Light of Remnant

Ch. 4 A Long Talk

"What should we call it?"

"How about Flaming Fox?"

After we took the ship from the pirates we returned to Ysmault to start on repairs and gather ourselves. When we landed Zox began to make repairs to the damaged bridge that Guy blew a hole in. Bleez walked around to inspect the ship herself and chose the best cabin to claim for herself. And Ratchet was… doing whatever Ratchet does. Guy, Skallox, Rankorr and I are sitting up on a cliff overlooking the ship.

Which brings us to our current predicament.

"Why should we give it a name? It's a ship. We don't even need a ship. The ring takes us anywhere we need to go." Skallox hasn't been too thrilled of the idea on even keeping the ship. Though he did seem rather happy after peeking at the armory.

"You just don't get it. It's not just a ship, it's a home base. We didn't have to get any sleazy contractors to build it for us. It's ready-made, plus it's got style." Guy has been trying to sell Skallox on the idea of the ship. Though I honestly think it's just to get him to stop bitching.

"I'm was getting tired of sleeping on the dirt." Rankorr's been siding with Guy on the matter. Probably helps that there's the reward of a roof over his head, but who am I to judge. "A bed does sound better." Skallox scoffs and walks off, commenting how humans are weak or something like that.

"Well with him gone why don't we get back to the matter at hand? What are we gonna name this beauty?" Seems Guy's really into this naming thing. Not that I blame him. Guess all men like to have a base with a kick ass name.

Rankorr and I look to one another, "Well it's gotta fit. Something that goes with our theme."

"Kids gotta point." Rankorr turns to the ship to look for ideas. "How about Scarlet Sword? Or maybe King Crimson? Always liked the band." He hums to himself again to ponder more ideas. "Though if we wanna strike fear in people Bloody Horror sounds nice."

"Red Rocket? I don't know about you but that would be kinda terrifying to me if I was being chased by the Red Rocket."

They both simply stare at me blankly. Neither seem to find my joke funny. "Well those are all terrible ideas. Let's think on it for a while." Guy stands from the cliff, floating towards the ship. "Jaune, follow me. I need you to do something."

As Guy leaves Rankorr and I share a look before I follow. Guy leads me behind the ship where Zox is using his ring to make repairs. "ZZ. How goes the fix?"

Zox seems too busy to even turn to Guy as he's busy welding pieces of ripped metal to the haul. "Almost done here. The ship has a huge supply hold. Has spares of everything we'll ever need. Should've seen Skallox after I showed him the weapons locker. I think he nearly grew a third horn."

"Ugh," the image nearly makes me throw up to even think about how that would look, "please don't say that. I'd rather keep my lunch thank you. Just picturing it makes my stomach churn."

The two share a laugh at my expense before Guy speaks up again, "I'm gonna have Jaune help you finish up. He doesn't know ships but I figure an extra pair of hands will make it go faster."

Zox takes a moment to pause his work, turning to look at me, "So you're gonna stick me with the newbie huh. Well whatever, not gonna complain about the help."

"Good to hear." With a pat on my back Guy turns to leave, "Try not to get in his way too much blonde, or else he might just make you his after work meal." And with one final laugh he's gone.

"Asshole." I turn to Zox to see him finishing mending the hole, "So, how'd you get so good at fixing space ships anyways. No offense, but you don't look the part of a mechanic."

"Ke," Zox powers down his ring as the hole disappears, replaced with a new siding, "Ordinarily I would at least take a bite out of you for that, but your people have never even been to space, so I'll let it slide for now."

"To answer your question my third sporefather ran a yard in sector 3544. I apprenticed there for a while. Back then I was just a dot." Even with that face of teeth and wrinkles I could see a bare hint of melancholy, "Always meant to go back. See how everyone was doing."

I turn and scratch my head as silence fills the air. "Well," I figured I might as well fill in the silence before the mood sours, "good thing you had someone to show you the ropes. My old man wasn't much for showing me anything. Spent most of his time either training my sisters or out on a job. Barley even put any time into me."

The quiet stare of Zox is all I receive before a small smile graces his ugly mug. "So, your father thought your sisters had more worth in a fight then you? From the sound of it he doesn't have much of an eye for talent then."

Shock is all I fell from Zox's response, "Huh?"

Zox steps past me to head underneath for more repairs. "I saw you on the ship. You worked that ring well for a rookie. Hell, you even have the ability to make constructs. The only one of us that can do that is Rankorr and he's one of our most powerful fighters. Your still young, given time I'm sure you can beat most things in any sector to a bloody pulp."

For the first time in what seems like forever I feel a hint of pride in me. To hear someone complement me, even saying that I'm strong now, not just having the possibility to be strong. I feel… happy. "Thank you… Testicle face."

"Alright rule one, if you're gonna work under me you gotta tell me what testicle means."


I'm walking towards the communication center of the ship. Apparently, Guy wanted to talk about something so he called me up. I had just finished helping Zox with repairs to the rest of the ship. He mentioned that he would try and put in a new engine. One that could be powered by our rings.

"In here Jaune!" Guy's voice calls out to me and I follow it to an open door. Inside Guy was sitting in a chair looking over something on the screen. "Sit down over there."

I follow his finger to see a chair pulled out for me near his. As I sit, he finishes up whatever it was he was doing and turns to me. "I got a question for you Jaune."

I fidget a little in my chair as it doesn't seem to be made for someone of my shape, i.e. humanoid. "Alright shoot. You called me here."

He takes a breath before he looks me dead in the eyes, the color of his iris' a dull red, "Why are you here?"

"Ummm," Okay, wasn't ready for that. Sorta expected an update on the ship. "Pardon?"

"I mean why do you have a red ring. What could make someone like you, someone so young and nice turn to anger and hatred for help. You've had some outbursts here and there, but for the most part you seem like an odd, dorky kid that just seems in over his head."

Thinking about his question drags up those flashes of memories I had in the blood lake. The times my dad ignored me for my sisters. The times I was harassed and picked on. And the time my own teammates, people I thought as friends abandoned me to die.

I hear Guy sigh as he puts a hand on my shoulder, "Look, if it's too hard to talk about I get it. There're somethings I don't like remembering either. I just wanted to lend an ear if you wanted. Get whatever it is off your chest. We can talk later if you want."

"No." Maybe he's right. It might do me good to talk about this. It helped a little with Zox, it might do something here to. "No, it's fine. You're right."

"First time I heard that in a long time." Guy leans back in his seat to get comfortable. "So, where you wanna start?"

And I told him. I told him everything. From my dad's refusal to train me, to his disappointment at my weakness, to my transcripts at Beacon being found out, to the shunning and abandonment of my friends.

The whole time he was silent. All he did was stare at me and listen. When I was done I noticed my ring was glowing as it announces 87% charged. I guess our rage fuels the ring and the ring fuels our rage. Pretty good power source when you think of it.

"Alright, that everything?"

"Ya. Ya I guess so." With everything laid bare I felt kinda naked. And not the kind where this ends with a happy ending.

"Good." With that he reaches underneath the desk and pulls out two glasses and a bottle. "I was on the fence of whether to do this, but I figured you earned it after that."

I don't know how anything else could surprise me, but this one was a little more welcomed. "Does this mean I can drink whenever I want?" The idea seems kinda stupid. I don't feel like much of a drinker, but having it every now and then couldn't hurt.

"Hahaha, no. This is a onetime deal. I'm not big on underage drinking so don't expect this again."

"Fine, mom. Just poor that thing. I wanna get this day behind me."

"Call me that again and I'll make it really easy for you to fall asleep." We share a long laugh before he pours me a shot and hands it over. "Here you go. Now you're gonna want to take it easy. It's kinda rough at first."

I didn't hear what he said as I downed my first shot. "Did you say something?"

He looks at me blankly before pouring another one for me. "This is gonna be fun."


30 minutes later

"And zen he had ze nerve to tell eryone he did it! Can you believe it?! After I saved him!"

We'd been drinking for a while now. I slowed down after my 3rd drink. Deciding it was best to pace myself. Guy's one his 8th shot while I'm still on my 5th.

"Zat sucks kid. It really doz. I can't tell youz how many timez I had to deal with some pompous prick or a loud mouth zat wanted to try and act better zan me. Right before they piss zemselves."

We must have sounded horrible. I could tell our words were slurred. That didn't stop us from taking another drink. We pass stories, Guy more than me. I hear the tales of Guy's time as a Green Lantern. All the worlds he visited. The stars he traveled to… The women he saw.

It was amazing honestly. Not even counting the fact that I was sitting here listening to a man tell his adventures across the universe. But the people he met, the monsters he fought against that make the Grimm look like rampaging toddlers, the friends he shared drinks with. I was all spectacular. I don't think I'll ever forget this moment for as long as I live.

"Well, I think we zould call it a night. Tomorrowz gonna be a bitch with that hangover. Best to stop while we can." With that he picks up the glasses and bottle and begins to head out. "We'll talk more tomorrow. For now, just rest. You've had a long day."

I stand up and gather what little balance I have left and wobble to the door. "Guez your right. I'll zee you tomorrow."

We wave good night to each other and I wander to my room. I barely make it before I fall onto the bed and pass out into darkness.


Remnant

As soon as I returned to Beacon I made the dreaded call to the Arc family. The elevator ride up the tower was longer than usual. After I arrived at the top I put the call out to the Arcs.

Each ring of the call added more and more weight on my heart. After a few moments, the ringing stops and a woman's image appears on the screen. "Hello Ozpin, it's good to see you again."

Isabella Arc, the matriarch of the Arc family. Her almost silver hair shines as brightly as ever. "It's good to see you again Isabella. Though I wish, it was under better circumstances."

The concern on her face was never a pleasant sight. That beautiful face was shamed by the sorrowful expression. "Is something the matter?"

"Please get Michael for now. I need you both to hear this."

She nods before heading off to call her husband. A minute later they both return. Michael Arc was somewhat of a large man. Not necessarily big, but built strong. "What's going on Ozpin? What did you call us for?"

I take some deep breathes before I start the fire that may burn down this relationship. "It's about your son, Jaune."

"Jaune! Have you seen him!? Do you know where he is!?" Isabella's frantic voice can be heard as she cuts in front of her husband. The concern of a mother has always been heart aching to see during one of these calls.

"Yes Isabella, this is about Jaune."

"Then," Michael stands in front of Isabella again. This time the full intimidation of his figure shows as he glares into the screen, "I was right. He did go to Beacon. I assume you let him in? Who am I kidding. You've always been a gambler when you think you see someone with talent. So, where is he. I wanna have a word with him."

"…He's dead."

And like that silence fills the air. They both stare at me with shocked expressions. Isabella looks like her world had just been shattered. Tears begin to fall from her face before she collapses into a ball on the floor. Her wailing can be heard from where she fell. Stephen was no better as he grabs his head with his hand.

"How did he die?" Michael's voice was quiet, but it still held an air of authority.

"He died buying time for his teammates to evacuate a village as a Grimm horde drew closer. They were forced to leave him behind. We returned later with reinforcements, but it was too late. The village was burned to the ground. All we could find of your son was the remains of his shield and sword."

I give them both a moment to let my words sink in before I speak up again, "I am deeply sorry for letting this happen. I cannot ask for you forgiveness."

Michael takes deep breath, "We'll be at Beacon within the week. We'll retrieve Crocea Mors and nothing more. After this we'll be cutting all ties with you Ozpin."

This was to be expected. "I understand. I will have a bullhead sent to receive your family shortly."

The call ends shortly afterward. I recline in my chair and consider pouring myself a cup of coffee, maybe even some liquor. But I hold off. I have work ahead of me, and it wouldn't be right for me to be drunk while I work. I'm not Qrow after all.


Hey everyone. Been awhile. Sorry for the wait, been bust with other things. For those who've read Jaune the Stampede know I have other plans in store for more stories. Check out the poll on my profile for info. For now, I'll say goodbye. Later