Chapter 25: The Choice
Anton made it to the motel and found Jarvis pinning Samuel to the wall and Forest trying to break them up. Meanwhile Silvaki was sitting in his chair reading a newspaper with a cigar in his mouth.
"Just who the hell do you think you are to walk in here and say you need our help for your problems." Jarvis demanded.
"JARVIS!" Anton called out. Jarvis just stopped in his tracks and turned to the boy who walked in. Shocked he let go of Samuel and walked up to Anton.
"Well aren't you a stubborn mule." Jarvis stated. Forest just walked up to him and slapped him to the floor.
"Ow that's twice today, come on can't a guy get a hug before his beating?" Anton asked. Forest just smiled as she helped him up and embraced him in a hug.
"Welcome back bro, though I'm not sure if it's that welcoming." She stated.
"Yeah jeez I find them here and they try to kill me." Samuel interjected. Anton just rolled his eyes as him and Forest broke their hug.
"Oi you're not off the hook yet Assassin." Jarvis mentioned.
"Wha Jarvis we have bigger fish to fry at the moment." Anton tried to persuade him to calm down only to fail.
"Like Hell we do, he walks in here asking for our help in Resurrecting Lilith, do you know how insane that sound?" Jarvis stated. Anton just sighed as he put a hand on his partners shoulder.
"No distance is too great for the noblest cause." Was all Anton said. Jarvis just stared at him in defeat. "Besides right now there is something even crazier right outside our door." Anton mentioned.
"And what would that be?" Silvaki asked, finally getting into the conversation as he puffed a cloud of smoke. Anton just opened the front door and let in his surprise daughter and her tiny robot.
"Guys meet Chloe … my Daughter." Anton stated. Everyone safe for Samuel just looked at him in disbelief.
"Uh … hi." She said as she waved. Forest just observed Chloe front top to bottom and comparing her to Anton as much as she could. Eventualy she was able to put the two and two together and noticed the eye color. But it wasn't enough for her to be convinced.
"Alright do you have any idea how unbelievable that sounds?" Jarvis asked.
"Yeah when did this happen?" Forest asked. Defeated Anton just sighed.
"Jarvis just Memory Scan her." Anton ordered. Nodding and wanting to see the truth He walked up to Chloe and stared into her eyes. As his eye began to move left and right at a rapid pace he could see every moment, every day, but he had to focus he was looking for something specific.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jarvis was flown back to the other side of the room against the wall and hit the floor with a thud. Chloe just stood there in shock as if she had seen something she never wanted to see ever again.
"Ouch." Jarvis said as he slowly got up.
"Whoa Jarvis are you ok?" Anton asked as he rushed to help him up.
"Yeah, anyone else hear a loud scream?" Jarvis asked. Everyone but Chloe gave him a curious look. "I'll take that as a no."
"Jarvis what happened, what was that?" Forest asked. Silvaki looked at Chloe and saw her shock.
"Well I found what I was looking for, but then there was something else … something dark." Jarvis couldn't even explain what he saw, nor did he want to. Dinklebot started scanning Chloe for what no one knew.
"Oh no not good, not good, Miss Chloe stay with me." Dinkle stated.
"What's wrong with her?" Samuel asked as he walked up to them.
"Her memory is jogging, she's remembering something she shouldn't." Dinkle explained.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Silvaki asked as he walked up to them just before she collapsed to the floor. Samuel wasn't about to let his asset get brain damage from a fall so her caught her just before she hit the floor.
"Quick get her to a bed!" Dinkle demanded.
"Take her to mine." Anton ordered. Silvaki and Samuel nodded and they dragged her to Anton's room right before Jarvis had a not so minor migraine hit his head. "Damn it, Forest help me get him to his bed." Anton ordered as they held him.
Samuel and Silvaki had placed Chloe on Anton's bed as Anton and Forest walked by the door dragging Jarvis. Dinklebot started scanning her again as she lied there.
"Ok no one freak out but she might be dieing." Dinkle said. Silvaki gave the robot a menacing glare.
"How is death any form of calm?" He asked. The robot just gave him a sad look.
"I said no one freak out." He turned back to Chloe and continued to scan. "Ok vitals seem normal, apart from the blood rush; nervous system has been shut down, no signs of epilepsy, ok good found the cause of the problem." Dinkle explained before he fazed out of existence. Samuel and Silvaki just looked at each other with confusion.
"Guys how is she?" Anton asked as he entered. Samuel just shrugged with his hands in the air while Silvaki just looked confused. "I'll take that as a 'don't know yet the robot is still working'." Anton said as he walked in between the two. After a few seconds Chloe's eyes shot open as she gasped for air before coughing as she sat up. "Whoa, whoa not to fast that may cause more problems." Anton said as he set her back on the bed.
"What happened?" Chloe asked as Dinkle reappeared in front of Anton.
"Probably best we explain later." Dinkle said. Anton nodded in agreement as Silvaki walked out.
"Could today get any crazier?" Samuel asked … and just like that … it did.
"ANTON!" Forest called out as she ran into the room with her scroll up to her ear.
"Forest what now?" Anton asked as he turned toward her.
"It's Ozpin, he wants you in his office right away." Forest explained. Anton just shot his hands up in the air as he stormed out of the room.
"Looks like it can!" Anton yelled as he slammed the door behind him. Leaving Samuel and Chloe to stay at the motel.
"Well he's seen better days." Samuel stated.
"At least he hasn't blown a fuse yet, I'm going to check on Storm make sure she's feed." Forest mentioned as she walked out.
Anton wasn't in the mood for any more shenanigans. His day was crazy as it was. First he woke to a group of people trying to hire him, then he runs into Samuel, He almost gets them arrested, his daughter comes from the future, and so on and so forth. So getting a call from Ozpin, not really helping, he flew through the air so fast he was barely watching where he was going and when he finally pay attention it was to late.
"Watch out!" Someone called out as he sped down the court yard. Anton watched as people began to jump to side as he pulled up and shot straight up into the air. As a method of slowing down he began to twirl as he gained altitude and only stopped when he came to a float. He took a look around to see the people slowly back away as the kept staring at him.
"What is up with everyone?" He asked himself as he turned and flew straight towards Ozpin's office as his window opened and closed behind him as he entered. As Anton floated to the ground his wings folded into his pack.
"Well hello Anton." Ozpin greeted in his usual monotone voice as he got up from his desk.
"Listen it's been a crazy day so far since I woke up, what exactly happened while I was out?" Anton asked as Ozpin walked up in front of him and handed him his sword Vibre.
"Life happened, from just what seems like a full night's sleep or a day's work can change quickly into hell, but it's what you do and how you get through to tomorrow that matters." Ozpin said. Anton gave him a questionable look but gave his sword an even worse look.
"Why did you call me?" Anton asked. Ozpin just sighed and shook his head.
"I called you here because we have much to discuss." Ozpin said as he set Anton's weapon on his desk. "Have you noticed anything different since you woke up, any accurances or anything out of the ordinary?" Ozpin asked. Anton thought for a moment.
"Yeah, wherever I go people give me this strange look, a conflicting one, like I can't tell if they fear me or if I give them hope." Anton explained. Ozpin just took a sip out of his coffee before sitting at his desk.
"The people are confused Anton." Ozpin started as he brought up a hologram of Vale in the center of the room with Ironwood's fleet above. Anton looked at it with confusion. Why did Vale need so many ships flying above it, let alone this many soldiers everywhere. "This is the size of our defenses right now thanks to Ironwood and the city of Atlas." Anton turned back to Ozpin as he finished.
"I thought I noticed a raise in security since last time I was here. But why do we need this many ships, it's not like we're preparing for an invasion, The White Fang are dealt with, Roman Torchwick is behind bars, what else is there that we don't know?" Anton asked. Ozpin changed the picture to a chess piece that which resembled of a Queen piece. Anton turned to the picture and remembered the target from the dance.
"Fear Anton, may I ask you something?" Ozpin asked. Anton turned to Ozpin with such fear.
"Yes." He said.
"You've avoided any form of Education and made a living by scraping by with whatever you could find and proceeded with acts of vigilantism, why?" Ozpin asked as he gave Anton a piercing stare as he folded his hands together. Anton just lowered his head as he sat down himself on one of the chairs Ozpin pulled up from under the floor at the press of a button. "It's why the people give you conflicting looks, because they saw you save them from destruction, but they don't know why you did it." Ozpin explained. Anton just looked up with determination.
"I never cared before." Was all he said. Ozpin gave him a look of disappointment.
"And why do you say that?" Ozpin asked before Anton raised his index finger at him.
"Note to self I said before, before I was just a stubborn kid who only cared for himself, he had no ambition, all he did was follow orders, all he wanted was to see the light of tomorrow but never got it, so he ran in search of it. Now that I've seen more and done more all I want is to continue to do so, see more and do more, and not just for myself, but for those around me." At this Ozpin smiled before reaching under his desk and handing the boy a small stack of papers. Anton looked at it puzzeling. "What's this?" Anton asked as he took from Ozpin's hands.
"An opportunity and a very pressing choice either, you and your friends can continue your trail of vigilantism and keep scrapping by or you can start anew, and give meaning to you acts of heroism." Ozpin said as he again handed Anton his Vibre. Anton looked up at the man, then down to the papers, and back at him. He stood up with a smile before he took his weapon back.
"I will consider it, but I will have to run it with them and put it to a vote." Anton said as he sheathed Vibre on his back. Ozpin smiled as he took a sip from his coffee.
"That's all I ask of you." They shook hands before Anton turned to leave. But stopped at the door to the elevator.
"Ozpin … Headmaster" Anton said as he turned around gaining the attention of his soon to be teacher.
"Yes?" He asked in curiosity.
"Put me on the singles roster in the tournament for Team JAFS of Beacon." Anton requested. Ozpin chuckled to himself as he continued to smile.
"I expect a good fight from you." Ozpin replied as Anton nodded before the elevator door closed. Anton rushed to the motel as fast as he could.
"WE'RE WHAT!" Forest called out. Anton just scratched the back of his head as he gave the news to Forest, Jarvis, Samuel, Silvaki, Chloe, and Dinklebot.
"We're attending Beacon Academy." Anton said as he showed them the applications Ozpin gave him. Samuel just crossed his arms, Jarvis scratched under his chin, Forest seemed to be freaking out, Chloe and Dinkle were calm, while Silvaki gave his usual calm domineer.
"Anton, as much as I would like to, the Assassin Order has me a little busy." Samuel mentioned.
"Oh doing what, you seemed to be doing nothing for them earlier." Anton called out. Samuel just sighed in defeat.
"Alright I'll call them and tell them what's going on and hope for the best." Samuel said as he left the room.
"I'm with Sam on this one mate, this is by far one of the craziest ideas you've had." Jarvis stated.
"Well what do you have against it?" Anton asked.
"First off I'm over seven hundred years old mate, I fought in the Great War that separated Humans and Funaus, I can basically teach the history class." Jarvis explained.
"So that means you have the upper hand in that class, you'll pass with flying colors." Anton stated.
"Good point." Jarvis said.
"Guys am I the only one excited for this besides Forest?" Anton asked. Silvaki was already sitting at his desk and gave a thumbs up while Chloe and Dinkle just gave each other a look.
"Anton it's not that I'm not excited, it's just, what about the White Fang, what about any crime or violence?" Jarvis asked.
"Jarvis, the Violence has dropped since Roman got nabbed, and crime has stopped ever since Adam was stopped, but not everything has stopped, so we need to be prepared for when something bigger comes, and the people look at us with conflict because we aren't real hunters, we're just vigilantes to them, so if we do this, we'll be giving the more hope them we could give them now. The only way we are going to be better is to do better, with as much help as we can get." Anton explained as Samuel walked back in.
"Good news, I'm free for now so if we're going to do this, better be now." Samuel said. Anton smiled as he handed him a small packet.
"Thanks Samuel." Anton said as Samuel took the packet.
"Don't forget we still have some jobs left to do." Samuel mentioned.
"I won't forget." Anton stated before Forest quickly nabbed a packet for herself. Anton turned to Jarvis and handed him a packet.
"Alright lad let me go shave my face first." Jarvis said as he took the packet and walked off.
"Yes, thanks man." Anton called out before walking up to Silvaki.
"Before you ask, yes I'll watch over your bird while your away, but first all I ask is that you go say hello before goodbye." Silvaki requested.
"Alright." Anton said before he walked out the back and saw his fully grown Nevermore laying down. Anton chuckled to himself before he whistled and at an instant Storm was up and in his face licking him clean. "Hey girl yeah I missed you to." He said to Storm who cawed in joy.
"So this is the famous Storm the Nevermore." Chloe said as she walked out.
"Yes she is … wait you've never seen her before?" Anton asked.
"Oh no I did, just not very often, you and mom we're always so busy you had to leave me with Uncle Jarvis." Chloe explained.
"Damn, I'll be sure to remember to make more time for you." Anton stated. Chloe then looked shocked and raised her hands at him.
"Oh no you don't have to I understood why." Chloe stated. Anton just gave her a sly questionable look.
"Did you really?" Anton asked. Chloe just sighed in defeat.
"No." She said. Anton just chuckled.
"Then it's settled." Anton said. There was a moment of silence as Anton began petting Storm.
"Why don't ask?" Chloe asked.
"About what?" Anton asked.
"About everything, when I came back I was expecting an army of questions to blow make away, but you're just quiet and only asking why I'm here." Chloe mentioned. Anton just chuckled before walking up to her.
"I saw your life up to this point, that was enough to prove to me that you're my daughter. I'm not asking about my future because what's the joy in that, granted I saw some spoilers because of you, but I am living a life we're I don't know what tomorrow will bring because I'm too busy helping others, so that's why I haven't asked, it's because I don't want to know just yet, but I'll get there when I get there." Anton explained before Storm nudged him for attention. Chloe smiled at him before hugging her father.
"Thanks dad." Chloe said. Anton returned the hug.
"Uh sure thing, but uh can you reframe from calling me that, I don't want to feel old just yet." Anton requested. Chloe just laughed and punched his shoulder.
"Sure pal." Chloe joked.
"Will you be fine staying here watching over Storm with Silvaki for me?" Anton asked.
"Yeah I'll make do, besides you have school now, so go get ready." Chloe said.
"Alright fine rub it in my face why don't you." Anton stated in a joking manner as he walked back inside.