The Heat
By wildstraydog
Chapter Ten: Realities of Death
Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquil
Here we go with another chapter of The Heat, and I'm happy to say this excited me. There will be a lot of answered questions and progression in several character relationships, which include how the others will see Jaune. Once this arc is over, there will be a little relief for the characters before moving on to the next events. Some of these so-called moments from canon might pop up, like the dance, but don't expect a mirror of events.
I sound like a broken record when I say this, but, please check out my other story, Not Even Aura can Heal All Wounds. I put a lot of work into it, and the feedback is always appreciated, and let's get the reviews for this story back up!
The ride to the top floor in the elevator should have been short, but to Jaune it appeared like hours were passing in mere seconds. He didn't know why everything felt so surreal to him, but as he stole a glance at Yang, studying her downcast lilac eyes that reflected off the light, he began to contemplate his earlier actions. Avenus was a threat who would have killed everyone in the room except for Blake, there was no arguing that – so why didn't he kill him?
There was no lack of trying on his part, the bullet he shot was meant for his head. Then again... he could have confirmed it, just as he did in every other mission – so why did he hesitate so much? Jaune clenched his fists, his nails digging into skin as he became irritated at the notion that he was becoming soft. That man deserved to die, he had no obligation to feel sympathetic about taking another life. Yet whenever he stared at Yang Xiao Long, his conviction began to falter.
He was beginning to think that Eliza might be right, that his stay at Beacon Academy was affecting his judgment. The environment was so much different compared to Atlas – students acted as if being a huntsman was a game, going to and from classes with jovial smiles, safe from the realities of the dark creatures that lurked outside their borders. He knew they couldn't be at peace forever - that it was only a matter of time until the walls collapsed and the Grimm invaded their homes.
Ozpin was disillusioned, keeping back what the others needed to face, what he already seen. Jaune remembered their picturesque faces during the initiation, as they all trampled over the Grimm with ease. They were all so happy... he never experienced anything like it before, the freedom to choose whatever he desired, not that it really mattered. They wanted him to break away from the chains of responsibility, but if he shirked his duties, then who would defend the kingdoms?
A low-toned ding resounded in the tiny space, as the doors to the elevator opened. Jaune stepped out first and noticed the more familiar architecture that would be associated with a military base. Sections of halls were labeled for different groups, desks strewn about neatly in rows, while the pillars were covered in more explosive devices. How long could this facility have been in place? Nothing built so complicated could have been accomplished in just under a year.
Near the left end of the room, he spotted another exit sign with a symbol of stairs hanging next to it. They were close to escaping, but who knew how much longer they had until Mcgillis detonated the place. Blake was still rubbing her neck as bruise marks became visible, though nothing aura couldn't heal eventually. Jaune signaled to the group, and they followed, jogging over to the exit – he could see papers and thrown over trash bins from when the soldiers rushed out.
There weren't that many steps that led further up the base, and when Jaune forced open the door he could see glass windows on each side of an office, while to the right was a hallway leading to the double doors that went outside. He would have brushed past and ignored the room, the urgency of death motivating him to escape, but then he noticed Mcgillis' name carved onto the door of the office.
His room, where all of his dirty secrets lie, Jaune mused.
"Jaune, what are you doing, we have to go!" Eliza urged, shaking his broad shoulders to gain his attention.
"That's his office, he might have left something," Jaune pushed her hands off and walked toward the door, ignoring the shouts of Eliza.
Blake stumbled forward and grabbed his right shoulder, spinning him around to her face her narrowed amber eyes. "You just told me we had no time to collect evidence, and you were right." He was aware of what he said.
"And that stands true, but obtaining a simple file off a computer won't take even a second." His logic was flawed, and he could see the annoyance in Blake's expression.
"You have five minutes," Eliza cut in, "Not a second more."
"I'll help search," Yang uttered, catching the ire of Eliza. Before she could protest, Jaune shook his head.
"Stay with Blake – make sure she's okay." Eliza shut her mouth, pursing her lips as she nodded with a grunt of anger. He knew why Yang volunteered to come along. Something was on her mind, and it had to do with Avenus.
The two of them proceeded to the office, opening the door to be greeted by a nearly clean room – juxtaposed with the mess that was outside. Mcgillis was a meticulous individual, so it was no surprise that his room was equally as organized. The entire area was kept tidy and clean, with most of his personal belongings set to the side on black shelves. On top of the desk, was a computer monitor with a red light blinking in intervals. It appeared that Mcgillis forgot to shut down the terminal.
Jaune walked over to the desk and plopped down in front of the computer, turning on the monitor and watching as the screen flicked to life. Yang began to shift through some of the books that detailed military strategies and historical accounts of ancient cities. After the computer booted up, he began to click through several folders, hoping for the off chance that Mcgillis forgot to delete something. He could hear his partner throw one of the books onto the ground with a sigh.
"So what are you looking for exactly?" She asked with an unenthused tone.
"Any information that connects him to the White Fang hierarchy, perhaps a location or name of one of their associates." He continued to type away at the keyboard, the clacking echoing in the small enclosed office.
"Who knew you were handy with computers?" Now she was just trying to break the ice. He didn't see a point of drawing out the tension.
"Yang, what's wrong?" She flinched a little, her usually bright eyes shrinking back in worry. She began to rub her left arm, averting her gaze from his.
"I'm worried."
He stopped typing and lifted his head to look at Yang, trying to decipher why she was so upset. "Don't worry, we'll make it out alive, the exit's in sight." Jaune went back to typing, ignoring the persistent gaze that Yang directed at him.
"Not about that Jaune, about you." She was worried about him, why? He wasn't gravely injured in the battle with Avenus, suffering only a few minor scrapes. What did she think was wrong – had he said something to indicate so?
"I don't understand..."
"How can you be so calm? We almost died back there, and then you practically killed him! Just tell me, have you done this before?" Yang sounded so distressed, her eyes narrowed as she waited for an answer. He could only guess that she had never witnessed someone die before – it was always a chilling sight to behold.
"Yes, I have." Yang let out a breath, her arms collapsing to side as she approached the table. She stood opposite of the computer, her eyes filled with concern and pity.
"I saw you... when you shot him... your eyes were so empty – so sad." Jaune again stopped typing, his eyes widening as he took in what Yang said. Although she couldn't see, his hands began to shake; the thought of someone reading him like that frightened him.
What scared him even more was that it was true.
Throughout the years, he hid it so well that it became second nature to him. The emotions from long ago that he used to express when pulling the trigger – the queasiness in his stomach when a body went limp. So how did Yang Xiao Long spot it so easily? Years of training taught him to be the ultimate weapon, to defend Atlas and Mantle at all costs. But nothing ever prepared him in the task of taking another person's life – not even his training with Winter Schnee.
"What did they do to you Jaune?"
"I..." he stopped mid-sentence when he noticed a particular file on the computer. He opened it up and spotted a cryptic document concerning White Fang shipments and somebody referred to as the 'Queen'.
From his pocket, Jaune, pulled out a small USB drive and fit it into the port. It only took a few seconds for the file to transfer; Yang stood still as she waited for any indication that he would answer her question.
"Guys," Eliza opened the door to the office and quizzically stared at them. "Time's up, we need to get moving now." Jaune nodded and grabbed the USB, tucking it into his pants.
"We'll talk about this later." He walked passed Yang and headed for the exit, hearing a sigh escape from his fellow blonde. It was a conversation he wasn't ready to discuss, especially one that might blow his cover.
As they headed for the stairs, Jaune walked ahead of the rest of the group – he tried to restrain the conflicted expression he held, Yang's comments somehow effecting his resolve in the mission. It was at times like this, that Jaune would have enjoyed the company of his Father. He reached the door that would lead outside, and turned the knob, closing his eyes as the light blared into view. The fresh air rushed onto him like a breeze, relaxing his nerves as the distinct smell of salt entered his nostrils.
Jaune wanted to go home.
The last transmission that Glynda received from Ruby Rose hadn't left her with a good impression of how the operation was proceeding. Her students were supposed to scout the area, locate the hidden base of the White Fang, and then return back so that she may assist. The whole ordeal was a sham – another way for James to thrust his son into a mission to test out his skills. None of them were ready for this.
In some ways, she had failed as a teacher for the boy. Teachers were supposed to guide their students, and help discipline them so that they may grow into worthy hunters. Jaune Arc deserved better – she planned to correct this once they all returned to Beacon Academy. Ozpin suggested the boy do some counseling sessions with her. Based on what the boy had gone through most of his life, she agreed.
James probably never meant any harm.
When she had first heard of James adopting a son, she was ecstatic and filled with hope. He was a hardened man, one who continuously pursued his career without much thought to a personal life. For a brief time, he did change, putting Jaune's wellbeing ahead of his work; James had even contacted them from time to time for advice on how to raise a child. She was heartbroken when first learning of the training sessions that Jaune began to undergo – he wanted to meld him into the perfect warrior.
How many times did they argued about Jaune? She couldn't remember, but it always ended with Ozpin losing his cool. At one point she had even volunteered to look over him – she could provide him the training James wanted, while acting as a mother figure simultaneously. It was a silly thought, but she had always wanted a child of her own. He of course refused the offer.
She brushed past some foliage and made her way up another hill covered in dead leaves and uplifted roots. Thanks to Miss Schnee, she received an approximate set of coordinates to follow. Miss Rose had said they were close to the shore fighting off waves of White Fang soldiers. It unsettled her that she wasn't present while her students fended off terrorist soldiers all on their own; she did not doubt their skills.
"Another intruder," a voice shouted in the brush. Glynda heard the cocking of several fully-automatic rifles, and lifted her hand.
Bullets shot across the forest, the barrage tearing apart anything in its path. Leaves flew into the air, dropping in a downpour with ripped branches and various other plants. Glynda stood her ground and activated a purple glyph that surrounded her body, shielding her from any damage. When the gunfire stopped, Glynda, stepped forward and twirled her fingers, sending a shockwave in the direction the muzzle flash came from. Three or four men in uniform soared across the sky, the force of the attack knocking them unconscious.
She recognized the masks, they were White Fang soldiers. She was getting closer, and in the far distance she heard the echo of gun shots and explosions; the all too familiar sound was never pleasant. There was something else bothering her though – the movements of those soldiers were more precise, and their shooting not as sporadic. They had been trained for warfare... which begged the question, why a terrorist organization for Faunus rights would need such skills?
The saying might have been cliché, but Glynda had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. The situation felt off, not at all in line with the information that they were provided with. James was holding back from them... and she intended to find out why once she returned to Beacon.
I can only pray that none of my students haven't endured any harm, Glynda thought, as she rushed along the path to the shore.
Avenus stumbled along the ground, his left knee scraping against the dirt as he struggled to stand up. One hand clutched his right eye, trickles of blood still seeping in-between his fingers. With every step he cursed Jaune Arc's name, relenting the mistake of leaving himself wide open. And then there was Blake Belladonna, who he unsuccessfully could not bring back... Adam would be furious. But first he had to evacuate from Astria, not doubting for a second that Mcgillis would wipe out the base in mere minutes.
One of the landing pads that was situated on the opposite side of the base wasn't too far. He would have been there much sooner if not for the injury on his leg – there was so much Adam needed to know, especially about Ironwood's son. And if the facility was so damn important, why didn't Cinder and her lackeys come and help defend it? He shouldn't have been surprised, it was typical of humans to abandon their own kind.
Further along the hill he crawled up, he could make out the indentation where the cement was poured for the landing pad. He lifted himself up, drowning out the pain from his now partially empty socket, and climbed up. When he reached the surface of the pad, he let out struggled breath, sweat pouring down his forehead and body; the amount of blood he lost began to take a toll. Luck was on his side though, as one bullhead still remained, and it was in perfect condition.
"I'm surprised Avenus," a feminine voice drawled, "You're such a mess... I never expected such children to get the better of you." Avenus snapped his head to the side and grabbed his weapon, panting as he tried to find the source of the voice... though he knew who it was.
"Cinder... impossible, you can't be here, you're supposed to be in Mistral." Avenus hacked into his palms, the blood soaking them.
"My dear, I can be wherever I'm needed – based on the situation, my presence is definitely warranted." Cinder stepped over to Avenus, hips swaying as her raven-black hair bounced. With careful steps she circled him, amber eyes taking in his condition, a hint of disappointment present.
"Ironwood's son... he did this to me," Avenus snarled, "He caught me off guard, but they somehow knew about this place." Avenus watched Cinder's soft lips form into a smile as she titled her head with a bemused expression. She flicked away a lock of black hair, as he took in her exposed creamy neck.
"His son you say? And what is this boy's name?"
"Jaune Arc... I heard Mcgillis refer to him as such," He answered. Unlike most, Cinder, did not intimidate him – such a cheap tactic wouldn't scare him. The woman was fishing for answers, but he didn't know why,
"Mcgillis is about to blow this place."
"Oh I know," Cinder released a fluttery chuckle, "He's just following the failsafe like a good boy. Not that I'll ever be implicated." She walked away from him, turning her back as her heels clicked against the concrete.
"Adam has to be told of what happened here – not only that, but I found Blake Belladonna." Cinder quirked her head at the statement, another frown replacing her once luscious smile. He could not refute her beauty.
"Blake Belladonna?"
"Adam's old flame, he's been searching for her." A sigh escaped from her, and she headed for the bullhead. Avenus began to follow until she stopped.
Cinder turned around and narrowed her eyes. "I'm afraid Adam can't be informed of Miss Belladonna's whereabouts. I can't have my golden boy distracted at this part of the phase." Avenus snorted, almost befuddled by her response. Did she think Adam could be affected so much by one woman?
"And you don't think I won't tell him?" Avenus hardened his grip on his weapon, expecting at any moment for the witch to attack.
"Do you know at any time the mind can easily be manipulated by a few simple tricks? For example, how do you know if you're not talking to a ghost?" Avenus stepped back, widening the gap between them.
"The Queen shows her true colors," Avenus snapped, "So do you plan to kill me then?" He pointed the tip of his axe at Cinder. She remained poised, not moving the slightest as a chuckle sounded off.
"No... I do not have the time to sully my hands."
Before he could even lift his weapon in response, the sound of a bullet cutting through the air echoed in the small clearing. Avenus collapsed on the ground, blood spewing from the charred hole in his head. In the few split seconds that he was still alive, he saw the image of Cinder faze out, becoming replaced by Emerald Sustrai. The tanned girl walked over to his body and kicked it once for a reaction.
"He's dead, you can come out now Mercury." A little ways up the hill, a set of bushes shifted as the Gray-haired boy emerged with a cocky grin. Nestled on his shoulder was a long sniper rifle, with a trail of smoke coming from the muzzle.
"I have to say, Emmy, color me impressed." Mercury slid down the hill and tossed the rifle on to the ground, before smashing it into pieces.
"To be honest I didn't know if I could pull it off." Emerald wiped her brow of sweat, her hands shaking a little. The longer the illusion, the more stress it put on her – however she learned to extend the amount of time an illusion could take place in due part to her training.
"It was a very satisfying display," Cinder remarked from Emerald's scroll. She held it up and smiled with a nod, just happy that she pleased Cinder.
"At least we got some useful information out of him beforehand. So did he say anything worthwhile? That shot was hard to take by the way." Mercury joked much to Emerald's annoyance. There were times she never understood why Cinder chose to take him on.
"Surprisingly yes," Cinder cooed, "I want to know more about Ironwood's son... and this Blake Belladonna our friend mentioned." They both nodded, stepping onto the bullhead for their departure.
"Anymore stops?"
"Just one more." Cinder answered.
The breeze outside from the shoreline gently brushed against her exposed legs, a small shiver racing through her back as she stepped out into the open. The sky was tinted orange and surrounded by a cluster of clouds, with the shattered moon slowly becoming visible. It was tragic really, how something so beautiful could be reduced to pieces. At this point anything could take her mind off the current situation... Jaune was... suffering, deep inside, she just knew it.
Okay, maybe not one hundred percent certain, but really close at least. She didn't plan on letting the issue go, but right now they had to survive.
Yang was honestly surprised at how persistent she was acting about the issue. Most people would have given up on Jaune, especially after learning that he killed people – it wasn't murder, she knew that much. The problem was, he almost crossed that line with Avenus, showing no remorse in doing so. She couldn't see Jaune as an executioner – no, she refused to. Someone within her reach needed help, and she planned on keeping to that commitment, no matter how long it took.
The emotional turmoil within him must be unbearable. Clear of the threat from below, Yang, took a second to look at her partner, staring at the flash drive between his fingers. Yang wasn't a detective by any means, but the way he was acting within the base came off as suspicious. He was acting like Blake in his hunt for information on the White Fang... it made her believe he was gathering data for his father. She found it very possible, which meant their whole mission wasn't by chance.
She never believed in hating someone before actually coming face-to-face with that particular individual, but Ironwood made her blood boil. Jaune loved him, and there was no getting around that, after all the man did raise him since childhood – he got props for that. But for a father to take away everything from their own son? That was despicable. If there was anything Yang cherished more than her little sister or even her family, it was the freedom she was given.
So far, her first mission really blew. Not only did she get tanked by that bastard earlier, but now the whole base was about to explode. And the whole issue with Jaune, also wasn't helping either. In her dreams, she always thought her outing would be an adventure-filled romp ending with all of the Grimm reduced to ashes by Ember Celica. Instead she found herself hunting down some military buff in connection with a known terrorist organization – She wanted to be a huntress to kill the Grimm, not to kill other people.
"We should get moving and regroup with the others." Jaune called out. She looked over at Blake who gave her a reassured nod – her aura was beginning to work on the injury, the marks fading away.
"Let me try my scroll," she fished out the device and flicked it on, bringing up Ruby's contact information. Her little sister's profile picture was hilarious – a mouth filled with cookies as crumps fell onto the table.
She waited with patience as the scroll dialed Ruby, having a tiny bit of trepidation after being separated so long. "Yang! Where have you all been, I've been so worried!"
"Everyone's ok – is that explosions I hear in the background?"
"Um, yeah, we're sort of fighting some White Fang cronies," Ruby giggled as more gunfire sounded off in the background. Was she even surprised?
"Where are you located, can you give us your scroll coordinates?" Jaune interrupted, peeking over Yang's shoulder with a stern look.
"Yeah I can do that – watch out Weiss," Ruby cried out as shards of ice flew across the screen. The call ended abruptly, but a text message popped up. From what she could tell, they weren't far away.
"Let's hurry," Blake excitedly said, directing her gaze at Yang.
The coordinates Ruby provided them helped make the path through the forestry much quicker, and as they drew closer, the explosions in the background became much louder and distinct. She wanted to worry about Ruby and the others, but with Pyrrha and Weiss there, she had little to fret over. Nora was also probably making short work of the area, which is probably where most of racket originated. She found it surprising that all of their commotion didn't draw the Grimm in.
Within minutes, the four of them reached the clearing, spotting the rest of their friends down on the shore engaged in battle. Large groups of men adorned in white continued to unleash fire from all directions, only to be put down in seconds – even with all of their combined strength, they were struggling against the sheer numbers.
"Did you call for help!?"
She jumped down from the cliff and skidded on rocks leading down to the shore, cocking Ember Celica. At the bottom, she let out a couple of rounds and took out the White Fang soldiers that surrounded Ruby, her sister beaming in joy. One of the men leapt over the collapsed bodies and chunked a grenade in their direction, only for Yang to roundhouse kick it back into the ocean. Ruby used her semblance and brought down Crescent Rose in a swift motion to knock him out.
"So now you finally show up?" Weiss complained as she planted another glyph on the ground, freezing an entire group up to their necks.
"What can I say, I like to come in with a Yang." The heiress wrinkled her forehead in annoyance. She would admit, it wasn't her best pun.
As she looked around, most of the ruckus had calmed down, with only Pyrrha wiping up the rest of the stragglers. She was jealous that most of the fun had passed – then again it was Grimm she really wanted to kill. Beating up on soldiers that couldn't even produce a competent fight became much too boring. She watched as Jaune and the others caught up, the same pained expression still present on his face.
"Has anyone informed Professor Goodwitch on our status?"
"Yes," Pyrrha cut in, "The Professor said she was on her way. Were you all able to find anything useful?" Useful? She wished.
"Just some data, but Major Mcgillis got away." The rest of the group shared disappointed expressions, and as Yang looked over at Jaune, she could see a trace of anger in his face. If she had to guess... it was because they failed the mission.
"Look out!" Blake screamed. Yang darted her head behind them, to see a lone White Fang soldier on the ground aiming his rifle. She was about to pounce and finish him off, when Jaune burst ahead and kicked the soldier in the face.
The rifle slid across the sand away from the soldier's grip, and Jaune planted his foot on the Faunus' right arm. Ruby gasped at the display as the soldier screamed out in agony – he was going overboard again. She didn't want her sister watch someone get tortured. "Jaune, stop it!"
"Where is Mcgillis heading?" Jaune demanded pointedly, twisting his boot on the arm. Yang grabbed him by the shoulder and glared him down.
"Listen to me, you don't have to beat the crap out of him to get the information. He won't answer you if he's dead!" Jaune diverted his gaze at her.
"Time is of the essence, and I doubt that soldier will provide Mcgillis' location without some persuasion," Eliza added, earning a massive scowl from her. Why instigate Jaune into going too far?
"L-let me go, and I'll tell you... I swear."
Jaune lifted his leg and stepped back, much to her relief.
"Start talking."
The Faunus nodded, wincing from the pain in his arm. "Mcgillis ordered us to distract you all while he headed for landing pad six. It's further down the beach, around the Cliffside." Eliza chopped her hand against the soldier's back neck once he answered, instantly knocking him out.
A sigh of relief left Yang as she looked back at Ruby, a smile gracing the petite girl's lips. Silence had overcome the group as they digested Jaune's actions, most of them unsure of what to say. Jaune wasted no time however – he unsheathed Crocea Mors and began to trek across the beach. Her partner was going to waste no time in hunting the man down... and that's what worried her most of all. The look on his face, it was full of determination and pure rage.
"Jaune... where are you going?" Ruby almost whispered.
"It should be obvious – I'm going after Mcgillis before he escapes. The rest of you should stay here until Professor Goodwitch returns, she'll need an update on everything that's been going on." She watched as her friends exchanged wary glances at each other.
"I'll accompany you Jaune," Eliza chirped, following suit with Titania Kopis in hand. She could tell Ruby wanted to go, hell, even Blake wanted to assist... but they weren't Jaune's partner.
"Count me in as well."
She could tell Jaune wanted to refuse, but she wouldn't allow it. It pained her to say that at the current moment, she couldn't trust Jaune to be alone with Mcgillis, especially with Eliza tagging along. A conflicted look flashed across Ruby's face, and she balled her fists up as she rushed over. Small arms circled her waist, and the warmth from Ruby's body was instant – the rest of her friends just observed in confusion... and who could blame them at that moment?
"Yang, be careful okay? I-I'm, no, we're worried about Jaune." Ruby pleaded in a whisper.
"Don't worry Rubes, I'll make sure we all return and that nothing bad happens. This mission is almost over, so be strong alright?" Ruby let go and nodded, a sniffle escaping from her. That was a mistake on Jaune Arc's part.
Damn it Jaune, you made my sister cry, Yang cursed.
"Let's hurry if you're coming along, there's no time to waste." Jaune scolded. When everything was said and done, Jaune would learn the meaning of teamwork if it killed her.
"Yeah, Yeah, I'm ready."
"Perhaps we should move on without you?" Eliza let slip – she wanted to slap the girl silly, and usually she would. Instead, she let the comment go and followed behind, watching Jaune closely as he strutted ahead. Jaune pent up his emotions for so long, that they began to boil over.
She couldn't stand to see him like that.
Mcgillis flipped the switch on the remote detonator within in his grasp with a satisfied smirk. He watched as a large puff of smoke erupted from afar, the earth shaking beneath him as the explosion devastated the base. By now Avenus and Ironwood's son would be engulfed in flames, their skin reduced to ash within seconds. Adam's lackey was a necessary sacrifice in the long scheme of things – the White Fang General would never know of course, Cinder assured him so.
He would have to relocate operations to more a secure area, perhaps somewhere in Vacuo in the wilderness – he would have to follow up with Cinder. Being granted only a handful of White Fang soldiers to guard him was unsettling, but the rest of the children that weren't caught up in the blast wouldn't have time to catch up with him. That and he was only concerned with the students from Atlas, and Ironwood's son, Jaune Arc, was the only one who posed a real threat.
The rudders on the bullhead powered up, beginning their rotations as the engines turned on. He would be saying farewell to Astria – quite a shame, as the environment was beautiful to gaze upon. The sudden demise of his operation left many questions however, such as how Ironwood became privy to the information of his location, or why Cinder foresaw such an event. There was no one he could ultimately trust.
As Mcgillis walked over to the ramp of the bullhead, a bullet whizzed past his head and impacted with one of the doors. He turned around to face the owner of the gun, and recoiled - standing only a few meters away, was Jaune Arc, which should have been impossible. Avenus had failed his only job... he should have never trusted the zealot in the first place; it would have much easier to just detonate the base an hour ago. There was no more room for negotiating.
From his holster, Mcgillis, pulled out his revolver and began to fire. The bodyguards joined in the barrage, leaving Jaune and the others little time to react. Mcgillis rushed into the bullhead and pointed the gun at the pilot and said: "Ascend now, we don't have time for the others." The Faunus hesitated, but as the barrel pushed into his skin, he slowly nodded.
He watched from the right window as Jaune Arc and the others made quick work of his trained soldiers with ease. They were never meant to take on huntsman, but act as an overwhelming force against the kingdoms. The bullhead slowly lifted off the ground, the force of the rudders producing a wind that blew all of the trees forward around them. Mcgillis was about to celebrate, when he heard a large thud from behind him. A young buxom girl with long blonde hair grinned as she cracked her knuckles.
"Where are you going pops?"
The revolver kicked, as he fired multiple shots in the girl's direction, but she blocked them with her gauntlets. A fist pushed into his stomach with the force of an oncoming vehicle, knocking the air out of him. He collapsed onto the metal floor of the bullhead, and felt the girl hoist his body onto her shoulders – it was at this moment that Mcgillis realized that he failed... images of his wife and daughter flashing before him. There was nothing else to live for.
"Jaune," the girl cried out, "I got him!"
Mcgillis coughed, gaining back the oxygen that was deprived of him earlier. The blonde girl threw him onto the ground, where he faced a pair of boots. He looked up to see Jaune Arc glowering at him, his ocean blue eyes shaking in what he could only imagine was anger. "I have you now Major, you're coming back with us." And so his fate was sealed.
"I won't say anything... you'll have to kill me."
"That's not for me to decide, I'll be taking you back to answer General Ironwood," Jaune explained, receiving a pair of handcuffs from Eliza.
"You'll only be dooming my family," He mumbled in defeat.
"What do you mean?" Yang asked.
"Don't listen to him, he's trying to trick us," Eliza remarked as she helped Jaune secure him.
Mcgillis began to laugh at the fruitlessness of explaining his struggle to a bunch of teenagers. "What reason would I have to lie at this point? I rather be dead then my family have to suffer because of my actions."
"Then if you won't talk... we'll have to kill you." Eliza pulled out her weapon and pressed the barrel against the back of Mcgillis' head.
Jaune almost didn't expect the words to exit from Eliza's mouth, but it confirmed what she said back at the base was true. Both Ciel and Eliza were ordered by his Father to dispose of Mcgillis if he would not comply or provide any valuable intelligence. In some regard, he agreed, but his gut told him that the former Major was holding back. He approached Eliza and took hold of the gun, pushing her back gently.
"Hold on a minute, I don't believe he's being forthcoming."
"I won't say a word, not if it costs my family's lives." It wasn't out of the realm of possibility that Mcgillis' family was held hostage by the White Fang.
"How can I believe you? At least give us some bit of information to prove your worth." Another chuckle escaped from Mcgillis.
"Anything I say now is worthless, they will have covered their tracks – the only solace you can provide me now is death." In order for his family to live... he would have to die.
He lifted his own handgun up, and pointed it at Mcgillis' forehead. The Major closed his eyes with a smile, accepting that death would free his family from the grip of the White Fang. His finger inched around the trigger, the cold metal pressing against his skin, the emptiness that always filled him before taking a life surfacing. Yet something was wrong – the usual split second decision ceasing... why couldn't he pull the trigger, it was what his Father wanted right?
"Jaune, please wait, you don't have to do this!" Yang pleaded as she stepped in-between Mcgillis and him.
"Don't listen to her!" Eliza shouted back.
"There's always another way Jaune, no one has to know that he survived, think about it. The White Fang can just believe he died in the explosion." Yang began to reason, her hands trembling as she approached him.
He looked into her anguished face, lilac eyes shimmering as she held back what looked like potential tears. He didn't know what to believe in. What Yang said made sense, the Atlas military could easily cover up Mcgillis' survival, but at the same time he would be disobeying an order from his Father. What was the right thing to do? Most of his life had been guided, a layout of rules to follow that helped him accomplish so much. Yet now... he didn't know what to do.
"I..."
Eliza scoffed in disapproval, shoving Yang aside and looking him in the eyes. "We've been trained to do this Jaune, not every mission ends like a fairy tale. Think of all the lives at risk if this man stays alive."
"So more death is the answer? There are more ways of solving the world's problems then just straight murder! I know you're not a heartless monster Jaune... don't do it, prove them all wrong." A monster? No one ever described him as such... was he really a cold killing machine?
Childhood memories were rare, as he never liked to dwell on the past, but his potential future. But his mind flashed to a distant memory he couldn't pin down; dirt and grime covering his whole body as a torrent of rain drenched him. A repugnant odor drifted through the air, while flames danced in the background – so much death surrounded him. It was unknown what caused it, perhaps the Grimm. A few feet away, embraced in each other's arms, was a couple.
"I...I...," Jaune felt his heart beat faster, "I won't kill him, we'll take him with us." Eliza gasped at his announcement, her entire body going limp as she tried to take in Jaune's reluctance to follow through. She holstered her weapon and walked back over to Mcgillis in silence, a look of disbelief plastered on her face.
He watched as Yang pushed Eliza aside, the once passionate girl voicing no complaint, as his partner enveloped him in a hug. The cold that dominated his body vanished, replaced by a warmth that was foreign to him as Yang buried her face into his shoulder. He could smell a faint hint of pines from her maintained blonde hair, and as he dropped the gun, the cold metal slipping from his fingers... Jaune knew peace.
On that day, Mcgillis would live.