A/N: So, I kinda feel the need to explain myself and this story. As you might be wondering, no. It's not a Ruby/Church romantic pairing. Because that'd be wrong and creepy on so many levels. No. What I'm going for here, is a sort of father/daughter or brother/sister type relationship. So, if that's not what you're looking for, there's the door.

If you do happen to continue reading, I hope you enjoy. And please, be kind. Have a nice day, as well. Oh, and happy New Year.


Prologue: Why Didn't You Just Let Me Die?

Who's gonna fight for what's right? Who's gonna help us survive?

We're in the fight of our lives, and we're not ready to die.

Who's gonna fight for the weak? Who's gonna make them believe?

I've got a hero living in me. I've gotta fight for what's right.

Today, I'm speaking my mind. And if it kills me tonight, I will be ready to die.

A hero's not afraid to give his life. A hero's gonna save me, just in time.

I need a hero to save me now. I need a hero. Save me now!

I need a hero to save my life. A hero will save me, just in time.

Hero - Skillet


Hi, my name's Leonard Church.

But over the years, I was known as Epsilon and Alpha and the Director of Project Freelancer.

You see, I had this kinda brilliant plan. I would fragment myself and disintegrate, saving countless others, including those that I worked with. I'm not sure if 'friends' would be an accurate description. But, at least, there were some I hated less than others. Anyway, I was going to put this plan into action, but next thing I know, I'm gone. Not in a dead sense, though. I have died before though. Ha, ha. That's another story. I just vanished. And now, I'm trapped. In the mind of a fifteen-year-old girl. And trust me, it's not that entertaining. If you can hear this beacon I'm sending out, send help! If you happen to be one of the soldiers from Blood Gulch, never help me again!


Ruby Rose's silver eyes blinked open, and she winced, sitting up. What happened? She thought dismayed. The back of her head throbbed painfully. Her hand danced over the aching area gingerly before she yanked it away, feeling wetness.

Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the crimson stains on her fingertips. What is this?! "That's what I'm wondering," a voice said. She bolted upright, her heart stuttering agonizingly against her ribcage. After a few moments of heart-pounding terror, she glanced around, taking in her surroundings.

This place seemed familiar. Remembrance sent another shockwave of fear through her. It was Mountain Glenn, the ghost town that had been destroyed, overtaken by Grimm and nature. And it appeared that she was in the old hospital. She lay on an old, creaky bed that felt like it was ready to crumble beneath her.

To her left and her right, monitors and machines sat in disrepair. A small IV holder sat next to a machine to her left, the bag drained and slumped sadly, the needle in the crook of her elbow. The walls bore dusty, stained and peeling wallpaper and paint. The window was grimy and let in the dusky moonlight. The only light available as the overhead lights didn't appear to work.

Weiss! Yang! Blake! "They're fine," the voice said, sounding, even more, annoyed. "Who's there?" Ruby called. "I'm over here." She turned to the sound and jolted back. A small, translucent figure hovered near her shoulder. It looked like a man, wearing strange armor. "Who are you?" Ruby asked, her voice cracking.

But as she asked, memories flooded her mind, making the ache turn to a pound. "Ch - Church?" She asked, sucking in a sharp breath through her teeth. "Yeah," the figure sighed, "You can call me Church. I'm your AI, I guess." How did this happen...? "It's a long and complicated process. Look, you might want to get out of here. I'm detecting multiple hostiles headed your way."

Hostiles?! She clambered off the bed, prying the IV needle from her elbow, staggering slightly before reaching for her weapon. To her horror, her fingers skimmed over an empty holster. Ruby froze, her heart thundering angrily in her chest. She slowly sucked in a shuddered breath, calling on her Semblance to flit across the room and down the hallway. She slammed into the double doors without looking back.

After she'd made it a safe distance, she dropped to her knees, breathing in jagged breaths that felt like glass shards slicing through her lungs. "What is happening to me?!" She shrieked. Church flickered into view, pointing at her, "First, ow! You're loud. Second, I'm just as in the dark as you are. Third, ow! Damn. The pipes on you." He made a show of rubbing the side of his helmet like he'd rub his ear.

Ruby stood on trembling legs, touching the back of her head, gasping when her fingers brush over a cold, smooth surface. "Oh, God." She began to breathe erratically, hyperventilating. "Let's not panic, here. Okay?" Church said in an attempt to calm and reason with her.

"How can I not panic?!" Her voice grew shrill as tears welled in her eyes, "You've been implanted into my brain!" She began to pace, her hands shaking at her sides. "Well, yeah..." Church said with a shrug, "You kinda got me there." Ruby flailed unhappily as she wheezed.

"Look, we're both stuck together. This situation isn't ideal, but we're both in it together," Church started gingerly, his body language telegraphing that he was uncomfortable, "So, quit your bitching, Sweetheart. Life sucks for us both." He concluded.

Ruby was so stunned by his bluntness that she stopped pacing and hyperventilating. Her trembling subsided, and she nodded, whispering, "Yeah. I guess you're right." "I know I am," Church sounded smug before flickering to her shoulder. "Come on," He cajoled, "Let's get out of this death trap." "Okay," Ruby nodded again, stooping to pick up a length of pipe.

"Wait," Church stopped her before pointing to a small black box. "Pick that up." Ruby blinked at him before picking it up. The box fit snugly in her hand. "Now what?" "Press the button!" Ruby did as she was told. Light emerged from the box, spreading in an arc, making a shield.

"Whoa," Ruby gaped before a King Taijitu lunged at her, the dark half colliding with the shield, making her hand sting from the friction. She gasped before giving the shield a shove. "On your left!" Church announced, making her turn. She deflected the second half and ducked, rolling across the ground, grabbing a rebar, wielding it like a sword.

As Ruby readied herself for the next attack, Epsilon paused, calculating the next move and how to counter it. "Okay..." Church began scanning the area as Delta appeared next to him, "Hey, Delta." Delta glanced at him, "Epsilon, are you sure this is the best course of action?"

Church glanced at his summation. "Huh... Maybe you're right." He reassessed the situation. "Thanks, D." "You're welcome," with that, Delta disappeared. "Okay," He appeared next to Ruby, calling out the next moves, "Duck! Shield! If you round off that wall, you can ambush it."

Ruby did as told and tapped into her Semblance, leaping up to the wall and shooting from it, driving the end of the rebar into the head of the light half of the King Taijitu before kicking off the head of the dark half, the slipstream of her Semblance sending it spiraling before it struck the wall. The impact had obliterated the remainder of the Grimm before it dissolved.

Ruby doubled over, resting her hands on her knees, breathing raggedly, "Well, you are useful after all." "Thanks," Church deadpanned. "Let's just go, alright?" "Okay," Ruby tucked the Hardlight Shield into her pocket, walking down the street, "If I can find -" She trailed off, hearing her name shouted.

"Is that - ?!" Her heart leapt with joy when she saw a group of familiar figures. "Church! They came for me!" She chirped. "Good for you," Church sounded forlorn. She paused mid-stride. "Church, are you okay?" "Yeah. I'm just fine." He shook his head before a barrage of memories invaded her mind.

People with red and blue armor of varying shades, and one person with orange-ish armor and another in pink armor, flitted past. "Oh..." Ruby bit her lip. "I'm sorry." "Don't be." Church's voice regained its sharpness. "Let's just get back to your friends, okay?" He spat the word 'friends' as though it were disgusting. "Church - "

"I don't want your pity!" He snarled, "So wipe that stupid look off your face!" He blinked out of existence, leaving a stricken Ruby behind. She deflated and slowly walked down the street, tears welling in her eyes. As much as he tried to hide it, Ruby felt his hope rising when the voices echoed down the street, only to fall when he recognized them as Ruby's friends, not his. The blow struck her just as hard as it struck him.

I'll help you find them, Church. I promise. And I never break my promise. He didn't reply, but she knew he was still hurting. Which only fueled her desire to help him. "Ruby!" Yang's voice shook her from her reverie. "Yang!" Ruby's voice cracked as her sister collided with her, wrapping her in a bone-crushing hug.

"I was so worried!" Yang sounded choked, which was funny because Ruby was the one being choked. "Yang - can't breathe!" "Don't be silly! I'm breathing just fine - Oh, sorry!" Yang released her. Ruby gasped for air for what felt like the fiftieth time that day. "So, what happened to you?" "I..." Ruby was at a loss for words. "I don't know."

She shook her head. "I just woke up here, in the hospital." "What?!" Weiss shrieked. She'd just arrived, Blake in tow. "You'll need to be checked out when we get back," Yang said. Ruby remembered the AI device implanted in the base of her skull. "No! I'm all right." She insisted. "Let's just get back to Beacon."

She hurried past them, navigating the streets in search of the Bullhead her team used to reach Mountain Glenn. "You didn't tell them about me, I noticed." Church finally made an appearance. "If I did that, they'd probably try to get rid of you. And I didn't want them to do that." She shook her head.

"Why? After what I said, I really wouldn't blame you." "Because it's the right thing to do, Church." Church sighed heavily, "Yeah, okay. Sure." Ruby forced a smile at him before turning to the airship, stepping on board, sending Church offline.

She sat down on one of the seats, sighing softly, lowering her head, her fingertips slipping over the AI unit before she pried it from the slot, wincing. Ruby flipped the small box-like object over in her hands. A symbol she didn't recognize was etched into it.

"Hmm..." She traced the symbol before setting the apparatus back into place and sitting back as her teammates arrived and the Bullhead rose into the air, flying them back to Vale. Don't worry, Church. We'll figure this out. Together. I promise.