Chapter 12: Team BLAK
After defeating Vulcan Faust, Lock and his team are introduced to Team KAKI, a group of girls that claim to be "substitute huntresses." Soon after they meet Lock, they attack him. He manages to take three of the girls down and is now about to interrogate the fourth. As Lock and Bianca point their weapons at Iris, she bows her head to Lock.
"I'm sorry!" Iris shouts as she bows her head to Lock.
"Say what now?" says Lock with a dumbstruck look on his face.
"I-I swear it was their idea! I wanted no part in it! I-" Iris is cut off by Ken, who grabs her by the hair and lifts her head off the ground. "Ow! Please wait a minute!" cries Iris.
"We just spent the entire night fighting terrorists, sneaking into a building, fighting MORE terrorists, roasted and blown up by a walking nuclear warhead, and then you guys show up and jump our boy here and after he blows your friends up, you expect us to believe that you come in peace?! after Ken's rant she holds up a shard of her katana and holds it up to Iris' face. "Hey guys, is it wrong to act like a serial killer to an enemy?" Ken says with a grim smile on her face, making Iris sweat and tremble.
"Fine by me." Lock says as he puts his gun away.
"That's enough you two. We're not killing her." Bianca says.
"Jeez Bianca I said act like a serial killer, not be one." Ken says in a mocking voice.
"Yeah Bianca. Ken may be vicious but she's no killer. You need to learn how to take a joke." Lock says as he walks towards Autumn.
"You guys are jerks...." Bianca says in an exhausted voice.
"Um....can you let go of my hair please?" asked Iris in a nervous voice.
"Not until I beat you up first, dummy. It's your own fault that this happened so take your lumps like a big girl." Ken says.
"Oh come on! I'm telling the truth, it was Kali's idea! We weren't supposed to capture you guys, we were supposed to recruit you!" Iris shouts
"What do you mean?" asked Bianca.
"Ever since the four of you came into the city, we've been watching you. Our headmaster thought that you'd be great additions to our school. My team was assigned to watching over you guys so we've seen your fights. Tonight we were supposed to watch you guys as always but when we got to the shop, it was a wreck and you guys were gone. We heard the explosions and rushed over here but we couldn't go rushing in without a plan. In the end we couldn't think of anything so Kali said to fight everyone and break the door down."
"That explains why you're here, but why'd you attack Lock if you were supposed to recruit him?" Bianca asked.
"Well one of our professors knows Lock Noire and said he was a strong fighter. When Kali and Amber heard that, they were excited and managed to rope Kelly in the scheme as well. I guess when they saw the Man on Fire on the ground next to him, they just couldn't help it."
Lock puts Autumn on his back and stands up. "Someone knows me and they're a professor, huh? Who is it?"
"Um before that can you tell her to let go?" Iris asks.
Lock looks at Ken and nods. Ken sighs and reluctantly let's go of Iris' hair. Iris then stands and dusts herself off.
"Our teacher's name is Sapphire Noire." Iris says.
Lock's eyes widen in surprise ands he smiles. "My sister's here? And......she's a professor? Really?"
"She's our combat instructor and our geography professor. Didn't she tell you?" Iris asks.
"She wasn't a professor when we still lived together."
"I see. Well you can see her when we get there. "
"Alright let's go."
"Right. But before that......would you mind helping me with them.....?" Iris says as she turns to look at her teammates passed out on the floor.
"Right...." said Lock
As the sun rose over the horizon, the kids left the battlefield. The police came onto the scene and made arrests left and right, including Vulcan Faust. Meanwhile, the kids arrived at a campus with a wide open, grassy plain and some huge buildings, one of which was a tower in the center. They enter the building, split up and walk into two separate elevators going to the top.
"This place gives me the creeps. It's big but quiet." Ken says
"Ken, it's like 7:30 in the morning. What'd you expect?" says Lock.
"Where are we...?" asked Autumn, who's stirring as she's waking up.
"Oh hey, you're awake. Can you stand? asked Lock.
"No. Too dizzy." Autumn replied.
"Just hang on to me, okay? We'll be done soon."
The elevator stops on the top floor and everyone gets off. The other elevator arrives too and Team KAKI gets off. In front of them was a woman with short, silver hair sitting at a desk and a cross that read "Outer Power" across it standing behind her.
"Don't be shy boy and girls. I promise I won't hurt you." says the woman as she lights a cigarette. They walk into the middle of the room and stand before her. "Now then, my name is Griselda Drake and you must be the ones who have been causing trouble the last few nights. Causing an explosion at the harbor and now fighting terrorists. You kids should honestly be in jail. But a certain man has taken an interest in the four of you. One of you has already been recommended to be admitted as a student here."
"And where exactly is here?" asked Ken.
"You're at a school that serves as a secondary campus for Beacon Academy, so technically you're at Beacon Academy. We are the substitute branch. Every student and staff member here are part of Beacon and are all fighters. However unlike the primary campus, we're a lot tougher."
"What do you mean?" asked Lock.
"I mean that you will get missions like the ones experienced huntsmen and huntresses get and work as substitute warriors. A substitute huntsman is a warrior who already has enough combat experience to be a professional, but lacks any advanced education."
"I get it. You can have as much combat experience and natural talent as you want but without guidance your skills won't reach their full potential." says Lock.
"That's right and you four have plenty of both to be enrolled here. Bianca Snow, daughter of Ivory Snow, a direct descendant of the Snow family. Your family's combat prowess is legendary and being a direct descendant of that family makes you a valuable asset."
"I hope so..." Bianca says with an unsure look on her face.
"I guess we'll see, won't we? Kendra Welsh, a member of the Welsh household. Finding you was a big surprise. I'm sure your father has been looking all over for you."
" Wait a minute! How did you-"
"Please Ms. Welsh, give me some credit. Despite my young looks, I'm older than you think and I know a lot of important people. Besides, you remind me so much of your parents that I was able to put two and two together the momen."
"Damn it!"
"Speaking of which, your father is coming here next week to attend a meeting. You'll be reunited once again for old times sake."
"Piss off. Screw that scumbag and screw you. I'm out of here." Ken says as she head for the elevator.
"A little bit of warning before you go. I know where you're going, where you've been and I can put you down in a matter of seconds. Let me remind you that you kids have been causing disturbances in the city and are responsible for property damage. So it's either you stay here as a well-balanced student of mine or a criminal who I beat across this room before handing you over to the police. So what's it going to be, Ms. Welsh?" says Griselda as she puts out her cigarette.
Ken turns around and walks back to her spot in front of Griselda looking angry with her arms crossed. Griselda smiles and looks at Autumn resting on Lock's back.
"In the last year, a number of reports have surfaced about a vigilante who has been taking down criminals across Remnant. The girl breaches their ranks, earns their trust and then sends them to the police and disappears. Each criminal gave the same name during the interrogation. That name was "Autumn Churchill." Sounds like the tale of a super hero if you ask me. Then there's the boy with the black hat, Lock Noire. Looking at that hat and your face makes me want to cry." Griselda say while closing her eyes. "You're the spitting image of your father."
"You knew him?"
"Yes. He was a member of the Zodiac along with me and Ivory."
"My mother was a member of the Zodiac?!" said Bianca with a surprised look on her face.
"Who are the Zodiac? Faust said that same name when we fought." said Lock.
"The Zodiac are legendary huntsmen and huntresses. They were said to be undefeated and known as experts in hunting Grimm of many shapes and sizes, which also gave them the title "Grimm Slayers."
"Your father was my right hand man during our glory days. When I got the news that he was missing, I nearly choked on my lunch."
"That would explain how we got owned the way we did. We went up against the son of a legend. Your dad must have put you on some hellish training method or something" said Amber
"Actually, my dad disappeared before I was even born. My sister and teacher trained me."
"Good grief and Professor Noire is an aggressive trainer too...." says Kali.
"Anyway we're getting off track. My point is that you all qualify to be students here. You will be the vanguard for our kingdom while your fellow students study and train at the primary campus. Do you have what it takes to uphold that duty?"
"I'll do whatever I can."
"I give it everything I've got."
"Ugh...Fine. Better than going to jail I guess."
"I'm in...." Autumn says as she raises her arm in agreement.
"Then it's settled. Bianca Snow, Kendra Welsh, Lock Noire, and Autumn Churchill, for your outstanding work in bringing Vulcan Faust to justice and for gaining my approval, I hereby enroll you into the secondary campus of Beacon Academy. From this day forward, you shall be known as Team BLAK. Lead by Bianca Snow."
"What?! But..."
"Fine with me." Autumn says with a smile
"It would be an honor." says Lock.
"I can dig it." Ken says as she winks at Bianca.
"Well Ms. Snow, your team has spoken. Huh?" Griselda is surprised by Bianca's sudden show of tears and a little bit of snot coming out of her nose.
"I-I won't let you down!" Bianca says while crying.
"Whoa! Hey! You don't have to cry about it!" Ken says.
"Bianca, what's wrong?!" Lock asks.
"I just....love you guys so much!" Bianca says while burying her face into her hands.
"Who knew she could be this....emotional." said Lock.
"Hehe...Well I guess every one has that side to them." says Autumn.
Griselda smiles as she sits back into her chair. "Looks like this is going to be an interesting year."
"I'm sorry!" Iris shouts as she bows her head to Lock.
"Say what now?" says Lock with a dumbstruck look on his face.
"I-I swear it was their idea! I wanted no part in it! I-" Iris is cut off by Ken, who grabs her by the hair and lifts her head off the ground. "Ow! Please wait a minute!" cries Iris.
"We just spent the entire night fighting terrorists, sneaking into a building, fighting MORE terrorists, roasted and blown up by a walking nuclear warhead, and then you guys show up and jump our boy here and after he blows your friends up, you expect us to believe that you come in peace?! after Ken's rant she holds up a shard of her katana and holds it up to Iris' face. "Hey guys, is it wrong to act like a serial killer to an enemy?" Ken says with a grim smile on her face, making Iris sweat and tremble.
"Fine by me." Lock says as he puts his gun away.
"That's enough you two. We're not killing her." Bianca says.
"Jeez Bianca I said act like a serial killer, not be one." Ken says in a mocking voice.
"Yeah Bianca. Ken may be vicious but she's no killer. You need to learn how to take a joke." Lock says as he walks towards Autumn.
"You guys are jerks...." Bianca says in an exhausted voice.
"Um....can you let go of my hair please?" asked Iris in a nervous voice.
"Not until I beat you up first, dummy. It's your own fault that this happened so take your lumps like a big girl." Ken says.
"Oh come on! I'm telling the truth, it was Kali's idea! We weren't supposed to capture you guys, we were supposed to recruit you!" Iris shouts
"What do you mean?" asked Bianca.
"Ever since the four of you came into the city, we've been watching you. Our headmaster thought that you'd be great additions to our school. My team was assigned to watching over you guys so we've seen your fights. Tonight we were supposed to watch you guys as always but when we got to the shop, it was a wreck and you guys were gone. We heard the explosions and rushed over here but we couldn't go rushing in without a plan. In the end we couldn't think of anything so Kali said to fight everyone and break the door down."
"That explains why you're here, but why'd you attack Lock if you were supposed to recruit him?" Bianca asked.
"Well one of our professors knows Lock Noire and said he was a strong fighter. When Kali and Amber heard that, they were excited and managed to rope Kelly in the scheme as well. I guess when they saw the Man on Fire on the ground next to him, they just couldn't help it."
Lock puts Autumn on his back and stands up. "Someone knows me and they're a professor, huh? Who is it?"
"Um before that can you tell her to let go?" Iris asks.
Lock looks at Ken and nods. Ken sighs and reluctantly let's go of Iris' hair. Iris then stands and dusts herself off.
"Our teacher's name is Sapphire Noire." Iris says.
Lock's eyes widen in surprise ands he smiles. "My sister's here? And......she's a professor? Really?"
"She's our combat instructor and our geography professor. Didn't she tell you?" Iris asks.
"She wasn't a professor when we still lived together."
"I see. Well you can see her when we get there. "
"Alright let's go."
"Right. But before that......would you mind helping me with them.....?" Iris says as she turns to look at her teammates passed out on the floor.
"Right...." said Lock
As the sun rose over the horizon, the kids left the battlefield. The police came onto the scene and made arrests left and right, including Vulcan Faust. Meanwhile, the kids arrived at a campus with a wide open, grassy plain and some huge buildings, one of which was a tower in the center. They enter the building, split up and walk into two separate elevators going to the top.
"This place gives me the creeps. It's big but quiet." Ken says
"Ken, it's like 7:30 in the morning. What'd you expect?" says Lock.
"Where are we...?" asked Autumn, who's stirring as she's waking up.
"Oh hey, you're awake. Can you stand? asked Lock.
"No. Too dizzy." Autumn replied.
"Just hang on to me, okay? We'll be done soon."
The elevator stops on the top floor and everyone gets off. The other elevator arrives too and Team KAKI gets off. In front of them was a woman with short, silver hair sitting at a desk and a cross that read "Outer Power" across it standing behind her.
"Don't be shy boy and girls. I promise I won't hurt you." says the woman as she lights a cigarette. They walk into the middle of the room and stand before her. "Now then, my name is Griselda Drake and you must be the ones who have been causing trouble the last few nights. Causing an explosion at the harbor and now fighting terrorists. You kids should honestly be in jail. But a certain man has taken an interest in the four of you. One of you has already been recommended to be admitted as a student here."
"And where exactly is here?" asked Ken.
"You're at a school that serves as a secondary campus for Beacon Academy, so technically you're at Beacon Academy. We are the substitute branch. Every student and staff member here are part of Beacon and are all fighters. However unlike the primary campus, we're a lot tougher."
"What do you mean?" asked Lock.
"I mean that you will get missions like the ones experienced huntsmen and huntresses get and work as substitute warriors. A substitute huntsman is a warrior who already has enough combat experience to be a professional, but lacks any advanced education."
"I get it. You can have as much combat experience and natural talent as you want but without guidance your skills won't reach their full potential." says Lock.
"That's right and you four have plenty of both to be enrolled here. Bianca Snow, daughter of Ivory Snow, a direct descendant of the Snow family. Your family's combat prowess is legendary and being a direct descendant of that family makes you a valuable asset."
"I hope so..." Bianca says with an unsure look on her face.
"I guess we'll see, won't we? Kendra Welsh, a member of the Welsh household. Finding you was a big surprise. I'm sure your father has been looking all over for you."
" Wait a minute! How did you-"
"Please Ms. Welsh, give me some credit. Despite my young looks, I'm older than you think and I know a lot of important people. Besides, you remind me so much of your parents that I was able to put two and two together the momen."
"Damn it!"
"Speaking of which, your father is coming here next week to attend a meeting. You'll be reunited once again for old times sake."
"Piss off. Screw that scumbag and screw you. I'm out of here." Ken says as she head for the elevator.
"A little bit of warning before you go. I know where you're going, where you've been and I can put you down in a matter of seconds. Let me remind you that you kids have been causing disturbances in the city and are responsible for property damage. So it's either you stay here as a well-balanced student of mine or a criminal who I beat across this room before handing you over to the police. So what's it going to be, Ms. Welsh?" says Griselda as she puts out her cigarette.
Ken turns around and walks back to her spot in front of Griselda looking angry with her arms crossed. Griselda smiles and looks at Autumn resting on Lock's back.
"In the last year, a number of reports have surfaced about a vigilante who has been taking down criminals across Remnant. The girl breaches their ranks, earns their trust and then sends them to the police and disappears. Each criminal gave the same name during the interrogation. That name was "Autumn Churchill." Sounds like the tale of a super hero if you ask me. Then there's the boy with the black hat, Lock Noire. Looking at that hat and your face makes me want to cry." Griselda say while closing her eyes. "You're the spitting image of your father."
"You knew him?"
"Yes. He was a member of the Zodiac along with me and Ivory."
"My mother was a member of the Zodiac?!" said Bianca with a surprised look on her face.
"Who are the Zodiac? Faust said that same name when we fought." said Lock.
"The Zodiac are legendary huntsmen and huntresses. They were said to be undefeated and known as experts in hunting Grimm of many shapes and sizes, which also gave them the title "Grimm Slayers."
"Your father was my right hand man during our glory days. When I got the news that he was missing, I nearly choked on my lunch."
"That would explain how we got owned the way we did. We went up against the son of a legend. Your dad must have put you on some hellish training method or something" said Amber
"Actually, my dad disappeared before I was even born. My sister and teacher trained me."
"Good grief and Professor Noire is an aggressive trainer too...." says Kali.
"Anyway we're getting off track. My point is that you all qualify to be students here. You will be the vanguard for our kingdom while your fellow students study and train at the primary campus. Do you have what it takes to uphold that duty?"
"I'll do whatever I can."
"I give it everything I've got."
"Ugh...Fine. Better than going to jail I guess."
"I'm in...." Autumn says as she raises her arm in agreement.
"Then it's settled. Bianca Snow, Kendra Welsh, Lock Noire, and Autumn Churchill, for your outstanding work in bringing Vulcan Faust to justice and for gaining my approval, I hereby enroll you into the secondary campus of Beacon Academy. From this day forward, you shall be known as Team BLAK. Lead by Bianca Snow."
"What?! But..."
"Fine with me." Autumn says with a smile
"It would be an honor." says Lock.
"I can dig it." Ken says as she winks at Bianca.
"Well Ms. Snow, your team has spoken. Huh?" Griselda is surprised by Bianca's sudden show of tears and a little bit of snot coming out of her nose.
"I-I won't let you down!" Bianca says while crying.
"Whoa! Hey! You don't have to cry about it!" Ken says.
"Bianca, what's wrong?!" Lock asks.
"I just....love you guys so much!" Bianca says while burying her face into her hands.
"Who knew she could be this....emotional." said Lock.
"Hehe...Well I guess every one has that side to them." says Autumn.
Griselda smiles as she sits back into her chair. "Looks like this is going to be an interesting year."