Team RWBY was leaving the school, excited and ready. Zwei was trying to sleep in Ruby's backpack, which was hard because of all other stuff she was carrying there. They all noticed Gordon standing near Beacon's gates.
-Ready?
-Ready.
Everybody said.
There was a loud noise of something like a plane flying. A few seconds later, there was a ship in front of them: mainly painted golden, it had the words "The Golem" written on the side. It wasn't big, made for transport of a small group of people. It had visible machine guns sticking on the bottom.
-Then let's go.
Gornon said as he walked inside the ship, which just now opened a door team walked inside as well. The inside looked even better than the outside, having buttons, screens and weapons everywhere. Ruby was admiring them when Gordon grabbed her hood and took her to the cockpit.
-Where did you get all these weapons?
Weiss asked when she was looking at a war axe.
-They're trophies, gifts from friends. Basically a plan-B if I somehow lose this bad boy.
He answered pointing at his back, on which he was carrying the same weapon he was when they met.
He walked up to the door and threw Ruby inside. He stood there, showing the opened door.
-Ladies.
The girls walked inside and Gordon closed the door behind them.
-Sit down, relax, have a drink. Actually, don't have a drink. You'll spill it on the controls.
He said before sitting down in the pilot's chair. The team strapped their belts and Ruby let Zwei out of her backpack to enjoy the incoming views.
Gordon pressed a few buttons on the control panel before strapping his own belt and taking off.
-Haven't flied this thing in ages. Might wanna ready some bags in case of vomiting. I really like this ship clean. Don't worry about anyone seeing us. I built in a cloak device myself.
They were flying over Vale faster than they needed.
-Umm...were are we going?
Asked Blake.
-We're heading over to Patch island. My friend there noticed a few of Sentinel's monsters there. He said there could be more.
-And who's this "friend" of yours?
Asked Weiss.
Gordon smiled.
-You'll know when we get there.
They flew over Vale and got to the island pretty fast, without anyone falling asleep. Except for Ruby, of course.
They landed in the middle of a forest, in a place that looked like it was made for ships to land in. Qrow Brawnen was watching "the Golem" land. He was smiling.
-Uncle Qrow!
Shouted Ruby and Yang and ran towards Qrow immediately after exiting the ship, hugging him.
-Hey there, girls. How's the year been?
He said and kneeled, lowering to Ruby's height.
-It's been great! We fought monsters, professor Ozpin send us on a mission, then we met this guy...
-Gordon!
He shouted after he noticed the man with a yellow 'X' on his chest and a mask covering his mouth.
-Qrow. You old bastard.
Gordon answered and shaked Brawnen's hand.
-I see you're not dead yet.
-I'm not that old.
Weiss had to come close and grunt to make the men remember about the reason they met.
-Right, back to buisness. So where's this "den" you were talking about?
Qrow got distracted by Zwei, who was now in his hands licking his face.
-I'm sorry, what?
Gordon sighed.
-Just show us where you saw the Shadows.
-Right.
He dopped Zwei on the ground and rubbed Ruby's head before going into the forest.
They were walking for about five minutes before arriving at a cave.
-Déjà vu.
Said Yang.
-What fu?
Asked Ruby
-I know kung fu!
-No, nothing.
Gordon started talking to Qrow.
-You sure this is the place?
-I've seen those things around here, and this is my best guess. It's also where I would hide if I was a brainless monster.
-Good point.
Gordon grabbed his weapon.
-Well, if you don't have any questions, we can go.
Ruby raised her hand.
-What's that behind you?
In a blink of an eye a monster attacked Gordon. With almost the same speed, the warrior turned around and pressed a button on his staff which made a blue, almost see-through scythe-like blade appear on one of the ends of the weapon. As soon as he turned around, he sliced the beast in half.
-Gross. Anyway...
He got interrupted by screams coming out of the cave. More of the Shadows were coming towards them.
-Aim for the head!
Gordon shouted. The girls were ready to shoot anything that comes out of the cave and Qrow stood right next to Gordon readying his sword.
-So they're pretty much zombies?
Asked Ruby while aiming into the cave.
Suddenly a bunch of Sentinel's creations came out of the darkness, smelling human resistance.
-Yes. Zombies.
It was a bloodshed. Gordon and Qrow sliced and cut everything around them, team RWBY kept shooting and finally decided to get closer. Dismembered body parts - mainly heads - were flying all over the place.
Finally, after at least ten minutes of unstoppable combat, it was over.
-Well...
Started tired Gordon.
-I have to say, girls. I misjudged you.
They heard one more loud shout. It wasn't the one they heard before, though. When they looked into the cave they saw an infected Ursa coming their way.
Everyone backed out of the cave.
-That's a big Ursa!
Shouted Qrow.
When it came out of the cave, it seemed to be at least twice as large as normal Ursas.
-Any ideas?
-Watch this.
Said Gordon with a bit of arrogance.
He ran towards the beast, enlarged his blade and sliced the Ursa's leg off with it. He continued to climb ont the back of it, and when he got close enough to the monster's neck, he jumped off and aimed for it, succesfully slicing the head clean off.
He landed on one knee carrying his staff on his shoulders. The Ursa's head landed right next to him.
-Wow.
Ruby started clapping.
-Plasma blade. Really useful when something like this comes your way.
Explained Gordon and seathed his weapon.
Sentinel saw it all.
-So the fools think children will help them destroy me.
He laughed.
-So come, Gordon the Golden. Let me defeat you like I did two hundred years ago. Let me destroy all you care about again. But this time, I'll make sure you won't come back.
They decided to stay in Qrow's house for the night. It wasn't big, but it was enough to keep six people warm and comfortable. Even Weiss was satisfied.
-After what happened today, I just need a bed.
She said.
Later, after everybody had a place to sleep Gordon and Qrow went to talk. It was midnight when they left, so everybody should be asleep. But Yang wasn't. She was the closest to the door, and overheard the conversation.
-I still have the nightmares.
Said Gordon.
-About what?
-About that day. The day I was infected. It haunts me. I'm afraid the infection will take over me.
-It haven't so far, why should it now?
-Sentinel's back, more powrful than ever. If it still has the control over his aura in me, I'll turn into one of them.
-Gordon, that won't happen...
-And how do you know!?
That shout was loud enough everyone in the house would hear it if they were awake.
-It took over me once, it can do so again.
-You said you can control it.
-I did. But I might be wrong. The only reason I'm even alive right now, is because my brother sacrificed his life for me. He passed his aura onto me. It created another living aura inside me.
-I know this story. Why are you telling me this?
There was a moment of silence.
-Because Kim's aura is getting weaker. Worn off. I can feel it. When it will be gone, the infection will take over me. Inferno will take over me. And I don't know, what it's intentions will be.
-Inferno?
-Sentinel's aura inside me. I was able to imprison it using my brother's aura so it wouldn't do what it wants. But it's getting stronger. It's will to escape is strong. It wants to come back to it's creator. To Sentinel. It wants to help it in it's crusade.
-What do you want me to do?
-I'll leave tomorrow. Continue to look for Sentinel. If I encounter it, it would want to use it's aura in me. Free Inferno. I'll tell the girls to come back here. When I do, promise to keep them safe. Take this.
Gordon gave small machine to Qrow.
-It tells you the temperature of my body. And my brother's semblance was control over fire. I will turn into a human fireplace. If the numbers go sky high, find the girls. Don't let appearance fool you. If Sentinel is as powerful as I think, it will try to disguise as somebody. If it's me, look at the numbers. If it's them, ask a question only they would know an answer to. It can mess with your head, but it can't read minds.
-Gordon, I really know you're desperate, but the girls can take care of themselves. You saw what could do back at the cave.
-That was only warmup. Those got infected when Sentinel first grew powerful. They were weak.
Silence.
-I want to end this madness, but Sentinel is smarter than I thought. It stays hidden. Sends its minions to terrorize the city.
-Do you have a plan?
-No. Nothing. But I'm keeping Vale safe. I know that much.
Silence again.
-Let's go inside. You need rest.
Said Qrow.
-Yeah. Thanks.
The only thing Yang heard now were footsteps. She looked on her teammates. They were awake. And terrified.
Yang remembered stories her mother used to tell her. About her great-great-grandfather Kim Xiao Long. He was a hero, considered by some to be a traitor. And he had a brother.
His name was Gordon Xiao Long.
The next day everyone woke up early. They dressed, ate breakfast, gave Zwei some of his favourite dog food, and left to get back on the ship. Everyone was inside, when Qrow said something to Gordon.
-Good luck. Try not to die.
-Thanks. You too.
He got inside and sat on his chair. Everybody was silent.
-Is something wrong?
He asked calmly.
-Just nightmares.
Answered Blake.
-You all had nightmares?
Gordon was suspicious.
-No, err...Ruby had one and woke everybody up.
Gordon still wasn't convinced, but he let it go.
-Alright then.
He didn't want to talk about what happened all those years ago. He wanted to keep the girls safe. Out of the fight between him and Sentinel.
He's bringing them back to Beacon. Let Ozpin take care of them. Send them home, make them stay at the academy, he didn't care. Those girls don't deserve to share his fate.
They were getting closer to the school, but something wasn't right. There were battleships around the academy. Ironwood's. Then they noticed.
Beacon was on fire. It's tower - destroyed.
Sentinel finally decided to send its whole army to attack.
The city of Vale is being attacked by a living aura.
Again.