36

Chapter 36 – Silent Kill: Revelations

"You just had to get involved, didn't you?"

Blake didn't answer the sarcastic ghost, instead cursing as an explosion ripped through the computers she'd been hidden behind, sending the girl rolling across the floor in a desperate search for more cover.

"I mean, we come across loads of unconscious guards – clear signs of intrusion. And your thought isn't about finding help from the military guards posted like everywhere. It's `Dyuhh… I should go investigate.` That's how pretty much every horror movie starts. I have no idea how I'm the one who died, yet you apparently get away with being insane!"

"Not helping." The faunus growled as she cursed once more not having her weapon. She'd known coming to a dance unarmed had been a bad idea…

Okay, she hadn't – but now it sure seemed like it.

"Blake," Ruby called across the central terminal of the CCT, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" she called back. At least Ruby had Crescent Rose, though they question of why would doubtless come up later. Seriously, where had she been hiding it? "Damn it Ruby, how did you manage to start this?"

"Me!?" the young girl cried back, "You are accusing me of rushing into trouble?"

What did she mean by that?

"You're so clueless I want to throttle you… by the way, hit the deck." Blake's eyes widened as she moulded to the floor, wincing as strange black arrows somehow managed to pierce the solid metal terminals she'd been behind, now stuck scant inches above her head. "Ruby's shooting her, run now!" Blake nodded, scrambling up, "Not towards her you bloody idiot! Oh for the love of god…"

"Rargh!" Blake cried as she delivered what she hoped would be a crippling strike towards the intruder's neck. She was no Yang Xiao-Long, and if she was the first thing she'd do would be to rip out her own pun-spawning tongue, but that didn't mean Blake Belladonna didn't know the basics of unarmed combat.

She just apparently didn't know them as well as this woman… who managed to deflect her arm, wrap her own around Blake's neck and throw her aside, all in the space of a second.

"Shut up, Jaune," the girl growled, pushing some computers off her body.

"I didn't even say anything!"

"It was pre-emptive… Hey, Ruby – didn't you alert any of the teachers or call help?" Blake wasn't holding any hope on that front, as the girl cartwheeled and slammed her scythe into the intruder, pushing her back a little but never scoring any hits. Twin blades, short in nature, but oh so devastating parried every strike – before a heeled foot sent Ruby careening into a pillar.

"No…" Ruby coughed, limping behind the pillar as another arrow punctured into it. "Didn't you?"

"…"

"You both amaze me… you really do."

"If you don't have any constructive thoughts to offer then shut up. I need a weapon…" amber eyes scanned left and right. Discarded computers, rubble… there was nothing that could serve as a weapon by design. The last thing the school wanted was someone being able to get in here and then ambush the students unawares.

"A little help, Blake?" Ruby's scythe cracked as she fired towards the strange woman, though the lack of any cries told her the shots weren't connecting. On the bright side they had to be drawing attention… surely no one would be able to miss the sounds of distant sniper rifle fire over… over loud music…

Damn it all.

"Guns!" Jaune snapped suddenly, floating to the edge of what distance allowed and pointing towards a downed guard in the central elevator. Blake had seen him when she ascended… an unconscious guard in your elevator was the sort of thing you didn't miss, but she hadn't considered the weapon. And for good reason.

"It's Atlas-tech," she shook her head. "Back when the White Fang started to become a serious thing we would steal weapons from Atlas. Nowadays they need an ID-code to fire… and that code is within the armour of the soldiers themselves. I won't be able to fire it."

"Then get me close and I'll fire it."

Better plan than any I had, Blake thought as she ducked and weaved her way towards the elevator. Ruby continued to press against the enemy, but it was only her semblance that was allowing her to stay in one piece. This woman was definitely beyond them… it reminded her of the spars she'd had against Adam… that feeling of helplessness.

An arrow whistled past her as she reached the elevator, crouching down by the entrance, "Ugh, come on… damn it! I think… no, I know… there isn't anything left for me to possess. No mind or consciousness to slip into."

Rest in peace, Blake sighed, nodding to Jaune as he floated back beside her. Unconscious, indeed… it looked like she'd ridden the elevator with a dead man. She just hadn't wanted to accept that fact. Which also meant the weapon was still useless to her… unless – yes, over by the main terminal, another guard lying flat on his back. This one she could see was alive, his crumpled form moving slightly – perhaps nothing more than the rise and fall of his chest.

"Hold on," she whispered, "we're going to try and get to the other guy, be ready to possess him."

"Blaaakkkeee!" Ruby cried, "I need help now!" The woman had pushed her back, trapping the younger girl against some broken computers as her twin blades danced and flashed – a deadly wall advancing on her.

"Blake! Help her!"

"On it!"

The woman attacked, one blade locking against Crescent Rose, before driving it down with incredible force. Blake growled as she saw the other rise, ready to decapitate her leader – her friend. She reached down and picked up her weapon.

"Blake, you're doing it wrong!" Ruby howled as the assault rifle clonked off the back of the woman's skull, stunning her just enough for Ruby to break free, but not really doing any damage. The woman seemed to recover a second later, glancing down at the gun-shaped projectile before back to where it had come from.

Just in time to receive a single black, heeled shoe to the face. And then another, bouncing off her forehead.

"Well," Jaune said as he stood beside the now unarmed, and coincidentally barefoot huntress-in-training. "That was short-lived. I take it this plan didn't come with a part two?"

"You know me…"

An arrow pierced her forehead, melting away as she did the same – clone dying in her place. Bare feet padded across the cold floor, flinching each time she stepped on some kind of ruined piece of computer. Smashed glass, circuit boards and sharp metal, each failed to pierce her skin thanks to aura, but was a constant pain nonetheless. Like running on a plank of nails.

"Duck, arrow coming, jump!" Her companion fired out commands as he floated beside her, keeping an eye on the foe so that she didn't have to. Every command she had to follow with complete trust, not once judging by her own instincts, fighting the urge to look or seek cover. It was hard… every part of her body screamed to look, but she needed to keep her eyes focused ahead so that she wouldn't trip. "Ruby's engaged her, this is our best shot!"

Jaune slipped away from her as she slid past the man, the two meeting eyes for a moment before he vanished into the armoured body. She didn't stay to see how it had gone – already moving on to distract the woman, bring her attention away from her ace in the hole. She just hoped he would be able to glean some accuracy from the solider… for she wasn't sure if Jaune Arc had ever used a gun in his life.

"You are quite the irritant," the woman's voice as unfaltering calm as Blake dove into melee, thrusting her knuckles towards her throat. So close, the blades were more hindrance than weapon, and the woman was forced to use forearm and elbow to block the hits. The moment she did, Ruby attacked from behind, sweeping Crescent Rose horizontally in a move that would either deal critical damage, or hamstring the woman. "Enough!"

Fire roared up around them, burning Blake through her aura even as she was kicked away. Somehow it even blocked Ruby's blade, the flames burning so hot they could somehow push it away. Even as her skin burned, Blake's eyes widened… summoning blades, the bow, now fire? This wasn't some typical semblance. And that made the situation far worse.

"You two are quite the pests," she said, what they could see of her face calm, but voice practically seething with malice. "But it's about time that en- Arghh!" Blake smiled grimly as the woman recoiled, dust rounds pinging off her aura as she held one arm before her face. Jaune stood among the ruined computers, now in full control of the soldier's body as he fired on her.

"Surrender!" Blake called out, pushing herself up onto one knee, nodding towards Ruby on the other side of the room. "Give up and we can resolve this peaceful-" the woman broke to the right, ducking past the hail of fire as she rushed towards Ruby. Blake cursed and made to follow, Jaune's fire pausing in fear of also striking the young girl. Ruby deflected the first blow easily. Swayed around the second, and backed away from the third – kicking back to put space between them.

Silver eyes widened however, when the woman didn't follow. Instead she released her blades, the metal fading away into dust that coalesced into her wicked bow. It happened in the span of a second… one moment fighting Ruby, the next twirling on the spot and firing.

"Duck!"

"Guh… hrk…" Jaune's hand came up slowly… almost as though to touch his own lips, to wipe the blood away. Fingers were halted by the metallic shaft that protruded from his throat, flickering eyes drifting down to look at the weapon that had killed him.

"No!" Ruby screamed, words echoed by Blake as he collapsed to his knees.

"Jaune!?" Blake gasped as she skidded towards him, catching his armoured form as he slumped back. Eyes wide, filled with terror, he seemed to be trying to clutch the arrow with weakened fingers, draw it from his windpipe.

"What is going on here?" A new voice cried, though Blake had no time for it. There was an explosion, a rush of heat followed by a cold breeze as the windows were smashed outwards, their foe escaping from them as soldiers poured into the room. She ignored it all, trying to push his hands aside before he could hurt himself further.

"Jaune, come out," she whispered, "Get out of him!"

"Hrk… Blk… hlp…"

"Get out!" She hissed the words, gripping the man's shoulders as the flames in his eyes dimmed. Jaune burst forth a second later, tears streaming down his ghostly cheeks as he clutched at his intangible neck. The worst part was the eyes… but not Jaune's…

The soldier was awake now… brown eyes staring up at her with such fear and pain, begging her to fix this somehow. A second later, the light seemed to fade from them. Leaving her knelt there, holding nothing more than the shell of a man.

"Is he…?" the white coated figure of General James Ironwood knelt down beside her, gently preying her hands away as he took the soldier from her. "You did all you could," he said, laying the man down before lifting her to her feet and steering her away. "Come now, I'm sure we can get you some bandages for your feet."

"Miss Belladonna," Miss Goodwitch gasped, levitating and throwing wreckage aside as she rushed up to the girl. The woman's green eyes roved over her with a stern eye, cataloguing injuries and how they should be treated.

Blake barely noticed any of it. Still watching Jaune as he floated still beside her, one hand touching his throat. The other desperately attempting to stem the spectral tears flowing from his eyes.

"I… killed him…"