DISCLAIMER/ I don't possess legal rights to Halo or RWBY
Chapter XIV: Unchained
"Horror is the future. And you cannot be afraid. You must push everything to the absolute limit, or else life will be boring. People will be boring. Horror is like a serpent: always shedding its skin, always changing. And it will always come back. It can't be hidden away like the guilty secrets we try to keep in our subconscious."
-Dario Argento
UNSC Special Forces Operations/ Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWAR)
Office of Naval intelligence report military records
First Name: John
Last Name: Classified
D.O.B: Classified
Service Number: S-117
Age: Classified
Birthplace: Classified
Rank: Master Chief Petty Officer 2nd class
Height: 6' 10"
Weight: 130 kilograms (286 lb)
Threat level: Hyper-Lethal
Enlistment: 2517
Combat engagements: War of Harvest, among 13 other combat engagements (others have been blacked out to protect the identities of numerous individuals.)
Former Division: SPARTAN-II unit (FORMER LEADER OF BLUE-TEAM)
Current Division: SWD (Special Weapons Division
History: Classified
Certifiable recommendations: 2 Purple Hearts
Medical History: (Turn over)
Blood type: O
Vaccine records: (Turn over)
Mental Disorders: None
XXXXXXX
"Repeat that please?" The Master Chief questioned with his hands at his sides.
He had gone into Beacon today to give out his military record to Ozpin and was confronted by Yang... Who looked like she had done something judging by her indescribable hand gestures. She seemed to have gotten over yesterday's vicious circle concerning her mother.
Yang wasn't at all thrilled of yesterday's reveal. She told herself constantly she'd never let her search for her mother consume her and dictate her life. After the entire afternoon, night, and morning of thinking it through she'd just be the same she was.
Not much she could do with the school year and all.
"Yeah, I kinda bet you would lose against Pyrrha in a fight." Yang admitted sheepishly with a sideways grin.
"Yang, I'm not fighting her." The Master Chief said to her. Why on earth (or Remnant in this case) would he gain from fighting her? She was a loyal comrade who didn't really spur him as one to attack. She hadn't shown any negative actions or ill attempts at him in any way.
"Don't call it a fight, it's just a friendly spar." Yang said.
"I'm not doing it." The Master Chief pressed as he began to walk.
"Oh come on, half the school's there waiting." Yang complained.
"How is that?" The Master Chief asked as his voice remained the same and he stopped to face her.
"My lips are a bit loose." Yang answered.
"I don't want to spar right now. Not in armor." He said.
"What? Scared to show a little skin?" Yang leaned forward, giving an eyeful of her cleavage to anyone in front of her.
That being the Master Chief. Fortunately for her, he wasn't that mindful of lust.
"No, my armor is to be used on missions only. Not training routines." The Master Chief lied. There had been times he tested out the armor's capabilities whem he first suited up. Of course, field training involving people was a no go. The armor could potentially rip someone in two if used at full force. But then again, the people among Remnants surface were anything but normal.
"Yet you wear it everywhere you go. I swear your like Ruby is with crescent rose. Or Blake with her bow." Yang chatted off with the less than pleased soldier.
"My armor and weapons have nothing in common." Chief told Yang.
"Hands are weapons." Yang coaxed Chief who groaned.
He REALLY vexed her existence with every fiber of his being!
"You know your anger needs to be nulled. Letting your emotions get the better of you-" Chief began.
"It's my answer to everything, and I know you're going to say it's not, but that's my Yanging way." Yang excluded the part where she might have said she thought he'd might lose.
"Stop that." The Master Chief said to her.
"Hey I got you to laugh once, bet I can do it again." Yang pressed. "You're just so serious all the time. I was surprised to get a laugh out of you just for that." Yang mentioned. "Speaking of Grimm, you took that one out yesterday."
"We were lucky we weren't surrounded." Chief mentioned.
"You mean given a 'target rich environment'?" Yang joked, or attempted to with the Master Chief.
"Yang, not now." Chief said.
"Why not now?"
"Because I asked you to." He replied.
"Whatever Sarah. I also wanted to mention that Pyrrha wants to see you in the combat room." Yang said as she walked off, and Chief bit down a curse when she called him 'Sarah' and not Seirra. He knew Yang wanted him to go to the combat room, but he wouldn't fall for it that easily.
He still had to conduct his own personal investigation and follow up on sightings on Adam Taurus. He still couldn't help but feel that man was still alive. Adam was dangerous. Recent updates on his abilities were added. Like his semblance... Moonslice.
After making his way to the office, he handed it over to Ozpin who took it in. After that he was about to pass the amphitheater, but was called.
"HEY Sierra!" He jolted to a stop at how close it was. When spinning around, he was stunned to see Ruby standing there, like a little child in a candy store. There were noticeable rose petals falling around and he but they soon dispersed into nothingness.
What was that?
"Aren't you going to spar in here?" Ruby asked excitedly.
"No." He began. "I'm not sharing-" The Master Chief attempted but almost jumped when a voice broke through.
"Step right up, step right up! The Spartan vs the Champion!" Nora shouted while waving a small flag with Pyrrha's name on it. The rows with chairs were beginning to be quickly filled, and Glynda was standing next Doctor Halsey.
Wait...
"Ma'am, what's going on?" He asked as he entered the room.
"It would seem someone scheduled an undocumented spar. Why?" She questioned the blond teacher beside her.
"I don't know, but combat practice for the first years does start in a few minutes." Glynda read off as Pyrrha entered the ring. "Rules are simple. No killing. Once you aura is depleted, you're automatically disqualified."
"I don't have aura." Chief replied.
"No, but that armor will substantiate itself to most of the blows. Try not to get too injured." Glynda said, making Catherine frown a bit. The way Glynda worded it made it sound like John was going to lose indefinitely.
In her mind, the Master Chief may have undoubtable trouble trying to keep up with Pyrrha, considering her semblance gave her complete control over metal, and the Master Chief was completely coated in armor. It would definitely make it hard. Not impossible, but impractical.
When Catherine had gone over John's anatomy when he killed the ODST's, she was absolutely thrilled to see him advancing in a way she always knew he would. Which was anything that stood in his way.
Pyrrha Nikos though would be close.
The Master Chief took step into the ring, not feeling particularly fond of being pushed into this. But he himself was unaware of what he was stepping into. He had heard many interesting tales involving the champion of sanctum. Far and wide the stories arranged in but most of them seems a bit far fetched in his opinion.
For being untouchable to invincible were things that were impossible to him and his stoned subconscious. When the Covenant displayed their impenetrable energy shielding, which was said to be that. Impenetrable. The United Nations Space Command broke that shield with one well-placed strike within the center. Courtesy of a Mac-round.
The Master Chief then stood directly opposite of Pyrrha. He looked over to the side before saying. "Don't I get a weapon?"
"Yes Chief, here." Catherine then walked over, and gave him a staff. Upon grasping it from her hands and observing it, it was no ordinary staff.
A TTR baton.
He shrugged his shoulders as he swung it in a few practice swings. Pyrrha laughed a bit as she shook her head. He looked at her strangely and wondered why, but she said. "Don't worry Chief, I'll take this seriously." She said.
He tilted his head.
What did she mean by that?
The Master Chief stuck the Baton on his thigh, then balled his fists and spread his knees apart. Pyrrha struck both her arms out and in each arm a different weapon appeared. On her left arm a bronze shield grew, and in her right hand a spear came to life.
The two stood there, waiting for a signal to go off.
"Begin!"
John rushed forward and threw the first punch, which Pyrrha moved her shield up and blocked it, which wasn't the best move in her case. The shield did it's job and protected her from the strike while absorbing most of the impact, but she herself felt her boots touch nothing and got launched by several feet from the force behind the punch from him.
She almost flew back into the wall but managed to use the heel of her boot to stop her. In fact if it not been for her key specialty; that being inner balance, then she'd be crushed by the force from hitting the wall.
John was about to recuperate with another oncoming right punch, Pyrrha lunged forward with her spear in a jab motion, which John blocked by raising his forearm and batting it away before ripping the weapon out of her hand and shoving her back with it. She flipped over him and spun her heel at the same time but didn't anticipate the Master Chief to throw the spear at her. She twisted herself in mid-air before catching it and swinging it down, which he rolled to evade.
Pyrrha landed in front of him and was going to hit his left/right leg in a double knee breaker combo, but forgot she'd have to use more than a little force to actually affect him. She swung at his left leg as he stood up, and was stunned when he backflipped over it before charging her again.
The Master Chief, throwing another jab at, who Pyrrha ducked under it and slid under John's leg as she spun again and bashed her shield in John's back, who in retaliation took a step forward and kicked off the wall before slamming his fist into the center of the shield she raised.
Hard.
Pyrrha was once again thrown back off her feet, but she managed to slow herself down by kicking off the wall behind and flying towards him like a missile. John raised both his arms up and took in the strike and blocked an oncoming kick from Pyrrha who aimed it at his head while in mid-flight.
She let her spear turn into a rifle before discharging 4 shots at him, but he slammed a palm at the barrel of her rifle and cause it to shoot wildly. Pyrrha dropped her weapon and bashed her shield forward while slamming her boot in his stomach. He managed to dodge by jumping back, but he had to lean back when she lunged forward after her weapon bounced off the floor and tried to slice him.
Johns fists shot forward at Pyrrha's head in a straight line, but for some reason his attack never made contact as it went right beside it with her moving to the side. She shot a kick at his knee that caused him to almost fall, but he saw her about to deliver a lethal strike to his back that he rolled to the side and evaded. He tried to aim a left at Pyrrha's right side but again, his punch was redirected and she jumped past it, only to clock him in the side of the head with her weapons edge.
Almost like an invisible force had pulled on his wrist for some reason.
John had to move his head to the side to evade the tip of Pyrrha's spear again that nearly caught him on the side of his chin, and then ducked when she swiped the shield at his neck. The Master Chief stood up and pulled out the TTR riot baton, giving it a few twists by the knob to stun her, he swung it towards her leg, which she deflected before looping her own weapon around it to nearly slide it out of his grip.
He saw this coming and pulled back before slamming it against her spear then ramming it up and down again, bashing her a few times which she had to deflect. She jumped back as he managed to let the baton spin in between them, before lunging forward when she was distracts and grabbing her wrist that was close enough, and spinning her until her back faced him.
He swung down at her back, but miraculously, she managed to twist her back and hold off against his strike before pushing him off and spinning off to the side.
She charged at him again, this time rolling forward before bashing her shield up, he dropped an elbow down on top, which made the shield buckle and made her clench her teeth at the brute strength he displayed. She pushed the weight off to the side before slapping her palm on his right arm and slashing to the right, making the TTR riot baton snap in two.
There was a collection of gasps within the room, preferably Ruby who watched Chief's only weapon get destroyed.
The Master chief dropped the now useless weapon before having to jump off to the side when Pyrrha swung her spear down, and tried to stab him in the thigh with it. He evaded both assaults and responded by using an elbow to block one strike, following it with a spin kick to her stomach. Not only did she follow up with the first two, but slipped past the kick by ducking underneath it and slamming the stock of her rifle under his chest.
Pyrrha threw a knee up to distract John and then bashed her elbow in his chest which managed to push him back, but not much. She didn't hit him full force but needed to next time since he seemed to have shrugged both hits like they were nothing.
Spinning her spear off her wrist until it became a blur, she spun around before discharging two shots at the Spartan who instinctively rolled underneath both of them before throwing a double palm strike forward at her chest.
Pyrrha gasped at his speed before dropping down and sweeping a leg.
She had really underestimated him.
The leg sweep didn't affect him as her foot bounced off his ankle.
But the vibration her armor felt did. Pyrrha had to jump back again when John shot an arm out, trying to grab her shoulder, but he missed. Pyrrha rolled back before flinging her shield in a straight line, making it go right towards John's midsection like a speeding frisbee-
CHUNG!
Which he caught it caught as if it were a frisbee with one hand.
The room gasped at this, and Catherine displayed a rare ghost smile that she shot at Glynda.
Pyrrha didn't dare move a muscle, but kept her eyes trained on the soldier in front of her who caught her weapon like a toy. She wasn't surprised since she had expected someone with near perfect hand eye coordination to catch it.
John let his eyes glance down at the bronze shield, noting it would be a deadly weapon if used the correct way. It was heavy - by a non trained warriors standard. Locking onto Pyrrha, he reared his right hand back with the shield, his arm acted as a slingshot when he discharged the shield at Pyrrha who stood their with narrowed eyes.
She visualized as the shield raced for her, trying to capture it in her semblance. She had to duck when the shield nearly sliced her head off before stabbing into the wall behind her. She turned to look at it, which was a bad idea as she heard a pair of heavy boots running towards her like a raging bull on pure adrenalin.
Her emerald eyes took sight of a kevlar fist racing towards her face that she caught with a hand; before instantly regretting it as she felt her hand along with her aura feel like it had been hit by a speeding truck. Pyrrha jumped up, dodging another strike that just barely caught her in the face but ended up creating a hole in the wall. She reached for the leather strap of her shield when she reached above, but felt her foot get caught on something. She then felt her body swung to the side like a ragdoll and flew through the air.
She rolled once in midair before landing on her feet like a cat.
Pyrrha rarely showed this much thrill, but today was probably the best day in her life by the determined look in her eyes.
She stood up, and rolled back when John rushed her and threw another barrage of quick punches. Pyrrha wasn't getting hit since she was able to slow him down with her semblance, but the constant strain was putting a number on her concentration.
Pyrrha had to roll to the side when John tried to grab her again by the shoulder, but managed to nearly get pushed back by the Chief who picked up both baton pieces, and used them in both hands.
This gave her enough time to jab him in the side of his ribs with her fist. She bit back a yell in pain as she reared her hand back and felt her aura drop significantly at the punch she threw not hurt him but managed to hurt her chances of winning more.
John chopped at her side which she spun over in mid-air before slamming her heel in his back. She managed to knock John onto his knees and attempted to get him in a choke hold with her legs wrapped around his head, but nearly lost her balance and decided to use her hands instead. When she managed to to snake her arms around his neck she pulled back with all her might as sweat dripped down her forehead and she began to let out a strained grunt.
As he stood up he took note that she wasn't letting up and only made it more constricting. He wormed his finger underneath her firm arm, and another to pry off her thigh that was wrapped around his chest, before vaulting her over his shoulder and rearing a fist back. His knuckles slammed in the floor's when she rolled to the side before spinning on her palm and smashing the tip of her boot on the side of the Master Chief's helmet.
The strike dazed him momentarily but not long enough for him to notice her perform a powerful backflip and slam both feet on the back of head head; sending his face right into the floor.
She jumped off of him, flying nearly 40 feet into the air, before pulling out her spear and slamming a kick on the back tip, and launching at him.
The spear raced towards John's downed form, and everyone held their breath...
The spear then stabbed right besides John's head, right as he pulled his head out of the floor and sat up.
"Time! Winner is; Pyrrha Nikos!" Glynda announced as Catherine scoffed.
He couldn't believe it.
He lost.
In almost a heartbeat at that. This had only been 40 seconds.
"Yes, mama's buying those shoes." Yang muttered in victory while watching the Master Chief stand up and brushing his armor.
The Master Chief was stupefied. He was a bit embarrassed at this event. He was supposed to help train these students to survive, but what was he supposed to do if one was able to beat him? It didn't matter though, he wasn't bound to be unbeatable forever if he could help it.
"You bet against him?" Ruby whispered in shock as her eyes were the size of dinner plates.
"Maybe.~" Yang answered before seeing the Spartan begin to walk away.
"Hey Sierra, that was great." Pyrrha commented while coming around to face him.
"It was." He agreed, but felt like something was very off about the brawl they shared. Something didn't quite add up.
"I have to say Yang and Blake were right about you. You do become ferocious as the worded it." Pyrrha said, making the auditorium become silent.
Blake and Yang then felt a handful of eyes on them. In reply, they both shrank in their seats. Red.
"I don't think it's funny." Chief said. "Now, do you know when you're going to help Jaune in training?"
"Yes, just as soon as I help you with your aura control."
"Aura control? Hold on," The Master Chief asked before walking over to the arena and picking up the baton. "You're going to help me in controlling my aura? Why?"
"Because that's what friends do. We help each other." Pyrrha said to the Chief who tilted his head at the word.
Friends?
His only friends were with Blue Team.
"Sure, friends." He replied.
"Yes, friends. And as a friend, I'm going to make sure your reserves are fully operational." Pyrrha then looked back at her team. "You can all go on ahead of me, I'm going with Chief to train."
Team JNPR nodded, before leaving. Pyrrha looked at the Master Chief before saying.
"Know any open places? Like a field to train?" She asked him as he tilted his head.
XXXXXXX
Previously
"I'm sorry, but you want me to train him?" Pyrrha asked. Train an already in prime soldier? What did she know about training? Nothing. She did want to aid Jaune in his teachings, just to give him a little push. But right now, on this hairline of a fraction of a second, she bit. "Why?"
It wasn't a rhetoric question, rather a reason to sustain her interest.
Halsey sat down in front of her before taking a deep breath. "Aura. Aura is what has my attention. It is very intriguing to me. Shields. Nothing powers it but you. And dust." Catherine told the redhead. When she learned herself that aura could act as a shield to your body, she was beyond exhilarated at the thought. When she learned her enemies to her work were keeping just that, she was compelled by it. So much so she wanted to figure out some way to re-produce it. "Imagine him, who's already deadly enough with just his wits, being able to withstand even more potential with aura on his side."
"Ummm, Dr. Halsey." She began anxiously. "I don't know much, but from what I've heard he's very manageable without it."
"Manageable, but not invincible. Did he tell you where he was before he was stationed here?"
"No." She answered. "He said something about it being classified." Pyrrha remembered.
"Months before he met you, or even set foot on this planet. He was on another. Another world called Harvest." She summarized for Pyrrha.
"Harvest? What's it like?" Pyrrha questioned. Catherine looked at her fingers before looking back at Pyrrha.
"Very different from yours. All of them are in many sub ways. For one, which I can sustain for the entire system. We do not have any relating beasts under the species of Grimm. We do not have any recourses such as dust. And we do not have aura, or semblances." Catherine spoke.
"Really?" Pyrrha exclaimed very shockingly.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean we have our own issues.. On your world you have the White Fang, on our systems we have the Insurrectionists. Humans though." Catherine spoke. "They are rebellers of the UNSC. They have stolen, terrorized, victimized, and destroyed nearly everything we stand for."
"For what exactly?" Ozpin questioned.
"Liberation, other than that I don't know. They were becoming organized... Too much in fact."
"What does this have to do with Chief?" Pyrrha questioned.
"He was trained to decimate them. Him and all of his brothers and sisters... Then we came across a bigger threat. For your world your nightmarish foes are the Grimm, ours are something else entirely. Enemies with far more superior advancements in technology. I'm already breaching a very classified subject within ONI just telling you this, all of you. Hopefully I can explain to them why it is necessary to breach such topics concerning within our threat of possible annihilation." Catherine summarized.
"Annihilation? From who?" Glynda questioned.
"Whom," Catherine said. "The Covenant. They are ruthless enemies ranging in unknown numbers. Negotiations towards peace were futile. They are a tyrannical race with energy based strongholds protecting everything they use, and utilizing plasma for weapons. Talks only ended on bad terms I'm afraid."
Pyrrha looked at her lap for a moment, before saying. "Chief said that to Ruby, that he was in a war." Pyrrha remembered from the lunchroom. Before she explained her previous meeting with him that had been brought up, Ruby was talking about her conversation with him that night. While Yang and Blake were exceedingly cold towards the mention of him, she was exuberant. Her thought of Ruby trying to be friends with him was cute in a way.
"What else did he say?" Catherine questioned.
"Nothing, he said it was classified."
"I would say the same too. After all, this army of intelligent galactic invaders are responsible for the death of over 600,000 alone." Catherine claimed as the teacher grimaced at the thought. Pyrrha herself was stunned inside, but didn't truly show it on the outside.
"How long has this war been going on?" Ozpin questioned.
"2 years, at most I'm afraid."
"Has there been any actions of counter measure?" Ozpin questioned. He worked with one of the best leading military generals on Remnant, so he knew a thing or two about strategies. He didn't know though what could fight against energy sheilds or plasma based weaponry.
"Yes. My Spartans."
"117?"
"117 is only one among many. He is the last line of defense if humanity were on its last leg."
"You seem to put much energy and exaggeration into your Spartans. May I ask why?"
"He's the one I kept my eye on the most, but recently his luck almost ran out against the Covenant. The 5th months they began attacking Harvest, and on 117's 1st tour, he was injured."
"How bad?" Glynda asked with a frown.
"The main vein to your heart is the Aorta..." At this point, Halsey activated a hologram of a heart, which was linked to a status report of John's injuries from months prior. A blue body figure appeared with the name "John-117" beside it. She pointed to where his hear was and zoomed in. "His was severed enemy fire."
"Dear lord." Glynda muttered. "Those explain the scars. When me and Dr. Oobleck undressed him to seal his aura, there were scars above his chest. I never would have known."
"He's been through much. But he survived."
"How?"
"Because I told him to."
"Dr. Halsey while you are one of the leading scientist to one of the most technologically advanced humans in the galaxy, I find your answer to Mr. 117's survival a bit unconvincing. Can try to re-substantiate your claims?"
"Long ago he asked me what he had to do to win. I told him from here on out, all he had to do was survive. He was, or still is very competitive. Always trying to be the first, in everything. Getting the mission done. By winning. It's all he-" Halsey stopped herself then and there. What was she thinking?
"Be it as it may, 117 is a successful soldier. Probably the deadliest in his squad."
"Really now? What makes him more prime than any standard Beacon student?"
"From the reports of him incapacitating two first years huntresses. Both of which have received training prior and were highly gifted individuals. Not much I suppose." Catherine chirped to Glynda who seethed.
"Alright, bickering can end now. What do you suppose we do then Doctor?"
"A few days in the week for aura training. Monday thru Wednesday. Sunrise to Dusk."
"For what? 2 to 3 years? It'll take more than half a semester for him to even consider activating his semblance." Glynda said to Catherine. With the Vytal festival just months away, Pyrrha wouldn't have time to continue such abode with the Master Chief.
"Don't fear, I have confidence he'll manage thru quicker than you think."
XXXXXXX
"Alright, let's begin here." Pyrrha told the Chief while in her usual garb. They had decided to take a tour to forever fall near a rather large clearing. It was mostly secluded minus the few crows from the top of the tree's.
Pyrrha knew what she was in for, as she let the leaves fall around her, before turning back to him and saying. "Okay. We'll start this with ease. Are you ready?"
"Sure." The Master Chief replied.
"Alright, let's begin. From the heart, you can feel it. Simply by breathing, and letting go."
"I don't get it." The Master Chief spoke to her.
She nodded before continuing. "It's alright. Beginners start a different paces. Just remember to have a clear mind."
The Master Chief thought for a second, of something that was tranquil, before he almost snorted. "I don't understand the point in this exercise."
With a furrowed her brow before saying. "Try to visualize something you like the most. Your inner sense, and then embrace it." Pyrrha mentioned while keeping her hands at her sides.
"Inner sense?" The Master Chief asked while hearing the soft breeze against his armor's speakers.
"Yes, a place you feel most comfortable. All your worries are away." Pyrrha said as her hand glowed with a dark shean surrounding her. It began to grow up her arm, until the Chief began to feel himself stiffen up like a mountain.
"For instance, my semblance, is polarity." Pyrrha revealed.
"Polarity? Can you specify what that is?"
"Ruby has her speed, Weiss has her glyphs, and I can bend the force of any type of metal." Pyrrha explained.
"Which means-
"I could stop you in your tracks." Pyrrha finished for him. He shook his head and a chuckle escaped his lips. She tilted her head.
"I am sorry, but what's funny about my semblance?" She asked while placing her hands on her hips, feeling offended at her power.
"Nothing. It's a very special ability. I think it's funny how I walked right into the trap." The Chief explained. "Which mean's I'll have to prepare myself for next time."
"Let me guess, the armor?" Pyrrha suggested.
"It'll be off." He said.
"I can't wait then." Pyrrha smiled.
She stood before Chief. "Now, when you're in danger, you must try to bend your innermost thoughts. Only your will will set you free."
"Okay, I'll give it a shot."
"First though, you must try to let a bit out. Or, let it in."
"How?"
"You must simply be at peace of mind. Look through your soul. I could do it for you but it requires, much concentration. If I apply too much it could potentially hurt us both. Or, you could try looking into mine." Pyrrha offered, a bit unsure at the end.
"Isn't that a bit risky? I don't know how to use mine," The Master Chief explained. "And trying to touch yours would, or could be hazardous."
"You're right, but first, in order for me to help you, I need you to remove your armor. I can't get through it." Pyrrha began while the Master Chief stood there uncomfortably.
"Couldn't you just apply some to my face? Like with Jaune?"
"For me to look right into your soul, I would need a clean access to your heart. Skin contact, but your armor's more thicker... than I thought." Pyrrha said, not really giving the Master Chief eye contact.
He thought for a moment, before nodding. "Alright, follow me. The armor can only be taken off at my quarters. It'll take a while." He said turning his back with Pyrrha, who followed him insuite.
The two didn't say anything, but the Master Chief broke the silence when he raised a hand up. "Wait. Drop and keep your voice down." He uttered as he dropped in a crouch with his assault rifle out. He then took cover behind a tree with a pair of shrubs on the side. Pyrrha looked at what he was hiding from, before dropping down herself.
Over the bushes, just 14 feet in the dense woods, where two men. Both wearing black body suits with hoods. They each donned a pair of white masks with slits were the eyes should have been. Around their midsections was white armor, leather probably. On their feet were knee boots, and around one of their waists was a sword, a gun, and axe, and a couple of multicolored crystals.
White Fang.
Pyrrha leaned over the clearing and peered at the two men carrying crates. "Are those the White Fang?" She questioned while leaning down to the Master Chief.
The Master Chief in return made a 'quiet' sign with his fingers to his masks lips, and turned the safety off of his gun. He turned around the tree and began to follow the men in a low crouch. Pyrrha watched the Master Chief follow the men, not wanting to be left behind, she repeated his actions.
"Seriously, I'll give you ten lien right now to tear off his arm when we get back." The shortest member said to the other who snorted.
"As if, have you seen him lately? That man looks like something out of my nightmares. His face... I blame you if he's pissed when we get back."
"Why the hell are you getting mad at me? I'm not the one who burned his mug to kingdom come." The short one replied as the older one dropped the case to the ground.
"Yo, it's one thing to go off saying shit like that. We had two jobs. Two jobs that needed two men." The tall one said as he pulled out his scroll. He turned it around and pressed it against his chest. "Get the juice, and make sure the traitor is in Beacon. Then bring the juice back to camp and-"
He never finished his sentence as a blade shot out from the scrolls screen, splattered in blood. The tall member wheezed out a breath as he was shoved aside to the ground. The short man jumped back with a yelp as he watched his partner get penetrated from behind. His partner fell off to the side, and the only warning he was given was the sound of something shuffling, then a green blur. The short man managed to jump out of the dark things grasp before whipping out a red crystal gun.
The Master Chief's hand shout out, Yanking the shorter man's gun out of his hands before whipping him across the face with it. The shorter man's head spun to the side as blood wizzed from his nose and mouth.
Before the short of man could retaliate or think of a better approach, his windpipe was nearly crushed when the thing grab them in the throat lock and slammed him into a tree. He didn't feel his feet touch the ground anymore but could feel everything below his neck become numb.
Pyrrha gasped as she saw the Chief move - or more importantly, just appear like a blur. He moved too quickly for her to see. But what really brought her to reality was what he did, or could think of to do that to someone.
He stabbed him right through the back with a knife. Right before her very eyes and through him. A great sense of fear took over her sense as she watched the man on the ground moan softly as his life began to slowly wash away. She almost dropped her spear though, which cradled so lifelessly in her grasp.
She couldn't hear what was going on but could remember the exact taste she had in her mouth. She could see herself sleeping in her bed the night before and saying goodnight to Jaune. She didn't know why she was thinking this, she but was immediately brought back to her sense of reality when the Master chief's voice broke through.
"Name, now."
The man let out a garbled noise, making the Chief loosen his hands grip. "Schwitz, what do you-"
"What are you doing out here?" The Master Chief interrogated lightly.
"Uh, making deliveries." Schwitz answered. The guy who had him looked familiar... He hadn't seen him before, but had seen something closely related to him.
"To whom?"
"Adam Taurus." Schwitz said, making the Master Chief slam him in the tree. That name was poison to him by the mere mention of it. Just hearing it made the collected mind of John-117 fester like a blistering sore.
"He's dead, I killed him." Chief growled as the man spat to the side, being struck like that made him nearly throw up. Pyrrha wondered who Adam was, she'd have to ask after this... ended?
"Nah, he's alive. Crispier but still alive." Schwitz muttered while eyeing the Master Chief through his mask.
"And the traitor, who is it?" Chief questioned as his grip grew tighter.
"You know who it is... Adam's going to get her. Then he's going after everything she loves." The short man said as he began to thrash around, trying to reach down for his axe in the process.
The Master Chief didn't give him the chance as he heaved him over his shoulder, before body ramming him into the ground with a thunderous clap. A sickening crack was heard as the man's spine was triumphantly shattered upon the impact upon being vaulted into the ground.
Pyrrha took a step back as the dirt that was kicked up from the force Chief managed almost caught her in the eye. When she reopened them, she gasped at the horrid display of sheer brutality. The second man he'd handled, Schitz, was bent in a way that rambled a unhandled toy. Like it had fallen off of it's shelf and snapped in two and was now only being held together by the inner lining.
The Master Chief had just murdered two people before her eyes and it was beginning to scare her, terrify her even.
"Hold on," The Master Chief said as he pulled one of the crates off of the upper racks. He sit it down, before taking a breath. The last time he opened a crate there had been a bomb inside it. He opened it before looking inside and scowling.
There was nothing in their... but glass tubes filled with some kind of orange substance.
He knew what this was right off of the bat. After bombing numerous Insurrection fronts, he had come across the so called super-drug on more than one occasion. One stronghold which created the drug, Hellas, was one of the main suppliers. The Master Chief knew this because Jerome-092, had been on that mission. The leader of Red-Team had notified John of its toxic effects on the body, and it wasn't pretty.
Rumbledrug.
"Drugs, lots of it." He muttered. The UNSC would be happy of his find, or more specifically ONI. The more contraband they collected the less paperwork they'd have to deal with.
"What kind of drugs?" Pyrrha questioned fearfully, still uncomfortable at the two dead bodies behind her.
"It's called Rumble. Only the Insurrectionists make deals with this..." The Master Chief muttered. He was getting very nasty glimpses of what this could do to anyone. From far greater strength to higher pain tolerance, it only made matters worse when it wore off and all your previous injuries were surging up.
"The Insurrectionists!" Pyrrha blurted out with her eyes getting larger. "What are they doing here on Remnant?"
"How do you know about-" He stopped before saying. "Halsey. It was her, wasn't it?" He guessed with her nodding. "I don't know, but these are dangerous."
"What do they do?" Pyrrha questioned, trying her hardest not to vomit over the violence she had just witnessed.
"More bad than good. They give the user more strength, and to not feel pain... but drive the user to go insane." The Master Chief muttered the last part as he slammed the lid down, hard.
"That's terrible." Pyrrha muttered, watching the Master Chief eye the box hatefully. "Why would the Insurrectionist want to give this to the White Fang?"
"Smuggling probably. Dealings. Trading possibly. The White Fang are up to something." The Master Chief stood up before saying. "Call the police, no. Call Ozpin. Tell him to get in contact with Commander Orez, the Insurrectionists are here."
"What are you going to do?"
"I need to get information. There's only one source I can get it."
"What about their bodies? We can't just leave them here like this." Pyrrha exclaimed to the Chief.
The Master Chief turned to her and said. "Pyrrha, these men are terrorists." The Master Chief conversed further.
"Show some humanity John." She said using his real name to get his attention. He tilted his head and asked.
"How did-"
"I'm being serious, I don't mind the fact they were enemies, but this," She gestured to the two corpses. "This is sick. It's horrible! It's-"
"It's necessary. It's unavoidable."
"I don't follow that path, I never will." Pyrrha pressed further.
"It's kill or be killed. These aren't people who will knock you out and leave you be... They'll end you if given the chance. It's part of the life and oath I took. Like it or not."
"I... Just wish it could have been different." Pyrrha whispered. 'They didn't deserve to die. It's not right. I wanted to become paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Killing and murdering isn't right.'
"This part is never easy to get over, but right now people we know are in danger." The Chief spoke slowly. The first life he ever took wasn't easy. While Mendez had mentally trained him to
"They're aiding the Insurrectionists. I don't know who, but someone's on the inside of Beacon giving them information."
"That explains the security..." Pyrrha muttered while averting her eyes away from the two deceased white fang members. She was absolutely horrified at what she had seen. She would admit it was almost amazing in a way he moved, quicker than her own eyes could follow, but the thing he did to both of them was hard to watch.
"I have to go work." The Master Chief said before he heard something buzz from the man, the shorter one. Walking over and noticing the odd sound was coming from the man's pocket, he reached down and stuck his hand in, before pulling out some type of pad.
It was a scroll.
"What's it doing?" Pyrrha questioned before stepping closer to the Chief.
"A call, no wait." He began. It was actually a voicemail. The call had ended and left a message. The Master Chief opened it before noticing a mark to slide in order to answer it. He did so, and received a picture of Vale's most notorious criminal's.
Roman Torchwick.
He pressed the play button.
"Now if I have to remind you of the directions I gave you two, you'll both be sorry and wished that I never met with you mutts. Now if I'm certain as I know myself, the blah-blah-blah guys will be moving in to deal with the little issue. Can't believe you guy's have that much of an issue with the Schnee's... No, wait. I should've known better. Workforce and all, it's like slave labor. Not that I disagree, but still. Well, that's it. Take the crates to the meet point and let the time a'flowin." Roman's snide voice spoke over the line. "Your call to Schnee will be on in a few, she'll leave the building, and that where you animals butt in."
"Schnee?" The Master Chief questioned.
"Weiss?" Pyrrha guessed as the Master Chief tried to piece it together.
Why was there a trade going on? As a matter of fact when did this trade even-
"Master Chief!" A voice chirped on his com-link. "Several ODST unit's guarding the campus haven't checked in. We don't have eyes either on the campus anymore. Report to the first year dormitory and get to the bottom of this."
'This can't be good.' The Chief thought in overthinking mode as he quickly sent a distress beacon. He left with Pyrrha longing behind for a moment longer, then leaving.
XXXXXXX
RWBY DORM
XXXXXXX
"I still can't believe you bet against him!" Ruby shouted as she pounded on her sister's bed. Yang was too busy counting her lien to listen. She was deep in thought, thinking of what she could buy now. Maybe some hair products or maybe that new CD she saw. "That's not nice/"
"Meh who cares. There's not problems with a little harmless betting now is there?" Yang questioned.
"Yes there is! When you bet against a friend!" Ruby applied more childishly.
"Big deal Rubes, I'm still surprised though he lost against Pyrrha."
"Why? She's the Champion from the Mistral Tournament, 4 years in a row I might add." Weiss said as she finished the letter to her sister.
"So?"
"It's only one of the most prestiged competitions on Remnant, next to the Vytal Festival." Weiss returned. "TO think, I thought he was scary."
"He's not scary once you know him." Ruby returned. "He's so cool with that laser. Cresent rose would be-
"Why are you still going on about that laser! There's no redeeming qualities about it." Weiss said as Blake turned another page in her book. "It's a dangerous contraption that probably gives you some sort of radiation sickness."
"I use a scythe." Ruby claimed as her weapon rolled out. "My uncle told me all the things that could happen if I'm not careful with my weapon." Ruby remembered all the risks of her weapon. Having a scythe and using her speed to increase damage could not only cripple an enemy but potentially, and subsequently injure herself.
"I think it's cool, I mean I don't know much about the UNSC, but they're weapons are cool. I saw them most when Yang got arrested-" Before Ruby could finish, Yang's hand slapped over Ruby's face.
"Arrested! I think you mean invested intooooooo that new composite sketch I made you!" Yang tried to cover up quickly.
She wasn't ready to tell her whole team what happened. She gave Blake a thing or two in the forest during their initiation about her issues with the spartan. But left out most of the subject concerning her apprehension.
"Arrested? What in the name of Oum did you do?" Weiss questioned with a scoff at the end. "Don't tell me you attacked someone!"
"I never-
"She did." Both Ruby and Blake said.
"Traitors! All of you!" Yang said to them both.
"Why?"
"He got in my business that's why. I was going to the bar to get a drink, and he showed up. Looking for data pads." Yang said, reviewing the night from her memory. If was probably the scariest night she had ever experienced in her entire life. While she was arrested and could have faced many years in prison, she tried to pass the time the easiest way she knew.
By being herself of course. While on the outside she was confident, snarky, witty, and boastful. She was truly terrified deep down. Jokes were a way to make things easier. Pass the time. Make light of things.
"What's a data pad? It's almost as weird as that news report I read about chipping aura users."
"Data pads are like scrolls... I think. On the news, right?" Blake questioned. "I read that too." While Blake may have been a follower to all types of books she did give the news a check up every now and again. Mainly if anything involved the White Fang or UNSC.
"Chipping aura users, ha! I'd like to see them try." Weiss laughed.
"Or capturing Grimm." Ruby pointed out.
"Or him writing in the dirt." Weiss said getting everyone's attention. "It's weird. Before I got to him, I saw him writing in the dirt."
"Writing? Writing what?" Blake questioned.
"Maybe it was his army version of a diary?" Yang questioned. She'd have to read up on military stuff.
"No, or, I don't think so." Weiss thought. "It was numbers. I didn't get a clear view, but I saw 3 digit numbers."
"Who cares." Yang threw her arms in the air.
"Well I'm saying this because it could be important. I don't exactly like how our school has become a home base to these men." Weiss muttered as she looked out the window and saw one of their ships flying overhead. She glared at the sky before looking back at them. "Who's to think they won't try and take us out?"
"What do you mean?" Ruby questioned.
"Yang was attacked, and from what I'm assuming, Blake was too. Who's to think he won't come back to finish the job?" Weiss asked.
"No, he wouldn't." Blake defended.
"Really? Last time I thought you hated his guts?" Yang asked as she nearly dropped her money. If there was any who sandbagged the Master Chief more than anyone, it was Blake Belladonna. While she hadn't been 100% honest with Yang, she did explain about 55% of her history with the Master Chief.
She just left out the White Fang, the dust shipment belonging to the SDC, her mentor, and the conclusion to that confrontation.
"No. I've, talked to him. He's not very informative of his motions." Blake answered.
"And when did this little rendezvous occur Blakey?" Yang asked with a glowing gleam in her eye. "Does a member of our team have a secret-"
"If you think we are friends, you are wrong. He's genuine, but that is it. Don't think I trust him." Blake said as she reverted back to her not-so-nice self. When she spoke to the Chief, he was an odd peer. On one side he came off as an intimidating fighter, one who was silent and coordinated. When he opened up and spoke, strideful differences were distinguishable.
He was sofspoken and uncommonly relaxed. When she felt angry, even going as far as to verbally striking him, he didn't lose his voice's text. He didn't go higher or lower. He seemed distant though. Almost like he wasn't there but somewhere else.
"Hmph.." Weiss said as she left.
Blake didn't say anything but thought of her mentor. Wondering if he thought of her. Or when he would return. She hoped not.
In the meantime, Ruby looked at her scythe, wondering if it would shoot better with a laser attached. She wasn't paying any mind at all until-
CRASH.
The Master Chief kicked the door in, causing the team of huntresses to react in different ways.
"What the hell? What're you doing here?" Weiss almost yelled as bits of wood flew in all directions. She already had her weapon out, being caught off guard like that was a fool's mistake that could've gotten anyone killed. Blake had flown back from the sheer force and reached for her pistol, already aimed at Chief's head with no pressure on the trigger.
She lowered it when he looked at her, and motioned for her to put down the gun.
"Floor. Now!" He replied hastily. He looked to his left and saw a few piece of bed stacked together. He took one before sliding it in front of the door, with Blake on top of it. She nearly lost her balance but held on to the rope in place.
"Chief!? What's going on?" Yang asked in worry at how rigid he was. He didn't answer her until the bed was securely propped against the doorframe.
"No time. Arm yourselves and get ready." He answered quickly while looking for something to use as a weapon. He didn't take any of his weapons from the arm bench in his home, meaning he'd have to be quick to overpower the aggressors coming down the hall.
"Is it Grimm?" Ruby questioned while pulling out crescent rose.
"No. Shooters. Multiple." The Master Chief replied. Weiss thought of something to say but noticed that Yang was already arming her gauntlest with shells.
"How in Dust's name did they get into the school?" Weiss questioned in disbelief.
"Beacons been compromised. Don't trust anyone when we get out." Chief replied. He didn't know how many of the student's were on the payroll or even real student's. He'd have to be careful when tangling with the Insurrectionists who had jammers on them.
"You're sounding as if we'll make this." Blake replied not-too-stoically. He looked back at her nodding.
"I'll make sure of it." Chief reported. He looked behind him to see team RWBY holding their weapons, all on guard.
"Ready?" He questioned Ruby, who nodded.
"Ready!" She agreed. She'd taken on armed criminals before, she could very well do it again.
Team RWBY and the Master Chief then plunged into the fight they'd never forget.
[Sometime in the near distant reality]
XXXXXX
HAVEN
XXXXXX
"Raven!" John's voice barked to the figure standing above him on the tree's highest branch. Team RWBY, who was about to relocate with him stopped in their tracks when they heard the name yelled out. Yang almost felt her heart stop when that name broke through the sound barrier. When the mountain had caved in, it caused a section between them to leave a large gap. They looked across to see him standing on the very edge toward a lone tree... to where a figure loomed above him.
When Ruby followed to where the Master Chief was staring at, they saw he was looking at a figure standing in a tree above him.
A white mask turned to him, glaring at him spitefully with two red eyes.
The Master Chief stared back, without saying a word, he stepped forward.
"By order of ONI," He said as he took his assault rifle out, "You are under arrest for suspicion of conspiring with the enemy ."
The red cloaked figure jumped down from the tree and landed softly across from him.
"You're not arresting me. I know it." Raven spoke. "You still owe me from last time."
"It was your choice. Not mine." The Master Chief replied after memories of the mountain Glenn replayed in his mind.
"Mom!" Yang called out. Raven looked over and saw the face of her daughter. A face she hadn't seen in over 16 years. She was the epitome of what she was, and still is. Her looks were very higher standard in the attractive league. In this day and in the old days when she was training. It was what won the hearts of many, but in her own world, the only heart that swooned her was Taiyang Xiao Long. The man was a real fighter, but a true man to his word.
Tough, while caring.
She knew the Master Chief. She had been watching him from the very beginning. All the way to his arrival from a pod. She knew when they came from the sky. She knew when he apprehended her daughter at the bar. She knew it all from the tip of the tale. The Tale of the green armored soldier, who hailed from the stars above.
Raven looked at her daughter, then back to John. She pulled the mask from her face and dropped it to the ground next to her with a thud.
Team RWBY held mixed reaction to the bearing resemblance she shared with her daughter.
Then she stared directly at John who took a step forward to try and not look threatening.
"Make this easy for me, and for her." The Master Chief spoke softly. "Come with us back to Vale. Make things right."
"My objective isn't finished." Raven told the Master Chief who noticed the air had gotten a bit thicker. "If you get in my way, I will take you down."
"Yang need's her mother. More than you will ever know." John told her as he took his own helmet off and looked into her eyes with his own. "When I say I'm taking you in, I mean it."
"I know you do. You've taken care of her. I'm proud of that."
"Then come with us, you will get a trial and this will all be over." John said more slowly as he lowered his rifle, before putting it on his back. "I trust you can make a decision."
"I already have one." Raven confirmed.
"What will it be?"
Raven walked closer to Chief, and in sync he did as well. He was going to take her sword away, just because he felt it would undo this bond she had forged with this lifestyle she had made for herself.
The height difference was evident as he towered over her and she reached up to his neck. Raven looked down at her sword, before raising it sideways. She pursed her lips for a moment, before finally taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh. Remembering the last days with Yang tore her apart. While at the same time made her question her own choices she had made.
"My actions have caused many people to hate me, think that I'm dangerous." Raven spoke slowly Letting her sword down at her side. "My own brother is afraid I'll do something horrendous. Which is why I can't do this by myself. I have no one to aide me on my quest."
Team RWBY watched the conversation unfold from afar the gulch that stood between them.
"What is your quest? What are you doing to cause people to hate you?" John questioned.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions. My intention was to make everyone hate me." Raven answered the Master Chief, who looked at her strangely. "Starting with my husband, my brother, my home..." Raven then paused as she looked deeply into John's youthful and vibrant blue eyes.
Letting a skill she picked up take effect, she slowly raised her sword...
John stared back into her eyes which acted as a swirl of emotions. He didn't know why, but looking more and longer into them triggered emotions he didn't understand. Many of them were mixed, some of them were alien to him. Were they right? Were they wrong?
What was going on?
John looked into Raven's eyes for a few seconds... before her sword suddenly lunged forward and cut clean through him.
The scarlet blade exited his back, sticking up like a hook dangling a fish caught on a line. A seize of surprise caught John all at once as he felt his breath hitch in his throat, like a motorail deterring off of the tracks. Everything below his neck freezed up.
His heart then, like a ever going pendulum, began to rocket pace by pace. Slowing down.
RWBY watched in horror as Raven's sword exited the Master Chief's back plate, and he gasped loudly at the sound of the metal being ripped like paper at her aura infused sword.
Raven let a smile graced her lips. She leaned forward to the point she was on her tiptoes before whispering, "...And my daughter." She whispered into his ear before pecking him lightly on the cheek. The Master Chief had given her daughter solace without asking, and without expecting anything in return. He was the only one she spoke to about the subject, and didn't make a big deal about it. He made it top priority in her eyes. Ruby didn't know her and didn't really take time to get to know her.
No matter though.
The Master Chief, the one who had gotten too close to the truth behind her departing her life on Patch with Taiyang, would die with that information.
Forever in his mind, vanishing into oblivion's cold grasp.
The Master Chief's face scrunched up and he let out a cough, before he staggered backwards, letting the sword retract into his back and out of his stomach. His armor was pierced through like tinfoil. His chest pice let out a few sparks and his back began to let down a river of blood.
He gasped and dropped his helmet on the grass with blood from his mouth dripping onto the visor after trying to pick it up.
Yang's mouth let out a scream in anguish, watching her sisters mentor get betrayed by her own mother. She was screaming in her mind at what she had done.
Her mother didn't mention this!
She didn't want this!
This wasn't part of the plan!
Ruby gasped as tears began to seep out of the corners of her eyes. The Master Chief's form in his pained stance stabbed her inside. The man behind the helmet was more than a mentor to her. He was a friend. A brother figure. Someone she could look up to... Who had just been destroyed right before her very eyes.
Blake jumped back in surprise, not at all expecting Yang's mother to take such a horrid action.
Weiss's mouth fell agape, almost in sheer unexpected remorse.
The Master Chief gave one last glance to Team RWBY, seeing all of their faces, before losing his balance and tumbling over the edge of the cliff and into the abyss.
The Master Chief was no more.
XXXXXXX
Death comes in many forms.
XXXXXXX
AUTHOR'S NOTE: "TRAITOR! TRAITOR'S EVERYWHERE!"
Now before some of you start acting like oversensitive peeps about Chief losing, you must listen to my reasons. While he may have his augmentations, that's all he really has besides guns against these people.
Reason 1.) Pyrrha can bend metal at her whim... And the Master Chief happens to be wearing a suit which happens to be 100% made up of titanium alloy... Which is probably the same mineral the elevator is made of. You know, the same one she manipulated up the shafts at almost the speed of sound.
Reason 2.) Unlike Yang or Blake who have been known to lose their tempers in fights, Pyrrha has a more clear mind. Able to counteract her own feelings in order to win. Being able to think clearly and quickly will let you plan out the battle quicker.
Reason 3.) She's probably the strongest warrior in RWBY (was but it's a bit too soon for jokes). Mentally and physically. Chief was too prioritized with other things in order to familiarize himself with the threat. Namely the fact she can control metal. If he had known that then he'd think of a different route. (like taking it off.)
Reason 4.) Pyrrha's more adept to fighting with her more signature weapon. While Chief had to stick to using a baton to defend himself, he isn't the most proficient in melee weaponry. He himself prefers to stick to either hand-to-hand or projectile weapons.
And it's a bit of a rivalry to see. It was born after his loss against Pyrrha. John is capable of losing. He's lost against green team, he lost against a few of his spartan colleagues in unarmed combat, lost against Thel 'Lodamee in energy sword combat, and would be shredded by a few RWBY character's without his armor.
He's not invincible... Just VERY lucky to be alive!
But to the memory of Pyrrha, she is still with us... In our lungs that is since she was incinerated and turned into an ash pile.
(I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself!) Other than that, and her voice actor confirming her death, yeah. She ain't ever coming back.
So don't start reviewing "Oh SHIPWRECK, please don't kill off Pyrrha! Keep her alive! She's my waifu after all!" and think I'll do what you say.
Giving ideas and making demands are different things people.
In this story... I make the decisions.
NEXT TO BE UPDATED: A Spartan Among Shinobi