This chapter is dedicated to 积极向上的门牙 (1990.*.* - 2018.04.10), friend, fellow fanfic writer, gamer, aerodynamics engineer, inspiration for this story. May the memory you give us become a never ending fountain of joy and awe. Царство на небесах для вас.
It took a while to wake up, but this time I don't feel anything wrong. Just ordinary stupid dozing off caused by a prolonged period of exhaustion.
I look around. Now I'm on a sofa in the main room of Roman's partisan hideout, adults of Beacon all around me, looking justifiably concerned. I clear my throat:
"It's okay, just normal fatigue." Somehow, the first thing I said completely overlaps with the first thing Qrow tells me.
Pushing myself up, I stretch my head and neck around to shake off the numbness. How long was I out? Well, they haven't killed each other yet so it's not too big a problem. Looking around, I see some refreshments on Roman's planning table, mostly emergency food. The Beacon crew raided his fridge! I approve.
Seeing that I'm facing the food, Qrow gives me a "help yourself" look.
"Kolbasa, soda crackers, Schnee crystal jam, margarine, Seaweed Slasher chips, Pumpkin Pete's low sugar real pumpkin starch cereal… The fuck is extra carbonated potato cider?" Roman might have the same crucial flaw as I have: Crippling cheapness. Well, time for the ultimate question:
"Got any tea here?"
"You smoke that? Stick to cigars, I tell you, tobacco's almost healthy if you know how to inhale."
Roman answers from across the room, where he seems to be talking to Oobleck over a map, maybe bonding over something. Doesn't it feel great to be needed, Roman? Well, me too.
"Fuck you, I mean actual tea."
"Excuse me! I don't know young people, so I'm just trying to help." Seeing I have stood up in the meantime and pointing my right hand at him, Roman adds, "Just fucking with you. There, the open shelf above the stove."
Maybe Roman knows he should never fuck around with an unrepentant tea addict. Sure enough, I find a jar of green tea leaves on the shelf.
Some point in the past on Earth, I found myself a low level tea addiction. I don't really need the caffeine to function, though, I just like the bitter tea flavor in general. If there's some long review to write and I need to pep myself up, a pile of anything rich in processed sugar will do.
With the pressing tea issue solved, I head back into the armory again. Yes, I just finally got the Fall power activated, but it could be difficult right now to have a better idea on how to use it. After all, my kind of magic is not regular Beacon knowledge.
Better to make the most out of those self defense courses, IPSC and airsoft games I had back on Earth. Time to proof IPSC isn't a waste of time and money that could be used on… Well, what does productive young people do anyway? Maybe I would be finally justify all the digital piracy I did after I shoved all my nerd budget into the guns and ammo money hole.
I carry an Atlesian rifle and a normal looking shotgun into Roman's shooting range. Port, fumbling with his ridiculously dangerous axe gun on a bench at its entrance, hands me a box of Schnee-brand shotgun rounds and gives me a thumb up:
"Fancy some exercise? Nothing's better for clearing your mind than this!"
Port earned his place as Beacon's top combat instructor and range master through much more than guts. With him watching and giving me hints, in less than fifteen minutes I've not only picked up all I used to know about gunfights but also understood them better. One thing I'm not sure is whether he is in with Ozpin's season magic shenanigans, so I didn't show off my Fall Power.
When I walk out of the training course the second time to reset the targets, I see Roman standing next to Port with a gun in his arms, one of those that looks like a mafia Thompson. Port doesn't seem to be worried at all, as he tells me:
"Come over to the target lanes, and show this gentleman how you can pop bullseyes from across the River Vale!"
Older people here like their exaggerations too, so it is. Can't wait to see some local rednecks! I reload the Atlesian automatic railgun and start picking at a fresh paper target with slowly paced manual bursts.
Bl-blaaaaaaaam!
The Thompson roars into action; Roman blasts away in the shooting range lane next to mine!
"Keep shooting, young lady! Steel your heart!" Port shouts over Roman's noise pollution of a weapon. So much for me not bothering to get earplugs once I found out how quiet the Schnee-brand buckshot is.
The Thompson's aggressive giant muzzle flare trespasses into my vision, and its earth shaking noise just throws off all precision in my aim. It's fucking hard to keep my line of sight on the bullseye now, harder to not turn around and empty the rest of the damn magazine on Roman. My calculated precision shooting became a competition with him to see who can go through ammo faster.
Clunk.
Finally, Roman has expended all bullets in his gun's drum magazine and dropped it on the ground. He turns to me, and speaks without any effort to piss me off or make a joke:
"You aren't going to fight paper cutouts or even Grimm up there. It's people. It will be loud and chaotic, the enemies are going to do their best to make your time facing them as hard as possible. All you can do is make sure you can still do your part, come stress or shock."
"Let's try this again." I reach for another magazine for the rifle.
/
Hours go by in the shooting range and the training course. Fighting my own flinching and stress is hard, without a doubt, but I'm getting better fast, having both scholarly and dubious "professional" help. The other adults all mind their business at the mean time, while Neo is just content enough passing ammo and refreshments to us.
After watching me do another round of short burst and recoil control practicing, Roman reloads his Thompson, but points at another one on the ground:
"You might want to try this old model gun too."
"Why?"
"It went wrong once before. Cinder's fire thing." Roman frowns and whispers in case Port is listening, then raises his voice a little, "The Atlesian rifle is too sophisticated, you don't want it to get… Overheated."
I shrug and take the gun. It feels like a sack of bricks! The historical Thompson M1928 is known for being stupidly heavy, some people even say fully loaded Thompsons are too heavy for farm animals to transport. Remnant's material science is amazing, but apparently they didn't give a shit when this thing was first made.
Trying to not appear too weighed down, I bring the Thompson in front of the target. Though, Qrow showed up at the door before I fire:
"Round up. We gotta have a talk."
In the meantime as I trained for battle, Glynda made a few phone calls to both Beacon's support team and the police. She told the authorities we are getting ready for the mission thanks to some donations made by a certain Siegfried Ozpin the Second, Ozpin's long estranged son, who decided to contribute to society once in a while. A surplus portion of this donation will go to the disaster relief effort, of course. Because of this, the council allowed us to extend our preparation time from three days to five.
"Who is Siegfried Ozpin the Second, then?" Roman makes the first question after listening to Glynda.
Oobleck puts a hand on Roman's shoulder and grins. Oh. So, this is what Glynda's adventurism leads to, people.
"For fuck's sake." Roman gives an over dramatic double facepalm while Neo bends over mirroring Oobleck's grin, "Glad to see you know I need a dad, but fucking come on, Ozpin looks even younger than I am."
Valid observation. Chuckling, I put my hand onto Roman's unoccupied shoulder.
"Your first step towards the noble goal of saving Vale will be remembered, Roman."
Soon, the police and Beacon's moving crew arrive to help us move supplies out of Roman's compound. They didn't pay much attention to the obvious terrorism paraphernalia lying around or the suspicious looking oranges haired man, but Glynda still briefed them on the whole story about Ozpin's estranged son.
The next issue for our mission planning is manpower: We need more pairs of hands to take on whoever is occupying the arena. Even though the Bullhead can be operated with only one pilot, preferably we should have someone alongside Roman or replace him. Glynda is taking a lot of risks, but not unreasonable ones. Without being spoken out loud, before checking out that Bullhead we are supposed to rally the team and have everyone armed, just in case Roman is leaving any surprises for us.
It only took Glynda a few minutes after arriving back at the Beacon admissions-office-turned-emergency-command to come up with a crew; When I volunteered to join, she didn't object at all; she must be very determined with taking an all or nothing approach.
Who do we have? Among Beacon's faculty, Glynda herself is going, so is Port and Oobleck. So, there is Ozpin's right hand woman, an adrenaline connoisseur, and a historian with just the right understanding of conspiracies. Unfortunately, Beacon at its diminished state still needs a skeleton crew to keep things running and organize its students. Every professor okay to spare from work inside Vale is already on some kind of mission to the border counties. Qrow needs to come with us too.
This leaves our mission's main battle duty to a student team. Once again, the most combat worthy are keeping their families safe or already have missions to carry out. Assembling a new team from high performers who haven't worked together before sounds like a good idea, but Glynda didn't take this risk in the end. Instead, we stuck to CFVY. They aren't the only available team right now, but Glynda and Qrow assures the rest of us, Ozpin had been letting them take part in a special project that's almost as important as mine…
Special project? Almost as important as mine?
Something clicks into place in my head… Is there anything actually weird about them?
Oh. Velvet's Camera.
This thing copies weapons she have only seen a few times, and provides her information on using them to their max potential, maybe even more! If it can capture muscle memory from its subject's Aura, this will be super impressive in processing power. The solid light it uses is immensely versatile, and can be learned by anyone. It can make every kind of weapon better, for instance Penny's wire controlled bit-swords – because flying hologram swords don't have dangerous wires. This is probably what a future weapon on Remnant look like. Her teammates also seem to have the right training and specialization to complement her against different kinds of enemies… Sure, they seem a bit rigid last time I saw them, out of character is serious business, but it's probably just stress.
Despite everyone else's concerns, Glynda welcomes Roman and Neo onto the team. Better we die together crashing to the ground than daring to let them run free again!
"Who's this backup pilot then?" Qrow asks after accepting how futile his effort to drop Roman is, "Don't tell me you are just going to ask the cops to pull some random merc out of prison."
"You'll make a better judgement than us, I believe."
With that, Glynda waves her riding crop to unlock the meeting room's door. Tai Yang Xiaolong stands there, looking… At least not as angry and worried as what I supposed he would be like, after pulling his kids out from the ruins of Beacon.
Qrow tries to say something, but ends up choosing to facepalm in resignation. Roman turns to me as if I'm supposed to explain the plot to him. Why do you look at me!
"Uh… Very grateful to have you here?" I greet Tai, only because nobody else is speaking up, "Are Yang and Ruby okay?"
"Thanks for asking. They are… Well, not critical, it's our occupational hazard. Qrow and I got them to Patch, they're safe." He answers in a calm, almost laid back voice, "And you are?"
It's far from reassuring, though I can take that. Saving Yang's hand is out of my powers, to be fair.
"Ozpin's messenger." Well, maybe I should say correspondent to sound more impressive and truthful to my actual old life...
"The Fall Maiden." Glynda cuts me short, must have heard from Qrow about me making a name up back as the bunker, "Amber Clercwell."
Jesus H.W. chimney sweeping Christ on a Segway.
Well fuck! This is the first time I've heard my own surname. Yes, my own. I mean, have to accept it as mine now, right?
Amber. Amber Clercwell. Amber for sure has a different name than mine. She has a family of other Clercwells who might come looking one day. There is someone called Amber by someone else.
What a fucker of a heavy thought it is.
Roman shuffles at hearing the term "Fall Maiden". I feel it too, Roman, kids these days are indeed getting weirder. More than they used to do in the mythical times.
/
CFVY found no hitmen or demolition traps hidden in Roman's hangar at the River Vale Yacht Club, only a lone half-stripped Bullhead VTOL surrounded by spare parts and optional armaments. Plenty of private VTOL and airship owners have parked their ride at this club meant for water vehicles, but language conventions are not applicable to people with that kind of money.
"A fashion designer friend vouched me in and paid half of my membership fee. See those signature white suits on me and Neo?" Roman tells us as we walk into the hangar, "We buy his new designs every year. Worth every plastic flake in the Lien."
I nod, the suits do look very spiffing. Coco watches on in silence. Though, Qrow only sniffs at him:
"White suits every year? So you wanna be a Schnee."
"I pity the man who can't distinguish between different shades of white. Didn't Ozpin say something about 'every color of the human spirit'?" Maybe Roman isn't born into luxury and taste, he definitely fought his way into it.
"Different shades of white." Tai steps up before Qrow can decapitate Roman, responding in a sort of detached voice, "Yes, I know there are different shades of white, with different meanings. Innocence, honesty, a noble bloodline, betrayal, readiness to fight to the death, and undying hate."
"There you go, try to learn from him." Roman makes a very exaggerated bow gesturing for us to see the Bullhead up close, then opens its side hatch for Tai to get in. Who can expect these two interacting in any nonviolent way, let alone almost bonding over art philosophy? However, this explains where Yang learned the bike related stuff and utilitarian view about thugs from. Definitely in the blood.
This is actually my first time giving a Bullhead VTOL craft a good look, despite having ridden on two of them before. The first impression is still pretty unimpressive, despite the size being comparable to some short-range airliners I've taken. Its hulking shape looks lumpy and bland, the gray painted bloating fuselage almost featureless. Two giant black panels under its nose has been opened up to extend its landing gears; their wheel struts are as tall as I am, but still disproportionately small compared to the machine itself. Its engine pods now rests vertically, fins on their nozzles spread up, also contributing as landing struts. Smaller engines of different size litter its wings, as if there aren't much effort putting into streamlining the design. However, the surface finish on the Bullhead is surprisingly flat and smooth.
I don't see any visible weapons onboard, only a panel under its nose that has labels saying some sort of cannon is inside. It's also the only panel kept shut. Roman told me yesterday he would try to leave Vale in this thing; but seriously, the Bullhead looks like it has been cannibalized for valuables. Did White Fang just "borrow" parts from his ride when he isn't looking?
On the outside, the only thing that makes this Bullhead apart from its brethren is a decal on the right side, between its windshield and side hatch; black and white letters, saying "Vigilant Ghost" in a gothic but flourishing style fit for a metal band.
"You came up with this name?" I ask Roman after he and Tai come back out of the fuselage.
"Cinder flew this one over from Mistral, a parting gift from her former boss. She told me it has the same name as the first Bullhead she flew, and never allowed me to paint it over when I do refits. Used to be the personal ride of some Freikorps big shot."
That sounds a bit more sentimental than I am comfortable to describe Cinder with.
"How did Cinder come to you, then?"
"I made a name for myself in doing what nobody else dared, let's put it that way. High stakes, big operation, long term goals. Cinder isn't just looking for an errand boy or a hired gun, she needs someone very familiar with war scenarios and has a major bone to pick with the law."
I nod, taking a mental pich of salt. Roman is too eager to chat for a man with a ton of secrets. He must be patting himself on the back, but those two features definitely are what Cinder is looking for. Skills and loyalty, with distinct twists to ensure nothing goes wrong.
"She needs more than a heist crew. This isn't a job, but a mission." He continues, "All this hellraising is meant to hit the authorities where it hurts, all preparation for a future campaign. I'm not supposed to make a big fortune from it, but at least I'm not supposed to be expendable either."
"Anything about the future?"
"Cinder also told me about that. Her boss wins, there won't be a place for me if I'm not onboard. Her boss loses, well, let's just say a certain someone isn't going to call it a wrap when he wins."
Would Ozpin care that much about rooting out crime? The answer can get kind of scary either way.
Qrow walks over to us, must have overheard what we were talking about. He asks:
"So how much did you sell your soul for?"
"I sold her my service, not my soul. And this is exactly what I told her back then: A pity your boss can't have my soul, because Vale just forfeited it years ago."
"Maybe Glynda is taking a step further with her no-kill rule, but personally, I don't see a reason to keep you."
Shaking his head at how unrepentant Roman is, Qrow takes a long swig from his liquor canteen. I'm no drinker, I know even less about Remnant alcohol than about Earth alcohol, but it smells very moonshine to me. Roman isn't impressed by the drink either, as he continues:
"Today it's the same deal: I'll swear my loyalty to you alright, and I'm not going back until the job is done. Now, how about you start learning to…"
"Knock it off, you two!" Tai shouts from the Bullhead's open hatch door before Qrow and Roman's bickering gets physical. He's listening too us too, then, "Glynda! Peter! Come over here, I think I got a schedule for preparing this bird for the mission."
We gather in front of him to listen. He must have made some insane past reputation to have both the teachers and a maverick like Qrow to take his advice. The strange mutual understanding between him and Roman means even Roman has heard about him before.
"Condition is better than expected, engines and energy pipelines are fine, it has new model Schnee capacitors. A few worn down connectors and wiring needs to be fixed. One auxiliary power turbine is torn up by something from above." He looks to Roman, "What did you do with it when that happened?"
"That was the time… I got into a fight with Goodwitch."
It was the same incident someone, someone special, tried to attack Ruby in the Volume 1 pilot episode! Careful there, Tai might finally reveal that his relaxed attitude is simply reserved tranquil rage and flip it at you, Roman.
"We should replace it then." Tai nods and continues, "I see there are some interior armor plating added on, that's a good thing to have. All the passenger seating is stripped out, so it will take some time to put eight safety seats and two engineer seats back in. For safety, the nose gun will only get loaded and tested before flight. Now, I want more extra armor, and then door guns on both sides, because we might need to fight before finding a landing spot on Amity. No wing guns or bombs, all the firepower we need will be stored inside."
Glynda is satisfied with Tai's verdict.
"Good. You can take anything you need from what we have, and ask anyone at the admissions building to help you out. You're confident to get it ready in five days, right?"
"I'll just have Coco and Velvet here to help me and Roman on the refit. I've taught them at Signal, so they know nothing here is harder to fix than anything Coco made! You? You three just get some rest. Tell the folks at the admission building things are going to get better once we're done with Amity."
Coco looks a bit embarrassed, but her teammates give her very supportive winks. In response, she decides to chuckle at Tai's inside joke, then cracks her knuckles. Roman throws them a thumb up, to Neo's annoyed confusion. It's going to be amazing working with Tai, I can see it too.
"Well then." Qrow sounds pissed off, "Have fun, Tai!"
"You got the important job here, Qrow: Patch doesn't feel right to Yang and Ruby if you aren't home."
With a loud sniff, Qrow walks out of the hangar and vanishes behind another hangar not far away. Fortunately, there are no planes taking off at this moment to suck him into a jet engine.
/
The best way to describe the following couple of days is the calm before the storm. Preparing for war is a quiet business, so the adults have all immersed themselves into their respective work.
I'm left by myself; holed up in a spare bedroom at the emergency command center, watching Vytal recordings and class videos to get better at fighting Hunters. Port is spending most of his time checking up on some students living in the city, so I must rely on my own understanding. People my age… I have been avoiding the few students still staying in this building, even Fox and Yatsu of CFVY, mostly because I don't know them well enough to bother them for anything. I'll admit, back on Earth I have problem interacting with people for the same reason.
My precision at controlling my Fall Power is getting better – I mean, I can heat canned food using magical flames at will without lighting the whole building on fire, even if there still is some way to go before I can juggle them in the air. Other elements are coming in slow, but I'm fine with using just fire right now.
On the third day, the Bullhead repair team comes back. However, they came back bringing a ton of frustration and pressure to spare. Coco keeps accusing Roman of tricking us into pimping his getaway vehicle, because Roman wanted to tune up the engine output a bit too high; Roman refuses to work with this mostly legitimate fear. Tai can either mediate between them or command them, but not at the same time; and Velvet… As polite and supportive she is, she stands behind Coco's opinion unwavering. I haven't asked, but I'm certain whatever Neo does when the others are at work can only make it even worse.
Worse, Qrow had decided to join the fun at some point yesterday, to piss off Roman even more. Is he tired of looking after Ruby and Yang at home? He's the one who can fly on his own if anything bad happens to our Bullhead, after all.
All they did since their return is continuing their quarrel in the lobby, waiting for Glynda to come back and weigh in. Though, I strongly doubt she can change Roman's mind. Roman isn't going to swallow his pride willingly, even if it's the only thing to save his arse. What will Glynda do anyway? Force Coco and Qrow to step down instead?
All I can do is keeping an eye on Neo, before she starts a fight for any imaginable reason.
From the entrance, I see a visitor hanging around just outside without coming in. Waiting for someone? Trying to find information about someone missing?
Fuck, now I can feel it: How many people are going to be listed as missing, for the rest of eternity, because my newfound "friends" can't be bothered to settle their problems with the authorities in nonviolent ways?
Maybe it's my responsibility to come see who's there. Show that Beacon still have the power to help with something, right?
"Hello, is there a professor here you... Need to see?"
It's Ruby.
This is too early. It should have taken several weeks. In the series it took her much longer to recover from using her Silver Eyes to deal with the dragon and Cinder. Well… I'm sixty percent confident this is a positive change I've made. On the other hand, now I don't have an idea of what she will do in the next few months, if she's going to Mistral and all that..
Ruby stops walking in circles, turns to me, then takes a step back when she sees the big patch of soul-sucking Grimm burn on my face.
"Hi!" Is all she manage to say.
I'm wearing another spare Beacon uniform, though the more comfortable male version, so I must have gave her the impression that Beacon is staffed only by some injured upperclass students now. Major image problem. Forgive me for failing you again, Ozpin!
"Hi, Ruby! Here to see your dad? Is everything okay?" I ask her.
"I'm fine… They are here? Is this a bad time for me to come?" It doesn't sound like anything bad, I mean worse, has happened to Yang. Good enough.
"No, no, come on in." Despite what the atmosphere indoor is like, I think letting her in could be a good thing for everyone. I think I've got a plan to get Roman back in line, however improvised it is. Time to get creative!
I open the door for Ruby. There's just not a good way to explain to her, or anyone, what's going on right now between my nominal teammates. I simply lead her in, straight to where Tai, Qrow, and Coco are sitting with their eyes fixed on Roman.
"Roman?"
Crescent Rose unfolds next to me; everyone turns toward the door at the sound, giving all their attention to Ruby. Neo gets ready to counter her possible attack, but it only takes her half an instance to remember we didn't let her bring a replacement sword parasol from the bunker. Roman gestures her to sit back down, then look at me with a half-amused, half-frustrated face.
"We're all on a mission here, and the goal is saving Penny."
I tell Ruby, letting the very high stake of disappointing her to slowly sink in for both Qrow and Roman, even if it applies to them differently. Then, I start reasoning with Roman, first give both sides a little praise, then emphasize on how we are going to measure his usefulness:
"Roman, I know you're just trying to give us the best offer. You're used to having idiots under your command, but this time you have actual peers who can hold their own. Treat them the old way, and you're the one pulling our mission apart. You want to do your part? Then start with being a decent person! Stop making us fight you."
It takes a few more seconds for him to understand. I didn't aim to hit his conscience, since I don't have any dreams of redeeming his humanity; I just need him to back down for the moment and work with us, willingly or not. Roman shrugs, then sits straight and smiles at Ruby:
"Yes, I'm working together with your dad and friends, Little Red." Roman sounds more than superficially sincere, maybe because there is no reason not to be sincere left anymore, "My apologies for… Taking my war into your world. I won't ask you to forgive me, but please, give me your trust. Trust me, I will bring everyone back."
Ruby doesn't say anything, but folds Crescent Rose back up. Tai stands up and walks to her, almost hauling Qrow along behind him. I move out of the way to give them more room.
As the family scene unfolds, Roman tells Coco:
"You think I want to run away? Truth is, I don't have anywhere to run to anymore. To hell with the emergency power boost, less likely to blow itself up."
He's finally realizing he needs to be working for us to stay kicking. My ultimatum has worked, in combination with the change in atmosphere.
"You're welcome, then. I like the risk, I just don't like you." Coco chuckles with greatly reduced bitterness. She stands up and pats Velvet on the shoulder, "Let's find Fox and Yatsu. We'll get back to fixing the Bullhead in a while."
/
Ruby catches up with us again, at the yacht club just before we are supposed to set off. She's here to wish us luck; I stopped myself from commenting out loud that it reminds me of an ominous cliché just in time.
"Dad, Uncle Qrow… Yang wants me to tell you she… She understands. She said, you are the biggest heroes she ever knows, but please don't rush into unnecessary danger… Just come home safely."
There isn't much subtext to get out of Yang's message. I wonder if she has fears that Blake might be with the people stealing the Amity. Fuck, I haven't thought about it either…
Then, Ruby comes up to Roman and Neo. She holds out a small box the size of a pencil case to Neo, then opens it to let everyone have a look at what's inside:
A folding karambit dagger, with four derringer style gun barrels on its grip. Her rose mark is etched onto the blade.
"Dad and uncle Qrow… told me you two are on their team this time. They'll keep Roman safe for you, and you'll keep them safe for me, okay?" Ruby speaks very slowly, "So… I noticed you don't have a gun, so I'll let you take this, something I made back at Signal. You promise to watch out for them, right?"
Neo nods, with the most normal sincere expression she can make. Ruby didn't need to give her an "or else". I'd say if she dare to look any bit sarcastic, this karambit dagger will be immediately shoved down her throat along with the package.
Though, the gun-dagger kinda looks like a suicide weapon for an entire team, exactly four bullets and all that…
"Diesel."
Roman calls out to me, holding out a cowboy hat with Amber's – I mean mine – feather brooch pinned onto its side. Where the fuck did he even find this thing? I didn't even know Ozpin or anyone kept my personal effects after I got put into the Aura transfer machine.
"Found this thing on Ironwood's ship." He sees what I'm wondering, "Qrow saw it and told me it's yours. I figure I should throw in some extra. The hat isn't special like mine, but you have to dress properly for the battlefield."
Ruby watches us all sit into the Bullhead, keeping silent despite the VTOL's engines being quiet enough to let us hear her. After the hatch is shut, Roman's callout to the air control tower comes through the intercom:
"Bullhead Vigilant Ghost, pilot Siegfried Ozpin, taking off. Destination is Amity Arena, I hope all of us can find something worth dying for there."
Author's notes:
I found out about my friend just after finishing the last chapter, after losing contact with him for almost a year. Rushed this one a bit for him, so it became a bit out of hands and much longer than anyone before. If you know Chinese, you might have came across some of his fics for the Touhou and Elder Scrolls fandoms before. They are immensely wild and enjoyable.
The title is a reference to Nishikawa Takanori's song Invoke.
Siegfried Ozpin - Ozpin is supposed to be referencing Odin in many ways, so I'm giving him a Norse name.
Amber doesn't remember Qrow can cause misfortune.
Tai is the pilot because... Yang probably learned biking and mechanics from him. I also need a designated leader without burdening Glynda too much. Tai is just a shorthand for Taiyang Xiaolong because I'm not really comfortable with how RT designs his name, while not confident with how I'm going to put it either.
Roman is scared because he knows who Tai is. While he probably haven't interacted with STRQ when he was still working for the good guys, he heard about them from time to time. I picture STRQ to be quite intimidating for people in-universe because how powerful they are.
Amber's last name is a reference to James Clerk Maxwell.
