A.N: Ah, the climax of the Atlas Investigation Arc is finally here. Enjoy this is insane setup folks, because I certainly did.
Chapter 42: Blizzard
The hours of the night ticked away in preparation for the Saturday that would become known as the Blizzard from Hell. Inside the Crooked Man's safehouse, the Gray Jackal agent quietly hummed away the hours in preparation for what might very well be his last day hiding undercover as a patriot of Atlas.
Then, something ticked in his mind. His humming stopped. He narrowed his eyes and went over to the window. He opened it and saw a figure in a heavy trench coat and a large bowler hat obscuring his appearance. Then, the figure was gone. The Crooked Man scowled and looked over his shoulder. He saw the figure in his room, his head lowered to hide himself.
The figure then removed the bowler hat, exposing his face. He had beady red eyes, oily black hair, a pointy nose, and a snake-like tongue that flickered in and out of his mouth. "Viper." The Crooked Man muttered at the sight of his fellow Zero.
"Crookie." The Viper grinned.
"What the hell are you doing here?" The Crooked Man demanded.
Viper let out a chuckle that almost sounded like a snake's hiss and patted the Crooked Man on the shoulder. "The higher ups thought you could use some help." He replied, drawing out the s's in his sentences.
"Help with what, exactly?" The Crooked Man inquired.
"Oh, just think of me as insurance, Crookie." Viper replied. "See, Lady Ace is almost certain that Hansel Kobalt is going to blow your cover, so I'm here to make sure you get out of Atlas alive and we can get you into the field elsewhere."
Viper smirked. "Perhaps somewhere Hansel Kobalt won't be able to find you? Then again, he's ruined how many of our operations in this past year? I swear it's like the kid doesn't even eat, sleep or shit."
The Crooked Man glared at Viper. Viper let out that hissing chuckle again. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you could go anywhere in Remnant where he wouldn't be able to track you down. The kid's obsessed!"
"I've noticed." The Crooked Man muttered.
"But until that inevitable moment you run afoul of him once more, I'm your pal, Crookie." Viper promised with a smile as his snake tongue flickered in and out of his mouth. "And your pal is here to make sure you get out of Atlas alive."
"I take it I can't simply send my 'pal' away?" The Crooked Man inquired. "Or at least have the higher ups send me a 'pal' that isn't colossally obnoxious? Or one that isn't as phony as an actual snake?
Crooked Man knew Viper's style. He was an assassin who charmed his way into the hearts of his victims regardless of their gender. He'd get close to them, wine and dine them, and then when they were alone...well, the morgue and the police would simply clean it up from there.
The irony of Viper's style of work was that he was asexual. Viper cared nothing for either sex. If anything the only thing that brought him anything close to a sort of sexual thrill was playing with the hearts of his victims then betraying that love and trust at the very end.
"Aww, you're so mean, Crookie." Viper teased. "In fact, you're awfully mean and pushy for a man in your position."
"Jack the Ripper is dead and a several-month-long operation you were placed in charge of is threatening to go up completely in smoke." Viper now dropped all pretenses of friendliness as his tone took on a more sinister and frustrated one. "All because you couldn't get rid of one man."
"He's not just one man, Viper." The Crooked Man replied. "He's the demon who's been ruining operations all over Remnant for the past year. You said it yourself. He's not the kind of person I could've just killed quickly and quietly. Watching him work this past week, I'm not sure Lady Ace could even take him quietly."
"Whoever does end up killing Hansel Kobalt...well, they won't take him without a fight."
"It sounds like you've come to respect him." Viper mused.
"No, as an assassin, I must know my enemy. And he's not an enemy that can be eliminated by a mere assassin." The Crooked Man replied.
"Then if it comes to it, how will you eliminate him?"
"Like a soldier."
"Well that won't work, because I'm here to make sure you leave Atlas alive. If you're deliberately picking a fight with him, it kinda defeats the purpose." Viper pointed out. "And besides, we're in enemy territory, so your first priority should be to escape."
The Crooked Man's gaze moved to his closet as an idea crossed his mind. "If helping me escape means that much to you, Viper, then perhaps you can help me. But I do have one condition."
"Again, acting like you're in charge."
"You follow my instructions and we'll both get out." The Crooked Man ignored Viper's complaints. "And while we're on the subject, I have one other stipulation."
"Seriously, you're in no position to be acting like you're in charge, Crookie." Viper frowned. "It's really starting to piss me off."
"You can either follow this condition, or I'll kill you right here and now, Viper." The Crooked Man threatened as the temperature suddenly dropped in the room around them both.
Viper's smile returned. "Ooh...scary, okay, Crookie. I'll listen. What's your second condition, hmm?"
Morning soon followed and both assassins went to work in preparation for their plan. Team RWBY, for their part, found themselves on proverbial house arrest at the insistence of their teacher. Yang was playing with Zwei. Blake was reading her book. Weiss was pacing back and forth. Ruby was reading a few pieces on combat theory on her scroll with a very calm expression on her face.
Weiss then broke the silence first. "It's crazy to think about it...but several rooms down, our professor's about to make an arrest...I just hope he knows what he's doing."
"You're overthinking it, Weiss. Arresting this mole is probably just another day on the job for him." Blake pointed out, not even looking up from her book. "That's part of being a pro."
"I know that," Weiss sighed, "but the fact he's asking us to stay in here means he expects this mole to get violent. And he wants us to stay out of it so that we don't get in his way. My home could very well be caught up in some hellish nightmare because a beast is cornered. And you know how dangerous a cornered beast can be."
"Was that a Faunus joke, Weiss?" A faint smile curled on Blake's lips.
"Was that an actual joke, Blake?" The same occurred on Weiss's.
"I'm sure Teach has thought that out." Yang pointed out, smiling as Zwei licked her face. "I mean, he's not stupid. And he's working with the general and Ice Queen Senior. I bet they've got it all figured out."
Weiss looked over at Ruby. "What about you, Ruby? Usually you're beside yourself, worrying about the professor's wellbeing whenever he's about to go on some kind of dangerous mission. I should know, I've gotten in trouble because of it. We all have."
"Another joke, Weiss?" Ruby smiled.
"I mean, it is pretty obvious you care about the professor." Weiss pointed out. "I mean, you care about everyone. It's part of who you are. But the point still stands."
"Well, don't get the wrong idea, I am worried. A part of me does feel like there's got to be something I can do to help." Ruby admitted.
"And yet you're just sitting around reading essays on combat theory. You're actually starting to scare me a little, Ruby." Weiss deadpanned.
Ruby sighed. "Because if I try to help right now...when I've been specifically told to stay out of the way, all it's gonna do is start another argument between Professor Kobalt and me." She pointed out.
"I don't want to argue with him...not anymore and not without a good reason." Ruby admitted. "But I do want to help too. In the end, I think it'll all come down to chance."
"Chance?"
"The chance that the bad guy is going to try and make a run for it." Ruby explained. "And maybe we'll have to help protect the people of Atlas."
Ruby paused for a brief moment. "...I prayed last night to whatever god would listen that it doesn't come to that."
Meanwhile, Dr. Glen White was calmly strolling through the hallways of Atlas Academy. Ironwood had called a meeting with all the scientists involved in Atlas' secret projects. It made him wonder if Hansel Kobalt had found enough evidence to formally accuse one of them of being the mole.
Before White could ponder the matter any further, a familiar voice got his attention. "Dr. White?"
White looked over his shoulder and saw a concerned Charlie. "Charlie?" White was surprised. "What are you doing here? It's the weekend. It's your day off."
"I should be saying the same to you." Charlie pointed out. "I'm here because I want to be. I always come here on the weekends to work on my designs. I don't have as much time as I'd like because I'm always helping you and the others."
White sighed. "I suppose that is true. I really have been working you hard, huh?"
"I don't mind," Charlie smiled brightly, "you've been a big help to me these past several months, Doctor. I'm grateful for that."
"And you've been a wonderful assistant, Charlie."
Charlie's expression then turned somber. "So...that's why I want you to know that I'm on your side, no matter what happens!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Where's this coming from?" White's eyes widened in surprise.
"One of the scientists in your group is the bad guy, right?" Charlie pointed out. "I want you to know that I don't believe it's you. I want you to know that I'm on your side. You're my teacher and my friend after all."
White's surprise then turned to a grateful smile. He then patted Charlie on the head. "Charlie, thank you." He said sincerely before adding seriously, "listen to me, if Professor Kobalt is planning to make an accusation, there's a chance the villain could try to make a run for it, and that'll put everyone here in danger."
"So I want you to find someplace safe, alright?" White told him. "Find someplace safe until everything blows over."
Charlie nodded in understanding. "After that...how about I treat you to a nice dinner?" White suggested. "A nice thank you for all your hard work?"
"I'd like that, Doctor." Charlie smiled.
Minutes later, all of the Atlesian scientists were gathered in the meeting hall. Even Pietro Polendina was here. "Wow," Agravain Mahogany could not resist commenting on this rare treat, "managed to pull you away from your little clinic, eh?"
Pietro frowned slightly at Agravain's teasing but then regained his composure and smiled politely. "Well, sometimes even I need a break. And besides, the general did make it seem like it was urgent."
"Did it have to be on a weekend?" Misty Le Fay complained. "Being here every day is not my idea of a life."
"If you hate it that much, Le Fay, then quit." The scientists then turned their attention to Winter Schnee, who was entering the room with James Ironwood.
"Of course, if you'd like an apology, I'll gladly give one." Ironwood added. "That said, Pietro is right. This is urgent and I wouldn't call people in like this if it wasn't urgent."
"But since we're all here, we can begin." Ironwood revealed.
"Huh, but we can't." White noted. "Trypan isn't here."
"Trypan Moon won't be joining us, unfortunately." Hansel Kobalt then revealed his presence as he entered the room behind Ironwood and Winter. He was strangely carrying a packet of cigarettes and a lighter."Specialist Schnee discovered him dead in his home yesterday. He was murdered."
Pietro gasped while the rest of the scientists all looked at Hansel with widened eyes. "Gods, Trypan is dead?" Pietro could not believe what he was hearing. "I don't understand, why would someone want to kill Trypan?"
Hansel sighed. "To get to me." He admitted.
Pietro looked at Hansel in confusion. "Yesterday, I was almost killed by an Atlesian Specialist in what was supposed to be a routine sparring match. It was soon discovered that he had been visited by what seemed to be Trypan Moon who gave him the prototypes for Aura-piercing rounds that he had been working on to 'take me out.' You have one guess why this is such a big deal."
"The culprit," Hansel continued, not waiting for anyone to speak up, "wants me out of the picture, so he used Specialist Kelly Kay to do it and took Trypan out to avoid anything being traced back to him."
"This is the same culprit who I've been tracking for the past week." Hansel added. "He clearly does not like that I've been snooping around."
"And are you any closer, boy?" Agravain demanded, glaring at Hansel hatefully for Hansel's outburst a few days ago over Project Witchcraft. "You better not be wasting our time."
Hansel sighed. "Unfortunately, no, I have found no real solid evidence on who the real culprit is. And by culprit, I mean the one among you who is actually a terrorist mole in disguise." He claimed, before his expression turned serious. "However, I am confident I at least know who the one behind the mask really is."
Misty folded her arms. "You don't know the traitor, but you claim to know who the culprit disguising as one of us is?" She frowned. "Don't you think you're doing things out of order?"
Hansel ignored Misty's bitchy behavior and continued. "The culprit is a former Atlesian Black Ops Specialist, long thought dead but actually alive and well...and very pissed off at Atlas."
"The real culprit is Rainn Biggs."
White and Pietro's eyes widened. Agravain frowned. "That's impossible, Rainn Biggs is dead. I saw it happen myself."
"Yes, I'm well aware of what you did to him, Dr. Mahogany." Hansel glared at Mahogany, admittedly still furious with him for taking his family's research. "You may have managed to briefly create a surviving specimen infused with Dust, but you never once considered what came next, did you? This is part of the reason why I never wanted to see those experiments revived."
"You scientists always get so wrapped up in whether you can do something or not, you never stop to think of whether you should do it...in the end, my family was no different."
"But I digress," Hansel got back on track, "Rainn Biggs is the culprit. He managed to put himself in a deathlike state with his newfound powers and faked his death."
"It's a bit far-fetched, but it does make sense. Of all the people who could infiltrate our ranks, Rainn Biggs is the most likely candidate." Pietro noted.
"You're entertaining this garbage?" Agravain scowled.
"What choice do we have? If we don't figure out who this is right now, this terrorist is going to keep doing whatever he wants." Pietro pointed out.
"I second Pietro's notions," Ironwood admitted, "Hansel ran by his theories with me yesterday and it all makes sense now. Specialist Biggs used his newfound ice powers to place his body in a sort of suspended animation and used it to escape right under our noses."
"Perhaps you don't want to accept the possibility because you don't like the idea of him coming after you for revenge, Agravain." Agravain glared at Ironwood for that statement.
"Anyway," Hansel cut in, as he opened the pack of cigarettes and took one out. He then approached the scientists and continued, "the fact that it's Rainn actually makes finding the imposter quite easy."
"I fail to see how." Misty admitted.
Hansel smirked as he flicked the lighter on. "Oh, you'll see. This is where being a Kobalt actually comes in handy."
"Tell me something, Dr. Mahogany," Hansel continued, "do you honestly think you know everything about my family's research?"
"I don't follow."
"Oh, it's quite simple. My family was very meticulous in their notes. They detailed every little thing. Even the stuff that didn't seem too important. And being the last, law-abiding Kobalt in this world, I have access to that kind of knowledge. You may claim ownership of the family research, but I still have the little things that you discounted."
"Get to the point." Agravain glared at Hansel for those jabs.
"Like I said, the fact that the culprit is Rainn Biggs, a survivor of my family's research, makes finding him among you scientists easier because of one interesting little fact about people infused with Dust that my family took note of. You see, one test subject before the Tragedy actually left behind a very interesting detail about himself and his 'brethren.'"
Hansel then lit a cigarette and let the smoke flow into the air around the scientists. "When a test subject of 'Project Witchcraft' is exposed to cigarette smoke." Hansel pointed at his nose. "A single vein pops out on their nose."
Everyone gasped at this. Ironwood and Winter's eyes widened. Hansel's smirk turned into a full-blown grin of triumph. "Are...are you serious, Hansel?" Pietro demanded.
"Nah," Hansel said bluntly, "that was a lie."
"Though it seemed to be pretty convincing." Hansel's expression darkened as he gazed at one scientist in particular. "So...what do you have to say about that…"
"Dr. Glen White?"
Glen White's eyes were wide with shock. His index finger was pointing at his nose in a vain attempt to cover a vein that did not even appear.
Misty and Agravain both took a step away from 'White' in disbelief. Pietro rolled his wheelchair away, shaking his head in shock. No...not him...not Glen!
'White' then regained his composure and sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, damn," he groaned, "months of work down the drain...and all because I, a black ops agent, fell for the oldest trick in the book. This is so damn embarrassing."
"I commend you, Hansel Kobalt. You have quite the talent for ruining everything."
"Gods, it really was you." Winter muttered.
"I almost didn't want to believe it." Ironwood admitted.
Hansel glared at the imposter before him. "You know if you're going to start talking like a villain, I'd rather you show us your real face." Hansel told him. "It's pissing me off that you're saying shit like that with Dr. White's face."
"You didn't even know the real Glen White." The imposter noted before sighing. "Still, you're right, now that my secret is out, there's really no need for this mask."
The imposter then reached for his face and began to pull on it. Everyone winced at how the skin on his face contorted and pulled like a Halloween mask. Then, the skin around his head seemed to detach like an actual mask and was yanked off, revealing another face underneath. An older, wrinkled face with a pointed, small white beard on his chin. His dead black eyes were trained on Hansel.
Rainn Biggs cracked his neck. "It's actually rather stuffy in that mask." He admitted. "So, perhaps I should thank you for forcing me out of it."
"Traitor, you killed the real Dr. White, didn't you?" Ironwood demanded.
"Of course, I killed him after you put him on leave to grieve. You know how my power works, General." Rainn revealed without care. "To be honest, he did not resist in the slightest. I think he was actually relieved to die."
"How could you?" Winter snarled. "You lied to Charlie for all these months?"
"I needed an assistant to help cover up for my lack of experience in this field and Charlie fit perfectly." Rainn explained. "And while he did that, I was able to get in close and take prototypes and research notes and give them to my new masters."
"And kill me, right?" Agravain demanded. "You can claim to be a loyal soldier for your new masters all you want, but you took this assignment to kill me, didn't you? You want revenge, right Biggs? Because I turned you into a monster?"
Rainn sighed and turned to Agravain. Agravain gasped. Rainn was looking at him like he was some kind of bug. "You're as self-absorbed as always, Dr. Mahogany." He noted. "No, I don't care about revenge. In fact, I haven't thought of you in the slightest these past few years."
"In fact, I like the beast I am now." Rainn admitted.
Hansel drew Wolf Fang. "Well I hope you enjoyed the run you've had, Biggs, because it ends here." He declared. "You will answer for all your crimes."
"It ends here?" Rainn frowned. "Professor Kobalt, it's just begun."
Hansel's eyes widened when Rainn slightly moved his hand. "Shit!" He exclaimed, rushing towards Rainn.
Ironwood and Winter both realized what Rainn was about to do and moved to protect the scientists. Ironwood got in front of Pietro while Winter erected a defensive glyph in front of herself, Agravain and Misty.
Then, in a near instant, several large spikes of ice appeared in front of Rainn and extended outwards towards everyone else. Hansel quickly summoned a black fireball and fired it at the ice.
The collision of elements created a mist that blinded Hansel. Before his Aura could work to sense Rainn's presence, he suddenly heard a loud crash. The mist quickly cleared and Hansel saw a hole in the roof. "Damn it! He's on the move!" Hansel exclaimed.
"Ironwood," Hansel looked over his shoulder, "inform your men that an extremely dangerous individual is on the move through the city. Make sure they secure all the residential areas! I'm going after Rainn!"
Hansel rocketed through the hole in the roof to go after Rainn. Winter turned her attention to Ironwood. Knowing what she wanted, Ironwood nodded. "Go to work," he ordered.
Winter nodded and leapt after Hansel.
Then, things immediately got worse. As Rainn made a run for it, he contacted his new partner. "Viper, they've found me out." He told the snake-man before uttering a single command. "Do it."
Viper giggled madly as he hit a single button on a remote. Within seconds, explosions rang out all over Atlas. "What the hell?" Winter exclaimed, eyes wide in horror.
"Shit, so he had a contingency plan." Hansel growled.
Rainn smirked as he created a pathway of ice for him to move fast on. I didn't just steal toys from Atlas. I brought my own toys for this assignment. It may not be enough explosives to bring this place down, but it's enough to keep these fools busy.
Winter quickly looked around as she and Hansel tried to pursue Rainn. "Those explosions were everywhere!" She noted. "How the hell could he have planted them all over Atlas so quickly! And without anyone catching on, too?"
"He must've had help." Hansel noted.
"Hansel, the explosions were everywhere!" Winter pointed out. "If he set any in the residential areas, or worse, near any of our defenses…"
"Winter, go check on those areas." Hansel told her.
Winter immediately balked at the idea. "No way, I can't leave you to take him alone!" She exclaimed.
"And if he was working with a partner, there's another Gray Jackal agent running around!" Hansel pointed out. "And you said it yourself, if those explosions were in residential areas or defensive systems, then the people of Atlas are in even greater danger!"
"I can handle an old man on my own." Hansel assured her. "You need to go and defend your kingdom!"
Winter grit her teeth at this. She really did not want to abandon an ally to fight someone she knew from stories was quite powerful. However, he was right. She had to ensure her kingdom was safe, and part of that was coordinating rescue efforts and making sure the defense systems hadn't been blasted.
"Be careful." She said before breaking off from Hansel.
Winter quickly contacted Ironwood while Hansel continued to go after Rainn. "General, it's me."
"Winter, what happened? I'm getting calls everywhere about explosions across Atlas!"
"He seems to have a partner." Winter replied. "Are you getting any reports on explosions from residential areas? What about some of our defenses?"
"Winter, I'm getting reports on both."
"Damn, I hate that his intuition was spot on." Winter scowled. "I guess this is what happens when the enemy is a former Atlesian. He knew exactly how to hit us."
"Listen," Winter continued, "I'm going to coordinate things in the field as best I can. You focus on keeping things under control from the academy. While I'm doing that, I'm going to track down Rainn's partner."
"Understood...damn, of all the times for the AceOps to be in the field. I'm going to call them and try to get them back here and take the heat off the two of you. What about Hansel, is he still going after Rainn?"
"Yes."
"...Alright, things are bad right now, but we can salvage this. Let's get this situation back under control, Winter."
"Yes sir."
Meanwhile, Hansel found himself debating about a call of his own. If the explosions were in residential areas, soldiers and civilians could have been killed. And the other soldiers across Atlas are going to have their hands full. And then there's the fact that Rainn could decide to move through those wrecked areas. Taking a route he could lose me in is something I would do.
Of course, there's also one other thing I need to consider. The chaos from these explosions could attract Grimm. God only knows how the people up here are feeling. Also the people down in Mantle, they're probably freaking out as well.
Hansel grit his teeth as he reached into his pocket and quickly put on an earpiece that had a small microphone as part of this small headset. I didn't want to involve them...but I don't have a choice. It's time for all hands on deck.
And with that, Hansel spoke into the headset. It was connected to his Scroll. "Call Ruby Rose." He ordered.
Meanwhile, Ruby's Scroll suddenly started to ring. She looked at the caller ID and gasped. "It's Professor Kobalt." She noted, much to the surprise of the rest of Team RWBY.
She quickly picked it up, answered the call and put it to her ear. "Professor?"
"Rose, put me on speaker, now!"
Ruby was startled by the urgency on Hansel's voice but nodded. She quickly put her Scroll on speaker so everyone could hear it. "We can all hear you, Sir. What's wrong?" She asked.
"The mole is on the run!" Hansel quickly got to the point. "I'm chasing after him now. But we're dealing with another bad situation that may make things even worse."
"How so?" Blake asked.
"He set off a bunch of bombs all over Atlas!" Hansel replied. "He's using the explosions to cover his escape! I'm worried that a few might've gone off in residential areas!"
"Oh no!" Weiss exclaimed.
"Hold on, why didn't we feel anything?" Yang asked.
"They must've avoided going near the academy. With how locked tight this place typically is, I'm not surprised." Hansel replied before adding, "but that's not important! If the blasts did happen in residential areas, the soldiers are going to have their hands full evacuating and helping the populace. And the chaos might attract Grimm here and Mantle!"
"He's right," Blake gasped, "this situation could get out of hand very quickly."
"Exactly, I'm pursuing him now and Winter is trying to get the situation under control. But I had Ironwood place soldiers everywhere for this very reason yesterday. So this many explosions might've caught quite a few soldiers in the blast! They might be shorthanded!"
Team RWBY was not prepared for what they heard next from Hansel of all people. "I need you four to get out there and assist the soldiers with anything they may need. Whether it's evacuations, rescues or Grimm extermination."
"Huh?" Yang voiced her surprise. "What happened to staying put for our own safety?"
"That was before he pulled this shit!" Hansel replied. "Listen, my only condition here is that you stay out of my way when I catch up to this guy. And trust me, you'll know where we're fighting, I'm not exactly subtle!"
That's true...we'll have a pretty good idea of the professor's location and know where to avoid. Blake noted inwardly.
"But I can only fight this guy! I can't fight him and save every person in trouble here! So, I need you four to pick up the slack for me so that I have one less thing to worry about!"
"You four want to be great Huntresses, right? This is a great way to start!" Hansel told them. "Use your powers to save lives!"
That struck a chord with all four girls. "SHIT!" Hansel suddenly exclaimed.
"Professor?!" Ruby exclaimed in concern.
"I'm fine, bastard just threw a miniature glacier at me. I have to hang up! You four need to get going! Head into the city, go to the general, do either of those things, I don't care. Just find out how you can help and go do it!"
Hansel did not wait for them to respond and simply hung up. "Holy...guess things have gotten bad outside." Yang noted.
"Well, Leader," Weiss turned to Ruby, "we're going, right?"
Ruby noticed a hint of urgency in Weiss' voice. Then she remembered she had family here she actually cared about. Ruby gave her best friend a reassuring smile. "Of course we are. After all, like the professor said, as Huntresses, we must use our powers to save lives."
"Let's get moving, Team RWBY. We have a job to do."
As Team RWBY left their room (Zwei following close behind), Ironwood's voice suddenly rang out over the intercom. "Attention all students and soldiers stationed in Atlas, this is an urgent announcement! Dr. Glen White has been outed as a traitor to the kingdom of Atlas! To be more accurate, he is actually the Atlesian Black Ops Specialist, Rainn Biggs. He seems to have set off several explosions around the kingdom. I want all of you to go into the field and help the people in the field with evacuations and defenses."
"However, please steer clear of Rainn Biggs! Hansel Kobalt is fighting him! These are your orders from your general!"
One individual who was neither soldier nor student was already running through the halls. Charlie Magnolia panted heavily as he exited Atlas Academy and ran straight into the city. His eyes were wide with horror at Ironwood's announcement.
It's not true! He frantically thought. It can't be true!
Charlie thought back to 'Dr. White's' smiling face. It's not true! Dr. White is not a traitor! It just can't be true! Not after everything we've been through! It has to be some kind of mistake!
Dr. White...where are you? I need to find you so that I can have you tell me the truth!
Charlie ran aimlessly through the streets of Atlas, desperately trying to find his mentor. If I can just find Dr. White, I can clear this up. Maybe I can even find the real culprit while I'm at it. Charlie looked at his right arm, taking note of the device he had strapped on. After all...that was why I brought this!
I'm no fighter...but if it's for the doctor's sake...I'll do what I can.
Then, all of a sudden, a large white van pulled in front of Charlie, making the bespectacled boy stop in his tracks. The van then turned around and stopped next to the sidewalk. What was that all about? He almost hit me!
Then the passenger side's window rolled down and revealed a very frantic and worried face. "Hey, you're Charlie, right?" Viper asked. "Charlie Magnolia?"
"Umm...yeah, that's me. Who are you exactly?"
"I'm a friend of the doctor's." The irony of that statement was that Viper was not exactly lying when he said that. "You were his student these past several months, right?"
"Yes, that's correct, but why are you here?" Charlie asked.
"Because I'm worried about the doctor, just like you clearly are." Viper claimed, keeping up the act of a very concerned friend. "Charlie, it's clear that you and I are thinking alike here. We both know that Dr. White didn't do anything wrong. And even if he was somehow involved, I'm sure there's some sort of mistake, like someone close to him is being threatened."
Nevermind that the real Dr. White lost his only remaining relatives, from what Crookie told me. Viper added inwardly.
"So, please, help me out here, Charlie." Viper offered. "Get in the van and we can go and save Dr. White!"
Charlie's worried face became a big smile. Yeah, I can do it! If it's with this guy, I can definitely go and save Dr. White!
Charlie approached the van, reaching out for the door, not noticing Viper's expression turn sinister as he moved to the passenger's side, reaching for something. Yeah, I'll do it! I'll save Dr. White!
Then, Charlie's instincts suddenly flared as a large kukri knife suddenly shot out of the window. Charlie barely managed to lean away from what would have been a fatal blow. However, he was still slashed across the cheek. Charlie's eyes widened in horror.
Charlie collapsed onto his side, clutching his wound in pain. His glasses fell off of his cheek. He began to roll around, yelling in pain from the slash. Viper then started to laugh cruelly. "Wow, you totally fell for it!" He exclaimed..
"Man, Crookie thought so highly of you, but it turns out you're actually just a real stupid kid. Nothing but a colossal disappointment." Viper mused.
Charlie froze in place. "Here's the thing, kiddo." Viper smiled, leaning against the open window. "The thing about the news about your mentor...it's all true. The 'Glen White' you knew never even existed. Glen White's been dead for months. The man you knew is a famous Atlesian Black Ops Specialist who's a master infiltrator. The kind of guy who doesn't really get attached to anything. He just comes in, does his job and leaves."
"Well, that's how it used to be." Viper narrowed his eyes. "The thing is, Crookie gave me one condition for my help. Two, really, but this one was kind of important to him. See, he told me that under no circumstances was I to hurt the boy named Charlie Magnolia."
"See, that's a problem, because now...this infiltrator...this assassin...he now has a weakness: you." Viper gazed at Charlie in disgust. "Assassins have no weaknesses. And yet for some reason, he grew to care about someone as insignificant as you."
"That's why you have to die. Your significance to one of my fellow assassins harms the efforts of my organization. I won't let an insignificant piece of shit like you hinder Gray Jackal's plans for Remnant." Viper snarled.
"So lay down and die, you brat." Viper scoffed. "Because the fact I have to keep wasting my time with you pisses me off."
Yeah, this is going to be too easy. Viper smirked inwardly. A kid with no Aura was always going to be an easy mark. I'll finish this brat off and then meet up with Crookie.
"Eat shit."
Viper was cut from his thoughts. "Huh?" He looked at Charlie and then gasped. He watched as the Magnolia boy rose to his feet, grabbing onto his glasses and then pocketing them.
Viper's eyes widened. Wait, what the hell is this...why am I sensing…
"Or better yet…" Charlie began, speaking in a far more rough and furious tone.
"DROP DEAD!" Charlie turned around, revealing furious red eyes.
Charlie then slapped the device wrapped around his arm. Then, suddenly, seven circles suddenly detached themselves from the device and surrounded the van Viper was in. They all hovered in the air. Small turrets suddenly appeared from inside each circle.
Viper gasped and shrank back. "What the hell are those things?" He wondered, instinctively rolling up the window.
"Seven Dwarves!" Charlie rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a wristwatch that he began to run his fingers across. The drones, nicknamed Seven Dwarves, all flew towards Viper.
"What the hell?" Viper narrowed his eyes. "So he's actually a fighter? I can sense Aura from him too!"
Viper reached for his kukri knives, only for the drones to suddenly start firing what appeared to be weaponized fire dust. The windows were immediately shattered from the blasts and Viper found himself ducking and yelling in terror, shielding his head from the gunfire.
Charlie then kicked the van furiously, leaving an actual dent. "DAMN YOU!" He screamed. "Look at what you did to my face, you son of a bitch, I'm bleeding!"
Charlie then began kicking the van repeatedly as all his drones fired into the van. "How dare you cut me! I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'LL KILL YOU!"
The fire bullets began to get dangerously close to Viper, who began deflecting them with his kukri knives. SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Viper frantically thought. Fucking hell! This kid's a psycho!
Says the man who ambushed a kid…
"Die! Die! Die!" Charlie screamed repeatedly as he kicked the van with every shout.
The hail of bullets seemed to increase in size, forcing Viper to deflect faster. Damn, he doesn't quit!
"I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU!"
Viper gasped as a bullet struck his shoulder. His Aura shrugged it off, thankfully, but he was still very worried. Shit, this crazy kid has completely blown a gasket! He noted. He's shooting everything in sight like a madman, and I'm stuck in this damn metal box with nowhere to hide!
Suddenly, one drone floated in front of the shattered window. Staying in this van's gonna do me in at this rate!
The two guns on the drone then seemed to charge up a large sphere of fire in front of it. Viper noticed this and gasped. "Oh shit, is it charging…" Viper's eyes widened.
"A BOMB?!"
"Blast him away, Grumpy!" Charlie commanded as the drone fired off the large fireball.
Viper moved to the other shattered window as the fireball collided with the van, engulfing the van in an explosion. Charlie, however, was still kicking the destroyed vehicle in a blind rage.
"How do you like that?!" He screamed. "Did it feel good?"
"How about it, huh? Are you a pile of ash yet?"
The flames were quick to clear up. "Did we get him?" Charlie wondered, before his eyes widened.
Viper was nowhere to be seen, it was almost like he was never even in the van in the first place. "What the hell?" Charlie exclaimed in disbelief. "That's impossible! There's nothing here!"
Charlie looked around. "Damn it, he might be suppressing his presence too."
Charlie then reached into his pocket and took out his glasses. "Shit," he groaned, "Charlie what the hell did you get us into this time? You, of all people, should know that you're not supposed to talk to strangers. Or get into some stranger's big white van."
"And you're supposed to be the smart personality between the two of us."
"Still, if this guy really isn't messing around and means to kill us, I can't very well leave this in your hands, you damn nerd." 'Charlie' groaned in annoyance.
"Yeah, you can rest up in our shared mind and leave this to Flynn."
A.N: That moment when your two favorite parts of this chapter are JoJo references, amirite? And what in the world happened to Charlie? Find out next chapter!
And if you enjoyed this, then check out some of my original content. I've got a youtube channel that isn't much right now but I'm hoping to get back into it with new stuff soon, and I've got an original book I've self-published on Amazon titled Age of Heroes: The Hero and the Disciple, my love letter to anime. And I'm already working on part 2.
I'll see you all next time.