Remnant's Calling

3x4: The Other Side

"Hey, heard anything yet?" 

"No, everyone's been quiet," I tell him. "Only he does, and he isn't telling us grunts, jack-shit. For all we know, we're taking this whole op somewhere." 

"I hope we are, Al. Vale has been FUBAR ever since that... maniac showed up."

I shook my head. "Yeah, the bastard's been slaughtering us. But I guess they'd eventually send some fucker to a job, right, I suppose." 

"No, Al, this isn't your regular Atlas buff. He has to be spec ops or something, man," he says to me, "you've heard the shit about him, right?"

The question piqued my curiosity. "Who hasn't? What's gotten into you, Ash?"

He hits my arm with the butt of his gun. "What's gotten into me?" He repeated before scoffing at my seemingly preposterous confusion. "What's with you, Al!?" 

"Am I out of the loop or something? Because I'm about five seconds from punching you in the head."

"You're more than out of the fuckin' loop, Albion! Word's been getting around that the bastard can nullify auras!" 

"W-What? No, you—ha, you're fuckin' with me right now, aren't you?" 

Ash grabbed my shoulder and shook his head. "I wish I were, Al." 

No way... My legs gave out beneath me. "So... So that's it? When he shows up, that's it? W-We die?"

"Well, not exactly," he started. "From the little info we catch, we scored a juicy tip off his last raid on a warehouse where we had some leftover dust; he got hit and was hauled off somewhere."

"Wait, wait, wait, he got what?" 

"Shot. Three times, I think. Not too sure on the finer details, though." 

"How do you—" Stop. Breath. "—Okay, well, what do you remember? And don't spare a single bit of information, got it?"

"There's nothing much to tell you. The only important shit is that he got shot and hauled to Oum knows where."

"Fuck... so what? No upper hand? He shows up, and we just pray that we get lucky and hit him?"

"Al-"

"No! You've seen the fuckin' aftermath of his handiwork! He's a goddamn psychopath for Oum's sake!"

"Get a grip, would you?! After all, you should've gotten out of this shit a long time ago."

"The fuck are you- what the fuck!?"

"This isn't what you really want, Al. You know that. Besides, you've got a family to look after, don't you?"

"Wh-What the fuck are you talking about? And where's Ash?"

"Your friends should be the least of your worries."

My radio screeches life beside me. It's... oh no.

"Al? Al!"

"What? What?"

"Didn't you hear me? That bastard is here. We have to go."

What the fuck is going on? "I-I'm not going out there, Ash. I'm getting out of here."

"Are you fuckin' serious right now?"

"Yes! I'm dead fucking serious. I'm not going out to be fucking fodder, Ash! I've got a family back on Menagerie, and I intend on living!"

"Well whoopty-fuckin'-do, Al!"

"Fuck you, Ash. I'm out of here. You can follow me if you feel like going home."

---

"Hey, kid, found the train!" Qrow yelled to Jacket, who was still busy beating down a White Fang member.

Fritz turned and nodded, then delivered one last punch before bolting after him and into the tunnel. Dozens of crates dotted the path along the rusted grey train.

"We've got no time for sightseeing, kid. Come on, there are more Fangs ahead."

Fritz groaned inward and then turned to follow. Even with a mask, the putrid smell stung his nose.

"How many d'you think they have?"

Qrow shrugged. "Dunno. A dozens probably. The Fang have been active all over Vale. If what you said on the walk here is true, then what you did barely put a damper on their operation." He gestured to the many crates around them. "But, I figured you could tell just by taking in the sights."

Fritz grunted.

Ahead of them, a Fang stood, his back to them. "Come back here, Albion!" He shouted. "You can't just abandon us!"

"Watch me!"

Jacket approached; grabbing the Fang, and delivering a haymaker to the nose, knocking him out. Moving to pursue the other, Qrow stops him by grabbing his shoulder.

"Just go find the train's locomotive," Qrow directed. Fritz stares at him for a moment then turned, darting off on  Qrow's command.

Watching Fritz run off, Qrow glanced down at the unconscious Faunus, and shook his head. "Sorry, pal. I would've told him to take it easy, but... well, you know the rest."

He kneels down and grabs the Faunus by the collar and drags him toward the side of the train, leaning him against it.

"Now, to wait for junior to finish up." Qrow straightened his back and pulled his polished silver flask from his vest. "Just hope this doesn't take too long." He glanced at the Faunus after taking a long sip."Hey, want some?"