Present Day

In a dimly lit room adorned with maps and blueprints, Cinder Fall sat at the head of a table, her fingers tapping rhythmically as she spoke. Emerald Sustrai listened intently, nodding occasionally, while Mercury Black, disinterested, played a game on his scroll.

"This is our moment," Cinder said, her voice cool and calculating. "Everything is falling into place. Roman, you and Neo will handle the dust shipments. Ensure no interruptions."

Roman Torchwick and Neopolitan entered the room just as a battered and bruised White Fang grunt stumbled in behind them, looking like he had been run over by a truck. The grunt staggered forward, drawing the group's attention.

"Strikerz..." the grunt mumbled before collapsing unconscious on the floor.

Roman and Neo exchanged a glance, their faces going pale. Neo, normally composed, looked visibly shaken. Roman wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

Cinder raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Who is Strikerz?"

Emerald glanced at Cinder, confused. "Yeah, who is this guy? And why do you two look like you've seen a ghost?"

Mercury paused his game, finally interested. "Sounds like someone interesting. What's the deal?"

Roman sighed, his usual bravado replaced with genuine fear. "Strikerz... He's the definition of 'Fuck Around and Find Out.' He's not just any bounty hunter; he's relentless, unpredictable, and damn good at what he does. I've had a few run-ins with him, and believe me, you don't want to be on his bad side."

Cinder frowned, clearly displeased with the disruption in their plans. "How much of a threat is he to our operations?"

Roman shrugged, trying to regain his composure. "He's already taken out several White Fang cells single-handedly. If he's in Mistral, it means he's been hired for something big. We need to be careful."

Neo nodded in agreement, her expression grim. She mimed a series of gestures that conveyed the brutality of Strikerz's methods, leaving little to the imagination.

Cinder's eyes narrowed. "So, he's a wildcard. We'll need to factor him into our plans. Emerald, Mercury, gather as much information on him as you can. I want to know his every move."

Emerald and Mercury nodded, their expressions serious. Mercury returned to his scroll, but this time, he began pulling up data on Strikerz, his game long forgotten.

Roman took a deep breath, trying to shake off his fear. "Just remember, if you see him, don't engage. Avoid him at all costs."

Cinder smirked, her confidence unwavering. "We'll see about that. Everyone has a weakness. We just need to find his."

As they strategized, the unconscious grunt was carried out of the room, a stark reminder of the threat Strikerz posed. The atmosphere grew tense, but Cinder's determination remained unshaken. She would find a way to deal with this new player, one way or another.

A second later, Mercury's scroll emitted a series of warning beeps before abruptly exploding in a shower of sparks and smoke. He dropped it with a yelp, shaking his hand to cool the burns.

"What the hell?!" Mercury shouted, glaring at the smoldering remains of his device.

Cinder and Emerald jumped to their feet, eyes wide with surprise. Neo, ever silent, raised an eyebrow while Roman's face twisted into a knowing grimace.

"That would be Strikerz's handiwork," Roman muttered. "He's notorious for his security measures. Seems he's put a nasty virus in place to protect his information."

Emerald looked at Roman, clearly agitated. "A virus? That powerful? Who is this guy?"

Roman shook his head. "Someone who doesn't want to be found. And someone who's very good at ensuring that."

Cinder's expression hardened as she processed the implications. "So, not only is he a threat in combat, but he's also got the technological prowess to back it up. Interesting."

Mercury, still nursing his hand, scowled. "Great. Now what? We can't even look him up without risking another explosion."

Roman leaned against the table, trying to think. "If he's in Mistral and has that kind of tech, he's likely connected with someone high up. Maybe the Councilman who hired him. Either way, we're dealing with someone who plays on a different level."

Cinder folded her arms, her mind racing. "Then we'll have to change our approach. We can't afford to go in blind, but we also can't risk direct confrontation until we know more."

Roman nodded. "I'll reach out to my contacts, see if there's any chatter about him. But we need to tread carefully. Strikerz isn't just a bounty hunter; he's a damn force of nature."

As the group deliberated, the reality of the situation set in. Strikerz was an unknown variable, one that could disrupt their carefully laid plans. Cinder's mind was already working on a strategy to either neutralize or manipulate this new player, while Roman and Neo exchanged uneasy glances, fully aware of the storm that was brewing.

The room fell into a tense silence, each member contemplating their next move. Strikerz had made his presence known, and now it was up to them to adapt or face the consequences.

"He has fought with Neo," Roman began, catching the group's attention. Cinder's lips curled into a smirk, already scheming a way to use this information. However, Roman quickly dashed her hopes.

"But he won," Roman continued, his tone serious. "He shocked her with enough electricity to stop her heart. Twice. He was kind enough to take her to the hospital afterward."

Cinder's smirk vanished, replaced by a look of incredulity. "He stopped Neo's heart? Twice? And then took her to the hospital?"

Roman nodded, his face grim. "Yeah. He may be ruthless, but he's not without a strange sense of honor."

Neo, standing quietly by Roman's side, tensed slightly at the mention of her past encounter with Strikerz. Her usual mischievous expression was replaced with a hard, calculating look.

Mercury, still nursing his burned hand, shook his head in disbelief. "So, he's a badass and a Boy Scout? Great."

Emerald crossed her arms, frowning. "What kind of person does that? And why would he help Neo after beating her?"

Roman shrugged. "Who knows? Strikerz is an enigma. He plays by his own rules, and it makes him unpredictable. That's what makes him dangerous."

Cinder leaned back in her chair, her mind racing with new calculations. "If he's that strong and unpredictable, we can't just confront him head-on. We need to outsmart him."

Roman nodded. "Agreed. We need to find a way to either turn him to our side or neutralize him without direct confrontation."

Cinder's eyes narrowed. "What about his weaknesses? Everyone has them."

Roman thought for a moment before replying, "He's a bit of a smartass and has a soft spot for helping people, even if it's in his own twisted way. He despises the White Fang and anyone who mistreats Faunus."

Cinder's smirk returned, albeit more subdued. "Interesting. Perhaps we can exploit those weaknesses. Create a situation where he has to choose between his principles and his safety."

Roman remained cautious. "Just remember, he's extremely resourceful and has a knack for turning situations to his advantage. We need to be very careful."

Cinder's mind continued to churn out plans and contingencies. "We'll proceed with caution, then. But we need to keep an eye on him and gather more intel. He might become a useful pawn if we play our cards right."

As the group continued to discuss their strategy, the sense of unease lingered. Strikerz had already proven himself to be a formidable adversary, and underestimating him would be a grave mistake. They needed to be smart, cunning, and prepared for anything.

Roman added, "But I did find out that he grew up and left at the age of 5 from a fucked up orphanage in Mistral."

At the mention of the orphanage, Cinder's expression hardened. She had a quick, unbidden flashback to her own childhood in a terrible orphanage before being adopted by a horrible woman and her cruel stepsisters. The memory was sharp and painful, a reminder of the suffering she had endured and the resolve it had forged within her.

Her voice, when she spoke, was cold and controlled. "So, he knows how to survive in harsh conditions. That makes him even more dangerous."

Roman nodded. "Exactly. He's not someone who will break easily. He's been through hell and came out stronger."

Mercury, sensing the tension, shifted uncomfortably. "Great. Just what we need—a tough guy with a tragic backstory. Makes him harder to manipulate."

Cinder's eyes glinted with a mix of determination and lingering pain. "Not necessarily. People like him have scars. If we can find the right one, we can exploit it."

Emerald, always quick to support Cinder, leaned in. "Do you think we can use his past against him?"

Cinder considered this, her mind working through possibilities. "Perhaps. We need to understand him better. Know what drives him, what haunts him. If we can find that leverage, we can control him."

Roman looked skeptical but didn't argue. "Just be careful. He's not the type to fall for simple tricks."

As the group continued their discussion, Cinder couldn't help but feel a strange sense of kinship with Strikerz. Their pasts were different, yet they shared a common thread of suffering and survival. It was a connection she couldn't ignore, but it was also one she would not let stand in the way of her plans.