stumbled slightly though gwen grabbed his arm to make him face her. This little scene started to get everyone attention in camp.
"Quit joking around like you did nothing wrong! You helped kill hudnred of people, you might have been under control or whatever. But that doesn't excuse the fact you helped kill people! Do you even feel guily?!"gwen shouted jabbing him in the chest several times. He stood their shaking as he tried to keep his emotion under check.
The crowd started to form a little right now as just arriving back was vance and company. The lynx was confused by the crowd of people but quickly figured out what might be happening. He was trying to get through as their little discussion continued.
"She right do you even feel guilty for starting the fall. Hundred of people are dead because of you and those other two grimm knights"earl spat as his tail straighten out. But he dind't answer as the crowd just watched it played out murmuring amongest themselves.
Gwen looked at him rage shoving him"answer us dammit! Do you even feel guilty for helping kill so many people!"gwen shouted in rage right now.
Right now so many emotions were going through his ehad right now. Because everysicne he woke up from his coma. Its been just worse he knows that the guilt might be too much but everyone just treated him like garbage for the last three days. He just snapped as tears broke through.
"Do i feel guilty for starting the fall! Yeah i do feel guilty for starting the biggest tragedy in our world! Along with helping kill all those inncoent people!"zane shotued which caught gwen offguard slightly seeing him. She started to slowly back up as the other two did the same. The crowd listen it seem but a certain captain from the distance eyed him for any sudden moves.
"I know i helped start the fall of vale and beacon! That dumb excuse for mental suggestion doesn't work i know! But the first thing i did after the final round was to shoot myself so i didn't hurt my friends or family!"he continued in rage as his back slightly buldged.
"Ok..ok…just calm down"gwen nerovusly said putting her hands up.
"Yeah look it was just a simply question we'll be on our way a–"earl was stopped as he continued.
"Really?! Because i never asked to become a dam monster alright! Not my fault i got kidnapped by some serial killer! I only…became a huntsman to try and find my family…i know its selfish. But is it so much to ask?"he continued as his voice cracked slightly.
In the crowd watching right now alot of people were surprised seeing this. But jaki just stod their frozen right now seeing him standing their alive. Haritet rubbed her eyes if she was seeing things right now.
"Holy crap…i..hare didn't we confirm the kids death?"marrows asked shocked seing him standing their. She nodded but carmine smiled a little seeing him again.
"Its..guess you two made a terrible call"carmine said but looked worried seeing his current state. Though vance and his group pushed through getting close to them as cardin went wide eyed seeing jaki here.
" ?!"cardin shouted but the other in the crowd didn't hear since they murmur. Jaki looked at him with some tears forming.
"W-what..how..how..is…i."jaki couldn't even form words at what he was seeing.
Zane covered his eyes trying not to cry"the only reason i joke around to tell people i;m okay.i'm not! I wake up…i hear most of my friends are dead…I help hurt my teammates. My partner is trying to kill people…and her sister gets kidnapped. And i went back to that city to find my teammate…then after that i was going to kill myself!"he cried then he just looked around galring at the crowd.
"But if anyone wants a piece of me i'm offering! Or better yet just shoot me in the head!"he finished as his voice broke finally as tears streamed down his face. The crowd just stared at him in silence not even making a sound. He panted heavily in rage as he just scoffed walking toward the cell.
As he did earl tried to stop because he looked ready to pass out"i..look i'm sorry alright..just calm down a–"he coudln't even finish as zane threw his hand off his shoulder. Then with the remainder of his strength he quickly yanked his arm forward socking him in the jaw. It stunned him then he twist his arm behind his back pushing him to the ground.
"Screw off. Leave me the al–"he couldn't even finishing as his body lit up in electricity releasing him falling to the ground. Picto held the remote control in hand motioning for his soldier to form a permiter.
"What are you doing?!"vance shouted rushing over but the soldier blocked him off.
"None of your business if it wants to die. Let it one less loose end to worry about and problem"picto replied with malice.
"You better stop before i cave your skull in grunt"cardin warned presenting his mace. Yumi pulled out her fans as akasha cocked her shotgun back. But velvet noticed zane starting to consulvse violent as he queitly cried in pain
"Stop it! Hes going to go into cardiac arrest!"velvet warned but he didn't care holding down on the remote tight.
"I don't care it can rot in hell for i care. Pretty sure several other people here can agree that this thing needs to die"picto said as some of the crowd didn't step up. They tired to get through until someone called over all them.
"STAY!"marrow yelled pointing as picto and his soldier. They froze in place as an eletrict blur came through taking the remote from his hands. They threw it too the ground stomping it with a few good taps. They all looked seeing hariet glaring at picto as marrow deactivated his semblance.
"Uh litenent bree its a surprise to see you here–"picto was stomp as she got in his face.
"Soilder you don't get to talk right now! I want you and your platoon to meet me later. Now!"hairet ordered which confused the atlas soldiers espeically him because this confused him.
"Ma'am with all respect i'm just trying to follow order. The general ordered for the capture or elimination of a grimm knight"picto argued but she gave him a cold stare making him back up.
"Follow your dam orders or i'll persoanlly have the general courtmarshel all of you! Follow the chain of command or else!"hariet shouted as he got what she meant. Picto then began to round his soldier up as they decided to wait for their meeting. Immediately hairet reached down removing the collar scanning her eye.
"Remove restraintans on prisoner. Activate code charlie zula lima niner seven"hariet said as the collar gave off as zane layed their passed out on the ground. Vnace went forward to try and grab him before they took him away.
But he was beat to it as carmine rushed over picking up his limb bodie cradling it shaking her head with tears escaping.
"I'm sorry..i'm so sorry for ruining your life"carmine cried several times as the nezumi looked at the crowd.
"Everyone get back to work we'll handle this!"nezumi ordered as the crowd disappeared from them leaving some of their group.
"Find us somewhere to talk privately now"hairet demanded as glynda ordered as they quickly guided them to the medical tent. Once inside they layed him on a cot as some stared at the dead man. While hairet was beginngin to tongue lash the three who started it.
"I expected a routine inspection when i came here. But no i come here to see the kid alive good news. But then i see you three cofnronting the kid asking if he felt guilty. That would be very apparent judging by him looking like he hasn;t slept in days"hairet said in anger. Carmine kept checking him over several times like a worried mother.
"We can explain why we did it"octavia said trying to defend.
"Oh explain then. I gave you guy strict orders to not ask if he felt guilty. Even you gwenny"nebula said in disappointment as her girlfriend looked down in shame.
"Were sorry nebby but the guy was annoying us. "Gwen admitted to them all.
"Are you serious?! Seriously you already messed with me for a month straight about those dumb rumors! Now this!"velvet siad slapping gwen across the face before cardin pulled her back surprirsed how she can get feisty.
"You just wanted to mess with him like you did with me. What you mad they beat your team still or that alpha took your arm."vance spat as gwen visible sctoched back gripping her arm tight.
"Were sorry alright…just wanted to see if he felt guilty"earl said rubbing his arm as ophleia smacked him upside the head.
"Then just ask dew. Did you three forget she can read emotions?"opehlia asked asked as the three looked at each other for a moment. Because it did slipped their minds they could have just asked her.
"Their right because that kid isn't doing alright. Seriously routing around in his makes me feel sorry for him"celeste said which got carmine interest as she grabbed the women beginning to shake her violently.
"Please tell me he's okay?! Has he eaten anything? Did he sleep alright? Have their been any panic attack? How long has he had that blasted collar on?!"carmine asked with several other questions which made her like a dotting mother. Soon enough glynda waved her crop using her semblance to move the women away setting her down.
"Dear you need to calm down. For starters how is he even alive?"jaki questioned gesturing to the passed out zane.
Akasha sighed crossing her legs"me and xan over here found him half dead in an alleyway. Wolf ears brothers wanted to rescue his big sister leader"she said catching jaki attention slightly as xander tapped his fingers together.
"Alright kid how is he alive? Last i saw he kept coughing up large amount of blood"hariet questioned
"Oh well uh we brought him back and performed surgery. But for his injuries he had a shattered shoulder, six broken ribs, several bruises and cuts across his body. Along with a stab wound to his abdomen and leg and severe blood loss. And severea aura exhaustion. He woke up from a coma three days ago"xander explained
"So the kids been in a coma all this time…huh who would have thought"marrow said as his tail wagged happy to see him again
"Alright though dear what seems to be troubling you. You seem very tense"merlot asked making carmine sit down on an open cot. The women looked down with an upset look.
"Yeah because your like his third mom"cardin joked slihglty making yumi elbow him
"Why woudln't i treat him like that? I ruined a poor child life conducting that bastards expriemtns on innocnet people. But i had no choice…they had my kids"carmine cried covering her face.
"Thats terrible to hear though guess we got two people who were the prime creators of the grimm knights"coco joked slightly making velvet flick her head because now wasn't the time.
"Okay but how has been doing lalty?"carmine asked again
"Uh well lately hes been doing alright i guess. Except for everyone here calling him a murder, monster, freak and hitting him sometimes"cardin said truthufully. This surprised jaki to hear that happen he was very mad at the boy for what he did to his daughter. But just felt upset hearing that.
"Though the cooks also refuse to serve him food vio keeps giving him spoiled food. But uh hes kinda been doing things"velvet said crypcially.
"What do you mean by that?"fenix asked since bastet took lavi away to keep her distracted.
"For starters the kid been preparing for the attack on havan. He found out and told us after hassan died. With those files from merlot and those white fang detectors intel. We got a solid plan and well yesterday he made something"nezumi said peeking their interest.
"Oh what that?"decker asked intiruged as she motioned for sandra to retrieve something. The racoon faunus left then after ten minutes returned with the two maps. She unfrialed them as decker looked surrpsied seeing all this. Hariet looked at it too chuckling slightly as a smile came to her face. Jaki just stared seeing the map of havan with all the intel on where possible hiding spots are. Along with a map saying "stop assiantion attempt on faunus leader".
"Wait what does this map of menagerie mean by assasiantion attempt?"jaki questioned
"For starters we got word that beowulf knight was sent their to kill the faunus trying to stand up against the white fang. Me and the kid talked about it and first thing he thought was to send word to you. "Faba said pointing to jaki.
"Why would we do that?"jaki coldy asked as some ice crawled up his hands.
"Simply to supply them with weapons and airships to stop the academy from being destroyed. "He replied which made the man surprised he'd ask. Kali probably already probably sent word but his wife doesn't have access to his factories without his say so.
"Alright but how is he? Please don't tell me hes starving himself again like last time"Carmine cried as that caught them offguard hearing that. It was a shock that this might have happened before.
"Wait what?"cardin asked shocked
Velvet blinked for a moment at her"why…your lying about that right?"she asked scared
"What do you mean he tried to strave himself?!"vance questioned loudly as nezumi made him sit down. Though decker noticed something the girl looked worried for the lynx but decided to press her later.
Carmine sniffed sighing rubbing her already teary eyes"after we were saved by that madman clutches. They brought him to atlas locking him up in a small room. But during his time their everytime they gave him food he'd refuse to eat it. Mainly because they laced it with drugs in the lab putting him to sleep. Then they performed test on him"carmin begun
"But you shouldn't have put a collar on him it very dangerous with his mental state. It can cause him to have severe panic attacks"she added to some shock.
"He was fine with it for the last couple days"octavia argued.
"Kid you've never seen someone wearing one of those things. Their pretty bad"hariet stated with a hand on her hip
"Umm how bad exactly are they?"earl questioned stupidly.
"That people can have panic attacks being near one. Heck why do you think sandra joined up with us"celeste said as they looked toward the racoon fuanus. She moved up her shirt slightly to reveal the SDC logo on her stomach. Then she pulled it back down shaking sitting down.
"Heh you aint wrong about that…nothing every good comes from wearing one…their terrible"sandra said stuttering visible shaking.
"She right for a year and a half james forced him to wear one just like arthur did. He only relented after he had panic attacks for seven months straight. I stayed up everynight in my lab making sure he was okay..i'm a terrible person"carmine finished ugly crying as merlot rubbed her back. They all just took in what they heard as vance was seething in rage.
"What did you do to my family you bastards!?"vance said lunging over to try and grab the two doctors. But cardin and fenix held him back as he swiped and hissed at them.
"Relax kid i'm surprised as you are. But you two look like you regret what you did?"fenix knwoignyl asked as the two nodded.
Carmine chuckled slightly"i'm sorry though i'm guessing your that lazuli girl brother aren't you"she said making vance stop as he was surrpsied her sister met her.
"Wait you know where feathers is?"yumi questioned.
"Eh last we heard that chick was going after those grimm knights and team BRAS."hariet replied
Jaki scoffed hearing that name clenching his fist as ice froze over'ah them that team made one of my daughter engage in a murder quest. With the help of her boyfriend and that susarti girl"he growled in anger.
Marrow sighed as his tail swayed"though surprised to see the kid alive still. Though uh guessing your planning on taking him to his mom?"he asked
"Yeah after we remove those mental sugggestion we've been working on removing"xander replied catching carmine interest as she wiped the tears away.
"Wait…you..you actually removed them?"carmine asked with hope but was shot down.
"No not yet. We've dug around their twice now but no luck. Though…were you their when they did it. Merlot wasn't but were you?"celeste asked pointing at carmine as she nodded several times with a smile.
"Yes..yes..it was around september twenty fifth eight years ago. That when arthur implentned the mental suggestion."carmine said which made them sigh in relief.
"Finally! I thought we'd see more screwed up stuff. Guess gotta dive in one more time"vance said. But velvet froze up slihgtlyl along with nebula who hugged herself.
"Yeah someone else is doing it. I aint touching anything like last time"nebula said
Velvet shivered scared"i..i..i don't wanna see a child get…get…'she couldn't form the words as coco hugged her telling her she didn't. They needed volunteers until surpsingyl gwen raised her hand.
"You wanna go in their? What you gonna go and tortue the kid some more?"nezumi asked snarky.
"No..i..i wanna make up for what i did. Owe the dumb moppy lynx, rabbit and him for messing with them"gwen volunteered to some surprise.
"I'll go too. I've helped the kid before several time while in atlas"marrow said raising his hand. Hariet chuckled hearing that flicking his tail as it hit her leg.
"Sure thing wags. I'll go talk to the captain about what he did. "Hariet said walking out of the tent. But before she did she handed carmine that photo album she was carrying.
"Alright if your ready lets get this over with. Oh uh just a head up you can die in their if your not careful"celeste said making both gwen and marrow go wide eyed hearing that.
"Wait what?!"both said in unison but as they did soon the two were put in a deep sleep as they went into dreamland. Soon enough they'll deal with these mental suggestioned fianlly.
The mask finally slipped as others were surprised to see the grimm knight known as omega alive. Though carmine revealed troubling details on his past that startled them. But gwen hopes to make amends for her actions for the past month. Thanks for reading!