Chapter 13
"Unknown?" Sergeant Hori balked, giving the scanner a slap. Manning the camp's entrance checkpoint was usually a boring job - identify the soldiers coming in, scan them to prevent shape-shifters from infiltrating the camp, wait for the next squad. But the current situation was both annoying and confounding. First he had struggled to explain to Penny that civilians were not allowed in the camp, then after she insisted, effectively pulling rank, he had scanned her companion only for the scanner to come up with an error. "Uh...hold on." He picked up the backup scanner and pointed it at the girl. Unknown. He pointed it at Penny, and it identified her properly. He pointed it back at the girl. Unknown. "What are you?"
"I'm Ruby!" The girl chirped.
"No, I mean, what are you?" Hori shook his head. "The scanner just says 'unknown.'"
"She is not unknown, she is my friend Ruby!" Penny cheered.
The two automatons flanking Hori snapped to attention. "Welcome Friend Ruby!" They droned.
"Just uh...give me a minute." Hori requested. Normally when faced with an issue like this, he would call in his immediate superior, but in all matters involving Penny, he was supposed to contact General Ironwood. He pulled the radio to his mouth and pressed the button. "Sergeant Hori to General Ironwood, over."
"Go ahead soldier, over." Ironwood's voice crackled over the radio.
"Penny's trying to bring a friend into camp sir." Hori explained. "The scanner reads her as unknown, over."
Ironwood audibly sighed. "I'll be right down, over and out."
"How has your day been?" Penny asked as the group waited for the general to arrive.
"It was going pretty well...until now." Hori complained.
"That ship is so cool!" Ruby enthused, peering through the fence at the camp within. "It's huge! And there are so many tents! It's like a whole new town just appeared overnight!"
General Ironwood jogged to the checkpoint, Hori and the automatons saluting him. "At ease soldier." He ordered as he saluted back. "Penny, who is this?"
"This is my friend Ruby!" Penny replied.
"Oh yes, I've heard about you." Ironwood nodded. "Pyrrha's summon, yes?"
"Yep!" Ruby confirmed.
"May Ruby join us in camp?" Penny requested.
Ironwood paused, thinking for a moment. "Well alright. I'll need to search your bag first." He pointed to the satchel slung over Ruby's shoulder.
"Sure!" Ruby agreed, handing over the bag.
The first item Ironwood extracted was a spray bottle containing a red liquid. "What's this?"
"That's some of my blood mixed with water." Ruby answered. "I spray it on plants and it makes them grow!"
Putting the bottle aside, Ironwood next extracted some flowers Ruby had collected. At the very bottom he came to a sheathed dagger. "Why do you have a weapon?"
"I just use that when I need to draw my blood." Ruby explained. "It's made of shadows!"
"Well, the dagger will have to stay here at the checkpoint." Ironwood declared. "You can pick it up on your way out."
"Okay!" Ruby smiled, picking up her bag. "Let's go Penny!"
"Penny, feel free to show Ruby anything unclassified." Ironwood cautioned. "Once you're done I'd like to speak with Ruby in the medbay."
"Yes sir General Ironwood!" Penny saluted. She was soon pulled along by Ruby, who had obviously spotted something interesting.
"What is she sir?" Hori asked.
"I haven't the faintest idea, but all indications are she's harmless." Ironwood replied. "Former Specialist Schnee will be keeping a discreet eye on her though."
After showing Ruby some of the automatons she controlled, Penny took her to visit Ren and Nora. The werewolves had been serving as guides for nighttime patrols. Unfortunately, they were asleep, and Ruby decided not to bother them. After a visit to the mess tent, during which Ruby was given a freeze-dried field ration to take home, the pair moved on to the firing range. They found it mostly empty, except for a single soldier who was documenting her performance.
"Ooh, what's that?" Ruby asked, pointing to the soldier's rifle, which was resting on a table.
"That's Specialist Zedong's sniper rifle." Penny answered.
"It's really cool!" Ruby squealed. Without touching the weapon, she looked at it from several angles. She gazed down the scope, which glowed a soft green. "How does it work?"
"Specialist Zedong, may I demonstrate the use of your weapon?" Penny requested. The soldier looked up from her score sheet, stared at Penny for a moment, then nodded. "Is it loaded?" The Specialist shook her head. Penny picked up the rifle, moving to one of the firing positions. A box of ammunition was positioned to the side, and Penny grabbed a single rifle bullet from it. After sliding the bolt back, she slipped the round into the rifle, pushing the bolt forward to chamber it. "You may want to cover your ears. This will be loud!"
"Alright." Ruby duly placed her hands over her ears.
"Firing!" Penny announced. She took aim at the target and squeezed the trigger. With a deafening crack, the rifle fired, and the bullet slammed into the center of the metal target. Penny pulled the bolt back, ejecting the spent shell. She engaged the safety and stepped back. "Weapon is safe!" She walked over to Specialist Zedong and handed over the weapon. "Thank you for allowing us to use your weapon." The soldier just stared at Penny, taking the rifle in hand and placing it on a nearby table.
"That-was-awesome!" Ruby leapt with joy.
"It is quite an impressive weapon." Penny observed.
Penny and Ruby headed for the ship, to meet General Ironwood in the medbay as requested. "She was kind of strange." Ruby observed.
"Specialists can be a bit odd." Penny noted. "Their job is very stressful, and they usually work alone."
Ruby thought for a moment. "Oh, I guess Winter's kind of...uh...different too."
Winter met Ironwood in the medbay, in anticipation of Ruby's arrival. "General Ironwood." She saluted.
"At ease." Ironwood responded, returning the salute. "Did you get the sample of Nikos' blood?"
"Yessir." Winter confirmed. "What do you intend to do with it?"
"Glynda compared it to Ruby's blood and found it identical." Ironwood noted. "But she doesn't have access to the technology we do. I intend to find out what Ruby is."
"What do you think she is?" Winter asked.
"I haven't the faintest idea." Ironwood admitted. "Some of its properties are consistent with spriggans, but Ruby is clearly not one. Perhaps it's something new, a cross between human and spriggan for instance."
"She does seem to have a strong connection to nature." Winter nodded. "Not to mention a penchant for getting everyone to like her. She's like an excitable child."
The door slid open and Ruby burst in. "Hey Winter!" She chirped. "Oh! I'm supposed to tell you that Weiss moved back home. And...well I know you'll probably be mad but...uh...Yang moved in with her." Winter blinked, jaw dropping in shock, before heaving a heavy sigh.
Penny stepped in behind her. "General Ironwood, Former Specialist Schnee." She saluted. "Why did you want us to meet you here?"
"Ruby, I'd like a sample of your blood to test." Ironwood replied. "You don't know what you are, correct?" Ruby shook her head. "But you want to?"
"Yep!" Ruby confirmed.
"The equipment here might be able to answer that question." Ironwood explained.
"Okay, where do you need my blood?" Ruby asked.
"Where?" Ironwood asked in confusion.
"Yeah, where?" Ruby grabbed a scalpel and jabbed it into her arm, generating a spurt of blood that floated and pooled in the air. "Just tell me where to put it."
Taken completely off guard by the shocking display, Ironwood was left speechless. Luckily Winter was able to step in. "Just fill this vial." Winter held up a small glass vessel.
"Oh, easy." Ruby's blood streamed through the air and into the vial, quickly filling it. The remainder was sucked back into her arm, the wound closing behind it.
"That...thank you Ruby." Ironwood regained his composure. "The tests will take some time, but if I learn anything I'll inform Glynda."
Winter capped the vial and handed it to the general. "Shall I escort her back to town?"
"Yes, do that." Ironwood nodded.
"Alright Ruby, let's go." Winter instructed.
"Okay." Ruby agreed. "Bye Penny, bye General Ironwood."
"Goodbye Ruby!" Penny smiled. "I look forward to meeting you again."
Ruby bounced out of the room, closely followed by Winter. "Penny...did you see that?" Ironwood asked once the pair were gone.
"Her blood manipulation?" Penny asked. "Yes. It was quite impressive."
Ironwood shook his head. "That's one word for it."
Winter's trip with Ruby was interesting. At first, conversation was one-sided, Ruby talking about how wonderful the camp was, the Airship, Penny's automatons, Specialist Zedong's rifle, the Atlesian armor and strangely packaged food. They were all just part of the regular scenery for Winter, but new and exciting to Ruby. Eventually that enthusiasm began to crack Winter's facade. The childlike summon reminded her of her own childhood, spent idolizing the soldiers who protected her family, her city, her home. She remembered a Specialist telling a tale of a werewolf he had hunted, slaughtering her children before the beast herself...oh...in light of Nora and Ren's relatively pleasant, if odd, existence, perhaps that Specialist had been a tad psychotic.
Regardless, Winter looked up to the Templars as a child, and seeing Ruby so enthused by different aspects of their operation did a little to soften her opinion of the summon. She truly did seem innocent. Or Ruby was an extremely good actor, and a pathological liar to boot. That was always a distinct possibility, however slight. Still, she had helped Weiss when neither she nor Winter were in the right state of mind, and the only reason she was here now was because she entrusted Yang to do so in her stead. That trust had to mean something if Weiss, the least intimate person Winter knew, was willing to share warmth skin-to-skin with her. Not to mention vouch for her personally.
The image of Weiss' intimacy with Yang was burned in the back of Winter's mind. Weiss had fallen victim to her heart once, and now a new threat had been openly welcomed into her bed. There was no way Winter could not worry for her, especially now that she had moved home. Weiss would be alone, with Yang, a fire aspect. A fire aspect that had vowed to kill her should she lose control. Winter almost wished she had not overheard that exchange.
"Ruby." Winter interrupted the aspect's rambling as they approached Weiss' home.
"Yes Winter?' Ruby chirped.
"I would like to speak with Weiss alone, please." Winter requested, politely this time, attempting to take into account Weiss' request that she be nicer to the summon.
"Okay, I'll wait outside." Ruby readily agreed.
Not that Winter expected refusal, but complete acceptance was not something to which she was used. "Thank you."
The pair continued walking the path in silence, which was pleasant, but odd. "Hey Winter?" Ruby spoke up as they passed Weiss' herb garden.
Winter had refreshed the environmental wards, but she had to admit, it was not her best work. Weiss or Glynda would have to make another pass. Winter's specialty had always been offensive and defensive spells. It was Weiss who sought to bend reality. "Yes Ruby?" Winter replied, turning her attention to the aspect.
"I like you, even if you don't like me." Ruby stated with a kind smile and bright eyes, her tone as jovial and innocent as ever.
For the first time Winter felt a stab of guilt. Ruby was like an abused puppy, offering her love in spite of being kicked one too many times. "I don't…" Winter sighed, turning away. "Thank you Ruby." Winter breathed, brushing the hair from her face and continuing on to Weiss' door. She knocked twice before entering.
Left to her own devices, Ruby did what she normally did - explore and experiment. The first stop was Weiss' herb garden. It was modest, containing only a half dozen herbs that - according to an herbology book Ruby had read - were either rare or difficult to reliably harvest in the wild, so it made sense for Weiss to cultivate them by hand. Ruby could feel something in the air. Wards, Pyrrha had explained them after they came up, passive protective spells meant to nullify minor elements by subtly altering the reality affected. As the winter season approached, the cold would strangle valuable herbs such as these, and indeed even with the wards in place they seemed a little unhealthy to Ruby's eye. So she reached into her satchel and pulled out her spray bottle, giving the garden a generous soak with her blood-infused water. Already their color seemed more vibrant.
"It never ceases to amaze me." Pyrrha's voice suddenly came from behind Ruby.
Ruby beamed, spinning around to rush into Pyrrha's arms. "Pyrrha!" She yelled excitedly into her chest.
"Ruby, how was your visit?" Pyrrha asked, running her fingers gently through her summon's hair.
"It was awesome!" Ruby cheered. "Penny has a family, kinda', and one of the Specialists had this thing called a sniper and it had bits the moved and glowed, and Ren and Nora were there, and Ironwood seemed to like me, and they have these things called MRE's that are a lot of food in a little package and they gave me one to try!" Ruby fumbled with her satchel again, pulling free a large brown packet wrapped in plastic. "It's so interesting, there's so many new things to experience. The world is beautiful Pyrrha."
It was comical seeing Ruby clutching the packet of rations like a Solstice present. During her own training with Port, she had been forced to eat similar rations and could barely stomach them. Port did it to encourage his charges - learn to hunt for your own food or be stuck eating garbage. The memory soon faded, and Pyrrha was pained that she would have to steer the conversation into darker territory.
"That's wonderful Ruby." Pyrrha smiled. "I can show you how it works later, but for now I need to talk about something important with you." Pyrrha steered Ruby to a nearby rock, where they both sat.
"Is Weiss okay?" Ruby asked.
"Weiss is fine, just worried, understandably so." Pyrrha sighed, wrapping her cloak around Ruby's shoulders and pulling her close. "The world can be a very dangerous place Ruby, even for people such as Weiss and I. You are my responsibility. I brought you into this world, and I will protect you with my life. But I won't always be around to do so, and I don't expect you to spend all of your time hidden beneath my cloak."
Ruby chuckled. "I don't mind, it's cozy in here." She admired, hugging up to her mistress.
Pyrrha laughed, giving Ruby a squeeze. "I know Ruby, but the fact remains, we won't always be together, and even when we are, I would feel safer if I know you can defend yourself. Do you understand?" Pyrrha put a sterner tone and emphasis on those final words, looking Ruby in the eyes. Bright as they were, they seemed to harden.
"I understand." Ruby confirmed. "Are you going to teach me to use a spear?"
"Maybe not a spear." Pyrrha replied. "I think a short sword or dagger would be more suitable for you, easier to carry, simpler to learn. I don't expect you to go into battle, ever if I have anything to say about it, I just want you to be safe."
"I can train your powers." Blake's voice suddenly cut in, the dark summon sauntering up to the pair's perch.
"You can?" Ruby asked.
"From my point of view, your blood is your essence, and just like my shadows, it can be shaped, and if I teach you to shape it, perhaps we can explore other possibilities." Blake explained.
"You will have to excuse me from such demonstrations." Pyrrha plastered on a queasy smile. "At least...until you have more practice."
"With luck I could have her forming weaponry within a fortnight." Blake suggested.
"Then what about this?" Ruby pulled the dagger Blake had fashioned her from her satchel, unsheathing it. The blood infused shadowsteel glimmered in the dulled sunlight.
"It was my gift to you Ruby." Blake smiled. "So long as you carry it, the dark shall never harm you."
Upon entering Weiss house, Winter found herself facing a curtain. Right, she remembered, Blake had installed them several days prior, but this one was new, and clever. It was typical of Blake, the only spirit to ever cross Winter and leave her humbled. Brushing past the curtains she ignored the others present and immediately went to Weiss, who accepted her embrace without protest. "It is good to see you on your feet Weiss."
"It feels good." Weiss responded.
"I apologize for not being here." Winter whispered.
"It's okay." Weis soothed, nuzzling into her shoulder. "I'm glad you're here now." Weiss' arms remained firm around Winter, then suddenly slackened as Weiss pushed away, putting several paces between the two and taking a deep breath, rubbing her temples.
"You okay Weiss?" Yang's voice emanated from the fireplace, the aspect pulling herself from the flames as if they were water.
"Yes Yang, thank you, just…" Weiss took a deep breath, letting it out loudly, centering herself. "Just my senses. They still overwhelm me at times." Weiss smiled weakly, but genuinely at the aspect.
Winter steeled herself. "I would like to speak with you, in private please." Winter requested of Yang.
Everyone in the room looked surprised, bar Blake, who merely walked past into Weiss' study. Glynda and Pyrrha looked from each other, to Yang, who looked to Weiss questioningly. "Fine, don't destroy my living room." Weiss said to neither in particular, following Blake.
"Ruby is outside Pyrrha." Winter noted. "She would appreciate the company."
"Oh good, I was getting worried." Pyrrha smiled in relief, hurrying to exit.
Glynda regarded Winter and Yang with a worried stare. "The bedroom has a soundproofing ward." She informed, before heading into the study with the others and closing the door.
Yang barely suppressed a grin. "What?" Winter drawled.
"Soundproofing, in the bedroom, hah." Yang laughed, turning to enter said room.
Winter huffed. "Weiss is a light sleeper. The wards work both ways you perverted…" Winter grumbled as Yang laugher her off, following her into the room. Winter felt a shudder as the ward came into effect, the near pitch black room lit only by Yang's softly glowing hair.
"So give it to me straight." Yang said cheerfully. A candle flickered into existence, followed by several more as Yang went about the room, until it was lit by a soft, amber glow. "Is this a big sister talk, or mortal enemy talk?"