Hey all! Hope everyone is doing well and washing their hands. I will be outta school for 4 weeks straight due to the coronavirus pandemic. I wish all of you the best of luck in staying safe. Anyways, here's a new chapter, we're almost near the end.


Chapter 22: The Tenth Percentile

Freelancer Off-Site Storage Facility

POV: Epsilon-Church and Epsilon-Tex


Premise: As Church and Tex bond over their past lives. A shocking discovery is made by both Red Team and Team RWBY that will question the heroes next step in taking out Wash and the Meta.


Things changed quickly after Tex was woken up. Weiss tried to give the Freelancer a piece of her mind, an act that nearly got in a headlock or slapped in the face. After that fiasco, Church introduced her to Team JNPR, who both excited and nervous to finally 'meet' her. But she did apologize for beating them up, and that they did very well. She also was curious about Pyrrha, who looked like Carolina. But Church had her brush it aside.

Since then, things seemed to die down. Caboose and Ruby were chatting with Tucker Doc and Blake, Red Team Ren Nora and Yang were off doing who knows what, and Weiss was nowhere to be seen but was probably pissed about the state of everything.

Church found Tex outside of the warehouse's control room conversing with Jaune and Pyrrha.

"So, you back up 100%?" he asked Tex as he walked to the trio.

"Yeah." Tex replied, "And whatever I didn't learn from Caboose I picked up pretty quick. I also had help from these guys."

"Hey you're welcome." Jaune said to her

"We really don't do much stuff do we?" Church muttered

"May you take up a hobby?" Tex suggested, "Like knitting."

"We'll look into it." Church replied

Tex then asked a question that was on her mind since returning, "How you know how to bring me back?"

"Honestly, I actually don't know." Church answered, "I couldn't get you outta my head. So I got you...outta my head."

"Wow." Tex replied, "How emo. Maybe you should blog about it."

"Yeah one my sister does that with her life." Jaune added in his two cents

Tex then had a second question, "When I was beating the hell outta the Reds and you guys, which I am still sorry for. FLISS said 'Level Alpha'. Do you know what that means?"

"Hey I never actually thought of that." Church replied, remembering it as well.

"Then I want you to have Sheila give me access to all the files here." Tex requested

Church looked at her confused, "Why?"

"Because I'm gonna figure out exactly what they did to me here." Tex explained, "I need to know who I am."

"I know who you are." Church chuckled, "You're my girlfriend."

"Whell, that's probably the most underwhelming description of all time." Tex muttered

"Hey, lots of ladies would be happy to be my girlfriend." Church shot back

"What girls-aside from Team RWBY, Pyrrha, and Nora do you even know?" Tex questioned

Jaune and Pyrrha looked at Church too see what his answer was.

"Uh...I mean…" Church muttered, "Oh! Grif had a sister! She seemed to like me."

"I don't think she counts." Tex replied, "She was too easy."

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Tucker appeared from the doorway near the control room.

"How'd you know she was easy Tex?" he asked, "Ya know what? Don't tell me, it's better in my head!"

"Where did you even come from?" Jaune asked him

"I'm always close by." Tucker replied casually

"Hey, can I kill him?" Tex asked Church

Church looked at Tucker then back at Tex, "You can hurt him, kill him later."

"I like the sound of that." Tex muttered

"Man, I thought the old Church was whipped but, you're taking it to a whole new level" Tucker groaned as he left.

"How do you even put up with him?" Pyrrha asked, out of curiosity.

"Ah it's not so bad." Church replied, "I mean I admit sometimes it gets pretty and I really don't know how to handle it."

Tucker then reappeared, "And now I'm back."


POV Change: Red Team, Ren, Nora, and Yang

Unknown to the Church at the time. Red Team and company were spying on them through a fence, hearing everything they were saying.

"Simmons this is our chance." Sarge said, "Get in there and start restoring the Blues! And de-restoring Teams RWBY and JNPR!"

"Yes sir." Simmons replied, "Come on Grif, I'll need your help."

"Me?" Grif questioned, "Help? With a computer? Simmons, you must confuse me with someone who could...help you."

"Kinda lost your train of thought didn't you?" Nora quipped

"Yeah a little."

"Following the Blues is one thing." Simmons explained, "If I'm gonna enter the names and records of the Blues and delete the records of Teams RWBY and JNPR, I need someone to hold the papers for me."

"Sorry." Grif replied, "Not in my job description."

"No, but I'm gonna be working in the personnel files. So I can add it to your description." Simmons said to him, "In fact, I can make your job whatever I want. How does 'Chief Executive Butt-Taster' sound?"

Yang snorted at Simmons' burn.

"You can't do that." Grif retorted

"I can't?" Simmons questioned, "I thought you didn't know how computers worked? In fact while I'm in there. Why don't I just make you a woman. It's just a checkbox, and it could add a little diversity to the team. I'm sure Tucker will be happy." he said, as he ran off to the control room.

"Heh, make me a woman." Grif chuckled, "How stupid does he think...I...am...I better go help him." Grif then ran after Simmons

"Go call Grif!" Yang shouted

"That's right numbnuts!" Sarge added


POV Change: Epsilon

Church walked into the control room to find Tex. He found the latter along with both Simmons and Blake, who were helping her access the old Freelancer archives.

"...And these are accurate?" Tex asked FLISS

"As far as I can tell." FLISS replied

"How's it going in here?" Church asked as he walked into the room

"Well, lake and I have been helping her access all this data." Simmons explained, "She's not pounding us in the face so, I would say that pretty good...well for me and Blake."

"Eh, that's one thing." Church agreed

"Hey come over here." Tex said to him, "Look at these, Sheila has been giving us a hard, but we're getting through."

"She only wants to talk to you though Church." Blake added

"Well, she does call me Director." Church replied

"The Director…" Tec muttered, "There isn't much information on him. I asked Sheila but-"

"I am sorry, but access to the Director's personnel files is restricted." FLISS cut in

"Yes Sheila." Tex replied annoyingly, "We know."

"I am just doing my job." FLISS replied

"Can't you mute her?" Tex asked Simmons, who looked at FLISS's monitor.

"Don't even think about it buster." FLISS hissed at him

"Uh, I don't like when girls pay direct attention to me." he muttered

Blake rolled her eyes and smirked at Simmons' behavior.

"Well, what did you find in the files?" Church asked, bringing the conversation back on track.

"Not much." Tex replied, "Standard clerical info, bunch of win/loss statistics, psych profiles."

"Psych profiles?' Church repeated

"Yeah, they have them on everyone." Tex explained, "All except for the Director and…"

"Let me guess." Church cut in, "And you?"

"And us." Tex corrected him, "No Church either. There's everyone else though. Full profiles."

Simmons then snorted loudly, "Was used to wet the bed." he chuckled before leaving, "I'm going to tell the guys." He then left followed by Blake in tow.

"So, no new info?" Church asked, "Wild goose chase again?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Tex replied, "Look at this picture, do you know what it is?"

Church looked at the picture, "What is that, ice? Hey I know that place, that's uh, secure location. A safe house. Wait how do I know that?"

"You know it because it's a Freelancer Base." Tex explained

"If you know what it is, why did you ask me what it was?" Church questioned

"Because I'm not interested in what I know. I'm interested in what you know." Tex replied

"What is that, fucking wisdom?" Church asked, "Listen next time you wanna ask me a God damn question just ask it, don't beat around the bush."

"I couldn't take the risk." Tex explained, "You might have just told me what I wanted to hear. You are completely fucking whipped."

"Told you so!" Tucker shouted from nowhere

Tex started walking out of the room, "I'm gonna go see what weapons they have."

"Ok." Church replied,"Need any help?" he asked, as he started to follow her. But FLISS then spoke up.

"Director, before you leave. Would you like to make a journal entry? It has been a long time since you've have."

"Journal?" Church asked

"Yes." FLISS replied, "I know you are busy, but you always ask me to remind you when you are falling behind on documentation. Documentation is an important part of any scientific endeavour."

"Right." Church muttered, "Um, why don't you play one for me?"

"Certainly…"


POV Change: Blue Team, Team RWBY

Church then left the control room, walked past Grif and Sarge, and found his team and Team RWBY standing in the middle of the storage facility.

"Hey guys have seen Tex?" he asked them

Tex then showed up, now with new armor on her shoulders and chest.

"Whoa, what's with the new armor?" Church asked

"I'm leaving Church." Tex replied, catching everyone off guard.

"What?" Ruby asked, "Where?"

"Can't sya." Tex explained, "There's some things I need to look into."

"You're going to that frozen base aren't you?" Church guessed

"Frozen base?" Yang muttered

"Sidewinder." Church explained, "It's an old Freelancer facility, but not much is known about it."

"I need to know more about myself, Church." Tex replied, "And I'm not gonna find anything out by sitting around on my ass with all of you."

"Excuse me!?" Weiss shouted

"Then let us come with you." Blake replied

"With all do respect Blake, I need soldiers not huntsmen." Tex said to her, "People with military training."

"We have military training," Grif said as he approached the group.

"People who understand military training." Tex corrected herself

"Oh."

"Geex, buggers can't be choosers." Tucker added his two cents

"No offense, but guys will just slow me down." Tex explained

"Well, I'm going with you and that's final." Church spoke up

"Fine by me." Tex replied, "I had a feeling I could use you."

"What about a medic?' Doc asked, as he approached everyone

"Fine by me." Tex agreed, "Come on, let's go."

"Oh, and when you both get killed again, be sure to let us know." Tucker shouted to them, as the trio left, "That way we can revive you, so that you can run off and get killed. Again. Seriously, it never gets old to us."

"Are you sure you're gonna be alright!?" Yang asked

"Yeah!" Church replied, "Just don't leave until we get back!"

"Ok! Good luck!" Ruby shouted


POV Change: Grif and Simmons

Grif and Yang walked deep into the storage facility to find Simmons, who apparently ran off to inspect some of the equipment stored there. The duo soon found him gazing at some weird objects.

"Hmm, very interesting." Simmons muttered

"Sarge wants to know what you're doing over here dipshit." Grif said to him, "I added the dipshit."

"I think I found where the Freelancers stored some of their equipment for their armor." Simmons said to the two

"Ok, ok, I'll just tell Sarge that you're doing something really fuckin' boring." Grif casually announced

"Wait, like the invisibility, or time distortion unit?" Yang asked the maroon soldier

"If we hook them to our armor they would work." Simmons explained, "But an AI would be helpful in maintaining stability."

"And it would work when we are asleep?" Grif question

"I guess so." Simmons shrugged, but then he looked at Grif, "Why? Wait, you wanna turn invisible and take a nap don't you?"

"Think about Simmons." Grif said to him, "The ability to nap a nap whenever I want, and Sarge will never find me. Invisible nap is the best nap of all time."

"No man should have that kind of power." Simmons replied in faux-nervousness

"We would be totally unstoppable." Yang said, pumping her fists

"Actually, you would be the opposite." Simmons corrected her

"Totally stoppable." Yang added, "Already stopped."

"Think about it Simmons." Grif pleading

"No." Simmons retorded

"Think about it." Grif pleaded

Simmons just stared at the two of them, not doing anything at all.

"...Are you thinking about it?" Yang asked

Simmons sighed, "Unfortunately, yes." he muttered in defeat

"Then suit up." Grif replied

"This is gonna be good." Yang muttered with a smirk


POV Change: Weiss

Weiss was leaning against an old storage crate in the middle of the facility. She was fiddling with the teleporter that got them to this stupid dimension.

"Come on! Come on! Work!" she hissed while pressing buttons on the device

After hours of surviving the Meta, being a prisoner, held as a martyr by aliens, and being used as a mop by an angry Freelancer. Weiss Schnee was now at her boiling point, and she found the 'answer' to her problem. The one group that was the source of her anger.

The Reds and Blues.

She hated them, she still couldn't believe that Ruby actually fell for a guy like Caboose. Team JNPR was actually enjoying their time with these idiots. Weiss was even thinking she lost her mind. But now, all she wanted was to get back home, back to Vale, back Beacon and being a huntress. Once she was home she would destroy the teleporter, making sure no one, not even her friends could go back to this place.

As she was trying to get the device to work, she noticed Ruby, and Blake walking towards her.

"Hey, Weiss." Ruby said her

Weiss didn't bother looking up, "Hey." she grunted

"Well, Church, Doc, and Tex left." Ruby muttered, "They said they'll be back soon."

"Greaaat." Weiss huffed

Blake then rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Alright, something's up."

Weiss growled slightly and looked up at her teammates. Her face was full of rage.

"Oh, I wonder what made you notice?" she sarcastically replied

"What's wrong Weiss?" Ruby asked

Weis huffed, "This."

The duo looked at her confused, "What do you mean this?"

"This!" she cried, "This place! What we're doing! We need to go home now! I'm sick of being in this world! And you guys aren't helping one bit!"

Blake grimaced slightly, "We aren't helping?"

Weiss continued, "You guys are actually enjoying yourselves!"

"We're trying to help Church!" Ruby retorted

"We're being chased by a ruthless soldier that wants to use us as his ticket outta jail!" Weiss ranted, "And you fell in love with an idiot who can't spell his own name."

"He has a good heart!" Ruby shot back, "He saved my life!"

"This has gone one to far!" Weiss screamed, "I'm getting us home, and we're never coming back here! Never!"

At that last comment, Weis threw her arms back, accidentally knocking open the crate that she was leaning on. The trio looked inside, and were shocked to find several more containers inside labelled:

Property of the Schnee Dust Company

Unidentified Dust Sample: X-636

"Is that?" Ruby muttered

"It's the dust that got us here."


POV Change: Simmons, Grif, and Yang

Meanwhile, Simmons had finished putting an old Freelancer enhancement unit into Grif's armor. Yang didn't put one on, as she didn't have her own suit, and Simmons couldn't find one for her.

"All hooked up?" Grif asked

"Yeah, installation was easy." Simmons replied, "Ready to turn it on?"

"Ready!"

"Oh this is gonna be ridiculous." Yang smirked, "Did you set your helmet cam. to record yourself?"

"You bet. Let's do this." Grif said

"Calm down." Simmons said to him, "You don't have an AI, so nothing's going to help you make the calculations you need to use this thing. So just take it easy."

"I was born to take it easy." Grif replied, "Fire it up."

Simmons proceeded to turn the armor unit on, "Ok it's on, do you feel anything?"

Suddenly, Grif speaking a mile a minute, "No, kind of energetic, am I invisible? Huh? Am I? Am I- can you see me?"

"Calm down." Simmons cut him off, "Try jumping for us."

Grif jumped in the air, but it was so fast he landed instantly, "Jump! I jumped! Did that work Simmons? I can do it again! Please, let me do it again. Want me to jump again? Watch, I'll do it again, I won't even stop. Let me jump! Let me jump! Let me jump! Why aren't you answering me when I talk with my mouth!?"

Yang scratched her chin for a moment, "Hmm... Walk over there." she said, pointing out into the rest of the facility, "I have an idea, this is either super healing or super-"

Suddenly, Grif ran off like a maniac, leaving a trail of dust in his place.

"-speed." Yang ended

Grif ran through the facility at a speed that could literally make Ruby go run for her money. He soon whizzed past Tucker and Caboose, who were having a conversation.

"...So Church then said 'I love you forever'." Caboose explained

"That never happened." Tucker retorted

Grif then by, "Hey Caboose!"

"Whoa, what the hell was that?" Tucker questioned

"What was what?" Caboose replied, "...Hey Grif."

Grif soon whizzed past Sarge, Ren, and Nora. With the red soldier appearing to admire a forklift of all things.

"That is one fine piece of technology." Sarge muttered

"Sarge, it's just a forklift." Ren replied

"A fork that I can use against the Blues!" Sarge shouted, as Grif ran past the trio.

"Huh?' Sarge muttered, Why am I so angry all of a sudden?"

"I don't know, but I'm hungry." Nora whined

Grif then ran past Jaune and Pyrrha, who were making their way back to everyone after training.

"Man that was fun." Jaune muttered as he held his shoulder, "But you didn't have to hit that hard."

"Where's the fun in that?" Pyrrha smirked before giggling. Suddenly, Grif whizzed by shouting:

"-iss already!"

"What was that?" Jaune asked

"I don't know…" Pyrrha muttered, blushing slightly

Grif then started to run back to Simmons and Yang. But he was running right for a wall.

"Slow down!' Simmons shouted

But Grif couldn't stop in time, and hits the wall, "Ow!"

The orange soldier slid to the wall, with his friends watching him.

"Hey asshole." Simmons quipped, "Are you dead?"

Grif got up instantly, "Ow, whoa Simmons did you see that? Did you see? I saw it! I saw it, totally! Did you see? I hit that wall! That was fast! Man that was super fast! I'm so fast! God, so fast! Why is it so hot in here?"

"Grif! Calm down!" Simmons cried

But Grif rambled again, "I'm calm! I'm totally calm? Why don't you be calm? Why would you say to be calm when you know I'm already calm? Isn't it obvious that I'm calm? That doesn't even make any sense! You should make some sense! Why is it so hot in here?"

Just then, Sarge, and the rest of Team RWBY showed up.

"What in Sam Hill is going on here!?" Sarge shouted

Grif started rambling again, "Hey Sarge! What's up Sarge! Simmons and Yang are doing some experiments and I'm helping them Sarge! Right now we're doing one where everyone talks slow and the lights are super bright and I can smell clouds and man is it so hot in here!"

"Vytalian. Please." Weiss growled

"We installed a speed unit on Grif and its sort...malfunctioning." Simmons explained

"Well turn it off." Blake suggested

"We can't. Yang replied, "It's on a timer."

"For how long?" Ruby asked

Grif the rambled again, "How long? What's long? I like long stuff! I knew a giraffe once, I think it was in a book. A giraffe book. The book wasn't long, but the giraffe totally was. Because of the neck, you know. You know what I mean? Do you? Do you? The part that connects the head to...the...body...I'm gonna go to sleep now…" the armor then started to wear off, and Grif then passed out.


Several Minutes Later…

Later, Simmons, after being pressured by both literally everyone, was now in the facility's control talking to FLISS. Hoping that she would assist him in restoring the Blues' records. As he was doing this, Red Team, Yang, and Blake came in to check on him.

"Hey!" FLISS hissed at him, "That is not an approved operation-hey!"

"Can you show me the data logs?" Simmons asked

"Affirmative."

"How's it going in here Simmons?" Sarge asked about restoring the Blues.

"It's a lot of data entry sir." Simmons explained, "I was thinking I could hack the mainframe and reroute the data stream to-"

"Or, we could just restore from an archive database." FLISS spoke up

"What?" Simmons asked

"This is an off-site fallback facility." FLISS explained, "It is designed to have archives in case of data loss. Blue Team rosters would certainly be a part of that."

"Really?" Simmons questioned

"Yes. In fact, I am glad you pointed out the database anomaly." FLISS thanked him, "I had noticed it before, but did not have time to investigate. Strange."

"Oh, then do that." Simmons said to her

A click admitted from FLISS's console, "Done."

"Ok, now for Teams RWBY and JNPR." Simmons said to her, "We need you to delete everything on them. From Blood Gulch to now."

"Affirmative." FLISS replied, "Outpost 1-A files tab 'Huntsmen' has been erased."

"Great." Simmons groaned

"Why are you upset?" Blake asked

"You seem disappointed." FLISS said to him, "Did I make you look bad?"

"No…" Simmons replied

"I could always say you hacked me." FLISS suggested to cheer him up, "Make you look good in front of your friends."

"Stop patronizing me." Simmons grunted

"Affirmative. Patronizing subroutines are now offline." FLISS announced

"You're still patronizing me, aren't you?" Simmons questioned

"Kinda."

Sarge then spoke up, "Hoorah! Another victory for the glorious Red Army!" he cheered, "We put the Blues back into Command's records, and cleared Teams RWBY and JNPR's names."

"Yes!" Yang shouted, before giving Sarge a fist-bump. Blake couldn't but help smirk, but then remembered what she and Weiss found earlier.

Grif then approached the console and started looking through the files.

"Hmm." he muttered, which caught everyone's attention.

"Whacha find Grif.?" Sarge asked

"This is weird." he muttered, "if I'm reading this right there's a bunch of other red and blue bases."

"Of course there are Grif." Sarge replied, "The war is huge, the fate of the galaxy rests in its balance."

"Or not." Grif announced, catching everyone off guard.

"What do you mean?" Yang asked

"Coe look at this guys." he said. Simmons and Yang went over and looked at the files. Simmons instantly recognized them, and started looking through all of them.

"Huh, apparently they set up bases in various locations and then send a Freelancer in for... training purposes." Simmons trailed off, understanding what the Freelancer program was actually doing with their agents and their AI.

"Training?" Sarge questioned

"Practice." Grif replied

"Practice?" Sarge repeated

"Yeah." Yang replied, "It says here that you guys, and all other red and blue squads and platoons are just here for helping train the Freelancers."

But Sarge still wasn't buying it, "You mean the Blues!"

"No we mean both of them." Simmons replied, "It says here that 'simulation bases will present scenarios that may occur for Freelancer agents in a galactic battle field.'"

"Simuwatshin?"Sarge questioned

"It means we're like lab rats." Grif explained

"What- what- that's nonsense!" Sarge cried, having trouble dealing with the truth, "We've been through so much! We had that whole battle with the Blues for the, somethinerother and, then we set off that bomb thingy, and we got blasted through time, and we met an alien and that guy got pregnant."

Simmons went digging through the files, "According to this that is, Scenario 3. Minus all the shit with Team RWBY."

"Three!?" Sarge cried

"Why us though?" Grif questioned

"Yeah, why you guys?" Blake added, "Why were you in Blood Gulch?"

Simmons went back into the files, "Let me see, let me see, thuh... 'bases are outfitted with matching weapons and vehicles to ensure long conflict and are staffed by... low level operatives?'"

"Hey, who's that report calling low level? Stupid report. Punch it." Grif groaned in anger

"That is just wrong…" Blake muttered, "Being used for one's other plans."

Simons then continued, "'The candidates for Red and Blue squads will be culled from enlisted army ranks based on low test scores and poor field skills so as to not be missed on our-'"

"That actually does sound like me." Grif cut in, "What about you, I thought you were smart? Did you have low test scores too?"

"Hey those time limits aren't fair!" Simmons hissed, "It should be important that I know the information, not how fast I know it!"

"Geeze, guess I hit a nerve." Griff muttered

"And don't even get me started on the number 2 pencils." Simmons added

"Wow." Yang muttered, "All this time, you were used as pets."

"Well Sarge." Grif said to the red soldier, "I always told you Command was full of-Sarge?"

Grif turned and noticed Sarge turning the corner back into the facility. Quickly every followed after him.


Roughly 10 seconds later...

Upon entering the facility, they noticed a large structure built in the middle of the warehouse. It was made of several storage crates, cinder blocks, and other equipment. Outside of the structure was Caboose and Ruby.

"Eh, that's good." Caboose shouted at the base, "A little more to the left."

"No, the right." Ruby added

"Whoa, what is all this?" Grif asked

"This is new Red Base." Caboose replied, "Welcome."

"When did you build all of this?" Yang asked

"Oh we didn't." Ruby explained, "Sarge did.

"He built all this!?" Grif cried

"Yeah." Caboose replied

"When? He left like ten seconds ago!" Grif questioned

"He got upset with something, and started building this." Ruby explained

"We already built Blue Base." Caboose added, he then pointed at a nice 3-seater couch with blanket walls, and ceiling. A broom with a flag bearing the Blue Army coat of arms was leaning against it.

"Ours has blankets." Caboose muttered

Team JNPR, Weiss, and Tucker then showed up.

"Woah, what's all this?" Jaune asked, looking at the makeshift base.

Nora on the other hand gasped at the sight and soon was standing on top of it.

"I'm Queen of the Castle! I'm Queen of the Castle!" she shouted, but was cut off by Sarge who walked onto the top as well.

"Go away!" he cried

"Sarge, what is all this?" Simmons asked

"Simmons didn't you hear?" Sarge said to him, "We're cannon fodder. Practice! Well if I'm the leader of junk, I may as well have a base made out of junk! Pretty appropriate, right?"

"Looks like shit." Grif quipped

"That was rhetorical dirtbag." Sarge growled

"Well Sir, I think this is an excellent strategy." Simmons said, trying to calm Sarge down, "The Blues will-"

"Blues!?" Sarge shouted, "Simmons, don't you get it yet? Grif was right all along."

"Say what now?" Weiss muttered

Thank you sir." Grif replied

"Don't call me that anymore." Sarge shot back

Simmons continued to try and calm down Sarge, "Sarge, this place this place is one lie after another. We don't know if-"

"Oh, we know." Sarge cut him off, "We know, and I know. You wanna fool yourself, go ahead."

"Look, you're just upset sir." Simmon continued

"Don't call me that." Sarge replied, slightly more angrier,

"Call you what?" Simmons asked

"Sir." Sarge replied, "From now on you call me by my real name: Sarge, or S-Dog. I'm not in charge anymore. I. Quit."

Sarge then proceeded back into his makeshift base. Leaving everyone silent.

"Wait, what?" Simmons muttered in shock

"Uh oh." Grif muttered, "I feel like somebody's world just got rocked."

"Yep, and I'll start working on another fort." Caboose added before he went back to his makeshift Blue Base, "Come on Ruby."

Weiss then spoke up, "Would someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

"We just found out that Command aka the Freelancer Program was using us." Grif replied

"Meaning?" Weiss asked

"They aren't real soldiers Weiss." Blake explained, "Project Freelancer created simulation outposts and staffed them with low-level operatives. The soldiers either have poor training or low test scores. Then they sent a Freelancer to one of these outposts and test their equipment and skills. If any of the soldiers were to die, they wouldn't care and just send another poorly trained kid to take his place."

"And some of those soldiers are these guys." Yang added while pointing "Can you believe it?"

Weiss blinked for a few minutes and just looked at them...then she started to laugh.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Weiss laughed, "I can't believe it!"

Everyone looked at her as if she was the craziest person in the room.

"What?" Simmons confusingly muttered

"All this time! I thought you were actually soldiers!" Weiss smirked, "But you're not! That explains your sheer stupidity and constant failures over and over again!"

"Sheer stupidity!?" Blake cried, "Weiss, they've been trying to protect us! They saved you from being a prisoner to the Meta!"

"They stopped Tex from killing us!" Jaune added

"And they cleared all of our names of being fugitives!" Yang added, "How can you say that!?"

"Why!?" Weiss rants, "Because I can! They aren't real soldiers! We all heard what Sarge said! But now I'm done! We're leaving!"

"Leaving!?" Nora spoke up, "What about Church!?"

"Yeah, Church and Tex are still out on their mission." Ren said, a little more calmly than everyone else, "They said not to leave until they get back."

"And how are we going to get home anyway!?" Yang asked, "We don't have any dust!?"

"But I do." Weiss replied. She held up several vials of the experimental dust that she got from the crate from before.

Apparently, the Freelancers found a large supply of experimental dust right here in the facility. The dust from that backwater canyon you all came from! Me, Ruby, and Blake found it earlier, so now we have a way home. We're now, and once we get back to Beacon, I'm going to destroy the device that got us here!"

"What!?" Ruby cried, "What about the Reds and Blues!?"

"What about them!?" Weiss questioned, "I don't care what happens to them! If someone wanted to use them due to their sheer stupidity, then fine by me!"

Weiss didn't notice a figure sneaking up on her. The unknown figure reached out and grabbed the dust vials from the Ice Queen's hand.

"Hey!" Weiis shouted, she turned around and noticed Sarge standing there. Weiis tried to grab the vials, but the red soldier just pushed aside.

He gazed at them almost in curiosity. He then looked dup at everyone. First Team JNPR then his own team, the Blues, and then Team RWBY. He then turned to Weiss.

"You know, for once in my life." Sarge began, "I've finally agreed with you Weiss." he said, "We're nothing, just used gunpowder from a worthless war that wasn't our own. I hope you're happy that you're right, cause I'm not. I thought I had a real job in the military. Now the job is done, get your asses back to Beacon kids...it's for your own safety." He then shoved the dust vials back into Weiss's hands, and walked back into his makeshift base.

"Take your stupid dust and leave." he muttered

Everyone stood silent, even Weiss.

The Ice Queen then adjusted herself, and put on a straight face, "You heard him, we're leaving."

"But-" Ruby stuttered

"No buts." Weiss hissed, "Come on."

Ruby was about to retort but was surprisingly stopped by Caboose, who shook his head.

Simmons then spoke up, "He's right, you should go guys. It's not safe here, and Wash, the Meta, or even the UNSC could find you all again. So it's best bet that you all go home."

Sure enough, everyone realized he was right. If they were to stay, some would find them sooner or later. Both teams gathered around Weiss, but not before Ruby had to say a proper goodbye to Caboose, with the two hugging each other. Almost to the point where Tucker and Simmons had to pry them apart.

"Hey Weiss." Simmons said to her, "I hope you're happy you got what you want."

"Hmph." Weiss muttered before activating the device. A bright light engulfed the facility, and once it dispersed, Team RWBY and JNPR were gone.

"Neat." Caboose muttered more on the depressed side.


POV Change: Sidewinder, 2554

Doc watched in horror as Tex shot Church in the leg.

"I needed you to come Church." she said to him, "Sheila said that the recovery beacon wouldn't work until we left the facility."

Suddenly, the recovery beacon was activated and Church struggled to stand up.

"I have to get things ready." Tex said as she ran off in the snow.


POV Change: Desert Temple

Agent Washington stood looking out at the desert. The Meta was nearby as well. After the clash at Valhalla, the Meta tracked Wash's recovery beacon and freed his makeshift prison cell the Reds left him in. The two then proceeded to kill Smith and his cronies. And were now looking for a way to find Red Team, and the huntsmen.

Suddenly, Wash received a beacon.

"Is that? No it can't be." Was muttered

The Meta then started to make screeching noises, which Wash instantly understood.

"You're right, it's him." Wash replied, "Grab your gear, we're leaving."

The Meta then ran off to the temple complex to get the jeep for them.

"It's time to go home." Wash muttered to himself