Pearls on a String

Volume 2

Chapter 20: Covert

Beacon Academy

Saturday Morning

Evie lay on her side, gazing down at her girlfriend's arm as Beryl lay slumbering and curled up next to her. It sounded an odd thing to be doing, to be sure, but what was really entrancing her right at that moment was what happened when she brushed her hand just over the surface of Beryl's forearm and sent a gentle pulse of her aura along with it.

In the wake of her hand, a very faint light drifted, a swirling mixture of pure white and brilliant cerulean blue.

She'd been doing it for nearly a half hour now, and still couldn't seem to wrap her head around it.

So intent in her observation was she, that she missed the movement of Lustre as she walked across the room to crouch at her bedside.

"How are you doing that?" the silver-haired girl whispered, barely audible.

Evie's hand froze as she looked up guiltily. "Um… I dunno?"

Lustre shook her head, gazing wondrously into the Cat Faunus' eyes. "Evie, dear… That looks like an Aura Bond."

"A what now?" She hadn't missed the emphasis Lustre had placed on the last two words, figuring they carried a good deal of import. Before Lustre could reply, however, Beryl began to stir.

"Why's everyone havin' a conversation over me?" the diminutive girl complained sleepily.

"Sorry, sweetie," Evie whispered, abashed. "It's just… well, here. Look."

She did her slow sweep of her hand again, trailing the gentle kaleidoscope of color along the arm of her girlfriend. Beryl's light bronze eyes were wide open at this point, staring down in awe.

"That is so cool," she murmured. "Can I try?"

"Yeah, just send a small bit of aura along… Oh. Yep, just like that."

Beryl followed her own hand and subsequent wash of colors with an avid gaze as she trailed it along Evie's arm, all the way up to her shoulder.

"What did you call it, Lustre?" Evie asked softly. "An Aura Bond?"

Lustre knelt the rest of the way down, resting her elbows on the edge of the bed and her chin in her hands. "Yes, I read some about it in the recommended texts from the Advanced Aura Techniques class."

"Oh, yeah, that's how I learned about how to actually do an Aura Transfer. But I don't remember seeing anything about a bond…"

"It was further along. Supposedly something that can evolve from doing a Transfer, if the two are…" Lustre cleared her throat, seemingly embarrassed. "Er, are you certain the two of you have not, um… engaged in sex?"

"I'm fairly certain I would have remembered that," Evie replied dryly.

An Aura Bond… I'll have to read up on that, I wonder how similar it is to a Faunus Mating Mark?

"Unless it was in your sleep!" Pip joined in unexpectedly, her long blonde hair preceding her head over the side of the bunk above them. "Been known to happen!"

"No, Pip," Beryl sighed, still blushing brightly from when the subject of sex had first been raised. "Why are we even discussing this?"

"Firstly, because Pip owes me ten lien." Lustre grinned at Pip's exclamation of dismay as she was reminded of her unsuccessful bet. "Secondly, because it is something that has, to my knowledge, only been known to happen between lovers."

"Well…" Evie squirmed slightly, her eyes darting about. "We've, um… fooled around, some."

"Yes, I do recall that," Lustre replied in the same dry tone of voice Evie had used previously.

Beryl reached back to pull the pillow over her face. "Why am I here for this conversation, again?" she wailed, her words muffled.

"But still…" Evie gazed fondly at her girlfriend's antics as she tried to block out everything. "Um… Yeah, okay, I don't know where I was going with this."

"Well, I do not know for certain, but it certainly does sound like what I read about." Lustre regarded the pair of them affectionately. "In any case, I think it is very sweet."

Evie smiled softly, going back to running her hand along Beryl's arm once more and watching the colors as they glided by. "Why do you suppose the colors are that way?" she mused quietly.

The pillow formerly serving as a bastion against embarrassment was brought down to reveal Beryl's curious face. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I get the blue, that's obviously your aura. You glow that way when you trigger your semblance. But white?" She shook her head slowly. "My aura's always been dark-colored, the flash that it makes when it flares out after I take a hit that drains it."

Beryl sat up, looking intently into Evie's eyes, her bronze orbs warm and inviting. "I know why," she whispered.

"Um… okay, why?"

The blue-haired petite girl suddenly grinned widely. "'Cause you're my white knight."

Evie barked out a quick laugh. "No, no if anything you're my knight, there's no way I'm anything like that… I mean, just this week you were the one to save me from those kidnappers, and-"

She quickly sobered as Beryl reached over with her small calloused hand and gently cupped her cheek. "But you already saved me," she murmured earnestly. "When you said you loved me."

The Cat Faunus was at a loss for words and could only sit there wide-eyed and with her bottom lip quivering. Seeing her frozen like that, her girlfriend leaned the rest of the way forward to press a slow, sweet kiss on her lips.

"Oh my Oum, you two," Pip sighed amicably. "This is better than a romance novel."

"I quite agree," Lustre commented. "We should film them, sell the rights to a reality show."

"Lustre, I think you're on to something there…"

"We could install cameras around the room…"

"Yeah, and follow them all around, taking vids of 'em day and night…"

Evie broke away from the kiss to shoot her other teammates a glare. "Don't make me sic Beryl on you two comedians."

"Ack, no, anything but that!" Pip giggled, her coral eyes twinkling merrily. "A fate worse than dismemberment!"

"When did I become the big bad threat in this team?" Beryl wondered idly, her hand still on Evie's cheek while her thumb rubbed lightly along it. The action made Evie's eyes flutter shut as she let out a soft purr.

"You have always been our valiant protector, dear Beryl," Lustre proclaimed with a smile. "I am sure your new role of enforcer will not be a heavy mantle on your strong shoulders."

Evie's eyes shot open, and she grinned as her tail flicked over to slap Lustre's arm lightly. "Hey, stop trying to steal my girl with flattery, you."

Her girlfriend's partner rolled her eyes as she gracefully rose to her feet. "Oh, no, Evie has discovered my nefarious purpose," she intoned in a sarcastic monotone. "My plans are foiled. Whatever shall I do."

As Evie prepared her retort, a scroll sounded from somewhere in the room. Three of the girls looked up at Pip, the only one who used hard rock guitar riffs as her notification.

"Oh! Right, that'd be me!" The blonde mane of hair disappeared to be followed by Pip's cheerful voice as she answered the scroll.

She sounds so much like her normal self, Evie thought to herself sadly. And then in another hour, after her aura inhibitor shot, she'll be back to her new, gloomy persona...

"Sure thing, Professor, we'll be up in a bit!" their blonde leader was saying excitedly. Her head poked back over, once again followed by a curtain of hair. "Guys, we need to gear up, Oz has info for us from Lazuli, and wants us to follow up on a lead!"

"Yesss!" Beryl exclaimed. In her haste to escape her girlfriend's bed, her feet got tangled up in the sheets and she went tumbling over the side to land face-down on the floor. "Ow."

The Cat Faunus peered over in concern. "Um, you okay, sweetie?"

"Yep, you betcha, only thing damaged was my pride."

The subtle click of a scroll taking a picture was the only warning as Pip grinned victoriously. "Ohhh another one to add to the collection!"

Beryl growled as she twisted around, glaring at the upper bunk. "Pip, I swear to Oum, I'm gonna set fire to your bed in your sleep."

"Not while we're in mine, please," Evie asked calmly.

"Well, no, that's what we have my bed for. Yours would be a lost cause at that point."

"Ladies," Lustre sighed as she strode over to her dresser. "Mission? Professor Ozpin? Does any of this sound vaguely familiar?"

Beryl gave one last kick at the sheets encircling her legs. "Right, right… If I can just get away from these Dust-damned restraints…"

Laughing, the Cat Faunus leaned over to help her embattled girlfriend. "I'll have to remember how easy it is to ensnare you in these," she giggled.

Beryl blushed brightly as she sat up, now free of the constricting sheets. "Um…"

"Damn, Evie, didn't know you'd be into bondage," Pip laughed heartedly as she hopped down from her bunk, stripping her red nightshirt off as she walked towards the bathroom.

"I… Uh…" Evie blinked, knowing her face was blushing just as brightly as Beryl's but unable to form any sort of coherent sentence.

Lustre sighed, deciding to come to their rescue. "Perhaps we can agree for now not to mention this again?"

"Seconded!"

"Agreed!"

"Very well, now get dressed you two!" Lustre shot them an affectionate smile as they scrambled for their combat outfits.

A half hour later the team was assembled in Ozpin's office. The grey-haired Headmaster sat behind his desk, imperturbable as ever and sipping from his mug of mysterious elixir.

"Ladies, thank you for your prompt arrival." He tapped a key on his desk, causing a three-dimensional map to rotate into focus. "This is the probable location of Malachite's research and development base in Vacuo. It has apparently been abandoned, but may contain clues that would lead us to other bases. I would like your team to retrieve this information."

"Yes, sir," Pip replied, her coral eyes shining with excitement. "We won't let you down."

Beryl leaned forward slightly. "Do you have any idea of the opposition, sir?"

"Indeed, so far as I know there should only be a few android guards in place, much as you found at the Vale base. Be cautious, however, as this is not a certainty. Also…" Ozpin tapped thoughtfully on the handle of his mug with a finger. "There is also the possibility of some sort of self-destruct mechanism, the likes of which demolished the Vale base before it could be further investigated."

"Right," the blonde leader nodded thoughtfully. "Get in, get the info, and get out before the base can be blown up."

"I will supply your team with several storage devices, similar to scrolls," Ozpin continued. "They can interface with any console you come across. Gather as much as you are able."

"If I may, sir?" Evie interjected, deciding now was as good a time as any to state what had been bugging her for some time. "Did you find out from Prof- Er, from Lazuli, about how Malachite found out about… the two students?" She didn't want to name Rufus, knowing it was still a topic of considerable pain for Pip.

"Indeed, there appear to be more conspirators in teaching positions at the other academies, even some of the preparatory ones such as Signal. We are having some trouble in finding them them all, as Lazuli could not supply us with names… But that investigation is still ongoing. Anything else?"

The four girls gave him excited but confident shakes of their heads.

"Very well then. Miss Cerise, do not forget to stop by the infirmary to receive your shot before departing."

"Oh, yeah," Pip said, quickly sobering. "Guess I haven't done that yet…" She glanced over at Ozpin as she rose from her seat. "Um… Are you checking up on me with that, sir?"

The grey-haired Headmaster smiled at her gently. "My responsibilities include every student at this school, Miss Cerise. That includes you, to make sure you get your medicine, and others, to make sure you do not lose control."

"Right, yeah…" Pip trailed off as she walked towards the elevator.

The four waited in silence as the elevator descended, until it was broken by Evie.

"He's just concerned about you," Evie murmured, trying to sound reassuring.

"I know," Pip replied softly, not looking up from where she gazed at the floor.

They made a quick stop by the infirmary on their way to the armory to retrieve their weapons and gear. Once properly outfitted, including an extra shot of medicine for Pip since they would likely be gone overnight, they headed for a long-range Bulldog that was waiting for them for the trip directly to Vacuo.

As the small air transport lifted, the team was unaware of another set of eyes tracking their departure with interest.

The tall and gangly man kept to the shadows of the forest bordering the grounds of Beacon. Leech was nothing if not a patient man, and he had plenty of time to wait now that he was in position.

In any case, this would allow him the time to take care of one additional loose end that had come to his recent attention…

Somewhere in Vacuo

Saturday Afternoon

Pip stretched her muscles as she stood up from the uncomfortable bucket seat that she'd been sprawled out in for the last several hours. There was a reason people took the more comfortable airships or airbuses for longer travel.

She'd become more used to the effects of her aura inhibitor and the associated side effects. They had adjusted her dosage yet again, hopefully to one that would last her throughout the day and also take into account any combat she might experience, but still far less powerful than the first shot she'd received while still interred in the infirmary.

What really weighed on her mind, however, was just how effective she could be while under the influence of the inhibitor.

I've got less aura to draw on defensively, and my reaction time is down… possibly my strength too… Ugh, this sucks, I know I'm gonna be less effective in a fight, but it's not like I can stay out of combat, my team needs me...

"You okay, Pip?" her partner asked, ever cognizant now of her moods.

She turned to regard the Cat Faunus with a small smile while absentmindedly scratching at the back of her neck. "I'm fine, Evie, no worries. Just thinking about the mission."

Beryl nodded seriously. "We're going in pretty blind. I think the first thing we need to do is to find some sorta control room, get a map of the place."

Dammit, that's the sort of thing I should be thinking of… "Yeah, thanks babe, sounds good. Anything else?"

The blue-haired team tactician shrugged. "Not just yet, no."

Pip nodded wordlessly before turning to head towards the cockpit. "Hey, guys, how much longer to target?"

"Should be coming up in the next ten minutes," the pilot reported. "We need to go refuel, but we'll be back on-station and waiting to extract within another fifteen minutes."

"Sound good, we'll let you know when we're ready for pickup," Pip replied agreeably.

She turned back and flashed up both hands, fingers splayed outward, to indicate the time remaining. She was met with three sets of firm nods as the activity in the back picked up, weapons and armor being checked and pack straps tightened.

Beryl had her cerulean armor over her usual brown shirt and leggings, adequately covering her forearms, shins, and chest much as Pip's silver armor did. The blue-haired girl hooked her shield Dahl around her back before pulling Shashka out to inspect the trigger mechanism.

Meanwhile, Evie was adjusting the dark red straps that wrapped around her upper arms, making sure the talisman sporting her emblem of a black flame on a white background was secure. Then she pulled on her fingerless gloves, also in black to match her crop top and leggings. Dao was secure at her waist, the scimitar already loaded up with a dust chamber.

As was typical, Lustre remained unruffled as she pulled on the white short-sleeved jacket that the team had gifted to her before her finals round in the Vytal Tournament. It bore her stylized diamond emblem on the back of it, and went with her typical color scheme with the light blue tanktop, white shorts, light blue leggings, and white heeled boots that all contrasted so starkly with her dusky skin. Her staff, Winter Contus, rested at her side, propped up against the seat Pip had vacated.

The blonde paused, regarding the three girls fondly. Yeah, I'm lucky to have them as my family, and I'm gonna do everything I can to keep them safe. I can do this, just push myself as hard as I can. She was actually feeling pretty decent, not nearly as greyed-out as she had the first time she'd taken the medicine. Perhaps she could function well enough after all.

In any case, the time was fast approaching to get the party started.

It wasn't long before the side door to the Bulldog was opened and the four girls flung themselves outwards. Pip made sure the craft came in low enough that she wouldn't break a leg with her weakened aura.

That would be a hell of a way to start her first mission back.

They spread out across the clearing as the Bulldog soared overhead and towards the town of Vacuo proper, their ranged weapons out and probing. Pip had Odachi Dahlia in its sniper rifle form, shouldered and with her eye pressed to the scope.

"Anybody see a door?" she asked after almost a half minute of silence.

"Got one," Evie called out quietly. The other three headed for her position where a heavily-reinforced steel door was set into a grassy knoll.

"This is similar to the one at the Vale base," the Cat Faunus commented as she flicked a switch on her scimitar. "Should be a stairwell below, I can force the door in and send it down to catch any defenders in the face."

Pip nodded. "Let's not get too complacent, though, floorplans might be a tad different. Go ahead, Evie. Hit it."

With a feral grin her partner swung Dao downwards, sending a concussive blast at the portal. It rang with a deep clang as it buckled inwards and tumbled down a long stairwell.

Beryl started forward, shield raised, with Evie right behind her. Pip came next, her weapon still in its rifle form, and then Lustre brought up the rear.

The interior of the facility was dimly lit with what seemed to be emergency lighting, but it was enough for them to view the deserted platform they found themselves on. Across the way was what looked to be a control booth, overlooking both the raised area they stood upon as well as the atrium that seemed to plunge downwards for several hundred feet.

"So far, it's looking pretty similar to the Vacuo base," Evie whispered over her shoulder to Pip. "Last time I blinked across to that room and grabbed the layout."

Pip nodded, her coral eyes searching for any movement and finding none. There seemed to be only one portal, on the wall to the left and with what looked to be an elevator call button next to it.

"Okay, Beryl, go cover the elevator. Evie, Lustre and I will back you up with ranged support. Whenever you're ready, babe."

Evie snuck a hand out to pull Beryl in, stealing a quick kiss before her girlfriend moved across the room. Once they were all set, the Cat Faunus took a deep breath and disappeared, only to reappear in the darkened room across the way.

Her sniper rifle moving restlessly, Pip kept her attention divided between Evie's movements and both sides of the room, not knowing where a threat might come from. The raven-haired girl managed to find a working console, and pulled her device out of her belt pouch to insert.

As soon as she did so, the lights in the room came on.

"Shit," Pip muttered, still swinging her scope from side to side. "Did that trigger something?"

"Perhaps just an automated light function," Lustre murmured back, peering down the length of her own battle rifle. "I do not hear any audible alarm."

"Still, a light going on just might attract-" Pip cut herself off as she noticed the door to the right inside the room slam open. "Whelp, there we go."

The first android through the door had its head shattered by a precision high-caliber dust round from Odachi Dahlia. The next one fell just as quickly, courtesy of Lustre. Glass fell to the ground inside the room as the window was blown inwards from the rifle fire.

Three more followed on their heels, but by that point Evie was back among them again.

"Okay," the Faunus girl panted. "Got it."

Pip nodded wordlessly but proceeded to pick the remaining android guards apart, not wanting to leave any behind them after they'd descended. Once they were downed, she stood up from where she had crouched and returned her weapon into a greatsword to sheath on her back once more.

"Does it look similar to Vacuo?" she asked curiously as the three of them walked over to join Beryl.

Evie chewed on her bottom lip as she gazed at the device's screen. "Pretty much, yep. No holding cells, just one big pen they must have used to house Grimm in."

The blonde flinched slightly, but ruthlessly pushed down any memories of the cell she'd been imprisoned inside. Not now. Stay focused.

Once they arrived at the elevator, Beryl pressed the call button. The doors immediately swished open to admit the team of huntresses-in-training.

The elevator itself seemed to creep down at an incredibly slow pace. Combined with the somnia-inducing music piped in from overhead, though how that was still functioning when the base was on emergency power was puzzling to say the least, it made for an agonizing ride down.

Without warning, Beryl whipped Shashka into a carbine and shot out the overhead speaker, making the rest of the team jump violently.

"Fucking hell, Beryl!" Pip shouted, startled. "What the fuck? You almost gave me a fucking heart attack!"

"I think that is a whole new level of agitation for our leader," Lustre commented wryly. "Should we call it a 'level three fuck'?"

"Maybe a 'triple fuck'?" Evie snarked.

"Stop saying 'fuck'!" Beryl retorted, her face flustered. "And I'm sorry, the music was driving me crazy, okay?"

The blonde's glare was returned in earnest by the tiny blue-haired girl until her visage cracked. Pip snickered softly, turning it into a laugh that the other three finally joined.

"Dammitall, Beryl," the lanky team leader sighed. "Just… please don't do that again, okay?"

"Um, yeah… sorry again." Beryl sheathed her sword, looking at the ground still slightly embarrassed by her outburst.

They rode in silence for a few heartbeats before the raven-haired Cat Faunus broke the silence once more.

"At least we didn't get to a 'quadruple fuck', that'd be bad."

And that started a whole new round of laughter between the four friends.

Thankfully, they arrived at the bottom without further incident. They emerged in combat readiness once again, only to be faced with a pile of android remains.

"Well, that looks ominous," Evie murmured.

Beryl toed the dismembered head of one of the robotic guards. "Think someone else got here before us?"

Kneeling next to one of the torsos, Lustre shook her head warily. "No, these are claw marks. I'm afraid we have other guardians to worry about."

"Right," Pip sighed resolutely. "Stick to formation, let's just head for the central control room, or something like that, and then get out of here, yeah?"

Evie nodded, pulling the display out again. "Okay, so the hallway to the right here… across what looks to be a lab… Oh, here, perfect!"

Pip leaned over her partner's shoulder to see a room clearly marked as 'Study'. "You thinkin' that's where Malachite lurked?"

"I think it's worth a shot. If anywhere would have the info we need, it'd be there."

"Well then, let's go, nerds, time's a-wastin'." The blonde shot her friends a tight grin, feeling rather alive at the moment with the adrenaline coursing through her.

As they cautiously crept down the corridor, however, Pip cast a few surreptitious glances down at her limbs to make sure there was no hint of a glow.

I got this, I'm at a good point right now, suppressed but still functional. Maybe I can get by like this after all…

She caught her left hand as it crept up to scratch idly at the back of her neck, and irritably forced it back down again. Just to make sure, she pulled her sword out and clutched it firmly with both hands.

There were actually a series of labs in between them and their goal, each one looking fairly well deserted. Little machinery or lab equipment was in sight, mostly just bare countertops and open storage closets, with perhaps a few pieces of paper littering the floor.

Eventually they reached the door at the end, steel-shod and without markings.

"So this is it?" Pip asked curiously, gazing around the circumference of the door.

"Apparently," Evie murmured, tucking her device back into her pouch after another quick consultation. "There's no lock or anything."

Beryl reached out with her sword and tapped lightly against the portal. It made a solid ringing noise that echoed throughout the abandoned chambers. "Think it's trapped?"

"I suppose we could stand back," the blonde mused. "Evie could open it and then 'port on back to us really quick…"

"Pip…"

The three of them turned at the strained tone to Lustre's voice from where she was watching their rears. The silver-haired girl had her staff clutched in her white-knuckled hands.

"We have company," Lustre whispered.

They spread out warily, weapons at the ready. Evie, with her Faunus-enhanced vision, was the first to make out what they faced.

"I'm seeing faint white glows," the raven-haired girl murmured. "Looks like… five of them? Hard to track, though, they keep shifting position back out in the main lobby we were in… Oh, Dust…"

"What?" Beryl squeaked anxiously. "Evie, what do you see?"

"White dust…" Evie breathed. "That explains their movements…"

Pip nodded determinedly, her greatsword at the ready. "Okay, so if these Grimm are infused with white dust then they're gonna be fast. Beryl and I will stay here and stand back-to-back, Evie and Lustre you guys use your maneuverability, but don't get too separated, okay? Stick close."

With that Pip stepped forward with her blue-haired petite teammate. They faced the opposite corridor with their weapons out, while Evie and Lustre remained behind them, prepared to launch themselves into battle.

"Okay, babe," Pip murmured to Beryl next to her. "Let's invite them to the party."

The diminutive shield-wielder twirled Shashka into a carbine and sent a few rounds down the length of the dim connected chambers. A fierce howl was heard as at least one of them struck home.

"Beowolves," the blonde snorted. "Great."

And then in the blink of an eye, one of the dark-furred creatures was right there and in her face.

Were she fully functional and with her usual quick reflexes, she might have been able to avoid the strike, but as it was she never really even saw it land. Instead she went sailing backwards to crash against the wall behind them, fortunately still retaining her grip on her sword.

"Sonofa…" Pip gasped, rolling painfully into a crouch. "Well, thank Oum for armor!"

Her hand probed at the three gashed lines across her chestplate, scoring deep into the dust-infused metal but not enough to breach it.

That was Dust-damned lucky, if it swiped at my neck I'd be dead already!

In the brief span of time it took for her to regain her feet, her teammates had already been quite busy.

Beryl was holding her own, glowing blue as her semblance kept her rooted in place and fending off the speed-enhanced attacks from the Beowolves as they flew in and then out again. Of Lustre and Evie, there was no immediate sign, but then every so often one or both would flicker briefly into view as they danced around the room, returning the Grimm's efforts twofold. A pair of corpses were already on the floor, the pulsing white veins dimming as they began to disintegrate, and another quickly followed after Evie landed on its shoulders, driving her scimitar into its eye socket before blinking off once more.

Pip staggered forward, trying to get to Beryl's back to protect it, when another blur flashed by her face, sending her spinning to the ground. This time, her sword flew from her grasp to skitter across the floor.

Fortunately she didn't receive the business end of any claws, unlike the last attack, but it still hurt, almost wrenching her arm out of its socket. She didn't need to glance at her scroll to know her aura was already dangerously low after just two hits.

The blonde team leader once more staggered to her feet, casting about for her weapon. What her eyes landed upon, however, was another blurred form, tinged in a glowing white nimbus, as it flew straight in at her.

"Oh, Grimmshit," she breathed, closing her eyes and wincing in anticipation of a whole world of hurt.

Surprisingly, the blow never came. Pip cracked an eye open to see Lustre standing in front of her, holding the Beowolf back with her staff extended. Without further ado, the silver-haired girl triggered the end of her staff, sending a dust round into the beast's chest that staggered it backwards and right into Beryl's sword thrust, ending its miserable existence.

The blonde sagged to the ground wearily, sitting on her heels and staring down at her hands in her lap.

That… was too close.

"You okay, sweetie?" Her partner's concern-filled voice intruded into her dazed fog.

Pip just nodded dumbly. "I don't think I'm ready for this," she whispered.

Evie crouched next to her and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "Nonsense. We just need to make some adjustments, that's all."

"Adjustments?" Pip laughed bitterly. "I wanted to be useful as a teammate and leader, and all I did was put the rest of you in danger. You can't be protecting me and fight at the same time."

"Grimmshit," Beryl replied archly. Pip glanced up to see the small blue-haired girl offering Odachi Dahlia to her. "For starters, we're always looking out for each other, protecting each other. It's what we do."

Evie nodded solemnly as she stood back up. "And we do need you. You're our leader and our big sister. So we just need to account for some extra things, big deal! You can play ranged support more, you're the best shot on the team anyways."

Lustre slowly walked into view, her staff held negligently over her shoulder. "But most importantly, Pip, you must tell us how you are. Please be honest with us so that we may work together effectively."

"You don't have to always be the strong one," Beryl added quietly.

Evie held her hand down to help the blonde to her feet. "That's what family is for, to lean on each other."

Pip stood in front of the dearest friends she'd ever known and felt the tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm sorry, guys," she murmured. "Yeah, I'm weaker than I was letting on, I just… Yeah. I'll stop trying to be like that. It's hard, though, y'know?"

"We do," Evie assured her. "Now, how about we get that info and then get the Dust out of here?"

They walked towards the door, which was now cracked open from where Pip's shoulder had crashed into it, and cautiously pushed it the rest of the way open. Inside was a grandiose-looking study, lined with some sort of fancy wood panelling that matched the ornate chairs and heavy, oversized desk. Plush green carpet cushioned their footfalls as they moved into the darkened room.

"Did this guy not believe in lighting?" Beryl hissed irritably.

Evie shrugged. "Maybe he liked the mood. All dark and gloomy and, y'know, melodramatic."

"Yeah," Pip snorted. "I could see that. He was…" She shook herself. "Well, no matter. That desk have a console built into it?"

Evie nodded, placing her device on the top. It caused a virtual holographic monitor to light up, giving them at least some illumination.

They stared down at the device as it seemed to be working through its programming. "Shouldn't it be doing something constructive by now?" Beryl asked curiously.

"Perhaps it merely needs more time to break into the system," Lustre suggested.

Then the device in Evie's hands blinked a few times to indicate success, and lines of information began to scroll down the screen.

Soon thereafter, the holographic display changed to a pulsating, angry-looking red.

"Oh, fuck me sideways with a Dust shard," Pip spat out viciously. "Evie, let's go babe, we gotta book it!"

"Go!' Evie ordered them sternly, watching the display of her device intently. "I can catch up!"

"I should stay instead," Lustre offered.

"No, you hurt your leg. I know you can't move as fast. I'll be fine."

Pip glanced down, surprised that she hadn't even seen the bandage that now encased her teammate's leg. If the Grimm had managed to hurt her like that, then her aura was likely bottomed out anyway. "Dammit, Evie…"

"Go!" the Cat Faunus repeated firmly.

Beryl jumped over to wrap her girlfriend in a tight hug. "Don't you dare stay too long," she whispered. "I'm not leaving this place without you, so you better catch up!"

Evie smiled and leaned over to kiss her hard on the lips. "I'll be there."

Beryl backed away to follow Pip and Lustre. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied. "Now move that cute ass of yours!"

The three teammates began jogging forward as best they could across the connected laboratories. Pip noted that Lustre was indeed beginning to limp from the exertion, and slowed her own pace to stay with her.

"Beryl, go make sure the atrium is clear!" Pip called out. The blue-haired girl nodded wordlessly, surging ahead on her shorter legs as best she could.

"How is it," Lustre gasped painfully, "that the slowest of us in in front?"

"That's just so we can all see that cute ass of hers," Pip chuckled.

"I heard that!" Beryl panted over her shoulder.

"Less backtalk, more running!"

"You wanna see how fast you can run after I kneecap you?"

Pip bit back her retort as she heard the subtle grinding of machinery overhead. "Oh, now what…"

The blonde glanced upwards and almost tripped in her shock. In between each lab, a solid-looking steel door was beginning to drop down. Glancing backwards, she could see the same thing happening all the way back towards the study.

Oh, no… Evie has to see where she's teleporting in order for her semblance to work…

"Evie!" she screamed frantically. "Move! Right fucking now!"

Without waiting she grabbed Lustre around the waist and started hobbling forward, practically dragging her teammate along. Beryl was waiting for them anxiously at the entrance to the main lobby, peering down the corridor that led from the labs.

With one final grunt of effort, Pip threw Lustre forward just as the descending door brushed the top of her hair. She spun around, bending down to remain under the edge of the door.

"EVIE!"

Finally, as the long line of doors were a little over a foot from the ground, she saw movement down at the far end.

She wasn't going to make it.

Pip growled to herself helplessly, she shouldn't have left her behind, should have just thrown the Dust-damned stubborn woman over her shoulder and headed out all together…

And then Evie's body came hurtling out from under the door, coming to a stop just next to her.

"Whew, almost didn't-"

The Faunus' girl's words were cut off by her anguished scream as the door suddenly dropped the last bit, catching the end of her tail and severing it clean off.

"Oh, shit!" Pip barked, crouching down and grabbing hold of the writhing girl. Gods, that had to be painful, her tail is so sensitive…

But then Beryl was there as well, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend from behind and trying to grasp the bloody, flailing appendage. "It's okay, love, I'm here, lemme see it…"

Finally she was able to catch Evie' tail, and a mixed blue-and-white glow surrounded her hand where it rested on the end. The Faunus girl gasped, her screams finally trailing off as Beryl pushed her aura into her.

"I do not think I will ever get used to the sight of that," Lustre commented, her eyes tight with worry.

Pip grinned, standing up as Evie relaxed fully into her girlfriend's embrace. "Nope. Pretty cool, though."

"Indeed."

Evie's eyes fluttered open to gaze up at Beryl's concerned gaze. "My tail?" she asked anxiously. "Is it…"

"It's fine," Beryl assured her. "I think you only lost maybe an inch, might be a bit numb right now. Still plenty there to wrap around my leg when we walk together."

"Oh… well, that's good, then."

"Hey, lovebirds," Pip interjected mildly. "Hate to break this up, but we should most likely get our asses aboveground before we're, y'know, buried."

"Right!" Evie exclaimed, jumping energetically to her feet. "Whew, I feel like I just chugged down an energy drink!"

Beryl gave her a cheeky wink as the four of them headed down the corridor. "I got a buzz outta that too. Glad you showed me how to do that, by the way."

"Me, too," Evie smiled warmly.

They burst forth from the hallway and out into the towering atrium. Evie quickly raced forward to open the elevator.

Nothing happened.

She stabbed the button a few more times in frustration. "Dammit! Nothing!"

"Should we find stairs?" Lustre wondered, glancing around worriedly.

Pip shook her head, her gaze riveted on the shattered window to the control room far overhead. There had been a steady red glow emanating from there when they'd arrived, but now it had begun flashing. "I don't think we have the time for that," she stated grimly.

"Right," Evie nodded firmly. She took several determined steps over before wrapping her arms around Pip and gazing upwards. "Hang tight, sweetie."

"What are you- Waugh!" Pip stumbled as she suddenly found herself standing upon the edge of the platform at the top of the room.

Evie let her go without another word, disappearing from sight.

"So that's how that feels…" Pip murmured, shaking her head to clear away the slight dizzyness.

Another heartbeat later and Lustre was at her side. Pip caught her as she began to fall forward, letting her sag to the ground and off of her injured leg.

"Oh, that was most disorienting," Lustre breathed.

"Indeed," Pip smirked. She ran over the the side, wondering what was taking so long for Evie to arrive with the last member of their team. Far below, she could make out a swirling brilliant glow of mixed blue and white.

"Ah," she commented to herself. "Recharging. Handy, that." She cupped her hands around her mouth to shout down to the couple. "Make out later, get your butts up here!"

"That wasn't easy, you know," Evie's voice came from behind her.

Pip turned to see Evie holding up a thoroughly drained-looking Beryl, who nonetheless had a wide, sappy grin on her face.

"My girlfriend is awesome," the blue-haired girl remarked happily.

Pip chuckled as she ran over to scoop Lustre up in her arms. "Yep, she is at that. Now let's move it, ladies."

She raced up the stairs, ignoring Lustre's grumbling about being handled like a sack of groceries, both Evie and Beryl right on her heels.

"Evie!" she called out over her shoulder. "If you've got a signal, call down the transport!"

Finally they burst from the stairwell and into the late-afternoon sunlight, breathing heavily. Pip placed Lustre on her feet, still supporting her with an arm around her waist while the girl leaned on her staff on the other side.

Have we really only been down there, what… an hour or so?

The blonde looked up at the whine of dust-powered repulsors, their Bulldog beginning its slow ascent. But as she felt tremors begin to form beneath her feet, she waved frantically to the pilot.

"Hurry!" she screamed, even though she knew he wouldn't be able to hear her.

Her gesticulations must have gotten the urgency across, though, as the Bulldog quickly dipped the rest of the way down. The four girls flung themselves into the back of the transport, just in time.

As their ride rapidly ascended once more, the team members gazed down at the clearing they'd just left behind. The ground below them seemed to bulge upwards before collapsing down and forming a shallow crater, tendrils of smoke drifting up from the entrance they'd used.

"So," Evie began conversationally. "Let's not do that again anytime soon, huh?"

"Gets my vote," Beryl snickered, rolling onto her back wearily.

Lustre managed to drag herself up and onto a seat, but then just sat there listlessly. Pip stood as well, closing the side hatch before walking forward to first give the pilots her sincere thanks and then to retrieve the ship's first aid kit.

She knelt in front of Lustre, giving her good leg a reassuring squeeze before beginning to work on the other to do a proper job of patching it up. As she did so, she glanced aside at her other two team members.

They were both passed out, right on the cold, hard, and uncomfortable metal floor as if they were back in their own beds, curled up contentedly around each other.

Okay, she resolved to herself. I can do this. I can still be useful to the team, just so long as I keep my own weakness in mind and admit to them when I need help.

Because, yeah, that's what a family is for. To help each other.

A/N: Another action-filled chapter, plus more fun with aura. I realize I'm taking a few liberties with how aura works, but hey, that's why it's a fanfiction. Also, you might have noticed I have now included the Volume number at the tops of the stories (I went and backfilled them). I decided to group together the story arcs into these Volumes for easier organization and notes to myself. Hopefully I can preserve a little more of my sanity that way. So Volume 1 goes up through Chapter 13, then from Chapter 14 through (as planned so far) Chapter 27 is Volume 2. Whee.

Much love for reading my not-so-little-anymore tale, and many hugs for the follows, favorites, and reviews. Just as an aside - sweet holy kittens, 21 followers and over 2600 views on this story? You guys are awesome. Do please drop a review if you can, even a short one, to let me know what you think so far. Still lots more to unfurl!

Commando2341: I swear, I don't know how you're doing it, but you really gotta stop reading my chapter notes before I publish the chapter. Though I will give you credit for the term Aura Bond, I was going to go with something else that sounded completely lame.

Martin Hooper1: The aura inhibitors are what cause most of Pip's side effects, though certainly she's still experiencing some mental trauma from her ordeal. Unfortunately with the medicine in place, she's really not able to fully deal with things to put them behind her just yet. I'm very touched that you care that much about Pip and the other characters, so I'll apologise ahead of time for any anguish I gave you in this chapter over Evie's near-escape.

Stay shiny!