The Eternal Imperium

Chapter 6: The Chase Begins

Weiss sits within her new living quarters within Shade Academy as she inspects the cylindrical weapon her father had given her. Sitting on her bed, she began to hear a beeping noise from her suit, which she had taken off earlier.

Rolling her eyes, she heads over to her suit and finds the message was coming from her brother. She takes the communicator, which could be detached from her wrist, and places it in the middle of the room. Soon, a hologram of her brother, Whitley, appears.

Whitley had not changed at all from the time when Weiss was still considered a Huntress. In truth, his holographic form seemed to move more fluidly and life-like than even the communication she shared with her father.

Whitley: "Weiss. Good to see you again. I have news from Father that you should enjoy."

Weiss: "Whitley. Looking real as ever. What is it father wishes to share?"

Whitley: "It seems the questioning of Xanthe Rumpole has earned information Father wishes for you to capitalize on."

Weiss: "Father? Entrust me with this?"

Whitley: "It seems this may be your chance to earn your place among me and Winter as Father's Chosen."

Weiss: "Well then, don't waste any more of my time. Give me the details of the information." Whitley rolls his eyes as the hologram of him swiftly shifts into that of Red.

Whitley: "This is Red. No last name exists in the database. He goes by the alias of 'The Red Beast', 'The Pirate of the Desert', or 'Red Hair'. Records detail that he is around his mid-40s, standing approximately 6 feet 2 inches. He has been confirmed to operate in tandem with numerous bandit groups within the Vacuo territory. Latest reports dictate that he was rumored to be around the city during the attack. Also, he and Headmaster Theodore were rather well acquainted with one another."

Weiss: "He doesn't look that intimidating."

Whitley: "From the information extracted from Rumpole. Theodore personally asked Red to investigate and search for the Relic of Destruction. I determine that Red did, in fact, find the path to the relic and gave Theodore the information to follow the path. But with the formation of the Eternal Imperium, they most likely halted any follow-up on Red's search."

Weiss: "So I will have to find him quickly."

Whitley: "Indeed. I trust that you will see this through. In other, most likely related news, I extracted the camera footage during the attack. Xanthe Rumpole entered into the headmaster's office with a huntress named Coco Adel. Coco never left the office before you and Winter apprehended Rumpole. That may suggest that Coco Adel was snuck out of the city through a passage connecting to the office."

Weiss seemed to zone out as she heard Coco's name. Hearing Coco's name drew Weiss back to her time at Beacon Academy. She met Coco and her team several times, and they were always good friends. The memories soon changed to that of her team, which caused Weiss to scowl.

Whitley: "Sis? You still there?"

Weiss: "Forward the information to my communicator. Inform Father that I will succeed in this mission." Whitley nodded as he soon disappeared.

Weiss then picked up her communicator and saw that the information on Red had been sent. Tapping the communicator, she soon had a direct line to the captain, who was assigned as her second of command while in Vacuo.

Captain: "Yes, Inquisitor?"

Weiss: "I have been assigned an important mission by the Emperor. It would require me to depart from the city. I shall be leaving you in charge in my stead. I trust that you will not disappoint."

Captain: "Yes, Inquisitor! I shall endeavor to meet your and the Emperor's expectations!"

Weiss: "Good. Prepare my ship. I shall be down at the landing pad in a few minutes." Weiss then deactivates her communicator as she puts on her armor.

Making her way through the halls of the school-turned-fort, Eternal soldiers stopped and saluted as she passed them without acknowledging them. Eventually exiting onto a landing platform, a highly experimental Bullhead silently lands down onto the platform.

The ship appears to have lack a cockpit as a ramp at the back of the flying vehicle lowers. Weiss steps onto the ship, which causes it to lighten up as a speaker begins to speak to Weiss. The interior consists of a foldable bed along the ship's side—and numerous computers and storage containers. Plenty of trinkets and collectibles were also stashed within the interior, showcasing how Weiss had completed many missions.

P3-NN1: "Salutations, friend Weiss! It is so good to see you again! Are we off on another adventure?"

P3-NN1. A ship Kreel had made explicitly for Weiss. Installed within its systems is the modified AI of P.E.N.N.Y. M374—a friend from when Weiss and her old team traveled to Atlas. The new AI, whom Weiss simply calls Penny, now acts as Weiss's personal pilot for her missions. Kreel also ensured that Penny was capable of mimicking emotions so that he could make sure Weiss did not become anti-social due to her many solo missions.

Weiss: "Yes, we are Penny. I have uploaded coordinates to a town West of the city. We shall be heading here first."

Penny: "Yes, mam! Do try and get some sleep. We shall arrive tomorrow, around noon."

Weiss: "Thank you, Penny." Weiss takes off her helmet as Penny begins the takeoff sequence. Weiss unfolds the wall-mounted bed as she lays down, letting herself drift off into sleep as the ship hastily flies toward the western town.

Meanwhile, within the cold night in the Vacuo desert, Coco and Red make their way into a small town. Even smaller than the first town they came across along their trek. It only was made up of around 5 or 6 buildings.

Red: "This should be far enough to where the Eternal Imperium hasn't gotten any scouts here. So we should be all good to rest here."

Coco: "Finally! I cannot take another night sleeping in the desert. I'm getting sand in places no one should be getting sand."

Red: "TMI Coco. Anyway, tomorrow, we should be able to get where we're going."

Coco: "And that being?"

Red: "I promised to take care of you, didn't I? And you seem dead set on getting the Relic, so there's no point in trying to stop you."

Coco: "Really?!"

Red: "Yep. Now let's see if we can find a place to crash."