The neon lights of Vale's arena pulsed, painting the roaring crowd in hues of pink and electric blue. Jaune Arc, clad in his deceptively unassuming attire, felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple, masked by the shadow of his ball cap. 'I can't believe I'm doing this!' he thought, the deafening screams of the amassed fangirls vibrating through his bones. They were here for Fingerbang, the band that'd swept Remnant by storm. He glanced at the datapad in his hand, the cold, objective words a stark contrast to the frenzied energy of the concert.
Fingerbang: one of Remnant's greatest bands. Their music has reached every man, woman, and child, be they human or faunus. But, they are also one of the most dangerous children of Salem herself.
Jessie Davis: the youngest member of the group. He is considered the cutest member, he uses his looks to get into places and get his way. Be careful of his voice, we think he uses it to hypnotize his victims.
Mike 'Tank' Peters: the strongest one. He can bench press a fully loaded bullhead. He was behind the thefts in Atlas and the destruction of last year's tournament when they performed there. As you can guess by his nickname, he is also very powerful.
Raph Peters: Mike's brother has a temper and is known to beat people to death. No matter who they are.
Alex Davis: Jessie's brother, he's the genius of the group. But, he is very deadly, he's Jessie times 10.
Adam Davis: the leader of the group. Jessie's elder brother will do anything and everything to protect his family. Why is he working for Salem? We don't know; we think he was tricked into it.
Your mission is to take Fingerbang down and find out what Salem's planning.
Jaune sighed internally. This wasn't exactly his preferred Saturday night. He shoved the pad into his pocket and started to weave his way through the throng, heading towards the "Authorized Personnel Only" door backstage. Once inside, and safely out of sight, he quickly shed his disguise. Beneath the T-shirt, jeans, ballcap, and boots was a sleek, black stealth suit, complete with a comms headset.
'Ugh! Now I'm going to have to take a shower afterward,' he grumbled internally. Being near that many screaming fans wasn't his idea of a good time, even without the threat of a Salem-backed band hanging over his head. He ran a hand through his short blonde hair, a subtle reminder of the last time he was almost burned alive. Hazel eyes, usually warm, now held a steely glint.
Normal men wouldn't have survived that. But Jaune Arc was far from normal. He possessed a secret, a collection of abilities bordering on miraculous. Four semblances, an unheard-of phenomenon. He called the first his "Faunus Sense," amplified senses that gave him the perceptive edge of a veteran huntsman. The second allowed him to create holographic communication screens, bypassing the need for a scroll. The third… well, the third was a constant, involuntary release of pheromones that made him a veritable chick magnet – more of a curse than a blessing, especially in situations like these. And finally, the trump card. He was invulnerable when fighting empty-handed.
He remembered the agonizing pain of the flames, the searing heat consuming him. But his body had healed, bone and flesh knitting back together, leaving him stronger than before. That's why his hair was short - it hadn't quite grown back the same.
Suddenly, his "Faunus Sense" tingled. He picked up the distinct scent of sweat, cheap cologne, and…fear. Two men, undoubtedly Salem's lackeys, were headed backstage, likely to tamper with the subliminal messaging system they were using to subtly control the audience.
Jaune stalked after them, a predator in the shadows. He silently moved behind one of the guards, a swift, practiced motion snapping the man's neck. He dragged the body into a dimly lit storage room, concealing it before turning his attention to the second. Meanwhile, via his internal comms, he was talking with his now deceased partner. "Yeah, my girls love these guys." He said, "Hand me that wrench, will ya?" Jaune handed him the wrench, and he saw the logo of MAYHEM. "Shit!" Just as he turned around, Jaune judo tossed him and ground pounded him as if he were one of the greatest MMA fighters in the world. He caved in the guy's skull, then looked at the hookup. Then put in his virus that would end the hypnosis and the concert.
Meanwhile, on stage, the music abruptly sputtered to a halt. The roar of the crowd turned into a confused, angry murmur.
"What happened?" Jessie Davis, the supposed heartthrob, whined, his voice carrying a hint of panic.
"I don't know," Raph Peters grumbled, flexing his thick arms. "Maybe those idiots in the back unplugged something."
Then, a distorted, chilling voice boomed through the arena speakers, overriding the band's equipment.
"Obey Salem! Salem is mother and father! Kill for Salem! All life must die!"
"Why is the 'track' being played?" Alex Davis, the brains of the operation, demanded, his voice sharp.
"I don't know!" Tank Peters roared, his enormous frame trembling with anger.
Then, the giant screen behind the band flickered, replacing their logo with the image of Jaune Arc, a cocky smirk playing on his lips. The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Hey, Assholes!" Jaune announced, his voice amplified, his eyes locking onto the band members. "If you want to know who stopped your plans for world domination with your crappy songs, look no further."
The Peters brothers seethed.
"Hell, I can sing nursery rhymes off-key and sound better than you," Jaune added, the crowd roaring with laughter.
"COME OUT AND SAY IT TO OUR FACES, BITCH!" Tank bellowed, his face turning purple.
"You want me to come out there so you five can get beaten stupid by me in front of a planet-wide audience? Are you sure you want this embarrassment, fellas? I mean, come on, Jessie's a little crybaby trying to be a man."
The crowd's laughter intensified, aimed squarely at the youngest member of the band. Jessie's face flushed scarlet.
"What do you want, Agent Arc?" Alex Davis said, his voice carefully controlled. "Money? Fame? Women?"
"Nah, I've got all of that," Jaune shrugged, his hazel eyes gleaming with challenge. "I just want to see you die. I'll be there in a minute." He grinned, and the screen went black.
A new song began to play:
(Worlds Apart - CFO$)
The crowd started to sing along, the stadium now buzzing with defiance. Jaune emerged from the shadows, heading straight for the hulking figure of Tank Peters. He used his momentum to leap, his body a blur of motion, delivering a brutal flapjack facebuster that shattered Tank's skull against the stage.
"TANK!" the remaining members of Fingerbang screamed in unison.
Jaune moved with blinding speed, drawing his silenced silverballer. Three quick shots, three sickening thuds, and Raph, Alex, and Adam Davis collapsed, lifeless.
Jessie, the youngest, was left kneeling, his face stained with tears, his body trembling. He felt the cold muzzle of Jaune's gun pressed against the back of his head.
"Any last words?" Jaune asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.
"Just do it," Jessie sobbed. "Let me be with my family."
Jaune hesitated for a fraction of a second. Then, his voice, surprisingly resonant, filled the stadium, echoing a prayer amidst the sudden silence.
"So be it," Jaune stated. "And Shepherds we shall be For thee, my Lord. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand. Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee, And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti." He said as he put a bullet through the kid's head. "Have a safe journey, young one." He closed Jessie's eyes.
"Show's over, people," Jaune announced, holstering his weapon. "MAYHEM will make sure you get your refunds. Thank you, and good night."
He walked off the stage, leaving behind the carnage and the echoes of his words. The crowd erupted in cheers. Jaune Arc, the unassuming huntsman with four semblances, had once again delivered justice, a silent guardian against the darkness that threatened to consume Remnant. He deserved that shower.