Swansong Collab - The Shelter - Conclusion
Clearing his throat Gren gathered his thoughts. He thought long and hard about this, and was willing to go out on a limb.
"My name if Gren Orchid. Boar faunus. I understand why the faunus would want this. I also understand the potential dangers if this succeeds. I will admit the operation that you propose, Professor Pops, is amazing and could lead to great things for all faunus. But what you misjudge is your control over your research. Even if you fail, even if your methods are not correct, if anyone finds out what you have done, you do more than just endanger yourself. You will inspire others with far less morals to complete your research, just as the girl before you fears. I know all too well how your good intentions can easily be corrupted into something vile and twisted. And to that end... We need to cooperate with each other."Although he was alone, Gren almost felt a heavy silence fall on him. Who knows how many people he just angered by saying those words. The faunus he just strangled, who now see him as some sort of hypocrite. Sapphire, who may take this as a blatant disregard for her thoughts or opinions. Perhaps even Pops, who may just see Gren as yet another impudent youth. But so long as he could speak, Gren continued.
"As it stands your research here is illegal, regardless of what your intentions. That alone is more than enough reason for the Hunters to shut down this operation. The death of a hunter... Will harm not only you, but your entire family. But a fair deal could be made. One which will allow you to continue your research, while ensuring that your research will not fall into wrong hands. I ask that we meet Professor Pops, in person, to make these arrangements."With Scoot leading the way, Shiro clambered after the little thing, all of his focus and attention trained on the little ferret.
"Scoot, where are you going! Come on, cut it out! You're making this rather difficult for me to show you off to my friends!" The little ferret was far lighter and faster than Shiro, always staying just out of Shiro's gloved reach.
"Fun! Fun!" The rodent telepathically exclaimed. Confused, an aggravated Shiro questioned the thing aloud.
"What's so fun? Do you like being chased or-" Then suddenly, door. Not expecting for his head to run into a hard metal door so unexpectedly, Shiro tripped, rolled, and crashed in a clumsy tumble as Scoot bounced around ahead of him.
Groaning, Shiro sat up in a mess of what looked to be a random assortment of chairs. Hand on his head, he opened an eye and looked around.
"What the hell is up with all these chairs?" Placing both of his hands on his head, he sucked air in between his teeth. Head pulsing with a dull pain, he was sure he killed off a bunch of brain cells after having run into so many things today. Wasn't his kind supposed to be graceful and majestic?
Shaking his head, which was immediately a bad idea, Shiro attempted to stand. Opening his eyes after having shut them in pain, he looked around slowly for Scoot. Stumbling a little, his head swam.
"Now where are you, rascally th-" Vision clearing, Shiro looked out the shattered glass of some viewing area. Through the non-existent window, his eyes laid upon the back of a large Bear faunus. He was sharply dressed in a suit, his paws crushing the throat of his team leader, her body pinned against a wall.
To Shiro, everything fell still. An odd silence giving him an eerie sense of serenity and clarity.
"Someone is hurting my friend." Any tiny bit of reasoning and logic within his body drained out of him. Tilting his head, his eyes squinted at the scene before him. There was something about this moment. He had witnessed his friends in combat before, he had seen them get injured. But, to just be standing there, watching as his comrade's struggled...
Shiro moved to act, but the crackle of a familiar voice over the facility's intercoms halted him. Looking up at the ceiling, he listened as Gren said his piece. True, what his comrade said made some sense. But, he failed to see how it could really become anything bad or horrible. How anyone could possibly take something potentially good and twist it was beyond him. To Shiro, all he saw was another option for other Faunus to take. Another choice that could be denied to them. A choice that could be denied to him. They all were only children in the eyes of the world. Just four children still in school. Who were they to have any big important say in this? Leave it to people more mature than them.
Frowning, Shiro jumped through the window and landed in the operation room below. Unsheathing his sword and shield, he took a few steps into what he considered 'combat range' should anything go south. Voice clear but quiet, Shiro spoke up.
"Hey. Do you mind letting my team leader down? She's kind of not breathing." He didn't point his weapon at the large Bear faunus or assume any combative stance, nevertheless he was ready.
"Doesn't really help with your paws around her throat, y'know? Assuming you're the one in charge, is this really what some big smart guy like you should be doing? Y'know, choking the life out of people? You have a son, don't you? You wouldn't want to add murderer to your resume, huh? I mean, Beacon's already on their way here. Let's work things out."He scratched the back of his head.
"So, could you please let Sapphire go?"A tense moment passed. Pop glared at the security camera and Shiro in turns, his eyes afire while Sapphire's dimmed. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor sighed, and relinquished his hold on the girl's throat. Immediately she slumped to the ground, gulping for air. Pop brushed a hand against the side of his neck and coaxed a drop of blood from the wound. "I never intended to kill her," he said, at length, between heavy breaths. Now that his adrenaline was dying, the fatigue from using his semblance was rapidly overtaking him. Grimacing at the camera, he continued, "I'm way less rough when it comes to choking people out than an armored juggernaut with metal gloves. The guards stopped by my patients' chamber, you see, and carried them off to safety. Several were missing, but I expect they'll be found too."
The man crossed his arms and seated himself on the operating table. "I will not allow my work to be destroyed. An experimental cure for cancer is still a cure, and can be made practice in time. If working with the authorities will allow me to continue unbothered, and to help guard against those who would misuse it...I suppose I could cooperate."
Sapphire heard words through a haze that had surrounded her mind. She was not unconscious but she was close.
...not breathing... ...smart guy... ...son... Beacon's... ...on their way... ....go... Sapphire's muddled brain translated snatches of conversation. Words, alienated from there fellows. At this point she was so oxygen deprived that she couldn't make sense of any of it.
Moments later, or perhaps it was hours, or years. The grip around Sapphire's throat released and she collapsed to the ground sucking in vast stores of air. As she started to breathe again painful coughs wracked her body as her internal defense system struggled to make sure that her airways where clear.
Just as she thought one coughing fit was over another one begin bringing with it new pain. She'd likely bruised her larynx. Slowly but surely though the coughing fits became further apart and seemed to have vanished altogether though she could still feel a little itch in her throat that warned they could easily start again if she started doing something labor intensive.
Sometime later Gren came crashing into the room, sawing threw the doors that Sapphire had welded shut with the God Eater. Pop waited, though not without a degree of apprehension, for Gren to offer his deal. By that time, Abel had also come, and stood stolidly near the doorway.
'Before we begin I should let you know of these basic things. First, my team will take you back to Vale to stand trial for what you've done here. I can promise you that so long as you cooperate, your sentence would be short, perhaps even nonexistent. What is important however, is that the official records indicate that the Hunters have shut down your operations. If we were to release you, you would still be a wanted man. Secondly those you've hired for the purpose of security and construction must also be brought into questioning. For your benefit, I would suggest that you claim that you alone have funded and organized this operation of yours. I'm sure you do not want your family to be caught up in the controversy. Lastly..."Gren turned towards his team. Sapphire was looking in rough shape, though Abel and Shiro weren't too beat up. He was going to need them to leave, partly to gather the others for transportation, but also because the deal he was going to make with Pops was something Gren was only going to say in private. A tinge of guilt struck him when he realized that perhaps he shouldn't shut them out, but he couldn't risk revealing what he knew so soon with his team. Just as he feared that his team members didn't trust Sapphire as a leader, he wasn't certain if they trusted him either.
"You three should try to round up as many others as you can. Do some crowd control, and send a message back to Beacon for a pick up. We may be bringing back a lot of people."Once Sapphire could breathe normally again she became aware of all the other aches and injuries that her fight with Pop had reaped. She had a cut in her side, a shard of crystal in her back, the wound she'd received on the airship courtesy of Shiro had reopened and she could already feel the bruises that were going to form on her neck.
Still on her knees Sapphire looked around the room trying to find her supply bag. She'd set it down next to the operating table after rescuing the coyote faunus. The room had been utterly trashed since then, so where had her bag ended up.
Sapphire scanned the room until... there. It was wedged against one wall looked entirely beat up. Most likely it had been blown there by the collapsing of the ceiling and the subsequent impact.
Sapphire crawled over to it her head pounding. She didn't need to use the zipper anymore the bag was so badly damaged she could just reach through one of the holes. Most of the cloths and food had been thoroughly shredded by stray pieces of ice and crystal but her medical kit was shot resistant.
Sapphire opened it up and started to treat her wounds. She took a pill for her headache before rebandaging her side wound as well as cleaning and wrapping the others she'd sustained. Pulling the shard of crystal from her back was more than a little painful but the wound was shallow enough that she didn't need controlled circumstances to do it.
Now bandaged and mostly mobile Sapphire got slowly to her feet. She retrieved her half-staffs, collapsing them back into shotguns then loaded them, one with fire the other electricity before holstering them on her back. She'd been listening to Gren throughout and it pained her to admit that he had a better handle on how to deal with the situation than she did. She hadn't been certain that what they were doing was legal and so had opted to try and destroy it herself rather than call the authorities. Clearly Gren was better informed.
Two of his conditions to Pop Gren made plain but he hesitated before saying the last one. Then he proceeded to suggest the rest of the team round of whoever was left at the Shelter and ensure their safety. Suddenly intrigued Sapphire became curious as to what Gren could want to demand of Pop that he didn't want the rest of Swansong to know about. Rather than demand it right there as it was more than likely Gren would simply clam up Sapphire turned to Abel and Shiro.
"That's a good idea, you two take a tour around the facility and corral as many people as you can to the landing point. Signal Beacon we're ready to go home." She turned back to Gren and Pop. Her head was still pounding but she was coming back to herself. "It's best we don't leave him one-on-one. He's passive now but his fighting style is less effective on multiple people. I'll stay here, just to make sure he doesn't try anything."
Shiro kept his eyes trained on Pop, ready if he were to make any move. Periodically, he glanced over to Sapphire as she licked her wounds and recuperated. He wanted to voice his concerns and ask
"Hey, you alright boss?" But felt silence would be more prudent. She probably didn't want to hear his voice any which way. As the situation defused, Shiro felt comfortable enough to sheathe and sling his weapons onto his back. As Gren and Sapphire suggested that some of them leave to gather the 'patients', Shiro frowned and fidgeted. He didn't want to leave the man-in-charge without asking him a few things himself.
Looking to Gren and Sapphire, breaking his focus on the bear faunus, he nervously requested
"U-uhm. If it's alright with all of you, I'd rather stay here with Gren. I kinda...want to ask him something too. A-again, if that's alright with you all."Abel's eyes narrowed. "Well...I don't doubt I can do it all, but it won't be very much fun. I'll, uh, get going, and then whoever can follow me." Grabbing the Ampere on the way out, Abel exited the room and began down the hallway, stepping over debris and past the iguana's still carcass while he scanned every alcove.
Shiro's gaze fell to the ground as he put his hands behind his back, drawing lines on the ground with the toe of his boot. He absently rubbed at his forearms, sheathed in their layers of cloth and hidden in their elbow-length black gloves.
The sudden blow caused Pop to raise an eyebrow--his first action in some time, so lost had he been in thought. Gren's proposition didn't exactly sit well with him, but no alternative was in the least bit appealing. Sapphire's approximation of his fighting ability had been remarkably keen: against one person, Pop was golden. Two would push him to the limit. Any more than that and he stood no chance, particularly with this hulk of a boar faunus around. It still surprised him that the biggest and most threatening member of the group proved to be the most reasonable, if being arrested was a reasonable thing. Finally, the doctor spoke. "The first two bits are fine. My associates and I will stand trial; the courts can decide whether my practice was legal or not. If I am mistaken, I will...accept the consequences. Figure out who's gonna stay and who's gonna go quickly; I'm anxious to hear the third caveat."
Nodding his head, Gren turned his head towards Sapphire and Shiro.
"If I was here to fight than I would have gunned Pops down instead of talking to him. I'm quite aware of his strength, and I can promise you that I'll be fine... More so if I don't have to worry about you." Gren didn't say it directly, but Sapphire was in a sorry state. He couldn't fight Pops at his full power if Sapphire was going to get herself involved.
"Shiro, please take Sapphire somewhere safe. You already lost her daggers, I'd hate to see you lose her life. I promise, you'll have all the time to ask him questions once I'm through with him. But we need to make sure that the others, patients and guards, don't do something crazy or get hurt by the animals." Of course, Gren did have some fear about fighting Pops on his own. Though at least unlike Sapphire, Gren had his weapon and was still in fighting shape. But like he said before, he wasn't here to fight. With any luck Pop wasn't interested in fighting either.
Shiro frowned, protesting Gren's words.
"She's just as safe with Abel as she is with me!" His faintly luminescent blue eyes flitted from Sapphire back to Gren.
"B-besides. I don't think the boss lady wants to be anywhere near me." He made no mention or comment about losing Sapphire's treasured daggers, but regret and guilt was visibly painted on his face. Clenching his fists, he glared angrily at Gren.
"I'm staying here, whatever you have to ask him can be done in front of me." Crossing his arms, he didn't look unlike a pouting child. His cheeks puffed out slightly as he 'grumped'.
Sapphire scowled at the two boys talking about her like she was something to be taken care of. It wasn't like her injuries were life threatening. Most were superficial and would heal in a couple of days. "I believe I'm safer with Abel actually, less of a chance of injury by stupidity but that's not really relevant. I'm not some child that needs to be protected. If I was unable to care for myself I would not have chosen this," she motioned around at the wreckage of the room "as a career. I don't need you to
worry about me and I don't need be escorted by anyone." It annoyed her greatly that both of them seemed to think she was that delicate.
"Shiro, go with Abel. The patients are more likely to be receptive to a faunus presence than a human one. Besides, you're acting like a child. Throwing a tantrum is never productive.
Now get lost." the last words were very slow and deliberate, a certain threat hung under them.
Done dealing with Shiro, Sapphire turned back to Gren. "I'm not expecting to have to fight him again but there's no accounting for what
he wants. I don't know many people that actually want to go to jail. If he tries something it’s best we have two people in the room. Don't worry, I can take care of myself. That is of course unless there's a specific reason why you don't want anyone else in the room when you question him?"
Gren could only let out a quiet sigh as Shiro and Sapphire continued to be difficult. No matter, he'd just have to be careful.
"That's because I've rigged this room with my explosive ordinances if it Pops chose to fight. I know on my own I would have a hard time dealing with him. But I'm also quite confident that unlike him, I can survive the entire building collapsing on me." Which was sort of true. True that he could possibly survive, not that he rigged this room... Yet. But he still had plenty of ammunition in The God Eater, and the room was already suffering major structural damage. One minute of wanton destruction and he could cause the entire building to cave on top of him, and he'd climb out no worse for wear. Hopefully. It also served a dual purpose of making sure that Pop's research doesn't fall into the hands of others, since regardless if Pops agreed with his arrangement or not Gren still intended to demolish the entire building.
Turning back towards Pops Gren spoke to everyone in the room.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not bargaining because we're in a tight spot. Now that our leader is safe, I could simply destroy the entire building, with you, your family, and patients along with it, and complete my mission. You know what I did earlier. And I was being merciful. However I'm not so heartless that I would do that now, which is why I'm here, and it's also why I want you two to clear the building. Because I'm trying to be reasonable and minimize unnecessary losses, and I'm certain Professor Pops wants the same, do you not?"Gren stepped close to Pops, not quite within arm's reach but close enough for him to see that Gren was almost Pop's size. He had his helmet down revealing his green orcish face, and the glint of treachery in his eyes.
"Your guardsmen released many dangerous beasts when we attacked. So many in fact that even I had to avoid them for my own safety. Who's to say that those same beasts aren't running rampant through this building, killing innocents the longer we linger? Professor Pops is no longer the threat, and Abel cannot be everywhere at once. Someone needs to head up there and help him deal with the chaos while I negotiate the terms of Pops' arrest. If you care more about the dangers he poses to me than the lives of others, they you can stay."Shiro had to resist every urge to roll his eyes at Sapphire's remark about potentially getting injured due to stupidity. Even he knew she was referring to him whenever she made the comment. Though he didn't want to admit it, Sapphire was right to an extent. The patients would be more receptive to his corralling them than Abel. However, her calling him a child struck a nerve. He struggled to restrain himself from saying anything inappropriate and nasty. To be honest, just as he knew she was getting sick of him, he was getting sick of her attitude just the same. Countless venomous words came to mind for him to spit at her out of spite, but he held his tongue. He was better than petty name calling and things of that nature. He wasn't so crude of a person to resort to all of that.
When Gren made his comment about rigging the room full of explosives, even Shiro could tell his story didn't add up. Arching an eyebrow, he tilted his head in a curious fashion. As far as his nose could tell, Gren hadn't been in this room before. None of his senses alerted him to some unseen threat. How Gren would find the time to laden the building with his bombs after admitting that he ran into some troubles with the local wildlife was beyond Shiro. Looking up and around the room, he gave the air a few quick sniffs. Gren was bluffing for one reason or another. But, all of Shiro's reasoning was destroyed when the question of Gren's safety compared to those of innumerable innocents still left in the facility. Frowning, his expression sagged sadly, his ears drooping.
"Oh, come on Gren. That's not fair."Gren's safety meant more to Shiro, he couldn't lie about that. But to ignore unarmed civilians and disregard them as unimportant? Sighing loudly, Shiro shook his head and turned his back to them. Walking towards the exit to the operation room, he spoke over his shoulder at the others.
"Alright, I'll go link up with Abel and help him out. But I just want to make it clear I'm going out of respect for you, Gren. Not for anyone else or for any other reason. Without looking back, Shiro assumed his quadrupedal mode of running.
"Hey, Scoot! I'm leaving!" With that final phrase, the White Tiger faunus left in a sprint. Using his nose to trace Abel's lingering scent trail to locate the guardian as he ran off.
For some time now Pop had been wearing a scowl, and in Shiro's absence it only deepened. He had gotten an inkling that Gren's true intentions lay beyond the purview of concessions and agreements, starting with his bomb threat and culminating in his odd expression. "Explosives...really? I've been in here this whole time. Before me it was the doctors, and they were here before your bunch arrived. Listen, kid," the doctor leaned forward, "I don't know what you're planning, but your act stops now. I don't care what kind of rot you've got in your past, it doesn't excuse monstrous behavior. This isn't some super-hero world where all the destroyed buildings magically reappear after each episode. If you further damage my building, I won't be the only one going to court, and your academy will receive the bill. If you're thinking of snuffing me to prove how tough you are and to get away with wrecking the place, think again. Already most of the staff have escaped, including my wife and my boy. If God's smiling on me today, all four of you aren't trained killers, and at least one of your teammates won't let you get away with it. Son, if you're hunters, you're supposed to at least try to be heroes."
Gren was bluffing and badly, that much should have been obvious to anyone present in this room. Gren wouldn't have had time to be with Shiro at the start of the mission, and get into this room before Sapphire arrived there. Besides as far as she knew Pop had been behind the glass partition watching the surgery prep for a long time before she arrived.
He wasn't fooling anyone and it seemed ludicrous that the thought he might be. However the extreme nature of his bluff communicated to Sapphire had desperate he was to be left alone with Pop. She was sort of worried about his intentions but she was fairly certain Pop could take Gren in a fight, maybe not to the conclusion that she'd suffered but most defiantly to a standstill. Sapphire had full confidence that Pop couldn't hurt Gren if he had a mind to.
Shiro apparently deflated by her comment about stupidity agree to leave, feeling it necessary to point out that he was doing it cause Gren asked him and not out of respect for her authority. She rolled her eyes and as he sprinted past her she raised her hand in an ironic salute. "You are relieved soldier." she said in a military voice. He didn't respect her command and she doubted he'd follow orders even if he did so it made no difference to her.
Sapphire knew Gren was hiding something and the fact that he was unwilling to share in a combat situation when everyone present in the room knew he was telling falsehoods worried Sapphire a lot more than that actual lies. Then again it was not as if she didn't have a few skeletons in her own closet that she prayed would never see the light of day.
"Alright Gren, I'll see you at the docking point."
Sapphire turned and walked towards the door. When she was just over the threshold the girl in blue glanced over her shoulder. "Whatever it is you're hiding Gren, it's none of my concern at the moment but when it becomes the teams concern then we all have a right to know it. Keep your secrets for now. Just bear in mind, nothing stays buried forever."
The truth that existed in those words scared Sapphire a lot more than she would ever care to admit. After all Gren wasn't the only one on the team with secrets.
With Sapphire leaving, Gren allowed himself to relax. Not so much to drop his guard, rather relax in that he wasn't worried about being judged by his own team. After all, wouldn't do him any good if they arrested him along with Pops for his actions, past or present. Once a few minutes pasted after Sapphire left, Gren spoke quietly.
"The final condition is that, regardless of how your case with Vale authorities pan out, I'll be sending you under the protection of the White Fang." Simple and sweet. But Gren was certain Pops would have his own questions, and justifiable refusals. So Gren continued to speak.
"It is as my team leader had told you. If the White Fang were to hear that you alone were working on an experiment which isolate faunus DNA, in the wrong hands it can be used against them... All the more reason why you'd be safer working with them rather than against them. Don't be mistaken; I don't like the White Fang any more than any faunus with no taste for pointless bloodshed. But the White Fang weren't always like that. There is a sect who care more about the wellbeing of faunus over their vendetta against humans. Those are the ones who shall find you. With them you can continue your research in their camps and bases, for the betterment of all faunus."This condition caused Pop to go silent for fifteen seconds. Work with the White Fang? More faunus lives had been ruined -or indirectly ended- as a result of their terrorist actions than bettered. Being associated with them, even a sect that he'd never heard of that supposedly still actually cared about people more than power, did not sit well with him. On the plus side, the fact that this particular faunus knew so much about them begged a certain question, one that would very well explain his violent tendencies and robotic augments. Pop sighed through his teeth, producing a sound halfway between whistling and hissing. "Fine. I'll throw my cards in with the terrorists. Unless you want one dead bear, though, you'll make sure that the hands you deposit me in are the right ones. Do I need to let you handcuff me now, or will you take me on my word that I'll cooperate?"
"I trust that you value your life and research to not squander it on the off chance that you can escape. Believe me, Professor Pops, if there were any organizations for faunus that haven't been stained by the White Fang, I'd gladly offer you to them instead. But as it stands, faunus can hardly organize without either being in league with the White Fang, or actively siding against them. There's no neutral ground. The best we can do is play both sides and hope we can jump to the winning side at the right time. Now to that end, I ask that you follow me out of the building. I wouldn't want to destroy this place with you inside of it."Gren walked behind Pops out of the building. While he trusted Pops enough not to have to hand cuff him, Gren also had his semblance ready to activate at any provocation that Pops might try to escape, or someone might try to come and stop Gren. He had it ready to root Pop's feet to the ground and, if need be, execute him on the spot. Hopefully Shiro, Abel, and Sapphire were doing their part to clear the building of others. Because once Gren left and met with his team, he was going to destroy the building using the full might of The God Eater.
-=-=-
It didn't take long for Shiro to locate Abel. As the guardian had been worn down in battle, he moved slower than Shiro would while still practically at full strength. At his full speed, he was able to pinpoint the guardian's pungent scent and linked up with him after a few minutes of sprinting. Skidding to a stop, Scoot hopping up onto Shiro's head, Shiro stood at Abel's side.
"How's it coming along, Abel? Were you able to find that deer and rodent faunus that fled earlier?" Shiro's blue eyes scanned the area around them.
Abel shrugged. Nah. Guess they must have gotten out on boats with the others. I did find where Gren smacked some guards around, though. Green man sure doesn't hold back. Or maybe he does, and I should be frightened. Or inadequate. Or both. Beats me."
He scratched the back of his head, brushing aside loose strands of auburn hair. "I haven't found the spot where Gren choked some people. You were with him, right? Think you could retrace your steps?" He held out his uninjured hand toward the ferret Scoot, who sniffed the fingers before sneezing.
"Stinky man!"One of Shiro's ear perked and he looked sidelong at Abel.
"Boats? Is the Vale PD already here and evacuating the civilians? That was a rather speedy response." Abel shook his head. "No, the island's boats. How else did they get here?"
Shiro itched at his ear, keeping his head and eyes on a swivel as the two walked.
"Plus, when you're talking about Gren, you have to realize who you're talking about. Dude's a walking one-man-army." Shiro laughed.
"He...choked some people out? Geez, I told him to get the other patients to safety...He's really heavy-handed sometimes..." He looked up at Scoot as Abel presented his hand to the ferret, his train of thought immediately getting off track. Again.
"Oh! Right, I found this guy earlier! I named him Scoot! He's got this weird Semblance that allows him to talk in people's heads. He's my new friend. I've been meaning to introduce him to everyone, but you know how it is. We've all been kinda busy running around like our heads were cut off."Shaking his head, his train of thought settled back into their rails.
"Oh right, tracing steps.." Shiro stopped and looked around. A nervous expression on his face, it was easy to realize he had no idea where to go.
"Nope. Can't. This place all looks the same, it's confusing. I could try and sniff out my own scent trail but..." He looked Abel over and had to take a few steps back.
"Well, being around you makes that a bit difficult right now." The guardian's eyes narrowed. "It's not...well, I can go and stand elsewhere." Somewhat less amused than usual, he took thirty long paces back the way he'd came. Could his teammate really sniff where he'd been? Well, it wasn't so unusual--after working out, Abel left a pretty clear odor trail himself. "Getting anything now?" he called down the corridor.
Shiro remained where he stood.
"Uh...Abel? It's not as simple as just taking a few steps away. My nose is rather sensitive, so just-Well, it's just you...Never mind. Why do you smell as though you'd been dumpster diving anyways? You look pretty worse for wear, boss." Shiro resumed walking, trying to reorient himself to retrace his steps. For a few minutes, Shiro walked in silence. Sighing heavily, he scratched at the back of his head.
"It's a mess, isn't it Abel?" Stopping in his tracks, he looked over his shoulder back at the guardian.
"For our first mission, I mean."Facing forward again, Shiro pulled the hood of his cowl over his head.
"Come on, I kinda want to finish this up before Sapphire comes 'round. I think I came...this way." He waved a gloved hand at the air, not exactly indicating any clear direction as he resumed his stroll.
Sapphire left not long after Shiro and even though he was on all fours and she was injured Sapphire would have been more than capable of following at the same speed. However even though she'd chosen to leave Gren and Pop alone, a choice that was starting to feel more and more like a mistake it didn't mean that she had a proclivity for spending time with Shiro. In fact if she could spend several days away from the tiger faunus she would be more than happy.
Despite walking at a leisurely pace there was a limit to how slowly she could legitimately move. Just as there was a limit on how long she could avoid Kuhaku while still making contact with Abel.
She walked up from behind, silent as a wraith just in time to hear Shiro state that he wished this done before she could join them. She walked up just a little closer so she was standing right behind him. From his angle at the end of the hall Abel wouldn't be able to see her. "Uh huh," she said. "Good to know my company is appreciated." Sapphire spoke at a reasonable volume and no doubt Abel heard her from the other end of the hall.
Shiro turned to look over his shoulder at the arrival of Sapphire.
Hmph. He faced to the front and continued to locate the way back out. Speaking clearly and loudly enough so that Abel and Sapphire could hear, he responded to her words.
"Not like you appreciate our company."Speaking a little softer, he muttered
"Or more specifically my company." Shiro figured that once all was said and done, he'd avoid contact with his teammates for some time. Maybe even skip out on a few of Sapphire's training sessions. He wanted some time alone to himself, suddenly not feeling his best and brightest. Even though he was the only one to leave the mission with nary a scratch, he felt unwell. Toxic personalities had that draining effect on him, as they usually did. The rambunctious ferret scurrying around him helped to keep his sullen mood at bay somewhat. The little creature amusing him. How he wished he led a simple life sometimes.
Alas, this was the life he had. The one he made for himself, the one he asked for. Only now he realized that life wasn't as simple as just wrecking Grimm to lead a glorious Hunter's life. Moral choices and decisions had to be made, with Hunters as the ones to carry on those rough paths. He didn't quite care it. He'd be happier with simple Grimm slaying missions, not these tough situations. He'd trade any other mission to fist fight an Ursa Major, regardless of the mission payouts and rewards. He wondered how the other hunter teams were doing on their first missions.
Sapphire was feeling oddly chipper. She had several serious wounds to her back, a bruised larynx and sore joins from mild oxygen deprivation but despite that she felt good. Not physically but mentally. This had been there first of many missions. It had gone well with only mild injuries on all sides. Mild by hunter standards in any case.
"No really it's just your company." Sapphire said missing the muttered comment. She looked Shiro over. He was the only one of their numbers to escape the Shelter completely unharmed and yet he looked like the world had come crashing down around his ears. She couldn't help being annoyed. This was their job, what a hunter did every day. Then something else occurred to her. He didn't know before joining Beacon. Sapphire felt a certain amount of pity, the kind you feel for a dog that chases its tail and you know it will never achieve its goal but keeps going anyway.
"You just realized didn't you? That being a hunter isn't always killing Grimm and taking names. That it isn't always glorious. Sometimes the things we have to do just suck."
Going into this as a career Sapphire had always known this. She'd heard the stories of glory from her father but she'd also heard the stories of things he regretted having to do. Sapphire had gone into it anyways because she knew that despite the hard decisions she would decisions she would inevitably end up having to make she would also be keeping people safe that was the most important thing.
"Tch, figured. No big secret there.." He muttered under his breath. Her next question caused him to pause. Shiro cocked an eyebrow, stopping momentarily to look back at Sapphire. Was her question out of concern or just another one of her stabs? He didn't want to give her a response, but maybe she meant well by her question.
"Yeah, so, maybe. Why do you care?" His gold eyes looked her over before locking eye contact with her, awaiting her answer to determine her intentions.
Sapphire had sort of expected Shiro not to appreciate her presence but this was the first time that she'd witness outright hostility from him. Prior to this it had been mainly apologies and making the up most effort to avoid her. While tempted to make a sarcastic comment about it Sapphire decided that this issue was too delicate.
"It's a shock to a lot of hunters-to-be to find out that we don't always have the moral high ground. The best fighters you've ever seen and a lot of them drop out because they stomach the fact that we have to make life or death decisions and sometimes it's never clear if we made the right ones. Some people lose sight of the mission cause of it." Sapphire hesitated for a fraction of a second but decided that she'd say it anyways.
Sapphire didn't like Shiro, maybe someday they might move past it but for now she couldn't stand him or his habits. However he was a half decent huntsman and besides if he did drop out it would be a pain to break in someone new. Imagine if they turned out like that
@TentacleLord Ivan guy she'd had PE with her first week. Thankfully he
had dropped out.
Sapphire lowered her voice to be sure that Abel didn't hear any of this. "Kuhaku, you're a decent fighter and you stick up for what you believe in. Those are admirable qualities in anyone, especially a hunter. You've got issues,
lord you've got issues but with training and time I think you might be a team mate I would be proud to serve with." Sapphire paused feeling like she'd forgotten something. Ah right. "And if you ever repeat this to anyone else I'll gut you like a fish."
Shiro couldn't believe his ears. He knew he had sensitive hearing, sharper than most others who weren't of faunus blood. But, to hear what Sapphire had just said? Maybe his hearing needed to get checked. He'd been partially right about her intentions being good, for once? He stood, staring at her with his mouth agape. A stunned and shocked expression plastered over his face.
Blinking, his incredulous expression slowly melted away. Turning away from her, he chuckled quietly.
"Who are you and what have you done to my team leader Miss Sapphire Rode?" Peering back at her around the edge of his hood, he shot her a bright grin.
"...Thanks for that boss." He waved off her threat,
"Yeah, yeah. Appearances and what not, gotta keep up your tough gal looks." Shiro felt a tiny bit better.
Maybe she isn't so bad after all.It was truly amazing how a few words could completely change Shiro's demeanor. If she insulted him right now he'd more than likely collapse back into the state she'd found him in. If he didn't learn to shield himself from the opinions of others there would come a point when the enemy didn't need to fight him, they could merely convince him that he should stand down.
That was a serious problem.
But not one for today. There wasn't much left to be done here. A sweep of the shelter for survivors then a boat ride back to Beacon and a very hot shower were what awaited Sapphire. "Come on furball, we best finish sweeping this place for anyone left alive before Gren gets it into his head to burn the place to the ground.
-=-=-
When Gren and Pop exited the Shelter, they found Sapphire, Shiro, and Abel waiting for them. Also standing were three faunus that hadn't been evacuated with the others: Shamrock, the iguana, Coral, the deer, and Mauve, the bat. Shamrock lay on the ground, still senseless, and at first it appeared that Mauve was the same, until some small twitches revealed that he was conscious, though trying his hardest to curl up into a ball and keep his ears covered. When Gren approached, Abel called to him, "I contacted Fallow. He's en route to this island in his speedboat."
"Just a minute."
The assembled students turned to look at Pop. "I've realized I need your help. Your teammate here," he said, indicating Gren with a tilt of his head, "Plans to level my property. I remember telling you before our fight, miss, that I've got electronic backups of my research elsewhere, but perhaps I forgot to inform the rest of you. That would make what he's planning to do pointless -and costly- destruction, not to mention hypocritical and betrayal of trust. Don't let his thickheadedness drag you down with him.
Please."
"You chose now to remember your data caches, Professor Pops?" Gren simply snorted at the comment of him being thickheaded. It was true, so it's not like he was a petty insult. Still, Pops was already here and Gren wasn't about to give him the slip.
"I'll go get it. What are the safeguards you have up? Passwords, security measures, let me guess there's also a DNA scanner and a voice recognizer I'll need to pass as well?" Gren unsheathed The God Eater as he spoke to Pops. Partly as an intimidation play but also because when Gren does go inside, he intends to actually rig the building for destruction while he's inside. And he'd need to take out his rockets if he intends to do that.
"Oh, it's a simple password, but my PC's a long way from this island. Bottom line is, you won't be accomplishing anything but earning Beacon a several hundred-thousand-dollar fine. Maybe I'm not getting through to you...would one of you other hunters please explain what I mean in smaller words?"
The tension of the situation wasn't very appealing to Abel. Until this mission, Gren had struck him as a large, slightly frightening, but overall good guy. His gifts of food and propensity for flowers lent much credit to this fact. But here that nice guy was, perhaps intending to needlessly destroy a building, maybe with people still inside. As hard as he and the others had looked, it was entirely possible that they hadn't located everybody. Though typically a man of few words, the guardian chose now to speak up. "It might be a bluff...but it might not be. If his research is in data files, then it's the easiest thing in the world to send a copy off to a computer somewhere else, right? Gren...if we make a bad call here, we could bankrupt Beacon. School budgets aren't very high. Even if the school survived, we'd be kicked out." Abel glanced at the Ampere, right now leaning against a rocky outcropping.
Shiro rummaged through his pack on the shore, his cowl still pulled over his head. No real purpose in doing so save for a mere desire to keep himself busy with menial organizational tasks. He was silent in his work, his back turned to the group. Scoot ran around him in circles in the sand, occasionally hopping into Shiro's pack to sniff around for food stuffs. Tail swaying behind him, he didn't seem to pay any attention to his surroundings, ignoring the events happening around him. Uncharacteristically quiet.
Sapphire listened to everyone speaking silently. While it was true that there was a part of her that relished the idea of seeing the building go up in flames it was more the side that enjoyed seeing things like thirty foot fireballs than for any practical purposes.
The fact that Gren was very willing to detonate the building on the off chance that it could help disturbed Sapphire. He was the one member of the group that she couldn't quite get a read on. Shiro was always obvious and easy to read, Abel was a bit more stoic but Sapphire at least understood where he came from, Gren on the other was a complete mystery. One moment to the next she couldn't be sure how he'd react to a given set of circumstances that was worrisome. If she couldn't gauge how he handled a situation, she couldn't utilize him in her strategies. Unless she got a better handle on exactly who Gren Orchid was then he'd forever remain a wild card in battle and that was a danger to everyone.
"Gren stop." she said quietly without looking up. "I enjoy an explosion as much as the next gal but this is purposeless. His work is no doubt backed up and there may still be civilians inside. Those aura animals are loose it's true but while they might pose a danger if threatened we don't have the authority to exterminate them simply because they might be a problem." Sapphire sighed. It seemed to her that Gren was looking for an excuse to cause destruction and that was never a good sign, especially in a hunter whose capabilities in that department far outstripped anyone else's.
"Abel is exaggerating with regards to the school's budget or our expulsion but I still don't believe Ozpin will thank you for a substantial fine, at the least we'll lose mission privileges for a while and I already have plans for next Friday. Stand down."
Sighing, Gren shrugged his shoulders and sheathed his weapon. He gave Sapphire a quick glace; if she was looking at him, he'd see distaste in his eye before he turned his head towards the cove.
"So be it. There's still the matter of Professor Pop's other computer, as well as ensuring the security of this island once we leave. I hear that recently the local law of Vale has been stricken with a sudden illness, and their numbers are thin. Another team of Hunters have to fill in fact."Sapphire caught a look of disgust cross Gren's face before turned in the other direction. While it was true that some sort of sickness had been going round and Vale PD was down a number of officers, but because of it that didn't mean that this island would be insecure or even that there was anything left to scavenge.
"Gren, the shelter is in shambles. Wild and powerful animals are starting to make it their territory. Your fight with the iguana wrecked up the main corridor and a good number of adjoining rooms and mine with Pop ruined any kind of specialized medical equipment or concoctions in the lab. Chances are good that Pop's laptop didn't even survive and even if it did with all these aura creatures settling in a fighting each other it won't be for much longer. There's no point in going back in there, but if it will sate your desire to smash things then by all means go ahead. You can take the second boat back to Vale."
"Did you not remember he said that his PC is far away from the island? That's what we need to find now. The island is a loose thread, one that hopefully the Vale authorities can tie up. If you intend to forget about the PC, than we may need to take another boat. I don't intend to leave any trail related to this mission if I can help it. Too much is at stake to get careless now." If no one wanted the building destroyed, then so be it. He'd rather not leave such incriminating evidence behind, but it was obvious that no one was going to side with him on its demolition. But he was certainly going to go after Pop's secondary PC, just to ensure that Gren could get a look at what Pop's research has yielded thus far.
Sapphire rolled her eyes. "I assumed you were talking about the computers he has on the premise." she sighed, this mission was over. They had the perpetrator in custody. The Shelter was all but razed and everyone had gotten out alive. It was a success that Gren seemed to feel the need to be over scrutinized. "Look Gren,
I am tired, I am bleeding and I've got a bruised larynx which is not being done any favors by constantly having to argue with you. If you have any credible evidence as to where Pop's backup computers might be then give it to me and we can form a plan to get it tomorrow. Right now however I want to go back to school, get stitched up and take a very long shower before going to bed. If you really need to get this computer
today then it might be best you take another boat."
Gren sighed. He wanted to tell Sapphire
"Go then. Lick your wounds. Our work isn't done yet." But he held his tongue. As much as he wanted to be proactive, unlike Sapphire Gren wanted to try to get his team to help him out. Though there was still the matter of figuring out where Pop's computer would be at, and well as tracking down those who fled the island before the team assembled. This mission wasn't so cut-and-dry that simply turning in Pops would be the end of it. Maybe for the rest of the Team, but Gren intended to make full use of today's discovery.
"So be it. I'll take care of things tomorrow after everyone has nursed their wounds and rested up. You should also see about your weapons. If you need materials or credits, I have some to spare."Shiro tossed a loose pebble into the ocean. Watching as the stone plunked in the blue waters. Underneath his cowl, his ears twitched and swiveled. Though he hadn't been paying attention completely, he heard enough to determine Gren was looking for the support of his fellow comrades.
"I'll help you out, Gren. I'm with you if you need me, if no one else is." With his gloved finger he drew random images in the sand. Flicking sand at a curious Scoot, Shiro lightly chuckled as he played with the ferret. Scooping sand into his hands to start work on a crude sandcastle.
At that moment, the dull roar of a motor announced the arrival of a speedboat. Abel turned to see Fallow's craft approaching, and bent down to lift Shamrock over his shoulders. A couple moments later, the senior had pulled up to the little wharf and disembarked. He gave a cheery wave as he walked up to the team. "Looks like we've got visitors! You'll have to tell me everything on the way back. Short boat ride, then the airship." He took a quick headcount. "Looks like I can barely fit everyone. Everything wrapped up here, then?"
When the boat arrived Sapphire smiled at the driver. "Yeah I'd say so." She glanced momentarily back at Gren. "Unless you've got something to add?" Sapphire clambered into the boat and sitting down next to Shiro realized that he was fondly a rather dirty looking ferret. "You're not planning on keeping that thing, are you?"
Snapping back to reality as he adjusted his pack under his seat, he stared at Sapphire before taking Scoot into his arms and holding him close to his chest.
"I am. His name is Scoot and he is the best Scoot and you have no say in my keeping of him" His defensive nature turned on its head as he lifted Scoot up in front of Sapphire's face and beamed brightly, grinning.
"Look at 'em! Isn't he adorable? He's got this cool psychic Semblance too!"A ferret, a ferret, he went to the top research facility in Vale. Found it filled with animals from dogs to iguanas and what did he manage to pull out of it? A ferret. And not just any ferret, no, a telepathic ferret. So now they could all hear when it was getting into something it shouldn't. What did that even mean? The best Scoot? "No of course not, I wouldn't dare. The Beacon Disciplinary Council on the other hand... Well let's just say I think it's best you don't go showing
Scoot off to the teachers."
When Shiro shoved Scoot closer to Sapphire's face her first instinct was to activate her dagger and extend the blade just far enough that Shiro knew to keep his pets away from her. Unfortunately lacking a dagger instead Sapphire grabbed the rodent by the scruff of the neck. She held him for a few seconds. "If he gets into my stuff, you'll never find what's left of him." before she tossed the creature back onto Shiro's lap.
Exclaiming, Shiro checked to see if Scoot was alright after being so roughly handled. Petting him to comfort the ferret, Shiro removed his weapons from his back and began to fiddle with them. Unsure if he still had ammunition loaded, he grabbed the spine of his blade and racked it back a few times. Unused shotshells and chewed up wads of spent ammunition fell to the deck of the boat. Picking up the good ammo and slipping it back onto his belt, he made sure to check his shield for loaded rounds to clear them. Off in his own world again as he busied himself with the maintenance of his gear.
With the various faunus in tow, the team boarded Fallow's boat, and sped across the bay. Abel watched the Shelter recede into the distance. From the outside, it still looked like a resort. Even for an unimaginative man, Abel would have been hard-pressed to guess that within those doors had lain such a complicated problem. The day's events left him with more questions than answers, but he felt oddly disconnected from the issue in comparison with the others. He just had no personal stake in it; to the guardian, the Shelter had been a job, nothing more. Perhaps, he fretted, that was a grave mistake.
