I'm truly sorry about the unnecessarily long delay. I've been busy with so much assignments and doctors' appointments. Due to the burnouts caused by them, I presume that this chapter will be an absolute trainwreck. At least I managed to post something...

...You know the disclaimers.


Darkness. That was all they could see. Other than some green haze and some smoke that seemed to fog their already black sight, all they saw was darkness.

"Um… hello?" Yang called out, but all that was there was echoes. "Hellooooo?" Still, echoes.

"So these are John's memories…" Pyrrha commented.

"Wow, I never thought of him being empty. I thought they would be filled with pancakes!" Nora replied.

"Nora, please. John didn't want to show us his knowledge just because of pancakes." Ren sighed.

"I-I've never seen anything like this before." Weiss stuttered. "This is like… infinity. All I see is darkness."

"Remain calm, students. Professor Goodwitch and I have faced the same thing before when he revealed himself to him." Ozpin assured. At cue, a familiar figure appeared from the darkness and slowly walked towards the ten. It was the very John Raynor.

"En taro Tassadar, friends of Remnant." John greeted. "You wished to know who exactly I am. Thus, I will show you."

"Where are we anyway?" Jaune asked.

"You are in the projection my Ihan Crystal is showing you. Fear not, your bodies are still present in the headmaster's office. It is your minds that are with mine." The Nerazim explained.

"Well, can you just explain all of this to us now?" Yang glared. John in response gave her a hand of assurance.

"In order to understand who and what I am, I shall teach you all that I know of where I am from: The Koprulu Sector." John explained. After that, his eyes started to glow green as the view around RWBY, JNPR and the professors started to change. From the utter darkness came a dimly lit darkness glittered with stars. Blotches of color decorated small areas, being nebulae. The teens looked around their surroundings with awe. Never have they seen such a beautiful view before. To them, it looked like the night sky of a quiet mountain.

"Oh… wow." Ruby gasped at the view. Her silver eyes sparkled with the reflection of the stars.

"It's so beautiful…" Weiss whispered.

"This is a portion of the Koprulu Sector, the fragment of the fringe of our galaxy. Terrans call it, the Milky Way." John explained.

"'Milky Way'? Why would the humans of where you're from call a galaxy that?" Blake asked.

"That, I know not. However, that has no significance to what I am showing you now. For at this portion of space three hundred years ago, history was made." At cue with John's words, the space around a part of the space John and his friends were started to distort. The stars became warped until with four flashes of light, four giant ships appeared from thin air. "Humanity has arrived from Earth."

Everyone stared at the ships with awe as they floated through the space with their engines spewing out blue flames that kept them moving forward. They seemed to head towards nothing, as if they were deciding where should they go in the bountiful infinite.

"...Earth? You've mentioned it before. Where is that?" Weiss asked, recovering from her trance of space.

"Earth is the homeworld of humanity, located at the other side of the galaxy. Searching for resources and colonizable worlds, humanity has sent four of these supercarriers loaded with prisoners deemed unworthy of life due to mutations and cybernetic enhancements to a world that I do not know. However, their computers miscalculated, thus the ships ended up sixty-thousand light years from their original destination, ending up at the Koprulu Sector."

Hearing John's explanation, RWBY and JNPR were utterly shocked. The people of where John was from were prisoners, worst of all, unworthy to live just because of some biological differences? It brought fear to the teens' hearts just thinking about how tyrannical this Earth was.

"Th-that's awfully similar to the Faunus of Menagerie…" Blake commented.

"Indeed." John nodded. "Anyway, these four ships, with their resources and fuel almost exhausted, performed emergency landings on three different worlds." As the Nerazim explained, the view shifted to a terrestrial planet's surface, where two ships were attempting to land.

"Two of them attempted to land on the world of Umoja…" At the same time, one of the ships started to burn down and make impact with the surface with high speed. What followed was a colossal orange ball of flame and debris, while the other ship landed safely. "...One of the ship's systems failed, resulting in the death of eight thousand lives. Meanwhile the other two ships landed on two different worlds, one being Tarsonis and the other Moria." The Nerazim said as the view shifted to two separate worlds, where people were now setting up basic settlements and were dismantling the carriers that took them there. "Salvaging the ships, the Terrans began to build their own civilization with what they had with them without the knowledge of other Terrans alive in other worlds."

The view shifted to a large city, albeit portions of it being under construction. To the Remnant inhabitants, this city was larger than anyone has seen before. An ecumenopolis. Not even Mistral was this big.

"Whoa…" Jaune awed.

"Miss Goodwitch, how are you not… amazed by this?" Yang asked the blonde teacher.

"Mr. Raynor has shown us this exact view a few months ago. I am still awed by this though, Miss Xiao Long." Goodwitch replied.

"These three worlds were to be the capitals of three Terran factions: The Terran Confederacy of Tarsonis, The Kel-Morian Combine of Moria and the Umojan Protectorate of Umoja. It wasn't until the Confederacy, inventing a new generation of Faster-than-light travel, Terrans were able to make contact with each other in different worlds. At the same time, colonizations of other worlds began." Once again, the view shifted to a fleet of spaceships in low orbit above a desert planet. However, just as everything seemed quiet, another fleet of spaceships exited warp space from another part of the planet's orbit and started to spew beams of red bolts at the original fleet, destroying and burning down most of the ships. "However, war soon sparked between these three factions of Terrans, fighting over resources." John sighed and shook his head. "Such is the way of the Terrans… Times like these make me feel ashamed of being a human."

"W-wow…" Ruby gasped at the battle blazing at the scene.

"You said that you've fought three consecutive wars, right?" Yang asked.

"Yes, I did. However, this war, what history calls the 'Guild Wars' was not the one that I've fought in, for I was not born yet. Giving another sigh, the view started to change as the war scene started to blur out.

"I have told you the earliest and the most basic history of the Terrans of the sector. Now, I tell you what I've been taught of the Protoss, or the Firstborn in their language. It all started millions of years ago." The view then reemerged into a terrestrial world filled with lush jungles and a small silvery moon. "Aiur. The homeworld of the Protoss. Here, the beings of afar known as the Xel'naga uplifted the Firstborn. The Protoss's evolution hastened and their reproduction multiplied."

The scene zoomed closer to the planet, showing a group of tall grey-skinned aliens with oblong heads, with what looked like thick hair strands on the heads' backs inspecting a glowing cyan crystal.

Ruby gasped at the sight. This was the same crystal that John showed her when he was about to build his Twilight of Shakuras. She wanted to ask so bad, but prohibited herself from doing so as the Nerazim was talking.

"In just a few millennia, they've achieved interstellar travel. The separate tribes of Aiur turned into a civilization. However…" John sighed. "When the Xel'naga left the Protoss, they became bent on perpetuating blame and guilt. They started to fight against themselves… The Aeon of Strife." The Firstborn started to fight each other with weapons such as swords, spears and knives. "The Protoss fell into madness as they shed the blood of their own brethren… technological marvels were lost and great minds were slain…"

As the battle of the Firstborn continued, a single individual, wearing what looked like a hooded cape like Ruby's but ragged and grey. He was holding a glowing cyan crystal that the huntsmen first saw when the Protoss first investigated it previously. The individual seemed to call out to the battle with such strength that the battle actually ceased and all warriors turned to him.

"...It wasn't until an individual, known as Khas, had studied the forbidden and abandoned teachings of their gods. Finding that the psionic bond that used to connect all Protoss together, he learnt how to attune to it once again."

Then, the Protoss individual, now Khas, lifted the khaydarin crystal up to the sky. Then, the crystal flared to life as arcs of energy shot from it and hit every Firstborn in the world. Their glimmering cyan eyes started to glow brighter and their nerve cords started to arc with psionic energy. They've accessed the bond that linked all Protoss together.

"...The Khala was developed: The sacred bond shared by every Protoss that links emotions. Thoughts. With this, the Firstborn were united once again, and the Strife finally ceased. The Golden Age of the Protoss began, with the tribes across Aiur reunited. Lost knowledge was reclaimed and the Empire spread farther into space." The view shifted to a colossal city of gold and cyan. Billions of Protoss walked round the streets, vehicles sped between buildings and massive ships entered and exited from the levitating Stargates that lead to the low orbit of Aiur. Everyone gawked at the majesty of the city, as nobody had seen such beauty before.

"I-I've never seen a city this big." Weiss commented.

"The largest cities from where I was from span across entire continents." John replied. "However, we must not tarry by these trivial things." The Nerazim closed his eyes and pressed his finger on his head to focus. The view then shifted into near pitch darkness. From the black, multiple pairs of glowing eyes appeared. "Despite the greatness of the Khala, some individuals thought that it destroyed individuality. Thus, to sever themselves from the Khala…"

From the darkness, a psi blade ignited, illuminating some of the area. Dozens of Protoss silhouettes appeared, all of them holding their nerve cords. Blake gave a gasp of shock when one of the Protoss struck his blade against his nerve cord, severing it.
"...The first Nerazim was born."

"That's what you've been saying a week ago." The cat Faunus gasped, which John nodded.

"Blake, what are you talking about?" Ren asked.

"I kind of walked into him on the dorm roof when he was training. He told me that he sensed that I was a Faunus and in return of knowing it, he told me about how this Nerazim was born… although he sort of lied about the tribe thing." Blake explained.

"Indeed." John nodded, confirming the Faunus's words. "Nevertheless, the Conclave, the ruling group of the Protoss, declared the ones severed from the Khala to be exterminated. They sent Executor Adun to perform the duty of doing so. However…" The Nerazim's face brightened up just a little, as if there was something he liked about that part of history. "...Adun did not commit genocide, but attempted to seek reason of why the Nerazim severed themselves from the Khala from the captured prisoners." The view shifted to a Protoss Executor, endorned with what looked like golden armor, walk to a juvenile female. This girl had her nerve cords removed and seemed to stare at Adun with fear in her glowing eyes. The two seemed to be communicating with each other, as certain nods and small bobbings of their heads could be seen. "Adun couldn't bring himself to shed the blood of his own brethren. Thus, he falsified the executions. He taught them how to hide themselves from the Conclave. However, it was not long before the Adun's actions were compromised. At the end, he sacrificed himself to protect the rogue Protoss from the Conclave, letting them escape from Aiur."

Everybody now saw Adun, confronted by hundreds of Zealots with their blades ignited. Behind the Executor were ships loaded with the rogue Protoss. Seeing that he was overwhelmed, Adun channeled some sort of energy from his palms, which covered and protected the rogues. However, something felt wrong as the energy started to engulf his entire body and Adun's body started to burn like a star. Taking the advantage, the ships took from Aiur and sailed through the infinite void of space.

"The first Dark Templar traveled through space, searching for a world to settle in… until they found Shakuras." As John said so, the view shifted to a dark desert planet with purple taints. "The Nerazim found a Xel'naga temple, thus they settled there and built a grand city around it to study it more." Everybody now saw a large city, different from what they say in Aiur. Unlike the Protoss homeworld, this city was silvery, orchid and emerald. At the center of the city was a island surrounded by a lake with a pyramid-like temple resting on it. This was Talematros. Yang was astounded at how beautiful the skies of Shakuras was. the sky was bright purple as if it was an eternal twilight.

"...So you're saying that this place was where you were raised in?" The blonde asked. "It's… it's really pretty, to be honest. I would kill a Goliath to live here."

"Indeed. It brings joy to my heart to hear that the place of my childhood is praised by you all." John smiled.


The memories and knowledge of John continued to guide John's friends as he explained the history of the Koprulu Sector. He explained the events of the First Great War, where the Confederacy became dominant after the Guild Wars. The rebels known as the Sons of Korhal, lead by Arcturus Mengsk, attempted to take down the corrupted Confederacy's corruption. He explained how his father James Eugene Raynor, former Marshall of the planet Mar Sara encountered the nightmarish Zerg and was rescued from their claws when Mengsk sent him transports to evacuate his men.

As expected, John received horrified and disgusted emotions from his friends when the views of his memories showed the Zerg.

"Th-they're more horrid than the Grimm…" Pyrrha commented.

John continued to explain his knowledge. With Raynor and a rescued Confederate Ghost known as Sarah Louise Kerrigan, Mengsk started to make progress of his rebellion such as recovering data from a Confederate installation and liberating Antiga Prime. Later, the Sons of Korhal captured a Confederate general from his crashed Battlecruiser and recruited him to Mengsk's cause.

Meanwhile, Mengsk acquired Psi-emitters, devices that emit powerful psionic imprints able to reach light years and lure in Zerg. Using this, he planted one in the heart of Tarsonis, luring billions of Zerg upon the Confederate capital. This action utterly shocked John's friends to the point Weiss was shivering in fear as she watched countless creatures possibly deadlier than the Grimm surround the entire planet and descent towards the surface, tearing apart anything they could find and cover everything in creep. The final point was when Mengsk abandoned Kerrigan, who was tasked to prevent the Protoss from killing the Zerg that were destroying Tarsonis, and left her to be devoured by the vile creatures. Jim Raynor, who was Kerrigan's lover, stole Mengsk's ship the Hyperion and set to find and rescue her, only to fail.

After the Confederacy fell to ruin, Mengsk crowned himself as Emperor and founded the Terran Dominion and set Korhal, his homeworld, as the capital.

The view shifted to the volcanic planet of Char. Its surface was riddled with blackened rocks, thorny geography, boiling magma, rivers of lava and the air covered with clouds of ash and sulfur. However, on the surfaces were blotches of creep. Where there was creep was the Zerg, as the Overmind, a colossal Zerg creature that acted as the mastermind of the vile creatures resided here. John started to show the fate of Kerrigan. He pointed at a chrysalis in the middle of millions of elite Zerg creatures, positioned as if they were defending the chrysalis.

Suddenly, the chrysalis started to crack and psionic light shone through them. Then, a pair of bony fleshless wings emerged from the holes and broke the shell open. From it revealed Sarah Kerrigan… although she looked off. Her skin was sickly green, her eyes were glowing orange from her emerald irises like Pyrrha, her red hair was scaly and brown, on her back were fleshless bony wing structures and whatever was her Ghost armor was now replaced with carapace.

The Queen of Blades.

Jim Raynor, who had arrived at Char to rescue his lover was devastated at the sight. However, to his surprise, Kerrigan let him go, but he remained stuck on a space station above the planet's orbit.

John looked at his friends. Their faces were filled with horror. To lose what you were and become something that resembles a Grimm… What could be worse than that?


"John, you've already told so much about the history of where you're from." Ren said as the view around them shimmered back to darkness. John turned to the magenta and green boy and gave him a look of understanding. "...But you still haven't told us about you."

"Yeah! Where do you fit in this?" Nora asked. By the tone of her voice, John sensed that she was trying to elevate the mood. He sighed in disappointment. How could she be so… happy when he was soon to explain the horrors of Amon after telling his early life story?

Nevertheless, John concentrated his mind to the crystal the eleven people's minds were in and shifted the view around them. The people of Beacon found themselves on a temperate plain with little grass and alien fauna. The sky was just like in Remnant: Sky blue.

"Shiloh. One of the fringe worlds of Terran space. A world that scrapes through its taxes with agriculture despite the poor soil." Suddenly, strong winds and frosty air engulfed the environment as the grass started to freeze and the animals quickly took shelter in the caves. "This… is my home world."

"You mean you were born in a planet that suddenly turns from Vacuo to Atlas in just a matter of days?" Weiss asked.

"Yes. This was also the birth world of my father, James Raynor. During my early days, my father returned from the Confederate army after the Guild Wars. He was a formidable Vulture driver, thus I was always with him whenever he repaired vehicles." Saying this, John gave a small but sad smile as he saw his father and John's younger self tinkering with a Vulture bike. Jim explained what each part did to his son with simplicity of a five-year old. At the door was Lidya Raynor, John's mother, who was smiling at the sight of her family being so happy.

"However, one of my traits lead my family to be shattered." A tear dropped from the Nerazim's eye. Holding his left hand up, he summoned a small ball of raw psionic energy, which generated small lightning crackling from his fingers. "...I was gifted with psionic powers. The laws of the Confederacy and the Dominion stated that all Terrans with psionic potential are to be conscripted into the Ghost Program… and it happened."

"DADDY!" The 5-year old John cried as his arms were yanked by two Ghosts. Jim and Lidya Raynor could only shout back at despair.

"Under the Psionically Gifted Code of the Confederacy, you, John Raynor, are conscripted to the Confederate Ghost Program." One of the Ghosts barked and harshly tugged the boy's arm.

"Don't resist any more or we're gonna use harsher methods, boy!" The other Ghost grunted as the three approached a large ship that was heavily guarded by elite Marines.

"...I was loaded into the ship that would take me to Tarsonis with a few others that were gifted as I am. Locked up like a cattle to a slaughterhouse, I could only see in despair as my home world slowly move farther from my eyes. I could only dread about my fate…" A tear ran through John's cheeks. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned his back from the view. He didn't even have to sense his friends' emotions; he already knew that horror was present.

"...That's like forcing all Huntsmen to enlist into the military." Weiss gasped.

"Isn't Atlas the same?" The Nerazim asked.

"N-no, they strongly encourage, not make it mandatory." John gave a simple nod at the heiress's response. He continued to turn back as the scene around everyone continued. "Just before the ship could engage warp drives…"

BOOM!

The belly ship that everybody saw young John was in suddenly exploded. Pieces of scrap metal and unfortunate people flew into the freezing vacuum, waiting a painful minute to die.

"In space, no one can hear your screams. The heat of a star and the coldness of the vacuum will burn and freeze you at the same time. Your body will slowly succumb to the pressure, and die a painful death." The Nerazim explained, then turned back to RWBY and JNPR. "Space is a cold and unforgiving place, friends. I was almost a victim to it."

"...Then what happened? How are you alive?" Pyrrha asked.

"...Space, however, is also bountiful. Those who endeavour the depths of the void are gifted with infinite possibilities. Among them…"

The view now showed a single room with only a bed and little John. The boy was now shaking with fear and sobbing, until near the door emerged black smoke, and from there, a Dark Templar of the Lenassa Tribe emerged. The two talked, where John asked, and the Protoss explained with convincing words. Taking the child away from the room, the area blackened.

"My mentor, Prelate Zeratul. He was attracted by my powers, which was abnormally powerful. Should it not been him, I would have died. Thus, I am forever in debt to my master." As John explained, everyone saw a small yet beautifully designed craft of alien origins depart from the shipwreck. The ship then entered warp jump and exited, revealing the beautiful orchid planet of Shakuras surrounded by dark space with bright amethyst clouds.

"From here, I've started to train in the ways of the Dark Templar. However, as I, a Terran, was a inferior being compared to the Firstborn, I was prone to assaults from peer younglings." The people now saw John surrounded by three young Protoss individuals, all glaring at John as if they saw an insect.

"-Look here, brothers. An inferior creature. It disgusts me to see a creature with an orifice to walk around these halls." A young Protoss gloated.

"It brings curiosity to my mind about why would the Dark Prelate let a Terran in our prestigious temple academy… preposterous, is it not?" The other laughed.

"Creature, just what makes you think that you are equal in? Strength? Psionic manipulation?" The third Protoss asked, then shook her head. "Neither. As it should be expected from an inferior creature."

"Please… stop…" John mumbled, crumpled up into a ball with tears dribbling from his eyes.

"Blake, was this how the Faunus were treated before the Faunus War?" The Nerazim asked the cat Faunus, who was drooping down with empathy.

"...Yes." Was all Blake could respond.

"They uh… kinda sound like Cardin and his team." Jaune commented.

"Still, it's atrocious." Pyrrha scoffed.

"...however, they are right." John sighed, receiving curious looks. "...The Protoss are far superior in biological, physical and psionic levels. While only a few Terrans are gifted, all Protoss are psionic. Thus, it is understandable that they would mock me as an inferior being." He gave his friends a sad look as he continued. "However, I could not submit. I owe my life to Zeratul for he saved me from the maws of death. Thus, despite being only seven years old, my mentor and I decided to train secluded from the other younglings, travelling to abandoned ruins of the Xel'naga and even travel across the Koprulu Sector in search of knowledge."

The people found themselves in the sandy deserts of Shakuras, enshrouded by the dark purple skies of eternal twilight. At the distance was a colossal city of orchid, silver and green. Everyone looked around their surroundings with awe. Near where everyone was, John and Zeratul were together, with the Protoss seemingly instructing the little boy of the way of the blade and Psionic energy.

"Awww, look at John! He looks so cute!" Ruby cooed and tried to run to the two. She was stopped by Weiss.

"You dunce! What if you interrupt them?! You could corrupt John's knowledge!" The heiress scolded, then paused to think. "...although, it's irrational of me to think that way."

"Fear not." Hearing the older John's voice, the eight teens turned back to find the Nerazim squatting next to a pond of water. The pond reflected the beauty of Shakuras's twilight sky. "Only the owner of the memories may manipulate them. Those projections will not hear or see you."

The crystal's projection started to portray small snippets of events that John and Zeratul went through.

First, they saw Zeratul adjusted John's gauntlet arm to the proper stance. Then, he monitored his disciple as he sliced through holographic targets. However, John's moves were flawed, as the child was only six years old.

Then, with a female Protoss who seemed far superior in rank than Zeratul, the Prelate taught the Terran child about controlling his psionic abilities. At first, John seemed to struggle with with bringing out his psionic potential as if a young huntsman-in-training is with Aura, but as time passed, John started to cast small flashes of cyan light. He seemed to bounce with glee with every success.

However, the view changed to show the very boy on the ground crying. Zeratul approached him and took him into Talematros. From there, they approached the massive Xel'Naga temple at the center of the city and entered the building adjacent to it. Here, they met a slim feminine Nerazim with with a rather functional attire rather than the ceremonial of her brethren.

"Who is that? She looks like she's wearing a robot suit from those sci-fi movies that we watched." Jaune asked.

"That, friend Jaune, is phasesmith Salhaza. One of the greatest engineers of the Nerazim, she was one of the first Protoss to accept who I am and…" The Nerazim smiled. "...be a friend."

"Now watch, young Raynor. Now I shall teach you how to craft your own warp blade." Salhaza said. John was sitting on the ground patiently as from a levitating table, the young phasesmith picked up a beautifully glowing cyan crystal and showed it to the boy. "Do you remember what this is?"

"Y-yes, miss Salhaza. That is a Khaydarin crystals." John replied rather nervously.

"Correct. These crystals are the cores of the psionic blades. Without these, forging one is impossible. First, you must feel its power." Salhaza handed John the crystal, which John, after hesitating for a second, took the crystal. However, with a sudden yelp of pain, he quickly dropped it to the ground.

"I-it hurts…" John whimpered.

"Pain? Strange. Pain is not a factor of touching a Khaydarin crystal…" The young phasesmith mused, taking the crystal from the ground. "...or perhaps it is because we are not the same species. But that does not matter." Salhaza, placing the crystal back on the table, she picked up a extinguished warp blade adjacent to the crystal and showed it to John. Behind her back, two cybernetic serpentine arms connected to her severed nerve cords began to dismantle the weapon piece by piece. The arms placed each individual part back on the table, which John walked to to see it clearly.

"Th-these are alot of things, Miss Salhaza." John hesitated.

"Fear not, young Raynor." The phasesmith chuckled. "It is a simple weapon to craft and wield, and it is necessary for the youngest of disciples of engineering to learn how to craft it. Now, watch and listen closely…"

"Ruby what are you doing?" Weiss asked during the conversation between human and Protoss, seeing Ruby with glistening eyes. The silver-eyed girl was peering over the table in between Salhaza and young John, watching the explanation process of the warp blade.

"What do you think, Weiss? I'm trying to learn how to make one of these and make my baby Crescent Rose strooonge- Ack!" Ruby was pulled back by her sister. Seeing this, John chuckled.

"My sincerest apologies, Ruby, but I am certain you will not find Khaydarin crystals in Remnant. Even when you find one, you will not be able to do anything with it unless you're psionically gifted like I am or every Protoss in the universe." The Nerazim explained.

"Salhaza taught me the most necessary things in Protoss engineering. I was able to learn useful thinigs such as how to craft a blade and how to repair a ship."

While John and Salhaza were together, the door of the forge opened, revealing another female Protoss, but this time with countless wrinkles on her skin and golden eyes. The elder approached the little boy, who bowed down.

"M-matriarch…" John stuttered.

"Greetings, young Raynor. I see that you have began to learn to forge a blade on your own." The matriarch, Raszagal said.

"Yes, matriarch. However, I've come to find out that Terrans… seem to react differently to Khaydarin crystals." Salhaza said. "They seem to feel pain whenever they make contact with them."

"Is it? Interesting." Raszagal mused, then turned back to John. "Raynor, your mentor Zeratul and I have made an agreement. During my times outside political duties, he and I shall take you into the Xel'naga temple in the middle of the city and begin teaching you of the ways of archeology. We shall be waiting for your session to end, phasesmith."

"Yes, matriarch." Salhaza bowed. Seeing this, Raszagal gave John one last glance before walking away from the forge.
"Raszagal, the matriarch of the Nerazim… she along Zeratul taught me the ways of archeology and combat while Salhaza taught me the way of the phasesmith. These three have discarded my racial status… and accepted me as who I am." John smiled. "These three mentors of mine, I consider them as my family in all but blood." His face strangely became dark. "...however, that is what my younger days were. Now I shall show you the first war that I've participated."

The surroundings of the people of Beacon shimmered into darkness. They could see each other, but only black surrounded them.

"Do you remember what I've told you about the forming of the Queen of Blades?" RWBY and JNPR nodded at John's question. "During Kerrigan's time in the chrysalis, she sent psionic signals everywhere. My father was able to receive this signal and go to Char. However, he was not the only one to hear it." A short pause… until Ren opened his mouth.

"...You and your mentor heard it too." The magenta boy said.

"Yes. In fact, I was the one who had sensed it before my mentor. I accompanied Zeratul to Char to investigate the anomaly, as back then, I had no knowledge of who Kerrigan was. Little did I know what I was getting myself into."

"War." Pyrrha whispered.

"Yes." John grimly said. However… there was another Protoss that sensed Kerrigan's calling. Observe."

From darkness to ashy red atmosphere, everyone found themselves on a scorched and molten surface of Char with a massive hive cluster over at the distance. With Zeratul and John were three dozen Dark Templar of both Lenassa and Zer'atai, all covering themselves with their shields to protect themselves from the deadly air of Char. The mentor and disciple were discussing about the psionic presence until they sensed an army approaching them from behind.

"The Khalai Protoss had also arrived from Aiur. The group's leader, Executor Tassadar, attacked Zeratul because he was Dark Templar. However, despite this, my mentor did not fight back. In fact, he decided to help Tassadar."

"I've heard stories from my ancestors about your heresies. You've severed yourself from the Khala, our greatest achievement in unity!"

Tassadar shouted about the blasphemies of the Dark Templar to the Prelate as the Executor continued to strike futile attempts in hitting Zeratul.

"Think past the old tales. They are but stories created by your forefathers to explain our departure. Kernels of truth exist within them, yes, but buried within a field of deceptions." Zeratul spoke.

"...those words made Tassadar's resolve falter. And in the end, my mentor overcame his prejudice. Slowly, they've started to heal the rifts between the Khalai and the Nerazim between the Protoss in Char." John explained. "I still remember when Tassadar saw me…"

"What was he like?" Weiss asked.

"He sensed vast amounts of psionic energy within me. I remember him saying that it even exceeds some of the younger High Templars. However, that wasn't the most interesting turn of events in my life…"

"What happened?"

"...Tassadar decided to teach me the ways of the Khala's powers. I was… worried at the beginning as I've heard the stories from Zeratul, but my mentor decided that it would be better if I learned." John replied as he saw his younger self listen to the Executor teach him how to cast a powerful psionic storm. However, all little John could cast was a single bolt of lightning.

"...so you learned how to cast that finger-snappy thingie and thunder thingie from that guy?" Nora asked.

"...yes. The Feedback loop and the Psionic Storm are very well known techniques of a High Templar." The Nerazim replied. "I consider myself positively coincidental."

"Did you mean lucky?" Yang asked.

"Yes, but the Protoss do not consider the term luck." John sighed. "Now, if I may, let us continue the story." Everyone nodded.

John continued to tell the story of his past, especially when a familiar Battlecruiser approached the two Protoss groups. This resulted in a shocking reunion between father and son when Jim Raynor immediately recognized his own eyes that his son used to have. Everyone saw the tears of both father and son as they ran up to each other and pulled themselves into a hug. However, later, the Raynor patriarch unleashed his verbal fury against Zeratul.

In the end, Zeratul agreed to return John back to his father, but only because they haven't met in years.

John then explained the assault against the Cerebrate Zatz, where Tassadar distracted the Garm Brood's forces while the Dark Templar slew their leader. However, to everyone's shock, as soon as the warp blade of Zeratul struck the vile creature, their minds linked. Zeratul learned the motive of the Overmind, the true leader of the Zerg Swarm.

However, in return, the Overmind learned about the homeworld of the Protoss, Aiur.

The surroundings changed from the fiery grounds and skies of Char to the beautiful space above Aiur. Just then, spatial rifts formed at the outskirts of the planet's gravitational field, and thousands of millions of Zerg creatures ranging from Overlords, Mutalisks, Guardians to the massive Leviathans covered the stars. They started invading the Protoss homeworld and within hours, the Overmind was able to root down onto its surface.

"Th-that's horrible! To think that such a grand species of aliens fall like that to something equivalent to the Grimm!" Weiss shuddered in fear.

"The Protoss were unprepared for such a large invasion, especially when the location of world was considered a secret. From what I've heard, efforts to repel the Zerg invasion was… struggling, especially when the Conclave was focused on taking Tassadar to custody."

"But… why? What did he do wrong?" Pyrrha asked.

"Do you remember the destruction of Tarsonis?" Everyone nodded. "I have mentioned that Mengsk ordered Kerrigan before her infestation to prevent the Protoss from purifying the world of the Zerg so that every soul in Tarsonis was lost. As Tassadar was the commander of the fleet, this action was considered as the belaying of orders. The Executor tried to reason the Conclave that only the Dark Templar's Void Energy is capable of crippling the Zerg by killing the Cerebrates, but they didn't believe it, for during then, the Dark Templar were heretics." John shook his head as he mentioned this. "To capture him, the Conclave sent the new Executor named Artanis to retrieve him from Char."

The view changed back to the orbit above Char. A fleet of Carriers warped into reality above a infested Terran space station. There, a small Protoss army including Artanis himself was dispatched on the station in search of the Executor. The team was met with Tassadar, but alongside of the Executor's army was the remnant of Raynor's Raiders, with Jim Raynor and his son John next to him. A holographic projection of Aldaris, one of the Judicators of the Conclave, and Tassadar were fighting orally over the situation of Aiur, where Aldaris was claiming that the Executor was the enemy while the mentioned Protoss was furious of how the Conclave was blind to not notice the true enemy: The Zerg. Fortunately, as Artanis was Tassadar's personal mentor, the elder was able to convince the young commander to find the Dark Templar in Char, as they are the key to the destruction of the Cerebrates of Aiur before striking the Overmind.

Thus, belaying Aldaris's orders, Artanis along with Tassadar fought their way through a infested Terran facility while allying with the stranded Terran marines. In the end, they finally met Zeratul and his Dark Templar.

"Outcasts though you may be, it is your vision and courage that may yet save our Homeworld from the Swarm. I beg of you, Zeratul, return with us to Aiur. Though they are petty, and have, in ignorance cursed your kind for generations... help me save our people." Tassadar begged.

"Since our banishment long ago, we have never failed in our responsibility to Aiur. Though it shall cause us great pain to see our homeland once more, we shall return with you, Tassadar. We will do what we can." Zeratul agreed. And thus, the Dark Templar walked along the Khalai Executor out of the facility, where the Protoss fleet lay ready for extraction.

"...and so, with my father's army following along, the expedition force returned to Aiur, to confront the Overmind and his Swarm. However, before we could proceed, we were interrupted by the Conclave's army. Having no choice, we fought them."

Looking away in disgust, John changed the scenery around him and his friends to the surface of Aiur. There, two armies of the Firstborn clashed with each other, but the army of Tassadar started pushing the Conclave back to their headquarters Kor-shakal. Just then…

"Executor! Aldaris! This madness must stop! The sight of my brethren slaughtering one another is more than I can stand. Though I fear you would doom us all, Aldaris, I surrender myself to the Conclave. En Taro Adun, Executor. Don't give up the fight!" Tassadar yelled, unable to bear the sight of the two Protoss armies blinded from their true enemy fight each other.

"What?! Mentor!" Artanis, obviously shocked, shouted at his mentor. "We can regroup… find a new strategy. You cannot make this… Sacrifice!"

"And yet, I must." Tassadar only replied. He then disappeared in blue mist from the bridge of Gantrithor, his ship and appeared near the guards of the Conclave, where Aldaris stood proud.

"Tassadar of the Templar, by your actions you have severed yourself from the mercy of your brethren. You refused to destroy the Terran worlds as was commanded. You have questioned time and time again, the sacred will of the Conclave. And you have abandoned your Homeworld in its darkest hour. Most grievous of all is that you have allied yourself with the blasphemous Dark Ones, and learned to utilize their profane powers in tandem with our own! What say you, oh fallen Templar?" The Judicator said, but Tassadar only glared with defiance, his stance showing no falter.

"Aldaris, I submit myself to the Conclave's judgment. But know this, given the same choices again, I would surely have made them. I have sacrificed all that our world might live. I have sullied my honor, I have discarded my rank and standing, and I have even broken our own most ancient traditions. But never think that I would, for one moment, regret my actions. For I am Templar, and above all else, I have sworn to Protect our Homeworld until the end."

"Damn..." Jaune commented. "So he technically sold himself to stop a… civil war or something?"

"Yes. Despite surrendering himself, he did so to make his people realize the true enemy." John smiled. "However, Praetor Fenix, Artanis's old battle comrade and friend, Artanis and my father planned to free the Executor from the Conclave's trials."

At the holding cells where Tassadar was kept in stasis, Tassadar's fleet including Jim Raynor's ship Hyperion struck the Conclave's forces, intended to save their leader and focus on the Zerg. However, just as a small task force along with Fenix went underground and was about to free Tassadar, Aldaris along with a large number of zealots and High Templar approached from behind them. Just before the judicator could apprehend them, the Dark Templar appeared from nowhere, dimming the lights of the cell. Among them was Zeratul.

"Stay thy hand, Judicator. The stewards of Tassadar shall not fall while the Dark Templar live. Call off your guards and stand aside, and you may yet live to see another moonrise." Zeratul warned.

"I will not be addressed so by one so devoid of the Khala's light. You and your vile brethren shall die with these traitors." Aldaris scoffed.

"Are you truly so blinded by your vaunted religion, that you can't see the fall ahead of you? Your Conclave believes that they are winning this war, but all they've succeeded in doing is helping the Overmind to win."

"What could you possibly know about our designs, blasphemer?" Just as the judicator said these words, the Dark Prelate sighed in disappointment by his ignorance.

"You speak of knowledge, Judicator? You speak of experience? I have journeyed through the darkness between the most distant stars. I have beheld the births of negative-suns and borne witness to the entropy of entire realities... Unto my experience, Aldaris, all that you've built here on Aiur is but a fleeting dream. A dream from which your precious Conclave shall awaken, finding themselves drowned in a greater nightmare."

"We shall see…"

"With that, we were able to free Tassadar from his execution and focus on slaying two Cerebrates guarding the Overmind with their broods. However, unlike last time where the Cerebrate reincarnated themselves, the Dark Templar's Void energy managed to prevent that. Thus, the defense around the Overmind was effectively crippled."

"Well… now's the final battle, huh? When was this?" Yang asked.

"Yes, the final battle for Aiur. Despite being six years ago, the battle I've observed from the bridge of the Hyperion is still fresh in my mind. I still remember seeing the Conclave's armies, which included all warriors of Aiur fight alongside with Tassadar's and my father's army after witnessing the death of two Cerebrates."

At the heart of the Zerg invasion was the massive Overmind, spilling disgusting creep that continued to spread while housing tumor-like structures of hatcheries and sunken and spore colonies root on where former drones were. The skies were littered with Zerg flyers such as scourges, guardians and mutalisks, searching for any invaders who dare to attack their leader.

However, from three sides, three armies gathered to strike the vile creature for good. From the northwest was the Raynor's Raiders, southeast the army of Artanis, Tassadar and the Dark Templar and from the southwest, the Conclave's army, the Vanguard of Aiur. Slowly, the might of the Firstborn and the Raiders pushed the Swarm closer to its colossal leader. However, despite the pushes, the warriors of both Protoss and Terrans fell one by one by the Zerg counterattacks. Mighty ships also fell from the sky, burning blue flames of Protoss, and orange of Terrans. Finally the allied forces met at the Overmind, which had its tough carapace finally crippled. However…

"Executor, the Overmind has been weakened, but I fear we have sustained severe damage ourselves. I will steer the Gantrithor into a collision course with the Overmind. If I can channel enough of the Dark Templar's energy through the hull of the Gantrithor, I should be able to bring swift death to the accursed abomination."

"M-master Tassadar! What are you saying?!" John, shocked of what the Executor had said via communications from the Hyperion's bridge, shot out from his father's grasp and ran to the holographic screen.

"Little Raynor, as I have said, we have lost too many warriors this day. We cannot risk to lose more if we are to restore Aiur after this battle." Tassadar replied, his blue eyes glowing with sadness. "I wish for you to remember everything I've taught you about the ways of the Khala. I've given your mentor what you will learn in the future." He closed his eyes when tears dribbled down from the Terran's. "And Raynor… It has been an honor teaching you."

"No…" John whimpered as Jim Raynor approached his son and embraced him. Tassadar then focused his attention to his protege Artanis.

"Remember us, Executor. Remember what was done here today. May Adun watch over you."

The communications were off. The Gantrithor, which was now heavily damaged, had its thrusters at maximum output with its bow aimed straight at the Overmind. Soon enough, the colossal vessel was swarmed by millions of mutalisks, scourges and even guardians. Tassadar's ship deployed every single squadron of Interceptors to fend them off, but that wasn't enough to the swarm

The Gantrithor pushed on.

With its defenses crippled, the Zerg flyers started to tear the ship apart piece by piece.

The Gantrithor pushed on.

The carrier was now almost at the Overmind. A portal opened just above the vile creature, its signature way of moving from place to place. It was trying to escape.

Then, John felt it. A vast amount of Khalai and Void energies started to form in the bridge of the Gantrithor. So vast that his eyes started to burn when he saw the Gantrithor turn into a globe of pure energy from the Hyperion's bridge. It was like staring at the sun naked. The energy hit the Overmind and shattered it after a blinding flash of white.

John tried to reach for his Khalai mentor. Nothing. He was truly gone.

"Master Tassadar?" John stuttered. Tears were pouring from his eyes. He started to sob. Finally, his emotions took him away as he fell to the metallic floor and bawled in pure sadness.


Team RWBY and JNPR were riding a downhill rollercoaster ride of shock, surprise, awe, sadness and horror as John revealed more of his past. The fall of Aiur, the Evacuation to Shakuras, the cleansing of the Nerazim's world via a colossal Xel'naga temple…

He told them the invasion of the United Earth Directorate and how they caused bloodshed across the Sector…

how the Queen of Blades betrayed them all and killed another one of John's mentors Fenix…

...but that didn't gather up to match the most tear-inducing of all: the death of Raszagal.

"Th-thank you… Zeratul…"

"No! Please! NO!" He cried as his mentor held her dying form. From where her heart is leaked purple blood. Creatures of the Zerg surrounded the three as they prepared to strike at their Queen's order. The fiery skies of Char cackled with thunderbolts as Carriers, starfighters confronted the aerial Zerg.

This was hell. One of his most beloved ones was dying right on his mentor's arms. She had corrupted her. This was the only way.

"You have freed me…"

"Please, you cannot go! I have so much to learn!" He begged.

"...From her vile control… at last…"

"Our people cannot thrive without you." The mentor said.

"You have served me with honor…"

"Please don't go! You were like my mother! PLEASE!" He finally snapped as tears fell towards the hot surface of this vile planet.

"...Raynor… thank you…"

"Please…"

"Your very presence have made me respect your kind…"

"Please answer me, Oh wise one!"

"...it was an honor teaching the ways of the Nerazim to you…"

"I am without guidance without you! WE ARE!" But his words fell on nothing as she ignored him and turned to the mentor.

"...lead our tribes… for it is the last thing I wish from you." With that, her life was gone. The glow in her eyes faded as she slowly disappeared into dust. He immediately caught the mask that covered part of her face before it could sail away. Holding it tight, he fell to his knees.

He cried.

He cried as he had never before.

"NOOOOOOOOO-"

By the time the memory ended, they all saw John sobbing. This very moment was the lowest part of his life, as the Matriarch was like a mother to him. With the same tears in her eyes, Ruby attempted to comfort him with a hug, but he refused it. All of her 'I'm sorry's were never enough to quench the sadness.

John continued after the events of the Brood War, during their exile.

In a distant, dark moon, Zeratul and John found an unusual psionic signal emanating. Upon landing to investigate, they discovered a Terran mercenary group working on experiments using Zerg and Protoss specimens. This confused teams RWBY and JNPR until the duo reached the final containment cell, where the horrifying creature RWBY(J) had fought in the docks lay dormant inside. Despite held in stasis, its form was enough to freeze the muscles of JNPR too.

"Your violence, young prodigal, is typical. As is your inability to comprehend the greater scheme of things. You can destroy all of the specimens here. It will do you no good. For I have seeded the Hybrid on many, many worlds. You will never find them all before they awaken... And when they do... your universe will be changed... forever." Duran quotes before he disappeared into thin air.

"... after that, Zeratul gave me an opportunity to leave him and return to my father. He knew that the path ahead was dangerous, especially for a juvenile Terran." John commented, wiping his tears that were shed from Raszagal's death.

"...but you didn't, didn't you?" Blake asked. John smiled in behalf.

"Of course. I was ready to face my destiny. I would never leave my master. I started with him, I shall see the end with him."

With that, they saw the duo traveling across the Sector in search of clues across multiple worlds. However, with each clue they found, despair and worry. It all started at the world of Ulaan, where they first found about the Incoming Storm from the Infested Kerrigan. Then, they met the first Hybrid in the world of Zhakul. However, this one was different from the Reaver that was defeated back at the docks. It was the Hybrid Destroyer Ma'ar, a mouthless abomination with translucent scalp that resembled more of a Protoss. Nevertheless, the sight struck fear to John's friends.

"...after finally defeating the creature, we were able to decipher the prophecy we have acquired back in Ulaan. It was as follows…" John closed his eyes. He reopened them, but this time glowing green.

"In the fullness of time

The cycle shall draw to its end.

The xel'naga, who forged the stars,

Will transcend their creation.

Yet, the Fallen One shall remain,

Destined to cover the Void in shadow…

Before the stars wake from their celestial courses,

He shall break the cycle of the gods,

Devouring all light and hope.

It begins with the Great Hungerer.

It ends in utter darkness."

Everybody was rather unsure of what to say about it. It was too cryptic to their standards, as John had just told them of the Hybrid. The Nerazim later explained it when he told them about his journey back to the ravaged homeworld of the Protoss in search for the hulk of the Overmind. Despite being surrounded by Zerg, Zeraul and Raynor pushed on towards every tendril stuck on higher ground. However, the greatest picture appeared when they met the spirit of Tassadar, the fallen Hero that saved the Protoss. He claimed to the two Nerazim that he has seen what the Overmind had seen: the apocalyptic future where the Queen of Blades was no more. John decided to show what will happen through the eyes of the Overmind.

"On a distant, shadowed world, the Protoss would make their final stand. Their heroes will gather, their forces will be martialled, and they will die bravely…"

Team RWBY and JNPR saw the last of the Protoss of this apocalyptic vision of the future, where a massive gathering of Protoss warriors and war machines that rival the population of Remnant itself begin to amass on a elevated platform built on a darkened world. At the front, Prelate Zeratul stood, giving a mighty speech knowing their end.

"...But still, they will die. And my Zerg… will be slaves… to the Hybrid…"

From three fronts, the vile hordes of Zerg and the fearsome Hybrid started attacking. From the massive Warp Conduit on the platform, the last of the Protoss armies gathered, in the form of mechanical walkers to even the mightiest of ships, but they soon fell to the horrid powers of the Hybrid. Eventually, the Protoss fronts fell one by one until every single warrior fell.

"...All will bow before the Power… of the Fallen One." The Overmind's distorted voice finished as the Hybrid started killing off the Zerg that they've slaved.


"...and after aiding Kerrigan in her transformation of what she is now and Killing Arcturus Mengsk, I've returned to my master once I've spent another week with my father to continue search for the Dark God's clues." John finally concluded. The visions of the Ihan Crystal were already over and the people saw themselves back in Ozpin's office. It was as if nothing had changed at all.

"...how long has it been since we first saw your crystal?" Ren asked.

"It has been five minutes, friend Ren." John replied.

"What?! We've been in there for like… hours! Or… I think?" Yang asked.

"Say all you want, it changes nothing, Yang." The Nerazim sighed. "Do you see, Yang? After All the hardships and battles you've seen me fight through, do you still believe that I am lying?"

"N-no…"

"It is important to know that the universe is in danger. You've all seen what Amon is capable of doing through my memories. If he wishes to cleanse all life, Remnant will be no exception. That is why I am following my master throughout the Sector."

"Wait, if you're roaming around the universe, why are you here? I mean, why did Zeratul drop you off here?" Blake asked.

"That…" John sighed. "...I do not know how to clearly explain it to you all, but the main reason of my existence here on Remnant would be 'reclaiming my humanity.'". He received cocked eyebrows, an expression he had expected. "...As you know, I've been raised by the Protoss and I know almost nothing of how Terrans live. After my existence was revealed to the Terran worlds, it would be difficult to blend into any of the Dominion, Protectorate and Combine worlds. Thus, Zeratul had selected this world, devoid of any signatures of the Terrans, for me to stay."

"So… what do you want from us?" Pyrrha asked.

"I need your help. You eight are the first ones I consider a 'friend', especially ones near my age. Now that you have no need to believe my pathetic lies of my false past, perhaps we can renew our bond." John gave a small smile. A short pause followed, where the eight first-year teens looked at each other, their eyes showing uncertainty. They turned back to John, then to themselves, and then finally to their headmaster, who stood emotionless staring at the Ihan Crystal. "If you consider my lies as betrayal…" John sighed. He knew that this is a possibility. "...you may berate me as much as you wish. But at least know that I've done it for the greater good." He shut his eyes. The greater good… so this is how Zeratul would be feeling. To be rejected for doing the lesser evil, but in the end saved the life of a beloved. He waited for any of his friend to reject him. But…

"John, it's okay." It was Ruby who approached him. "You… um… came here and… well, became a good friend! I don't think I had proper friends back at Signal because nobody replied to my letters and my dad saw one of them throwing away one of my letters in the trash…" The silver-eyed girl shed a small tear before wiping it, not forgetting to smile. "But you're kinda like one of my my first ever friend after Jaune because… well, maybe the guys back at Signal didn't like my weapon love." She shrugged. Hearing this, John raised an eyebrow. He was confused. What was Ruby trying to say? "Well, I mean, I don't care if you're an alien, as long as you're my friend and we beat Grimm butt together." A smile from the girl. John could sense warmth in her. It was genuine. He took the time to look at the others. Ruby and Nora were the only ones who were smiling. The rest were simply staring at the Nerazim and the two girls with unsure looks.

Weiss, however, seemed to be the most troubled, as John sensed anger in her mind but at the same time, concern. He realized that the heiress would be the most difficult to consult. She was known to stand firm to her own opinions and even push the ones who oppose them away. If his calculations were correct, she would definitely reject him-

"If my sister says you're okay, then I guess I'm cool with you…" Yang interrupted John's train of thought. He looked at the buxom blonde. He was about to give a sigh of relief- "...except for the fact that YOU'VE FUCKING LIED TO US ALL!"

"Language!" Glynda scolded.

"I… don't know what do say about a god that wants to kill everything… but judging by how your Dark Templar were considered blasphemous, I can't help but to feel empathy in a way." Blake added, but her eyes glared at the Nerazim. "...I still agree with Yang. I'm not happy that you were lying to us for the past four months. Just remember that I'm not happy."

"That is… more than enough, Blake." John sighed.

"Well, jeez. Can't believe that I'm talking to an alien. You know John, I'm having a hard time believing that you've been with us for the past four months and… well, I just wanna believe you." Jaune added. "You defended me from Cardin, you're helping me in fighting. I can't ask for more. I'm with Ruby."

"Thank you."

"I'm with Jaune."

"Well, if Fearless Leader says yes, then I'll break the legs of who doesn't agree!"

"I'm with her."

And with that, JNPR was on his side. Now, all eyes were turned to the white girl, who suddenly found herself in a situation that would change the fate of her team forever. Taking the opportunity, John glared into her mind.

As usual, her mind was filled with distress. Her family were in troublesome relations with the Faunus due to the White Fang and the usage of slaves of their kind. Not only that, she formerly felt betrayed when Blake blurted her origins out of frustration. Now, it was John's turn to explode his true origins to her. Weiss first thought that all of this was total nonsense, as there are no such thing that could be worse than the Grimm, and the fact that he saw aliens fight each other. From anger turned to fear during the fight with the Hybrid and that turned to uncertainty after the journey through John's memories within the Ihan Crystal.

Her mind was torn between trusting the Nerazim or throw him aside. John felt his heart racing like a speeding Zergling on creep as Weiss pondered on her decisions. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was a-.

"I guess it's alright."

Weiss's question caught John off guard. He was visually confused, as this wasn't the answer he had not expected. It wasn't the answer itself that surprised him, but the sarcasm that was in her words.

"I guess it's alright even though you've been feeding us with your lies for the past four months, then finally swearing to kill me when I tried to shun Blake away again." Weiss gave a false snicker. "I'm surprised that I'm still talking to you even after everything that happened. You know, John? After finding Blake, I was about to throw all the insults I've been building in me at you. If it wasn't for your crystal and that… thing we fought at the docks, I would have made Ozpin punish you the worst way possible."

"Miss Schnee, I would not take any form of bribery just to punish an innocent student." Ozpin warned.

"In conclusion, John Lidya Raynor, I have no choice but to accept who you are. Your crystal told me so much about the pain you've gone through, which probably shadows everything we all have been through." Weiss gave a small smile. "I'll try to help you become human again."

"Th-thank you." John stuttered at those words. "To be honest, I was rather scared of what you would do to me because of my… rage and lies… Although I did expect this to happen when I first spoke to you all…" He whispered the last part while being still loud enough for them to hear. "It brings relief to my heart that all eight of you have accepted what I am. I truly am thankful." He concluded his Firstborn-like speech with a bow. "In fact, I cannot find more ways to thank you."

'Well, it's okay." Pyrrha assured with a pat on his shoulder.

"What are you going to do now? You said you were looking for clues of the apocalypse." Blake asked, now that the tension was finally gone.

"Whenever there is a Hybrid in a world, that could mean that Amon has something hidden in this world that is linked with his schemes. I do not know what it is, but I know one way to perhaps solve it." John replied.

"And that is…?"

"Blake, do you remember what I was doing before coming to Remnant?"

"You were searching for clues with your mentor."

"Precisely." John smiled. "The presence of that atrocious creature was enough to convince Zeratul to return. I have promised my master to contact him as soon as this was settled. Perhaps now is the time for all of you to meet him." With that, John closed his eyes and gave a sigh. He channeled psionic energy to his warp gauntlet, which its crystal started to glow bright as if his eyes were open. Then, the crystal's light focused away from its user and towards an empty wall, forming a holographic screen of a quality that would slap the cheek of any TV that existed in Remnant.

Projected by the gauntlet was a very familiar Protoss, his skin grey and and wrinkled with age. His eyes radiated green, the same color that John possessed but unlike the apprentice, his never thought of stop glowing. The bottom of his face was covered with a cloak just like John, but much darker as if it lost its color. His shoulder pads were just like the boy in the room but bigger, his chest was almost bare except for a few garments like the the strap that crossed his torso and strips of cloth endorned with green Khaydarin crystals. His back was covered with a large cloak that almost resembled the cape, but too large to be one.

The people of Beacon noticed John smile at the alien on the screen. He knelt on the ground, the looked up.

"En taro Tassadar, master." The young Nerazim greeted.

"Has the issue been solved, Raynor?" Zeratul asked.

"Why, yes. I presume you're Prelate Zeratul that Mr. Raynor had been constantly mentioning?" Ozpin intervened, walking closer to the screen.

"And you must be the Marcus Ozpin that Raynor described. There seems to be a lot of things to discuss once I set foot on your world. The presence of a Hybrid bodes ill." Zeratul replied, then turning to RWBY and JNPR. "Raynor, do these younglings happen to be the ones you've bonded with over the past four lunar cycles?"

"Yes, master. I have told you their names before." John replied.

"Indeed, I remember. You happen to be Ruby Rose, the leader of team RWBY, yes? Raynor has told me about your… enthusiasm with weaponry."

"Well, gosh yeah! I've been really into weapons since I saw uncle Qrow use his scythe! Ever since, I've been making my baby Crescent Rose and-" The Argent Reaper was pulled to a halt thanks to her sister and her white partner intervening.

"Sorry, Mr. Alien. That's what happens when my sister hears about weapons. Aaaaanyway, you're what Lil' Johnny calls Zeratul?" Yang asked.

"Well, since John had already introduced us to you, It is… a pleasure to meet you." Weiss stood firm and greeted.

"Interesting." Zeratul replied. "You four have fought the thrall of Amon and won… and you've unlocked my disciple's Semblance, as you call it." The elder Firstborn chuckled. "When I have first heard it from him, I was fascinated by the fact that he was alive."

"What do you mean?" Goodwitch asked.

"Archon merging is normally the last resort Templars do to save themselves from a unwinnable battle. They become one and gain unfathomable power, but as they lose their form, they will slowly burn out like a star and disappear." Everyone except John was shocked at such a description. The boy's Semblance normally resulted in death of Protoss warriors?

"I-if that's the case, how did John and Ruby survive?" Blake asked, negative nervousness in her words.

"That, I know not. I will have to conduct my own investigation on that matter. However, my disciple has already told you about our true agenda, did he not?"

"Yes. You want to search for clues for Amon?" Pyrrha asked and replied at the same time. Zeratul nodded. Then, the projected screen vanished. The glow on the warp gauntlet resided, which John nodded to. This confused his friends, as they were in a middle of a conversation just to be stopped.

Then, something strange happened.

In the middle of the office, a mist of black started to appear, forming a weak vortex of darkness. Eerie whispers surrounded the anomaly as if tortured spirits wailed its silent screams. For the people of Beacon, this was too familiar. They've seen this happen countless times, especially during Combat Classes thanks to John Raynor.

The problem was that John Raynor was right beside them.

Nobody didn't know what to do until Goodwitch and Ozpin prepared their weapons, riding crop and cane against the anomaly. They seemed to be ready to defend their students until John ran to face the offensive points of the two's weapons.

"Professors, no!" The young Nerazim exclaimed as the black mist behind him started to fade away. From where the anomaly was stood a tall familiar figure.

Zeratul.


A/N:

Greetings from Aperture!

Once again, I'm so so so sorry. I've been admitted to Sogang University and holy mackerellosynthesis does that school give ALOT of assignments. No wonder people call it 'Sogang High School'. Along with that with constant medical appointments, I couldn't muster up the stamina to write more than three hundred words. Thus, this chapter took three months to finish. Despite the given time, I've concluded that this chapter is an absolute trainwreck. I don't think I have the morale to fix it. Sorry.

Anyway, to compensate this, I've found among my Google Docs folders a prototype crossover of RWBY and a World of Warships-like spaceship flight combat simulator called 'Dreadnought'. I've did some research for the game's lore and... It was kiiiinda lackluster.

...And what happens if the lore seems incomplete? You add your own touch!

So here's a prototype prologue to the fanfic: 'To Find a New Home'. Keep in mind that this is only a part of the entire prologue. Consider this as my apology.

Don't worry, I'll start writing the next chapter for Titans in Remnant! My love for Titanfall 2 shall NEVER shrink!


PROLOGUE: ROSE

Darkness. Darkness surrounded them with glaring red eyes and white skulls. Roars of hatred, victory and taunting polluted the sky with a broken moon.

Two figures, both badly injured man and woman, stood near the fringe of a white and red forest. Hostile Darkness converged on them, ready to shed blood.

"Get out of here!" The woman yelled at the man.

"I won't! I'm not gonna leave you here!" The man yelled back, preparing his weapon.

"You're not gonna make it!"

"WHAT ABOUT THOSE TWO?! WHAT ABOUT YOUR HUSBAND?!" The man screamed. Hearing this, the woman's determined eyes faltered. He was right. Without her, how would her husband react? How would those two react?

Could her family become unstable?

She was indeed concerned for her daughters. They loved her and she loved them back.

Then she remembered that she had promised her little ones. She would return.

Could this be one of those promises that she won't be able to keep? The ultimate promise?

The cuts, gashes and exposed internal organs proved otherwise for the woman. She knew that these wounds were terminal and even though the two would escape, she would succumb to them. The man, on the other hand, was at least more fortunate as all he had were torn clothing and a few major gashes. She steeled herself for what she assumed was the last time and spoke to the man.

"I'm going to die anyway. At least I'm going to take them with me. Just go."

"For fucks sake! You're in a worse condition than me!"

"I SAID GO! TELL THEM I LOVE THEM! THAT…" her eyes flashed with bright light. "...Is an order." Her words showed true authority. The man was received with the chills not from the cold of the air, but the cold of her words. She was his former leader during their youth, but…

He had never seen her being like this before.

"Please…" her plea caught him off. "They can't lose two members. At least you go." Tears we're falling from both eyes, the sadness fueling the Darkness around them. "Tell them that I love them."

"I'm sorry…" the man sobbed. He turned his back and bolted towards the part of the woods where the Darkness was absent. When he was gone with the trees, a single crow fluttered to the skies away from the woman. Giving a sad smile at the little avian disappearing into the horizon, she mouthed the words of 'I'm sorry' back. She then turned back to the Darkness with her eyes glaring white. Argent Oracles blinded Darkness and made them stutter.

She was ready.

She was ready to give her life for her world.

For her kind.

For her family.

For her daughters.

Giving a pained but powerful cry of defiance, she charged at her foes, her Hwando (환도) glistening by the moonlight. She left a trail of blood begins her every move as she did her all to dodge, duck, dip and dive against the teeth, feathers and claws. Her blade struck true as as she swung and stabbed, Darkness slowly fell. Her barrier gave her just enough strength to ignore her wounds.

However, just one human was never enough to stop a never ending tide of Darkness.

Soon enough, the Dark claws and teeth closed on her barrier, destroying it completely. Next to fall was her right arm, the very one holding her Hwando.

However, she continued, picking her weapon up with her remaining arm. She would not fall like such. In response, Darkness continued to strike her.

She was overwhelmed. She was knocked to the snow. Darkness piled on top of her, yearning for her flesh.

She would not go that easily.

With the remaining power she had in possession, she emitted a mighty wave of Argent light. The Darkness around her froze into stone. Everything went white across the lands.

However, investigations after a few weeks failed to find her.


The Argent light that blinded her slowly subsided until all that engulfed her view was darkness. The howls of the freezing winds and the growls and snarls of Darkness were nonexistent. All she was hearing were…

...voices?

"She's losing a lot of blood." A voice said.

"My scanners are detecting unusual radiation signatures from her. I will have to perform a research on this." A rather masculine synthetic voice added.

"I'll have to administer some nanobots to suppress her blood."

"Would that give us enough time to get to the ship without her dying?" A third voice, a feminine one, asked.

"Calculations confirm that it is possible."

"Then let's do it." With that, a sensation do a needle piercing her left arm punched through her nerves, but she didn't have the strength to even wince. A few seconds later, she felt some kind of foreign object traveling through her blood stream, especially near where she last remembered her wounds were. Then, the pain seemed to subside.

"There, the bleeding stopped her significantly."

"To the ship, then. We'll put her in the sick bay and set course for Sinley Bay."

"Of course. But first, we must fill any kind of pain she may be facing."

Before she felt herself being lifted onto a flat but comfortable surface, she felt yet another needle penetrate her skin, making her fall unconscious once again.

"...Most interesting. During the transfer of the patient to the ship, I've sensed an increase of the unusual radiation within her body."

"Within her body? RED, what kind of radiation are we talking about?"

"Don't worry, for the radiation is harmless and does not spread at most 1.8263 centimeters from her body. Also, with the presence of this radiation, I've been noting some form of mending of small wounds, as if her skin is regenerating like a lizard. I will have to research this further of why this is the case."

"Mmmmmm…" She mumbled at the muffled voices that disturbed her slumber. She felt true softness beneath her. A bed, maybe? Anyway, when she seemed to return to reality, the voices around her became rather frantic and surprised.

"She's waking up!" A human voice stuttered.

"Prepare to hold her in case she wakes up!" The same synthetic voice that she had heard before replied. As curiosity engulfed her, the woman opened her eyes. The view around her was… interesting. She was in a white room surrounded with machinery that she had never seen before. There was an IV stuck to her left wrist and her body was covered with a green blanket. There were two people, a man with a red cross emblem on his coat and a… robot with red stripes across its

This wasn't any kind of hospital she remembered, among all of them she had been sent to during her younger days, especially after missions. Everything looked so… futuristic.

Futuristic?

The woman's emotions became frantic as she attempted to relieve herself from the bed. But before she could make any major movements, the man and the android rushed up to her.

"Whoa whoa whoa! We just fitted your wounds with synthetic skin, and you're gonna ruin them when you move right now!" The man, or the doctor, said hastily. "As for your arm…

"Eh-what do you mean?" The woman asked.

"By that, Dr. Padelaski is saying that it is best not to move until we confirm that the synthetic skin has fully been adapted to your body." The android beside the doctor explained. The woman seemingly nodded in understanding until…

"Wh-where are my stuff?! My Scroll! My weapon!" She frantically asked, looking around to find the things she had in possession before she ended up here.

"We've stored them

Speaking of android, seeing that it approached the doctor, she was able to get a closer look of it.

The android's head had multiple optical devices, with the largest one the diameter of a chicken egg at the center and the smaller ones dotted near the middle of the head. Its neck were riddled with hydraulics and pipes that lead to its metallic body. It had a clean white paint job that resembled marble and had thin red stripes across the edges.

(A/N: think of the AIs of Stellaris)

The woman was absolutely baffled at the sight of the android. Never had she seen something like this before, other than the simple battle droids of one of the Kingdoms.

"What… are you?" She asked.

"I am RED-52, a Transhuman scientist and soon-to-be cadet of the Sinley Resistance Navy. You don't know what a Transhuman is?" The android asked back.

"Trans...human?"

"I'll consider it as a no, then."

"Wait RED, shouldn't we be asking her questions?" The human doctor asked.

"...well perhaps we should." The android nodded. "I shall leave it to you."

"Alright." The doctor turned to the woman. "First of all… who are you?"


The woman was absolutely fascinated when she saw the view outside the windows of the ship she was in. Never had she seen such a… beautiful view in front of her. The sky… or what she first assumed was, was pitch black with stars dotting it like sugar on a black kitchen counter. She saw a group of floating rocks scattered like billiard balls.

She was in space, a place her people only dreamed of going.

However, what got her attention was a massive cove-like structure that bound the rocks into a crescent shape. There were defense turrets nearly covering the buildings, scaling from the smallest anti-interceptor turrets to heavy anti-ship rail gun turrets and even plasma cannons. From the countless docks were thousands of ships of various shapes and sizes, some looking like white whales while others looking like flying blocks of metal.

This was Sinley Bay, which according to what she had heard, the headquarters of what the doctor and the Transhuman calls 'The Sinley Resistance'.

After docking the ship, the woman was transported out of the ship via a wheelchair. Apparently, her presence was requested by the commander of the spaceport. She could only wonder where and how she had ended up, especially when she saw humans and Transhuman walking together, performing conversations and so on.

"Come in!" A gruff and voice sounded from behind the bulkhead. It slid open and The man pushing the woman's wheelchair pushed her in the room. The room of the commander was like what every high-ranking military officer would have. There was a desk with holographic interfaces displaying on top. Behind the desk was a large window showing the view outside Sinley Bay, along with four flags placed beside the desk.

The commander himself was wearing a gray uniform with two shoulder-mounted insignia of five stars and two golden strips surrounding them. That alone showed how important this man was to the resistance. The man himself had short white hair and his face showed age and records of battle of the form of some healed burns and scars. The plaque on the desk had his name:

Admiral of the Navy Nicholas Bix

This man made the woman remind her of a certain general back from where she was who held two seats in the northern Kingdom's council.

The woman turned around to see the man who pushed her wheelchair salute to his commander.

"At ease, ensign. I would like to have a chat with this woman." Bix said gruffly.

"Yes sir." The ensign saluted before exiting the room. The bulkhead closed behind him, leaving Bix and the woman alone. Sighing, the AOTN sat on his chair behind his desk.

"So, the guys who treated you told me about you." Bix started. "I'm sorry to ask you as I forgot due to my busy routine, but tell me… what's your name?" Hearing this, the woman sighed.

"My name is Summer Rose."