Destiny No More

Chapter 75

Pyrrha ducked low, narrowly avoiding a point blank shot, as she kicked her legs out to sweep the Knights legs out from under it. Another moved to take its place, aiming its rifle down at her head before Winter's saber pierced through its face plate; showering sparks down on Pyrrha as the machine quickly began to falter. The moment that her blade was withdrawn from its head the android collapsed, finally putting an end to the sounds of battle within the fort.

A part of her had hoped that, after cutting the power to the bunker, the Knights would turn back to their side, or at least shut down. Sadly, whatever had been done to them didn't seem to be tied to the fort's power system, and so they fought on long after the fort had fallen.

A small fleet of Bullheads had landed to start taking wounded back to the fleet; whatever that had been jamming their communications at least had failed when the power was finally cut. Retaking the walls had been a bloody battle, and Pyrrha felt sick. Were she not so exhausted she thought she might have thrown up, but the mere thought of it had her body aching. Keeping her eyes away from the worst of the injured seemed to help.

Atlas had managed to win against their own weapons, thanks mostly to the Specialists that had stormed back up the walls, but now they had to deal with those who had been injured in the fighting. She knew from first hand experience that the Atlesian ships had well stocked medical bays but, looking out over the groups huddled around the sparse landing zones, she doubted they would have enough room for everyone; there were easily more wounded than not.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Pyrrha looked to Winter for what to do next. The former heiress was covered in filth, her white clothes stained with oil from the androids and blood from both the White Fang and their own troops. She breathed heavily, her hair slick with sweat as she took in their surroundings.

"I need to report back to the General." Winter said firmly, sheathing her sword. Pyrrha made to follow, but Winter shook her head. "Go find Qrow, make sure he's all right."

Pyrrha nodded, the two Specialists going their separate ways. Qrow had stayed behind to help the soldiers pinned in the courtyard, but said courtyard was currently being used to land Bullheads to gather the wounded, and he was nowhere to be found. She couldn't find him on the walls either, and a small amount of fear began to build as she realized he might have been hurt during the fighting dawned on her. As she looked up at the battleship hovering above them however, she saw him sitting on the roof of the main bunker; his legs dangling over the edge as he looked down on the wounded.

For most the trip up there would have been difficult; while she was sure there was a way to access it, she couldn't see it, and most would need to take a Bullhead up. Which, considering the need to move the wounded, was a low priority. For the two of them it was easy though. Magic really did trivialize certain things sometimes. Taking a deep breath, Pyrrha launched herself up onto the bunker, landing only a few feet away from him.

"Show off." Qrow mumbled.

"Winter sent me after you." Pyrrha sat down next to him; crossing her legs rather than letting them hang over the edge, but she nudged his shoulder all the same. "I think she wanted to make sure you were okay."

Qrow smiled at that, but it was short lived as a Bullhead left in a hurry, only to be replaced by another that was quickly filled up with wounded.

"This sure went to shit."

"Yeah..." Pyrrha replied quietly.

"You okay?"

Pyrrha nodded her head. "A little tired, and my Aura is a little lower than I'd like, but nothing to complain about."