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Chapter 36: Intermission Part Deux

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Handsome Jaune sat idly at his new big and spacious desk in the CEO's office of The Corporation Formerly Known as Hyperion Weapons and Technology. The office was spacious and decorated with images of all of Hyperion's technological feats. Long brown and gold tapestries hung from the walls. Pyrrha stayed by his side while their other teammates headed off to figure out where the 'Clappers' had taken their luggage. Team RWBY stayed in the office with him, they were unusually silent, probably trying to figure out what his goal was now that he had just brutally killed his own father and given himself a new name. Qrow and Ozzy Ozpin were across the room in the corner, occasionally staring at him and probably plotting something. Jaune really didn't care right now, he had everything he'd wanted; control over Hyperion.

"Jaune, are you really okay? I mean you just… Well… Uhhhmm…", Ruby stammered.

"Perfectly fine, lil' Rubes. Pyrrha knows, she knows I'd planned this from the start. It's fine.", Handsome Jaune reassured.

"I don't know about fine, Jaune- Err… Handsome Jaune… You did just kill the CEO of Hyperion and your own Dad right in front of us. Then you killed Atlesian Special Agent Carolina, too. I think we're still going to be unwelcome in Atlas whenever this barge makes it there…", Yang noted, slightly uneasy.

"I'm still in it to win it, Yang. I just needed this, you don't have to know my reasons for it…", Handsome Jaune noted.

"H-Handsome Jaune, huh? Maybe I need a name change too, like Rowdy Rhames or Righteous Rhames… Whatever, man. If I could do the same that you just did, gosh I don't even know what I'd do… Probably take over the world or something, right?", Rhames joked, trying to lighten the mood. He failed.

"That's not my goal in the end, Rhames. We need more firepower if we're ever going to end this. My father wouldn't have agreed to help us in any way; he was just too careful with the company. He only cared about profits. I can see the bigger picture.", Handsome Jaune explained. His friends were still uneasy.

"Well, it's not the worst thing I've ever seen. It's also not the best thing I've seen. As long as you're not planning on disposing of us like Agent Carolina, then I guess we're still in this.", Blake mused.

"Yeah, not great and not terrible… Three point five roentgen…", Yang mused, staring into space idly.

"Yang? What exactly did you mean by that?", Handsome Jaune questioned.

"I dunno… I was just thinking about what's going to happen now.", mused.

"Nothing! Nothing is going to happen, Yang. My Uncle McDiarmid knew eventually this would happen. Everyone knew this was bound to happen in the Arc Family's weird traditions. My father killed his own father to gain control. Hyperion used to just be another small business making swords and tools for the people; he changed that. Uncle McDiarmid killed his own father in order to become leader of Mantle during the war… It's our destiny to take control of our own! You wouldn't understand!", Jaune rambled. "We are always bound to become something greater. Always something greater than there was before!"

"I know, Jaune. They're just going to have to understand… Just like my family and the temple…", Pyrrha mused.

"Oookay… You guys are being cryptic. What's happening?", Weiss asked.

"If you could take control of your own fate and change it… Would you? You could've been the heiress to an empire, yet you chose to become a Huntress. Ruby was just a child, a simple soul who became a warrior. Nothing is set in stone. I was to be a martyr to the people. And now I am so much more than that…", Pyrrha mused.

"Our mission remains the same as its been. Find the relics and secure them, defeat Salem. Plain and simple.", Handsome Jaune noted.

Team RWBY just nodded in agreement. Handsome Jaune was still boundless Jaune, despite what had just happened. Perhaps there was more at work here. Still, the mission hadn't changed and they were still aimed at finding the relics. Ironwood would help them, right? He had to once he'd heard their side of the story and Ozpin would back them up.

X

Across the room and silently eavesdropping on the conversation, Qrow and Ozcar sat together. Qrow had always been loyal to Ozpin, now more than ever. Jaune Arc, or now Handsome Jaune had always been a bit off. Now it was confirmed, the poor boy was out of his gourd.

"Oz? What's your take on this?", Qrow asked.

"Jaune has become… a complete psychopath. Perhaps it runs in his family. He's certainly not a normal boy with dreams and ambitions. Why he ever decided to attend Beacon is beyond me, since it seems he was out to take over his father's company. Maybe it was something else…", Ozpin mused.

"What do you suggest?", Qrow questioned. He was lost once again.

"Stick to the original plan. Secure the Relics. Defeat Salem by any means. As long as we stay on Jaune's good side, he will help us. No need in causing a panic and having Jaune inevitably side with Salem… or Arden Greyblood… Or any of our opposition for whatever reasons. We need to be careful here, Qrow. We are under a full moon full of uncertainty.", Ozcar Pin mused.

"Doubtless, Oz. Kid's got an army of robots and a death ray. Best to keep him at an arm's length until we figure out his endgame. Keep your best cards close and your worst in the open…", Qrow added.

"Indeed.", Ozzy Pin concluded.

X

Pyrrha paced uneasily next to Jaune. She wasn't sure this was currently the best situation. Jaune had done what he'd set out to do. And in the end, he'd made a lot of enemies. Enemies that would inevitably be coming for his blood. Sure, McDiarmid would most likely be on board with everything that had transpired. But her teammates and friends were worried. Worry would bring fear. Fear would bring the Grimm straight to their doorstep. She sighed.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Jaune…", Pyrrha mused.

"Of course. And hey, now that we have some time to relax while Helios flies us back to Atlas, we can go and check out my father's Vault.", Handsome Jaune noted.

"Vault?", Pyrrha asked.

"The Vault of the Emperor. It's where my dad keeps all the cool things we made over the years. Also stuff we found and were inspired from. C'mon, pumpkin! I know you want to see it!", Handsome Jaune exclaimed.

Pyrrha shrugged and just followed Handsome Jaune out of the room, Team RWBY followed behind them as well. Qrow and Ozpin glanced at the group of rowdy teenagers and followed behind them. Jaune was leading everyone somewhere and Ozpin felt that it might be important.

Jaune avoided the elevator and headed for the stairs instead; he didn't want another instance of abrupt acceleration and the sudden deceleration to injure his friends and they probably didn't want Qrow's Semblance to cause the elevator to fail entirely and end their journey in another way. Several flights of stairs later and the whole group stood outside of a large golden door with a prominent H emblazoned on it.

"Ta da! The Vault of the Emperor! Just lemme open the door…", Jaune noted as he fumbled with the locking mechanism.

A few moments later and the huge decorative portal slid out of the way and beheld the interior of the Vault itself. All of Hyperion's greatest technological boons had been set on pedestals around the massive room; the Tassiter, the original laser pistol on a center platform. The Arc-Ray, a set of dual wrist-mounted rail-guns sat on another, rivalling Ember Celica in design. A living jewel, a diamond encrusted pony jerked its head up and neighed happily at Jaune as he entered. Even farther back towards the rear of the room, a large glass window showed off the Eye of Helios and the control panel for the massive weapon. Team RWBY stared around the room in awe and wonder. The sound of static interrupted them.

"H-Hey, kiddo! You did good! You fulfilled your destiny!", the voice announced.

"Oh god… You're still alive?", Handsome Jaune lamented.

"Not really, kiddo. I just decided to upload my memories into the Hyperion Database just in case this happened. You wouldn't imagine! I even considered a body double, but those are too expensive!", the voice of Tassiter Arc announced.

"Well, you can't do much from inside the mainframe, can you?", Jaune asked.

"Not really. I can keep the constructors running and keep Hyperion on its original task, though. Obviously you have no idea how to run this company if you'd just decided to kill me.", Tassiter Arc mused.

"But… You're not him, are you?", Pyrrha asked.

"Hey, kiddo! You got yourself a real smart one! Nope, I'm just the collective memories of John 'Tassiter' Arc. I've got enough to keep you out of trouble, though. Which was more than your real dad did anyways…", the voice noted.

"So what are you? What kind of failsafe contingency plan did my dear old daddy do?", Jaune asked.

"I'm the Tassiter Arc Robotic Computerized Neural Network or TARCNN for short. I kept all of your father's ideas for him. I'm like a personal digital assistant with a little added charm. Now don't worry, I'm not mad you killed him, he was running out of ideas anyways. I'm sure you'll do just as good, and if you need help with stuff, here I am!", TARCNN noted.

"Great. Keep doing whatever it is you're doing. Keeping the HQ flying or whatever, just stay out of my way and let me do my thing.", Jaune noted.

"Of course! Just remember, kiddo. I'm not your real dad, I just sound like him.", TARCNN concluded.

"That was odd…", Blake noted.

"You're telling me! We've got a literal ghost in the machine on our hands!", Yang exclaimed.

"Ehh, not really. More like Robo-Dad. I'm sure TARCNN can cover the fact that the real Tassiter Arc is dead; he's just not seeing people and wants me to take over the company while he drinks himself to sleep in his private quarters.", Jaune mused.

"Whatever floats your boat, kiddo! I'm more than happy to handle all the PR for you. I actually did a better job than the man himself!", TARCNN added.

Handsome Jaune sighed and turned away for a moment. He noticed Oz and Qrow staring through the window in the back wall at the Eye of Helios. He walked over to them.

"Really pretty isn't it?", Jaune mused.

Jaune stared up at the crystalline structure that made up most of the "Eye", within the cycling crystals was a small object held aloft, multiple tubes supplying refined Dust were overlaid into the structure. The whole thing pulsed softly.

"Where on earth did you father acquire that?", Ozpin asked incredulously.

"What? The Eye? He built it. He found some old artifact out in Vacuo and brought it back here. He's been working on it ever since I was a child. Seems like it works. It can fire a beam of pure destructive energy at anything we aim at. It's the perfect weapon.", Jaune explained.

"He may have built most of the structure containing it, but that, in the center, is the Relic of Destruction.", Ozcar Pin pointed.

"Okay… So? It's a weapon from the gods then. If I recall what you said the Relics were. So that means we have two and only need two more. Sweet, less work for us.", Jaune laughed.

"It's a serious matter, Mr. Arc. You do not know what kind of damage you could do with that.", Ozpin chided.

"I have some ideas… Anyways, it's ours now!", Jaune noted.

"Do not use that, under any circumstances. Ever.", Ozpin pushed.

"It's my company and my weapon, Ozzy. I can do what I want with it. Do you really think you can stop me? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you a creepy old man trapped inside some random kid right now? A fifteen year old kid? Are you going to stand between my will, my army of robots and Pyrrha to keep me from using what's already mine to use?", Jaune said somewhat threateningly.

"I-I'm just offering some guidance. I hope you take it.", Ozpin corrected, now was not a time for an impromptu and sudden regeneration.

"That's better. Now go play in the ball pit and leave us adults to do the real work, okay?", Jaune mocked.

Qrow and Ozpin watched as Jaune walked back to his friends. They felt unusually uneasy right now. The Grimm were a threat to everyone, but Jaune was probably just as bad if not worse. Only time would tell.

X

Far away in the Kingdom of Atlas, a man walked through the streets of the Lower City of Mantle. He hummed to himself and seemed oblivious to the world around him. A coin was tossed hand to hand in apparent boredom. The coin was balanced and flicked through fingers that were adorned with seven glowing rings. The coin was suddenly held in midair before being hastily placed into the pocket of a rather fancy feathered overcoat. Piercing eyes looked at the prey that had brought their attention to those that fed on carrion.

"Hmm. How nice…", the man noted.

The impatient traveler picked up a hat, a small ornate bowler and tried it on. He cycled between his own trilby adorned with a small crown and the new hat before picking up another one and trying it on.

"Perhaps now is not the time. Many things in motion…", the man mused as he glanced to the dark skies.

"An impatient traveler senses the winds of change…", the man mused as he pulled the coin out again and continued on his way. A few passersby knew who he was, but said nothing. Something terrible was about to happen if the Mad King himself wandered the streets of Mantle.

X

The doors of a pub crashed open, a large man nearly seven feet tall lumbered in. He had a beard of copper and a set of small glasses perched on his nose. He wore an amalgam of different sets of armor and carried a massive morningstar. He sat down on one of the small bar stools and turned around to his team of mixmatched Huntsmen.

"Contract complete, guys! Rhames would be proud of us!", the large man announced.

"Yeah, Jonk, we get it. So much for the mansion made of smaller mansions, right? At least we got paid this time.", another Huntsman noted.

"It's not that bad, Minstrel. We had a mansion, just too bad it was made of sand…", Jonk, the first man noted.

"Awk! Team ATAK is here! Maybe we can Awk! Ask them for help.", a bird Faunus squawked, most of his face taken up by a large beak.

Another team of Huntsmen composed of four members walked in. They appeared to be dirty and tired. Their team leader an imposing woman with pure white hair and skin lead them to the table where their rivals sat.

"Hey, Alabaster! Any luck?", Jonk asked jovially.

"No.", Alabaster said sternly.

"Hey… What happened to Alfie Chan? Who's your new guy?", Minstrel noted.

"Adam Branwen, some heroic Faunus we met in Argus. Always gotta have that token Faunus card, Minstrel.", the other woman added. She had dark hair parted over one eye and an edgy haircut. Fire Dust was woven into her clothes.

"Hap! Fwep!", the shorter Huntsman added, he wore hideous purple and orange armor that concealed his entire body.

"No bickering, Kindel, Timmy.", Alabaster noted.

"Hey… Didn't Rhames say he was related to a Branwen?", Minstrel asked.

"He did! Hey, you must be one of his siblings! Welcome to the team, what are you doing here?", Jonk asked.

"I-I'm trying to protect my family. Atlas is in danger.", Adam noted.

"Yes. Danger.", Alabaster added.

"Hap! Hup, fwep! Hup Ap! Hap!", Timmy interjected.

"He says we shouldn't be too worried. Just the constant threat of Grimm. They seem more active lately…", Kindel translated.

"Ap! Hup, hap hepp hup hap hap fwep hap!", Timmy noted.

"He also wanted to answer your previous question. Alfie is with Team HNTR, they're off punching ghosts or something, I don't really know. I guess it's Team Haunter instead of Hunter, now…", Kindel explained.

"Can you even punch ghosts? Ghasts maybe… Whatever… At least they're better than Team FNHS and actually getting paid for interesting jobs!", Minstrel mused.

"So is their team name Team Faunus or Team Fun House?", Jonk asked to nobody in particular.

"Could be either, they're an all Faunus team who used to be in the circus. It's not like us, though. I don't think Attack is even a color.", Kindel argued.

"Crimson. Blood.", Alabaster noted.

"Yeah, we know. You're bloodthirsty.", Kindel said as she patted Alabaster on the head.

"Colors of Attack…", Alabaster said as she glared at Kindel.

"So, you said something about Atlas in danger?", Javelin, the pigeon Faunus noted offhandedly.

"Yes. Danger. Grimm, conspiracy.", Alabster mused.

"Awk! Might need a bit more information on that…"

"As do we all. We're assuming you need more help since you're in the Huntsmen's lodge.", Jonk interjected.

"Indeed.", Alabaster added.

"The Grimm are more active up here lately. The local township is worried that there might be some kind of threat. Recently, the weapons corporation Hyperion seceded from the Kingdom and founded their own smaller kingdom outside of the kingdom. Titania, as it's known as now. General Ironwood is worried that the rest of the corporations will do the same, perhaps his worry is bringing in the Grimm?", Kindel Fyre explained.

"Maybe? He's a very powerful man. I supposed if you can strike fear into someone so indomitable, the fallout would be huge.", Jonk mused.

"Question, real quick. Adam Branwen looks an awful lot like Adam Taurus. How exactly did you meet him in Argus?", Minstrel asked, noticing a worrying glance from Adam.

"Hap, hup fwep hup hup hap hep hap fwep!", Timmy Rim explained.

"I just took a Huntsmen's contract. 'Brave and Heroic Faunus needed in Atlas, see Kindel Fyre for more information'. I knew my family was on their way here, I just didn't think I'd be this involved in… whatever it is that's happening here.", Adam translated.

"I'm not even sure he's a Faunus. He has stubbins where some horns used to be, but for all we know Timmy is also a Faunus. We actually still don't know what Timmy is; a robot, an alien, he never takes off his armor.", Kindel added.

"Tah happity fwep!", Timmy added.

"I don't even know what that means.", Kindel argued.

"Wait, how come you're the only one that understands him?", Team MRJJ asked.

"His family used to work for my family. It's a very rare Vacuo dialect hailing from the Noble House of Kiebler. They're bakers.", Kindel explained. "They all wear armor like that, and never take it off. I didn't question it, you need protection like that in Vacuo."

"Vacuo to Atlas, what a trip, right? We're all from down there and now we're up here in the snow.", Minstrel mused.

"Not everyone, I'm from Menagerie and if I recall correctly, Alabaster is originally from Mistral and Javelin is from Vale. I did a little research on my teammates. Better safe than sorry.", Adam noted.

"Correct.", Alabaster mused.

"So… Mistral, huh?", Minstrel noted.

"I'll do the explanation, since Alabaster doesn't talk much: Alabaster is some kind of assassin, she had some life sentence at like, age 15 for killing some noble and was sent to Vacuo, enrolled at Shade and then became our team leader. She still takes some questionable contracts now and again, but she's never gone for long. Her Semblance is… I don't really know how to explain it, but she can just make people not see her. Like invisibility, but not, you just don't really see her in a room. She does it all the time when we're camping. Also, I'm fairly sure Alabaster doesn't even know much of our language, she understands Mistralian perfectly and speaks it, but doesn't utter a word otherwise.", Kindel, the exposition queen explained.

"Correct. Again."

"So what's your Semblance?", Jonk asked.

"You know that prissy Heiress, Weiss Schnee? Like that only with fire.", Kindel explained.

"Oh. So that's your team, then right?", Jonk mused.

"Hap hup!", Timmy added.

"Oh, you forgot about Timmy. Timmy is the Technomancer, he can control machines and electronics. It does come in handy here in Atlas where all the guards are robots.", Kindel added.

"Okay, nice. What's your game plan?", Jonk asked.

"We investigate the city walls first, look for any signs of a breach. Then, we go and talk to the Ace Ops, Ironwood's personal guard. Whenever Helios or Titania makes it back, we can go and talk to Tassiter Arc and get his story.", Kindel explained.

"Sounds good. Let us know when you're ready to depart. We need the extra work.", Jonk concluded.

Team MRJJ and ATAK sat down to plan their next move. For some reason, Atlas was uneasy and there wasn't a clear reason why. The two team leaders weren't sure that Hyperion was the cause of such panic since they both knew a certain blond-haired gunslinger was involved with the company. Only time would tell.

X

Far down along the docks, Ace Operative Vine was scouring the seabed close to the pier. He'd received a distress beacon from one of their rivals, the Atlesian Special Agents. Particularly, one of General Ironwood's most trusted, Agent Carolina. One of his long noodley arms brushed against what felt like a leg and he pulled upwards instinctively. A coughing and spluttering and rather disheveled Agent Carolina was retrieved from the swirling depths. Vine quickly radioed his teammates before beginning to check over the missing Agent's injuries.

"Get Ironwood, don't worry about me. My suit has impact protection and life support. Tassiter Arc is dead, his son is a psychopath and he's on his way here now. Full alert!", Carolina wheezed.

Vine didn't argue with another high ranking operative and instantly opened his communicator. He scrolled down to a small red button and pressed it. Immediately, all of the city-wide sirens began to blare. As the rest of the Ace Ops arrived on scene, the holographic image of Ironwood appeared on Vine's Scroll. He only had a few words to say regarding the sudden alarm.

"Full alert. Carolina has been found. Arc and Hyperion have betrayed us."


Chapter End. I know some of the recent reviews reflect the earlier chapters and how rushed they are. Remember, this started as something for my SO to read while she was at work. We both know the plotline of RWBY and its assumed you at least have some common knowledge about it as well, otherwise why are you here? It is a Crack-Fic and most of the early installment weirdness is because it was supposed to be a One-Shot. It was never supposed to have any chapters at all, ever.

I think after say, Chapter 14 or so, my SO told me to upload it online so others could enjoy it. I did some basic editing to make it fit on and inserted some page breaks with actual chapters and titles and stuff. The old chapters aren't changing, and I'm not re-writing them. Maybe someday, I'll upload the original 75k word One-Shot so you can see it in all of its horrible glory. It's worse. It's so much worse. Number 4, step forward and say 'Worse'. "Worse".