A/N: Here we come to what is essentially the halfway point for Luck Takes a Turn. This chapter will be a long one, and the heist is here! Unfortunately, the White Fang will run into a few unexpected factors that will dramatically change the game. Leading up to it will also be Adam's turn to the dark side.

Chapter 19

The trip to Mistral made Arthur reassess his judgment on airships. The ride to Vale had been on a cozy little private deal, a man flying for the airship company to make some extra Lien. Just him, Arthur, and some bourbon for a good fourteen hour ride. The craft he rode back to Mistral, however, was clearly a company deal. Instead of a seat up front, he found himself in the middle of the craft with about forty other people, their seats so close together both forward and on either side that he'd bumped elbows with his neighbors more times than he could count. And that airship had been slower, too.

Arthur didn't so much grab his back from the overhead as he did snatch it, ready to disembark and go back to the world of horses and cars. This flying business wasn't for him. Then came the infernal waiting as the airship struggled to find a berth, as for some reason there was an excess of traffic at the airport. From the tiny windows the airship provided, Arthur could see a much larger craft taking up two of the airport's five gates.

The larger craft was far more graceful that the tug he had flown in on, with white plating and sleek armor that better fit the profile of a bird of a prey than a ship. Atlesian engines were swept back, idling at a gentle hover as people moved back and forth from the cargo area. Judging by the luggage coming out, there had to be at least twenty people on board. And the only reason Arthur knew that the ship was Atlesian was thanks to the Schnee family crest on the prow, a single white snowflake.

"Damn Schnees, flaunting their wealth all over the place." Arthur heard someone grumble behind him. "I've got places to be, dammit." In that, the outlaw agreed with his fellow passenger. What was supposed to a fifteen minute disembark turned into a mind numbing hour and a half of profuse apologies from the airship staff and some free drinks to tide the passengers over. Apparently, no one told them that the only thing worse than impatient customers were impatient drunks.

Thankfully, Arthur was able to escape what was sure to become a melee in time, trotting through the terminal with a quicker step than he normally would. The sooner he was out, the better. He followed the signs to the front desk, where a multitude of people stood waiting around. Some carried baggage and some did not, so a few were waiting for passengers. There were even a couple with signs. He watched as families and friends embraced each other, all talking animatedly as they discussed their travels and adventures. It was nice, watching it all, even it made him feel a little empty. He'd been stealing and killing for so long, all he'd ever really done it for was himself and the gang. Close to his fortieth birthday, all that selfishness didn't feel so great, and all he had to show for the gang was John's family.

Sure, he'd had a son with Eliza, but even visiting Isaac had never felt right somehow. He'd knocked her up, named the kid, then ran off gallivanting across the country for months at a time. Sure, he'd come around and support them however he could, but a man who visited a boy a few days out of the year could never be considered a father. And unfortunately, that was all the effort he had put into them, so caught was he in the gang and his own personal code. A few years of that, and he shouldn't have been surprised to see two crosses out front of their home. It was a regret he had carried for some time, and seeing all the smiling families around him brought a little bit of that pain back all over again.

"Arthur!" He was torn from his musings by his own name, and looked up toward the exit to find the voice. He couldn't stop the grin that crossed his face when he saw Sienna standing next to the welcome desk, a bored look on her face as she waved him over. Given their SDC issued holdover, there was no telling how long she'd been waiting on him.

"Hey there. Good to see ya." He walked right up to her, and was pleased when she accepted his hug without complaint. Judging by her flat ears and expression, however, she had plenty to gripe about on their way back to base. When they separated, he nodded his head toward the tarmac. "You see who's causing all the fuss?"

"The Schnee heiress, if the paparazzi are to be believed." Was her bemused response, and she pointed out a few suited men with scrolls and microphones near the gate the Schnee ship had been docked with. "Weiss Schnee, here in Mistral for her last charity performance before she dedicates her life to that of a Huntress." Sienna rolled her eyes at the alleged purpose. Though Arthur had no guff with the company himself, Sienna had seen many different examples for why the Schnee Dust Company was Faunus enemy number one. As such, any altruistic claims like charity from there were instantly met with suspicion and disbelief. Given what he had come back to help with, it was a concern.

"Any idea where she might be staying?" Arthur asked carefully, scanning to see if any of the nearby were paying attention. "Considering our 'remodeling plans'?" Sienna smirked, but didn't answer as she led the way out of the airport, out onto the stone streets of Mistral's capital. There, a small car waited for them, a rental if Arthur were to guess. A tan colored sedan, if Sienna was right about it. It was too new and too clean to have been anywhere near the White Fang's new base. He took the passenger seat this time, on account of having no driving experience whatsoever, and Sienna took the driver's seat. Only once they were down the road and away from the airport did she continue the conversation.

"It will take some time to check with our contacts at the manor, but the parasites following the Schnee around were talking about a local hotel. Apparently, every room in the building was booked for 'security reasons'. Apparently the White Fang aren't the only ones hostile with the SDC." Rival companies, jealous board members – it was list unto itself just how many people had an interest in changing up the line of succession for Remnant's largest Dust exporter. Cutthroat capitalism, as Hosea might have called it. As they got further away from the airport, the road curved as it led away from the city center, and he could see the heiress' ship one last time. Arthur was used to going around without much trust for people, but that was a life he'd chosen. To be born into a life where every smiling face could be a knife in the back? You would have to guard yourself and everything you held dear, and even then you could still lose everything.

"Sounds like a cold life." Arthur mused out loud. Sienna looked at him out the corner of her eye, but she didn't comment further. Instead, they just sat in content silence, save for the radio that played a slow tune at low volume.

"Mirror, tell me something? Tell me who's the loneliest of all?" The young woman on the radio sang, a somber melody that reflected Arthur's musings. He'd heard plenty of thing about how the company treated Faunus and had shady dealings all over, but next to nothing about the family that had built it. Even when they were robbing his trains, Arthur had at least known what Leviticus Cornwall had looked like.

"So tell me about these Schnee folks." Arthur began, as much to break the quiet as it was to satisfy his curiosity. "I figure if we're gonna be guests in their house, might as well know something about 'em." Sienna gave him a dry look, almost as if to question why he would ask such a thing. When she saw his eyebrow raised, she remembered that Arthur wasn't exactly from around here.

"Right. You just want to hear me talk." She accused, and he chuckled at her words. "At the start of it all, the Schnee Dust Company was actually a good place to work for. The man that started it all, Nicholas Schnee, relied almost exclusively on Faunus and humans that needed jobs when he founded the company. There were expeditions to take, foundries to build, and a whole lot of mining to do. And he offered equal salaries for everyone. Really, things didn't go downhill with them until Nicholas passed away and control of the company was passed down to his son-in-law, Jacques." At the mention of the current Schnee patriarch, Sienna's brow darkened immensely. She kept her eyes on the road as they turned, exiting the mile and a half of gridlock in favor of an open road bound for the edge of the city. A vast wall slowly approached, and the amount of traffic thinned as well.

"Where Nicholas was all about expansion and fair play, Jacques' policies fall around one thing only: Lien. How to make it, who to get it from, and where they can spend as little as possible. Anyone who has ever spoken to him for any length of time paints the same picture: he's the patron saint of greed and corruption, and the primary reason why we're so at odds with his company. Hell, even his own family hates him." At that, Arthur was surprised. Sure, living the high life had its own risks and dangers, but at the very least you could hide from your asshole of a father on a yacht somewhere?

"How do you figure that? Seems like the leader of the White Fang has an in-depth knowledge of the Schnee family." He prodded. Sienna huffed and pulled out her scroll, searching on it one handed until she found what she was looking for and then handed it to Arthur. When she did, Arthur couldn't help but blanch at just how much information was available. Everything from favorite drinks to favorite colors was listed on the website, which was called D! Dust Inc of all things. It looked less about a mining site and more like a whole bunch of gossip.

"People read this hogwash?" Arthur asked incredulously, squinting to read some of the different fonts before giving up entirely and handing Sienna her scroll back.

"Once you reach a certain tax bracket, everyone suddenly wants to know everything about you. What clothes you wear, what movies you see, even what toilet paper you use." At Arthur's blank stare, she laughed. "I'm not kidding. Our greatest adversaries in the fight for equality are under a microscope. We have to sift through the tabloids a little, but everything we need to know is in there."

"I feel like I'd have punched out a few of the nosy pricks by now." Arthur growled, and Sienna hummed in agreement. That kind of invasion of privacy, all to entertain the masses with tabloid bullshit?

"Anyway. Willow Schnee, the matriarch, isn't seen much these days. What pictures we do have of her show quite a few bottles of liquor nearby as well. I guess it's a stressful thing when your husband marries into wealth and then takes over your father's company. But the eldest daughter used to be the heiress until she joined the military. She outright refused her birthright and instead joined the Atlesian Special Forces. She's quite the soldier, from how Marcus tells it." Hmm. Running away from responsibility or just getting out from under daddy's thumb, the Army would not have been Arthur's first choice. Then again, the uniformity and discipline of the military was probably the one place the woman could outrun her own last name.

"Alright. You said eldest. How many others are there?" Arthur asked, pulling out his own scroll so that Sienna wouldn't be distracted. It was an older model, styled similar to a compass than the extending scrolls everyone else used these days. It still had a touch screen, but it was sturdier and built to weather the elements. When he turned it on, he started searching for more information on the Schnees.

"Two more. A girl and a boy. The girl, Weiss, we just saw at the airport. She's had an impressive singing career, but all the talk is that she's seeking to serve the public like her sister, but she wants to be a Huntress instead of a soldier. Either to avoid the Army life or to keep the title of heiress, I couldn't say, but she's just a few years away from adulthood. Lastly is Whitley, who is a bit younger than Weiss. Not much is known about him, but every picture he's in he is right next to his father. Probably wants to be just like him when he's older." Sienna slowed down as they neared the wall, and the security checkpoint that led out of the city. Just inside of the wall's perimeter, a small collection of buildings sat to welcome travelers into the protected zone. Two restaurants, a motel, and a rental service were plainly displayed, the last of which why she was pulling in.

"If we don't just bring the company down entirely, Weiss sounds like the best replacement for her father. But it's difficult to wade through asinine interviews and public appearances to get her measure. So we'll stick with plan A until then; discredit and harass the SDC until they give us the change we deserve." Sienna finished, guiding the vehicle into a parking spot. Arthur paused to consider that last statement as she climbed out of the car, walking into the rental service with the keys spinning around her fingers. He climbed out as well, stowing his scroll and waiting outside as he considered their target.

When Hosea had planned a job, he always had the inside knowledge on the mark. Whether from drinking or gambling with them, the old man had driven the lesson into Arthur's brain time and again: know your target. It helped cut down on surprises, and there was no such thing as knowing too much about the person you were robbing. Sure, there was a moral impact, but that had become a somewhat new consideration for Arthur.

A few minutes later Sienna returned, bereft of keys and pocketing what Lien she'd gotten back. She waved for him to follow, and together they walked out of the city's walls and out into the wilderness. Outside of the protective barrier, there were still a few buildings and people milling about. The guard patrols kept things civil close to the entrance, so it was safe enough to build a stable and a bounty outpost.

"You brought Famine along?" He asked, surprised that she would ride his horse all this way on her lonesome. Sienna just shrugged, not meeting his eyes as she kept walking toward the large barn that stabled a few other animals besides his Arabian.

"What can I say? He's grown on me. Besides, I figured you would appreciate a more familiar way to travel, and I couldn't afford to borrow one of the trucks for a whole day." She explained. He watched her go, and was about to comment further when he remembered the favor from Ozpin.

"You go on ahead, I gotta figure something out with the bounty board. I'll just be a minute." Sienna waved a hand behind her, and Arthur broke off from her to approach the board. Like in Patch, it was a holographic display that showed all of the local jobs available, as well as a smaller list of the active Huntsmen and Huntresses in the area. Last time, Summer's scroll hadn't been recognized because she'd been listed KIA, so the computer had wanted him to register all over again. But now that he had his own scroll, it was time to see if Ozpin had come through on his end.

"Bounty hunter recognized." The automated voice announced. "Welcome, Arthur Morgan. All bounties are available." Arthur smirked and crossed his arms as he read over a few, surprised that the Headmaster of Vale had enough pull to get him full access to the board. Most bounties could be taken by anyone, but there were a few that were reserved for Huntsmen and Huntresses only. It proved just how much influence Ozpin wielded across Remnant. And to think, he tried to recruit me too. Arthur thought to himself. He walked up closer and waved his hand across the board, angling away from all the Grimm killing and getting to the page marked Fugitives.

Instead of the basic description and area where Grimm needed culling, the board provided profile images of wanted persons, each with a summary of information on the target and the resulting reward upon their capture. Arthur was somewhat surprised to see that all bounties were capture only, though Remnant seemed a little less draconian than they had been back in the states. None of the names or faces looked familiar, but he tabbed through them just to get a gist of it all.

The clip clop of hooves on beaten stone and dirt pulled his attention away from the bounty board, and Arthur couldn't suppress the relief he felt at seeing Famine trotting over to him, Sienna guiding him by the reins. He'd had enough of the airship and car deal; Famine was a far more familiar method of travel than everything else he'd seen on Remnant, and definitely his most preferred. He ran a hand up and down the Arabian's neck as it nuzzled him, the horse tossing his head and nearly knocking Arthur's hat off.

"Yeah, yeah. I missed you too, boy. I hope you behaved while I was gone." The horse chuffed, as if to brush off his comment, and Sienna chuckled.

"He's been a little restless, but nothing we couldn't handle. Blake tried to ride him one day in between sparring sessions. It...did not go well." Sienna's smirk implied just how Blake had been unsaddled, and Arthur couldn't resist the cheeky grin that crossed his face. It faded, however, when he realized what she had said.

"Wait, Blake? What's she doing in these parts?" Sienna blinked, then sighed and looked skyward.

"Right, I forgot to tell you about that. Suffice to say, little Blake ran away from home to join the White Fang. Illia too. I'll tell you all about it on the way back." She handed over his reins, and Arthur climbed into the saddle for the first time in what felt like ages.

"Alright, but you've got the rear." He held out his hand, and Sienna took it, leaping up onto the back of the saddle. He didn't miss her conspiratory chuckle when she landed, her arm looping around his midsection to keep from falling off.

"Why Arthur, that's the nicest thing you've said all day." The outlaw was caught off guard, and Sienna could only laugh as he urged Famine on, eager to focus on blazing the trail instead of the teasing woman latched onto his back.

Originally, Abigail had never thought that anything in Vale could help her get used to things on Remnant. It was too alien, too foreign and full of strange people. As she handed the woman behind the counter a handful of Lien however, she had to admit that shopping was still a guilty pleasure. And what wonderful things they had! It seemed like there was an appliance for just about every need, from kitchen utensils to clothes washing and everything in between. Why, the other day she had seen a strange little cutter that could dice onions and tomatoes in seconds!

Today had been meant for just a grocery run, but John's work with Junior was paying off even more now that he was a little more trusted. He'd given her more money than usual, on the condition that she get some things for herself as well. She was now the proud owner of two new scarfs, a brand new dress, and a summer jacket that she just couldn't let go. Jack had to carry the groceries in light of her recent purchases, but the growing boy seemed happy to help his momma.

Abby waved goodbye to the cashier and led Jack out of the store, heading for the corner to check out one last little shop before heading home. Her son followed dutifully, his new pants and shoes a far cry from the hand-me-downs and bare feet they'd had just months ago. When they had first come to Vacuo, Abby was ashamed to admit that she had resented Summer and Arthur for taking the choice out of their hands and dumping them in this wild and strange place. But as time went on, and money kept rolling in, she had realized that she had been too hasty to judge. True, Vale was different, but they had a roof over their heads, new clothes on their backs, and fresh food every night that didn't have to be cleaned or gutted. Her studies were coming along right next to Jack's, and John wasn't the irresponsible cur that she had cursed him for so many times. Not only was he supporting the family, but the pressed shirts and high society that frequented the Club had turned him into a reluctant gentleman.

"Hey momma." Jack spoke up, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "Can we go in there real quick?" When Abby turned to see where he meant, she smiled softly. A brand new store had just opened, so new that the sign advertising its business was still covered with a tarp and leaned against the building. However, a paper sign taped to the window insisted that they were open, with a larger sign beneath it that just read 'BOOKS'. Jack's studies had advanced his reading ability, and it would be nice to get him something that wasn't required by the school for once.

"Alright Jack, but just one book. We have to get the milk home before it spoils." She allowed, and he nearly danced in the street even with two hands full of groceries. They crossed the street from the corner and approached the store, Abigail opening the door for Jack so he could go in first.

Once inside, Abby could see even more signs that it was a new business. The air still hung heavy with the scent of paint, and the wooden shelving that held the books and comics were mismatched. It was likely the owner had put everything they had into the store, but at least there was quite the selection. A small bench was sat near the center of the room, away from the counter but close enough to the shelves so that customers could enjoy their purchases. Abby took the bags from Jack and sat herself and their goods down on it.

"Go on, then. But don't make a fuss." She waved her hand, delighting in the smile that nearly broke his face in half.

"Yes momma!" And with that, he was gone. There were only a few shelves stocked with books, so she knew he couldn't take dreadfully long, but Abby relished it as much a moment of peace as a respite from walking all day. Horseless carriages, or cars, were very popular in Vale, but once you were in the city they became more nuisance than luxury. John had originally expressed interest in getting one, but Abigail had put a stop to that. None of them had any idea how to operate one, and she'd seen plenty of wrecks on the news. It was a danger she would not tolerate with their family.

Jack perused the shelves with a hungry gleam in his eye, eagerly scanning the titles on display. He faced the problem of being surrounded by choices without knowing what it was he was looking for. A few artfully draw covers drew his eye, but most of them were romance novels or comic books. Comics were nice, he supposed, but they never seemed long enough. And because they were issued frequently, it seemed like every edition left you wanting more. Jack wanted a story that he could finish, but had enough meat to it to leave him occupied for a time. No ninety word wonders for him, no sir.

Towards the far left corner of the store, he saw the westerns were displayed, according to the white lettering painted on the wall. Bold for the owner, considering how little westerns seemed to be read in Vale, but it seemed that a special shelf was designed just for this section. A single book sat on display, protected by a glass case with several copies below it. It was displayed proudly, albeit a bit naked as there were no other signs or words to explain why the book got special treatment. It was covered with a paper sheath, colored red and showed a grizzled outlaw, facing outward toward the reader with a revolver in hand and his hat shadowing his face. Beneath that, several other images of a train, explosions, and even a tropical island showed just how varied the story was. Jack walked up to get a closer look, and grabbed one of the copies from beneath the display. There, written proudly along the spine, was the title.

Red Dead Redemption: the Tale of Arthur Morgan.

Jack's eyes widened as he read it, and he immediately flipped the book open. There was a title page, the publisher's mark, and all the usual documentations that came with a book, and then a small note from the author. No, a dedication.

This story is for Arthur. Who sought his own freedom, and granted me mine along the way. Obviously whoever had written the book was fond of Arthur, but there was no way that it could be the same man. Uncle Arthur hated books! Or at least, he'd never liked reading them too much. It always seemed like he'd rather draw in his journal or go off on adventures. No sooner had Jack thought that, he turned the page again and found himself staring at a familiar scene, though one he had tried to forget. A grizzled Arthur, though the details were a little different about his face, sat propped up against a tree, his breath vapor on the wind as he stood out against the snow. In the background, the covered wagon that they had used for the longest time was traveling down the road, and the abandoned town of Colter was in the distance. On the page opposite of the illustration, the chapter title was displayed.

Escape from Blackwater.

Hardly able to contain his excitement, Jack bolted out from the corner of the store, waving his discovery high above his head.

"Momma, you've got to see this! Look what I found!" He chattered excitedly. Abigail sighed heavily as she gave the book a suffering glance, not really recognizing it the first time her eyes ran over it.

"You already found one? I thought you didn't like westerns." She asked tiredly, likely more worried about getting back on her feet so soon. Jack couldn't help but stomp his feet in frustration, a habit he had been trying to drop.

"No, mom! Look! It's a story about Uncle Arthur!" Abigail blinked, then looked at the cover again. The likeness on the cover bore a rough resemblance of the man, true, but she hardly felt like it was him.

"Sweetheart, I don't think..." The rest of her words died on her lips as she flipped the book over and read the spine, her breath catching in her chest as she did so. There could be no mistake, especially when she saw the author's name. Tacitus Kilgore. The alias the gang had used whenever they picked up parcels in town. To see it again, and here after so many years, made her heart leap up into her throat. She opened the book to the first few pages as Jack had, and read the author's note and saw the first illustration about their time in Colter. How...who knows about that, besides Arthur and John? Sean had been in Marshal custody during their time in Colter, or on the run from them.

Just as she began to tell Jack that it was time to leave, she heard movement from behind the counter. A small door led back to some kind of office, and a man with dark hair than ran down to some impressive sideburns peeked out over the register.

"Hello there! Sorry about the mess, I just opened last week. I'm still putting the finishing touches in." The man's voice was rough, but friendly. Abigail put on an amiable smile and stood, but looked back down to the book in her hand. She walked up to the counter and set it down, almost afraid to touch it.

"I'm sorry, we were just browsing. Could...could you tell me more about this book? It seemed dreadfully familiar." She asked politely. The man only needed one look before he puffed up with pride, a confident smile on his face.

"Why, that's the book that helped me open this place. A friend of mine loaned me a journal he'd found, and I wrote a western based on what was in it. Quite a story, not to boast." The man sighed contentedly, his eyes downcast even as his smile remained. "The publishers loved it, and I made enough on the initial release to open this store. Tukson's Book Trade wouldn't exist without Arthur Morgan and his band of thieves and outlaws." When he mentioned Arthur, his tone was kind and respectful, and Abigail looked down at the book in wonder. At the time of Colter, and even shortly after that, she had been too focused on John's injuries and helping out around camp to bother with the men's struggles, particularly those involving the train robbery and such. But she had always reviled the plans Dutch and Hosea had cooked up, always trying to strike it rich and avoid the menial labor of honest work.

To see tales of those trying times left her conflicted, but she could also tell how that story had helped this man. Arthur had given their tale to someone else, and it had at least done some good.

"Arthur...sounds like a wonderful man." Abby managed to choke out. When Tukson noticed her reaction, she busied herself with reaching for her wallet. "How much for the book?"

Tukson gave Abigail and Jack both a long, searching stare, wondering for a moment what about them was so familiar. He'd gone over his source material with a fine toothed comb, but he'd also had to improvise on certain characters. But if he didn't know any better, he'd say that the two in front of him strongly resembled John Marston's family.

"Thirteen Lien. No point charging more than that, even if it is a best seller." He looked like he wanted to say more, but something in Abigail's eyes stopped him. He rang up the purchase instead, and placed the book in a paper bag with his store's name stamped on the outside. Abigail took it and gave her thanks, then turned around to leave. As she collected her bags from the bench, one last question weighed on her.

"Not to spoil the book, but..." She paused. "Do you think Arthur ever got the happy ending he deserved?" Tukson's eyes widened, and she could tell that everything had finally fallen into place for him. He chuckled after his initial shock wore off, and leaned one elbow onto the counter.

"The man himself told me that the only westerns that end on a good note were the ones that weren't over yet. But...yeah. Last I checked on him, he was pretty close. Even found a woman that could put up with him, or so I hear." Abigail smiled, a real and happy smile, and turned to usher Jack out the door. The young boy gladly took the bags of groceries once more, though he clutched his new book to his chest as well.

The base was finally serviceable, though it was a little impatient to put it that way. In just a matter of weeks, Marcus' crew had turned a dilapidated ruin into a functioning and practical base of operations. All of the amenities were on hand, though maybe not so many luxuries at the moment. Still, the quarters had water and power, the perimeter walls were strong, and the halls echoed with the sounds of training and camaraderie. Arthur was on base, helping some of the new recruits with marksmanship and survival, and they had more pouring in every day thanks to Cain and Marcus. By all means, Sienna should have been happy with their progress.

She was not.

The one detail that had fractured her otherwise ecstatic mood was the absence of one Adam Taurus. Worse still was the knowledge that he had slunk off to meet the Lupin brothers.

"They approached him with a proposition while I was sparring with Blake and Illia." The soldier turned foreman rumbled. "He couldn't tell me about it with them near, and by the time I dismissed them for the day he was gone. Sam reported seeing him leave by the road, but the last time anyone saw him was early this morning." Which meant he had been missing when she went to go pick up Arthur. The irritation caused a deep growl to escape her throat, and Arthur placed a settling hand on her shoulder. No words or looks, just a hand to let her know that she needed to stay calm. She gave the anger its due, let the ugly emotion roll over her in waves, then stuffed it back where it belonged and took a deep breath.

"Find those two parasites and have them in my office immediately. Without weapons." Sienna instructed, and Marcus nodded respectfully. "If they're acting behind my back, I'll need to remind them just who is in charge here." She returned his nod, and Marcus took it as his dismissal and walked away, in search of the two merchant Lupins. Over near the entrance to the base, Blake and Illia stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do as the Supreme Leader stalked up to them. Though her posture indicated that she was upset, Sienna made sure that her words were measured and even. The students were not to blame for the actions of their teacher.

"Belladonna, Amitola. Do you know where Taurus went?" She asked calmly. They both held her gaze and shook their heads, though Illia shuffled uneasily on her feet. A nervous tick, but not one that implied a lie. She was simply uncomfortable with the situation. At least, that's what Sienna chose to believe.

"Very well. After Marcus is done with his assignment, I have a task for you two. Nothing too dangerous, just enough to get you some experience and use what you've been taught. All message your scrolls when I'm ready for you." The two paused, Illia looking to Blake for instruction, and the young Belladonna didn't leave.

"What about Adam? What will happen to him?" Sienna opened her mouth, a sharp retort ready, but she closed it and sighed. While they had loyalty to Adam, both as their teacher and she suspected as Blake's paramour, they had done nothing wrong to earn her frustration. Adam himself was not to be blamed yet, either, until she discovered just what the Lupin brothers were up to. The answer came not from Sienna, but from Arthur. He stepped in front of Sienna and held his hands out to his side, showing that he wasn't being aggressive.

"Adam may have been duped by these two just as we were. Right now, we just gotta find out what they're up to and where they sent him. For all we know, they're plotting on him just like they did to Sienna. We'll let you know what happens when we give you yer marching orders. For now, just put your faith in your Supreme Leader and let us do the talking." Blake frowned, clearly still at odds with the conversation, but she nodded reluctantly. Sienna gave a nod of agreement as well, and together she and Arthur walked past the two trainees.

The entrance to the White Fang base was fortified, a wide atrium that narrowed to two heavy doors made of wood and reinforced steel. It provided intruders with no cover, and created a bottleneck if they were to get past the front door. The blue standard of the White Fang, with the wolf in front of the circle, hung proudly from the ceiling. Inside the double doors, a long hallway of cement and stone ran for at least sixty feet, absent of small alcoves and pockets to provide cover. At the end of the hall was a four way intersection. Forward led to the main assembly area, to the left went to general quarters. Arthur and Sienna went right.

Two more large doors blocked their path, and Arthur opened them with some difficulty to reveal what he would call a throne room. Sienna insisted that it was for receiving diplomats once their cause gained ground. The ground was covered with rich red carpet, and several landings climbed upward towards a regal chair, red with gold frame and the White Fang's standard hanging above it. The room was wide and the ceiling high, and provided the perfect seat of power for the new revolution. Even if Arthur snickered about it. To the right, away from the grandiose setting, was a smaller door. If Sienna was to receive guests in the 'diplomacy room', then this was her actual office. It had a much more comfortable leather chair behind a sturdy oak desk, and the room was decorated with intricately drawn scrolls. Some had paintings, while others bore calligraphy and words of wisdom. In the center of the room, three chairs faced the desk that were of similar make but inferior quality to the one behind the desk.

Sienna crossed the room and slid behind her desk, sinking into the comfortable chair with a sigh. Arthur remained standing, off to the side and leaning against the wall as she contemplated her upcoming meeting.

"Figured you'd be in charge for at least a year before people starting gunning for your seat." He stated helpfully, and Sienna shot him a look. He held up his hands innocently. "Just remember: people will talk about how you handle this. Don't pull your punches, keep your people in mind. They don't want to fight under another tyrant." Sienna groaned and sat back, dragging her hands down her face.

"I know, Arthur. I have this under control. These two have been a thorn in my side since before I took Ghira's position. I've come up with a few responses to their grievances." She pointed a finger his way, her face serious. "You, on the other hand, need to leave the talking to me. I know you want to help, but I need to have every word in this discussion. Anything you contribute will just undermine my authority. I know that's not your intention, but just let me handle it, okay?" Arthur snorted at the politics of it, but relented and nodded his head.

"Yeah, yeah. You won't hear a peep from me." He held up a hand as if he were taking an oath. It made Sienna relax, and she allowed a small smile to play across her face.

"Thank you, Arthur. I know you want to help, but I appreciate that you let me handle my own affairs. This time." She growled the last part, and he waved off her irritation. Of course she would bring up the fight with her brother again, or rather his reaction to it. He'd learned his lesson already. It was just hard to sit back and let things happen when he had seen that strategy end badly.

"When you gonna let that die? I said I was sorry." He griped, removing his hat to scratch at his head. Sienna's grin widened, and she leaned forward playfully with her hands on her desk.

"Aw, is Arthur's feelings hurt? I won't be forgetting that anytime soon, my friend. You'll hear it at least another thousand times, I promise." She laughed at his exasperated groan. They spoke about a few other topics for several minutes, relaxing as Marcus hunted down the Lupin brothers. Arthur was in the middle of the story about mister Black and mister White when there was a sharp knock at the door. Sienna and Arthur shared a look, and the outlaw straightened up and took his place near the door and away from Sienna. If she was doing White Fang business, he had to be seen as a bystander and nothing more. She couldn't be accused of being under his influence.

"Enter." The door opened slowly, revealing a musclebound Marcus as he held the door open, and Romulus and Remus followed in behind him. The large foreman maintained a dead stare on Remus, who for some reason was returning it with a glare of his own. As if the smaller merchant could hold a candle to a former soldier. It spoke of the arrogance the two Faunus had, and their contempt for the rest of the White Fang. The two brothers sat down in the chairs across from Sienna, both of them gauging her mood and the hooded amber eyes that watched their every move. Once they were seated, Sienna finally looked up at Marcus in the doorway.

"Thank you, Marcus. You may go now." The large Faunus nodded, his eyes lingering on Arthur, before he closed the door. They could hear his heavy footsteps fade away, and soon the office was filled with a tense silence that no one seemed to want to break. Arthur stood with his arms crossed, ready to step in if the brothers got lippy, though he knew better than to do anything without Sienna's instruction. This was her show.

Finally, Romulus broke the tension after a glance at the outlaw behind them. "Sienna, I don't mean to be rude, but why is there a human present for this-"

"Silence." Her irritated hiss interrupted him, and the wolf Faunus sat a little bit straighter with an audible gulp. His brother said nothing, but merely kept his eyes forward. "I do not ask you who I shall bring into my office. Mister Morgan is here for the all too likely outcome that the two of you will be escorted out of this base. Violently." Sienna stood, her eyes alight with fire as she placed her hands behind her back. No one missed how violently the large chair was thrown back as she did so. The two brothers shared a look, but they remained silent.

"You two will answer my questions truthfully, promptly, and without hesitation. You approached Adam Taurus with an assignment of some sort. What was it and why?" She towered over them, and Remus' face contorted into some facsimile of a smile. It was very plastic and fake.

"Come now, Supreme Leader. We would never dream of going behind your back in such...a... manner." His attempt at charisma wilted under her unrelenting gaze, and the man averted his own with an embarrassed cough. Seeing their situation only worsening, Romulus spoke up once more.

"We acquired information that a Robert Morrison, one of the SDC's senior board members, was in the area nearby. According to our sources, he was traveling with a lot of important documents and funds. Apparently the SDC is attempting to buy new land permits for another mine in the area." Romulus explained, tugging at the collar of his shirt. "We made young Taurus aware of this fact, and encouraged him to appropriate these funds to better serve us here." When he finished speaking, Sienna took in a slow breath, her eyes closing for a moment as she processed the information. The tension did not ease; if anything, it seemed that their words only fueled her ire.

"He left his sword behind." Remus added nervously. "We made it abundantly clear that he was to take the assets, not harm anyone outright. Otherwise, the message would be tainted." Behind them, Arthur rubbed his temples in exasperation. These men had played on Adam's hatred for mankind, and they weren't grasping just how furious this made Sienna. Not just for sending Adam out on an unsanctioned mission, but for doing so behind her back.

"Let me get this straight." Sienna breathed out, deceptively cool and collected as she paced behind her desk. "You contacted Adam Taurus, who is known for his hatred of humans and the SDC in particular, without my permission or knowledge and instructed him to rob a high ranking member of the SDC without the weapon he is most familiar with. I presume that you at least had an idea on the man's security detail, or the place he was staying at?" When the two men remained silent, a menacing growl filled the room. "Understand gentlemen, that the only reason you are still darkening this room is because I need to know what kind of damage control I need to run. When we were peers under Ghira, this underhandedness was expected from the two of you. But if you believe for one lousy second that I will tolerate such insubordination, you are sorely mistaken." Arthur heard the ominous clink of her battle chain, and the two Lupin brothers heard it as well. They both recoiled in their chairs.

"Morrison is only supposed to be traveling with a personal bodyguard! He'd essentially be undefended for as long as he was on the train!" Remus managed to get out, before another glare from Sienna silenced him once more.

"And if he is so vulnerable? You didn't convince Marcus or Cain to attend to this harebrained assignment; Adam is as likely to kill the man as steal from him!" The flat of her hand made a loud thud as she leaned over the desk. "But you knew that when you approached him, didn't you?"

"Morrison is a known racist! We have documents proving that he has penned and approved policies that discriminate against Faunus workers! Wouldn't his death be a good thing?" Romulus defended, grasping at straws in the face of her ire.

"IF WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE!" Sienna roared, causing the two brothers to rock back in their chairs. "Steal from him, humiliate him, blackmail him for all I care, but save death as the last resort! We must escalate slowly, or our demands will be cast off as the ransom of murderers and rapists!" The heat in her words washed over Romulus and Remus, the two brothers shrinking into themselves in a vain attempt to escape Sienna's rage. Even Arthur, safe and a few steps behind them, was starting to get goosebumps.

The sight of her in full tirade was...something. He'd deal with that thrill that danced up his spine later. He stood as a bulwark behind the two selfish merchants, providing them no escape from their leader.

"If Adam returns with Lien, documents, and good news, only then will you be allowed to stay. In the event of any other scenario, your support for the White Fang will be removed like a leech and I will cast you out myself." Sienna grasped her face, the snarl growing only more feral as her tiger heritage became more prominent. "Do you fools have ANY IDEA the damage this could do to our cause?!"

The Lupin brothers cast their gaze downward, their ears wilting in submission. Sienna looked like she wanted to howl and scream for another hour, but seeing them sufficiently cowed was enough to reign in her anger. The Supreme Leader took a few deep, calming breaths, and when her eyes opened once more her rage had receded, though it still simmered just beneath the surface.

"When is Adam expected to return?" Romulus looked over at Remus, and the older brother could only shrug and hang his head.

"Tonight, if all goes well. The train carrying Morrison passed through the area just an hour ago. Adam assured us that he would be done in thirty minutes and disembark the train before it made it to Argus." The merchant said lowly. Sienna nodded as she processed the information, her eyes flicking up to Arthur's. He could see the gears turning in her mind, and he kept his confident stare as she planned their next move.

"Mister Morgan, Romulus and Remus Lupin are to be confined to my office until I say otherwise. They are not to leave for any reason." She ordered, authority clear in her voice as she stepped around her desk and past the two humiliated brothers. "I shall await Adam's return. If he has anything to add that you haven't already admitted to, your punishment will go further than simple exile. This is your last chance to speak up." When neither of them came forward, she nodded to Arthur and opened the door. He watched her go, then leaned up against the door after it closed, his arms crossed.

"Well boys, looks like it's you and me for a spell. Do me a favor and don't cause no trouble. The Lady Khan is angry enough already." They didn't respond, but simply sat in their chairs sullenly. A few moments passed in silence, then Romulus spoke up quietly.

"I have to pee..." His brother wasn't much better.

"I don't anymore."

The clock on Sienna's wall had chimed eight times before the knock came at the door. Arthur leaned forward and made sure the Lupins were seated, then opened the door slowly. When he saw that it was Sienna, he opened it the rest of the way and stepped out of her way. Behind her, he could see Adam, looking unhappy as ever. Behind him, he just barely caught young Blake turning the corner. Even when he was in trouble, the young Belladonna followed Adam like a shadow.

"Stand up." Sienna ordered, and Romulus and Remus slowly climbed to their feet. Judging by their defeated expressions, Sienna had discovered something else and they knew it. "The two of you are to be gone from here in one hour. Gather your belongings and never dirty the name of the White Fang with your presence again." She jutted her chin toward Adam, who also stood with his arms crossed. "Adam will make certain that you move with all possible haste. He is the one you planned to use, after all." Taking that as permission, the young bull reached forward and pulled Remus from his place, hauling him out of the office and into the hallway. Romulus quailed before his masked gaze when he turned around, and hustled out the door under his own power.

When the two traitorous merchants had gone, Sienna sighed and sank into her chair. Arthur made to sit in one of the chairs the Lupins had vacated, but figured they'd be walking out soon anyway. He was about ready to go stir crazy.

"So? What'd you find out?" He probed. The tiger Faunus ran an elegant hand through her hair and kept it there, a single amber eye looking at him through her fingers.

"Adam performed his task without issue. Apparently Morrison had brought along a hefty sum to bribe local land owners with him. What concerns me is the discussion that those two buffoons had with him before he left." Arthur cocked a brow.

"They said that they'd met with Adam before he left. I was wondering what they said to him." At his statement, Sienna chuckled dryly.

"I'm not talking about Adam. They spoke with Morrison." That was surprising. Arthur leaned forward, a disbelieving grin on his face.

"You're shitting me."

"Nope." Sienna pushed herself up from the chair, lest she become to comfortable. "He was a former business partner before he took a position on the SDC Board of Directors. They were doing business with him even after they joined the White Fang. They told him that they would be leverage for power in the coming months. According to Adam's interrogation, they had promised to sabotage the White Fang's efforts from the inside after they deposed me." That she could say such a thing with a straight face told him that she'd had time to calm down. That, and it was assuring to see that even though he'd participated in this treachery, Adam had been on their side from the start. The Lupin brothers had underestimated him.

"We gonna see any retaliation from the SDC after this?" Adam let his finger drum on his holster absently. "A lot of cash going missing isn't exactly a way to made friends with folks like this." Sienna grinned at that, and shook her head.

"Apparently, Romulus and Remus weren't the only ones doing work off the books. Morrison had pulled the funds from within the company, and now has to either replace them with he own resources or find some other way to cover the loss. He figured the profits from the new acquisition would cover the hole. So that's a nice bonus for us to the tune of two million Lien." Her smile faded even as she said it. "Although, it's not the kind of progress I was hoping for. Convoys getting turned over make a lot less noise than a Director getting the shake down. We may see them again further down the road, but it won't be until after Morrison recovers from this debacle."

"You don't sound thrilled about all this." Arthur observed. Sienna stretched her arms above her head, yawning tiredly as her body contorted in way that a normal woman could never do.

"Not terribly. The money is nice, but ultimately our cause had far more to lose than gain with this little gambit of theirs. I know I said we would escalate and take what we need by force, but storming a train for a Director of the SDC is too likely to be spun against us. All it takes is a single reporter to spin the wrong story, and we'll be on the back foot." She blinked, her eyes refocusing on Arthur. "But enough of that. I'm sure you've seen enough of this office for tonight. Come on." She stepped around the desk and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the door before releasing it.

When the door swung open again, there were a few more White Fang members milling about. No doubt they had heard the commotion, and many of them were scowling. No one liked a traitor, and word of the Lupin brothers' scheme must have gotten around. Arthur nodded to Marcus and Illia when he passed them, and continued following Sienna out to the courtyard. They could hear murmurs and yelling from outside, and what words Arthur could make out weren't complimentary.

Outside but within the perimeter wall, a cacophony of jeers could be heard coming from the White Fang. Sentries, builders, and soldiers alike all joined in to mock the departing Lupin brothers. The gathered Faunus yelled things like 'traitors!' and 'scum!', and the two looked around helplessly at those that were protecting them just earlier that day. Before they were discovered for their treachery. The two had some hastily packed bags, and Romulus had a tent that, to Arthur's experienced eyes, wasn't going to survive the journey as poorly stored as it was. The circle of jeering White Fang closed in around the two brothers, who had nowhere else to go besides the outside gate. The path was dark, and the White Fang base was the only safe area for miles. But the great beast would tolerate these fleas no longer.

"You'll regret this!" Remus cried to the howling crowd, his voice a higher pitch than normal. "I'll see you all ruined. Count on it!" While his brother's ire was directed at those around them, Romulus turned and stabbed a finger at Sienna herself.

"Don't think this is over, Khan!" He cried, seemingly emboldened now that he was free from her influence. "The White Fang's reputation will be smeared all over the news after this, I swear it! We helped build you from the ground up, and this is how you repay us?! I'll have you crawling-" Arthur was barely surprised when Sienna's battle chain lashed out, the blade on the end carving a deep furrow from Romulus' mouth to the middle of his cheek. The Faunus spun to the ground, his pack spilling everywhere as he howled in pain. The dirt was stained a dark color as blood fell free from between his fingers, and he cast his shocked eyes back toward Sienna. She flicked her chain and brought it back to her hand, flicking the blade clear of his blood.

"You're right. This is exactly how we repay those that consort with the SDC to betray the White Fang. You disgust me." Once it was clean, she stowed her weapon once more, her expression one of resolution. "Know this, Romulus. You two are a disgrace to Faunus everywhere. May the Grimm hound your every step."

Remus came to his brother's aid, picking him up even as the man cursed and spat blood from his ruined mouth. Casting fearful glances all around, the younger brother could only curse as he led them out into the jungle, and the wooden doors of the White Fang based slammed behind them.

With the Lupin brothers gone, a cheer went up all around the camp. The White Fang were glad that such toxic people had been thrown from their fold, and Sienna allowed them a moment to bask in the camaraderie. All good things, however, had to end.

"Lock it up!" She ordered, ceasing their cries. "With this much negativity in the air, the Grimm will come calling! Show them how we deal with unwelcome guests!" Another cry went up following her words, and quite a few grabbed their weapons and started climbing up into guard positions and observation posts. The camp went back to its normal bustle, and the mood was surprisingly upbeat given what had just happened. Sienna watched them all go at it for a moment, then waved over Adam and Marcus. With Arthur flanking her, Sienna led her commanders back toward her office.

"Come along, boys." She invited over her shoulder. "We've got a mansion to burn." Behind her, Adam smirked.

"I trust the amount is sufficient?" The man spoke, or at least he thought it was a man. Those voice scramblers were a bitch to get past, and he didn't have his recording equipment nearby. He tipped his head and looked over his account, watching the numbers climb to a satisfying amount. Once they stopped increasing, he gave a small grunt of acknowledgment.

"It'll do. And I have to babysit someone along the way?" He wasn't looking forward to it, but it would be far from the first time. Most clients had trust issues and sent along insurance of some kind.

"Mister Van der Linde is quite capable, I assure you." The benefactor said dismissively. "Though if he becomes too much of a burden, leave him behind. His only real purpose is to confirm the identity of the target." That rung a little better in his ears. Nuisances had a habit of working themselves out, but in the Mistralian wilderness he could kill someone and come up with all kinds of stories. If the client was content with losses to start with, it made things easier for him.

"I'll be flying in sometime tomorrow. As long as things go smoothly with this tracker of yours, we should be done by the end of the week. Anything else you need done while I'm here?" He didn't ask out of any concern, but sometimes bonuses liked to pop up in the middle of a job. Besides, he needed a new punching bag. Mercury was starting to fall apart.

"The task at hand is enough, I assure you. Contact us through the usual channels. You'll receive the rest of your pay then." Without anything else, the benefactor signed off. Marcus Black sighed and looked over the scant information he had. Apparently this Van der Linde character would have everything he needed to ID the target. And if it was the same one he was thinking of, Samuel Winchester would pay quite a bit as well.

"Arthur Morgan, huh?" Marcus clenched his fist, and was satisfied when a blade extended from his forearm. "Looks like your time is up, my friend."

A/N: Obviously the heist is upon us, and things won't go the way Arthur wants. Next chapter will have a whole lot of bad shit going down. I looked back and realized that I got my time a little confused. I need to make some minor adjustments concerning Ruby and Yang's age. At this point, we are four years before Volume 1 begins. I made Ruby and Yang seem a little older than I wanted to. It'll be more obvious in the next chapter.

Which...might take some time before it is released. I'm not going to bring current events into my writing, but things are heating up. We've already had some people fly in from Chicago just to stir up trouble. I use my writing as a distraction and a way to entertain people, but now I've got to get my head in the game. No idea when I will start back up, but this looks like at least a month long hiatus. I'm sorry, you guys don't deserve such a thing, but I've got some people I need to take care of. Stay safe and protect each other. I'll see you guys once this shit storm is over.