Chapter 4-5; Turbulence

"While I can't say this is the worst-case scenario…"

A residual exhale was made from the General, electing pace behind his desk. Leaving a multitude of faces presently gathered in Ironwood's office. From the crowd, Cole resided against the glass of the overcasting windows whilst his companions stood opposite his desk. "…I won't say it's our best-case scenario."

"Speak for yourself…" The faunus huffed correspondingly, earning the targeted ire of his Aunt on the General's opposing side. Having been recuperated to a suitable degree, the young huntsman was to endure both an arm cast and brace about his calf. Residual pains singing his person.

"While there were very few injured from the Grimm, people are dead thanks to another problem, Penny's been framed because of it, and somehow, Jacques Schnee is sitting on the council…"

"At least the fiasco with Robyn has dimmed down…" Clover would earn himself a douse of nerve, stepping forth with the news on Mantle's Hometown Hero. "…it seems Cole's announcement roused the people of Mantle."

Momentarily transferring his regard from the window, Cole lofted his eyebrow in the direction of the Ace Operative. "I said what was needed to be said."

"W-Well…, at least Amity is still a go-ahead…" Finishing with a characteristically anxious laugh, Ruby presented herself as a mediating voice.

While at first, she was paid with little regard, James opted to speak up again. "Amity must remain out primary objective."

"And leave the people of Mantle alone again…?"

Nora had been abnormally hushed in the entire exchange, only now having challenged the resounding authority of the room. Shuffling in his position, Cole dared to look towards her. "You're not actually considering that, are you? Cole might have helped them for one night, but they still need help down there."

The General would soon privilege Cole by the windowsill; watching downcast to the assembly of airships arriving and departing from the helipad. "What's more important? Establishing communications, unite the world? Or focusing on a few city blocks?"

The amber stare directed at him narrowed ever so slightly, only joined by Nora's ever-increasing hysterical tone. "Don't make it sound trivial when you know it isn't. You keep talking about how we unite, but you're not the one having to struggle. You're leaving them all for dead!"

It would not take long for James to turn on his heel and grace her with his courtesy again. "We have all had to make sacrifices for the greater good. Mantle has had to bear a lot of the burden, yes, but-…"

"They're bearing all of it!"

Initially taken aback from the girl's upsurge, Cole recomposed himself at her subsequent quarrel. "The longer this waiting game goes on, the harder each day gets for people down there and now you wanna ignore them when they need us most? You can't just-…!"

"Nora!"

All persons set in the office space withdrew at what was to precede. The unfortunate hardwood of Ironwood's desk would endure a thundering blow against its top from Cole's augmented hand. Cracks spiderwebbing out from its impact. Unbeknownst to himself, a glimpse of crimson fluttered against the faunus's irises. Uncoiling his fingers from the fist, he cursed at the flaring up of his injuries.

Shying off Marie's move to console him, and with sweat staining his brow, Cole limped towards the gathered crowd. "James… has his own job. I have my own. And mine… is Mantle. He works on stabilizing Atlas, while I work with Robyn in Mantle."

Now specifically eyeing Nora amongst her peers, the Atlesian persisted. "These are my people… not yours. And I will do what I can in bettering their lives."

The ardent cerulean pair that had once glowered into his superior were now wide in shock, recoiling at the faunus as he neared. "I-I… I didn't… Cole, I just wanted to-…"

"Wanted to what? Do things your way? Ever since we've come to Mantle… to Atlas… my home, you've been nothing, but critical!" His wounds roared in abused strain, causing his fury to steadily increase. Biting down the conflicting sensations, some unknown ferocity pressed him forward. "You… You have no idea what we have suffered. What James has suffered. What I have suffered. He has always wished for the best for Atlas. That includes all citizens of Atlas."

It was nearly instantaneous.

Clover and Winter at either side and steering him from Nora's startled countenance, while Ren acted as her shield against the faunus. "Cole. Please." At the Schnee daughter's plea, the faunus shook both approaches to return to his place at the window.

"Know what you've suffered…?"

Switching to the girl once more, having indolently shuffled about her companion amidst the turmoil. "I know exactly what you've suffered, Cole. You wanna know why!? Because Mantle isn't just your home, you idiot! It's mine!"

If Cole's jaw plummeted any further, he would be without it. To think that Nora would have been born of Mantle as he had. How could have not seen it sooner? "I… didn't kno-…"

"No. You didn't know! Because you never gave a damn about someone else caring about that city any more than you do! I don't know what has gotten into you recently, Cole, but it cannot stay!" Jostling off Ren's meager attempts to soothe her, the huntress persisted.

Shirking from the girl's chides, Cole moved to rebuke if not for Qrow grappling the young faunus. "Let it go, Cole." Through gritted teeth, he snarled at his present dilemma. Ren was to be the wiser, reeling Nora back in imitation.

'Congratulations, Cole. You've done exactly what we've tried to prevent and carved a hole in this team.'

"…shut up…" Liberating himself from Qrow's clutch, further inducing a spiking pain through his injuries, Cole hobbled to his initial location. The window being his support with the exertion reaching its end.

A lasting silence followed shortly thereafter. Leaving Ruby to elect herself in stirring said quiet away from their collection. "Okay…, General Ironwood. We'll do our best to support both finishing Amity and aiding Mantle when we can. But, please… stop fighting. This type of argument is what Salem wants. We still have Tyrian to worry about…"

"Right…"

All eyes were upon the Ace Operative as he brought out his Scroll. "…the reason we called you here in the first place. You're sure this was the man you saw?" Upon its surface. Clover let manifest a projected screen that displayed a file on the slaughtering assailant. Cole, having been stirred from his departure, stole a glance towards the hologram.

"Tyrian Callows…" Winter's repulsed tone was clearly going unhidden. "…accused of murders all across Anima. A homicidal maniac who escaped justice when his prison transport was attacked by Grimm. After that, he was never seen again."

"Salem…"

At the behest of Cole's muttering, Ruby moved to approve. "He works for Salem. I know Cole's fought him more than once. We and Uncle Qrow have too." At the mention, her uncle spoke his agreeance on the subject.

"IF we had any doubts Atlas was Salem's next target, I think those are officially out of the window."

"But now we have a suspect. We can tell the people…" Ruby's naive upsurge in optimism was met upon deaf ears with Clover's interjection.

"That a long-lost serial killer is loose in Mantle and the military has no idea where he is. Might make things worse before they get better."

"No…" All eyes reoccupied their consideration on the faunus that had spoken, limping from his place. "I… Robyn and I can assure the people of this news. That we can handle it. It's better having the people of Mantle against them than against us."

"That… reminds me…"

Even Cole's attention now solidified upon the General, steeling himself for what his father-figure and superior officer was to express. "…what did you tell Robyn? Anything about the Amity Project? About Salem?"

'He's being careful…' It was then did the faunus duly shake his head, satisfying the man's inquiry. "No. I have her trust now, but… I need to judge her character a bit more. Only then, and after bringing her here, will we decide."

"I… am so sick of your secrets." The simmering flame that was Nora Valkyrie would billow once again, still within Ren's comforting embrace. Her voice was a deadly calm; thus earning the courtesy of all eyes. "What is wrong with you? Do you just lie and lie until there's no truth left to give? Don't you get it? When enough people lie, words stop meaning anything. Then…" Her fingers curled into fists, clenching her teeth to hide any true eruption. "…then there's no more answers. Just better and better lies."

"We can't…"

It was the lack in vocalization that caused a shiver to jolt down Cole's spine, granting the General his full attention. There was an indefinite surety that others within the chamber were experiencing the same sensation. "If we talk about Amity, when we're so close to being finished, we risk Salem's forces, who we know are here, working to sabotage it…"

"And if we mention Salem… we risk an army of Grimm we can't hope to fight off. On all borders."

"Precisely." James was oddly cool-headed throughout his previous statement, rising from his desk. Now beginning for the door, with hands clasped behind his back, he resumed. "The tower must remain our priority. Cole…" As the two met eyes, a voiceless confirmation could be perceived. "…do what you can with Robyn. Ensure we can count on Mantle."

"Right."

Cole may as well have felt the palpable anger emanating from the General, shifting to follow him towards the door. "Everyone else needs to focus on Tyrian. I want to know who he's working with, where he's hiding, what he's planning, and how exactly that video of Penny got all over my kingdom."

Before any further exclamation could be uttered, James found himself ushered by Cole's augmentation. The likes of which he provided no matter in refusal. Some inner workings of the young faunus's mind would be an enigma in these times. Yet, in those same times, the General would look to those trusting in trying times.

Or even if trace of the old faunus truly remained.

The descending elevator ride was lengthier than anticipated; leaving both to suffer a perpetual stillness. Each opportunity either of them stirred to speak, they would interrupt the other, stumble back and then return low. Neither Cole nor James could comprehend their behavior. Their history together would know length.

"Is it truly the stress doing this…?"

At the behest of Cole's murmurings, another voice came to his relief. 'I believe more darker powers are at work here. You yourself are not entirely to blame for your recent behavior.'

"Thanks, Oz." A flicker of amusement whilst the faunus quietly chuckled to himself. "…I'm not sure…" Then a stolen glance in the General's direction. "…not sure where we go at this point."

'You do as I always told you. You keep moving forward.'

His pair of amber stared in reverence at the colossal scale that was to behold. Their elevator ride had earned them the silence that would guarantee such an impact. Crystalline formations were an abundance; with Atlas's technological wonders coursing like veins along their surfaces.

Cole tentatively stepped forward and gazed upon the marvel longingly. This was what they came for. Fought for. '...killed for...' His consideration drifted to that of the Haven Relic. The same currently within one of the kingdom's most secure vaults sides the one he was to stand before.

"There it is..."

Even speech was scarce in the faunus; still dumbfounded as the General neared. "The Staff of Creation." A minuscule laugh could be heard, reaching to gently jostle the boy's shoulder. "I suppose Oz is watching it all from his view. Speaking of... he's been quiet lately."

Immediately stiffening at mention of the Beacon Headmaster, Cole searched for an adequate solution. "Oz has been... watching for now. He wants to play more of a supporting role. Leaving our destinies in our hands rather than himself."

James shaped a sound akin to some manner of confirmation, turning on his heel to face the inner chamber. "Do you know how Atlas keeps itself afloat?"

Befuddled by such a change in topic, Cole moved to approach. "It's... gravity dust isn't it?"

'Wrong.'

"That's what we tell the public..." speaking in accordance with Ozpin's answer. "But we use the Staff itself. A limitless energy source. Oz once speculated it could take us as high as we wanted. To tell you the truth, that served as the inspiration for the Amity Project. Get a communication tower up in the sky, higher than the Grimm can survive so we never lose contact with each other again."

Cole watched on as the General motioned forth, instructing on their given path. "But... we use dust for Amity..." the faunus murmured, looking up to where the Relic would have been. "... is there limit to this limitless supply?"

"That's correct. The Staff can only be used for one purpose at a time." A glance was made behind him, sporting an earnest smile. "We're going to have to do Amity the old-fashioned way, Dust and all."

Stepping beside him, James observed his ward with attentive eyes. How the two gold-colored discs twitched back and forth investigating the scene. "It's... odd. I feel as if I said those things about lifting Atlas. But I know it wasn't. Probably a byproduct of merging."

'Do you not remember how I said memories were included in this package deal I came with? For shame, Cole. I thought you paid attention to me on these things.'

The faunus in questions clicked his tongue at Ozpin's teasing; leaving James to carry on the conversation. "I think... in time, you'll learn a lot more of our past. Even before I met you. Might give you some clarity on the situation more than you already do."

"Right."

Cole was quick to grace James with a needful stare, watching as the man shouldered him. Both now gazing out towards the gaping chasm below the walkway. "I'm... glad you retained your own self in this. Regardless of whether you could speak with Ozpin. Still, not that he and I didn't get along... just..."

Cole's expectant gaze laid layers on the man's countenance. "What...?"

Astonishingly, to the faunus, the renowned Atlas Headmaster was to be choked up on his own words. "... I don't know if what I'm doing anymore is right..." A lax jaw and widened eyes were all his reward, leading him to continue. "Hard to believe... and I've only told you this now... I'm not quite sure how much I can take."

"James..." Cole began, leading to pressing his head into his guardian's shoulder. "You have always had the best interests of the people to heart. No matter your choice. No matter your actions. You are a leader... but, working with others could help?"

"Easier said than done..."

His faunus ears drooped at the melancholic expression James appropriated. Cole had to press further. "James... you're leading down a path that might do you harm. But you have to embrace that. Become what you must and do what you must. You have to at least reach out to these people. Take a chance..."

To Cole's dismay, the General wandered on the onset of the elevator; leaving the faunus to his own regards. "I can't worry about pompous nobles... we have to stop Salem. Nothing matters more."

"You know that's not true..." James's pace came to a halt. "You care for them all. Don't you? You want to protect everyone in the Kingdom. And that love... makes you better than Her."

"Cole..." The General began, leaving the boy apprehensive at the tone. "...you've experienced her firsthand. At Haven. I guess you would be best qualified sides Oz in this. You had a glimpse at her strengths and maybe even her weaknesses..."

The Atlesian Headmaster resumed his stride to the elevator's control panel, tapping it several times in quick succession. "I worried sometimes..." he began again. "...that she lacked humanity... but, after your experience, we see that isn't true. There is... a sliver of hope."

Pressing on, Cole precariously reached for James's shoulder. A touch. An act to alleviate some manner of strain in the man but met in failure. "When..." the unforeseen verbiage alarmed the faunus, stunning him in place. "...Salem hit Beacon, even with all my ships, all of my soldiers... I was no match for her. I've never felt so... so..."

"...useless..."

The General was quick to pivot back and direct his flabbergasted reaction towards Cole. Yet, the young huntsman was resolute in his stature. This until the two made a hurried gesture in clapping hold the other.

"James..." the faunus murmured, tightening his embrace about him. "...it's okay to be afraid. Everyone is. Even me. But you can't let it control you..." His head shook on the matter. "...you're better than that. I know it better than anyone."

Inevitably parting, whilst still amongst each other, James's parental gaze lingered on the boy. Clutching Cole's cheeks in his hands, the General gazed down in pride.

Pride in the boy he had found so long ago.

Pride in the young man who had developed so skillfully.

Pride in the huntsman braver than he could ever be.

"Do... Do you believe in me?" Amber discs stricken by tears stared up at the General, shutting away the unexpected precipitation. Not of sorrow, but of an assuring elated curve of his lips.

"James. I will always believe in you. That's a promise. You've saved me how many times now...?" The sudden clasp of the boy's grip on his hands startled him. "...it's time I saved you. Be proud to speak. Be the brave man and confront your enemies head on. And just... just ask for help sometimes you fool."

The two shared a wholehearted moment in the silence that lasted, even bearing witness to the General shedding a modicum of tears himself. When at last the two had exchanged bouts of laughter at their predicaments, did James nod in confirmation.

"Okay. It's a promise."

With their cordial meet having concluded, both James and Cole suitably reached the main level of the Atlas Academy. Subsequent the elevator's distinctive beep of arrival, the doors swung agape to present new faces.

"Penny. Winter. What is it?"

At the General's questioning, Cole raised his head in a puzzled courtesy. It appeared the android female had been fidgeting with her hands, leaving the Atlas Specialist to rigidly offer out a sealed envelope. His eyes were amounted with attentiveness, measuredly procuring the offered item.

'That symbol…'

In harmony to Ozpin's musings, Cole whispered quietly. "I know… it's him."

Several restrained seconds passed with James having delivered the letter's contents; his expression growing bleak. A glance to the faunus, then returning to the Schnee sibling. "Well, Cole… you did tell me to confront my enemies."

This left the nanite-user flabbergasted and disordered, craning his head to encourage James to elaborate. Though, Winter would elect herself for the task in his stead. "My father's first act. We've all been invited to dinner where the General will be defending his seat on the Council."

The streets were dimly lit in the afternoon skies. Passerby conversing freely and inhibited. From his view at their table, there was peace in Mantle's streets. A lasting end to whatever conflict could threaten them. Hours had turned into days. His injuries wrought had been generously mended, ridding him of the perpetual limp and cast. The four huntsmen remained seated amongst each other within a quant diner's booth.

"So..." Leopold began, earning him the collective ear of his team. "...Jacques Schnee invitin' you and the General to dinner. I mean, Clover, Penny and Winter are comin' with, but am I the only one suspicious here?"

Raising his hands to exaggerate his questioning, there was a resounding sigh made by the remainder. "It is surely a trap. Only a fool would accept such a proposal." Leona's eyes settled upon her team leader, awaiting his own to match. "...regrettably you do not have much a choice."

"He's not got a choice you two! And he's still recovering from last night!"

Cole waved down the overdramatic complaint formed by Ebony's ire. Before further relaxing into the cushion of their seat. "James and I need to do this. It's the only way to make some form of progress. Otherwise, we're stuck unknowing. We don't have a choice-..."

"Hey! You're Cole Lupine!"

Struck from his proverbial musings, the faunus in question lifted his eyes to the newcomer at their booth. A fairly young-looking canine faunus with the most jovial expression Cole had witnessed in days. "I... uh... I am. Yes."

His adjacent hand was abruptly taken hold and shaken rather dutifully. "You saved my son that day. I... I don't know how to repay you. From what others said you nearly died!"

A faint lighthearted chuckle soon followed, shaking his head as he did so. "Oh. N-No... that's just my job. It's nothing special-..."

"Please!"

The sudden encroaching persons of the restaurant alarmed not only him but the entirety of the team. All uncertainties were quelled at the sight of heartfelt smiles and cheering. "You saved us. Not just from the Grimm, but..." The faunus man affirmed himself, leaving Cole all but lost for words. "Sure... nothing much has changed. Times are tough. But you gave us something we hadn't had in a long time. You. Robyn. And maybe even General Ironwood from what you say. You saved us from losing hope."

The expressions of the other patrons behind him were enough for Cole to understand. The people of Mantle were strong, yes, but they needed their fire to be stoked. He, Robyn and James could help them be better. Survive.

"Three cheers for Cole Lupine! The new Hero of Mantle!"

Before he could halt their progress, the remaining populace erupted in cheer. Glancing back to the trio of facades his team wore, they shared his altogether apprehension about the situation. While he gleamed at the thought of his people truly adoring him, was it right to indulge himself in their praise?

It was some manner of time before the crowd had settled and dispersed to their earlier positions. Ebony electing herself as the individual to break the pregnant pause in their preceding conversation. "So, you're really goin' over there?"

Cole managed a solemn nod to answer, idly distracting himself with twirling the straw of his drink. "I have to. Both James and I have to. What will happen after it... I don't know."

"Well..." Ebony began, drumming her fingers against the tabletop. "...hope it's somethin' good for a change."