I'VE RETURNED!

...for a month or so. Okay, quick update: Hurricane Irma, paired with other factors, have inhibited my ability to not only keep up with this story, but also write for others as well. I'll list the details later, but I'll keep writing and posting whenever able. Keep in mind that today I updated this story, RWBY: Miranian Wonders, and Fire Sword: Fated Incursion. All three of these stories will be alternating uploads at random, but I'll do my best to keep the quality the same, if not better, as I update.

With that being said, let's begin.

The sounds of competitive family members were coming from Team RWBY's dorm room.

"You'll never beat me, old man!" Ruby shouted aloud.

"You're all talk, pip-squeak." Qrow chuckled in reply.

"Sock it to him, Ruby!" Yang cheered from the sidelines.

As it turned out, Qrow and Ruby were playing their fighting game on Yang's game console: Total Annihilation XX. Qrow was currently undefeated by both his nieces and they'd been playing for about an hour. Qrow's streak continued with his final strike, signaling his fifteenth straight win against his nieces.

"Soaring Ninja Wins! Total Annihilation!" The game sounded, confirming the end of the match.

Qrow smirked as he looked down at his favorite niece. "By the way, don't ever call me old. I've still got some fight left in me."

Yang pushed Ruby aside and linked her scroll. "My turn!"

"New challenger approaches," the announcer continued.

Qrow popped his neck as Yang loaded her fighter. "So, where was I?"

Ruby jumped up onto the bed. "You were telling us about your recent mission?"

Qrow snapped his fingers, letting Yang get in a hit on him. "Right. So, I had just gotten into a small town, one that doesn't pop up often. The streets were filled with lowlife criminals and deserted huntsmen, mostly hired by less than respectable people for less than reputable tasks."

Ruby was slightly in awe. "What were you doing there?"

"I needed information. I decided my search should start with the local Inn since I knew the owner. As I stepped through the doors to the Inn, I took in my surroundings, but I was instantly defeated..." He paused dramatically before finishing his thought. "By the sight or the inkeeper's skirt length!"

Qrow held up a hand, blocking his face from being smacked by a flying pillow from Yang. "You are the WORST!" she hollered at him.

Qrow chuckled. "Trust me, when you get to my age, you'll understand why I appreciate the little things in life."

Ruby shrugged. "Did Ozpin get on to you about your little run in with Tyler and his team?"

Qrow shook his head. "Nah. Oz and I go way back, but Tyler saved our bacon in the end."

Yang popped her neck. "Well, that guy's got a bit of explaining to do when he gets back into the groove here."

Qrow eyed her at that statement. "Hey, a professional huntsman is expected to get results fast and his little stunt proved his worth out in the field."

Ruby smiled. "We kind of know how that is, being we saved Vale twice already."

Qrow raised his eyebrow. "Oh, really? From what I heard, disaster struck and Tyler was leading the whole operation both times."

The announcer on the game cut in. "Soaring Ninja Wins! Total Annihilation!"

Qrow shrugged. "As it turns out, he and his team are almost pro-level while you and your other four friends are almost helpful. However, they don't give out medals to 'almost'."

Ruby got a little mad at that. "They do and they're called silver!"

Yang followed up with an actual argument point. "Well, we helped capture Roman Torchwick and crime fell since then."

Qrow raised his eyebrow. "Not quite, firecracker. You may be acting like huntresses, but you need to start thinking like them."

Ruby was confused. "What do you mean?"

Qrow sighed. "Violence in Vale hasn't slowed since the White Fang attack, it's stopped. Someone's controlling the crime in Vale from the shadows as Torchwick met his end this past week."

Yang was surprised by this. "Wait, they didn't keep him for questioning?"

Qrow smirked. "You betcha they did, but once Tyler couldn't get anything else out of him, the Vale officials terminated him. Since he's not leading the charge, someone else is. That's what ol' Ironwood can't wrap his head around."

Yang was curious about his prior statement. "You know the general?"

Qrow chuckled. "Hey, I know everybody to a certain extent. Remember, you're talking to one of the members of the coolest teams to ever graduate Beacon."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. It featured four young adults, looking to be around age 21, each with different clothes and weapons in hand. Qrow was the man on the far right, holding his great sword on his shoulder with a smirk on his face. The woman on the far right was Summer, Ruby's mom, and she was cloaked in her white hood and cape. The man to her right was Taiyang, their father, who was leaning up against the tree in the center of the picture, arms crossed, wearing his usual attire of yellow and brown. The woman between Taiyang and Qrow was dressed all in red and black, long black hair falling out behind her like a hedgehog's quills. This, Yang surmised, was her mom, Raven Branwen.

Qrow slightly moved his thumb over Raven's face. "Team STRQ. It was how I met your parents." He smirked at Ruby. "We were pretty well known back then."

Ruby scoffed at that. "Well known for a crummy fashion sense?"

Qrow shook his head. "Hey, we looked good! And I have a number of inappropriate stories that will back that up."

Yang, throughout those few moments, was staring directly at Raven in wonder. When Qrow saw this, he retracted the photo and pocketed it away.

"But," he continued. "I'll save those for when you're older."

Ruby cringed at that. "Ew, gross."

Qrow stood up, making his way towards the door. "Anyway, I'd better get moving elsewhere. You two may cramp my style."

He paused before reaching the doorway. "Look, just remember that you've still got a long way to go." He turned to look over his shoulder at them. "And don't count graduation as a sign that you're done, either. A day out there is worth more than a week in here." He smiled at them. "You two are gonna go far, but only if you never stop learning."

With that, he exited through the doorway, leaving his nieces wondering about what he said. "So," Yang said. "Qrow's already gone again?"

"He's never been one to stick around," Ruby replied.

Yang shrugged. "Nope." After a moment she grinned at Ruby. "Ready for another match?"

Ruby nodded. "You're on!"

Neither of them noticed Qrow's presence just outside their room door. He smirked at their antics before heading on his way.

Tyler held his arms crossed as he rode the elevator up in silence. Apparently, Professor Ozpin had called him to his office and requested that he be in full armor. The headmaster of Beacon was always direct with him, but Tyler was worried that he had stepped out of line somewhere and Ozpin was making him pay for it. The thought attracted his attention so much that he almost didn't notice the doors open on the top floor. He absentmindedly stepped out, not taking note of the three figures already in the office.

"Right on time, Professor Doom." Ozpin greeted him, finally breaking the ex-marine out of his trance.

Tyler blinked quickly. "I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

As it turned out, Ozpin was joined, as usual, by Glynda Goodwitch. Standing next to Ozpin was General James Ironwood, who looked as if he was having an argument with Glyna not two second before Tyler arrived.

General Ironwood straightened up and cleared his throat. "Professor Wells, it is not in my duty to require teachers to explain their motives for making a large request, but this one demands my attention."

Tyler kept his arms crossed in front of his chest. "As I've stated before, I can't run multiple functions of my suit at once without an AI companion. While I could run one armor enhancement at a time, running more than one cuts down on my stamina exponentially, tires out my mind almost a thousand fold, and leaves me vulnerable to any and all attacks from Grimm if no one can recall me from the field." Tyler glared at the General as he took off his helmet. "Is this the only reason I'm here?"

Professor Ozpin cracked a small smile at him. "No, Mr. Wells, we have called you for another reason."

Ironwood reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small microchip. "We have taken multiple liberties in acquiring this unit, but we believe that this AI will help you in the future."

Tyler took the microchip from him, finding the port on the inside of his armor for the unit to plug into. As the chip clicked into place, a holographic projection materialized in front of him. The cyan light of the hologram shaped into the form of a humanoid form with feathered wings. The figure in the hologram was a woman, an angel to be more precise, and was a somewhat fitting partner for the slayer of demons.

The AI Hologram addressed General Ironwood. "I am at your beck and call, General Ironwood."

Ironwood nodded. "K-LEX, allow me to introduce you to your new partner. Professor Doom, this is K-LEX, one of Atlas's finest AI companions."

Tyler smiled at her. "Nice to meet you."

K-LEX bowed in response. "Likewise. I'm surprised by your name, Professor Doom. I would've expected someone with a name like that to be less respectful and more savage."

Tyler chuckled. "The name is just to frighten some students during class. And please, call me Tyler."

K-LEX beamed at that. "Seems like we'll get along just fine, Tyler."

Ironwood cleared his throat. "K-LEX, I want you to take care of Mr. Wells as long as you are with him. He's one of the kingdom's best warriors and he's going to need your help in the coming months."

K-LEX snapped her fingers. "Then why don't we test out your suits enhancement nodes?"

Tyler was taken aback by this. "You didn't tell her about my enhancements, did you?"

K-LEX giggled. "They didn't have to. When you plugged me in, I was able to run schematics on your suit and its various functions. I think I can help you get the hang of running multiple nodes at once."

Tyler smirked. "How fast can we test this?"

Ozpin quickly voiced his concern. "As soon as you can book some time in the training arena. Mr. Wells, I know you're both excited, but try to remember what happened the last time any group of students has made a mess of the school in any way."

Glynda glared at him. "I may have been lenient with Team RWBY and Team JNPR, but I will NOT be lenient with you."

Tyler placed his palm to his forehead. "I completely forgot about that." He looked over at K-LEX with a sympathetic glance. "Sorry pal, but there's a system of checks and balances in play."

K-LEX brushed herself off, although being made of light made this redundant. "I suppose I jumped the gun on this one."

Tyler shook his head. "In the meantime, let's go ahead and leave these three to talk. They've got quite a bit to discuss."

K-LEX tilted her head as Tyler started walking towards the elevator. "What do you mean by that?" she said, following close behind him.

Tyler took his place in the open elevator as the hologram floated in next to him. "I believe that's classified."

The elevator doors closed behind them as Ironwood looked towards Ozpin. "I hope you understand that the council wasn't happy about having to part with an AI meant for my warship."

Ozpin nodded. "I understand, but considering what I've seen Mr. Wells go through, K-LEX is better suited to help him and she may be safer with him."

Ironwood crossed his arms. "All I'm saying is that you've got the entire council of Atlas against you should you need their help."

Glynda glared at him. "An Artificial Intelligence Unit designed for airship combat and advanced, real-time tactical enactment in the hands of one of the strongest professors in a combat school?"

Ironwood shook his head. "To be fair, he can surely perform some magnificent feats with it, but my ships can run fine without them. The only concern is what he'll do with K-LEX now that the AI is essentially his own partner."

Ozpin sighed. "I know you're both concerned about this, but I have faith that he'll need K-LEX more than you would, James."

Ozpin said nothing more on this topic, but one thought lingered in his mind. When the time comes, Tyler, K-LEX will be your best chance of saving not only yourself, but all of us as well.

Emm: What took you so long?!

N-Sight: Hurricane Irma, working on YouTube, writer's block, schoolwork flowing out of my ears, and research beyond research for other series and plans. Besides, I've been writing Fire Sword: Fated Incursion, the sequel to Mataras's Fire Sword story.

Dusk: Oh, for crying out loud, you Naga-banishing son-of-a-canine's-mother! (gets smacked by Katrina)

Katrina: Language!

Dusk: Ugh... that hurt.

N-Sight: Relax, shady. You're in the next segment.

Dusk: When will that be?

N-Sight: When time permits itself.

Dusk: You evil Grima-humping(gets smacked by Katrina)

Katrina: LANGUAGE!

Dusk: English!