Chapter Text
Huntsmen and Huntresses: the best and brightest warriors of Remnant. Elite warriors who have sworn to protect the light and keep the forces of darkness and Grim at bay. They are people who have accepted the role of safeguarding all of humanity's future and defeating those who threaten the peace of Remnant's four kingdoms. Without them, our world would have succumbed to the darkness long ago. However, one question remains. With the huntsmen busy dealing with the Grimm, who deals with all the other threats? Who deals with crime lords, drug cartels, and all the rest? That's where we come in.
Judges. The brave men and women of the Hall of Justice. We were created in response to the overwhelming amount of chaos and disorder after the Great War that threatened to wipe out any sense of order. Even with the backing of the Great King and Mantle, the huntsmen were nearly wiped out. However, with our help, we managed to keep order in the villages and cities both inside and outside the kingdoms and prevent them from collapsing under their own weight. Now, we face off against the everyday scum that threatens the safety of everyone so the citizens don't have to live in fear of the streets. We are the criminals' juries and executioners. Hence the name Judges.
*Click*
'They really should remake it since it's been over thirty years since that was released.' Jaune groaned as he shut off the monitor on his desk. Rubbing his face, Jaune picked up his pen and resumed his paperwork. Yet, he rubbed his temples at the amount there was.
"Another headache, Jaune?" A voice asked. The tone told Jaune that while there was some tease in there, there was also some concern. Smiling, Jaune turned to face the person.
"Eh, only a minor one, Crystal. And it's just because of the paperwork and the late night shift we had last night."
"Yeah. Last night was rough. Thankfully, we got out just fine, outside of some minor scrapes."
"If by scrapes, you mean you getting three broken bones, several lacerations, a twisted ankle, and a blue eye, then yeah, it was a calm night." Jaune said, shaking his head. Yet, he could not help but smile.
Even though they came from vastly different backgrounds, Jaune could not help but feel astonished by how fast he and his partner, Crystal, became friends. She was a beautiful girl with chestnut-colored hair and eyes. When they were first recruited to become Judges, they did not expect anything to come from or even see each other often, if at all. Yet, that changed when, to their shock, their mentors were Judge Anderson and the legendary Judge Dredd. Because of that, the higher-ups decided to make them partners since they would be working together anyhow, since Anderson and Dredd were already partners. And even since then, they have been working together and have almost always been seen together, except recently.
"Tell me again why you had to attend Beacon?" Crystal asked.
"It was to meet up with Headmaster Ozpin and discuss a few things while also checking a couple of other things."
"Like?"
"First, check the crime statistics and see if there's anything strange."
"Strange how?"
"Strange, as in if the crime rates were changing too fast, slow, or if something seemed amiss."
"But why would they make you attend Beacon as an uncover student? Wouldn't just a quick meeting accomplish the same thing?"
"Yeah, but they wanted me to closely monitor the statistics. And to investigate if anything strange pops up. Or help if some bigger criminals showed up."
"But if I recall correctly, were you supposed to stay at Beacon for a full year?"
"That was the plan. But to convince the staff and others who might look into me, they had to forge some fake transcripts. Unfortunately, one of my 'friends' found out about it and reported it to the vice-headmistress, who wasn't aware of any of this. So, to avoid any future complications, the Hall of Justice had to cut my mission short. Thankfully, I didn't get any punishments because of it."
"Well, I mean. It wasn't your fault. Besides, it was entirely out of your control.
"True." Jaune said, sighing as he shook his hand before continuing his paperwork.
"Did you miss it?"
"Did I miss what?"
"Did you miss your time at Beacon?"
"Only a little. I do miss some of the friends I made there."
"Except for the one who ratted you out."
"Yup." Jaune answered before reaching for his soda. However, before he could take a sip, their comms went off.
'Judge Jaune.' The voice said. Bringing up his arm, Jaune answered the call, with Crystal doing the same.
"Copy."
'The chief justice wants to see you in her office.' The voice said.
"Copy. I'm on my way."
"Looks like we're both heading there." Crystal said as she turned off her comms.
"Alright."
"Any idea about what she wants?"
"Nope. All I know is that she does not like to be kept waiting. So, we should hurry."
"Right."
Getting up, they grabbed their Lawmakers before exiting their room and heading to the elevators.
Ten Minutes Later
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Come in." The Chief Justice said.
"You wanted to see us, Chief Justice?" Crystal asked as she and Jaune entered the office. But they were slightly surprised to see Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson there as well. Yet, they quickly saluted the higher-ranking Judges.
"Yes, please take a seat." The Chief Justice answered before motioning for them to take a seat.
"What is it that you wanted to talk to us about?" Anderson asked as Jaune and Crystal took their seats.
"It has come to my attention that several gangs have been attempting to establish bases in Vale."
"Did they make any moves yet? Or attacks?" Judge Dredd asked.
"Yes. Thankfully, only one. And it was the remains of the Red Dragon clan that the Ma-Ma clan took out. They attempted to rob a port that had just received a fresh shipment of food. But some nearby soldiers and huntsmen-in-training managed to stop and capture them."
"Were there any casualties?"
"Thankfully, not. But a couple of the huntsmen-in-training were severely injured. Luckily, they arrived at the hospital now and are on the road to making a full recovery."
"That's good."
"Wait. I thought the Red Dragon clan was wiped out entirely." Jaune said.
"We thought the same. But apparently, some were away when Ma-Ma took over Peach Trees. They have been keeping a low profile since then. Now that it has been a while since the Ma-Ma clan is gone, they attempted to rebuild themselves." The Chief Justice answered.
"Luckily, they are fully gone now." Crystal said.
"But luck won't always be on our side. Do we know the names of the other gangs?" Dredd asked.
"Only a few. But while we are trying to figure out who they are, there's a high chance more gangs will be attempting to do the same." The Chief Justice answered.
"Then we need to act soon." Anderson said.
"What's the plan?" Dredd asked.
"Tomorrow, we're going into Vale to meet up with Ozpin."
"Why?" Crystal asked, curious.
"Two reasons. The first reason is that we want him to be on high alert and keep an eye on the students. While they are capable fighters, they can easily get overwhelmed and killed. Or worse. And the second reason is for him to direct the focus of the council elsewhere."
"And then?" Dredd asked.
"No. For the first part, we'll be informing Ozpin about this. But afterward, I will be talking with him about us holding up our end of the deal and possibly setting up a base underneath Beacon Academy. In the meantime, there are two locations I want all of you to investigate."
"Where are they?" Jaune asked.
"The first is the port where the Red Dragons attacked. I want you to see if there is any evidence that might point us in the direction of where they came from and how they slipped into Vale undetected."
"And the second location?" Anderson asked.
"There's a set of abandoned houses in the Red Light district of Vale. While typically not worth paying attention to, Ozpin did inform us that there was an unusual amount of traffic going by that area recently. And the timing coincides with our reports of gangs trying to set up bases in Vale. So, it's best to check it out to be safe."
"Alright." Dredd said.
"When is the meeting?" Crystal asked.
"Tomorrow at noon. That means we have to leave here by eight if we want to get there on time." The Chief Justice answered.
'Hopefully, I don't run into my friends. Otherwise, things are definitely going to get awkward.' Jaune thought.
"Now. Any other questions?" The Chief Justice asked. The others shook their heads. "Good. You're dismissed."
The Next Day
11:15 A.M.
'We can make voice command guns and bikes with ease, and yet we can't make something that deals with nausea.' Jaune thought as he struggled to keep his breakfast down.
"Judge Jaune." The Chief Justice said, getting his attention.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"We are about to arrive at Beacon. Since you spent time there as a student, is there anything we should know about the student population?"
"Not... really. Aside from some students having a big ego, there's nothing you need to worry about. Granted, you also have to keep in mind that most of them are the same age as Crystal and me. However, unlike us, they did not receive any... training like us. So, they are a little bit less disciplined."
"Which is to be expected since they are kids." Aderson said.
"Which can be a good thing and a bad thing." Dredd added.
"But that's why they are attending Beacon. To receive the training that they need to become disciplined huntsmen for Remnant." The Chief Justice said.
"But do we have to worry about someone recognizing you? Since you did say you have to leave to avoid complications after your forged transcripts were discovered." Crystal asked.
"Well, some might recognize me. But they are probably in class now since it is a Friday. And I have my helmet on, so I doubt it. However, the Vice-Headmistress, Glynda Goodwitch, might recognize my voice." Jaune answered.
"Luckily, you don't have to do any talking. But should they ask you something, Crystal will answer in your place." The Chief Justice said before turning to Crystal. "Understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Crystal answered as they felt the bullhead land. Getting up, they all put their helmets on before heading to the door and waiting for it to open. Once they did, they stepped out and looked around. And as Jaune expected, it was almost barren, with only some janitors going around and cleaning up any trash they found.
"Wow. Now that is an impressive school." Anderson said, impressed.
"And it looks beautiful." Crystal said.
"Not the most impressive I've seen. But at the very least, it's cleaner and more organized than most blocks I've been to." Dredd said, causing the rest to roll their eyes. Hearing some footsteps, they turned in the direction and saw Glynda Goodwitch heading toward them.
"May I help you all?" Glynda asked, raising an eyebrow at the strange but heavily armed visitors as she adjusted her grip on her weapon.
"Yes. We have a meeting with Ozpin today. May you take us to him." The Chief Justice asked.
"Very well. Follow me." Glynda wearily said before turning around and motioning for them to follow.
The four Judges and the Chief Justice followed Glynda Goodwitch into Beacon Academy and toward Ozpin's office. But despite classes going on, there were still quite a few students going about the hallways. And as expected, they drew quite a few stares and whispers. Some students even attempted to follow them to see what was going on. Thankfully, Glynda's glare, combined with Dredd's menacing aura, scared all of them off. However, Jaune had to hide a smirk when, from the corner of his eye, he saw Team Crdl scurry off.
'I'm pretty sure if Dredd taught here with Glynda, this school would be under control in less than a day.' Jaune thought before realizing something. 'Luckily, that won't happen. I don't think the friends I made here could handle that. And I don't want to endure the grueling training Dredd would force them to do.'
"Might I inquire as to who you all are?" Glynda suddenly asked.
"We are a special forces unit. That's all I am at liberty to tell you right now. Ozpin will tell you the rest." The Chief Justice answered.
"Mmmm." Glynda hummed, sounding not too pleased. The rest of the walk there was in total silence. After a couple of minutes, they reached Ozpin's office, with Glynda knocking on the door.
"Come in." The familiar voice of Ozpin said. Opening the door, they all stepped in. And even though it was brief, everyone, including Glynda, saw the brief panic that crossed Ozpin's eyes. Yet, as quickly as it came, it left.
"Pardon the intrusion, Ozpin. But these people, who claim to be a special forces unit, say they have a meeting with you today."
"Yes. They are a special forces unit. And while sudden, they did have an appointment with me today." Ozpin answered. "Thank you, Glynda. You may leave."
"Alright." Glynda said. She cast the others a warning glance before leaving. And once she closed the door, Ozpin turned to the Chief Justice.
"How bad is it?" Ozpin asked, taking a sip of his drink. But he did give a quick nod to Jaune, who nodded back.
"If we act quickly, within acceptable parameters. But, if not, it could end very badly." The Chief Justice answered.
"Hmm. So, what's happening?"
"We have received reports of several gangs attempting to establish bases in Vale, including the Red Dragon gang that attacked the port recently."
"I should have known when I learned that Junior was stocking up on weapons and dust and having more men patrol his territory."
"Then you should have done something." Dredd said, causing Ozpin to raise an eyebrow.
"Forgive him. Dredd is not a patient man and hates when something is wrong, but people don't do anything about it." The Chief justice explained
"Very well." Ozpin said. "But I take you do have a plan."
"Sort of. I'm planning on having these Judges investigate the port and those abandoned houses you mentioned for clues. I'm also having a couple of other Judges patrol all the known and some unofficial routes that lead to and into Vale. While those might not yield much results, we would be able to rule them out."
"That's a good idea. While it might not necessarily find the paths we are looking for, it would narrow down our options. But would you like me to have some huntsmen assist you?"
"Yes. Having people who are more familiar with Vale would help us and make the process much quicker. However, only send the ones that you fully trust and can keep the whole thing quiet, as we don't want another incident like last time."
"Of course. We don't need a repeat. But is there anything you need me to do specifically?"
"Yes. We need you to distract the council. This is going to make quite a bit of commotion. And we cannot afford to have any distractions."
"I'll do my best. But you would still need to move quickly."
"Right."
"Anything else?"
"Yeah. We're going to need you to keep the kids in line and away from us. The last thing we need is to babysit kids." Dredd said.
"What my partner is saying." Anderson said, glaring at Dredd. "...is that we won't know what the gangs are packing. For all we know, they could be packing enough ordinance to level a few city blocks. And we don't want the kids to possibly lose their lives since they don't have the training to handle these kinds of situations. At least, not yet."
"Right. Almost none of them are ready. Even the fourth-year students still have a lot to learn." Ozpin said before letting out a frustrated sigh. However, he then gained an idea. And while it would be a long shot, it would definitely help his students. "But that gives me an idea."
"What is it?" The Chief Justice asked, curious.
"While we are doing our best to teach our students everything they need to know to better protect the light, there is still a lot they need to know."
"Like what?" Jaune asked, curious.
"Knowing how to assess situations under extreme pressure, when and how to escort civilians/innocents out of dangerous situations, deescalate situations especially when hostages are involved, and how to combat and know what to expect when dealing with crafty warlords and drug lords and other similar level criminals."
"Haven't they already dealt with some before? I could have sworn they took down some not too long ago and did a decent job at it." Crystal asked.
"Yes, but that was in Atlas. And they were recent graduates who had the backing of some Atlas soldiers and Paladins. But aside from that, nearly all students, especially Beacon students, have only gone up against thugs, common street criminals, and some pretty thieves. But this is outside of the occasional run-in with the White Fang."
"So, you want us to train them?" Anderson asked.
"Only to an extent. I'm not asking you to train them to become future Judges. I'm asking you to train them so they can better be prepared should they encounter a situation like the ones the Judges typically deal with. That way, they have some knowledge of what to do and increase their chance of survival."
"At least until more adequate forces arrive." Dredd said. While he still didn't like the idea, he will admit it would possibly reduce casualties.
"What do you think, Chief Justice?" Crystal asked, curious.
"I would have to run it through the Council of Five first, considering there will be a higher chance of exposing ourselves to the council of Vale." The Chief Justice answered. She then turned back to Ozpin. "But I don't see why not. It would be good practice for your students. Just know that we will be going tough on them."
"I wouldn't have it any other way since the criminals wouldn't go easy on them either." Ozpin said before taking a sip of his drink. "Now. Is there anything else we need to discuss?"
"Yes. However, while we discuss this, it's time for the Judges to head out to those places."
"Very well." Ozpin said before turning to Jaune. "I take it that you still remember the way out, Mr. Arc."
"Yes." Jaune answered.
"Have a good day then."
"You too." Jaune said as he, Crystal, Dredd, and Anderson exited the room.
"Alright. So who should go where?" Crystal asked.
"Your call. The Chief Judge told us to treat this as you two's final assessment before you two can operate on your own." Dredd said, surprising Jaune and Crystal.
"Hear that. You two are that much closer to working on your own." Anderson said, smiling.
"Just don't let it go to your heads. That's how a lot of rookie Judges get killed." Dredd warned before looking toward Crystal. "Or injured."
"Yes, sir."
"So, which location are you two choosing?" Anderson asked.
"We'll choose the port." Jaune said after a moment.
"Alright. We'll meet back at the Hall of Justice then." Dredd said.
"Understood." Jaune and Crystal said.
Nodding, Dredd motioned for Jaune to lead them out of Beacon. But they had to go down a different route to avoid the students as classes had just finished, and they wanted to avoid any confrontation or rumors spreading. However, Jaune had to resist the urge to wave to his Beacon friends when he spotted them, as he had to remind himself that he was wearing his Judge uniform and that they wouldn't recognize him. After a couple of minutes, they exited the school and headed to the bullheads. But while Dredd and Anderson boarded the one that would take them across Vale, Jaune and Crystal took the one that would take them to the port.
"Were those your friends, Jaune?" Crystal asked as they felt the bullhead ascend before taking off.
"Yup. And I'm glad they seem to be doing well." Jaune answered as they took out their Lawgivers and began inspecting them.
"Think they might make good Judges?"
"Maybe two, possibly three. But they would need a lot of training if they want to become Judges."
"True. Judges and Huntsmen both protect the light but in vastly different ways."
"Vastly is an understatement."
"Yeah." Crystal said before gaining an idea. "Say, Jaune?"
"Yes, Crystal?"
"Do we have anything scheduled tomorrow for our day off?"
"Uh... let me check." Jaune said as he activated his PDA and brought up their day planners. Between the two, he was typically the one who kept track of what they needed to do. Jaune didn't mind as he used to do it all the time with his family. And even at Beacon, he did it to help his friends. "Nope. Aside from giving in our daily reports and having you go to the medbay, we have nothing scheduled for tomorrow. Why?"
"I was wondering." Crystal began, subtly moving closer to her partner. "Perhaps we can spend a day in Vale. You can show me around, we can eat something, and just hang out... especially since it will be a while until we get another day off."
"Well, I'm not too familiar with Vale since I was only here for about four months. But sure. We can spend the day there. And I can show you some pretty good spots."
"Thanks, Jaune." Crystal said. Even though she would prefer it to be a date, she still wouldn't pass up the chance to hang out with her partner.
"You're welcome, Crystal."
One Hour Later
"Alright. So this is the port the Red Dragon gang attacked not too long ago." Crystal said as they arrived at the port. And while they did receive some strange looks from people, no one bothered them.
"Yup." Jaune said as they went under the police tape.
"So, where should we begin?"
"Let's see." Jaune said as they scanned their surroundings.
Thankfully, despite it being a few days since the attack, only the initial clean-up of the bodies has happened so far. Everything else seemed untouched. On the far end was the van, boxes, and guns where the Red Dragons made their stand. Nearby were some ship containers that were shot up to hell and back, with numerous bullet holes, scorch marks, and missing chunks of metal. And about thirty meters behind the van were the doors that led beyond Vale's walls. Judging by how one door was barely hanging on by its hinges while the other one was gone, Jaune and Crystal knew they could safely assume that the Red Dragon gang blew it up to make their entrance. However, what caught Jaune's and Crystal's attention were the blood stains. While most of them were where they expected, some were suspiciously further away. Some were even elongated as if a dying Red Dragon member was trying to crawl toward the shipping containers.
"I'll check the van; you can check the shipping containers." Crystal said.
"Alright." Jaune said.
After double-checking to ensure no one was watching them, Crystal headed to the van while Jaune inspected the containers. Once there, she carefully stepped around the shell casings and blood to avoid contaminating the scene too much. Looking at the door, she saw that it was caved in and probably stuck. Yet, Crystal effortlessly forced it open. However, she nearly gagged by the still lingering but very strong scent of narcotics, piss, and shit wafting from the van. Suppressing her gag reflex, Crystal leaned into the van and looked around.
'Alright. Looks like these guys had Zziz, Block Mania, Brain Chowder, and Babooba Dust. But what the hell is this in the back?' Crystal wondered when she spotted some strange vials and liquids in the back of the van. Grabbing her breathalizer, Crystal put it in her mouth before stepping inside the van and carefully examining everything she saw.
'Okay. I cut through the lock. Now, let's see what the Red Dragon was trying to get.' Jaune thought as he finished picking the lock of the shipping container. Standing up, Jaune removed the lock chain before opening the container doors. However, as soon as he could see inside, Jaune felt his jaw go slack as fear spread through his entire body. And he swears he never moved his arm and activated his comms faster in his whole life. "Chief Justice. This is Judge Jaune."
Meanwhile
Ozpin's Office
"And that seals it." Ozpin said as he grabbed the document and stored it inside his desk. "Thanks for your help, Chief Justice."
"You're welcome, Ozpin." The Chief Justice said. "Hopefully, this will help both huntsmen and Judges defeat the darkness and keep order in the kingdoms and districts."
"Hopefully. But as you should know already, nothing in life is ever straightforward."
"That is, unfortunately, true." Ozpin said before sighing. "As I always tell the fourth-year students, plans never survive first contact with the enemy."
"Wise words to live by. Now. If there is anything-" The Chief Justice began. However, she was cut off when her comms went off. "Excuse me. This is the Chief Justice. Go ahead."
'Chief Justice. This is Judge Jaune.'
"Go ahead, Judge Jaune. What is it?"
'Crystal and I were investigating the port where the Red Dragons attacked. And we came across something... potentially troubling.'
"How so?"
'Well, first. Are you still with headmaster Ozpin?'
"Yes, Mr. Arc. Your Chief Justice is still in my office." Ozpin answered after the Chief Justice nodded her head toward him.
'Since you are on the council, do you, by chance, have access to the logs, shipping records, and anything else that might tell us what this port usually receives.'
"Yes. Since I am the headmaster of Beacon and a member of the council, I do have access to their logs. Why?"
"What did you find, Judge Jaune?" The Chief Justice asked, curious.
'A lot. Some of the blood stains on the ground seemed to suggest that a Red Dragon member was crawling to a specific container. So, I opened it to see what they seemed to be reaching for. But once I opened it, I saw the motherload. There's a large assortment of weapons and ammo, ranging from simple assault rifles to rocket launchers and flamethrowers. There's also a lot of armor. I think I even see some weapons that look like they belong to huntsmen.'
"That's... concerning." Ozpin said, slightly worried.
"But not too out of the ordinary for a Judge." The Chief Justice said. "So, what else is there, Judge Jaune?"
'You're right, Chief Justice. A shipment of weapons isn't out of the ordinary for us since that's how some militias or armies get their weapons. But I don't remember ever seeing a shipment including a lot of dust, twenty Atlesian Knights, and what looks like the arms and legs of an Atlesian Paladin-290.'
"Okay... that is a problem." Ozpin said.
"For numerous reasons, such as where and how did the Red Dragon get access to one." The Chief Justice said, mind racing. "And I doubt Ironwood would ever think of selling them."
"No. Ironwood might be many things, but he knows the dangers of many things. That's why he always goes to great lengths to ensure that any Atlesian Knight or Paladin never leaves Atlas."
"Which raises more red flags and questions."
"I'll contact Ironwood as soon this is over and have him go over his security and run a background check on everyone who has access to the Atlesian Knights and Paladins."
"Be sure that you do." The Chief Justice said. "Anything else, Judge Jaune?"
'No. I would say- hold on. Crystal is calling me over. She says she found something else disturbing.' Jaune answered before going silent.
"You made a good choice in sending him to be the undercover student, Chief Justice." Ozpin said.
"Well, he wasn't my first choice. But how so?" The Chief Justice asked, curious.
"While he might have been socially awkward and not that well-informed about Grimm or huntsmen in general, Jaune managed to fit in really well to the point no one suspected anything of him. He even made a decent leader and made a few good friends."
"That's good to hear. Our Judges usually have to face death itself on a daily basis and see some of the most horrifying things on the face of Remnant. And rarely do they ever get a break or have to deal with something pleasant. So, it is nice to see Jaune have something good in his life."
"Indeed. But who was the other Judge beside him?"
"Her name is Crystal. She's his partner."
"And they are both seventeen, right?"
"No. Crystal is eighteen. Admittingly, she's only older by a few months."
"I'm still surprised by how young they are for such a gruesome job. Does the Hall of Justice always recruit people as young as them?"
"It's more circumstantial than anything. They were just some that fell into the circumstance. Plus, in those specific circumstances, we don't have them go out into the field until they are at least sixteen."
"So, they are not full Judges then?"
"No, but soon they will be." The Chief Justice answered. But right after, her comms went off.
'Alright. I am back, Chief Justice.' Jaune said.
"What did you find?"
'Something else worrisome. Apparently, another container had gallons and boxes filled to the brim with various types of narcotics and drugs. And the container next to it had all the equipment needed to make and possibly create new types of drugs or narcotics.'
"It seems like the gangs are a lot further ahead than you expected." Ozpin said.
"It seems like that is the case." The Chief Justice answered.
'Orders, mam.' Jaune asked.
"Secure the area and lock up the containers. Make it seem like you weren't there. I'll have some personnel come to confiscate everything aside from the Knights and Paladins."
'Understood. Judge Jaune out.'
"Implement the curfew and other guidelines we talked about now." The Chief Justice said after turning off her comms.
"Yes. And once done, I'll message Ironwood about this. He needs to know about a potential mole or leak in Atlas."
"Be sure that you do. And I'll have several Judges patrol just outside the port and outside Vale's walls. We can't afford to take anything to chance."
"Right."
Back with Jaune and Crystal
"Okay. It's locked up tight now." Crystal said as she locked the container while Jaune locked the other.
"Alright. Now let's get out of here and back home." Jaune said.
"Or should we meet up with Dredd and Anderson?"
"Well, they did say to meet up at the Hall of Justice once we're done. Plus, they're probably still busy investigating the houses."
"True." Crystal shrugged. "But do you think we could get something to eat on the way back? I don't feel like eating gruel today back at the Hall of Justice."
"Sure. I could go for a bite as well." Jaune said as they made their way to the port's entrance. "What do you feel like?"
"Maybe some ramen?"
"Alright. And I know the perfect-"
*BANG*
"The hell was that?" Crystal shouted as she and Jaune took out their Lawgivers.
"Sounded like a gunshot." Jaune said.
"And it sounded like it came from just outside Vale's walls."
"You don't think they already have a base set up, do you?"
"Well, only one way to find out."
Nodding, Jaune and Crystal headed toward the destroyed doors the Red Dragons blew up to get in. Luckily, it was still only the afternoon, with the sun still high in the sky, meaning they didn't have to worry about any criminal hiding in plain sight. Peaking around the doors, Crystal saw that there wasn't anyone there. Motioning to Jaune that it was safe, they left the port and headed in the direction of the gunshot. Yet, they kept their senses sharp and constantly looked around, as they knew a criminal could be hiding behind some trees or in a bush, ready to ambush them.
Thankfully, aside from some animals and an unfortunate beowolf, Jaune and Crystal had yet to encounter anyone. After about ten minutes of searching for any sign of what caused a gunshot or who fired it, they were about to give up, figuring the person was long gone. However, that changed when they heard some yelling nearby. Making some hand motions, Jaune signaled Crystal that they should split up, with him taking the right while she took the left. Silently walking closer to the voices, Jaune hid behind a tree while Crystal knelt inside a bush. Peaking around/through their cover, they saw several thugs carrying assault rifles, walking around and conversing in front of what looked like a door to an underground bunker.
"Augh. I hate the fact that we have to resort to hiding in some bunker in the forest." A thug whined.
"Quit your bitchin. It was either this bunker in the forest or the abandoned town in Atlas." Another thug said.
"Still."
"I'm just glad we have heat and easy access to food." A third thug said.
"And a roof over our head." A fourth one said.
"This bunker will do. It has everything we need to lay low until we can rebuild our strength." The second thug said.
"Honestly, the only thing we have to worry about are the huntsmen-in-training. But if we keep our heads down, they won't even know we're here." The third thug said.
"And I much rather them or any huntsmen than the fucking Judges. At least with them, we have a chance of surviving." The first thug said.
"Yeah. But the Judges aren't fucking stupid. Eventually, they'll get wind of us." The second thug said before turning the first one. "Especially if you keep firing at anything that moves."
"Oh, piss off. There's nothing to do here, and we have lots of ammo. So get that fucking stick out of your ass and leave me the hell alone." The first thug said while flipping the second one off.
'Care to give them the good news, Jaune?' Crystal whispered over the comms.
"Sure." Jaune whispered back. He then reached into his belt and pulled out a rolling speaker that also acted as a flashbang. After activating it, Jaune rolled it toward the thugs, who failed to notice it. Once it stopped by the bunker's doors, Jaune activated his comms, with his voice projecting from the speaker. "Red Dragon gang. This is the law. You have ten seconds to lower your weapons and give up."
"What the fuck?" The thugs said, raising their guns and looking around.
"You now have five seconds to comply."
"Come on out, whoever the fuck you are. And we promise we fill your guts with lead." The second thug said.
Yet, Jaune and Crystal knew that was a lie. And with the mental countdown reaching zero, Jaune activated the device. It released a loud flash that blinded all the thugs. Leaving their cover, Jaune and Crystal fired their Lawgivers, getting headshots and instantly downing all the thugs before they even had a chance to react. With them out of the way, Jaune and Crystal moved to the bunker door. Grabbing the handle, Jaune attempted to open it but saw that it was locked. Reaching into her belt, Crystal pulled out a breaching grenade before pulling off the safety cover and sticking it to the door.
"Ready, Crystal?" Jaune asked.
"Ready." Crystal answered before pressing the detonator.
The grenade exploded, causing the bunker door to fly off its hinges. Jaune and Crystal immediately went in and saw two somehow still-alive guards trying to regain their footing. Yet it didn't matter as Jaune and Crystal shot them dead. Moving forward, Jaune and Crystal scanned the hallway for anything out of the ordinary but saw nothing. Soon, they found an elevator. However, they knew taking an elevator was practically a death trap when dealing with gangs. So, they took a nearby staircase to get down to the lower levels.
"I wonder why a bunker like this is outside Vale's walls." Crystal wondered.
"From what I recall learning in one of the history classes in Beacon, these bunkers were built during the early days of the Great War. And it was before any of the kingdoms really had a boundary of how far their kingdom extends. So, this must have been one of the few that were outside of Vale's boundary." Jaune answered.
After a few minutes, they reached the bottom floor. Gripping the doorknob, Crystal slowly opened the door while keeping her Lawgiver raised. Luckily, there weren't any gang members waiting for them. Stepping into the hallway, Jaune and Crystal looked around and saw six doors: Three on the left, two on the right, and one door in the back. Looking at each other, they nodded, a silent conversation between them that they would split up.
Going to the first door on the left, Crystal cracked open the door ajar. Peering inside, she saw four thugs high out of their minds, with only one person standing guard. Yet, that person seemed beyond tired as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Bursting through the door, Crystal instantly shot the guard dead before aiming her Lawgiver at the rest. And despite being stoned, they still had enough mental cognition to know they were dead if they tried to attack. So, they just raised their hands up in defeat.
"Up. All of you." Crystal said as she took out some zip ties to arrest them and ensure they wouldn't be a problem.
Meanwhile, across the hall, Jaune had entered the first room and checked the various crates littered around the room. While most of them were filled with miscellaneous things, like clothes and useless knick-knacks, Jaune did find some that contained some rather interesting notes detailing a possible merger between gangs. However, he knew he didn't have time to read through them. Putting them back, Jaune marked the case so he knew which one it was when he returned later. Getting up, Jaune looked over the room to ensure he didn't miss anything. But after seeing that he checked everything, he stepped out of the room, where Crystal was waiting for him.
Nodding toward each other, they moved to the next set of doors. Crystal opened the door on the left and peered inside, only to find numerous hastily made bunk beds. Seeing that there wasn't anyone inside, she closed the door before motioning to Jaune to open his door. Breathing out, Jaune opened the door, only to close it right after when he realized it was the bathroom. They then moved toward the last door on the left side of the hallway. However, as they reached the door, they heard small chatter coming from the room.
"Fuck, man. I'm starving. I wonder what we got to eat." A criminal said.
"Well, we got stale bread, stale ramen, canned tuna, instant grits, and some dried beans. Take your pick." A second criminal said.
"Man, I know we can't go back to the sectors; otherwise, we'd get fuck worse than what Ma-Ma did to us back at Peach Trees. But man, I would kill for a pineapple pizza." A third criminal said.
"Just saying that would get you killed even if you had a clean rap sheet." A fourth one said, causing everyone in the room to chuckle.
"Eh, I'll grab some of the ramen. At least that's filling." The first criminal said.
"Too bad we don't have any beers." A fifth criminal said.
"And the beers here in Vale are terrible." A sixth criminal said.
"Yeah. They are pretty bad." A seventh criminal said.
"That's an understatement. I'm positive I could get drunk faster on water than on Vale beer." An eighth criminal said. However, as they laughed, they were unaware of the two Judges outside the room or that Jaune had peered inside the kitchen.
"Ten perps inside. And each has a gun." Jaune quietly said as he closed the door.
"Too many take on all at once."
"Yeah. We might be able to take out a few before they return fire. And by then, it will be a pain to take out the rest."
"Wait. I got an idea."
"What is it?"
"We fire a Tranq Gas Grenade shell at them. They become confused and pass out. Then, we can go in and cuff them before they wake up." Crystal said as she added the clip-on to her Lawgiver.
"Smart thinking, Crystal."
"Thanks. Now, on my mark, open the door and close it as soon as I fire it."
"Understood."
"Now."
Grabbing the door, Jaune quickly opened it, with Crystal firing her Lawgiver. It shot out a Tranq Gas Grenade, which hit the table before bouncing off and landing on the floor. The perps were confused, but before they could figure out what was happening, the grenade released its gas. Jaune quickly closed the door to avoid having the gas flow into the hallways. And just in case, Crystal and Jaune put on their respirators. They then waited, and after a few seconds, they heard several bodies hit the floor.
'Definitely makes things easier.' Crystal thought as Jaune opened the door to let the room air out.
"Alright, let's cuff them." Jaune said once the room was clear.
Taking out some zip-ties, Jaune and Crystal cuffed the perps before dragging them to some nearby pipes. They then tied them to it with some rope they found so the perps wouldn't escape. Once done, Jaune and Crystal went back into the hallway before heading toward the final door. Standing on either side of it, Jaune cracked open the door and peered inside. However, because it was dark, he couldn't see much. But from what he could see, Jaune knew that the Red Dragons were using this room as storage and to create more narcotics.
"What did you see, Jaune?" Crystal asked.
"It seems like the Red Dragon is trying to create even more narcotics." Jaune answered.
"Possibly to gain enough lien to buy better equipment and, eventually, a better base."
"Possibly."
"How many are in there?"
"I'm not sure. It was too dark to see much. But I think there are at least three perps inside."
"Then we best go in quietly."
Nodding, Jaune slowly opened the door, careful to avoid drawing attention. Once it was fully open, Jaune and Cyrtsal entered the room and scanned their surroundings. And luckily, they did, as they spotted another three perps in addition to the ones Jaune spotted. Since they were much closer, Crystal and Jaune saw that two perps were acting as guards while the rest were busy creating narcotics. Thankfully, they were all too busy talking or making drugs to notice them. Raising their Lawgivers, Jaune and Crystal fired off a few shots, with all the perps dropping dead. They then scanned their surroundings to ensure that no one else was waiting for them.
"Alright. Looks like we're done here." Jaune said as he holstered his Lawgiver. "Call it in. I'll check around for anything suspicious."
"Judge Crystal to control." Crystal said, activating her comms.
'Copy.' Control answered.
"Track coordinates to my GPS. We just took down the remains of the Red Dragons in a base they were building just outside of Vale. We have fourteen for Meat Wagon and fourteen for the Iso-cubes. We also have lots of notes and narcotics for disposal or reviewing."
'Tracking... okay. We have your coordinates locked. We're sending Meat Wagon, some Street Judges, and the clean-up crew to your location. ETA: Forty-Five Minutes.'
"Copy. Crystal out."
"Alright. There's nothing else here. Let's get the perps and bring them up to the surface. And once backup arrives, we can head into town to eat." Jaune said.
"Okay."
One Hour Later
"So, what did you two find?" A Judge asked as she, Crystal, and Jaune watched a few other Judges dispose of the dead perps into Meat Wagon.
"Narcotics. Lots of them." Crystal answered.
"While we don't know the extent of it, but we're pretty sure that they planned on selling it to gain enough lien to buy more weapons, armor, or even a better base in one of the sectors." Jaune said.
"And we don't even know where to begin with the containers at the port."
"Yeah. Something is going on, and we need to find out." The Judge said. "Either way. Good work, you two. You two can head out now. We can take care of the rest."
"Alright. Have a good day then." Crystal said.
"You too."
"Finally. That's done." Jaune said.
"Yeah. Now we can go-"
'Judges Jaune. Judge Crystal. Report.'
"-eat. Damn it." Crystal muttered.
"Judge Jaune here." Jaune said, activating his comms.
'Report back to the Hall of Justice. The Chief Justice needs to talk with you.'
"Copy. We're heading there now." Jaune said before turning to Crystal. "Come on, Crystal. Let's head to the ramen place."
"Wait. We're still eating out?" Crystal asked, confused.
"Of course. The place also allows take out. Plus, we can just say the bullheads were delayed a bit."
"Alright." Crystal said, smiling as they headed back into town. For a moment, she considered grabbing her crush's hand but didn't as she figured it wasn't the best time.
Meanwhile
Unknown Location
"That's enough, Tyrian." Salem scolded in an unusually angry voice.
"But-" Tyrian began but went silent by the veins appearing on Salem's face as a blood-red aura formed around her.
"Now. Leave. And do not return until later today."
"Yes, mam." Tyrian said before hastily leaving.
"I apologize for that." Salem said, shaking her head.
"Don't apologize. He will pay for his crimes, just like every living creature." A horrifyingly disfigured said as he stepped into the light. His skin was a pale grey; his teeth were yellow with the gums no longer there, and his nails were so long they almost looked like claws. He wore what looked like a special forces uniform, albeit a corrupted one that had just crawled out of a grave after spending fifty years in the dirt. However, it was his cruel, twisted smile that drew the most attention and could make any experienced huntsmen wet their pants.
"Including the Brothers themselves. And I can finally be rid of this curse."
"I must say. I'm genuinely surprised to find someone else with a disdain for life that matches the Dark Judges."
"After everything I have witnessed and seen what the gods have done, I am done with life. Everything must go, including me, when the time comes."
"That I can promise." The figure said before letting out a sickening laugh. "It looks like we have a partnership."
"It seems like that. So what now?" Salem asked, curious.
"Since we're planning on something a lot bigger, we're going to need to take a bit more slowly this time. So, for now, just go about drawing your ex-husband's and his group's attention. And I'll stir up some chaos with the gangs in the sectors to keep the Judges busy. While they are busy, we can work together to eventually eradicate all life on Remnant.
"Very well." Salem said. Yet, she smirked internally as she looked out her castle's window. 'Get ready, Ozma. Your time will come. And you finally see how foolish you are.'