Authors Notes: Hello again every one! Well, the bounty story arc is over with this chapter. I figure since there'll be more time between updates I should try to make chapters longer. Well, in doing so I managed to get the story line all wrapped up with this chapter. I also retconned the design of Jayden's saber for reasons explained in story, it's important later on so bear with me. Also I was hoping you guys could leave comments telling me how you would describe Jayden. I want you to do this so I can help make sure his character remains consistent throughout the series. It's actually pretty easy for an author to make his characters seem schizophrenic cause we tend to make them act different depending on what the situation demands. Of course people act different in different situations, but not to the extremes that can happen in stories. As always please enjoy and leave comments!
Chapter 21: End Game
"Well done children. You've successfully managed to take out two of my best assassins. I must say I am impressed." Hassan said as he looked down upon us. So our bounty finally decided to just come to us. I didn't like that. He wouldn't come unless he was damn sure he could win. He only brought one person with him. She had dark skin like Skadu, and her deep purple hair went down to her waist in a large ponytail. She held a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. She nocked it and pointed it at us, it's tip a bright, burning red. Weiss immediately recognized it, as did I. A dust arrow head, incredibly difficult to create. My friend Oliver used the same types of arrows, to incredibly deadly effect, as the burn scars on my left leg can attest to. "Wait Ebony. I wish to speak with them first." He said as he calmly grabbed her bow and pointed it at the ground. "You know he was right. I am impressed by what you've done, so impressed, in fact, I'd love to hire all four of you. You're the first ones to get so far in capturing me. Most fell at the hands of Skadu's skill, the rest couldn't get past Roi's so called 'perfect defense'. In fact, I believe this is the first time I've actually had to make use of Ebony's services. Join me, and you'll have everything you could want."
Weiss turned the dust cylinder in Mynstritter. "Sorry, but I already get everything handed to me on a silver platter." She held her sword out in front of her as it began to glow a bright red. "I'll have to turn down your offer."
Blake put a new magazine in and cocked Gambol Shroud. The blade extended, pointing straight at him. "I'd rather die then work for someone like you." Her voice was a near growl. I could only imagine the anger she had towards him. Arming the White Fang, perpetuating their violence.
Autumn drew her knives and held them at her side. "Like I already said, I'm not some dog you can order 'round. How bout you Jayden?" She looked at me and something of an understanding passed between us.
I drew my sword and lit my saber. They already made my choice for me, I wouldn't abandon my friends for anything he could offer me. "I already have everything I've ever wanted. Well, everything but the thirty thousand lien on your head. I'll be taking that now."
Dimund sighed as he nodded to Ebony. "Be quick about, he's expecting the weapons by tomorrow." Ebony immediately drew back her bow and fired an arrow. She immediately nocked two more arrows and fired them followed by a fourth arrow.
Mid flight they burst into huge pillars of fire, each one the size of a bus. Weiss created a glyph that shielded us from the fire. "Any plans?" She asked as the fire dispersed off the barrier. I looked around, we where surrounded by rubble of my own making so we had some cover. But not if she fired anything to much more powerful. She switched to regular arrow heads, but her rate of fire made them equally as effective.
"A few, you guys provide cover fire, I'll try and flank her!" Weiss nodded as I left the safety of her glyph. Autumn trailed behind me knocking arrows out of the way as we jumped from cover to cover. We ducked behind a large slab of earth, it wouldn't hold up against a fire arrow but it gave us enough time to coordinate our strategy. "All right Autumn, I'll distract her. I want you to sneak up and become invisible. I'll give you an opening and when I do you take it. Got it?"
She nodded as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a magazine of brightly colored bullets. "Was waiting for a special occasion to use these. Stole them a few months ago from an army base near the kingdoms border." She put the dust infused bullets in her knives and cocked them back. "All right lets do this."
I crouched and pushed myself up over the rock. Several arrows flew straight at me. I swung my saber in tight arcs cutting them in half. Autumn ducked out from behind the rock and fired at Ebony. Her bullets crackled with electricity as the streaked through the air. Ebony stopped firing at me and weaved her body between the bullets as they flew past her. It was all one fluid motion, she didn't miss a beat as she nocked a new arrow, one with a snow white tip. "Hit the deck!" Autumn yelled as she drew back. Weiss made a glyph bringing her over to us while Blake stayed. "Dammit blake now!" Autumn yelled again. The arrow flew straight towards her. At the last possible second blake jumped, leaving behind an after Image.
Her plan was obvious to me, make Ebony think she'd gotten her then launch a sneak attack. But as soon as the arrow hit the after image the after image began to freeze. The ice quickly expanded until it was seven feet tall. Blake was frozen up to her waist in it. She struggled to get free, but it was no use. "Hold on Blake!" I ran, jumping from rock to rock until finally I got to her. I jumped onto the ice right next to her. "Didn't realize she was using an ice arrow did you?"
"Just help me get out!" She was struggling to get her self free from the ice. Weiss and Autumn had made it up to Ebony and where engaging her. She blocked both their attacks fluidly, never skipping a beat. Block Weiss with her bow, counter Autumns knife. She was taking two opponents easier then I could take one. If we didn't get there soon they'd be over whelmed, and I don't think Hassan was interested in taking any of us prisoner.
I put my hand to the ice, I slowed my breathing and focused on my palms. I could smash the whole block with a large enough force push if I wanted, but not with out risking harm to Blake. Instead, I sent small pulses through the palm of my hands to the ice. It started to shake violently almost causing me to slip off. "Lower frequency Jayden, come on this is elementary force use." I told my self as the shaking lessened and became more focused to the area around me and blake. It became even more focused, the shaking stopped and became a slight vibration around Blake. Steam started to rise as the ice melted around her giving her enough wiggle room for me to pull her out.
She extended Gambol Shroud into its sword mode. "Thanks Jayden. Now what's the plan?"
Autumn and Weiss where at the end of their ropes. They where barley holding up against Ebony who seemed to be able to perfectly predict and counter their moves. Hassan stood back aways, he adjusted his glasses and tie as he took out a pocket watch. "Blake, I suggest you brace yourself." She crouched as I held my palm back near my ribs. I focused the Force into my palm, the pressure felt like it would crush my hand. And when I couldn't take it any more, I thrust my palm forward stopping just short of Blake's back. She flew forward at an astonishing speed, she managed to adjust herself mid flight and nearly kicked Ebony straight in the face. But again Ebony managed to dodge her at the same time she dodged Autumn and Weiss.
"Well, that explains it." I said as I jumped over to join the fight with the others. She was able to dodge because she knew what would happen before we did it. I engaged Ebony with the others, her reflexes where extraordinary, on par with a Jedi Master even. She dodged both my swords as I thrust them towards her, kicked autumn in the face, and got behind all four of us. "Guys, her semblance is precognition. She knows what we do just before we do it." I shouted as thrust my saber at her. She dodged while she blocked my sword with her bow.
Autumn groaned as she rubbed her face. "Oh you've got to be shitting me Keno. She's got ESP?" She reloaded her knives. "Well then how do we deal with her?"
I sheathed my sword and clipped my saber to my belt. I looked to Weiss and nodded to her. "Weiss, time for White Knight." She nodded as I ran towards Ebony. "You guys cover me!" Ebony and I engaged in hand to hand. Her arrows where to dangerous to allow her to use, and until Weiss got the glyph ready she had to stay in one spot. She blocked my fist as I aimed for her trachea, she tried to kick my leg in but I jumped over her and tried to kick her I the back of the leg. She managed to move forward and doge it, but she didn't count on the force push coming out of my foot.
She collapsed on one knee, just as a bright white glyph, about five feet in diameter, appeared above us. "Jayden now! I don't know how long I can hold it." Ebony struggled to get up, I might have been able to take her out as she was. But I didn't want to take a chance, the only real way to take her out was to make sure she couldn't dodge anything. I jumped twenty feet in the air, just above the glyph. My hands arced with electricity. I focused it, focused all my anger and hate into my hands. And in one, single arc of lightning I shot the glyph. The lightning disappeared into the glyph. It glowed so brightly I had the shield my eyes as I fell back to earth. The glyph stopped glowing, and in a deafening boom released a lightning bolt the size of the glyph. A single column of electricity struck Ebony, who was dead center beneath the glyph.
The others shielded their eyes as well. The light soon faded raveling the charred corpse that had once been Ebony. I took out my saber, lit it, and turned toward Dimund. "All right Dimund. Your body guards and lackeys are done for, the authorities will be here any moment. Give yourself up."
He took off his tie and jacket. They fell to the ground as he undid the collar button of his shirt. "No no. I'm afraid I can't allow that. I've got too much tied up in this weapons deal with the White Fang, and even if you do capture me, I'll be out in a few months. I've got enough money to buy my way out of trouble. You can't win."
"Guys, leave him to me." I gripped my saber with both hands. He put his hands behind his back. He was mocking me. "Don't need a weapon?" I asked clenching my teeth.
"Oh, If I need one I'll get one." I rushed him and swung my sword at him. But he managed to dodge with out taking a step. He spun around and kicked me in the stomach. I fell back three feet. He tried to kick my face in but I rolled back and sent a force push his way. "Are you going to start fighting yet? I'm done warming up." He said as he side stepped. He was good. He wasn't just some pencil pusher. He knew how to handle himself in a fight, even more so then his own body guards maybe.
"Should we help him?" Autumn asked Blake.
"No, he said to let him take care of it, it's his bounty, he needs to catch it." Blake said cooly sheathing Gambol Shroud.
Mean while Hassan stood over Jayden and stroked his chin. "Actually, I want to test something." Before I could react he was on top of me, his foot on my chest and his open palm inches from my face. A deep purple smoke started to come out. It enveloped my head, entering through my mouth and nose. It felt wonderful.
Everything felt great. I felt stronger and faster. Like I could do anything. The pain was gone and I kicked him off of me and drew my Ninjato. I should have realized what was happening, but I couldn't think straight. Though I didn't realize it. I rushed him head on, swinging my sword and saber wildly. He kept dodging every attack until I brought both my blades up for a double downward strike. As I left my center open he took the opportunity to strike me in the solar plexus. The wind was knocked out of me and I fell to the ground gasping. I reached my hand out to strike him with lightning, but it never left my hand. It coursed up my arm and into the rest of my body. The pain should have been excruciating, but I didn't feel a thing. I tried to force push him, only to find myself flying back tens of feet.
Hassan smiled as I struggled to get up. "I thought so. My semblance is able to induce a drug like high in people. Normally this removes the body's natural strength limiters while also making them more violent. Skadu always did carry some with him in case a target was harder to deal with then expected." He rolled up his sleeve and casually walked over to me. I finally got up and tried to rush him again, but he planted his fist square in my face. "But some one like you, your powers require clarity of mind, something my smoke takes away."
I kept swinging wildly, striking and slashing only the air as Hassan twisted and dodged. Hassan grabbed my left wrist and kicked me in the chest. I dropped my sword and he pushed me back causing me to drop my saber. The sweat was dripping down my face and on to my bandana. The effects where wearing off, leaving me jittery and unable to concentrate. I wanted more. I needed more. He picked up my sword and swung it in circles at his side. "I told you if I needed a weapon I'd get one." Of course he didn't need one, he was just messing with me. Trying to get into my already unsettled head.
If Yang where here she could take this guy no problem. But as it stood I had one option. "Guys, a little help!"
"Now we can help him." Weiss said as propelled herself forward, showering Hassan with flames. Blake engaged Hassan with her sword as Autumn covered the three of us with ice rounds. I, however, just sat back down. I began to meditate in an attempt to clear my mind. Not exactly easy in the middle of a fight. Hassan didn't need pre-cog to handle them, I would need to help them for them to have a chance.
I closed my eyes and cleared my mind as best I could. The fight, only a few feet away, was starting to sound distant and muffled. The bandanna over my eyes felt like it was melting, becoming one with my face. I felt like I was growing roots, becoming one with everything around me. I even began to feel the presence of Master Qui- Gon, in his all encompassing spiritual form. My body slowly began to stop shaking, my hands rested on my legs and my breathing steadied.
In one, solid movement I jumped form my sitting position, grabbed my saber with the force, and landed between Blake and Hassan. Blake jumped back as my saber blocked my sword. He wanted to fight me with my own weapon? The thought of it pissed me off to no end. "K girls, I think I can handle him now." Our weapons hovered between our faces. The glow from the contact point reflected off his bald head. "Call me a brats for this, but if I can't have that sword no one can!" I grabbed the blade with my bare hand. The blood dripped down my arm and In one, quick force pulse, I shattered my own blade. The shards fell to the ground as Hassan stumbled backwards. This gave me just enough time to strike him in the face with my saber as my bloodied fist broke his nose. He fell to the ground, the blood pouring out of his nose. But before he could get up I turned my saber off and hit him in the head with the handle. "That's for making me break my sword."
The other three gathered around us. "Well, guess it's over." I said to Weiss as she looked at Hassan. Suddenly I remembered the broken scroll in my pocket. "Oh shit! Weiss, give me your scroll, I need to call yang!"
She took out her scroll and was about to hand it to me. "Oh no, in the fight with Skadu I think it was broken." She held out her scroll with a freshly cracked screen and an image that kept fading in and out.
"Damn." Was all I managed to say.
"Why do you need to talk to her so badly?" She asked as she put her scroll away.
I wiped the sweat from my face and sat on a rock. An air ship was landing and police where getting out to investigate the scene. So I had no way to see if she was ok short of getting back to Beacon. I turned my head towards Weiss, Blake and Autumn. "We need to get back to Beacon. Now."
The police where more then happy to drop us off at the Vale police station while they took Hassan in for questioning. It was dark now, almost midnight. We'd gotten the reward but I could only think about Yang and if she where ok. As soon as we got off the air ship the four of us immediately headed toward the school. The police offered their thanks to us for catching Hassan and all those white fang grunts but I barely heard it. We where nearing the academy's entrance when Autumn stopped me. "Hey Jayden." She asked as she grabbed my shirt collar. "This guy, can he really help me with my record?"
I shrugged as I continued towards the dorms. I was about to speak up when some one standing near the fountain stopped us. "Mr. Keno, Ms. Schnee, Ms. Belladonna. Back so soon? And you brought a friend I see." Ozpin stood in front of the fountain drinking from the same mug as always. Professor Goodwitch walked up next to him and adjusted her glasses. "May I ask your name?"
Autumn walked up to him. She looked confident and nonchalant as usual, but I could tell she was nervous as hell. "Autumn Donn sir."
Ozpin smiled And reached out to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you Ms. Donn. Now, come to my office so we can discuss what it is you would like help with." She walked away with him and Goodwitch. "Guys, I'm gonna go ahead of you." With out waiting for their response I force ran all the way to our dorm room. I burst in and looked around wildly. Ruby was surprised and fell from her bed. She got up and stumbled forward a bit. "Ruby, where's Yang? Is she ok?"
Ruby got back on her bed and rubbed her head. "Of course she is. I think she went onto the roof for what ever reason. What's got you so worked up?" I didn't respond. I walked to the windows and opened them. I stepped onto the ledge and jumped up onto the roof.
As Ruby had said Yang was there opening the door about to go back down. "Yang! Thank god you're ok." She turned around and smiled. My chest got tighter as she did for some reason. She closed the door and ran over to me. I was about to apologize to her when she suddenly grabbed and embraced me. Her head was about even with mine. Her hair brushed against my face. It felt oddly soft and puffy.
She let go and started to say something. "Jayden. I'm so sorry for the way I was treating you. I shouldn't have gotten mad. I should have figured out what was wrong!"
She was apologizing to me? Isn't that a little backwards? Either ways I needed to do my own apologizing. "No Yang I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. Just because I was angry doesn't mean I should have hurt you like that. Can you for give me?"
She smiled and my chest got tense again. "Of course." We sat down on the ledge and looked at the moon in all its shattered beauty. "So how'd the trip go?" She asked.
"We got the bounty. He was a real pain in he ass to deal with but once I knocked him out he was pretty cooperative." She laughed and slapped my back.
"Bet he was. So why'd you go after this bounty anyways?" I told her about my idea to use a dust crystal for my saber and how expensive it was. "So what do you think will happen when you use it?" She asked.
I took my saber out and looked at it. It was long and simple in design, like my masters. It had a rounded bottom and had several knobs and buttons for adjusting the energy out put and for activation. "Honestly, no idea. Might not even work with dust." We looked at the moon some more. Just the two of us. "You know, while I was out there I felt like you where in trouble. And it scared me." She turned toward me, her eyes getting wide, like she was anticipating something. "I realized, the thought of losing you was the most terrifying thing I'd ever felt. I couldn't bare it." She leaned in closer her face was mere millimeters from mine. I should have felt like she was invading my privacy, but it just felt right. "Yang, you're my best friend."
She slumped back to where she'd been sitting a moment ago. "Yeah, you're my best friend to."