Chapter 27
It’s been about two weeks since the Nevermore fiasco, and the city has been mostly quiet since then. The streets have been pretty clear aside from a few small crimes here and there. Otherwise, our lives have been rather peaceful, what with our studies going smoothly and our friendship outside of school still intact as we continue to hang out and work together to fight crime. Although, I’ve noticed that Uncle Qrow and Captain Vernal seem to conflicted with each other about something. But of course, nothing good lasts forever. And our next adventure started as I was walking through town with Weiss when eventually some guy crashed into us as he was running without where he going and we all fell to the ground, him dropping his bag and spilling his papers.
Ruby: “Owowow! What the heck was that?”
Weiss: “Hey! Watch where you're going, you lunatic!”
???: “Ngh! Uh... Huh?” We look to see a tall man, who doesn’t look to be that much older than us, with silver hair kind of slicked back with a kind of raspy voice, wearing a simple outfit of a white dress shirt and black dress pants and black shoes. “Ah! Ms. Schnee! I’m so sorry! Please don’t report this to your father and have me fired!”
Weiss: “Whoa, wait! Slow down! What are you talking about?”
???: “Aw crap! My notes!” As he hurriedly picks up the spilled papers.
Ruby: “Here. Let me help.”
???: “Grr! It's all out of order now! I’ll have to sort it out again later...” He panics as I gather the remaining papers and hand them to him.
Ruby: “Here you go.”
???: “Thanks. And I’m still sorry but I’m late as is and I really need to go!” As he runs off after stuffing his papers back in his bag.
Weiss: “What the heck was that about?”
Ruby: “Better question, he was going about your father and getting fired. Does he work for the SDC?”
Weiss: “Not that I know of. I haven’t seen him around before. And even then, he looks a little young to be someone official. Maybe a new intern?”
Ruby: “Could be. No use speculating though. It's not really any of our business.” Then we hear some sirens and gunfire a short distance away. “But that is! Cover me!” I duck into a nearby alley to remove my clothes and reveal my suit underneath before adding on the extra stuff, my gloves, cape and mask, all while Weiss kept watch by the entrance, to which I then stuff my clothes into my bag and hand it to Weiss before I take off to face the coming danger, which turned out to be a car chase between crooks and cops. Easy enough to stop once I actually catch up to them. Meanwhile, the guy from earlier burst through the front doors of the SDC. And upon entering, Jacques and Glass can be seen in the front lobby discussing something.
Jacques: “Make sure to maintain the utmost discretion when transporting the specimen.”
Glass: “Yes sir. But why bring it here from Atlas anyway?”
Jacques: “Because with what's been going on lately, I’m still going to be stuck here in Vale for a good while, and I’ve already been absent from the project for too long. I don’t plan on leaving it up to my amateur staff without my supervision any longer. You hear me?”
Glass: “Yes sir.” And he notices the guy entering then. “Well look who it is. Coming in late. Again.”
???: ‘I’m really sorry sir!”
Jacques: “Sorry doesn’t make up for the time you wasted. And where is your ID badge?”
???: “Ah! Right! Right here.” He brings out said badge from his pocket and clips it to his shirt pocket, revealing his status as an intern and his name to be ‘Mercury Black’.
Jacques: “Mr. Black. How long have you been with us so far?”
Mercury: “Um... About a month now.”
Jacques: “And how many times now have you been late to work?”
Mercury: “I-”
Jacques: “Every day for almost three weeks!”
Mercury: “But sir, the only train I can take fills up to quick, and it’s closest stop from here is about two blocks away.”
Jacques: “Excuses, excuses. You're lucky I haven’t fired you yet because your current thesis was actually quite promising. Well... that and who your father was.” Mercury then starts showing a bit of anger at that statement. “Though I am supposed to impartial to my staff, so unless you start getting your act together, you’ll not only not be getting your free credits, but I’m sure you’ll bring shame to poor old Marcus as well. Now get to work.” As he walks off.
Glass: “Jacques! That was uncalled for and you know it!” As he goes after him. The anger on Mercury’s continues as he’s left alone.
Mercury: “Damn that Schnee. How dare he mention that bastard to my face.” To which he sees the news of my recent car chase on some of the lobby TV’s.
Lisa: “The Scarlet Spider has once again thwarted criminal activity in our streets, though her public is rather torn with public opinions of support from Captain Vernal Tomo and distrust from big name citizens like Jacques Schnee.”
Mercury: “Man. I wish I had power like that. I’d be able to handle all of my problems just like that. But I guess some people just aren’t so lucky.” Later on, Yang and I are back at home and for some reason Yang is acting kind of strange.
Ruby: “Hey, Yang?”
Yang: “Huh?”
Ruby: “Are you okay? You seem kind of distracted today?”
Yang: “Huh? Uh, no I don’t. I’m the same as always! Aheheh...” Well, that wasn’t a dead giveaway at all.
Ruby: “Come on. When was the last you were able to hide something from me?” Like seriously, Yang is really bad at hiding things form me. Even before I got my powers.
Yang: *sigh*”Okay you got me. You see, I’ve been spending a lot of time with Blake since the school year started, and over the most recent weeks with her, I think... I might have... fallen for her.”
Ruby: “What!? You're kidding?”
Yang: “No! And I don’t know what to do!” Now I’m sure her uncertainty is coming from her having several quick relationships with guys and girls alike that she’s flirted with and teased, but they never lasted too long as she was really only doing it to fool around. This seems to stem from a genuine crush.
Ruby: “Yang, this is just like with me and Weiss. You and Blake have always been telling me to get out of my head and just tell her even if she may not have liked me back. You just have to do the same with Blake. The worst she can do is just say no, but at least you’d have closure.”
Yang: “Easier said than done, I’m guessing. But thanks.” And then she ruffles my hair. “Heh. When did you get so mature.” And immediately back to her usual self.
Ruby: “Agh! Yang!” These joyful moments would be ruined pretty soon after a certain incident at the SDC tonight. We see Mercury down in the basement with the Dust Core and several open containers of ground up lightning and energy Dust. Mostly used to continuously feed power into the core.
Mercury: “I can’t believe I’m stuck cleaning out the basement for being late again.” When up on the platform surrounding the upper part of the core, he noticed a loose cable. “Well, that doesn’t look right.” He put down the broom he had and moved to plug the cable back into place, but in his effort to tighten in, he ended up cutting his hand. “Gah! Argh! Damn!” His stumbling from the pain knocked the broom over and it fell off the platform and landed on the controls. The core starts juicing up a bit and one of the stray sparks of electricity hits Mercury and electrocutes him because he wasn’t wearing the protective suit. Needed for actually working the core. The pain from the shock ends up knock him back until he tips over the railing and falls into the crate of lightning Dust. The stray sparks of electricity on his body attracting of the Dust to him... and some of it even getting into his cut and into his blood... Somehow, I think this could only end so well.