6 months later

I opened my eyes in my moonlit bedroom. The training that I was putting my platoon through, had started to take effect on me as well. I haven't shaved, eaten much, and had been sleeping and training on an irregular schedule. My body ached from all the sim combat I had been doing. Combined with constant skirmishes against the White Fang. My body and even parts of my soul were wearing on me.

"You okay Kyran?" A soft voiced whispered with concern. It was Flyresa who had noticed I had gotten up from the bed. Me and her had been sharing a room over the past few months, as she was helping immensely with my emotional stability. However, it was just more than that. I loved her, more than my platoon, my men, or even anyone else I cared about. She was the one thing that kept me going. I wasn't going to let anything happen, not now.

"Yea, just can't sleep is all." I said quietly. And I was right, I had gotten the most 6 hours of sleep a night. Everything else was just training, preparation, and strategy meetings. I was trying to push through it. But my body was almost refusing to listen to me.

"Don't tell me you are going to train Kyran." She asked with genuine concern.

"What else do I do Flyresa? I can't sleep, I can't eat. I have to keep myself ready." I said before Flyresa grabbed my arm.

"And what do I tell your men when you die because you didn't get a night's rest? That you weren't ready enough? Please, sleep, you can't keep doing this to yourself." She pleased with me, trying to convince me that I needed rest. What enemy would give me a chance to rest? None that I have ever met.

Then my PDA received a priority 1 message.

Field Commander Kyran Rhodes,

Please report to the Schnee Royal War Room in 30 minutes for a top priority meeting.

-Gale

I closed the message before Flyresa looked at me with an angry look. "Don't tell me that was Gale."

"I'm sorry Flyresa, I have to go do this." I said.

"He is making your life a living hell, I don't remember even a moment where he let you have a break. It has been a non-stop cycle of work and training and it is showing. In the past 6 months, you have been working yourself over to the point of exhaustion. Please, you need to understand, the more you push yourself, the harder time you are going to have in combat. I don't want you killing yourself because you claim it is what duty calls!" She stated in a firm and concerned voice.

"You think I enjoy this like a sick pleasure Flyresa? I have a job, for the safety of Vale, for Humanity. I can't just call in and take a day off. I am off fighting a war I need to win. Believe me, there are many days I want to call it quits. I am in a military position, I have a job to do! I have to be ready to do this. Do you understand!?" I yelled. My anger quickly terrified her. She backed away from me, I then realized that she was right. My sleep deprivation had been making me more emotional and it was showing, even against her.

"Oh god...please Flyresa. What...what...did?" I tried to say something before she gripped my hands.

"You can delay that meeting for a few extra minutes. Go to the night doctor. Get yourself checked out and if the doctor says you're good, you're good. If he tells you to get some rest, you damn well do it. You hear me Kyran?" She said to my face.

I sighed before showing a weak smile. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Good, get yourself ready, if that doctor says take the day off, you do it." She said.

"Alright, I'll do that."

Royal Guard Medical Bay

Dr. Emerson had been enjoying the quite night he had for the shift. He had been with the Schnee corporation for many years since his call from Atlas. The pay was good, the work was easy and he didn't worry too much unless a major battle had failed. So far, over the past 6 months, those times had been as peaceful as they could get. And he enjoyed it.

There was a call on the PDA from a Royal Guard member. He wondered who was calling at 2 a.m. In the morning. Had someone had a bit too much to drink or something equally ridiculous? He answered it.

"This is Dr. Emerson, how can I help you today?" He said happily

"Dr. Emerson, this is Flyresa Gaddis of the 3rd Royal Platoon. I am calling you because I need you to help me with something." She said over the call.

The 3rd Royal Platoon? He heard they were the top dog of all the Platoons out there. "Yes Ms. Gaddis, how may I be of assistance?" He asked respectfully asked.

"Listen, our commander Kyran Rhodes. He is heading over to your office for an examination. Please, after this examination. I want a full report on what you did. Is that understood Doctor?" She stated with a serious face. However, it wasn't something normal, she was more concerned, as if something was wrong but didn't want to say.

"I understand ma'am, I shall do as you request." Emerson replied respectfully.

"Thank you Emerson, I shall hear from within the hour." The call ended.

Then, the medical bay door opened as he turned to confront who had entered. It was a young man with long black hair. He wore a Royal uniform and looked as if he didn't shave at all for a while.

"Excuse me, can I help you tonight?" He asked with concern.

"I...I..need a..." He tried saying before collapsing onto the floor. Emerson quickly got up from his chair as he ran over to the boy. He took a look at his face as he immediately noticed that he had a severe case of sleep deprivation.

"Hey! Can you understand what I am saying?" Emerson asked before waking him up.

The young man groaned as he forced himself up. "Yea, I'm fine, just tired."

"A bit? Son, you haven't got a proper's night of sleep at all. You need to get some."

"No! I have to get a basic examination before I go see Gale." He tried getting himself up but collapsed again.

"I'm sorry son, you aren't going anywhere. You are too tired and exhausted to be able to do anything. Now come on, let's go Kyran." Emerson said before getting him up.

"I hate to ask Doc, but how..did you know my name?" He asked groggily.

"Lucky guess I'd say." He lied to him.

I twisted the doctor's hand as he cried out in pain. "Don't lie to me. Who told you? Was it Flyresa?" I demanded to know.

He cried out more. "Yes! Yes it was her!"I still held his hand in the painful position.

"You are going to do 3 things. 1: Call her and tell her I was cleared for examination. Second, you are going to clear me for examination. Finally, go ahead and give me stims for today. Are we clear Emerson?" I said

"YES! Yes! Yes, we are. Please let go!" He begged to me.

I let go of his hand before saying one last thing. "If you don't do what I ask. A damaged hand will be the least of your worries."

War Room

I entered the war room with an awake smile. I noticed Flyresa, Leon and Raynes all here. Flyresa smiled at me. "I guess you passed that examination."

"That I did. Now Gale, what was so important, that you had to wake us all up for." I asked jokingly.

Gale however wasn't in the same frame of mind. "We have just received word of a possible assassination attempt on Professor Ozpin."

All of our faces changed to a serious tone. "What proof do you have of this?" I demanded to know.

"Our source inside Beacon has confirmed this herself. We are to go to escort Ozpin to a safe location until we get further instruction from the higher ups. So as part of our cover, we will go in casual attire and NO swords. You will all be issued standard issue VPD pistols. We are an escort, after that, the Beacon guard will take over. Are we all clear?"

"Yes sir." I said

"Got it." Raynes responded.

"Not a problem." Leon said.

"Understood." Flyresa said.

"Good, we leave in 45 minutes. Let's get going you four." Gale finished before turning to do his own thing.

I turned for the door before my stride was stopped by Flyresa. She grabbed my arm as I noticed the look of concern she had. Was there something wrong I did? I wasn't sure, but I had to find out.

"What is Flyresa?" I asked her.

"Are you okay Kyran? I know the doctor cleared you but are you sure you are okay? I noticed you looking tired during the meeting. I just want to make sure is all." She asked genuinely. I noticed her concern and did not take it lightly because she was right. I was tired, and the stims that the doctor gave me were keeping me awake barely at best. Once I finished this mission, I would have to keep my promise to Flyresa. I needed a proper examination, a week to myself and enough sleep to get back on a regular rotation. If I kept this up much more, I might get myself killed.

9 Years Later

The Ozpin Escort. Oh that was the mission name at least. We were supposed to guard Professor Ozpin, Head of Beacon Academy, and escort him to a hotel in the design district of Vale. I didn't find out later that someone within our own organization had sold the intel to the White Fang. For a very hefty sum, they knew our route, our weapons and who was on the security detail. The mission was...I don't know what to classify the mission anymore. Not...not after what I lost.