Hunter Thorn's Story

"Did we wake you mother fucker?"

"Sorry, this place is off-limits for today..."

"...on the tip of my tongue..."

"...brother..."

Hunter's eyes shot open. His head still swarming with ghosts of people, shadows of places. His eyes closed involuntarily, reacting to the bright, constant, buzzing, lights kept on everywhere in the facility. The bed below him was soft, but seemed rather stiff somehow. It wasn't his bed. His muscles aching, he tried sitting up, to no avail. Thick straps held his arms and legs in place. Evidently someone was afraid he was going to escape. His mind raced back to memories of his time locked in the insurgency, strapped to a wall, bled dry of information and willpower.

His fists clenched, as he shot straight up in his bed, his eyes wide and furious. Never again. The straps tore rather easily, and a metallic crashing sound could be heard, drawing Hunter's eyes. A tall stand had been rigged to him, several red pouches spilling their contents upon the floor. The smell hit him, recognition hitting him like a brick wall.

Blood

He had been close to death. A brush close enough to make his handlers worry. Looking back down, he followed the broken tubes from the floor to his arms and legs. The mattress around him was stained a dull red, giving the bed that stiff, canvas feeling. Then sounds began to register in his mind. His head was clearing, no doubt due to his disconnection from the feeds. They must have mixed some sort of anaesthetic into the blood supply, hoping it would keep him calm. But not anymore. His veins were pumping adrenaline through his system, closely followed by fear. He had been nearly helpless at the hands of that beast, and he knew had the Foundation not intervened, he would be another soul claimed by Craven's hands.

A small beeping noise broke Hunter's thoughts. The device on the floor, was beeping a constant, droning noise. A distress call. Someone would be there to check on him in a moment. Hunter silently prayed it wasn't Ozpin. Pulling himself together, Hunter fell to the floor, slipping on the slick, red, liquid that had created an impressive pool throughout the room.

Then the door clicked, and swayed. A dark-haired head poked into the room cautiously eying the bed. The intruders eyes hidden behind a pair of rectangular, wire-rimmed spectacles. Two glistening green eyes peering out behind them.

"Fuck."

"Mind your language." Ozpin scolded, dipping the rest of the way into the room. "Youre being recorded."

Hunter looked at him skeptically, before Ozpin added meekly, "I'm legally bound to tell you."

"So we're past stepping over laws?"

"No." Ozpin chuckled, closing the door, "We just like sticking those we can. You know how it is. Morality and all."

"I'm afraid I've nearly left morals behind."

"You're an average demon then." Ozpin looked at the floor disdainfully, "Clean up in here, then meet me and Mr. Maddox down in the briefing room."

The door closed on him, leaving him in a room spilling over with blood.

Moments later, he existed the now clean, dry room, licking his lips.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Hunter lurched into the room, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the low level of the light.

He maneuvered his way through the usually-crowded room, finally taking a seat in one of the cushioned steel chairs that sat behind the couch. Professional to the end, he thought, his years of military training always proving difficult to shake off. He saw Jericho sitting before him, in a couch, with Ozpin leaning against a surprisingly old television set, one that had a turn dial for channels. Not quite cutting edge technology.

Exchanging a halfhearted greeting with Jericho, he turned to face the dimly lit researcher in the corner. Seeing the attention rest upon him, Ozpin straightened his glasses, before turning to address the break room's other occupants. "Morning you two. Hope you had a delightful nap." He shot a glance at Hunter, but kept on with his speech anyway, "I hope you guys aren't shy this morning. We have some things we need to discuss."

He pulled the television set forwards, flipping it on, and cranking the dial as he did so, until the screen was filled with events both familiar and alien to Hunter.



Our top story tonight; Emperia residents were greeted this evening with an insane series of events. Reports say that there was gunfire at a local tech bar this evening, and a military grade helicopter firing upon a rooftop. We take you to Jason, on the streets where it happened. Jason?

I'm here Barbra.

Got any more information for us Jason?

Yes, witnesses say that a women, clad in a black jump-suit came in, violently pulled one of the patrons away from their seat, only to smash the computer and charge out screaming moments later. Supposedly the woman came back only a few minutes later, here to tell us how it all went down, Laura. Hi Laura, you're a supervisor over in the tech bar, right?

Yes.

Care to explain just what happened?

Of course. I had just got on my shift when I notice some violent and aggressive behavior at one of the desks. When I moved in to investigate, the lady screamed and tore the computer from the wall, smashing it on the ground. Shocked, I stood there watching her leave. After she had gone, a tech lady came in, she was very kind, and helped me clean the mess up, and took the broken computer away. I followed her outside, only to hear a loud bang and see her drop to the ground, clutching her hand. It was only then I noticed she had been shot, by the woman who came in earlier, no less. She took something from the broken computer, and ran, before some guy started glowing blue, and I almost thought it was a play or an act, until he started shooting too. The man chased her away, and I ran inside to call for the cops. I was so scared that she was gonna turn and attack me next, ya' know?

I do know. Thanks Laura. Anything else you can tell us?

Well, when I went into the building, I heard an explosion, and screams. Terrified, I hid, then called the police as soon as I could. After I got back from calling the police, I looked back outside, only to see a large cloud of black smoke. Afraid something was on fire, I called for a fire truck too. It's just been one scary night.

It has been a terrifying night for all of us Laura. Thanks for sharing your story, and thanks for being so brave.

Barbra?

Thanks Jason, authorities say that only a few blocks from the shooting match, a entire building collapsed. Demolitions experts claim it to be a gas leak and bad infrastructure, but with all the chaos in the streets, some are connecting it to the shooting from before.

also in The Crown district, a fierce battle with monsters and blood took place on the rooftop of a local insurance firm today. The fight lasted for seemingly hours, with leaked footage from civilians on the internet. The stand-off came to a close when a large white and black helicopter flew over the building, opening fire, and collecting a limp body before flying off into the distance.

Who was behind these events is unknown, but local authorities say that it's safe to say that the recently made "Catalysts" were responsible, though we can't be to sure ourselves. Some say it was an elaborate movie shoot, others say a string of coincidences, and still others say it was an act of god. We'll leave it to you to decide that.

Still more to come, a foundry melts down in the Fifth Ward, and some are calling it an act of demons. All this, and more after the break.



Ozpin flipped off the set, pushing it back behind him. "Mr. Maddox, we'll start with you. Care to explain exactly what happened on your end? Letting the Insurgent get free? Causing a scene with civilian injuries? Flattening a building? Did you learn anything from the incursion?"

Hunter fell back in his seat, waiting for Ozpin to lay off of Jericho and start grilling him. Reaching a hand up to his head, he rubbed his temples, waiting for his headache to pass. He had to admit, he felt a little sorry for Jericho, he tried to give him a look of sympathy, in their shared moment. In the moment where they were little more than kids who had fell out of line on their trip to the store. Either by chance, or perhaps just be pure avoidance, Jericho missed his eye.

Serious to the end, Hunter thought, pulling himself back together, serious to the end.

-Jericho kicked his feet up onto the catch as soon as his named was spoken, giving out a slight groan as the third-degree interrogation began. It wasn't so much at the fact he had to explain himself, (seeing as it wouldn't be too hard to just say, 'No, Screw you. I didn't do it,) but at the fact that he had to re-run the events back through his mind for the hundredth time. With each time he sifted through it all and crafted ideas or theories, a brand new question would fill the place. If anything, this was the moment Jericho had been waiting for.

"No need for the list, Oz. I was there...Look, it went down like this:"

"I showed up at the tech-place, just as planned, right? I started the careful process of chatting up the people around, up until the gal I was talking to got a hole blasted in her hand. Got into a shootout with the insurgent, an explosion happened. Gave chase into an alley where she broke for the roof. I chucked a nicely aimed energy grenade, accidently dropped a building on the chick, and then...may or may-not have gone out for a drink with her..."

"...For...interrogative reasons. I mean, I let her leave, but...I kinda learned...stuff."

-As the last bit slowly struggled out, Jericho rubbed the back of his neck a tad nervously. Maybe a nice lie would have been better, but it was too late now, and he wasn't even done yet. Instead of letting any of the other two start judging the (bad) actions, Jericho pulled himself to his feet.

"Now, before we go pointing fingers about who leveled what with explosives, and who let who escape...I just want you to know that it's rough out there. You have to make those split second decisions that could mean the difference between success... and losing everything. It takes truely heroic attributes, such as true dedication, professionalism...and heart."

"..."

"That being said...Hunter ditched me to go on his own little mission, and this is all his fault." He ended with a sharp, accusatory look towards Hunter. (With a smug grin to follow.)

Hunter shot an accusatory look towards Jericho. "There was a slight turn of events that required my intervention." He looked back towards Ozpin, tired of feeling like a small child on trial. "Although, I'm sure you know the rest."

His interrogator looked at him expectantly, gesturing to the small black box on the set, a red light blinking on and off. A tape recorder. Obviously, the Foundation acted like a military, or rather, it's own small government. He decided to give in. He explained everything that happened. The severed head, plummeting through the streets, the mercenaries, and worst of all, Craven. He told them about the fight, and how he nearly died. He decided to end his 'tale', of sorts just when he blacked out. Silence hung in the air, and Hunter took the moment to silently criticize himself for his clumsiness. It took him a moment to realize that Ozpin was speaking once more.

"As I was saying, Mr. Thorn," Ozpin repeated, noticing Hunter snapping back to attention, "I thank you both for your time. And now," He continued, switching off the recorder, "I would love to say we have some more official things to discuss, but that, in essence, is false."

Looking rather puzzled, Hunter sat forwards. "Jericho. Hunter. The Foundation would like to thank you for your continued service. And as such, we figured we'd let you indulge yourselves a little, but only a little. Though, I would like to share that some other researchers are just tired of working around the sarcastic attitudes and odd blood fetishes." He shot them a look, cracking a smile. Finding nothing but a blank stare from Hunter, he continued. "On-site staff would like to have you, and as an extension, I, relocated to our secondary base of operations in the Fifth Ward. This is purely confidential, even for the secrecy of the Foundation, you're still officially here, where we can monitor you should anything happen. Any questions?"

---

---

Lucielle sighed, laying back on the top of the bridge, the light finally cresting high enough to reach her eyes. Out of pure annoyance she closed them. Why did she have to wait for Vanessa at such an absurd hour? Perhaps the woman had potential, but was it really worth the headaches and frustration it brought? She rolled over, the metal digging across her skin. She had better show up soon.

High in the sky, a flying morning dove burned to the ground.

Jericho had his head cocked with a stare that asked, 'Where is this going?' To his ears, it almost sounded like Ozpin should be handing them a pink slip and lightly telling them they've been let go. A relocation seemed strange, and as soon as the On-Site staff was mentioned, Jericho's eyebrow shot up in intrigue.

"Fifth Ward?"

"They're kicking us out behind the walls? Now? Of all times to take the complaints into consideration, it's when we're drawing lines for a war?"

From what Jericho knew, Fifth Ward was the industrial part of the city. Nothing there but cold machinery, pollution, and the casual bio-lab. Of course, all that seemed important, (To Horizon, not to Jericho,) but there was another key detail here: It was out of the way. Not exactly the frontlines that he had become used to. There had to have been more to this...and if not, then these researchers are real a-holes.

Of course, there was a silver-lining to this relocation; they're lengthening the leash, if not letting them off it completly. According to Ozpin, no one is going anywhere, and it's much harder to get repremanded when no one can talk about what you're doing. Too bad The Horizon Foundation loves secrets.

Letting the little conspiracy theories drop for now, Jericho shrugged before he rose to his feet.

"...I don't know what the freakin' angle is here, but I hope those bastards know what they're doing."

"Making me pack my shit."

"...Bastards."