Even with Clark's senses, he hadn't thought it would be easyto dismantle a terrorist organization. Still, this was starting to make him impatient.

"So the docks were a bust, what are we going to do now?" Sun asked, turning to Blake as the three left the shipyard.

"Prepare our defense," she said. "The members we caught seem to think the White Fang are going to attack soon, that's what we should focus on."

"How soon is that though?" Clark asked.

Blake shrugged. "At best I can say within a few weeks."

A few weeks. Clark couldn't stay here for that long, but even with his powers he didn't think he could speed up that timetable. Well, not unless he scoured through Menagerie for White Fang bases. Even with super-speed he wasn't sure how effective that would be. Super-hearing and X-ray vision only worked with near normal speed perception.

"Cheer up, dude," Sun said. "It's okay. Trust me, I was here for months before we even got started fighting the White Fang."

Clark didn't even look at him as he answered. "I'll try."

After helping prepare the chieftain's house against the White Fang, he supposed he could go visit Satin again. Although he should wait a few hours since he didn't want to bother her at work. It was around two in the afternoon right now.

Silently, he let out a breath. Oh, what was the point in being frustrated? Clark looked around. It was a bright sunny day, a near-constant of the tropical island that he appreciated. Nearly everyone in the streets had an obvious animal feature, and strangely enough he felt a sort of kinship with them. After all, they'd actually faced the discrimination that he feared, but they were still happy and going on with their lives. It gave him the wild impulse to join them, admit to Remnant what he was and what he could do.

And as he watched the streets, he realized again that he'd picked up a good habit in this world of checking for people following him. Plus, this fixed what he'd been upset about in the first place. Their stalker watched them from the forest, but hiding behind trees didn't stop Clark from spotting his red hair and white mask.

Adam Taurus, one of the people Blake had warned him about.

Clark interrupted Sun and Blake's conversation, which had been less of a conversation and more Sun talking and Blake giving one-word answers. "We're being followed."

That got Blake's attention fast. Her relaxed heartbeat quickened even as she gave no outward sign of alarm.

Sun, on the other hand, was more upfront. "What?! Are you sure?"

"Calm down." Blake said in a composed, but still very annoyed, tone. She didn't look back at him as she walked at a steady pace. "Are you sure, Clark?"

"Hundred percent. He's in the trees."

"Is he alone?"

"Yes . . . no, scratch that he has a friend." Clark corrected himself as he noticed the second. He hadn't caught him, no her, it was a woman, because she was much further back. Clark relayed the information.

Blake took it in and waited a few seconds. "Okay, we're going to find out what they want. If she's further back, that probably means she's a long-range fighter. Which also tells us that they expect combat."

Nope. Clark had gotten a glance at their second follower and recognized Ilia. No long-range weapons on her, just the retractable whip they'd told him about.

"We should go in the forest to lure in the first one," Blake said. "Use the trees as cover from attacks from the second."

Clark and Sun agreed and followed her. When she reached one of the less used paths into the forest, she went down it.

They were far enough from the town for it to be safe for the citizens after a few minutes. However, it looked like Adam wasn't going to wait for them anymore.

"He's coming at us, fast," Clark said and spun to face him. Sun and Blake did the same with their weapons ready.

Finally, Adam revealed himself, dropping down from the trees about thirty feet in front of them. He had his sword out, the red blade gleaming in the sunlight.

Blake tensed at the sight of him, the motion cutting a hitch in her breathing.

Clark took a moment to peer through his mask, and he couldn't hide a reaction when he did. His eyes went wide and his lips parted in shock. The man was branded. The dark red letters SDC running across the bridge his nose and over a ruined left eye.

Like a bull, and with his horns Clark couldn't help but wonder if that was why he'd gotten it. A sick joke by whoever had marked him.

Clark's shock had probably been why Adam watched him for slightly longer when giving him and Sun evaluative looks. However, when his gaze landed on Blake, it was clear who his attention was on. He grinned. "Blake, did you really think you could try that against me? The one who taught you how to handle trackers?"

"What do you want, Adam?" Blake asked. There was fear in her voice, but it didn't cripple her, a hint of ferocity rumbled out as well.

"I wasn't planning to do anything yet, my love. I became curious when I heard that you were trying to find us, and I wanted to see how far you'd get." Adam held up his sword and pointed the tip at her. "Now though, it looks like I have a good excuse to take you early."

Clark scowled. So not only was Adam a terrorist, he was fixated on Blake.

"Early? What do you mean by that?" Blake asked.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Just know that soon your parents will pay just as you will for betraying the White Fang."

"Hey, I know you have the goo-goo eyes for Blake, but we're here too. We're not letting you 'take' anyone," Sun said. "There are three of us, you think fighting is a good idea?"

Adam answered easily. "There is great strength in a team whose members know how to fight together. That's what Blake and I had, not you three. You are strangers to each other. You'll get in each other's way as much as mine."

"Yeah, you sure about that?" Sun bent his knees and tightened the grip on his staff. It was like an unconscious signal that prepared all of them to fight.

"Wait." Clark got in between the two and Adam. He didn't have high hopes, but there had to be a chance for a peaceful resolution. Clark spread his hands. "We don't have to do this. Maybe you have your reasons for hating humans, but it's not too late. You can surrender, try to make up for everything you've done."

Adam displayed a displeased frown. "I have nothing to make up for. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far."

"You were involved in the attack on Vale. The worst disaster in recent history. You don't feel any remorse for that?"

"I do not," Adam said, and he clearly meant it. The same fanaticism coursed through him as the prisoners they'd captured but worse. More certain. Deadly. Especially when he had huntsman-level combat abilities and a high role in the White Fang.

Even so, it was too soon to give up. If appealing to empathy or guilt wouldn't work, Clark still had the option of making him see that he wouldn't win this fight. "This doesn't have to end in violence. You're outnumbered, don't you see how pointless fighting us is?"

"If you don't have the stomach to fight, human, then leave."

"Trust me, I'm willing to fight," Clark said. "I lost friends in Vale that night, one of them might have even been killed by the Grimm you brought into the city. Even so, you're getting the chance to give up. Take it."

"More humans dead only make me happier."

Clark clamped down on the involuntary heat brought to his eyes. "One of them was a faunus."

That didn't derail Adam's insanity the slightest. "A necessary sacrifice, then. Or if he sided with the humans, the death of a race traitor is just as good."

"You-" Clark's sympathy from seeing Adam's face was fading and his usual patience was wearing thin as well. "Her mother is here on this island, devastated by her death. She was training to be a huntress to fight Grimm. She would have brought so much good in the world, and she was a faunus. Not the humans you hate, a faunus."

"A huntress-in-training? If she used her gifts to work against the White Fang in that attack, then she deserved death."

Clark stepped forward, radiating hostility. Purposefully displaying it to Adam, who had reacted by rushing forward. His aura was up and his sword arced across the air to slice him.

The world slowed to a stop, the only motion Clark's. The constant flood of sound in his ears vanished. The palm fronds stilled in their swaying of the wind. Adam froze, midair in his attack.

Clark caught his sword. His fist struck Adam's chest. The world moved again.

The hit slammed Adam into the ground, and his aura sputtered out. He yelled out from the pain, which would only bruise when it could have been much worse.

In between his fingers, Clark snapped Adam's sword apart. A burst of speed later he stood above Adam and crushed the sheathe under his foot, he'd noticed earlier that it was also a weapon.

A huntsman's weapon was vital to them, usually incredibly intricate and personal. While Adam wasn't a huntsman, the design and uniqueness of his weapons likely meant he felt something similar for them. At the very least, they'd be very difficult to replace.

Clark had destroyed them while fully aware of that.

He grabbed Adam by the cuff of his shirt and tossed him at Blake's feet. "Find out what you can from him. I'll be handling something else."

They didn't even have time to respond when he left again with his true speed, but their shocked faces were all he needed to know what they were thinking.

However, there were more important things to do than explain. First was getting to the second terrorist still in the trees. The one who'd gasped at her leader's collapse.

Then it was having her lead him to the rest of the White Fang so he could match its fate to Adam's.

\\\\\

Phil tossed and turned in the box. If they were going to take him, he wasn't going to give them an easy time of it. He heard grunts and some cursing, a good sign, but they didn't seem to be slowing down. Which meant there was no chance of stopping them either.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The box tilted, and his head pressed against the cardboard, his body pushed 'up'. They were taking the stairs to the back exit of the building instead of the elevator.

It was uncomfortable with blood going to his head. A door opened, and he gave his last struggles as they exited. He hadn't had much of an effect anyway, maybe it would be better to save his strength when he could find Andrea and escape with her.

Phil shuffled around, this time only to get more comfortable. Then his captors shouted. They dropped him suddenly with a painful thump on the ground. For a few seconds there was more shouting and even a few gunshots.

They were being attacked! He saw hope, and once it was quiet, light from the street penetrated into the box.

Someone was standing above him. That familiar short stature, the comforting black mask and cloak, although she had a large scythe he'd never seen before. Sharpshooter!

"Phil!" she shouted. "Hold on, I'll get you out."

She sliced across his ropes in a frightening but precise swing. Phil got up and fumbled with his gag. Damn they'd tied it tight. By the time he got it off, Knight and Prevail had jumped down from somewhere.

They looked around at the unconscious or moaning men, and Prevail asked "What happened here?"

"These guys kidnapped me." Phil turned to Sharpshooter. "Seriously, thanks for showing up just in time."

"You're welcome," she said in her usual peppy voice. "It's a good thing I rushed over here when you didn't answer your walkie."

"I think we should go," Knight said, watching their surroundings. "More of these guys might show up."

Phil nodded. "Right, but we should question them first. Find where Andrea is." He checked the few men who were still awake. "You!" He'd spotted Eugene, and his deceit made his blood boil. Had he done the same to Andrea?

Phil stomped over. The lying bastard was cradling his leg, and Phil pulled up him by his shirt. "Where's Andrea?!"

His eyes bulged. "Wh-what?"

"You heard me! Where did you take her?!" This guy hadn't just tried to kidnap him, he'd captured Andrea and tied her up somewhere! He normally wouldn't have even considered it, but he'd easily get rough with Eugene if that was what it took to save her.

"I-I don't know!"

"You lying piece of shit, tell me otherwise you're done for!" Phil raised a fist. Eugene cowered, his hands up to protect him.

"Hey hey!" Knight grabbed his arm. "I understand that you're mad, Phil, but you can't do that." Slowly, he pulled Phil away.

The officer didn't resist, but his glare didn't ease up until Knight pulled him to the side. After a few seconds, Phil nodded to show him he'd calmed down. The masked Interference members continued the questioning.

"Now, we don't want to hurt you, but you need to tell us what we want to know." Knight said to Eugene. For effect, Sharpshooter slammed the blade of her scythe into the ground, making Eugene start. "Where is Andrea? What have you done with her?"

"You mean Andrea Mache," Eugene said. "That wasn't us. We're not the only ones after the Interference."

Phil wasn't good at telling lies, and he doubted Sharpshooter would be either given her age. However, Knight and Prevail didn't seem much more certain. They hesitated.

"Can you prove it?" Prevail asked.

Eugene tried to think. "I-I can tell you who took Mache. It was the syndicate alliance! The Thraces, Ionas, the Blood Orchids, it was them."

"How does that prove that you're not working with them?" Knight asked.

"Are you kidding? If I worked for them, they'd kill me and my family for telling you that."

Knight moved on to his next question. "Okay then, what will it take to tell us about your boss?"

"Nothing you can manage. You can do what you want with me, but that won't change anything."

"What if we tell Councilor Dolus that you told us everything about him?" Sharpshooter asked.

The blood drained from Eugene's face. "How did you know?"

"I didn't, but we already had a good idea. Thanks for verifying it."

Eugene slumped down. He seemed to be contemplating just how Dolus would punish him for this. Phil doubted the Interference would stand by while that happened, but he didn't mind letting Eugene suffer.

"We should go now," Knight said. "The warehouse should be safe."

They led him through whatever back alleys and off streets they could. Sometimes, one of them even carried him as they leapt up and across buildings. He'd known they were huntsman-level fighters, but until now he'd only seen action like this from Farmer.

The warehouse was empty now, although the supplies that had been used for the trafficking victims still lay around. Blankets and clothes folded in the corner, tubs, soap, and there was still some food left. Snacks and packs of instant noodles. If he was going to have to hide from Councilor Dolus here, it shouldn't be too difficult.

"What are we going to do next?" Phil asked.

The three hesitated, several seconds passed until Knight answered. "The one we questioned said that Andrea was taken by the syndicate alliance. We're going to try and find out more."

Phil nodded. "Okay, then there's someone you should talk to. Andrea's contact, she told me who it was recently."

"Who?" Knight asked.

"She's called Lil' Miss Malachite, and she has a pretty extensive underground information network."

Knight nodded. "Farmer's told me a little about her. He said she's difficult to deal with, are you sure we can trust her?"

Going to her had sounded like a good idea to Phil, but now it was starting to lose its appeal. His tone lost its certainty. "She talked to Andrea, so maybe she'll talk to us. At the very least, she'll be able to tell us something useful."

"Okay. Prevail, Sharpshooter, what do you think?" Knight's head turned left and right to his partners.

Prevail answered first. "It sounds dangerous, but you're the one who knows the most about her out of all of us. I'll agree to whatever you decide."

"I think we should go," Sharpshooter said. "I'll keep a lookout from a distance."

Knight looked down, his eyes showing him deep in thought. "We'll go. Phil, where can we find her?"

"She's on one of the lower levels. I want to come with and show you."

"Phil, it's dangerous," Prevail said. "We have aura and Semblances and even we're wary of going there."

His lips pressed together. "I know. I still want to go."

Knight walked forward. Before he could speak, Phil interrupted. "Please, Andrea's my friend. I need to know what happened to her, and I won't be dead weight. I don't know about you guys, but I'm a police officer. I have experience dealing with criminals."

The three of them looked at each other, and after a moment seemed to reach an agreement. Knight spoke. "Alright, you can come with us."

He had a feeling it was more his pleading than his usefulness as a cop that had convinced them, but that was fine. As long as he got to know what happened to Andrea.

With Phil's directions to the seedier parts of the city, the four of them went down to Malachite's bar. It wasn't hard to find once you knew the general area to go to, her territory was marked with her spider symbol.

There was a debate about who should go inside. Phil thought it would be bad if more than one of the masked members went in. It wasn't just their weapons or masks. They gave off the impression of being huntsmen. He hadn't been sure how to explain it, but they did so for him when they admitted that he was right. It was their movements, fighters with at least some training would recognize the level of their capabilities.

They decided that Phil and Knight would go in while Prevail and Sharpshooter were on standby outside. Sharpshooter's specialty was long-distance sniping and Prevail had some sort of Semblance that could help them from a distance.

So, the two of them walked into Malachite's bar. It was busy, the tables filled with people talking and drinking. Knight's mask and cloak got a few looks, but there were a few other patrons with pretty wild outfits, so he didn't get that much attention.

They went up to Malachite, a large woman with short blond hair at her own table by the side of the bar. She'd been saying something to a man and woman behind her until she'd noticed them approach. A mildly curious expression appeared on her face and she twirled her cigarette around.

"Well well, what can I do for you two?" she asked with an accent. Her e's and o's were drawn out, not a Mistralian accent Phil had ever heard of.

"We want to know where Andrea Mache is," Knight said.

She snapped her fingers. "Tablet." The guard behind her went to another table and brought one over. She typed and tapped the transparent screen. "I can give you her address for fifty lien or so."

Phil breathed out in annoyance. "No, we want to know where she's been taken."

"Taken?" Malachite asked, genuinely surprised. Her mask of indifference shattered. "What do you mean by that?"

"If you don't know, then we have no business with you. Come on, let's go." Knight said and started to leave.

"Now hold on a second." Her words brought Knight to a halt. "You have plenty of business with me, mask boy. You think I won't connect the dots when you come here with Phil Helios, Andrea's best friend, and ask me where she's been taken? You're the Interference."

Phil froze. Not only did she already know his name, she'd realized who Knight was.

"Part of it," Knight admitted. "What business do I have with you if you can't tell me where Andrea is?"

"First of all, I can tell you where she is, but more importantly you better tell me why I shouldn't get everyone in here to beat you down and rip that mask off." The two behind her stepped forward, ready for a fight.

Nervously, Phil's eyes traveled around the room. He'd noticed spider tattoos on a few of the customers but now it was like he found it wherever he looked. On that wiry man's bald head, the woman's shoulder, the bulging elbow of a brawny guy a few tables over.

His vision settled on Knight in front of him. He made a calm, dependable figure. Hopefully, if it came to violence he'd be able to take care of it.

"Don't underestimate the Interference," Knight said. "I admit all of you together could probably take me, but we're familiar with your spiders. Two weeks ago you met with Xue Ming from the Blood Orchids at one of their restaurants on the fifth level of the city. You advised him to give up his human trafficking rings since the testimony of the twenty was prompting the Interference and police to crack down on them."

The shock on Malachite's face at his words had already turned to indignation when he'd finished. "Okay, you've made your point. What do you plan to do with your information?"

"If you help us, nothing. If not, then we'll give out crucial information on your network to your rivals."

Malachite assessed his words, then stood up. "Alright, come with me. I'm not talking about this out here."

Phil and Knight followed her down the hall to a room in the back of the building. It was bare except for a table and some chairs. She sat down in one, her guards remained standing. She inhaled from her cigarette and a wave of her hand gestured for the two men to sit.

"Before I tell you anything, I want a deal," she said. "Nobody can know I told you this."

"Okay, we agree to that," Knight said.

Malachite shook her head, unsatisfied. "I'm serious. If the syndicate alliance finds out, or even the few groups getting by outside of it, then I'm going after the Interference. It's not going to be a fight, not after how you hit New Moon, but I'll definitely make things difficult for you. I'll give out every trick I know to avoid you or the cops, how to be more discreet with our businesses, it'll be hell for you."

Phil focused on Knight for his response. So she'd interfere with the Interference. If the situation weren't so serious, the wording might have given him a bit of a chuckle. He had no idea how much trouble she could cause, but he didn't think it was insignificant.

Knight answered more intently. "We promise that no one will find out what you told us."

"Good." Malachite swiped at her tablet and then showed them the screen. "This is almost definitely where the alliance took Andrea."

It was building built into a rock side that looked centuries old. The gray color blended in with the rock except at the sharp corners. In the photo, sunlight glinted off a spot in the water flowing on either side. Phil could only spot one entrance, which was led in by a bridge. It was a fortress.

"This is one of Iona's forts, his family got ahold of it a few decades ago. As you can see, it's very secure, although this photo alone doesn't do it justice. The only way in is through a narrow road that can just barely fit two cars through at a time. It's very well defensible with the water and ramparts to fire down from. But even if you do trap them in there, I hear it has a few escape tunnels."

"How do you know this is where they took her?" Knight asked.

"There's been plenty of activity there recently. Fighters from every member of the alliance coming in, and something important just arrived there. It has to be her."

Knight nodded and leaned back. "Thank you for telling us."

Malachite scowled. "Don't thank me. Not unless you save Andrea from those bastards." She made a few more taps on her scroll. "Helios' scroll should have more specifics on the place."

Phil's scroll pinged and he checked it. She'd sent him files with schematics of the place with warnings that they weren't complete and lists of the families she knew for certain were involved along with the ones she suspected.

Knight leaned over to see it. "Why are you doing this? Are you and Andrea close in some way?"

Malachite grinned. "Oh, does the mysterious Interference not know? Don't let me give away the answer, ask Andrea about it after you save her."

Phil definitely would. How could he not be curious about what sort of relationship Andrea had with this woman? She'd grown up in the slums, did that have something to do with it?

"Thank you for you help," Knight said. He stood up to leave.

Phil went up to follow him. Lingering here probably wouldn't be good for his health, and he had the feeling Knight agreed.

"Wait," Malachite said. She looked at them with a bored expression again. "I don't appreciate being threatened, but I acknowledge the Interference. If you want to do business with me, and I mean business, not an exchange of threats for information, I won't say no."

At the door, Knight shook his head. "I can't say I speak for the Interference as a whole, but I doubt we're going to take you up on your offer."

"We'll see, mask boy. Now get out of my bar before I change my mind about being friendly."

They didn't need her to tell them again. The two walked out, Phil's pace brisk.

Phil breathed out once he left, his head low. He pressed a hand on Knight's shoulder. "That was intense."

Knight laughed. A nervous one, not at all the calm, amused sound Phil would have expected. "Same here. Honestly dude, that was pretty scary."

The cop faced him with wide eyes. "You handled it so well though. When you mentioned that you'd infiltrated her network . . ."

"Farmer told me about it, but I'm surprised I even managed to think of it." Knight placed a hand on his chest. "Whew. Anyway, it worked! We did it!"

"Yeah!" Phil's celebration ended short as he remembered just where Andrea was being kept. "But . . . do you think we can really break into that place?"

Knight's face was hidden behind his mask, but the faltering of his triumphant stance told Phil that his smile had fallen as well. He was quiet for a few seconds. "Maybe. I need to discuss it with Prevail and Sharpshooter first."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing definite yet, but at the very least, I hope you're ready to make your case to some huntsmen."