... Chapter 9...

[3 years ago - Atlas warship]

Winter Schnee was a fresh recruit out of the academy. As her first assignment was investigating the southern outpost. After going silent after failing to check in. Her squad of 20 men and women are flown in. The pilot of the airship radios in requesting permission to land but no response. Back then Winter was just another faceless Atlas grunt. Her Captain at the time was Capt. Stephanie Cyan who stands up to addressee her unit. Like Winter's mother, Glatteis was a veteran of the founding of Atlas itself and a legend in her own right. Often nicknamed "Captain Atlas" as a joke at first but she started liking it.

:Capt. Cyan: "Weapons ready boys and girls! This might be a technical malfunction but it is just as likely we got enemy forces to deal with. We have had reports of Grimm and White Fang activity in the area so expect a fight. [Winter raises her hand] Yes private?"

:Winter: "Why are we being called in now if potential threats to the outpost are nearby?

:Capt. Cyan: "I thought that was suspicious myself so be on guard!"

The Captain points to the Map of the outpost on the holographic display.

:Capt. Cyan: "Private Schnee I want you to lead half through the back entrance while I lead through the front! The ship will patrol the surrounding area and provide support. Maintain Radio contact but keep chatter to a minimum.

:Soldiers and Winter: "Yes Captain!"

A drop ship lands in the surrounding forest. The snow makes great camouflage for the soldiers in white. As instructed the unit splits up into two teams. Winter leads her team through the back entrance.

[inside outpost]

Winter and her team enter the main building. Guns were drawn with them in defensive positions. The power seems to be shut off by the enemy. A nasty stench comes down the halls. Winter turns on her helmet's night vision. She sees the signs of an intense battle. Slashes across the walls and floor. Blood splattered across the floor by the bucket load.

:Winter: "Captain Cyan we found signs of heavy combat! No bullet holes anywhere so this was one sided!"

:Capt. Cyan: "Same here! There appears to be no sign of the men and women stationed here! Tread carefully, who or what did this way still be here!"

:Winter: "Roger that!"

One of the Atlas Soldiers suddenly drops dead on the ground. Winter quickly examines his body. The dead soldier has a needle in his neck. A clear ooze drips off it. Contact with the bodies skin causes it to rot away fast.

:Winter: "Captain we have a man down!"

:Capt. Cyan: "Switch to the thermotropic vision and watch your back! Do you need assistance?"

:Winter: "Negative. [three more drops dead] Make that a yes!"

:Capt. Cyan: "Hold the line! I'll get there as fast as I can!"

:Winter: "Copy that!"

A massive white fang goon crashes through the ceiling. He looks down at Captain Cyan with a large battle-ax. The goon is about 10 feet tall and pure muscle. Instead of a mask, he wears a metal helmet. One that completely covers his head But his glowing red eyes. Cyan gestures for her men to spread out and surround him. The giant points his ax right at Cyan herself. The edges of the blade shine brightly in the moonlight.

:Capt. Cyan: [To Winter] "I'm going to need a few minutes."

:Big Goon:[Deep raspy voice] "If you're lucky enough to live that long!"

:Capt. Cyan: "Funny, I was going to say the same to you Tons o' Fun! You're big but I've fought WAY bigger!"

:Big Goon: "This may actually be worth my time after all!"

:Capt. Cyan: "OPEN FIRE!"

Cyan and her men blast the Behemoth from all directions. All the bullets seem to do is tickle him. The Behemoth swings the ax down into the ground. Making a powerful gust of the wind with the swing. Cyan dodges the huge ax-head while pulling out a saber. The captain uses her Burst to flash step. All over her huge opponent deep cuts appear. Cyan gets a quick running start. She performs a super speed drop kick. A Sonic Boom forms around her. The Behemoth's aura engulfs him at the last minute. Unlike normal aura, his acts like gas fumes rather than light. The big goon blocks her with his armored gauntlet. The recoil from her kick does slightly push him back.

:Capt. Cyan: "You ... You can use Burst!?"

:Big Goons: "A basic part of my training ... as a slayer!"

:Capt. Cyan: [She calls back Winter.] "Private Schnee this may take longer than a minute!"

:Winter: "I don't even have one!"

Winter catches a needle aimed at her. Afterward, her knee gives out and she falls over. She spots a needle in her kneecap. Her whole right leg is completely paralyzed by the attack. She looks behind herself. All of Winter's men are dead with a needle in them. Winter hears footsteps in the down the corridor. They are getting closer with each step.

:Winter: "SHOW YOURSELF!"

She sees a young girl approach her in the darkness. When she is in full view Winter gets a surprise. It is Eve Basilisk, a girl no older than her little sister. The young snake girl licks another needle. The whole inside of Eve's mouth is black with two long fangs for canines.

:Eve: "So this is what a Schnee looks like in person. A bit anticlimactic to kill you yet. So let's do something worse."

[?-Present day]

Sun Wukong is chained to a wall in an unknown location. He's in what appears to be a dungeon. His whole body is covered in deep cuts. A large deep gash across his face is covered in dried blood. He is unresponsive, his eyes glassy. A heart monitor he's hooked up to flat lines. The veins in his body turn black as the monitor goes wild. Sun starts convulsing and gasping for air. Eve just sits in a chair watching this. Sipping a glass of vintage red wine the whole time.

:Sun: "Where am I?!"

:Eve: "My workshop dearest brother. Welcome back to the world of the living."

:Sun: "Why are you doing this to me?! What did I ever do to you?!" Eve walks up to him. The malicious snake runs a finger down his face. Her venom tipped claw ring pressed against his temple. She giggles in a way that sickens him, sweet yet threatening.

:Eve: "I was just in town for that meeting. I should be thanking you by the way."

:Sun: "For what!?"

:Eve: "Without you and Miss. Belladonna showing up. We would never have found those tracking devices in the Paladins. or the other spies hiding in the crowd." She starts laughing hysterically. Making Sun tremble in fear. "Y-you should have seen the look on that over-zealous fool's face! Adam looked so very incompetent when I fixed those issues! I never laughed so hard in my life! That is the only reason you still live, however. You belong to me as payment for your transgression. You live because I allow it and you can die with a thought. You're going to become my new Slayer!"

Her Scroll starts ringing with an ominous tune as the ring tone. The caller ID has the caller listed as The Queen. :Eve: "I have to take this! Reste mon jouet!" Sun breaks one of his shackles to attack her. He makes an attempt to strangle her. Her quick reflexes allow her to dodge. However, he catches a gold heart shaped locket. Sun tears it off her and throws it to the side. A brief flash of visible rage crosses her face as Sun's heart shuts back off. She picks her locket backup of the ground. It got opened in the throw, inside is a picture of Jaune Arc of all people.

:Eve: "Please forgive my delay, your highness!"

:Salem: "All is well my dear, all going well?"

:Eve: "Yes Lady Salem! The little hiccup in the vail branch is sorted out! However, I'm still looking for APEX #34 but I'll find her."

:Salem: "Very nice work my dear! As for #34, I believe I may provide assistance with her."

[?]

Troya is in a landscape unfamiliar to her yet feels natural to her. Black skies like eternal night above. Hills of crystal fill the land below dotted with pits of black goo. She looks around the hall as turns into a terrified little girl. A pale humanoid hand reaches out of the goo covered in black veins. Troya helps pull the figure out of the pit. After pulling her out she gets a terrifying shock. The figure is Julie Vino but changed. Her flawless tan skin replaced with an unnatural white. Black veins encompass her shapely form. Her eye while still red is surrounded by darkness. A Grimm mask forming around her left eye. :Julie?: "Why did you let me DIE!" Julie flies into a rage as she strangles her former lover. :Julie: "I loved you! I trusted you! Why am I dead and a MONSTER like you still alive! ... I'll never forgive you!"

Above her head stands a woman in a long black robe. Her skin and eyes just like Julie's and white hair in a bun. The woman does not say a word but smiles warmly at Troya. The black flames of Troya's semblance engulf her. Becoming more like the two demonic figures.

[Vail Hospital]

Troya wakes up in a hospital bed screaming and crying. Sweat dripping off her face. :Jason: "Troya!" Her leader hugs her tightly, ignoring the pain doing so causes him. The normally smooth Jason is in tears. Snowbird Frost gently places a hand on her shoulder. Heavy bags under her eyes, signs of heavy crying. Her hands shaky from intense stress. The two lovers are in their beacon uniforms. Snowbird wears the top half of the female uniform but wears pants. She hates skirts with a passion.

:Jason: "I should have paid more attention to you! You needed my help and I've failed you!"

:Troya: "I-I'm sorry!"

:Jason: "THAT'S MY LINE!"

:Troya: "I guess I let you down too!"

Her tears fall onto Jason's head. She hugs him back.

:Troya: "Maybe I'm not good for anyone! Maybe I'll never be more than just a monster!"

:Snowbird: "Fuck that noise! Troya you are a better person than you think!"

Snowbird joins in on the hugging. Trying hard not to hurt her friends. Then she angrily slapping Troya across the face.

:Snowbird: "What the fuck were you thinking!? Do you have any idea how terrified we were for you!?"

:Troya: "I-I almost became a murderer! Team RWBY was helpless against me! Thankfully Jaune reminded me that Julie hated the idea of revenge!"

:Snowbird: "You almost got arrested! Team RWBY refused to press charges. Glatteis even said if they get a Karma Houdini then so does their victims."

:Troya: "Saved by the scary milf! Why am I in a hospital bed?"

:Jason: "You don't remember?! Your heart stopped when your semblance went haywire! You nearly died on the way here!"

:Snowbird: "But that was not the weirdest of it!

Snowbird hands her a mirror to look at herself. Her left eye is permanently Yellow with black sclera. Troya screams when she can't change it back anymore.

:Troya: "Oh shit! This has got to be divine punishment! I'm a monster inside and out now!"

:Glatteis: "Welcome to the club, honey." The Schnee matriarch leans against the door. Taking a sip of whiskey from a flask. An intense glare on her face as she looks at Troya.

:Snowbird: "How's your daughter's boyfriend?"

:Glatteis: "[burp] Your sister's boy-toy is fine. Just a stab wound to the gut. How do you feel Starling? You gave everyone a scare."

:Troya: "Like shit!"

:Glatteis: "I'm sorry! When I was told you planned to kill Weiss and her friends ... I was out for blood!

:Troya: "I never planned it out! I was in the room across from theirs. I overheard them saying something. I have no excuse for what I was about to do."

:Glatteis: "The Arc boy cleared the whole thing up. He thinks very highly of you, my dear. He didn't have a single unkind word about you."

:Troya: "Classic Jaune, a regular sweetheart! Is Team RWBY with you? I'd like to apologize to them."

:Glatteis: "Visiting an injured friend down the hall. I can take you to them."

:Troya: "Yes, please! With your help, this may go better than alone."

:Snowbird: "You don't really have to apologize."

:Troya: "I'm doing this because I think it's the right thing to do. I won't be able to live with myself otherwise. After all, I don't want to be a monster anymore!"

:Jason: "Oh fucking stop already! You fucked up but that does not make you a monster! They fucked with us first anyway. Your outburst was just a response to their carelessness. I want nothing more than to watch them die! But not by our hand. Julie's ghost would kick our asses otherwise!"

:Glatteis: "Takes balls to do what you are about to do! Respect!

Glatteis shakes Troya's hand with a satisfied grin on her face.

[Neptune's room]

Neptune is waking up from his injuries. A sharp pain in his gut as he tries to get out of bed. He sees team RWBY and Jaune in the room with him. Glynda Goodwitch is with them alongside Winter. Weiss forces him back in it but gets a slap. Weiss is stunned by the angry Neptune's behavior.

:Neptune: "Keep your hands off me!"

:Weiss: "Why did you hit me?"

:Neptune: "Are you kidding me?! Sun and I get arrested but you guys get away with it!"

:Yang: "That wasn't our fault!"

:Blake: "Tell us who did this to you, Neptune! Please help us save Sun!"

:Ruby: "Then you can hate us like everyone else does."

Ruby Rose starts crying. She crawls into a ball on the floor. She wanted to be a hero like her mother. Hard to feel like a hero when you ruined people's lives. Jaune surprises everyone by punching Neptune in the face. With an angry scowl on his face.

:Jaune: "If you can stop bitching for two seconds that would be great. Now who took Sun or am I going to have to hit you again!?"

:Glynda: "Mr. Arc this is really out of character for you!"

:Yang: "Didn't know you had it in you!"

:Jaune: "Yang you guys don't that much about me. I mean Ruby is the only one out you four who actually talks to me often. Weiss hates me and Blake never even said a single word to me before. Sometimes I forget she even can talk at all!"

:Neptune: "She told me to tell Blake something. Eve Basilisk says hello!"

:Blake: "NO! Her?!"

:Jaune: "God damn it! Why did it have to be you, Eve!?

:Glynda: "You're talking like you personally know her Mr. Arc!?"

:Jaune: "I grew up with her and her sister. Eve and her twin sister Morgana were my only friends back home! She left home without saying a word one day! I always feared the worst but WHITE FANG! How can you accept your childhood friend turning evil!? She was so shy and timid when we were kids!"

:Ruby: "You never mentioned this before why?"

:Glynda: "Because Eve Basilisk is a White Fang leader! One that is especially cruel and sadistic! With a fondness for torture and toxins!"

:Blake: "She's largely considered a monster even by other White Fang members! They only keep her around because she's too useful! She leads the Atlas branch of the White Fang like a Mob boss. Drug trafficking and other illegal trading from her keep the White Fang well funded."

:Winter: "I fought her once and it took me three months to walk again! Took even longer to purge the venom out of my system. She is the most dangerous opponent I've ever faced! I didn't even get a single hit in."

Team JST knocks on the door before walking in. Troya doesn't even try to cover her resonantly changed eye. Glynda almost gasps in horror at it.

:Ruby: "Oh god please don't kill us!"

:Troya: "I deserve that! Shit knew this was going to be hard!

:Glynda: "Miss Starling what happened to your eye?!"

:Troya: "I don't know! but Look, guys, I just want to say I'm sorry! I won't make any excuses for my behavior. Julie would never forgive me if I killed you."

:Glynda: "I'm so proud of you, my dear!"

Ruby Rose hugs Troya very tightly in pure joy. The Fox Faunus gently pats Ruby on the head.

:Ruby: "I should be the one apologizing. We really didn't want to hurt anyone! I'm sorry!"

:Snowbird: "Like I said own up to it and do better!"

:Jason: "So what's going on in here mom? I can just feel the dread in the air!"

:Glynda: "One of their friends was abducted. The police won't do anything about a Blacklisted huntsman. Especially if Eve Basilisk is involved!"

:Troya: "Then I'll do something about it!"

:Yang: "You would really help us?! Even after what we did!?"

:Jason: "No, We are going to help! I would be a shitty ass leader if I let her go alone."

:Snowbird: "What he said!"

:Blake: "Thank you!"

:Jason: "Think of it like a chance to earn our forgiveness! Plus I really want to see what my new arm can do!"

His face loses the cocky grin as his eyes go cold. His robot arm turns into a Gatling gun. He points it at Team RWBY. Snowbird also glares at them cracking her knuckles.

:Jason: "This, however, will not make us friends or make us stop hating you! We are helping out because we are Huntsman and a true huntsman save people! We are willing to give you girls one-second chance! However, if you do anything stupid like on that highway! I will not hesitate to put you down without mercy! [points gun at Ruby] And I'll save you for last Ruby!"