Alrighty boys and girls, we're back at it. This is going to be the last chapter for a few weeks until I (Genatools) finish one of my other stories. I just figured that I should probably tell you guys that. Once that is over and done with, and after a good break from writing, I'll come back to this story and continue it, maybe even make that short crossover story.

Tigervolano5000: Your review is so long that if I responded to every sentence of it we'll be here all day, so instead I shall respond to some of it. First of all, thank you for reading this whole story man, the beginning of it was a little rough, and half of it was a little less rough, but things got better as I got better at writing, as well as my co writer and beta. So you can expect writing as good if not better than my other stories, that I can assure you. Team HAMR was an idea I could never drop ever since I thought of it, just like Aaron, and everything else me and CrowSkull planned out. You'll see. Ashley and Hector did have some pretty good chemistry before, but right now, things are a little rough for that relationship. Things are changing, and this version of Hector is different now. Even more different than the UH Hector. VERY different from the Uh Hector, keep that in mind as you read the rest of this story. Hell is also different, I can't even count that many differences from this story and that story. As for Mike and Reggie, their relationship doesn't determine who they are as people, you would be correct. I don't often write about what they do, but it shouldn't be a main focus. They're gay and together, and that's that. Penny is adorable and shall always be, so that's also a thing. Agh, This is already too many words, I'll respond to the rest of it mentally Lol. But now you gotta read Blind Huntsman next, or Detective Grimm if you want some laughs.

Oblivious IJ: Poor Hector, he has no idea what he has gotten himself into. Or maybe he does and it's just too late to do anything about it. Oh well.

Beta & Cowriter: CrowSkull

Now let us push forth!

A Tale of Two Heroes

Chapter 36- Step by Step

Robert was feeling… something. It was nauseous, the smell, everything, and everything felt slow, like if it was under water. He looked around and realized he was underwater, it looked and felt like shallow water. He started to swim upwards in the heavy brownish water until something tugged at his leg, it was a strong pull. Robert looked back and a shadow was trying to drag him back into the water, he kicked it away and tried to go back to the surface, but then another shadow appeared and grabbed his arm and dragged him down. Robert made a move to activate one of his blades to cut the shadow away, but he couldn't, he realized that he didn't even have his gauntlets.

More shadows appeared and tried to drag him down, screaming at him, holding him in place, he elbowed and kneed and kicked away at the shadows trying to get free, he managed and tried to go for the surface, but the shadows just kept appearing,they started to try and grab his face, he looked away. He could feel his lungs starting to empty, he felt the air running out, saw the bubbles of air spilling out of his nose and mouth, and felt the urge to take in a nice deep breath. If he didn't do something he was going to die. He readied himself sent out a lightning blast, that would free him and help him reach the surface, he looked back ready to unleash it… and behind the shadows he saw Seth, also struggling with more shadows.

Miara was also there, Mackie, Verdant… they were all close trying to get free of this shadow humanoids, Robert struggled harder, he tried to get free and managed to free one arm and make aggressive punches and elbows at the shadows, as he struggled he saw more people, there was Hector… Michael, Ruby, Yang, Weiss… Blake, Ashley, everyone… he had to do something he had to, he had to use… he couldn't, he realized.

If he used his lightning, he would live, but they would die, and if not the shadows would just drag them down… he felt his mouth straining, bubbles came out, time was short, he wailed his legs to try and get free but one shadow always was able to grab him from somewhere and drag him back down, he looked at the others, also struggling.

'Please do something, please just break free.' He thought, his breath was coming short, he felt the hurting on his chest, he felt the dirty water break into his mouth, he looked up and he saw a Deathstalker, it was moving it's stinger towards the water… the poison. Robert looked to all sides and everyone was being dragged lower and lower, he saw bubble come out of the mouths of some people, no one was able to do anything, he could… but he couldn't… the stinger inched closer and closer as the shadows dragged them all down, if he use lightning they'll die. He couldn't do it he just had to…

It only got worse from there, some of his comrades started to get corrupted, taken away, or something weird will happen to Hector like he saw a flash of before back on the train from Emerald's illusion. He was overwhelmed by darkness, and when it faded away, his hair was white, his skin was pale, his veins were pulsing with purple and his eyes were redder than ever, with black overtaking the white. He looked over to his own teammates, and to Robert's shock and horror he watched as he pulled Ashley down with him, both of them disappearing into the darkness.

All the while, the Deathstalker got closer and closer to the water. He saw the stinger just inches above the water over him, he saw people near just… fall unconscious with wide eyes, he couldn't, he couldn't... they…

The stinger moved closer, more shadows appeared. If he didn't do it they'll die! He charged himself, he let out and shockwave around him and spread his hands to shoot out lightning at the shadows… and as he did so, the shadows dissipated… and turned into the policemen and women he had killed in the sewers.

Robert jolted up from his bed with a sharp breath intake from his nose, he looked around and breathed, he wasn't underwater. He was at Beacon, he looked around him keeping his breathing to his nose, he looked around the room with wide eyes, eventually his breathing came back to normal. He felt his hammering heart slow down back to normal, he started to feel the cold sweat around him, and eventually all he could hear was silence of the night.

Just another nightmare, it was… surprising for him, mostly because he didn't dream a lot, lucky once a month he would get a dream, recently he had another nightmare, he also had heard the screams of help from the people that died at the sewers, but that had been short, voices and echoes… this was more livid, felt more real, he looked outside the window and he looked that it was still dark, the moon shining as the only light source through the curtains, he looked for his scroll, he checked the clock and it was 5am.

He let out sigh as he sat there on his bed, he held his face for a bit and just sat there thinking, the loud hammering was gone, but he could still feel his heart beating faster than normal, of all the dreams and nightmares this one was sticking with him. Well for now… so far nothing had beaten the talking duck murder into massive disco ball meteor…

And yet that one hadn't affected him as much as this, he didn't feel like it was just a nightmare, he didn't feel like it was just that… he felt the cold sweat around him and wiped his forehead, in his hand he could feel a good portion of sweat in his hand, Robert used his semblance, creating sparks on his hand, and then the sweat was gone with small wisp of smoke… he really didn't feel like he could sleep anymore.

For the rest half an hour he sat on his couch while still in his pajamas, he decided to drink a glass of water and eat some snack he had around to pass the time, but for the most part he drank water then gather some on his palm and just… wait. He was waiting to see if there was a moment his semblance would react without his control and just vaporize the water, but it didn't happen. He waited and waited, he evaporated the water on command and then repeat the process again, waiting for something to happen, but nothing out of his control happened, no random spark, no sudden jolt… nothing.

It made him get over the dream a bit, but it also unsettled him, he wondered really if he was in control of his semblance. He had long figured out that his emotional state and his adrenaline and excitement fueled his semblance, like a battery that charges itself while having to do something, but what if someday he couldn't control it. What if he went on another mission and has to go through a lake, a river or swamp and there are more people… what if something attacks and he just reacts, what if him getting scared just sets a chain reaction, what if if he gets excited and just… starts using lightning to chase something across the water… would he hurt the ones next to him? Kill them, even?

What if he's just having a good time at the beach or the local swimming pool or a hot spring? Would something happen? He had all these questions on his head while holding water in his hand… and yet nothing happened.

Robert had a hard time getting over a lot of things, mainly his mistakes his family was one of them… and even though he had accepted that there were chances he'll never see them again, he still missed them, wished he could have done many things better. He felt the same with what happened at the sewers, if he had been better… maybe he couldn't have been useless in the water, maybe he could have done more than put people out of their misery… if he was better maybe he could also have fought better against Aaron, maybe he could lasted longer… maybe he could have helped at the train… so many things he could have done better, and yet he didn't feel like was doing much better now. His training with Glynda had become more serious, and even though he was putting far more of a fight… he didn't know if that was enough, would it be enough to face Aaron or Cinder? Would he be able to do something? To help in anyway? Or would he just get over his head and do something stupid trying to help? Or maybe would he be stuck thinking to much and end up doing nothing as the people close to him fought and died.

He didn't feel ready, he also didn't feel he was doing enough to change that, the only thing that was worth mentioning was his training, and the scans that Ironwood and Ozpin were doing. After the train incident both of them had become interested on how he had resisted the Monarch, he told them everything, and after that they started doing regular scans of his brain to see if something was different about him being an alien and such.

But that was it, just training, waiting and fear… Robert really didn't feel he was doing enough, he felt that he was supposed to be doing something, a mission, anything… and at the same time, he was afraid to go in one and of something similar to happening again. To have to see allies die, to have to put them out of their misery… of him fucking up in some way. He did his best to push the thoughts out his head however, with the help of cereal bars and yogurt. He just had to keep going, he'll figure something out, everything has way of showing a way, there were always opportunities, he just needed to find one. For his sake, for Hector's… everyone's, because if they did nothing… then he will be living his nightmare, to die unable to do anything.

With a long exasperated yawn, Hector finished putting on the rest of his clothes. He was given leave from the infirmary today, and somehow even with all the sleep he has gotten throughout the time he has spent there he still felt like sleeping for another few weeks or so. Maybe he'd wake up back on earth if he was lucky, it was worth a shot. Maybe this was all a dream and this was all some prank on him.

Sadly, that wasn't the case. This world was still very much real in his eyes, and his clothes certainly felt real. A new shirt made of heat resistant material Ruby totally did not steal for him, and the same thing happened with his pants. It just so happens that it was also made out of the same stuff. Wearing his green padded pants with his black Team HAMR shirt felt eliviating. Like he was almost fully recovered. Even though he would never truly be completely recovered after what happened, his bones still being likely to break under any kind of force from a Kaioken activation.

Finally, he rolled his shoulders and stretched his still sore body upwards. He was able to walk on his own again, it took a few days, but the muscles in his legs recovered enough so that he didn't need a cane or crutches to help him walk. He did get something new along with his clothes however, a welcome change. His shirt now had elbow guards attached to it. It was a little awkward trying to fit his arms through, but once he settled into it they hardly felt like they were there at all. Combined with his weapons, they might just be connected to each other or leave very little space between his forearm and elbow. Considering how he relies on close quarters combat to deal his damage, that was another welcome change to help him better defend himself with his arms.

His team wasn't allowed to come pick him up themselves, and they were mad at that at first, but eventually they were convinced that being checked on every few minutes would only stress Hector out, and stress was not something that he needed. But the secret underlying reason for it was because of the not so hidden animosity he had for Ashley. He hid it the best he could for everyone's sake, but there was only so much he could force himself to do before the subtle signs and verbal quips began to get examined. However, Michael and the rest of his teammates were going to welcome him back gladly once he returned to the dorm room, that much was for certain. Even if he wasn't planning anything, Reggie could be trusted to surprise him with something.

But if he thought that he was going to travel alone, he was sorely mistaken.

The moment he opened his door, a familiar color of ginger hair was all he could see for a few moments before he made his eyes roll down to look at the ever so happy to be there android looking up at him.

"I haven't seen you in a while." Hector said with lit up eyes as he recognized Penny immediately.

"Best friend Hector!" Penny exclaimed, squeezing him in a hug so tight he could feel his bruised ribs clench around his bruised lungs. Only after coughing a dozen times in as many seconds divided by twelve did she think to let him go. "I was worried about you! Ever since I heard about you stopping a train with your bare hands I did the calculations in my brain mathematical correction parameter subroutine, I estimated a shocking zero percent chance of survival!"

"Well…" He had no idea what she just said, but he heard that last part pretty well. "It looks like I've beaten the odds my favorite little android."

"I have also missed your compliments!" Penny said with a wider smile which grew to ear to ear proportions when he chuckled and patted her head. He didn't recall complimenting her that much, but her presence was more than welcome at the moment.

"I've missed you too Penny." Hector replied as he stepped past her, and didn't even flinch when the android followed right along beside him, practically touching shoulders with him. "Is the general okay with you coming to see me by yourself?"

"More than okay, in fact." Penny said with pride. "Friend Urra specifically ordered me to personally make sure that you are never alone, so in times like this when you are alone, I will be standing by!"

"Uh… does that mean you're going to follow me?" Hector asked, worried for his privacy.

"If the situation calls for it, yes." Penny nodded, her smile never leaving her face.

"What about Rob? Aren't you and him supposed to be partnered up or something like that?"

"Friend Urra is currently attending a meeting in relation to a personal health matter. So in the meanwhile, he does not require my presence. In fact he told I should meet you and make sure you are functioning as best as possible." And the order she received means that he was her top priority, she didn't say. Whatever, he could live with it. Penny was a funny girl and a good friend. If she wanted to hang around him to make herself a little more comfortable then that was perfectly okay with him.

With an accepting sigh, Hector spread out his arms and stretched again as raw sunlight beamed down on his face. After being inside for so long, the feeling of the sun felt better than he ever thought it could possibly feel, and he relished in it. After about a minute, he dropped his arms and continued walking. There were plenty of eyes on him the moment he stepped out, but they were not for the wrong reasons, and Hector could easily figure out why his fellow students were looking at him like that. He got kidnapped a month ago, spent weeks getting tortured and living in the wasteland that was the city of Mountain Glenn, and killed an uncountable amount of White Fang members. Then after all of that, while already exhausted, he stopped a train with his bare hands. He had help, but the fact that he was able to slow it down in the first place must have been quite the rumour to spread.

Though while some of the looks were of relief, more were of shock and of a little fear as well. He's killed people, a lot of people. That in itself was a turn off for most people around him. Not to mention the scars clearly visible on his arms. He understood why he was getting looks like that too, it wasn't hard to figure out, most fully trained Huntsman wouldn't have been able to survive what he survived. But then again, most Huntsman didn't have a mirror demon image of themselves who was stronger, faster and sometimes smarter in every category than they were to help them out in dire situations, and boy did Hell help out more than a few tons when it came to stopping that train.

"Do not worry best friend Hector," Penny said, bringing his attention back to her. "The shock is raw now, but in a few days, or maybe a week or two, the looks you receive will decrease by eight times."

Hector snickered at a thought. "Is that another thing you calculated?" He asked.

"Yes." Penny answered, and looked damn proud for it.

Hector sighed again, but kept a smile on his face as he bumped his elbow against Penny's gently. To show a sign of thanks. He didn't know if Penny could understand his body language, and that was evident by how she laced her arm through his when it stayed there a little too long. But that was probably the best acknowledgement he was going to get from the android, even if some people are going to get the wrong idea and think they were dating because of the intimate gesture. Someone was going to have to give Penny the talk one day, and he damn well knew that he was going to make Rob do it if it came down to it.

Many minutes of walking arm in arm together later, Hector made it to his dorm building. He looked up at the structure with a studying gaze, he felt like he hasn't been there in such a long time, and to some extent he really wasn't. He let Penny pull him along, she knew where his room was after all. Two flights of stairs climbed later, and they were on his floor.

The door to his room was still brand new, because it has been replaced yet again. Yet instead of Reggie carving the team name into the wooden door again this one was metal, and had a plaque on it which displayed the name; Team HAMR on the front of the door. Reggie must have been ecstatic about that when he saw it, he just had to be. It wouldn't make sense for him not to be pumped full of adrenaline at the mere sight of that plaque.

"I am glad that you are okay Best friend Hector." Penny said as she let go of his arm, and bowed her head toward him. "You have great friends as well, things will get better."

Hector looked at her with soft eyes, did she mean to say it like that? If so, whatever happened to her while he was gone she certainly found a way to words. Because as a matter of fact he was worried about reconnecting with his friends. Obviously, he knew that they were going to welcome him back with open arms, and not even hold anything he did against him like some people might have. That was just how they were, Ruby, Yang, Jaune, Blake, Pyrrha, none of them would hold it against him. He was just worried that they expected him to act the same way he usually did before. Because he wasn't.

Still though, he nodded to Penny and hugged her back before she went off again. Leaving him alone in front of his dorm room where his teammates were most certainly waiting for him. He stood in front of the door nervously, cracking his knuckles and procrastinating on even touching the door knob for a few minutes. Thinking about what he was going to say, and what they expected from him. Eventually, he swallowed his irrational fear down, and opened the door quickly. Taking in the sight of Reggie arm wrestling with Nora in the middle of the room with Michael and Ren betting money on who was going to win behind each of their partners.

It took about two seconds for them to notice that he was there, and another one for Nora to beat Reggie in his moment of distraction while Michael cursed at his loss and Ashley sat up on her bed at the sight of him.

"I was gone for just a few weeks, and this is what I come home too." Hector said with the best straight face he could barely hold on his face.

"Well you seem to be a bad luck charm then," Michael said as he forked over money to Ren, and stepped up to his leader. "'Cause now I'm down a hundred Lien." He showed that he meant nothing by it by smiling at him, and when Hector snickered the two of them embraced each other. They held each other and Hector patted him on the back a few times before letting him go. When they were done Hector shared a nod with Ren, and then high fived Nora for her victory against the metal man. How she was stronger than a guy who could transform his body into solid metal was beyond him, but he was smarter than to question it.

"Welcome back Boss!" Reggie said after he rolled his wrist a few times to rid it of the soreness he felt. The next second that passed, and Reggie was embracing his leader. "Ahhh, make me do something like that again and I'll throw you in front of another train and you can stop it by yourself." He said as he pulled away and patted Hector on the shoulder.

"I don't plan on doing anything rash for a long while, trust me." Hector laughed. "The next time you might want to keep an eye on me for though would be the Vytal Festival tournament."

"Which we're totally going to win, right?"

"Hah! More like we're going to win, right Renny?" Nora asked the pink eyed boy.

"I would rather not be roped into this competition." Ren said as he exited the room, bringing Nora with him. "I shall leave you all to reunite together properly, I am sorry I let Nora convince me to make bets on her."

Despite Nora's exclamation that she just won him some money which went completely ignored. Hector said that it was okay and that they would see each other tomorrow for class. Thankfully this was a sunday, so there was no more for him to attend for the rest of the day, which was quickly becoming night time by the looks of the outdoors.

"We're totally going to win it." Hector said once he knew that they were gone, he wasn't about to risk Nora overhearing his last words and break down their brand new door to demand that he take it back.

"That's what I like to hear!" Reggie exclaimed as he rolled his shoulder with a grimace. "Damn, guess I'm not fully recovered after all. Usually I can beat her in an arm wrestle."

"Well…" Hector hesitated on his next words, flashes of memories of that day coming back to him as he thought about the train. "At least we all came out okay in the end."

"Not all of us..." He heard Ashley mutter from her bed. When he glanced over to her, he noticed that his couch that he sleeps on was all cleaned up and prepared for him to sleep in. Another glance to Michael told him that it should be obvious who did it for him.

The room quickly became quite as Ashley sensed him looking at her and locked eyes with him. Hers was sad, and she was clutching a book shut in her hands as she looked at him, and his must have been hard, because she looked away after a few moments, surrendering to him the victory. Something she would have never done in any other situation.

"You know, you two are going to have to make up some day." Reggie didn't bother to keep his voice silent. "You don't have to get all kissy kissy with each other again, but you two are partners, and I'd rather not have this night be ruined because of a grudge — he rightfully has against you — that could end up tearing the whole team apart."

"Agreed." Michel said, ever the one with few words to share on anything.

With a soft sigh, Hector looked away from his partner. She was still here, and she just gave up everything she had in the White Fang to come help save him. So it wasn't like he could hold it against her. But he couldn't help but still despise her for everything that happened before. All the lying, the tiptoeing around, how long was she at it? Were her feelings for him real? Did he fall for someone who was faking their personality? He didn't know, and honestly he didn't feel like broaching the topic at the moment.

"You're right, but not today." Hector said as he walked over to his couch, and fell into it. He already took a shower before returning here, so he could fall asleep now and not regret it in the coming hours. "Give me time, and I'll come around." He said as he draped his forearm over his eyes.

"Well…" Reggie hesitated to say anything during the moments of awkward silence that followed his final words. "Did you hear that Michael challenged Urra to a fight in class tomorrow?"

Hector nearly fell off his cough in his impending shock.

"Yeah, everyone's excited for it. After Mike fought Pyrrha during one of our classes and managed to draw with her, there's been bets going on throughout the whole school." Reggie laughed.

Michael sighed. "That wasn't supposed to become common knowledge, but whatever."

"I'm gone for a few weeks." Hector repeated himself in the midst of his laughter. "And you suddenly become an extrovert. I must be a shitty leader."

"You are, but you are our leader." Michael agreed. "At least you try."

"You know what? I'll get in on that bet." Hector smiled when all three of his teammates leaned in to hear him. "You win, and I'll dye a part of my hair red. If Rob wins, I'll dye a part of my hair blue. I was thinking about dyeing it anyway."

Michael shuddered at the mere thought of that. His leader walking around with a streak of blue hair… Ugh, the clash of colors would be too intense for his eyes to handle. "Better be prepared to buy that red dye then, cause your alien friend is about to lose his dignity."

Even if it started off a little awkward, Hector was happy to be back with his team again. No matter what, they always found a way to make him smile.

"So, who is this 'Merlot' guy, again?" Robert asked. He was called into a meeting soon after classes ended that day. The only details that he was allowed over the call being that there has been something strange going on with the Grimm in a part of the Emerald Forest, and that those Grimm were filmed rummaging around the security network control centers that they don't usually even touch normally. Apparently, the person responsible behind this commodity was an exiled Atlesian scientist who came over from his home kingdom to assist in the construction of the city of Mountain Glenn before it's fall and with his designs and inventions. Which explains why General Ironwood and the specialist Winter Schnee was there as well. The call was sudden and unexpected, but the headmaster was the one to call him himself, so he could tell right away that it was urgent.

"He used to be one of my top scientists many years ago." Ironwood quickly explained. "After he was found out to be conducting illegal experiments with the Grimm and humans alike, he was excommunicated. This just so happened to be just before the fall of Mountain Glenn."

"And now we fear that he did not fall when the city fell like we hoped." Ozpin added. "As I told you over the scroll, some of our security nodes meant to keep an eye on the Grimm in the Emerald Forest have been going dark. We've sent a scout to check the machinery to see what was the problem with them, and had troubling news to process."

"Firstly, the guy didn't even come back." Qrow interjected, sitting with his legs up on one of the vacant chairs to his side. "He just forwarded to us what he saw, and then he went dark. Can't imagine what happened to him." He drawled, he sounded sarcastic. But it was obvious he was angry about it.

"Quite, and he was a trusted ally of ours. Trained to fight and slay Grimm, and we yet fear that he was killed in action." Ozpin hung his head slightly, and shook it. "May his soul rest."

Robert sighed and looked out the window to his side, nothing was ever easy. "And just when got your message I thought it was just going to be another brain scan, okay… so what's the plan, and why was I called exactly? I'm actually curious as to why you let me in on all this information as well." He really didn't know when Ozpin made him part of his circle of allies.

Ozpin met his eyes, and somehow Robert already knew the words that were going to come out of his mouth before it even began to be spoken. "We have hopes that your… foreknowledge could be of some use to us in this situation. Everyone in this room knows about your and Mister Rivers origins, so there is no need to keep anything to yourself."

Robert scratched his chin in thought on how to say the following. He didn't know much about Merlot, just the basics and what happened in Grimm Eclipse, and yet it wasn't his best knowledge.

"Regarding Merlot, I know of him." He admitted. "Not much, I didn't know he was one Ironwood's scientists at one point, but I do know what he's… trying. He has become obsessed with finding the true nature of the Grimm, he wants to find a purpose for them. A way to control them, to make them his and make 'peace'." Robert said.

"I see…" Ozpin nodded his head as he thought. "Even if you believe that wasn't a lot to share, that has helped us with this endeavor immensely. Have you any thoughts about what your cousin may know?" His smug smirk told him that he damn well knew that it wasn't true, but his joke still managed to get a snicker out of Qrow."

"First, Hector and I don't have the same kind of knowledge and we both remember certain details differently, so I don't know. And secondly, it wasn't everything… because Merlot, well he at least succeeds on mutating the Grimm."

Ozpin frowned at the news, but nodded his head nonetheless. He wasn't expecting any good news to come out of this. "I thank you. Now, with the Vytal festival in less than a month away, this is a matter I fear will become much more of a problem if he has plans for anything that could involve unleashing such Grimm into the city. The monarch that you slayed was underneath our very grounds, grounds who knows how many years old, the cult navigated like nothing, who knows what else could be hiding in those sewers?" Robert didn't want to think about that, not after the nightmare he just had and certainly not with the memories he still had about that hellish mission that caused the deaths of many good men and women. "Which is why there is going to be another mission to be handed out, a mission that you will be a part of, along with a team of students to go with you."

"... Even though I would like the chance to do something, why me?"

"Trust me kid, I'd like to go instead. But the White Fang have been acting up again, so I am going to have to make sure that they don't do anything silly." Qrow started to explain. "Ice Queen here is from Atlas, and can't meddle with any Valean matters without permission from the council, and believe me, their decision would be made by the next Vytal Festival, same thing with Jimmy." Winter and Ironwood glared at him, but both nodded their heads in confirmation.

"Glynda is also going to be unavailable because of the festival, as will I and many of the other of the professors of this school. As of right now, you are the only one sitting at this table who can go on this mission. If we found out what was happening before the missions, or even during. We would have handled this ourselves. But alas, not all bad things happen at the best of times."

"..." Robert didn't know what to say, so he said the first thing that came to mind. "Merlot's operation is taken by a group of students, a group can do it alone, I would like to go but… I'm still interested in finding more about Hayes."

"A single group is able to just destroy the whole operation? Merlot included?" Ozpin asked, and Robert clenched his teeth, he dug his own grave there.

"They… ugh, they destroy his base, but Merlot's fate is… unknown." Robert said.

" I see, that means then that if we want to be certain, it would be wise for you to also go." Ozpin said, completely ignoring his yearning to learn more about the man from the train.

Robert remained quiet for a few seconds, staring at Ozpin, and then he spoke. "So… I'm being sent, as an assassin basically."

"If you wish to see it that way, so it shall be. But you are not the only one going on this mission." When Robert looked at him, demanding answers with his glare. Ozpin was quick to explain. "Team HAMR will be accompanying you on this mission."

"Ozpin." Was all Robert could say, maintaining his glare. "Why, why them? They… forgive me, but that doesn't seem like such a smart idea."

"Why, Mister Rivers has been making a remarkably fast recovery. Even if he is restricted to not use his powerful semblance, his teammates are skilled, and they all have a vast experience fighting against Grimm and human opponents. Much more than even some of the fourth year students of this term. I considered sending Team RWBY, or even JNPR, but they simply don't have as much experience… and I fear that if it came down to it, they would not be able to take a life if it was needed."

"Taking a life isn't supposed to be their job yet. If necessary, I can take that role and make that call, but there are options, we both know that, and yes Hector made a quick recovery, but we still have to know if he can use his Semblance without it killing him. And his team… they have an issue to work trough."

"We know, which is why we have given them a weeks notice. They have already been told of this mission, and although reluctantly, the leader accepted to take it." Robert wanted to curse at him for that, but bit his tongue to keep himself quiet, it was too late. "During this week, they are going to be prepared for it. I myself will see to Mister Rivers training myself a day of this week whenever I have the time. To see if I can help with his semblance issue. Today is Monday, when it is Monday again, you will all depart to the Emerald Forest to begin your investigating." He went on, ignoring the obvious dismay that was within his facial expression. They were going to begin in the Emerald Forest, find out what happened to the security nodes and try to see if they can find the scout that went missing, and then go back to Mountain Glenn to search an abandoned research facility. The going back to Mountain Glenn part of this mission was what worried him most. Hector still hasn't told anyone specifically what happened to him there, and it was evident that he had some PTSD because of it. He didn't know what could go wrong, and it scared him more than he cared to admit.

"I will send a copy of this briefing to every one of you." Ozpin finished as he slid over a folder full of papers his way. "And this should go without saying, but do please keep this to yourselves if you can. I wouldn't want this to become public knowledge lest our enemies find out that we are onto them and act accordingly."

"Hmm, if we spread the word a bit maybe we could get other volunteers as well." Robert suggested, very openly, still he took the briefings.

"No, as you said. This operation was taken down by a group of four girls. Huntresses in training. I am sure an experienced team with an experienced fighter can handle this." Ozpin said all this with a knowing smirk on his face. "But, in the case of an emergency, there will be an emergency flare on your holding just in case the worst occurs

"... I never said four girls."

"You didn't need to." Ozpin said, his smirk never leaving his face. Right… this was the same man who originally sent Team RWBY there in the first place.

"Well... if you are going to insist I hope you can possibly pay for injuries, trauma and maybe some meds because I told you before, what we and Hector know has changed, things changed, and things can go differently… I hope you mattered that into the equation." Robert said.

"That happens to be exactly what I am counting on, Mister Urra." Ozpin said as he slowly made to stand up, the rest of the others standing up with him. "In three days, I'll call you all here to speak of possible plans and strategies to use. Use this time wisely, train them, interact with them. You are not the only one who is more than a little curious as to what has changed within Mister Rivers."

"Does time and place mean anything to you? Also, haven't you realized that I'm not the best at socializing, the best friendly moments I have since I came here was eating cockroaches in a sewer with people that knew that there was a high chance they were going to die… it took that much gore and stupidity for me to make friends past the point of acquaintances." Robert said, this time more energetically and overall anxious.

"Friendships that can last a lifetime can be made at the strangest of times." Ozpin said in a sullen voice as he eyed Qrow, who shrugged at him in response. "And I believe you shall find it easier that you think, Mister Rivers and you already seem to be somewhat close at the very least. And you seem to have grown a bit of a rivalry with a certain Kusarigama wielding teammate of his." He said with an amused smirk. "Believe me when I say this, Robert," It was one of the first times he has ever called him by his first name, and that caught his attention. "I know friendships can be hard to attain, and even more difficult to maintain. But nothing will be possible if you don't at least try. Why, Qrow here was even worse than you back when he was my student."

"Y'know, I may be old, but I'll still kick your ass." The drunken Huntsman replied as he gave him the middle finger.

"Give it time," Ozpin said lastly as he collected his things, and made to leave. "You'd be surprised by what can be possible with just a little effort put into it."

"Yeah, effort and overall ridiculous situations at this point." Robert muttered to himself as the rest of the adults made their leave. All except one person.

Qrow stood there drinking from his flask, and when he was finished he beat on his chest lightly and burped wildly. Robert looked up at him, and didn't know what to say. He was never alone with the man before.

"Yeah, you got that look on ya." Qrow said as he cracked his neck.

"What kind of look?"

"The look that says you need a drink."

"It's only going to get crazier right?" Robert asked.

"If I know Oz, then you're probably going to have to get one of these things." Qrow said as he waved his flask in front of his face before sticking it back in his shirt pocket. "Especially if you're going to be working with us long term. C'mon, I'll even let you pay for the first round."

"... Let's say, do you mind if invite another set of people that might also need a drink? At the very least then we could have a good night. I can still pay." Robert said, this time with a smirk.

"Heh, sure. More the merrier." Qrow said as he kicked the door open, not even acknowledging the splintered wood that flew all over the place. "Sick of drinking on my own…" He grumbled as he walked out, that was his cue to follow the older man, because he had a feeling that he wasn't going to wait up for him.

Whelp, that was that. Some plans for the future of this story, some literally written out for you guys to see. Some foreshadowing, and the reveal of what the next arc is going to be before the Vytal Festival. Yes, Grimm Eclipse is going to be a thing for this story I had to watch a whole walkthrough of it to understand the plot and everything, and then it took a while to plan the damn thing out. Oh well. - Genatools

Yeh, it just happened so… eh well, content right? -CrowSkull

We got this! Also, as a reminder to you guys, after this chapter is posted, which it is now, I am going to be focusing on finishing Unlikely Hero, which is close to completion. So expect that there isn't going to be an update for this story for a few weeks. Maybe two, I don't know. However long it takes for me to finish that story, come off of my break, and then start writing again.

Please review and let us know what you think of the story.

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