A RWBY fanfic

The Hunters of Beacon: Team MRCK (Merc)

Chapter 4

After we finished our discussion about strategy we began the return trip to Beacon. The plan was simple and I had no problem with that. I believe that the simpler the plan, the fewer things that could go wrong. I could tell that Josh was still extremely uncomfortable with Chariti's plan, but it was the only one that sounded good for now. Kasey was trying to keep to herself as much as possible; she really didn't like meeting new people. On one occasion she even tried to physically distance herself from the rest of us when Chariti began to talk to her.

Feeling the need to defend Kasey I had struck a quick conversation with Chariti. "Chariti, there's something I need to tell you. Kasey, she's a bit shy around new people. Don't take it personally, ok?"

"It's ok. I know a few people who are like that." She replied waving me off casually.

She seemed to understand what I said, but I had a feeling that she wasn't going to give up yet. For a while the walk back to Beacon was uneventful. Then we came across the clearing close to where I had landed earlier that day. I was still walking when Kasey pulled on my sleeve.

"Kasey?"

"Matt, do you feel like we're being watched?"

"So I'm not the only one?" I check to make sure that the other two were out of earshot. "I can't believe those two are so oblivious to our surroundings."

"I don't get it either."

Kasey began to look at the other two. I assume that she was trying to see any sense of urgency, or at least some sign that they were aware of something. She looked back at me and just shook her head.

I began to think to myself, or so I thought, 'I don't know why you worry Kasey. They won't get us killed. I hope...'

Then I hear Kasey's voice, 'Those two were barely able to take on a small adult death stalker. It's as if they know how to fight but have had no true combat experience. I hope we don't come across anything major, I don't know if these two could handle it.'

"Kasey, they'll be just fine, I know that they seem inexperienced but they can still help."

"Matt how'd you know that I was thinking about those two?" She asked with a suspicious look in her eye.

I avoided eye contact as I told, "Lucky guess?" She then gave that look when I might be lying.

I was shocked at what had happened, I could swear that I heard her speak. 'Did I really just do that? Hear her, even though she didn't speak. That can only happen to people who can read minds. And I can't read minds... Right?' Luckily Kasey was still thinking to herself, or I could have been in... Something? I didn't know if that was good or bad.

She never got the chance to say anything. Because as soon as I had finished, Packs of ursae had come out of the woods all around us. Josh and Chariti both immediately pulled out their weapons. Kasey readied herself by holding her Machete. I pulled Lupus out of the sheath and held it offensively.

"Don't let them separate you from your partner!" I yell with urgency, as the ursae begin their charge. But they weren't after us. It seemed that they were after a big guy with red hair known by the name of Cardin, and a few other people that were with him that I didn't know. Whatever he did pissed them off. But being true to my nature I decided that we would help them and I figured that they would probably owe me big time for this. A favor or three didn't sound so bad.

"Guys we're helping Cardin." I ordered them.

Kasey pulled me close and whispered, "Why so generous all of the sudden? I thought you hated him."

"I do, but I figure that this is a big favor and after this, him and his team will owe us big time."

All she did was smile as she said, "Alright everyone let go!"

Soon all of us are in the middle of this massive battle between us and the ursae. We were working our way towards Cardin and his group, but it was slow going. Our group was slicing, shooting, and otherwise killing the ursae. But we were vastly outnumbered there must have been at least 200 ursae. Soon we lost sight of Cardin, but we kept up the fight. I was shooting my dust bullets and any of them that even tried to get close. However from behind one of them knocked Lupus out my hand. I punched that ursa with an aura charged fist sending it flying across the clearing. I then unsheathed Spem and continued the fight. I soon separated one of the shorter swords from the blade and began fighting two handed. Our group was progressing until there were only about fifty or so left. I see Josh and Chariti acting as a team. Josh using his whip to knock them over and Chariti stabbed them and shot arrows at ones Josh missed. Kasey was off to my left fighting five at once, but a sixth one had sneaked up on her and knocked her down. As they were about to make the kill, I sprinted to her and killed the six and checked on her. I quick check told me she was simply dazed from the hit probably had a concussion and was in no condition to fight now.

"JOSH, CHARITI! Get her and get out of here!" I shout angrily. Oh, these ursae had just asked for death. In a second my aura was shimmering off of me and I began run through the crowds of ursae and kill all of the remaining ursae attacking us. I slashed and stabbed everyone of the ursae I could reach. It was however draining my aura as I was doing this, but I didn't care. They brought this upon themselves. All I did was carry out the sentence. You never attack the ones I care about. EVER.

But as Josh began helping her away. Kasey looked up and I could tell she knew what I was doing. "MATT, don't do I-!"

However before she could finish, I finished them off. All of the ones I killed during my rage had become disintegrating valley of corpses. I picked up my gun sword and noticed that Cardin and his group had simply played chicken and hid in the forest.

"Wow, thanks." said Cardin dumbstruck.

"You're welcome. But here's the deal, you and your team owe us big time for this."

That seemed to snap him out of his trance. He jumped up from behind the tree and glared at me in challenge. "What makes you think I'd do anything you say!?"

"My team and I had just saved your sorry hides! You owe us and I'm not leaving until you agree to the terms! Or would you like a fight? I'm sure my team would be more than happy to show Beacon just how strong you really are!" I knew it was risk. I knew Kasey had been injured, while Josh and Chariti obviously knew no prior training to this initiation. Despite all that, I also knew my team could still weed-them-out. If I wasn't coming out of this fight with favors then I would be coming out ensuring that Cardin and these punks would never make the halls of Beacon.

It didn't take Cardin long to realize what the right move was. He reluctantly brought out his hand and crushed mine when I took his. Regardless, the deal was made. No going back.

"Once our favors are over, you better watch your back!" He spat with such venom I felt it buzz in my ears.

"Oh I'm SO scared!" I reply in sarcasm. I had bigger things on my mind than Cardin's empty threats.

I walked back over to my group. I felt Kasey's emotions and could already tell she was about to shout at me for losing my temper again. However she pulled me off into the forest away from the other two so we could talk about my actions. So I prepared for the inevitable.

"MATT!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean too."

"Do you have any idea what you put me through?! Do you even care?!"

"Kasey, you know how protective I am of my friends and family. You're like a sister to me! I've already lost my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and younger brother! The only other family I have is my youngest brother, Phoenix and you! I can't lose either of you, I would never forgive myself! Don't ever accuse me of not caring!" I shouted at her, tears coming to my eyes.

Kasey look went from angry, to sudden realization. "Matt, you've considered me a sister, for how long?"

"Going on three years now." I fell to the ground, the sadness was obvious.

She sat down next to me, "You never told me."

I was still on the ground remembering what had happened that day four years ago. It was a nice afternoon my parents and my two younger brothers in the back, arguing over something. Then there was me, just minding my own business. We were going back home after I gave my family a tour of Signal Academy. Then the accident happened. A semi driver fell asleep at the wheel. I saw it was about to happen and instinctively threw myself in front of Phoenix and Jordan. Jordan and my parents were dead on impact though. Phoenix got away with several broken bones. All I got was that vertical scar on my right eye.

"Kasey, I'm sorry I shouldn't have shouted at you. I know you're concerned about me and my temper. But sometimes I just can't control it. I'm actually still rather furious."

She put her hand on my shoulder. "Matt, I can help you with your temper. But you need to calm down. Your hands are still glowing light blue. You're still using your aura."

"Kasey, I can't. I don't know how. I've never felt such emotion before. I'm not sure if I can stop" I am now visibly shaking.

"Matt, I'm sorry. I'm going to merge our auras; I'm going to see if I can help. Now this may feel weird."

Before I knew if I felt someone else within. I looked at my hands to see my aura moving away from my hands. In fact I began to feel calm after a while.

"Kasey what are you doing?"

"I'm slowing down your aura flow. I'll teach you to do this, one day."

"Again you choose to save me. Thanks Kasey."

She smiled and just shook her head. 'If it wasn't for her I'd probably be dead.' I thought to myself.

We soon made it back to Beacon ourselves and Kasey was examined by a nurse. She was just fine, so we made our way to the auditorium. We were right before Cardin and his team.

"Matthew Lowrey, Kasey Torrte, Joshua Rangel, and Chariti Freeman. You retrieved the black rook pieces you will now be known as Team MRCK. Led by Matthew Lowrey." Ozpin said with a pleased look on his face.

Kasey again hugged me. Josh and Chariti gave me a handshake. 'I'm going to lead, well I'll admit I've been told I'm a natural leader, but I'm not sure. But I'll do my best. If Ozpin believes I can, then I will try.' I thought to myself unsure if what to feel. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ozpin had pulled Kasey aside and whisper something to her. Her eyes turned shocked and uncertain and her face grew pale. She put her hand over her mouth and continuously shook her head as if she was denying something. Ozpin just smiled reassuringly and said something else. Then with a quick parental kiss to the forehead (she was immediately awkward following) our time was done. I was very curious as to what he told her but at a quick glance from Kasey and I knew that this was a secret she wasn't even willing to share with me. I couldn't help feeling sad or angry considering today I admitted that I thought of her as a sister.

Soon the other teams after us were named. CRDL, with Cardin as leader. JNPR, with Jaune as leader. I never doubted him. Then last Team RWBY, with Ruby Rose as leader. Close to the end of the ceremony, we received our scrolls which were used to unlock our dorms, among other things. The scroll as I quickly learned was basically a collapsible tablet. I thought it was kinda cool, but it didn't match up to my other computers I was going to set up in the dorm

So we finally went to our new dorm room after dinner, about 6 PM. I was a decent size room. Had a small bathroom, two closets and even had a small single file type kitchen. Luckily for us I packed some basics for a kitchen. We picked out our work areas and beds and I checked the door to make sure it was solid. Josh and Chariti picked the right side of the room leaving Kasey and myself with left side. I chose the work area closest to the door, because I had a plan for this room. I was going to set up my computers with their monitors, a router, game consoles, with a TV mounted on the door. It took about an hour to finally get everything set up at my desk. And it was perfect. My older desktop was on the left side with two 20 inch monitors and had a split cable on the back of the second monitor's port and it led to the TV. My mostly new laptop was in the middle with an extra 20 inch monitor and it was also plugged into the HDMI port on the TV. The game consoles, my PS2 and 360 were on the right. The TV was successfully mounted in the door. And lastly the router was plugged into the wall Ethernet port, and was hanging on the wall. Best part was that it only required two surge protectors and a switch to plug more than one console into the TV. I felt like a genius. Kasey just shook her head, knowing that I was a computer nerd, as well as a weapon nerd deep down. She just carried on in her quiet space. Ever since the Ozpin incident she just wouldn't speak. Josh and Chariti were just standing there looking at it in awe. The look on those two faces was 'How is this even possible?' But I took pride in this. 'Damn if those two look at my setup like that, I wonder what they'll think of my taste in music.'

Before I knew it, Kasey was pulling me into the kitchen.

"Matt, I want to know how you knew I was thinking about those two and their combat experience in the forest today." She asked, with a rather annoyed tone in her voice and her arms crossed.

"It was a lucky guess."

"You know I don't believe that. So will you tell the truth or will I have to find it for myself?" She said with increasing annoyance.

"Fine, you win. I'll tell you if you tell me what Ozpin said to you."

She gave a defeated look but instead of giving in she was going to walk out of the room. As always I caved out. "I think I read your mind." After all, it seemed like ever since we got here she's been mad at me. I wanted our dorm to be different. She stopped suddenly and turned to face me. The look of surprise and confusion all too noticeable. It made me worry a bit.

"What? But you can't be... Right?"

"Kasey what are you not telling me?"

Kasey began to ramble to herself. "That would explain his unusually high aura levels, and some of his abilities including his semblance."

"Kasey!" She snapped out of her thoughts.

"Matt you're like me." She started to look happy but I felt the worry coming off of her.

"Are you sure?" I ask with caution.

"Yes, but there is a problem."

"Problem?"

"Yes, but not now. We need to get to sleep, tomorrow is the first day of classes."

"Right."

We walk back out to the main room and saw that the other two had changed and were asleep already. So Kasey and I followed suit and as soon as I fell on my new bed I was already dozing off. Kasey soon followed and within seconds she was sleeping too. I looked forward to a good year, and to figuring out what Ozpin told her, then I finally gave into my tiredness.

Well there it is, Team MRCK getting settled in their new dorm. What will this year have in store for them? I want to hear your opinions so don't forget to review.