Testing Black

I, Silva Branwen, finally finished my two projects after about a month since I started and felt pleased with the results. The construction bots were ant-shaped, the size of large dogs, and capable of flight to transport materials on sight. The central control units handle all the guidance systems and blueprints to build whatever I want or need. Before I set up the blueprints for my homes in Anima and Vale, I need to talk to everyone that is going to live there to get their feedback on what they want for our future home. That can wait a day, however, as I need to test drive my armored assault vehicle to ensure everything is working as it should.

I looked over to my Drake, an armored assault vehicle outfitted with hovercraft technology that is powered by Aura and a heavy turret similar to a tank with a secondary heavy machine gun to tackle smaller varieties of Grimm. It had a long thick body with four separate hover engines on its sides plus a boat-like bottom to allow for it to be amphibious for the sea separating Anima and Menagerie. I double-checked all its systems to ensure there was no issue, and after my check-through, I hopped in and started it up.

Fueling my Aura into its systems, it lifted off the ground, and I opened a portal in front of it and drove through. My surroundings changed to Raven's campsite, and she walked up to me and the Drake, then demanded.

" Silva, what on Remnant are you driving?"

" My hover assault craft, Drake Mk.1."

I answered with a smile, then asked the former bandit chief.

" Do you know anywhere nearby I can put this bad boy through its paces? I need to test drive it to make sure that I got everything covered."

Raven closed her eyes to think, and after a minute, she told me.

" South of here, there is some rocky terrain with some Grimm residing within, mainly Beowolfs with the odd Geist or two wandering around. Will that do?"

" That's perfect! Thanks!"

Before I could drive away, the former bandit chief stopped me.

" Now, hold it right there, Silva; I am coming along to make sure you don't crash into anything with your new toy."

I shrugged, then invited her in.

" Hop in, Raven."

Thankfully it's a weekday, and Yang and Ruby are in school now. Otherwise, I would have to deal with the two of them begging me to let them drive; even the blonde sister might put aside her awkward feelings at driving my Drake. After all, what kid wouldn't want to drive a practical hover tank, all things considered? I followed Raven's directions as I drove and made some comments about how surprised she was that I hadn't crashed into anything yet. I made the controls resemble a car as much as possible because you never really forget how to drive after enough experience.

The only time I stopped driving around in my past life was when I was too old to drive correctly and needed a chauffeur. Soon we reached the area that Raven told me about, and I saw a slope and sped towards it to get some air time. The former bandit chief warned me.

" Silva!"

Too late, we were launched into the air, and I got to test Drake's landing features. As we rapidly got closer to the ground, I increased the strength of the hover systems to soften the landing. Seeing that everything worked as intended, I grinned as I did my checklist.

" Landing systems operating at peak performance, check. Now-."

" A little warning would have been nice, Silva."

Raven growled at me for my stunt, and I replied.

" Sorry about that, but I need to test Drake's weapon systems and durability next, okay?"

" Very well."

I soon saw some Beowolfs in the distance and charged at them to run them over. I ran over them, and the impact I felt was within the expected parameters. I then rammed into a stone wall, and aside from the airbags being deployed, most of the impact was adsorbed by the front bumper, so there was minor damage to the rest of the frame.

" Good, now I just need to test the weapons systems, and we can head back."

" I must admit, Silva, you built an impressive assault vehicle. I can't imagine the tribe being able to take this beast down easily."

" Thanks, but wait until you see the turret and heavy machine gun in action."

I pressed a button on the stirring wheel to activate the remote control over the turret. While it has a cockpit to allow it to be manually controlled, I did set a remote control system to allow me to shoot on my own. As we wandered around, a Petra Gigas formed after a Geist possessed some rubble, and I found my target. I grinned as I tested the heavy machine gun first. It tore through the rock of the stone giant, making it roar out and throw a boulder at us, which I evaded and started circling the Grimm while pelting it with the heavy machine gun.

After testing it, I found the targeting sight on the remote control on my stirring wheel was a bit off; I will need to adjust that when I get back. Now, for the big finale, I fired the main gun at the Petra Gigas, and it went down in a single shot since it landed on the face mask of the Grimm. I frowned as I saw the aim was also off on the targeting system; it looked like I needed to recapitulate the entire weapon system before going off and driving through Anima to Menagerie. Hmm, I also need to test Drake's aquatic abilities as well while I am at it but later as I better see how the girls in Vale are doing first and get their lists on what they want for our home in Vale.

***

Miltia and Melanie stood in front of Junior A.K.A. Hei Xiong junior, their employer, for being guards in his club. He was a large man built like a bear with broad shoulders and a muscular body with black hair and grey eyes, plus a pale complexion. Wearing his usual suit with a black vest over his white dress shirt and red tie, he looked at the twins with confusion as he asked within his office in his club.

" So let me see if I understand you correctly; the two of you want a vacation and don't know how long you will be gone?"

" It is incorrect to phrase it like that, boss. Melanie and I simply wish to spend time with our boyfriend after he has been away for so long with his trip to Atlas."

Miltia was doing all the talking since she is more polite than her more brash twin and is better suited to asking for the favor they are asking Junior. The boss of Vale's underworld sighed as he readily complied with the twin's request.

" Very well, you can go enjoy your vacation with your boyfriend."

" Thank you, boss, we-."

" But before you go off, I want to meet this boyfriend of yours."

Despite being a crime boss, Junior wasn't that bad to work with since he didn't ask for anything unreasonable. So long as you worked as you should and were reliable, he had no issue being lenient with his employees. Under his gruff exterior, he did care about the employees he trusted the most, which included the Malachite twins. The two girls were strong enough to deal with most rowdy customers, including those with their Aura unlocked, and the crime boss relied on them more than his grunts were a dime a dozen.

The twins looked at one another in silent conversation, and Melanie then told her boss.

" Sure, we will bring him around, Junior, if you want to meet him, but why?"

" He is actually one of the few things the both of you talk about, aside from fashion and bad-mouthing your mother. So I am a bit curious about the guy the two of you are sharing."

Another reason for this is that Junior knew that Miltia and Melanie were smart enough not to date waste, and he hoped to get another reliable employee for his criminal empire, as good help is always hard to find.