A Fairly Reasonable Crashout (RWBY Adam SI) ch 48

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Smoke and the sharp tang of burned wires filled my nostrils as the SDC officer collapsed onto his back. He whimpered, curling into a ball, his trembling hands shielding his face. My shadow loomed over him, sword raised high. I struck once.

A groan escaped his lips as his aura flared briefly before flickering out, leaving him defenseless. Vulnerable. My expression remained cold as I raised my sword again, poised to finish him.

But I paused.

A burst of static-filled chatter erupted from his bullet-riddled truck's radio.

"All units, this is Dalrymple. Switch to Frequency 245.8. There is... there is some news that must be shared."

Dalrymple. I supposed I should feel honored that his highness deigned to involve himself in this mess. But he wasn't the one I wanted. He wasn't the one I wanted to feel my hands around. Still, he bore the Schnee Snowflake, and that made him fair game. All who wore the Snowflake was. 

The officer beneath me stirred, blinking in surprise when he realized he was still alive. I corrected his assumption with a swift thrust to his throat. He gasped, gloved hands scrabbling at my blade as he flailed like a dying animal caught in the butcher's grip. His body tensed, jerking against every second of his slow demise, until finally, he stilled.

I yanked the sword free, casting his lifeless form a glance of disdain before turning to my men.

"Take what you can carry!" I barked. "Then, scatter!"

"Yes, Adam!" they called, already stripping the dead of anything worth taking.

I took a few steps back and perched myself atop a large rock, surveying the aftermath. The stench of blood, smoke, and scorched metal hung heavy in the air. It was nothing new.

A shadow approached, and I didn't need to look to know it was her.

Sienna, soaked with sweat and reeking of battle, sank down next to me. She wiped her face with her sleeve, her clothes clinging to her frame.

"This is the third one this week," she said quietly, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

I gave her a brief glance before turning back to the smoldering convoy. "You'd think the SDC would stop sending out their convoys by now," I said dryly.

It had become routine. Friendly civilians would feed them false intel, baiting them into sending convoys out to deal with fabricated problems. Then we'd strike. Ambush them at will.

"Thank the gods they're stupid," Sienna muttered, pulling out a canteen. She tilted her head back and drank deeply.

"They're learning," I said, gesturing to the broken Atlesian Knights scattered across the battlefield. Far too many of them for comfort.

"A little, not a lot," she replied, tucking the empty canteen away. Her tone was flat, but I could see the edge of weariness in her expression.

"That's what happens when you send glorified enforcers instead of soldiers," I said, rising to my feet.

I could feel her eyes on me as I strode toward the lead vehicle. Its doors hung open, the driver slumped lifeless over the wheel, courtesy of Malik's sharp aim. I leaned in, scanning the interior until my eyes landed on the truck's radio.

I hesitated for a moment before inputting the frequency Dalrymple had shared.

Sienna's voice came from behind me. "What are you doing?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "Their overlord said to switch to this channel. I'm curious."

Her brow furrowed, but she didn't argue. I returned my focus to the radio, pressing the button to listen in.

Dalrymple's voice crackled through the static, clear and sharp.

"-all must know that by 16:00 Wednesday, the Board of Directors has unanimously declared a Vote of No Confidence in Jacques Schnee. Ladies and gentlemen, he is no longer the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company."

I froze. So did Sienna. The weight of his words hung in the air like a thunderclap. A few breaths were audible, sharp and disbelieving, as more of my people drifted closer, drawn by the broadcast.

Dalrymple continued, his tone steady but laced with finality.

"As of today, Madam Willow Schnee has been elected as the new CEO, per Board vote."

The words lingered, heavy with implications. I said nothing, but my grip on the radio tightened. Sienna's gaze flicked to me, her expression unreadable, though her lips pressed into a hard, thin line. Raptured, euphoric cries left the lips of my men as they began to celebrate. However, I kept my face level as I continued to listen. 

"What does this mean for this deployment?" Dalrymple asked. "As of now, I have not received any word from upstairs. It will be possible that we will pull out from this region but we shall see. As of now, keep yourselves prepared. Keep your arms ready, and your senses sharp." 

Euphoric cries erupted from my men, their voices raw with triumph. Loud shouts of "YEAH!" and "GET SOME!" rang out, echoing through the carnage. But I did not join them. Until Dalrymple finished speaking, I held my resolve.

"I..." Dalrymple's voice wavered, a hesitation that sent alarms ringing in my gut. I leaned in closer, sensing the shift. Sienna did the same, her body tense beside me.

"I am of the mind," Dalrymple continued cautiously, "that we will proceed as planned, at least for a little while, in light of...recent events in Atlas."

My glare burned into the radio as if it were Dalrymple himself. His next words hit like a punch to the chest.

"At the Benderblock Plaza, an unknown gunman attempted to assassinate Ghira Belladonna."

The cheers died in the throats of my men as if snuffed out by a sudden, cruel wind. Sienna froze, her breath caught. Her face shifted from confusion to shock, her eyes wide and unblinking.

"I say attempted," Dalrymple clarified, "because Ghira is alive and well. However, he is currently recovering in an Atlesian hospital. Due to this, expect a significant rise in attacks from the radi-"

"GRAAAH!" Sienna's roar cut through the air as her fist slammed into the radio. The panel shattered under her strength, sparks flying before it sputtered and died. I stared at her, stunned. In all the time I had known her, I had never seen her this furious. Her chest heaved, her fists trembling, and her usually composed presence burned with unrestrained rage.

For a moment, no one dared to speak. But the Grimm did.

We turned back as the roar of a Beowolf carried in the air, deep in the trees. Negative emotion drew Grimm and a Huntress's rage was practically a beacon for them. 

"Prepare for battle!" I roared, throwing myself out of the seat, and drawing my sword. My men obeyed, recognizing that there was no way we could leave this fight as we usually did. No massive SDC convoy to distract the Grimm. They braced, and I turned back, seeing Sienna standing still and frozen. 

"Sienna!" I cried out at her. Still, she did not budge. 

"SIENNA!" I roared. That had the effect of bringing her back. It was then I realized that in her eyes were tears. But now was not the time for crying, not when the squeals of Boarbatusks joined in with the wolves. 

​"I..." Sienna whispered. 

"There is no time!" I yelled at her, wanting to say more, but turned as the Grimm were upon us. Gunshots rang out as they let loose their rifles against them in quick, successive bursts, downing a few but many more came. I charged, sword flashing, my aura a distraction and a focus for the Grimm. A Beowolf pounced at me, and I raised my sword in a quick arc, slicing it in two. But there was another. I expected Sienna's whip to hit it, but there was none. I cursed, then slashed again, bisecting it. The Grimm swarmed, and my legs and lungs burned as I took them all. By the time it was over, my clothes were nearly torn, my aura near depleted. My throat was on fire as sweat clung to me. I was powerful, yes. But I was still one man and even men get overwhelmed. 

"Sound off!" I bellowed, my voice cutting through the chaos.

"Pike and Shaw are dead!" Malik shouted back.

I glanced toward their last positions. Pike lay crushed beneath the massive weight of a Boarbatusk, his body twisted unnaturally. Shaw, meanwhile, lay limp and torn apart, his blood pooling beneath the savage bite marks of a Beowolf. My gut tightened, but my eyes weren't drawn to their bodies for long, they were drawn to Sienna.

She was sitting by one of the trucks, hugging her knees, staring blankly into the distance. 

Rage boiled inside me, hot and unbearable. I stormed toward her, my boots crunching against the blood-soaked ground.

"Sienna! What the fuck!" I roared, my voice raw with anger.

Her head snapped up, startled. "I-"

"You what?" I cut her off, my voice rising. "Two of our guys are dead, Sienna! Dead!"

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She just stared at me, her eyes wide and wet, a mixture of shock and guilt etched into her features.

Our men stood frozen, watching the exchange. The tension in the air was suffocating, but I didn't care. My hands tightened into fists, my face burning with fury. I wanted to scream at her, to unleash every ounce of frustration and grief weighing on my chest.

But I didn't. I forced myself to stop. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down.

I took a deep breath, my body shaking with the effort to hold back. When I finally spoke again, my voice was low, seething with barely contained rage.

"Camp," I ordered, each word deliberate. "Now."

Without waiting for a response, I turned away and began walking. The others hesitated, glancing between Sienna and me, but they knew better than to argue. One by one, they began gathering what they could and preparing to move.

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"What the fuck was that?" I growled.

Sienna sat by the fireside, staring into the flames. She was a shadow of the confident and commanding Tigress I knew. Her usual fire was gone, replaced by a hollow stillness. The moon hung high above us now, casting its pale light over the camp. The mood was mixed, bittersweet. On one hand, the Devil himself, Jacques Schnee, was out of a job. But that didn't mean our fight was over, not by a long shot. On the other hand, Ghira Belladonna had nearly been assassinated.

I didn't agree with Ghira. Not on a lot of things. But that didn't mean I wanted him dead. 

"Ghira," Sienna said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I stared at her, my lips pressed into a thin, unforgiving line. Then I sighed, the tension in my shoulders easing just enough for me to move. I marched over and planted myself across from her, the firelight flickering between us.

"Two of our men are dead, Sienna," I said, each word dripping with restrained anger.

Her eyes didn't leave the fire. "It won't happen again," she muttered, her voice flat. "I just..."

"You just what?" I snapped, leaning forward, my tone demanding an answer.

Her fists clenched on her knees, her shoulders tightening as her gaze finally broke from the flames to meet mine. "I froze, alright?" she said, her voice cracking.

For a moment, the air between us was silent, save for the crackle of the fire. "Ghira was my mentor, Adam. Ghira was...he was my father when no one else was. He was a father to a lot of us." 

​It was then, I understood. I glanced back, staring at the broken moon above, thinking about what to say. I did not feel I ought to give her even more grief, not when it was already said. It was understandable that she froze, but that did not mean she was off the hook. Her hesitation was dangerous. 

"Do not hesitate ever again," I decided. 

"I won't," she promised. 

"Clean up. And get some sleep. It's late." I said. And with that, Sienna stood up, and noiselessly walked off. I sat still by the fireside, my body tense, then I sighed again. 

"Boss..." A new voice interrupted my thoughts. "A word?"

I glanced up. It was Malik. He approached, carrying a small box, and sat down across from me. Without a word, he opened it, pulled something out, and held it out to me. A sandwich.

"It ain't much, but you haven't eaten dinner yet," Malik said, matter-of-factly.

I took the sandwich with a nod. "Thanks," I muttered, though my mind was elsewhere. I sighed. "Just...puzzled, Malik. Two avoidable deaths today. And Jacques out of a job."

Malik leaned back, folding his arms. "Life's full of quandaries like that, huh?" he said as I bit into the sandwich. Ham, cheese, onions. It was simple, but the bread was toasted and Malik made sure it was full of ham and cheese. I nodded my appreciation as I swallowed.

He waited until I was ready to listen before speaking again. "So...uh...about Sienna."

He hesitated, watching for my reaction. When I didn't respond, chewing and gesturing for him to continue, he relaxed. "I overheard what you two were talking about. Thought I'd share my thoughts."

I glanced at his wolf ears briefly before meeting his gaze. "Go on."

"Yeah, uh, I can't really do anything about that," he admitted with a nervous laugh before straightening his posture. "But...I get where she's coming from, boss. Ghira, we really don't believe in what he says anymore. But that doesn't mean we love him any less."

I stayed silent, biting into the sandwich as he went on.

"After the Great War, and later, the Faunus Rights Revolution, there were so many orphans left behind. Sienna and the others...they rallied to Ghira, y'know? He was there for them. Gave them advice, carried them when they cried, visited them when no one else would. A man like that? You can't help but believe and love him. That doesn't just go away."

I finished chewing and nodded. "I understand where Sienna is coming from, Malik. It's because I loved my father that I'm here in the first place among other reasons."

His words stirred a memory. It had been a while since I'd thought of Cius. There was a letter in my tent from my father. He'd written to let me know he'd arrived in town with my in-laws. The journey had been delayed due to travel issues and his declining health, but my aunt was helping them settle in. Once everything was in order, she'd join me, supposedly. I wanted to visit, but with the way things were going, it felt impossible. I'd have to write back soon.

Malik's voice brought me back to the present. "Then you can't really blame Sienna," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I'm not saying she shouldn't face consequences. But...I just thought you should know."

"Noted," I said, finishing the sandwich. "She owes those families an apology and compensation for their loss. Pike had some relations south, I think and Shaw has a little brother."

"Fair enough," Malik said with a faint smile. "Thanks for being fair, boss."

I grunted, leaning forward. "We need to focus, Malik. We're striving toward a higher goal now. We can't afford distractions."

"Yeah..." He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. "So, what do we do now? Jacques is out...and Ghira got shot."

"Just because Jacques is out doesn't mean we should stop," I stated firmly. "Maybe if Atlas executes him and his cronies, or they offer them to us, I could consider a ceasefire. But no, we shan't." 

I paused. Then there was Ghira's attempted assassination. Now, trying to shoot him was utterly stupid that not even Jacques would even try, and that man was Jacques fucking Schnee. Who would profit from his death? Certainly not any diehards in the White Fang as most of them were under me now and I wasn't really aiming to usurp him. I thought of cranks in Atlas, wanting to do a fast one as revenge for all the wins the faunus were getting. Then...there was her, Salem. 

"Is there something in your mind, boss?" Malik asked, noting the look on my face. 

Yes. There was. 

"Ghira. Because of this, there will be reprisals. From our side," I rumbled. 

"Who?" Malik asked. 

"Someone high-profile, I think. Unless Ghira himself calls things off, I think one of our more impassioned brethren will try to get revenge," I pointed out. 

The more I thought about it, the more I felt this was Salem's doing. There is no one on the planet that would profit from chaos than her. 

​"Has Ghira made any statements?" I asked. 

"Signal here is kinda weak. We're going to have to find a better place for that," Malik admitted. 

"Keep on trying. I want to hear the news," I requested as I stood, considering my next words carefully. 

By all accounts, Salem would want me to keep up the pressure. To keep the fire rising. A part of me, the sane part, urged me to hold my forces back and let things calm down. But I also remembered Nicholasburg. I remembered how Atlas burned its last hope for the SDC. Said company was now coping with new leadership and its forces here were getting thinned every single day. Atlas had its chance to do us justice and they squandered it. Until Jacques Schnee was dead, until his supporters paid with their lives, until the corrupt and unjust were laying at my feet, then there would be no peace. 

[SPOILER="Which Side are you On?"][URL unfurl="true" media="youtube:VzvH5UZVQU8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzvH5UZVQU8[/URL][/SPOILER]

I made my choice.

"Tell our cells to keep up the attacks. I want the SDC driven out of Mistral," I said simply. "By the end of this year, I want the South of Mistral to be ours."

Malik listened. Then he stood up, nodding. "For the Union." he declared.

"For the Union." 

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A/N: "Noooo we must negotiate and let tensions dropppp" Adam, if he was not based. 

Sadly, Adam and gang have been hurt too much, their hopes dried up. There is no negotiation, no stopping. Only crashing out. But hey, considering everything which had happened, I guess you can say...

it's a Fairly Reasonable Crashout.