Chapter 41 – One Broken, One Whole


Veronica


The Interrogation Room was highly fortified, enough Atlesian Restraints to shut Penny's systems down if she even dared to try anything. But Veronica was not blind, she could see the fear and upset on Penny's face as she fearfully looked around the room. "I… Please… I didn't mean to…" She whimpered, if she were a human being, she would be tearing up right now. Veronica gently sat down, and she spoke, she was not here to terrify the child, because that was what she was. Yes, she was built, not born, but she was still a child at heart.

"It's okay… I know. I know who you are, Miss Polendina. And I know that you would never have done the things that you did today, not under normal circumstances that is." Veronica explained as she sat down, crossing one leg over the other. She looked over the files that were recorded in front of her from what happened.

Eyewitnesses state that subject – Penny Polendina – was attacking innocents on sight and was responsible for the crash of the Argus Limited. Whilst nobody was killed in the accident, a lot of people were badly injured, some of these individuals are now suffering with permanent damage.

The Rogue Huntsmen and Huntresses fought against Penny Polendina and tried to stop her from harming any other innocents, which begins to make us wonder if these Rogues in fact had ill intent against the people of Vacuo after what happened there. Things are very uncertain, and we require more intel before we can make a valid judgement on the future of these warriors.

Veronica sighed, closing the holographic screen where the report was left behind, and she sat forward, looking at her. Unlike most of the people here, she preferred to use pen and paper to record things down, not typing on a pad. That was not all she preferred, she liked using physical paperback books opposed to tablets, simply because it is a personal preference of hers… the old-fashioned style. "My name is Veronica, I was once a Reconnaissance Operator for the Valerian Military, and I was asked to oversee the situation happening here." Veronica explained as she sat there.

"That's… lucky… that you happened to be called here the moment that it happened." Penny commented, and Veronica chuckled.

"You know what? That sums up my past few weeks. Every single time I have gone to one of the kingdoms or large cities? Something has gone down." Veronica chuckled as she drank some of her coffee from her cup.

"Man… would you like to know what this coffee reminds me of?" Veronica asked her curiously.

"What?" Penny asked right back.

"Back when I was in the military, back when I had two very nice legs." She said, showing off her poorly made prosthetic that she was given. "I was gathering important intel on some Criminals from Vacuo who were plotting to attack a bank, and I was ordered to investigate them. I was drinking a coffee just like this when I was listening the thugs chatting. I mean… man… not great at being subtle those to." Veronica chuckled. "But when I was listening to them? The moment I knew what they were planning to do was the moment I saw the light leave their eyes, and as soon as that happened? It was like they were completely different people."

Penny could quickly surmise what Veronica was hinting at.

"That's the first thing I saw when I walked in this room. The real you… not the one that was outside." Veronica said with a smile, showing that she knows that Penny is no murderous monster. She took another sip from her coffee.

She set it down on the table and she looked at Penny. "Tell me… what do you remember? Not from the Vytal Festival, I would rather not put you through all that again. I mean… before what happened today. Do you know anything that happened in between those events?" Veronica asked her ever so curiously.

Penny looked at her and she shuddered, closing her eyes. It was like she was suffering from a fever. "Where… where is my friend? Ruby is my best friend; I want her to know that I didn't want to hurt her." Penny softly whimpered with large sorrowful eyes. Ruby, from the Office she and Yang were sat inside of, watched Veronica's interview with Penny. It hurt, it hurt so much for Ruby to see her friend like that. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around Penny, to tell her that it was okay.

But she knew she couldn't… not yet.

"It's alright, Penny. Ruby is upstairs, and she knows that you didn't mean it. She saw your eyes; the same symbol was inside there that was on the screens of every single screen during the Vytal Festival. The Black Queen." Veronica explained as she looked at the android who shuffled in the chair that she was bound to.

"It… it was the last thing I saw… before… before what happened." Penny said, remembering how it felt for her own cables to slice her into pieces like that. Veronica raised her brow; this was not something that was brought up in the last few interviews and interrogations against her. And this? This was holding some very powerful implications… the biggest one was what Veronica was about to ask her about.

"Wait… you mean you saw it on the screens before you shut down? Or… you literally saw it in… your optics?" Veronica asked, she was going to say in your head, but Penny was still a machine deep down. And there were some very frightening possibilities appearing right now.

"The second one." Penny answered shyly.

"That means that this was not put in you after you were destroyed… it was there the whole time?" Veronica asked her, and Penny could not find an answer. Her eyes were wide as she realised this, and so did Ruby's. In Ruby's mind, she could hear her own thoughts echoing in the back of her mind.

By the gods… this thing in her head?

It was always there?

From the beginning? Penny could have suddenly switched at any second… how long have these people been planning this for?

I never thought I would say it, but I wish Cinder was here. So then we could ask her if she knew about this from the beginning?

"Well… this definitely changes things. We all assumed this must have happened during your reconstruction, that someone must have planted something in your head to make sure that you were always going to serve them whenever they needed you to." Veronica realised, starting to notice that this means that someone – someone very smart with a lot of powerful resources and allies – was up to something. "Whenever you were with Miss Rose, before the Vytal Festival, were there any moments where you saw the Black Queen?" Veronica asked her with an almost motherly concern in her voice.

It helped comfort Penny, she had been interrogated by scary voices the whole time prior to Veronica, so hearing a voice that actually sounds like she wants her to be okay… it really clicked for her. "N-No… never, not once." Penny assured as she shook her head, Veronica nodded her head, and she scratched the back of her head.

"So that means it was triggered – funny, because it was as soon as you were destroyed, that was when Cinder Fall sent that broadcast out, and we all lost control of our systems. Perhaps that was when the enemy activated whatever was inside of you. And clearly, they still have control right now." Veronica said as she leant back. It was more like a discussion than an interrogation, both sides were learning, equally.

"I… I don't want to hurt anybody again. Please… please don't let me hurt anybody." She begged Veronica.

"Hey… hey…" Veronica shushed gently, calming Penny down with her affectionate voice. "It's alright, kiddo – we're gonna try and find where this thing is. Whatever it is that this person has done to you, it can be removed. Think of a tumour, tumours can be removed and that can save someone's life. I believe we can do the same for you, my dear." Veronica promised as she looked at Penny.

There was a pounding on the door behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see the Atlesian Soldier stood outside of the Interrogation Cell, he still had his rifle in his hands as he stood there. Veronica sighed yet was surprised that she had so little time to speak with Penny. She smiled at Penny as she stood up and gently caressed her cheek. "Chin up, kid. You'll be out of here in no time, I promise you." Veronica said with a smile, before she turned and walked away from Penny.

"Those thugs." Penny spoke, and Veronica stopped, looking back at her. "The ones that you were ordered to stop robbing that bank?"

"Yeah?" Veronica replied.

"Did you stop them?" Penny asked curiously, and Veronica closed her eyes… remembering the bodies… remembering the blood on her hands and on the crossbow. She sighed, feeling her heart hammer.

"We did… but we were too late." Veronica said, before she walked away from Penny, closing the door behind her. She walked with that constant limp due to the lack of balance in her legs, ever step that she took caused her to nearly fall on her face. But she had a better lid over walking like this now, and she walked up the stairs, and turned the corner, where she saw Killian stood there, his shoulder pressed against the wall. She smiled brightly when she saw him, gently holding the collar of his shirt. "Hey you…"

"Are you spying on me?" He chuckled at her.

"Huh?" She asked.

"First, I met you in Vale, then you happened to be in Vacuo, and now you are here at Argus. Cannot help but notice you seem to be everywhere I go… am I really that irresistible?" He joked, making Robyn laugh as she slung her bag over her shoulder, and she threw her jacket on.

"Maybe…" Veronica flirted as she looked into his eyes with a smile on her face. They both shared at affectionate kiss, and Killian held her gently. Yet she could feel him trembling, she tilted her head with concern. "What's up?" Veronica asked him.

"It's just… I told you about my Foster Mother, didn't I?" Killian asked her, and she nodded her head. "She's still in the hospital here, and I just wanna go and see her. I also just wanna get out of this place for a while."

Veronica smiled and she nodded her head. "Okay, I'll come with. Like you said, this place? It's better to be taken in small doses." Veronica said, walking with him towards the exit, leaving the room just as the next interrogator walked into the Interrogation Cell, a man with many rings on his fingers.


Weiss


Weiss and Winter were both sat down at one of the break rooms inside of Cypher's Ridge. The sound of Airships coming in and out from the Base was practically constant, and the Shipping Paladins moved the massive crates of resources to each area where they would be sent to their designated locations. The soldiers were armed to the teeth, ready for any kind of battle. Both the Schnees were watching Killian and Veronica walk off into Argus together, and neither had the highest level of trust with the man, but Winter most of all. "Gods… I know I swore an oath… but I would turn on his ass the second I get." Winter said, and Weiss glanced at her sister, seeing her be so… well… not obsessed over her orders as an Atlesian Specialist just felt so out of character for her.

"Eryka's been rubbing off on you, huh?" Weiss chuckled, and Winter looked at her and she laughed softly.

"I guess so, yeah. She did help me realise how much of an uptight… person… I was." Winter shrugged, making Weiss laugh.

"I'm glad you two aren't having any problems over this. I wish it was the same for me and my team. We've had arguments in the past, but nothing like this." Weiss said with sadness in her eyes. Winter gently put her arm around her sister and held her close.

"This will all be sorted out, I promise you." Winter assured. "Jaune has a good plan, if we can convince Killian – which I doubt, since he is the shiftiest man I have ever met – but if he can do it? Maybe we can fix things between us." Winter said with hopefulness in her voice.

"It's crazy how far Jaune has come. I remember back in the early days of Beacon; he was an idiot. He had to right left and right on the bottom of his shoes to remember." Weiss chuckled. "Ruby stole his shoes once to show me, we laughed for about an hour about it."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he still does the same thing." Winter joked as she looked at her sister.

"Yeah, wouldn't surprise me either." Weiss agreed.

As they both sat there, they both turned when they heard the sound of the Personal Announcement System activating. "Weiss Schnee and Winter Schnee – please bring yourselves to General Cordovin's Office." The P.A Spokeswoman requested, before the system turned itself off again. The Schnees looked at each other with concern, and then they got up and left the Break Room. They walked towards the elevator and they stood inside, letting the cabin fly up the large rock in the centre of Cypher's Ridge. The elevator stopped at the tip top of the tower, and they walked to the double doors.

They walked inside and Cordovin was almost invisible due to her short height, completely concealed by her desk. Cordovin turned and she walked round the edge of the table to face the Schnees. "Welcome, Weiss and Winter. I am very glad to meet you in person." She said, walking back around the table. "General Ironwood, may the gods be kind on his soul, he always spoke very fondly of you, Specialist Schnee." Cordovin said as she sat down in her chair, pulling it higher so then she could see them better. The two Schnees sat down, and Winter was still grieving over the death of her mentor.

"And I was very fond of him too, General. He taught me everything I knew… I just wish I could have been there to help him." Winter explained, closing her eyes with grief. She too had many good reasons to want to kill Jackdaw, and the death of Ironwood was most certainly one of those reasons.

"As do I, Specialist Schnee. But I did not ask you to come up here to discuss our grief of our fallen leader… however it does have something to do with his death." Cordovin explained, and Winter looked at Weiss.

"What do you mean by that?" Weiss asked.

"Well… I have received quite a few messages from your father." Cordovin stated, and both of the sisters' eyes widened with fear when they realised that he knew that they were this close. There was a reason why the Schnees stayed in Vale, and why they rarely ever returned to Atlas. It was not their home, Vale was their home, far away from his abusive manipulation.

"What does he want?" Winter questioned, almost harshly as well.

"Let me guess, he wants us to return to the Manor?" Weiss presumed.

"Points to you, Weiss." Cordovin snapped her fingers, and they both rolled their eyes.

"Apparently someone can't take a hint." Weiss scoffed.

"You sound surprised." Winter scoffed as well.

"I know you and your father have a lot of bad blood between each other, but his message was about something else entirely. Things are… getting worse in Atlas after Ironwood's death. Alongside the rest of the world, with what happened in Vacuo when you and the Rogues engaged in combat." Cordovin explained to the Schnees, and they looked at her with confusion in their eyes.

"Wait what do you mean by that? What's going on?" Weiss asked, at the end of the day they have been out in the wilds for quite a while now and have not known what was going down in the rest of the world. Cordovin opened up Jacques Schnee's message, and it was primarily footage of the streets. There were riots breaking out, people throwing firebombs into the streets and broken glasses also being thrown.

"Is it the Feral Ones?" Winter asked with worry.

"No – it's the Puritan Followers and the Desperate Movement." Cordovin answered.

"The Desperate Movement? Who are they?" Weiss asked.

"The opposite of the Puritan Followers. Where the Puritans believe in what Killian is selling, the Desperate Movement stand for the Academies and stand directly against the Vytal Consensus. There are fights and riots starting in the streets of multiple Kingdoms. Some have happened here in Argus, others in Vale and Vacuo, and more in Atlas and Mistral." Cordovin explained, and the riots were extremely violent, people literally fighting in the streets of Mantle and Atlas. And down in Atlas, the fights triggered Grimm attacks, ones that were quickly handled thanks to the Atlesian Security Systems and Soldiers protecting them, but things were getting more and more fragile by the second.

"By the gods… I didn't realise things were getting this bad." Winter gasped.

"It all started after the Rogues fought against the Black Gallows in the streets of Vacuo and when you tried to stop them. People heard the things your friends shouted, about Killian in particular. These stories spread like the plague and now there are more people standing against the Government. Extremely aggressively." Cordovin explained, and Weiss pinched her brow.

"Everything just seems to get worse by the day." Weiss said.

"I was gonna say the same thing." Winter agreed.

"I fear that Killian's campaign to push the Academies to sign the Vytal Consensus in such a small time has also given him even more enemies. Whilst I have no love for the man, at the end of the day he has a lot of people who believe and support him. The risk and fear is becoming obvious – of war." Cordovin explained as she clasped her hands together above her table. "And if the people learn about what happened at Lake Matsu? Gods… I dread to think of the reaction of him obliterating a Historical Site for his own personal goals. I imagine the U.G.R are ready to punish him for what he did, but I fear that the Puritan Followers may still stand by him. The world is divided enough as it is right now, I do not want Killian's actions to make it even worse." Cordovin explained.

The General closed the message from Jacques Schnee, and she looked at them. "What I have asked you up here for? I want you to be honest with me – did he tell you about his plan to use Lake Matsu as a trap?" Cordovin questioned, and the Schnees looked at each other and they answered at the same time.

"No. We were out in the wilds of Northern Anima when it happened. We had no idea he had even recovered from his injury." Winter answered before Weiss could say the same thing.

Cordovin sighed. "It's as I feared. He is doing this on his own accord. I am going to bestow you some wisdom right now. I trained Killian back when I used to serve the Valerians as an Atlesian Representative, and even when he was a young private, he was one of the best soldiers I had. At the time he was not the best when it came to hand-to-hand combat, until he would find a loophole to win. Nathaniel Killian is one of the most cunning soldiers I have ever known, his scheming abilities and knowledge on how to manipulate people for victory? I've never known anyone to have such a mind, where most of my soldiers would flinch or hesitate when faced with a very difficult or dark choice? He would make the choice immediately, but with no mind to the consequences that innocents would face because of them. Yes it might get the job done, but Killian never cared for the consequences, not if it meant they won." Cordovin explained, walking over to them.

She looked at them both and gently held their hands. "Do not trust him. Because he will sacrifice you the second, he needs to if it means he will get what he wants." Cordovin warned, opening the door so then they could go. Weiss and Winter stood up and looked at Cordovin before they left.

They did not agree with many things that Cordovin said, especially for her views of the Faunus…

… but they agreed on her when it came down to this.

Killian cannot be trusted.


Killian


Beep…

Beep…

Beep…

The Heart Monitor continuously echoed this rhythm of her heartbeat as she laid there, her eyes were open, but she looked lifeless. There was a scar on the side of her head when the building collapsed on her, putting her in this vegetative state. It was Alba, Killian's Foster Mother, and she laid there, barely even alive. She could not even speak in this state, or even move her eyes. Killian was sat next to her, holding her hand as he had his head held low.

Veronica was stood next to him, gently holding his shoulder. "Hey, Alba… hope you're doing okay." He softly said to her, his eyes were red with grief for her, wiping the tears away as he looked at her. It always hurt when he looked at what was left of her, all he ever wanted was to hear the sound of her voice. "Been a long day for me. Espionage, a battle, politics…" Killian chuckled at the last one, it was the one that he hated the most. "But I still want the world to be a safer place… I don't want others to suffer like you have suffered. I couldn't save my mom or my day… and I couldn't save you. But if maybe… I could save others… even if they hate me for it… then it's worth it, right?" He assumed as he held her hand, looking at her.

But just like always, there was no response whatsoever, she was just staring into darkness. Completely lifeless even though her heart was beating steadily. Veronica looked at Killian as he looked at her, she could feel his internal agony as he looked at his Foster Mother. He had a very different love for her than he did for his biological parents – because she chose to take him in. She did not need to. But she did, and she looked after him even after what he lost.

"I spoke to him – Jackdaw Branwen. The man that murdered my parents… I spoke to him today. He's still the monster I always knew he was… I wanted to kill him… right there… I could have done it. Maybe I should have…" Veronica glanced at him when he said that, there was a savagery in his voice, and he clenched his other hand into a tight fist. "But I knew you wouldn't have wanted me to… I want to be a better man. I want to be a good person, like what you wanted for me. I try every single day to honour you… and I won't stop. I promise." Killian said, before he stood up and kissed the top of her head, and he turned to leave her.

Veronica followed him out of where Alba was laid, she looked back at her, and for a moment she thought Alba was looking at her… but no… there was nothing at all. She followed Killian outside and saw him wiping the tears from his eyes. "Whoa, hey… hey…" She gently said to him, holding his shoulders to make sure that he was okay. "Are you alright?" She asked him as she wiped some of his tears away.

"Yeah… It just… hurts. I wish I could have been there for her, hell maybe I could have done things differently that could have saved her." Killian stammered as he stood there.

"There's nothing that you could have done. Nothing that anybody could have done to stop what happened that day." Veronica said, and Killian sighed, sitting down at a park bench. Veronica sat down next to him and they both looked around. There were kids playing in the streets, people doing their shopping or leaving work to get back home.

"It's… shocking when you know… that the world is only getting more and more dangerous. Yet everyone is going about their business like it is all normal." Killian said, massaging his wrists.

"Because for them it is normal." Veronica said with a sigh.

"Yeah… yet I can see all the seeds of chaos brewing even here." Killian said, seeing the posters of signing the Vytal Consensus that have been torn from the walls. Sprayed with the words LIARS or There is no Unity amongst the Unified Governments of Remnant!

It was getting worse with every day.

"It's funny, because that one is true. There is no Unity amongst the Unified Governments of Remnant. All the Councillors are corrupt, men and women who only seek to fill their pockets and glorify their own ambition." Veronica said as she looked around at all the people, watching every single one of them. "I just want the good people, the ones who deserve to be looked after, to be safe." Veronica said as she lowered her head.

"How long until this peace fades?" Killian asked her.

She scoffed. "Not long. Pretty soon, something is going to break." Veronica stated. She looked at her scroll and saw that someone was messaging her on her scroll. She sighed again. "Oh… I'm sorry, Nathan. I want to stay but they need me back at Cypher's Ridge." Veronica said.

"Oh, it's okay. I'm gonna go and see my Foster Sister. Haven't been round her house in a while." Killian said, and Veronica smiled, kissing him affectionately before she walked away.

Past the screens that were broadcasting the latest report on Robyn Hill.


Jaune


They were inside of her house…

… but no walls could contain her adoration.

"Who's is the cutest cutie patootie this side of the river monjaloolie?! It's you, yes, it is it's you!" Pyrrha exclaimed exuberantly, dancing the toy Atlas ship up and down before little Adrian's giggly smile. Jaune smiled proudly as he looked at his girlfriend, turning to Saphron who was chuckling.

"I still can't believe that this is the Invincible Girl. I remember when I first met her, I was expecting some really huge muscular beast of a woman… not this adorable goofball." Saphron chuckled, tilting her head to her brother's bemused expression.

"Yeah, it's like if you put the purest kindest soul in the body of a tank." Jaune shrugged. Pyrrha cleared her throat into her free fist.

"Oh well what's wrong with finding this little fellow super duper cute! C'mere!" Pyrrha scooped up the child off the carpet, falling back to hold him up in the air above her head. Adrian giggled, hands and legs kicking at the air as Pyrrha zoomed him around, complete with poor jet engine vocals.

Saphron cringed, reaching out a hand. "Uhh Pyrrha, not to be a killjoy but he only ate his applesauce about an-

"Bleurgh!"

"... Hour ago." The cringe on Saphron's face grew, and Jaune paled, hands over his mouth as Pyrrha sat with baby spit up all over her neck and face.

"Can I hand him back to you... and do you have a wash room?" Pyrrha's voice rose and fell in octaves as she fought off gagging. Saphron nodded sheepishly, taking Adrian and gesturing down the hall.

"I'll be just a- oh boy - just a moment." Pyrrha shuddered, trotting down the hall. Jaune turned to watch her go, cringing with his sister.

"Welp. Looks like your girlfriend hates me now." Saphron weakly laughed. Jaune chuckled.

"Pyrrha only hates one thing, and that's biting into a chocolate cookie to find out it's raisin. You're fine." Jaune cleared his throat. "Actually, I umm... I wanted to talk to you, about Pyrrha that is."

"Wedding venues are really expensive here in Argus, bro." Saphron wiped the spittle off Adrian as he gurgled and giggled. Jaune blushed bright red in the corner of her vision.

"What?! N-No! Nope, Nope, Nu-uh that is not on the radar, not even close!" Jaune vehemently exclaimed, crossing his arms. Saphron chuckled, setting Adrian back by her feet. Her eyes found his.

"Okay. Noted. No need for me to buy a big hat just yet then." She smirked as he blushed. "What did you want to talk to me about then? About Pyrrha?"

"Well..." Jaune huffed, deflating. "I... I love her."

"Okay. That's... good, right?" Saphron raised a brow. Jaune nodded.

"Yeah! Yeah it is, a-and she loves me. But I... " He sighed heavily. "What I'm trying to say is that with everything going on, People I thought were my friends and family, my team who I thought trusted me with their lives but couldn't trust me with this, I..."

"Oh." Saphron nodded. "You're worried that the same might happen between you two?"

"I guess?" Jaune rubbed his neck. "It's just we agree on almost everything and that's great but... I guess I'm dreading the day we don't, and what if it's over something like all this? What if she and I fall out like my team and our sister team has? What if the more we uncover on this mission starts to change her opinion to mine. She's already having doubts about her choice a-and so am I but-

"Bro, bro." Saphron held his shoulders, chuckling. "Pancakes, not waffles, remember?"

"Huh?" Jaune shook his head. Saphron tutted.

"C'mon, surely you remember Dad's Mantra for if we're talking too much. You're waffling on, and we're a pancake family in this house. So Pancakes, no waffles. Remember?" Saphron recalled, chuckling. Jaune smiled.

"Oh yeah! Yeah, I remember. Little Daisy trying to tell him a story and she's going off at tangents-"

"As kids do!"

"As kids do, yeah. And he just goes-"

"It's Pancakes, not waffles kiddo!" Jaune and Saphron mimicked their father in unison, laughing heartily. Jaune sobered with a warm smile, looking up at the family photos on the walls.

"I miss him."

"You should write home sometime. Maybe when all this is over?"

"Yeah." Jaune smiled at Saphron. "I'll call them back at Beacon."

"Well, you know what Mom's like with picking up her scroll. You'd be better off sending a voicemail!"

Jaune chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, you're right about that! Okay fine then, when all is said and done, I'll send Mom and Dad a voicemail, specifically to Saphron's request, a voicemail. There. Happy?"

"It's something I guess." Saphron smirked, tugging his cheek as he grumbled and swatted. They snapped apart when Pyrrha reappeared, dabbing her freshly washed face with a towel. "You okay hun? I'm so, so sorry about that."

"Oh it's fine. He is a baby after all!" Pyrrha sat besides Jaune, smiling. "He's still a cutie in my books."

They all smiled as they watched Adrian babble and crawl around, picking up toys and just being a care free toddler. Saphron sighed heavily.

"So! I've gotta go and pick up Adrian's meds from the Hospital and swing by the Police Station to pick up Terra. Maybe get her some sugar-

"Ew, sis!"

"As in a bag of sugar, for tomorrow. She texted me, said they ran out in the coffee room." Saphron replied dryly. Jaune blinked.

"Oh."

"Maybe a few long passionate kisses here and there." Saphron mimicked kissing right in Jaune's face.

"Oh I knew you'd do it!" Jaune grumbled, Saphron giggling. Pyrrha stood, dusting off her knees.

"Thank you for having us, Saphron. But we don't wanna take up too much of your time if we don't have to." Pyrrha sweetly said.

"Why don't you guys walk with me. It won't take long, plus you can see some sights. I mean Pyrrha, you're privy to Argus, right?" Saphron asked.

"I trained here, yes. Though admittedly I didn't really... explore as such." Pyrrha shrugged her shoulders. "And the past times we have been here, it was basically just to see you two."

"So it's settled. I'll get Adrian ready and we'll walk to the station."


Later…

Jaune and Pyrrha walked side by side over the cobble roads. The cool breeze coming up out of the bay carried the pungent scent of seaweed and salty sea water. It wasn't awful, just different. Those scents soon shifted as they passed coffee shops and pastry outlets. Jaune's stomach spoke up, garnering looks from Saphron and Pyrrha.

"Is somebody hungry?"

"Bah!" Adrian nodded. Saphron chuckled.

"Not you baby, the other baby."

"Hey! I am NOT a baby!" Jaune grumbled.

"But you are cute." Pyrrha and Saphron said at once, making them chuckle.

"Oh Pyrrha, girl I gotta show you his baby photos sometime."

"Now that is something, we can certainly take time to do." Pyrrha smirked over her shoulder at Jaune as he blushed and rolled his eyes. The Tram's trundled up and down the cobble roads, bells ringing with each twist and turn. Huge bipedal mechs, emblazoned with Atlas sigils, stomped down roads flanked by Atlesian Knights.

"A Curfew has been issued in this sector for the next half an hour. Please return to your homes for routine Grimm inspections."

Jaune and Pyrrha frowned.

"I didn't realised Atlas had such an iron grip here. It wasn't this bad last time." Jaune sighed.

"When I was here, this was never an issue. Atlas barely had a military presence at all." Pyrrha rubbed her upper arm. Saphron sighed.

"Yes, well they've been seeing increasing numbers of Grimm around Argus and..." She huffed. "It's also because of that." She pointed out to Cypher's Ridge in the bay. "After what happened at Beacon Academy too, with Ironwood dying? Well the Atlesians' paranoia has hit a fever pitch."

"Ever since they fortified that base, it went from stocking Atlas arms and dust to be a stronghold for operations. You can't walk the streets without bumping into paladin's or knights. C'mon Adrian let's get your mama."

Jaune and Pyrrha shared a sour look, before following Saphron down the road. Then a mechanical hand placed itself firmly on Pyrrha's chest. On instinct she readied to deal with her assailant but stopped at the Knight's face.

"Identification for sector 234-12."

"Excuse me, I'm sorry, they're huntsmen and they're with me." Saphron said to the robot officer. The Knight's featureless face seemed to turn back to Pyrrha and Jaune before letting them pass.

"On behalf of Atlas and it's military might, we apologise for the inconvenience. You have a wonderful day." The robot spoke it's automated message. Jaune stepped around the machine, making sure to barge his shoulder by, barely staggering the mech.

"You okay, Pyrrha?" Jaune asked. Saphron tutted. "They're getting handsier each damn day. Honestly, sometimes it feels like marshal law here."

"But only here?" Jaune looked back. "Why is that?"

"A few weeks back a Grimm pocket opened up in the pavement there. And since that Jack the Ripper fellow attacked Beacon, we've had a few copy cats. Two people were stabbed last week. So Atlas decided to step in. Only problem is it feels more like marshal law than policing each day." Saphron explained. Jaune and Pyrrha shared a look.

Saphron and Terra have no idea about the Feral Ones and Adam… they could show up here any day now.

"Well, anyway..." Saphron looked up the stone steps before them. "This is the station. This is where Mommy works, isn't that right sweetie?" Saphron Smiled as Adrian babbled in her arms. Jaune and Pyrrha looked at the station, then back down the road at the mechanical soldiers up the hilly street.

"Well, only I'm allowed in." Saphron huffed. "I got a significant other's badge, so." A small laugh. "I'll only be a moment."

"Yeah." Jaune smiled. "Say Pyrrha, I'm gonna go and get us some coffee. Want one Saph?"

"Oh thanks hun, but I'm good. You go though, I'll see you back here in ten?"

"Sounds good." Jaune smiled up her, before taking Pyrrha's hand and turning across the street. Jaune huffed. "It's having negative effects everywhere now."

"Yeah." Pyrrha sighed, squeezing his hand. "Funny, but I haven't seen a single Huntsman or Huntress since we arrived."

"I was thinking the same." Jaune looked up at Atlesian Knight's holding a checkpoint for people's ID. "Yet we're the ones who need to be put in check?" He scoffed as two Knight's carried a woman from a screaming Faunus man before throwing her in the back of an armoured truck. Quite the spectacle.

"My choice leaves a bad taste these days." Pyrrha huffed. Jaune swallowed thickly, catching her hand and turning her sharply to face him. Her eyes latched to his face with worry and confusion. "Jaune?"

"I... " He blew out a breath, stroking her upper arms. "I'm scared. I'm scared that I screwed up."

"Hey, slow down, where's this coming from?"

"I just... " Jaune looked back into her eyes. "I don't know what side's right anymore. A-And lately I've been thinking, what If I'm the traitor in all this, what if they're right and to them we betrayed them, and I don't know what-

"Hey, shhh." Pyrrha held his arms tight, her eyes gazing into his firmly. "They've done just as many questionable things with questionable ethics. I don't think this is going to be as black and white as painted out to be at first. We need to be ready for when things go grey."

"Right." Jaune breathed out. "I just... I'm scared... of you changing your mind and leaving me to figure things out and I don't-"

"Do you really think I would leave your side? If my opinion changed that I wouldn't stay with you and talk it out?" Pyrrha said, a touch of hurt in her voice. Jaune gulped hard.

"You're right. I-I'm sorry, I just... Oh I'm falling apart man." He scoffed, wiping his eye. Pyrrha kissed his cheek softly, chastely.

"I'm here. Okay? I'm not going anywhere." A smile. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Jaune chuckled. "Thanks Pyr. I love you."

"And I love you too. Now c'mon. That coffee isn't going to buy itself."


They returned back to the station where they saw Terra Cotta-Arc in her Police Gear, kissing Saphron affectionately as she walked with her. They got back to their home together to have dinner together, surprising Terra happily to see them.

When they were back, Terra got out of her Detective Gear, and back into her casual outfit. Terra was a young woman with short dark brown hair and eyes. She had a single smooth bang that went down her forehead and in between her eyes. She wore a dark navy collar shirt with a light-blue cardigan, dark-grey jeans and red sneakers. She also wore red glasses and a wedding ring.

They all sat around their large table with little Adrian sat in his high chair, eating his food and giggling as Pyrrha fed him with a bright smile on her face. "I was very surprised to see you both here. I mean… after everything that has happened? I was worried we wouldn't be able to see you two for a while." Terra said with a grateful smile.

"Yeah, things have been pretty hectic." Jaune chuckled, and that was an understatement after the terrifying things they encountered on the road. "But how could we possibly resist to see you?" He laughed.

"Well now you're just making us blush." Terra joked.

"So, hun? How was work?" Saphron asked, and Terra groaned.

"More on the killings sadly. We managed to nab a few of them… it's terrifying how many people seem to be inspired by that psychopath back in Vale." Terra answered, and Pyrrha looked at Jaune.

Could it be the Feral Ones?

They did not want to bring it up, they were with family, and it was clear that Terra would rather not chat about it. Not yet at the very least. "By the way, your little one over here? I think he likes me." Pyrrha giggled, and Terra immediately figured out what she meant by that.

"Uh-Oh… did he show you what he had for lunch?" She asked her, making her laugh and making Jaune scrunch his face.

"Yep. I guess we're best buds now, huh?" Pyrrha giggled, ruffling the giggling baby's head.

Ding Dong!

"Ooh, another visitor." Terra chuckled, she got up and walked over to the door.

"You expecting anyone? I hope we aren't intruding." Jaune apologised.

"Oh don't be silly. It's probably just a delivery man." Saphron shrugged her shoulders, until Terra opened the door and her eyes lit up.

"BRO!" She squeaked with joy, and Jaune turned…

… and his eyes widened with disbelief.

"Hey, sis." Killian greeted.


Author Note - WHAT THE SHIT?

I bet that was what was going through your heads at the end there. Been working on this reveal for a while, every time he mentioned his Foster Family he always mentioned his little sister fondly. The great part of him being her older Foster Brother is that this makes her a very cool and interesting character to play around with. I really like having her be a detective too, opens some cool doors up.

Loved the Arkos and Saphron X Terra stuff, just so sweet until the awkward end for those two. (Terra got some serious explaining to do on why she never told them that he was her Foster Brother too)

I love Veronica. All she wants is for people to be happy and safe. I loved writing her talk with Penny too, it really hammer it home with what is going on with her. The whole idea that this trigger was inside her before the Vytal Festival is honestly quite terrifying because that means that she could have switched and could have killed Ruby at any point.

And of course, the Schnees and Cordovin. Something I love about Eclipse is the subtle background stuff, on how things are getting worse even though for the most part you don't see it. Conflict is soon going to begin, they all know it.

It's ironic... a Consensus named after the island that brought everyone together... is tearing everyone apart.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!

Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Stray

- Matt