The horror was abated somewhat by the fact that Victoria was in a wheelchair.
Also by that she was much thinner. There was far more gray in her lavender-colored hair than before.
She didn't seem to be diminished in spirit though, from the look in her eye.
"Who's knocking people around in my lab?" she said crossly.
"It was him." Watts gestured at Royal.
"Who is he?" Victoria eyed him. "He looks like a common pilot. I don't have time for this. I'm very busy."
"Vic, come on, you can't make a quick little diagram?" Theo said.
"I don't know why I should," Victoria said. "You've done nothing but pester me all week. Grimm this, Grimm that. Get a hobby."
"Is that Kip's mom?" Royal said, unhelpfully. "She looks just like him."
Victoria froze. "Oh," she said. "You know my son."
"Not well, but he's flown around the base enough. Everyone knows the odd duck," Royal said.
"Odd duck? Is that what you call him?" Victoria said, on edge.
"Everyone calls them that. It's a term of endearment." Royal seemed puzzled by her reaction.
"Vic is a bit overprotective of her son," Theo hissed. "I wouldn't push it."
"Is everyone here just cracked out?" Royal muttered.
"Yes." Cinder frowned.
"Is that Cinder?" Victoria glanced at her. "Mother of machines, you've lost some style. Don't get me wrong, your style before made you look like some floozy, but this is just dull."
Cinder thought that was a bit harsh. Sure, she was looking like a regular citizen now, but she could still slay. She wore glass heels for crying out loud.
But Victoria scared the crap out of her still. More than Salem ever had, in fact.
She couldn't think of anything to say in response.
Even Blake and Sun felt sorry for Cinder. They could only imagine what it would be like to be insulted by someone who captured you and experimented on you like you were a human guinea pig, here in her own lab again. They wouldn't wish that on anyone.
They stepped a little in front of her.
"Can you help us figure the tunnels out?" Blake asked.
"Oh, yes... those," Victoria said absently. "Well, to answer your question, there are some that go out to the edge of the city. It's plausible the Grimm could have dug in. Those Scarabs are expert diggers. Only they don't usually come so close. Most people think they live in nests themselves out in the high desert, where no one would ever live and they can roam around freely. That they came so close is the surprising part. They're some other older Grimm that seem to know better than to attack without reason. Something must have set them off. If it's not Salem, I can't tell you what it is."
"There's not been any big tragedy here or anything else?" Blake asked.
"Nothing," Theo said. "We have our accidents and scandals that lead to some tensions between our little groups, but nothing unusual."
"It might not be tensions." Cinder didn't make eye contact with Victoria. "What about greed? Envy? Fear?"
"Possible," Victoria said, not very interested.
"Just point me to the right area. Var and I will check it out." Theo sounded weary of this.
Victoria wheeled away to do this.
YOU ARE READING
RWBY Through Worlds (End)
FanfictionCouldn't fit it all in one book so this is the end of the story. Sit tight, it's a real ride. After the author's note, you'll see I wrote an epilogue in the form of a bonus book of extra stuff I wanted to see more of and couldn't fit in the main boo...
