0ooooooooooooooooo0
Colt
After three movies at my house, much kissing and snuggling happening during that time, which I certainly didn't mind, I looked at the clock on the wall and said, "We'd better get going, Ruby. Come on, I'll drop you off at the bullhead launch pad." She looked at me, then sat up, resting on my stomach and stretching.
"On the bike?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Come on."
I led her to the garage, where my black Mustang with two white racing stripes on top sat waiting. I pushed the garage door opener, and held open the door for Ruby.
"Where did you get this?" She asked.
"I got it from an old man who had originally bought it for his grandson, but he died in a Grimm incursion. The old man was going into a retirement home, and wasn't going to get to use it, so I bought it from him for a real good price, especially since it's built for being outside city walls. It's got a reinforced chassis, bulletproof glass, and it has off-road re-inflating tires." I closed the door and stepped around the car and into the driver seat.
"But how did you buy it?" She asked as I turned the ignition key. The engine roared to life, then purred as it idled. I sent it into reverse and backed out of the garage, closing the door before turning towards Vale.
"You think just because I've been in the Wilds means I don't have funds. I've been doing bounty work for years, and my family had a large bank account that contained lien, silver, and gold. It's how I funded my inventions, and built my equipment."
We drove towards the wall when Ruby spoke again. "Why did you turn down the offer?"
I sighed, knowing she was talking about Ozpin. "I don't think that I need to go to school for fighting Grimm. I've been doing it for the past four years, by myself, teaching myself." I told her. "Plus, I wouldn't have the freedom that I have now to take out thugs or investigate a case that I do now."
"But you're illegal right now." She protested. "If you get caught, you could go to jail. If you come to Beacon, you could work as a junior huntsmen and if you were taken in, you could usually get off without any repercussions."
I shrugged. "Why are you so certain I'll get caught?" I questioned with a confident smirk, then sighed. "Does it really mean that much to you?"
I saw her nod out of the corner of my eye, and we pulled up to the wall gate. A man stepped from behind a metal bunker, a rifle in his hands and dressed in forest battle fatigues, wearing a pair of sunglasses under his cadet's cap.
"We're heading into the town, I'm driving her to Beacon." I told him after rolling down the window. He nodded, then pulled a facial recognition camera from his person. Ruby and I were quickly scanned, then he nodded.
"Alright, you two are clear. Drive safe." He told us, then waved to a camera, which must transmit to the control man, as the gates opened for us to get through.
As we passed, the guard watched the forest with vigilance, hands tightly gripping the rifle, and we entered Vale.
We drove for a few minutes before I sighed. "Is this what you want, for me to go to Beacon?"
She nodded. "We'd see each other so much more, and you meet all my friends, and I think you'd be capable of so much more as a huntsman."
"Alright." I said with a sigh. "I'll tell you what. I'm going to come with you to Beacon, and should I feel like it's right, I'll sign up. Deal?"
0ooooooooooooooooooo0
Ruby
I squealed at his words. "That's great! Oh, you're going to love it there, and everyone's going to be amazed at your skills, and you can go through the school day with us, which is kind of boring in Professor Port's class, because he has to say all these long, unrealistic stories about him when he was younger." Ruby continued to ramble, and I just smiled. We soon pulled into the bullhead parking lot, where Colt parked across from Bumblebee, Yang's motorcycle.
He hurried to get out and open my door, offering a hand to help me out. I blushed at the chivalrous gesture, and we headed to the ticket stand.
Students didn't have to pay for tickets, the school offering us passes for the bullhead, but Colt had to buy a ticket, and soon we boarded the bullhead.
The airship was empty except for a single boy. He had green eyes and short, blue hair. He had tanned, weather beaten skin. He had numerous scars over his exposed skin. He wore a t-shirt and jeans with a double barreled elephant gun with a clip attached and a grip on the front slung on his back in a harness. A pair of wolf ears sat in place of a pair of human ears, and he looked at us warily, especially Colt.
As the bullhead ascended, I looked to see Colt glance at the boy as he strapped in, then a look of confusion and concentration cross his face.
"Mark?" He said under his breath, then the Faunus leaped to his feet, rushing towards us. Colt threw off his belts and placed his hand on the handle of his sword, Shadowsteel.
"Shadow Hunter? What on Remnant are you doing out of the Wilds?" the boy growled.
"I could ask the same of you." Colt returned, voice level with only a hint of wariness. "Last time I saw you, you told me if I ever came to your side of the Wilds, you'd hunt me down and wear my skin as a pelt."
"What the heck is going on?" I cried.
"Mark Niccosu, he's a Vacuoan Wildsman."
"Wildsman, makes me sound like an animal."
"It's a title most wear with honor."
"It looks good on the résumé, but not on the grave." Mark smiled. "I decided to come look at the easy life. What are you doing here? Finally kill all the Grimm in your territory?"
"Territory?" I questioned
"All the Wildsmen had a territory they protected, some took over many other Wildsmen, making a tribe, while others stayed solitary, in places as isolated as they come." Colt explained
"The Shadow Hunter was one of those solitary types. Any other Wildsmen, he considered a threat to his territory, and was always a few miles up, waiting with a welcome gift that made most run away in fear… if they survived." Mark added with a sadistic grin. "None of the other Wildsmen really tried to take the Silver Peaks, he had the place rigged with traps and explosives."
Colt grimaced, "I fear to think someone's taken my home in my absence."
"With all the Grimm up there and your defense system, I doubt anyone would try to take it even if they knew the Shadow Hunter were gone."
"Why is he calling you that?" I asked Colt.
"That was my Wildsman alias. I kept my identity a secret, so I could easily give my true name to the people I trusted. I used it when dealing with other Wildsman and when I took a few bounties."
"A few bounties? You pulled so many jobs that you were the highest-ranked bounty hunter in Atlas for three months. Most can't hold it for more than a week!"
"That's because they waste their money on a break. I kept working."
"You used to be in Atlas?"
He nodded. "For half a year, I worked as a man-for-hire. Protection jobs, infiltration, you name it, I did it, for the right price and right people."
"Why on Remnant are you headed to Beacon?" Mark Niccosu asked.
"Taking Ruby back, and she persuaded me to come along, trying to get me signed up."
"You Ruby?" He asked me, and I nodded. He looked at me for a second. "She your girlfriend?"
My blush must have given it away. "She fits with you, though she's a bit on the short side." He continued with a grin.
"I drink milk!" I stated proudly.
"What happened to that other girl, Milo or something?"
"She ended up going down a path I wasn't willing to go down. She still tries to get with me every once and a while." Colt told him, and my brain started flipping red flags. He continued. "It's been a few weeks since I picked up the mail at that safe house, so I kinda forgot about her, so thanks a lot, Niccosu."
The boy shrugged. "Scars fade."
Colt chuckled, and the bullhead began its descent to Beacon. We parted ways with Mark, and I pulled him towards the courtyards, lacing my hand with his.
"So, who was this girl he mentioned?"
"Someone I used to know, old flame that needed to be put out."
"And her name was Milo."
"No." He told me. "And I suggest we drop the subject, it's getting a bit awkward for me."
I shrugged as we passed through the ruins of the coliseum. He seemed impressed so far. We continued onward, exploring the gym, arenas, cafeteria, and gardens before we walked toward the dorms.
"Hey, Ruby!" I heard Jaune yell, and we turned to see Jaune and Ren walking by.
"Hey, guys." I waved. "Where are you two headed?"
"We're going to go see that new movie." Ren answered.
"The one with Suzie Scarlett?"
"No, the one with Robbin Wallers." Jaune told her, "Pyrrha and Nora are doing something girly back in the dorm, figured we'd head out. Who's the dude?"
"It's Colt." Ren and I said at the same time.
"Wait, how can you tell?" Jaune asked the ninja next to him.
"Their holding hands." Ren facepalmed, "and he matches Ruby's description, though perhaps a bit watered down."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's wearing a shirt." Jaune noted.
I blushed, embarrassed as I scoured my memory of when I had said that. Colt raised his eyebrow, and I quickly wished them a good night and dragged Colt away as he laughed.
We continued down the path in relative silence, and I watched him for his reaction to the school, until a voice hailed us. "Mr. Silver." I heard Ozpin call, and we looked to see the headmaster approaching. "I had a feeling we'd see each other again."
Colt nodded. "Ozpin. Ruby was showing me around the campus. You have quite the recruitment team, Ruby's trying very hard to get me to join your school."
"Then perhaps I can seal the deal."
"You're still at it, eh?" Colt asked.
"What if I made you an offer?" Ozpin suggested. "I know of your hometown, what if I offered the people and resources to rebuild it to its former glory?"
Colt chuckled. "Ozpin, I could do that myself, and I don't really want to just yet. There's other things I need to take care of first." He stopped for a second. "Actually, there is something I need, for a couple friends of mine."
"And what would this require?"
"I need to get in contact with an Atlesian scientist, Dr. Polendina."
Ozpin froze, then blinked once. "How… do you… know that name?"
"I once met him when I broke into a secret base in the Wilds, area 53."
"Ah, I heard of the Shadow Hunter's escapades. I believe you were repossessing stolen data for a projects original owners?"
Colt nodded.
"I can get Dr. Polendina here within a month, and I can also get you anything else you need for your project. I assume this may have to do with Project Freelancer?"
Colt now froze. "How do you know that name?"
"I work closely with the New Freelancers, Blaze has told me much."
Colt nodded. "Then you've got a deal." He said, offering his right hand. Ozpin clasped it with his own, and they shook once.
I squealed. "You're coming to Beacon!"
"I suggest you stay here for the night. That position I offered you last time isn't open, but we have enough late arrivals and transfers that we can make three more teams. Your initiation will commence tomorrow."
"I understand." Colt told him, and Ozpin turned away.
"I need to make a few phone calls, Ruby, then you can continue to show me around." Colt pulled his phone from his pocket, then pressed a few buttons. "And what's the campus policy on pets?"
"As long as they can't see it, they can't catch you…" I told him.
0oooooooooooooooooooooo0
Underground Base
Colt
As soon as I returned, Summit padded towards me with his tail down.
I accidently broke something… He said with a whine.
I sighed with a smile, then looked to see a broken glass that had contained my blood type, kept for emergencies and my own studies of Aura, specifically why I had the rare ability to possess many Semblances.
"Hey, kid." Church buzzed into the air and waved.
"Hello, Church. Could you pull up maps of the areas on the outside of the Vale walls?"
"What are you looking for?"
"I want abandoned but in good condition houses, in areas not really populated with Grimm, preferable on a bit of high ground and fenced, definitely needs a garage and basement."
"May I inquire to ask what the hell this is for?"
"Sure thing." I told him, then remained silent as I picked up the pieces of glass.
"Are you going to answer me?"
I took on a look of confusion and said, "I did."
Church sighed. "You're being a smart-ass, aren't you?" He realized. "Alright, what is it for?"
"It'll be my new house and base of operations. We're gonna need materials for an underground compound, so go ahead and order some necessary tools from Amberzone."
"Ooo, we're moving!" Church said with sarcasm, then said seriously, "Though, seriously, this place sucks."
Tell him to can it, he can't smell the stench. Summit sent to me, and I chuckled.
0ooooooooooooooooooooo0
273 Ironrose
York
"Agent York, I have detected an anomaly, another AI in the system, definitely not Atlas or one of the known Freelancer AIs on this planet." Delta popped up in York's 3D projector, "Yet something seems… almost familiar about it, like I know it. Something I haven't felt for a while now."
York dropped from the pull-up bar and took a drink from a water bottle. "So, what do you think it is?"
"I believe it is the Alpha."
