*Breathe in*
*Breathe out*
SNAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKEEEEEE EAAAAAAAAATTTTTEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!
This franchise is fucking back! AAAAAAAAAA!
Pumped this out as fast as I could. 'Cause like, come on man! That fucking reveallllll! After almost ten years in a limbo, METAL GEAR IS BACKKKKKKK!
Song choice, w/ context: For Whose Sake, Yakuza Kiwami
"Everyone. I am receiving a signal… one that's almost identical to the ones back home... are you getting that too?"
"Yeah. I'm seeing on the radar right now." A pause, "But how can something like that be here? RAY should be-!"
"Nani ga? Koko wa abunai ka?"
"Ngh, what's he saying?"
"He's asking if we're in danger-."
A perplexed look from the foreign speaker, "Wakarimasu ka? Ore no iimasu-."
"Hai hai, wakarimashita." He waved his hand offhandedly and looked closer to the radar, "Chotto matte kudasai, ima boku wa isogashi desu yo-"
"Stop speaking those anime words and start speaking English, dammit."
"I'm trying to bridge the gap between you two, you know? At least the other guy has Japanese in his database." A sigh of frustration, and then a look to said 'other guy'. "Anyway, could you investigate? With all the stealth that we need to keep, I'm sure you understand how to proceed."
"My cloaking capabilities are still installed." A monotone, borderline-robotic response came. "I will contact you via INTERCODEC once my recon is over."
"Good, good. Thanks. Just remember, stay hidden and don't engage. No one knows we're here just yet…so we should really think on how to introduce ourselves. And I'd rather not have a big fight, do you understand?"
"I understand." A pause, "And do not thank me just yet. The job has yet to be done."
And then, just like that, he was out of the small apartment room they rented and onto the night streets of Vale.
A 'Kingdom'.
The foreign speaker turned to the only one who could understand him, and then pointed to the door. "Ore mo ikuzo."
"What? You want to go out?" He sighed and pressed his temple, "Gokudo-san, sore wa yabai desu. Ima, anata no shigoto wa bokutachi o mamoru yo." He grit his teeth and quickly spoke the translation to his lifelong partner. "That's bad. Your job now is to protect us."
In response, his partner growled. As he always did.
The foreigner spoke again. "Doshite, sore wa? Bladewolf-san wa hitori da… sore wa ii janei."
"Oh dammit-! Kikimasu kudasai, Gokudo-san… Blake-kun to Sun-kun wa tadashii, sore o boku wa wakatta! Demo, karera wa omachi ga dekimasu. Ne, Kiyru-san? Tanomu yo." He shot a glance to his partner again, "He's saying Bladewolf's alone, and that's bad. I'm asking him to understand that while let Blake and Sun are right, they can still wait."
"Ngh… Just like one of your-!"
"Yes yes Japanese animes, I know."
"Tch…" A shake of Kiryu's head, but he relented nonetheless."Wakatta, Otacon." The foreigner speaker crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, obviously unhappy but willing to oblige.
"…and what the fuck did that mean? Why's he such a hardass?"
"He's staying here, Snake." Otacon turned to Snake, "I just told him to stay put and protect us for the time being." 'Coming from you, Snake, that's a bit rich…'
"Well that's good to know…" Snake growled, "But can't he speak English? This really makes it a pain…"
"I don't think that's a good idea…" Otacon looked back to Kiryu and gave a nervous laugh. "He's been pissed the entire ride here, heheh…"
Kiryu leaned silently on the wall. 'Blake-kun, Sun-kun… gomen ne.'
It was a starry night out and Tai found himself sitting alone atop Beacon's rooftop.
He had no grudge on his Team, nothing like that. It's just that he liked to have a little time to himself, a time to think about what he should do.
They were second years now. All this time, studying in class, getting into 'trouble' around town, shadowing Hunters and Huntresses as missions…
And now, the Vytal Festival was coming up, the 20-th something of it. And with them as Beacon's star team…
He heard footsteps approaching, easily interrupting his thoughts. He immediately recognized it as his leader's.
"Hey, Tai." Summer greeted. "What'cha doing out so late?"
Tai waved a hand behind him. "Just needed to get some fresh air."
"Ah, I see." But from the tone of her voice, she clearly didn't. Nevertheless, Summer persisted. She approached Tai and stood beside him, gesturing to the floor beneath her. "Mind if I sit here?"
Tai shrugged. Summer took a seat beside him.
Tai kept his gaze to the stars. So beautiful, so carefree. He could lose himself in this little adventure forever.
Summer looked at the stars just as Tai did, but for the life of her couldn't find its appeal. Instead, she turned her gaze back to her teammate.
"So…" Summer bit her cheek. "Mind telling me what's got you so upset?"
Tai leaned, hands supporting his body. "'m not upset." Tai mumbled.
"Now that I know isn't true." Summer chuckled. "Come on, Tai. You can tell me anything here. I'm your leader, after all!"
Tai shook his head and looked back to the starts.
"…Is it Raven?"
"W-what gave you that idea?!" Tai's face turned red with embarrassment as he sputtered in surprise.
Summer laughed out loud as he cast his gaze to the ground.
"Haha! So it's not her, then? But still…!" Summer wagged her finger. "That means you do have a crush on her!"
Tai sighed and couldn't help the smile that broke from his lips. Still, he cast his gaze to the stars. "Yeah, I do… but what gave you that idea?"
Summer stared at him silently.
"Alright alright, I guess it was a bit obvious." Tai sighed.
"You're damn right it is." Summer gave a happy little nod. But then, her voice dropped down to being serious. "So c'mon, tell me then… what's got you so upset?"
Tai closed his eyes. Ah, what was he thinking? Summer would always understand. She always had their best interests at heart, after all.
Summer was the purest of them.
"Sum…" For the first time tonight, Tai cats his gaze away from the stars and into Summer's eyes. Blue met Silver. "You ever wonder what we're doing here?"
"U- huh?"
"Just… I've been thinking a bit lately." Tai said earnestly. "We've been in Beacon for two years now. Road seems clear, we go out, become Hunters, so on and so forth… I'm just wondering what's the point of it all."
"Tai…"
"I mean come on, are we really going to see the Grimm end in our lifetime? Somehow I doubt it." Tai shook his head. "I don't mean anything bad… just wondering why it's gotta be us."
Summer tilted her head innocently. "You wanted to be here, didn't you? You chose to go to Beacon, Tai."
"…"
"You did, right?"
"To be honest, I don't really know." Tai sighed. "I was just wandering around back then. Took the test on a whim, then passed, and now…" Tai shrugged. "Now I'm here. Hooray, I guess."
"You…. Weren't told by anyone else?" Summer asked. "I- I thought-."
"I don't have anyone else." Tai said simply. "Mom and Pops died a long time ago. Left the orphanage nd never looked back. Been on the road ever since, doing whatever whenever and wherever."
"Like an adventurer, then…"
"More like a wanderer." Tai said simply. "Makes me wonder why I'm even still here; it's past time I usually got back on the road."
"Tai…" Summer began, but Tai interrupted her mid-sentence.
"So why're you still holding on?" Tai asked. "You're an orphan too, right? Do you understand what I'm saying? We can really just… do whatever we want. 'S not like we have anyone to go back to after all."
Summer closed her eyes and sighed. "I do."
"Then-."
"But it's not about us, Tai."
Tai raised an eyebrow "And that means?"
"It's about the people around us." Summer said simply. "Come on, Tai. The Faunus are still beaten down. Lots of people are in danger every day, from Grimm or otherwise. Kingdoms are rebuilding themselves, and lots of the politicians are stuck on their butts day in and day out. We've got the strength and we've got the skills. What good would it be if we just wander around?"
"We've got no relation to anyone, specially not strangers. Why should we care?"
"Why shouldn't we?"
Tai felt the world stop.
Summer didn't even flinch as she focused her eyes on him.
She said it so simply…
"I-I…" Tai looked away and onto the floor. That was the crux of her, wasn't it? She was way too kind. It made him look selfish and arrogant in return. Even if he knew he was only one man against an army of Grimm.
"And besides, what do you mean we have no one to go back to?" Summer chuckled and punched Tai's shoulder playfully, knocking him out of his thoughts.
He stared back into Summer's eyes and she smiled.
"We've got STRQ, Tai! Isn't that more than enough?"
Tai's breath caught in his throat. Then, he laughed.
Summer smiled.
"Yeah, yeah. Guess you're right, Sum!"
He didn't notice the way her cheeks went red at the mention of her new nickname.
"So! Little Miss Leader…" Tai smiled broadly and placed his large, calloused hands on Summer's shoulder. "Mind showing me what all that resolve's about? Can't tell me you're fighting for the people without actually fighting, after all!"
Summer smirked and shook off Tai's hand. "Gladly."
They both stood back up and took steps away from each other, though their eyes were locked on to each other all the same.
Tai smiled and deployed LimitBreak on both his hands, entering his signature boxing stance and dancing in place. Meanwhile, Summer withdrew Cloaked Precision from within her white cloak and transformed it twice. First to its sniper form, then to its dual machete form. She smirked and bent low, white particles trailing behind her cloak.
Beat.
"Hyah!"
"Hoaaaah!"
CLANG!
"Grk!" Tai felt himself buckle ever so slightly from a blow over his head with Summer's dual bone-axes, just barely blocked by LimitBreak. That was somehow stronger than he had anticipated! What was this? Some new form of power?!
Summer pushed down with her axe some more. She saw Tai's knees begin to struggle, and her eyes met his own.
Summer smirked. "Awww~, keeping up so far, darling?"
"GRAH!" Tai lifted his hand and broke free, forcing her to take a step back.
But it had taken more strength than he had anticipated…
Summer chuckled. "Too slow!"
Tai used his momentum to take a step forwards and punch at Summer. His fist swung wildly for her face. Summer ducked and slammed her elbow to Tai's gut.
Bam!
"Gah!" Tai felt the wind being knocked out of him.
"You're done for!" Summer lifted her other axe and swung it down from above Tai's neck.
'Move!' Tai dropped to the floor, the axe just barely missing his neck. With Summer's guard open, he kicked up with both his feet while pushing himself off the floor.
"Hyah!" Tai kicked both of his feet to Summer's body, hitting her right in the gut and sending her skidding back.
Bam!
Screeech!
Summer skid back from the blow and planted her axe on the ground to stop her slide. She let out a breath as she felt her stomach sting. That was an exceptionally hard kick too…
"Hah…" Tai jumped in place, pepping up his step as he danced in place.
Get moving, keep those reflexes warmed up. Try to keep up with her. Find a way to handle her…
Summer always went in fast. Always went in with both weapons, overwhelmed the enemy with her speed, and then subdue them as fast as she could.
He could never keep up for too long. So, his key was to was remember her patterns. He had sparred with her countless times back in the day, and now all it took was getting back those muscle memories.
But after 17 years…?
Tai clenched his fists as he danced in place. And then, he drew Cloaked Precision off of his back.
He assumed what stance he could, using a weapon not of his own.
But he couldn't help but wonder, couldn't help but ask her one more time."
"How…" Tai said as he looked into Summer's eye. "How could you even think like this?! How could you possibly rationalize your actions for our daughters?!"
"I told you before, Tai!" Summer said with a cruel smile. "Our daughters would never, ever be free with Ozpin still roaming around!"
"So you'll sacrifice hundreds just for your revenge?"
"Why should I care?" Summer shrugged. "No one gave a shit before."
"S-Summer…"
"I mean, you'd think there'd be a rescue mission, right? At least try to confirm that I was dead! But noooo~, I was as worthless as a pawn the moment I my use was up. And besides, what does it matter?" Summer's voice dropped to a growl. "Ruby would take my place in a couple of years, wouldn't she?"
"So this- this revenge is your dream? What happened to fighting for those other than yourself-?!"
"SHUT UP!"
.
"I've lost everything the moment I took that mission from Ozpin! I didn't die and I didn't live, I became- became whatever the FUCK this is, and I didn't even have a choice! Don't you realize it, Tai?!"
"I'll never get the chance to see my daughters grow! Never get the chance to give her answers to questions she asked, never get the chance to give her advice and guide her in life. IT'S ALL TOO LATE NOW!"
"So what use is fighting for others, huh?! The world just spits you out once you're used and take those you love with them! Rinse and repeat, all because of Ozpin and his manipulations! In the end you're nothing but a cog they'd replace the moment a crack starts to spread!"
"So tell me why we should save the world when it's given us nothing in return! TELL ME, TAI! TELL ME!"
.
.
.
.
.
Tai sighed and looked into Summer's eye once more, her soul laid bare.
The cornerstone of her logic, of why she chose to side with Salem.
"Summer…"
Summer growled. "What…?"
Tai let out a breath and spoke deep from his heart.
"I understand your pain…"
"…"
"I lost you, lost my resolve, lost STRQ's unity… barely had any reason to go on." He could still feel his Semblance being locked beneath Ozpin's technique. More than that, his lacking physique and his dull technique...
But even through all of that, he pushed on. "But your words back then… no matter what happened, I always remembered your smile. Your resolve. You always were the best of us… what we could never achieve. A Huntress through and through."
"…"
"So- so then… We need to keep going. Fight for others who can't. Because… even if we wanted to, we could never go back 17 years. This age, the times we find ourselves in, and what struggles we see… it's up to us to live and make the best of it."
"So now… I'll show you why."
Tai lifted Cloaked Precision and aimed its tip at Summer. "We'll settle the past. Right here. Right now."
Summer stayed silent.
Then, she smirked.
Summer pulled out a device with a big red button from her black cloak. With a smirk, she pressed down on the button and watched with glee as the submarine was engulfed in red warning lights.
Click!
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Summer smirked and tossed the weapon to the floor. Then, with a laugh, she slammed her foot down and smashed it to pieces.
Tai stayed silent as alarms blared in the submarine. No matter the cost, no matter the cost…
He was ready.
The submarine's intercom blared with its announcement. "Self-destruct initialized. All personnel, evacuate immediately. T minus five minutes. Repeat, T minus five minutes. T minus 4 minutes 59 seconds. T minus 4 minutes 58 seconds-!"
Summer and Tai stared into each other's eyes. One Grimm, one human.
"Show me, then…" Summer said simply. She let out a final breath. "What your so called 'resolve' is all about."
They readied their stances, each with the intent to fight…
And then, as one, they reached to their coats and cloaks.
Tai gripped his Headmaster's coat, the one given to him by his students, the one that marked his allegiance…
Fwoosh!
…And in one smooth motion, he removed it from his body and cast it away. This time, he won't bring Haven's name to the fight. Tonight, it was much more than that.
Fwoosh!
And on the other side, Summer ripped her own black cloak off her body and let it fly to the side. Tonight, she won't be fighting under Salem's 'suggestions' and parasites anymore. In this fight, she'll show Tai why there's no reason to protect the world when it would always betray you.
Summer's single eye glowered hatefully at Tai. All this rage, she'll show him that there's no use holding back and playing the good guy. Use your rage to make everyone who wronged you pay!
Tai's eyes remained closed. Then, with a final silent signal, he opened them again and coolly stared into Summer. He'll show her why they need to hold on. Why they need to rise above, just like she showed them all those years ago.
"T minus 4 minutes 3 seconds. T minus 4 minutes 2 seconds-!"
Summer growled and lifted her axe off the metal floor. She put them both to the side and leaned forwards, knees bent low.
'I'm sorry, Sum.'
'You're wrong, Tai. This is the only way we can be free.'
Beat.
"RAHHH!" Summer lunged forwards, Grimm-black particles left behind as a mark of her enhanced speed. She dragged her axes on the floor, sparks flying from the contact.
"HAAAAAHHH!" Tai lunged forwards as well, Cloaked Precision held to the sides.
They swung their weapons to each other at the same time, eyes burning into the other.
Summer Rose
Matriarch of the Xiao-Long Rose Family, Beacon Prodigy and Former Leader of Team STRQ
"TAIIIIII!" Summer jumped up and descended air with both her axes swinging down.
Tai blocked the axes with Cloaked Precision crossing over his head. A loud clang sounded as bone met metal.
"Grk!" Tai felt his Aura take a hit from that blow. That Grimm strength… it was so strong!
"HYAH!" Summer forced her sword down harder, threatening to split him in two. Tai grit his teeth and roared.
"Back off!" Tai broke his block and forced Summer back. Summer landed on the floor and swung from Tai's left. Tai saw this coming and ducked.
Fwoosh!
The axe flew over him-!
Summer continued to attack, and Tai blocked and parried the best he could. He used lots of his Aura to keep up, Summer was simply stronger than she had ever been before, almost…
Almost like she had never degraded.
"T minus 3 minutes 47 seconds. T minus 3 minutes 46 seconds-!"
That's it, it wasn't that she was stronger, it was that he had lost his edge. The Grimm parasite had brought her back to the level they once were, post-Beacon and at the height of their lives.
Tai forced himself to keep up, even though he knew it was impractical. Sooner or later, he would be the first to give in-!
But miraculously, Summer's moves began to slow down. No, that wasn't it…
It was more that he was starting to see a pattern. A training partner he had lost 17 years ago…
Tai took his chance.
He roared and got up right after Summer swung over his head. He swung Cloaked Precision right at her side.
Clang!
His sword met Summer's axe, carefully blocking his strike. Tai felt Summer twist her block, then yell and push his sword to the side. She cast one of Cloaked Precision away, landing firmly on the floor a long way from where they were.
"Amateur!" Summer yelled, and used her axe to stab Tai in the shoulder. The axe's blade hit true, and Tai felt his Aura take a massive hit. That must've been around 20%!
"Ngh!" Tai fell to his knees and saw Summer lift her sword for an overhead slice. He had to stop that!
"Haaaah-! Oof!" Summer swung her axe down, but felt a foot slam into her gut just before she finished.
SLAM!
"Gah!" Summer skid back from the blow, her stomach stinging from the blow. She put a hand to it, and then looked up.
Tai was already upon her, body shining with Aura enhancement.
"Hyah!" Tai swung from the side with Cloaked Precision. Summer prepared to block it with her axe-!
But then Tai twisted the sword and halted his attack. Summer's eye trailed to the sword and she realized her mistake. 'A feint-?!'
"HAH!"
SLAM!
'AH!' Summer felt her vision briefly turn to black as Tai's fist slammed to her face. She took several steps back and shook her vision clear. "Why you-!"
"T minus 3 minutes 38 seconds. T minus 3 minutes 37 seconds-!"
Tai rushed at Summer again with Cloaked Precision raised high. He swung it down just as he reached Summer. Summer deftly stepped to the side and let the attack miss.
She could see the cogs running in Tai's mind. He turned to the left and at the same time shifted his grip on Cloaked Precision. He swung at Summer right as he spun to meet her.
Summer ducked and deftly kicked his shin. All at once, Tai's 'stance' crumpled and his attack with her weapon fell to pieces.
Tai lost balance and stumbled forwards. He tried to stand back up, only to be immediately met by Summer's elbow to his stomach.
SLAM!
"Grk!" Tai felt a shockwave burst from behind his stomach, and then felt his entire body weak. No, that was way too strong-!
"Whoa!" Tai felt himself being lifted from beneath his arm, flipped, and then slammed back down to the floor.
BAM!
"T minus 3 minutes 22 seconds. T minus 3 minutes 21 seconds-!"
"Ack!" Tai felt his back slam against metal, taking another major chunk of his Aura. He groaned, and then saw Summer above him with her hand raised high.
Summer smirked and lifted her open palm right above Tai's face, black tentacles seeping through her hand. "Time for a nap!"
'Shit!'
"HAH!"
SLAM!
Tai rolled to the side just as Summer brought her hand down. A loud clang sounded as Summer's hand met the steel floor. He made it to the side just in time, but had lost the grip on Cloaked Precision.
Tai quickly scrambled to back to his feet and lifted his feet. Just LimitBreak now, also HF Dragonsbreath.
But he could aim to shoot her not in a million years.
As for his Aura…
It was dangerously near the end of the yellow.
Summer lifted herself back up and turned her hand back to bone-axes. She gave Tai a cruel smirk, "You're much too sentimental about the past, darling. Can't keep going!"
"Ngh…" Tai forced himself to his knees.
"T minus 3 minutes 5 seconds. T minus 3 minutes 4 seconds-!"
No, not yet-!
"See? You can't even use my weapons right!" Summer laughed cruelly. Tai huffed out a breath. Then, with a determined glare, he lifted his fists up.
"That's it, huh? A Hunter never gives up…" Summer shook her head and chuckled menacingly. "What a useless code! 17 years a stay-at-home dad's made you a Hunter past his fucking prime!"
Summer lunged forwards with her dual axes once again. "I've seen all I needed to see! Your strength and conviction ends here, Tai…!"
Tai narrowed his eyes. From what he saw before, on their earlier battle…
Dual weapons, axes or swords, past or present…
Remember, remember, remember.
"-WHILE MINE'S JUST GETTING STARTED!" Summer swung in the other axe from the right.
Tai ducked once more, the blade cleanly swinging over him.
Fwoosh!
"HYAH! HYAH! HYAH! HYAH! HYAH!TAIIIII!"
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The axe cut nothing but air as Tai and Summer's steps synced with each other, each axe blade swinging from the sides and then flying over him. Swing, duck. Swing, duck.
Summer's rage won over and she did a hasty move. "STAND STILL!" She lunged forward with a step and aimed to hit Tai with the tip of her axe.
'Now!' Tai stepped to the side and let the axe miss. Summer's hand-axe was right in front of him!
"Hah!" Tai quickly wrapped her arm with his own and took a step forwards. Now, her axe was firmly locked in and behind him.
They stared into each other's eyes, each set burning into the other.
"Grah…"
"Hah…"
Summer brought her other axe-hand from above and swung it downwards for Tai's chest. "HAHHH!"
Slash!
"AH!" Tai screamed as he fell on his back, his Aura taking a massive hit from Summer's attack. He vaguely felt around his Aura. Damn it, a lot's been taken out!
He had to disarm her somehow!
"T minus 2 minutes 49 seconds. T minus 2 minutes 48 seconds-!"
"Come here!" Summer swung her axe down once more, this time for Tai's head.
'Dodge!' Tai rolled to the side and let the attack miss.
Clang!
The axe hit the floor and strongly planted itself there.
"Ngh!" Summer struggled to pull her hand free. Damn it-!
Step!
Tai stepped in, arm cocked back, and Summer's eyes grew wide in surprise.
"HYAH!" Tai wrapped her other arm once more, stepped behind her guard, and smacked an open palm to the back of her neck.
BOOM!
"T minus 2 minutes 37 seconds. T minus 2 minutes 36 seconds-!"
She felt a shockwave burst from behind her head from the sheer force of the blow. She was getting drowsy. That was a strong hit!
"RAH!" Tai forced her other arm down and then smashed his elbow hard onto her own.
CRACK!
"AHHHHHHH!" Summer screamed as she felt her arm being broken.
"GRAH!" Tai screamed and threw Summer into a wall using his lock.
BAM!
CLANG!
"Grk!' Summer groaned as she felt her back slam against the submarine's console.
"T minus 2 minutes 25 seconds. T minus 2 minutes 24 seconds-!"
She slowly gathered herself, forcing herself to her feet and pushing against the submarine's controls. She took a glance at her broken bone-axe. Damn it-!
"SUMMER!"
Summer's eyes widened and she quickly rolled to the left, shifting her hand back to fists. Tai roared as he jumped at where Summer was, bringing his fist down with all his might.
SLAM!
CRACKKKKK!
LimitBreak hit the submarine console and sparks quickly burst from electricity. He swiftly pulled his fist back out and went straight back to attacking Summer.
"HYAH!" Tai threw a jab at Summer's face. Summer tilted her head just in time. "RARGH!" Tai threw a right haymaker for Summer's cheek. Summer ducked under the blow and lifted her own fist from below.
"TAI!" Summer brought her fist up in an uppercut. Tai deftly stepped to the side and let the attack miss.
"T minus 2 minutes 19 seconds. T minus 2 minutes 18 seconds-!"
'Now! Her guard's open!' Tai took a firm step forward and slammed his leg atop Summer's own.
Crk!
Summer felt her foot being smashed and looked down. "Ngh!" Damn, she couldn't move it-!
"HYAHHHHH!"
Summer looked back up again. Tai's fist flew for her face.
'No-!'
SLAM!
She felt her nose crack from Tai's punch. Her vision grew dizzy, and yet she was unable to fully recoil with Tai's foot atop her own.
Tai roared as Summer bounced back and swiftly slammed two more fists into her gut.
"Hah! Hyah!"
Slam! Slam!
"WOAHHHHHH!" Tai wound his fist back far and then delivered a strong final punch to Summer's face.
CRACK!
"AHHH!" This time, Summer could step back as Tai had lifted his foot for maximum efficiency. She stopped several steps away and grabbed her head, then glared hatefully at Tai.
"T minus 1 minute and 50 seconds. T minus 1 minutes 49 seconds-!"
"You…" She felt rage overcome her being, "You left me… Tai… You left me! YOU BASTARDDD!"
Tai felt sorrow grip his heart. Summer…
"T minus 1 minute and 46 seconds. T minus 1 minute and 45 seconds-!"
"DIEEEE!" Summer lunged at him again, nothing but rage and hatred in her attacks.
Tai clenched his fist and readied his stance. He took one final breath and steeled his resolve.
"Come."
"HAHHHH!" Summer turned her arms into bone-swords and lunged with the right.
Tai let out a calming breath. He was ready. Whatever it took.
"HYAH!" Summer's right bone sword came close and Tai blocked it with LimitBreak.
"Grk!" He felt her strength partially overcome his block. That took 7%!
He won't abandon her here!
"I'm the leader? Me?!"
"Congratulations on the win, Summer!"
Summer came from the left with her other sword. Tai titled back just in time, the tip of the bones slashing his uniform.
Summer didn't let up. She continued attacking. Right, left, above, below, in front, behind!
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Tai followed his wife's attacks, slowly going more and more into an old rhythm he held dear. His muscle memory returned, remembering the dodges and strikes he once did a long time ago…
And while Tai became more and more honed and precise, Summer's attack grew faster and more erratic.
"HYAHHHH!"
'Block!'
Tai lifted his hands and let his muscle memory do the rest of the work once more.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Summer roared. "HAHHHHHH!"
Tai stayed silent and kept it up.
Left, blocked. Right, dodged. Overhead, stepped to the side. Rising-!
"Grk!" Dammit, he miscalculated! That attack nicked his leg.
"T minus 1 minute and 30 seconds. T minus 1 minute and 29 seconds-!"
"Ah-ah! That's not the tone I want to hear~!"
"Yes, Summer!"
"Alright! C'mon, let's get going again! Round Sixteen, START!"
Slash!
"Grk!" Tai's felt his leg being hit and Aura flaring to that spot. Dammit, that took 15%!
Summer roared and lunged at Tai's kneeling position. Tai quickly rolled to the side and let her miss her mark.
"Hmph!" Summer deftly landed on her feet and spun back around. She turned back around and lunged at Tai with her Semblance.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
"Ngh!" Tai felt each strike cut away from his Aura, making it go lower and lower and lower. But still, Summer's speed came at a cost.
"We've got no relation to anyone, specially not strangers. Why should we care?"
"Why shouldn't we?"
"T minus 1 minute and 15 seconds. T minus 1 minute and 14 seconds-!"
His hand inched to his pocket, even though all the attacks burned with pain. Just a little bit more…
Slash! Slash! Slash!
His Aura was in the red now… she'll want to end it soon. Just like she always wanted to.
"T minus 1 minute and 13 seconds. T minus 1 minute and 12 seconds-!"
Just as he thought that, Summer finished her dashes with her Semblance and appeared before him. She lifted her sword high, ready to slice Tai in two.
High, and so clearly telegraphed.
"TAIIIIIIIII!" Summer swung down with every intent to finish the fight.
"We've got STRQ, Tai! Isn't that more than enough?"
"Mind showing me what all that resolve's about? Can't tell me you're fighting for the people without actually fighting, after all!"
"Gladly."
Tai pulled a syringe out from his pockets and lurched from his kneeling position towards Summer.
Summer's sword moved down and Tai chambered it with LimitBreak.
Shhiinggg!
Her sword skid past its surface cleanly, and it took the last of Tai's Aura to strengthen his move.
Summer's eye went wide as she stared into Tai's determined own. What?! He can still move?! Where did this come from-?!
"HYAHHH!" Tai roared and stabbed the Aura syringe straight at Summer's neck.
Stab!
With another roar, he pushed all of its contents into Summer's veins.
"Ah…" Summer stepped back, her breaths growing ragged and short. Sweat was visibly going down her forehead, and her skin was beginning to transform. "Ah… AHHHHHHH!"
Summer grabbed her head with both her hands. Tai fell to the ground with a thud as he watched his wife with bated breath.
"AH!" Summer fell to the ground, skin shifting from white to human-cream and then back to white. Tentacles shot in and out of her, encasing her body and then returning back in erratically.
"Summer…!" Tai gasped. He took a step forwards, still on his knees.
"Ngh…! It hurts, IT HURTS!" Summer collapsed on the floor, hand slamming on the metal and eye closed in pain. "Ngh… Tai, please, please-! AHHHHHHH!"
"Summer-!" Tai took another step forwards, and then another after that. He was positively exhausted, but it didn't matter. He was so close-!
"T minus 1 minute! T minus 59 seconds-!"
He reached Summer and took by the shoulder. "Come on, we don't have much time!" He shouted. Summer was still incoherent, feeling so much pain and her mind not having any sense of presence.
Most of all, she was still shifting between Grimm and Human.
"Come on-!" He tried to lift both her and himself up, but instead fell back down to the floor.
"Grk!" Tai grit his teeth and pulled out another syringe. He prepared to stab himself with it, seeing Summer had already gotten her dose, but then his mind came to a screeching halt.
This… this didn't match what Venom told him at all.
Back then, he told him that his transformation back into a human had been easy. Instantaneous. He glanced back to Summer.
So what made his wife so different? They were the same type of Hybrids, right?!
No no, nononono-!
"T minus 50 seconds! T minus 49 seconds-!"
Tai felt his grip begin to crack the Aura syringe. He closed his eyes in frustration and growled. They had to get out of here! Self-destruct was imminent! So what should he do, dammit?!
But then, he felt a hand on his chest.
"T-Tai…" A raspy voice spoke up.
Tai opened his eyes in shock and looked into Summer's eye. "S-Sum! You're back…-?!"
"O-Operation…." Summer forced out, still shifting between Grimm and Human. And yet…
"T minus 42 seconds! T minus 41 seconds-!"
It would never go past the edge of return. Her parasite was stronger, for whatever reason he didn't know.
Perhaps… because she needed it to survive? Or because of a longer expose in that village?!
Damn it, he could figure it out later! What's clear was…!
Tai felt his heart grow heavy.
It was here that Tai realized one syringe wouldn't be enough.
But still…
Tai looked back to Summer's eyes. There was a clarity there. A clarity that he hadn't seen in a long time. The clarity that he had seen in their final night together.
Had she begun to remember-?!
But Summer wasn't done. She grabbed Tai's collar, forcing his attention back to him.
"T minus 34 seconds! T minus 33 seconds-!"
"A-all I did… O-operation… G-Grimm-!"
"Y-yeah… Sum…?"
"O-Operation Grimm Eater… I didn't do it for Ozpin."
Summer gave him a bitter smile. "I-I… I did it to protect our family. To protect you."
And then, faster than he could react, Summer took the syringe from Tai and slammed it into his arm.
Shink!
"W-what…?" Tai looked to his arm, then back to Summer. "S-sum! But- but what about you?!"
Summer gave him a bitter smile. Before he could react, she wrapped her tentacles around him, pulled him close, and gave him a hug. But these were different, they weren't trying to infect him with parasites, or attack him, or anything.
These were to protect him.
She remembered.
Tai's eyes widened. No-!
He felt a tear go down her cheek and then trail down his neck.
"Tai… I'm so sorry."
"T minus Zero."
"I love you."
Click!
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
S-screeech….!
The RAY let out one last, final screech before it fell flat on the ground. Its eyes still retained that glow, but little by little it diminished, until finally, it turned off completely.
"Hah. Hah…" Raiden took several steps back, away from the RAY, and then sheathed HF Crocea back into its place. "D-damn! That was way too close…"
He fell to the ground with a thump and let out a nervous laugh. Damn, he never expected anything that grand to be here. But still, at least they managed to take it out quickly enough.
All around him, he could see everyone else cheering in victory. Some fell to the ground in shock, just like he did, others celebrated by loudly proclaiming their triumph. Heh, he had to hand it to everyone, defeating RAY wasn't an easy task, and yet they had prevailed all the same.
Speaking of which…
Raiden put a hand to his CODEC and tried to contact Venom. "Hey, V, can you hear me? How's it going on your end?"
He was met with static. Confusion grew in Raiden. "Hey, V, you hear me? V, respond."
Even more static.
Raiden clicked his tongue. Did he really have to go there and fetch him? Whoever that pilot was should've been easy pickings, especially for a Snake.
"Hey." He felt a tap on his shoulder, and then heard the sound of someone sitting beside him. "You okay?"
"Oh." Raiden turned to look at the man that sat beside him. He had seen him around before, and had read some files on the man. "You're… Qrow, right? A part of Team STRQ?"
"Heh. So Tai's told you about me, huh?"
"A little. Mostly just read some files here 'n there. You've got quite the record back at Leonardo's."
"Shoulda figured the coward was keepin' tabs on me." Qrow sighed and leaned back on his arms. "Caught us off guard, y'know? Never saw his betrayal coming."
"Hmmm. I could sympathize." To a degree, but still. Being used back in the Tanker Incident still left some marks after all. "Guessing you're pretty confused on what's right now, huh?"
"Bit of an understatement that one, but yeah. Especially with them." Qrow made a pointed a thumb behind him and Raiden took a glance.
He saw Team RWBY huddled near each other, more specifically around Yang's unconscious body.
"If I'm rocked to the core, then what happens when it's them?" Qrow continued, and Raiden's focus went back to the ex-Bandit. "I'm already set on this life, I've already became what I am. But they're still in-Trainings, and I don't think becoming whatever Jaune is would be good, y'know?"
"Yeah yeah, I see where you're coming from." Raiden shook his head. "So… you've been pretty loyal to Ozpin, huh?"
Qrow cast a look to the sky. "Not since day one, but that's pretty much the gist of it." He sighed, reminiscing sweeter days past. "Came in with ol' Rae under the Tribe's orders. Told us to study the Hunters so 'we' could fight back one day. It helped that we were the old chief's kids too."
"And…?" Raiden prodded forth, "What changed?"
"STRQ changed. Ozpin started giving us 'special treatment' for a lack of a better word… kinda like Team RWBY." Qrow said simply.
Qrow clenched his fist.
"Summer… now that I think back on it, she'd always been targeted since day one. Her Silver Eyes… Oz knew what he needed her for from the beginning. Few years ago he told me her family was the only lineage that's left. Summer was a lucky find, and no other records of Silver Eyed warriors exist."
"And yet you fight for him still." Raiden pointed out.
"What's so bad about that? Ozpin's the good guy in all this, after all. Heh, at least that's what I thought." Qrow chuckled mirthlessly. "'Course time goes on, and we all grew up. Realized what was going on, but we still fought for him."
"…"
"Ironically, Tai the adventurer was the first to settle down." Qrow said, "When Yang was born, he became a lot more responsible. Snapped out of his wild tendencies and became a real family man." Qrow shook his head, "Not long after Rae left for the Tribe. Never could pinpoint why exactly, 'course I have my own suspicions being her brother and all."
"And now the Tribe's all dead."
"Not gonna find any sympathy from me, Raiden. Fact is you probably did a lot of people good by taking 'em out." Qrow scowled. "Buncha scumbags, all of 'em."
"And…?"
"Summer picked Tai up when he hit his lowest. Then, they got married and had Ruby. At that point, I was the only one under Ozpin consistently. Nobody minded of course, we still thought Ozpin was fighting the 'good fight' against Salem after all. Felt like we were really making a change." Qrow leaned back even more, heaving out a sigh that held years of repressed grief.
"Summer's always been caring. Too caring. It wasn't hard for her to deny taking any of Ozpin's missions when Tai was down, and even less when little Ruby was born. She matched Tai's feelings for family, maybe even more so, and she extended that caring to even those who weren't related to her."
"So? What of it?"
"So Ozpin used her." Qrow growled and turned back to Raiden. His eyes were filled with rage, and Raiden had to wonder what changed a seemingly truly-loyal soldier to whatever this was.
He didn't have to wait long. Qrow pulled out a folder and handed it to Raiden.
"He read her like a book… all that time we spent working for him, trusting him with everything, and he threw her away like a pawn." Qrow bit out, hands shaking holding the folder as Raiden was yet to take it. He motioned with his head to his niece's team, "Question I gotta ask now, is Team RWBY next?"
Raiden met Qrow's eyes and took the folder from his shaking hands with a nod. He opened the file and noticed its title.
It was strikingly familiar.
Raiden took a look inside, read the details of the operation, and immediately understood what Qrow meant. There was a recording of the meeting as well, and he vowed to check it later with Tai. Because if this was true-!
If this was true, then it meant that Ozpin was no better than the worst of men he's seen. A man who was willing to sacrifice anyone and anything to ensure his vision of a greater good came true. And it seemed that was what he had done.
Though in Remnant, with its unique circumstances, was it really so bad-?
Raiden scoffed and killed that train of thought. But then, that wasn't the point, was it? He could see the transcript here, and it seemed that was never what Qrow wanted to be brought out.
Instead, it was about what Ozpin had done.
Indeed, he had manipulated Summer.
He had forced her to take a suicide mission in every sense of the word. And then… the outcome was obvious. Except…
She didn't die, did she?
He had sacrificed a pawn, and Summer had been forced. He could see that. But with Ozpin using her as a pawn, Salem had expected it and used that fault to her fullest extent.
And who paid the most in that scenario? Certainly not the Headmaster.
Qrow growled and narrated exactly what Raiden was thinking.
"Can't imagine what she felt." Qrow bit out. "And yet… in the end, in the end…-!" Qrow's voice strained, and tears threatened to break out.
"In the end…! S-she complied. She g-gave her life, Raiden. Not for Ozpin, but for Tai and her daughters."
"Because in her time, there was no one else."
BOOOOOOM!
The docks shook and both Qrow and Raiden saw a plume of fire explode in the distance, far off the beaches of Vale but still burning brightly in the night. Both of them immediately shot up and ran to the edge of the docks, realization dawning on their faces on what had just happened.
"No… Tai!" Qrow shouted. The submarine… it blew up?!
Raiden took a knee beside him and contacted Tai via CODEC. "Tai, respond!"
Static.
"Tai! Dammit!" Raiden ended his call and punched the concrete ground in frustration. Of all the things to happen-!
Raiden heard the roar of engines approaching and looked up. He saw one of Haven's surviving boatds docking right in front of them, Beryl navigating it for both of them.
"Come on!" She shouted. "We don't have much time!"
"R-right!" Qrow gave a hasty nod and stepped in to the boat, giving Raiden a quick pat on the shoulder. Raiden followed suit not long after and stepped beside Beryl.
"Come on! Full speed!" He commanded.
"Gotcha!" Beryl did as she was told and went as fast as she could.
Every minute felt like an eternity as they waded past the waters of Vale. Both Raiden and Qrow gripped the handle bars on the boat tight, both of them beginning to crush them with their hands. Come on, they can't be too late, they just can't be!
For Raiden, he would never let another comrade die. He's had enough of teammates dying in conflicts,
For Qrow, he can't lose what was left of his Team. What little remained of better times.
They kept dashing through the waves in the middle of the night, the hopes in their hearts more of a pain than a source of comfort. And then, after much too long, they approached waters that had metal wreckages floating above.
Beryl immediately slowed down the boat and waded carefully through the dangerous waters. Qrow took to the searchlights and shone around the wreckage, making sure to leave no metal unidentified.
"C'mon, don't you leave me here dammit…" Qrow bit out. He continued to search through the waters, Raiden meanwhile on standby…
Qrow shone a final spot on the waters and saw a body floating up. "There!" He pointed and focused the light on the body. "Over there, Raiden! Tai!"
"Got it!" Raiden immediately jumped in the water and swam to Tai's position. He moved as fast as he could, reached Tai, put him over his shoulder, and swam them both back to the boat.
"Hah. Hah…" Raiden panted as he slammed both of their bodies on board. Qrow abandoned the search lights and approached them both.
"Tai!" Qrow shouted. He knelt beside his old partner's body and checked for any signs of life. "C'mon, buddy…!" Qrow put a finger on his partner's neck and pulse beat past his vein.
Beat!
"D-damn it…Too close…!" Qrow breathed out a giant sigh of relief and flopped on his back on the ship's floor. But still…
Qrow forced himself back on his feet just as Raiden gathered himself and went back to the searchlight. He still had to find Summer. She was here, right…?
Qrow shone the searchlight back to where Tai was, shining it on an item that Raiden had left behind on the waters. He focused his eyes against the night's darkness. He had to see for certain…
Qrow intensified the brightness and looked at the waters.
There, a torn-apart black cloak floated on the waters alone.
Qrow let out a sigh and closed his eyes. With gritted teeth, he rested his forehead against the searchlight's metal edges.
"Damn it…!" He clenched his hands and felt the searchlight's metal being crushed beneath his hands. "Damn it! DAAAAMNNNNN ITTTTTTT!"
Tai remained unresponsive, and Raiden closed his eyes and lowered his head.
Beryl stayed silent and closed her eyes in respect.
But was this the end?
If this was yesterday, then maybe Qrow would have believed it so.
But now? With his worldview turned so upside down? He had a hard time believing anything was that easy anymore.
They were so wrapped up in their thoughts that they didn't notice what they had left behind.
Ruby approached the spot where Uncle Qrow and Raiden had talked and then left on a boat, her team following behind her. With her Semblance, she had arrived here first, and yet she was still too late to go with Beryl, Uncle Qrow and Raiden.
Even so… it seemed that they had left something behind.
Ruby picked up the file Uncle Qrow had left laying alone on the dock's concrete floor and took a glance the title, Silver Eyes squinting behind the moonlight to get a good read. A mission authorized by Ozpin himself.
And when Ruby did get a good read at what was in her hands, she felt her heart stop.
The title, the details, even on the mere cover of the folder, this was-! This was-!
Operation Grimm Eater
Huntress-in-Action: Summer Rose (KIA)
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Result: Success
As always, thank you for reading. Stay safe, take care, and see you next time.
Review Responses:
Renashi-RE012, oh that's coming up alright. As for Summer, well… in a sense, now everyone (at least those in the immediate vicinity) know what happened. Thanks for reading!
To TheJSmooth, thanks for the compliment! Yeah, true that. I mean, even people in real life get confused on which Snake is which, lol.
To Gwynx, waaaaa thanks for the compliment! Glad it was nice, and of course props to Kabuto since it wouldn't've been nearly as good! Now all that's left is how The Boss could channel that truth into what she deems best.
To SolSparda369, Boss fight should be coming, though even I don't know when. As for Summer… yeah. Complicated that one.
To Biggus Bossman, fight's here! Hope you enjoyed! :)
To Majin Snake, thanks! I try my best, and I'm glad you think it's true to the source material!
To CriticaofRandomness, there's certainly going to be a change, that's for sure. Still planning that out… as for Watts, I'm thinking about it! Thanks for reading!
To Skeletalrepublic, yeah definitely gonna be a change. So, she's gonna have to find her own footing now. Will she stay the same or find a new 'truth'? That's what I'm planning, at least. Thanks for reading!
To KenSanders, and now fallout's getting even bigger with Ruby's discovery! As for Tai and Summer… this is not the end. It would be way too early and way too easy for them both. Because, after all, this fight, in a sense, was in Tai's perspective. Summer's still hasn't been covered.
To Uraharaisgod, you're right on Cinder being much more loyal to the Boss. I think it's all going to hinge on where Boss wants to go now. As for where the Boss wants to go, I can't tell you that just yet ('cause I'm still thinking too lol). She's still realizing that the world, and war, has changed so, so drastically than her own time. Case in point, her own son's failure. Thanks for reading, and stay safe!