Chapter 27
A/N: Don't be too sad but I have an ending on the horizon! But fear not! For there might be a sequel (don't hold me to that) and I'm sure Who We Once Were will go on for as long or even longer than this! (Again, don't hold me to that)
The days seemed to grow longer and longer as Weiss and James trudged through dense forest to find where Cinder Fall is hiding. "James… Can we stop for a bit?" Weiss asked. "Yeah, I'll set up a perimeter." James checked the surrounding area for cameras and Grimm alike. Nothing would surprise James this deep into the northern forests. No one wanted to live out here. It was a nightmare to even travel this far, let alone set up camps.
James returned to where Weiss was sat up against a tree. "I still kind of like you, you know." "I know. I'm sorry but I can't return the feeling." "Yeah. I know you can't." "Want some water?" Weiss asked holding up a bottle. Weiss was exhausted from the amount of traveling they did. "You drink up, I'll drink some from my pack if I want some." James was fatigued, he lead the way, yet he couldn't help but shut his eyes as he sat down to rest. "The hell are even looking for anyway?" Weiss asked with mild irritation.
"Some sort of Bunker. A base. Hell they could be based in Vacuo. Place has got kinda shady. Not exactly a suit and tie kind of place if you know what I mean." James kept his eyes shut the entire time bet felt the ground around him to keep the shroud of sleep away from his conscious. "You haven't slept in a week James. Why don't you let me keep watch?" James opened his eyes. "No. I can't abandon the mission. I must stay awake. I've got to be prepared. This place has changed too much. I can't sleep."
"What would Ruby tell you out here?" James laughed. "'Get some sleep James. I'll keep watch for you!' That's what she would say." James answered. "Well, I'm telling you the same thing." Weiss said plainly. With a sigh of defeat James set back against the tree and fell to the shroud of darkness that clouded the corners of his mind.
James felt a sense of worry, in his mind he felt as if he was sleeping for too long. Something was wrong, he did what he trained to do, speed up his heart rate to wake up. Panting he shot open his eyes. 'That's right, we're in the forest. Weiss. Where the hell did she…?' James realized there was something against his side. It was Weiss, she was asleep holding on to James' side. James un-holstered his pistol and scanned around from where he sat against the tree.
"Weiss. Hey. Wake up." James shook Weiss with his free hand. "I think they're over here!" A voice yelled from the forest. "Weiss, get up. We're leaving. Now." James said lifting up Weiss by her arm and slinging it around his neck. "Weiss. Wake up damn it!" Weiss groaned. "Are you serious?" James quickly uncapped his water canteen he had and splashed a small amount on Weiss' face. She tried to let out a yelp but James muffled it with his hand.
"We're surrounded, be quiet and eyes sharp." James commanded. Wiping her face off with her hands went to speak. "Why not just take them on?" "Because I have no clue how many there are! And they obviously know we're here." James ducked into the brush and pulled Weiss with him. "We need to stay quiet, if they even think they hear us they'll alert each other."
"Then what do you think we should do?" Weiss asked in a whisper. "This." James said grabbing a scout as he was walking by, knocking him out before he hit the ground. The man was unconscious and wearing a White Fang uniform. "Do you really think the White Fang is behind all of this?" James asked. "I don't know. Maybe?" "Because I highly doubt it. These guys don't exactly look like the mercenary type. I think they're just tools of war."
James unmasked the scout, to reveal a girl's face with long black hair and rabbit ears. "Aw hell. They're just teenagers. Like us. I'm sorry I have to do this." Weiss turned to James in confusion as he stood up from the brush dragging the Faunus away from the rest of the group. "What are you doing James?" Weiss asked frantically. The girl started to come to. She looked afraid; she was about to yell before James put his hand to her mouth and a gun to her chest.
"Please don't make me do this. You don't have to be here. The White Fang aren't good guys. I know you'll probably say something against me, but it's the truth. They blew up an entire train of innocents, human and Faunus alike." A look of shock ran across the girl's face. "The White Fang use fear for equality. There are other ways to try to attain peace. Now. I'm going to let my hand down; I want you to tell me your name, okay? I don't want to hurt you, but I can't speak for my partner. So please just don't yell." The girl nodded a small tear running from her left eye.
James let his hand down, and the girl relaxed a small bit. "My… My name is Jessica." "Well, it's nice to meet you. I just wish this could have been under different circumstances." "They'll kill me if they find out about this." The girl's head hung low in defeat; she knew she was going to be beat or killed. "Not exactly." James said with confidence. "Listen. In Vale there is one person that can keep you completely safe. Free from all harm." "That's what they told me when I joined the White Fang…" Jessica commented.
"Just a moment." James said while reaching for his earpiece. "Ozpin, this is James, we have a surrender. Please advise." "Is it an H.V.T?" Ozpin's voice rang out over the earpiece. "No. Ozpin I can't leave her here with these people." "Its too dangerous, she could be a spy." "Ozpin, I just knocked the poor girl out, she doesn't have a communicator on her. Scratch last, I'm not leaving her here." "James, I know it can be hard but…" "But nothing Ozpin. This is just the same as Paige. Would you have walked past a girl who was injured in the forest who was bleeding out? This is the same. I know what Faunus are treated like."
"James. Continue your mission, do not let someone get in your way." Ozpin said. There was a long silence from James. "…Copy…" The girl looked up in hope at James. "Can I actually leave this horrible place?" James let out a sigh then looked to Weiss. "Ugh, fine." James nodded quickly. "Yes. But I need one thing from you. Where is the base?" "North about half a mile. There is a small bunker out there, in it is a number pad, and the code is twenty-four, twenty-four."
"Alright. Good. You've really helped us." James motioned to Weiss. "You're going to go with Weiss. She may be a bit grumpy all the time, but she is a good person. Aren't you Weiss?" Weiss backhanded James. "I happen to be one of the nicest people I know." "Tell that to my poor face!" James almost yelled before he remembered where they were. Jessica let out a small giggle. "Now get going." "What about you? You won't be able to take Cinder alone!" "That's why I have this." James pulled a small orange bottle from his battle pack.
"A pill?" Weiss asked. "Not just any pill. An aura enhancement pill. I take this and I will have the power that match three other aura users combined." "That could be dangerous, you could die if you use up your aura too much!" "Be sure to tell Ruby I love her when you return." James used his reflective cloak to turn almost invisible. He would be undetectable in the forest, even if he were right next to someone. There was a rustle of leaves then James was gone.
"Let's go Jessica. We need to get you some where safe."
