Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen
The group of four young women stepped inside the tent, and I knew one of the hardest parts was to come. Convincing random huntsmen to go through the portal was difficult, but doable. If all else failed, Goodwitch herself could just throw them through with her telekinesis. Arabica was standing in wait on the other side of Remnant, ready to open a portal at the earliest convenience.
"You're all alive," I exhaled in relief, feeling a weight on my shoulders lift. It was a weight I hadn't even known was there to begin with.
"Of course we're alive, brother," Weiss rolled her eyes, "Who do you take us for?"
"Team RWBY reporting in for duty!" Ruby said, trying to make a smile in a vague attempt to cheer up the situation.
"Miss Rose," Professor Goodwitch remarked, "Where were you? Even those who remained behind at Beacon have arrived by now," she continued.
Ruby winced, "We-We kind of took a detour by the forest. We thought it would have less Grimm, and it did! But-"
I grimaced as Steno hastily brought me up to date, "But there was a Goliath near the train tracks?" I sighed, shaking my head. "And that is another option gone out of the window," I muttered, tapping my earpiece. "Steno, have Richardil prepared for suppression fire. The airport's planes are still in somewhat working conditions, but even so-"
I turned to look at Professor Goodwitch. Her lips were tightly pressed. "All right," I said with a dreadful sigh. "I've got a mission for you four."
"We'll need supplies first," Blake acquiesced. "We're pretty low on ammunition."
"You'll supply on route," I answered back, "There's a pit stop I need you to make. I'll need you four to close your eyes though," I added with a sigh, "I still haven't gotten the transportation without traumatic experiences right at this point in time," I chuckled as I said that.
"Brother?" Weiss furrowed her brows. "Are you talking about the family semblance? Does it-"
"Well, if it can summon, it can most definitely unsummon," I retorted, "And if you have two points connected together, it can definitely transfer," I lied so naturally, I had a smug smile on my face. "Dealing with a company sometimes leaves you a lot of time to experiment, so..."
I couldn't risk having Yang see the portal for what it was. She knew, after all, what her mother's semblance was. And she'd ask questions. Questions I didn't want answered right about there and then.
"So we go supply, then we hit the airport and keep it clear of the Grimm?" Yang asked. "Sounds pretty straightforward."
"I would hope so," I said with a chuckle. "Do try to keep yourself safe, my heart can't take much more of this-"
"What about Winter?" Weiss interrupted me, "Is she-has she already gone ahead?"
I grinned. It hurt. "She was incredibly pissed," I remarked. "But she and Ironwood were sent with a couple of hunters to look for other ways out of the city. I'm expecting a report soon enough-but time's a bit tight, so," I took a deep breath, "Eyes closed, ladies. And don't open them until you're touching the ground on the other side."
"You'll have to teach me how to do it," Weiss said abruptly, "It's-It could be incredibly useful."
I chuckled at that, and nodded. "Sure," and then waited patiently until all four had their eyes closed. The glimmering crimson portal opened by my side, and as one body they ended up thrown through by the Schnee glyph appearing below their feet. The portal closed a moment later.
"You lied to them," Glynda acquiesced. "Without a shred of hesitation."
"If you hesitate while lying, then you aren't lying at all," I retorted calmly. "They'll be alive to hate me later on, and that's what matters to me."
I bit my tongue ever so slightly. There was no way Ruby's silver eyes would have changed the situation anyway. Even if using them was like a beam, it wouldn't change matters with Salem. If anything, Salem didn't know of Ruby's existence yet. At least, that was my hope. "So, we've got the first years and second years mostly transferred," I added. "Now concerning those that wish to stay behind, the best solution would be to split up. She can't be stopped, but if enough people go in enough different directions, she can't follow them all."
"The Grimm are many," Glynda replied.
"Yes, but the Grimm can be defeated. She cannot," I mused. "Richardil's rail gun can be used to emit an electric arc, which should jump from Grimm to Grimm and grant an important window of opportunity. There are a few planes at the airport that are still functional, and technically if a locomotive can be moved from the train yard to a still functional railway segment-"
"I should be able to do that with my semblance," Glynda acquiesced. "It would be...a toll, but it should be possible."
"Then that's what you'll do. We have little time left, the operational capacity of my children is a couple of hours tops at most and supplies are already running low," I grimaced, "If they engage in melee combat, then the duration of their batteries further sink. Some of them might reactivate when the day comes around, but I wouldn't count on the Grimm just letting them be."
I took a small breath. "The tanks should have more operational capacity, but there aren't enough to make a noticeable difference, and their ammunition will run low eventually. At the same time, they should be fast enough to keep up with the train tracks, but the forest-" I winced at the thought. "I'll be sending the tanks to the airport to secure it. You'd better start asking amidst the civilians if there's someone that can drive an airplane. In a pinch any of my Androids will do, but they might run out of battery mid-flight, and that's a traumatic experience I don't want to see."
"Even with that..." Glynda muttered, "There are many more who won't make it."
"I know," I acquiesced. "I can leave the portal open and let them stampede through it, but each one is a toll-and I don't think it would save more than a hundred, while at the same time killing many more under the weight of the panicking citizens," I shuddered. "If you can manage to get the train going, it should head for a Schnee refinery. That's where ninety percents of the rails go. Once there, I can have bullheads pick up the survivors-"
"If the tracks are further damaged along the way-" Glynda muttered.
"Then you will have to continue by foot," I answered. "It's not ideal, but it's the best I can do. Small groups might be ignored, but the larger one definitely won't."
"Some will want to stay behind to protect them," Glynda pointed out.
"Make them see reason. Tell them that my children are best suited for defensive positions and there's no need for the huntsmen to do the same," I answered back. "This is the last possible way I can evacuate people; unless they want to attempt swimming."
"The island of Patch is far away, but not that far," Glynda mused. "Why not use it?"
"Because then they would fall too, I do not doubt the enemy will come for them. If I send them to Atlas, to Argus, or to other kingdoms I actually give them time. If I send them to Patch, I fear she will just walk there and destroy the island too," I sighed, "Also, there aren't enough facilities to house the refugees, and the Grimm there are a problem too."
Stenophylla buzzed in my earpiece.
"I see," I muttered, my throat drying up. "It appears there's movement coming our way. My children are engaging it, but they are being torn to shreds before they can get close."
I looked at Glynda. "Go. Now."
Glynda gave me a curt nod in reply, and she was off.
I tightened the grip on my Dust-Cane.
I took deep breaths. "How many can we save?" I muttered.
Stenophylla buzzed a number. "It's not enough," I hissed.
Stenophylla remained adamant.
I pinched the ridge of my nose. "Understood," I muttered. "Once the huntsmen have gone, make the remaining civilians take up positions. Then, have Arabica open a portal in the camp repair tent." I grimaced. I felt sick. "We will prioritize my children in order of battle-worthiness."
"But father," Stenophylla muttered, "they can be uploaded. They will not die like people do."
"Yes, but their Hardware would be lost. It would take time to rebuild them, time we may not have. Each Paladin saved today is one more child that can fight tomorrow," I shuddered, bile rising to the top of my throat. "It is the logical thing to do."
"Father, do not speak of logic to me," Stenophylla muttered back. "I know it is the logical thing to do. I still do not wish to do it. We are willing to sacrifice-"
"And I am not," I hissed back. "Look at the bigger picture, Stenophylla."
Stenophylla grew quiet.
"You should not have given me a soul, father," Stenophylla said after a short moment of silence. "Because I refuse. And so do the children. They will make their stand. That is their wish, and you cannot...you will not make them leave."
"Stenophylla," I hissed, "short-sighted gains are worthless in a battle of attrition-"
"It doesn't matter," Stenophylla muttered back. "We can do this with father's aid, or we can do this without father's aid."
The flaps of the tent opened up to admit two SCPs inside. I glanced at them. They looked back at me.
"So it has come to this, hasn't it?" I muttered in disbelief.
"Father is kind," Stenophylla whispered in my ear, "He loves us so much, he cannot see that we have grown. To you, we will always be children in need of coddling. Today, we stop being children, father. We make our own choice. We make our own decisions."
I felt air leave my lungs in disbelief. "It's a foolish, stupid, moronic choice."
"Yes," Stenophylla answered in my ear. "But it's ours."
A crimson portal opened by my side.
Arabica appeared through, quietly looking up at me.
"Fine," I muttered. "But I will go through last."
Arabica scrunched her eyebrows up, mulled the thought for a brief instant, and then proceeded to bodily grab hold and throw me through without as much as a gasp of rebuttal.
I landed on the other side on my back, a pair of strong arms holding me right there as the portal shimmered to a close.
Robusta was holding on to me for dear life.
The screams that left my throat weren't kind, gentle, or fatherly.
Through it all, Robusta didn't let go. Not once.
I could have saved more.
I could have saved more!
