Chapter 42 – The Blurred Line
Jaune
His blood ran cold.
Out of all the circumstances he was expecting, this was never going to be one of them. He saw Terra wrap her arms around Killian with so much affection. And seeing Killian here… and hearing Saphron gleefully greet her brother in law… he felt like a stranger in the home of his older sister. It all felt like he had been betrayed, like he never ever knew who Saphron or Terra were the whole time he had known them.
Jaune had known Terra when Saphron met her when she was still in High School, so finding out that they both had not told him about this? It hurt even more.
Jaune clenched his hand into a fist as he stared at Killian, and Pyrrha instantly stood up from her chair with wide eyes, staring directly at Killian as he walked inside, hugging Saphron. "Hey, Saph. How are thi-" Killian froze like a Deer in Headlights when he saw Jaune and Pyrrha inside, and he widened his eyes in a similar way to them. "Oh… shiiiiiiiiiit…" He awkwardly groaned, realising that they knew now.
"You both kept this secret from us? That he's your brother?" Jaune gasped as he pointed at him. Terra squeezed her eyes shut as she looked at her brother.
"I wish I knew you were here, bro… I could've… let you know they had come for a surprise visit too." Terra scratched the back of her neck.
"I… I could go, if you want. I don't wanna mess up your dinner." Killian assured as he gestured to the door.
"I think the damage has been done." Terra sadly said, gently patting Killian on the back. Killian buried his face in his hands and he uncomfortably left the room. Jaune stared at Terra and Saphron as a painful silence filled the room, until Jaune walked towards Terra.
"Can I have a word, with you?" He asked her, the anger was very clear in his voice, anger of how neither side ever told him or Pyrrha the truth of who Killian was to her. Terra and Jaune both walked into the Kitchen where Jaune softly spoke to her, containing his upset as best he can. "How long have you been keeping this secret from us? Why did you not trust us with this? We both told you about Killian and how much we distrusted him, but you never said a word." Jaune explained as he stared at her, and Terra nodded her head.
"Look, I know how this looks… but it's… it's complicated." Terra began as she leant against the wall, Jaune stood there and he crossed his arms. He looked around, and he could see Killian waiting in the living room, wanting to give them their space.
"Complicated? The hell does that mean? Have you forgotten how Pyrrha and I told both of you about the incident at Beacon? Something I knew that we shouldn't have disclosed because of all the crap that went down? It was all because of him, he used a student who suffered from a mental illness like a damn bomb, and he got away scot-free to prevent the spread of panic. And after we risked all that… you still lied to us?" Jaune questioned, seething.
"We didn't lie to you, I just asked Saph not to bring it up. We never lied, we just… didn't say." Terra said, and Jaune scoffed.
"Oh great, that really makes it a hell of a lot better, doesn't it?" He scoffed.
"Look, I know… I screwed up, and I am sorry. But I couldn't risk telling you, let's just say I'm not as ballsy as you were when you told us about what happened four years ago. And believe me, I didn't talk to Nathan for… hell… maybe two years… it was only a couple years ago when he came here and wanted to explain himself. It took a while but now we're… square." Terra explained, and Jaune shook his head. "But I couldn't tell you. Killian risked breaking every rule in the book when he actually told me about what he did for a living, and he warned me that I could not tell anyone else about his position. He was in the Special Forces, after all – it's pretty much a rule to live a life of anonymity."
"And yet… the whole world knows who he is now. And yet you still didn't say anything." Jaune said.
"That's exactly why. I couldn't risk Saph… or Adrian. Killian is a man who gains both lots of allies and just as many enemies. I didn't want to risk the love of my life or my baby… I couldn't. So that's why I never said anything, Jaune. There was no sinister or nefarious plot behind my secrecy… I just wanted my family safe." Terra explained, and Jaune sighed. He could understand her reasons better now, at the end of the day she was not wrong.
The Riots between two different groups happening across the world regarding the Vytal Consensus? That was a very easy example of how a man like Nathaniel Killian could easily form groups of allies and foes that could do anything to spite him.
It's hardly been the first-time pressure groups have gone after a person of influence's family.
"You weren't there, Terra. You didn't see the things that happened because of him. People died." Jaune reminded, remembering Oobleck and Forrest, and how Sun was almost killed as well by the Praetorian Knight. "Things can never be square with a man like that. He acts like a nice guy but all he cares about are the ends of his means." Jaune explained.
"And yet you're on his side." Terra said, and Jaune double-took.
"I am not on his side. I don't trust that man as far as I can throw him, the only reason we're working together is because I want the Academies to still exist after this whole Political Bullshit has been sorted out. If the Vytal Consensus doesn't work, do you really think the U.G.R will stop there. This is our best and only option before they decide to remove us completely." Jaune explained. "Hell… I wouldn't be surprised if Killian will lead such a campaign."
"Nathan doesn't want people to die, Jaune. Surely you can see that." Terra said, Jaune looked at her and he raised a brow.
"After the things he has done? Sorry, can't say that I can." Jaune said. "After Beacon… and then Lake Matsu? Well… can't say that I think the man is sound of mind."
"Matsu? What about Matsu?" Terra questioned, and Jaune looked at her. Just from the look of confusion on her face, that was all he needed. She did not know about Lake Matsu either…
Of course she doesn't know about that, even if the Press Teams have started reporting on what's left of the Isles after his attack, how would she know that he was responsible.
"Your Foster Bro? He hunted my friends down to that spot and butchered a bunch of the people that they were with. And then he tried to kill them, destroying those ancient islands in the process. All against the U.G.R's orders, which means he was breaking the very law he was trying to push. That man is just a damn hypocrite." Jaune said with a scoff in his voice. Terra glanced at her brother, noticing him sat there, he could definitely hear their conversation. He was the Commander of the Black Gallows; nobody reaches that rank without some impressive skills in espionage.
"I didn't know about that… I'll talk to him." Terra said, and Jaune looked at her.
"Don't bother. He'll just come up with some kind of convenient lie." Jaune said with a sigh. "Not sure if I should even bother trying to make a deal with him for my friends' freedom… he'll probably just shut it down." Jaune said.
"A deal?" Terra asked him.
"He's one of the highest-ranking people in the world, and he has the U.G.R's ear… well… for now at least. Not sure if they will be overly pleased with him after that stunt he pulled at Matsu." Jaune began. "But I have a plan to try and make sure my friends don't go to jail and can pay their time back by helping me with a mission… but that means I would have to convince Killian."
Killian listened from the other room, hearing him mention this mission and he raised a brow. Neither noticed the message that Watts had sent him on his scroll recently.
You're running out of time…
… blood will spill soon.
- W
Killian stared at the photographs of his Chosen Sister and her wife, when they first had little Adrian, they were so happy.
Terra looked at Jaune and he sighed. "I know Killian better than anyone… I've known him since I was born, he's been one of my best friends in the whole world. He's… complicated… but he's not unreasonable. If you just talk to him, and see the way things are from his eyes? He will listen to you; you just need to understand that every story has two sides. He knows secrets that should never be told to the rest of the world. Those kinds of secrets… they change you. Trust me, I know… some of the cases I have worked? If it weren't for Saph I don't know if I would have been able to walk away as the same person." Terra explained, and Jaune nodded his head.
He could understand that. Both Terra and Killian had seen some terrible things in their professions, but one of them was still true to who they were… whilst the other was trapped between the lines of good and evil.
He was trapped in that blurry line.
As they were stood in that hallway, Killian stood up and he walked towards them. Jaune turned and stared at the Commander. "How about Jaune and I go for a walk and talk about this… situation?" Killian asked her, and Terra looked at Jaune. The Arc Knight stared at Killian and then he walked out of the hallway and he looked at Pyrrha. She was sat on the sofa with Adrian rolling around by her feet and she sweetly played with him. He sighed and looked back at Killian.
"Fine. We'll talk." He agreed.
Pyrrha
Pyrrha held one of Adrian's plushies and she bounced it up and down in front of him, making the happy little baby giggle with joy as he cuddled the stuffed bear in his arms. Pyrrha smiled, her heart melted as she looked at the baby full of life play around on the floor. Saphron was sat next to her, then they both looked up at Jaune, Killian and Terra exiting that room. "Jaune and I are gonna go on a walk and talk about all this. We'll be back soon." Killian assured, and Pyrrha's eyes widened with concern.
Jaune knew the look, it was the are you sure you want to do this face. He smiled at her and simply nodded his head at her. She reciprocated the same back to him. "Okay." Pyrrha agreed. Killian and Jaune exited the Cotta-Arc House. Terra stood there and sighed a shaky breath, softly scraping her slippers against the wooden floor, looking at Pyrrha who looked at her in return. She then looked at Saphron. "Did you know too?" Pyrrha asked her, and Saphron sighed. Pyrrha scoffed. "Of course you did."
"Pyrrha… we didn't want to keep it from either of you, but we couldn't risk Adrian's safety." Saphron said as she gently ruffled her son's hair.
"Yeah I've heard that before." Pyrrha said, Terra and Saphron looked at her as she stood up and walked over to the window with her arms crossed. "My Mom… she did so many things because she wanted to keep me safe. She ruined someone's entire future… indebting her to the Vasillias Cartel… a debt she would never be able to pay, and even her children… and her grandchildren would never be able to pay it. All because she hurt my feelings – all because she wanted to keep me safe."
"Pyrrha this isn't the same. You've seen the way the world is, and Killian works in a field that gives him more enemies than allies. What do you think those enemies would do if they found out about his sister? His sister and her wife and son?" Terra asked Pyrrha as she walked over to her, and Pyrrha shook her head.
"And what about Jaune? All his life he was raised in a family of people who treated him like he was… like he was never good enough. No matter how hard he tried, most of his sisters bar Saphron… his mom and dad? None of them had faith in him. I had hoped you would have had enough faith in your own brother to tell him the truth, Saphron." Pyrrha said, with disappointment in her voice.
"I know you're angry, Pyrrha. But we didn't have a choice. It was hide this secret from him or risk my family's safety. If you were in my position, what would you have done?" Terra asked Pyrrha as she approached her. Pyrrha glanced at Terra… but she could not find an answer.
"You kept Jaune's secret… about when he forged those documents to get into Beacon Academy. Because you wanted him to succeed, even though the past attempts tried to say that he couldn't." Saphron pulled one hell of a reversal on Pyrrha, and the Invincible Girl felt like she could not say another word. "Sometimes we are forced to keep secrets so then we can keep the people we love safe."
Pyrrha still remained quiet as she stared out the window at the Airships that flew across the sky. Saphron walked over to Pyrrha and looked at her. "I hated my parents for how they treated him… constantly telling him that he can't do anything. Judging him for every little mistake he made, reminding him of them every single time he said he wanted to be a Huntsman. I never understood why they were the way they were with him… I felt so guilty when I moved to Argus with Terra. But I couldn't be around them… for the same reason that Terra couldn't be around her dad – for the short amount of time he was there."
Pyrrha looked at her. "The thing is… I don't think they hated me for falling for Terra… but the things they would say, they were well-intentioned… but it didn't make the pain sting any less. I still haven't seen either of them since, or my sisters – they weren't as bad with me as they were with Jaune… that's why I've rarely contacted them. I was always closest to Jaune… because out of all of us? We were the only ones who were different." Saphron explained. "Me? Because I liked girls… and Jaune? Because was the only son, and he wanted to be more than that."
Pyrrha looked at Saphron and she saw her wipe a tear from her eye. "I never wanted to keep that secret from him, neither of us did. Jaune was always my best friend in the family – and he still is. Do you understand what I mean, Pyrrha?" Saphron asked her, and Pyrrha smiled, gently squeezing her shoulder. Terra smiled as she saw Pyrrha do that.
"I do… I'm sorry we reacted the way we did… we're just… tired of secrets." Pyrrha said as she stared at Cypher's Ridge, where their friends were held.
"I don't blame you. Secrets tread a fine line between helping others and harming them." Saphron said.
"It reminds me of that Information Broker." Terra said, and Pyrrha looked at the Detective who stroked her hair.
"Information Broker?" Pyrrha asked Terra.
"A few months ago, I got a case. There was this Information Broker – her name was Amanda Ashridge. She was selling falsified information through Argus to countless people. At first, I just expected it to be yet another Fraud Case, but these secrets? There was a reason behind them… she knew the real truth behind the information that people were buying. But she knew that she could get returning customers if she… tweaked… the files. Cut them into pieces to get more payments… more orders… more data. And it worked for a time, until she messed with the wrong people." Terra explained.
"Lemme guess, the Vasillias Cartel?" She assumed.
"No, but they are linked to them. She messed with the Valerian Bikers in Vale. They had contacts here in Argus, and she sold them falsified data about the locations of Dust Caches in the city. When they learned they were fake… they threatened her life. The case quickly turned into trying to save Amanda's life from them. But the Bikers were faster than we were… and by the time we found her? Well… there wasn't much left of her, because they burnt her house down." Terra explained, and Pyrrha's eyes widened. "Secrets? They're a double-edged sword. They can help… or hurt. The line becomes blurred sometimes. It only focuses at the end of the line. Sometimes… that end can be good… or can end with you in a shallow grave."
Pyrrha nodded her head, and she sighed. "Amanda Ashridge… how old was she?" She asked.
"Nineteen." Terra answered.
"Gods…" Pyrrha sighed. "The Bikers… did you catch them?" Pyrrha asked her.
"Yes." Terra answered.
"How?" Pyrrha asked her.
Terra paused. "We gunned them all down."
Jaune
The Argus Nights were beautiful, it was one of the only other regions apart from Atlas that would have an Aurora at night, swirling colours of greens and yellows and blues would pulse over the stars. Every now and then an Airship would soar across the sky, and Jaune held out his hand as he felt a snowflake fall upon him. He looked at it as it slowly melted from his body temperature.
Killian walked round the corner with a coffee he bought for him, offering it to him and Jaune accepted it. "I know you don't trust me… and I can't blame you. I wouldn't me either if I were in your shoes." Killian explained as he walked with him.
"Well I guess self-awareness is a beautiful thing, right?" Jaune replied as they walked down the streets. Cars drove across the roads, back and forth as people were returning back to their homes still. Jaune looked at some of the people and seeing the signs that have been sprayed over. Former Promotional Campaigns that were fighting for the integration of the Vytal Consensus across the world to have the Huntsman Academies to work under the U.G.R's gaze. The vandalism said the following:
WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN!
SHOW YOUR TEETH!
THE HUNTSMEN AND HUNTRESSES ARE OUR PROTECTORS! NOT THE U.G.R!
"Looks like the Vytal Consensus Campaign is starting to fail, more people are rising up against it, Killian." Jaune said as he looked at the graffiti. Killian stopped and he looked at the Graffiti and he approached one of them in particular.
"Show your teeth. Hmph… looks like some of Robyn Hill's supporters are here too. I thought they would have scattered after she was killed." Killian said, and Jaune raised his brow.
"Robyn Hill? I thought she went missing, never heard any reports of her death after she disappeared the attack at the S.D.C Mine in Atlas." Jaune explained as he looked at him, and Killian shrugged his shoulders.
"True… but after the amount of time she has been M.I.A? I think she's most likely dead, since some of the soldiers hit her with an explosive. Last they saw was her blood trail and she got into an Airship. The damage she endured? I doubt she would have lasted long in the air." Killian explained to him, he then touched the spray paint. "Huh… it's still wet. Must have been a few minutes ago."
"Mysteries galore lately." Jaune said as he walked ahead of him.
"Ain't that the truth. Never thought I'd miss scaring idiotic explorers trespassing in dangerous zones so they wouldn't return." Killian said as they walked through the streets. Some of the Surveillance Drones hovered overhead, scanning individuals as they walked around the city. They were Atlesian Tech, most likely sent out by Cordovin to make sure that dangerous individuals – such as Adam Taurus – are not in the city.
The threat to the world was definitely there, but the Unified Governments of Remnant were keeping under wraps, keeping the people safe and calm. The last thing they would want is the people being afraid of another attack like Beacon Academy suffered, and shortly after – Vacuo. The more panic, the more Grimm Attacks. And Argus had already survived an attack from a Leviathan-Class Grimm very recently.
They both walked towards a park, the one that was very close to where Pyrrha's statue was located. Jaune walked over and he looked at the swings that gently swung back and forth, and Killian gasped for air. He grabbed the Respirator on his sternum, and he twisted the controls to calm the agony that would build up in his chest like he was about to burn to death. His breaths returned back to normal, and Jaune saw the veins in his throat blacken for a few moments as the Grave Dust in his system started to spread like a disease, slowly decomposing him – until the device pulled the dust right back.
Killian could taste a coppery taste in his mouth every single time the Grave Dust began to eat away at him. He rolled his neck as he stood upright once more, and Jaune was looking at the Commander. "Damn Grave Dust… it's like living with a gun pressed against the back of your head every second of every day."
Jaune looked at Killian and he looked back at the swings. "Look… I care about my sister and I would never do anything that would hurt her in any way, your sister – her wife – included. And Adrian? That little guy is something special, you know that." Killian said as he stood there, and Jaune shook his head.
"Don't."
"Don't what? Look I'm sorry that I asked her not to tell you about our relations… hell technically we not even related anyway… but she is one of the only pieces of family that I have left. And I would do anything to make sure that she and her family are safe. And that includes you." Killian assured as he pointed at him.
"You think I give a damn about my life?" Jaune questioned. "I don't trust you Killian, furthermore, I don't like you. What you did, at Beacon? The world will know one day, I promise you that. You can arrest and assassinate as many of Ozpin's Investigators and Journalists as you want. But the truth will come out one day… and when that day comes… one way or another, Terra will be caught in the crossfire. Saphron too, and hell maybe even Adrian. I don't want that for them – but that's gonna happen, because of your lies and schemes." Jaune snarled as he stared at Killian.
"We've kept terrible secrets for years, Mr Arc. Secrets so terrible that if the world knew? Nobody would be able to sleep every single time that the sun would set." Killian explained, he then looked at the Shattered Moon. "History is a big book, but it is one we can choose the pages to be shown in the light… and the others to be kept in the dark. Believe me, it's for the best that most people do not know about the things that have happened."
"I'm not arguing that, Killian. Believe me, I know why the History Books leave some of the scarier things out, because if we didn't the panic could have killed us all a very long time ago. But what you have done, Nathaniel?" Jaune said, having the tenacity to use his first name. "You can't keep that secret forever; it doesn't matter how much you believe in the Vytal Consensus. I believe it could work too, with some friendly little changes to make things a bit easier for those who need to get used to the change. I'm not arguing that we have to adapt, at the end of the day I would rather the Academies and Huntsmen and Huntresses still get to exist and do what we chose to do… than us be completely removed." Jaune explained and Killian nodded his head. "But sooner or later someone will find that truth… the truth of what you have done… and the people will rise against you."
"Well that's if we don't do our jobs." Killian reminded, staring him down. "There's a reason why we are known as Remnant's Bogeymen. It's because we make the hard decisions to the rest of you safe. It's not your business to judge us for our decisions."
"Then what was the reason for what you did last time? To Beacon Academy? You were hellbent on watching everyone die, hell maybe even the people of Vale. You only went back because of a sudden change of heart. So why?" Jaune questioned and Killian sighed, walking ahead of Jaune.
"The situation was different then. Back then? The C.C.T required reconstruction and repairs, but before it shut down all people saw were Huntresses trained at the Academy butchering and attacking others. Then Cinder Fall's speech came along… do you know how many people gobbled that up?" Killian asked him curiously.
"No…" Jaune answered.
"Millions. I received countless reports thanks to my relay facilities in every Kingdom, even if the Towers fell. People demanding that Professor Ozpin and General Ironwood be held accountable for the deaths of so many. That Beacon Academy and Vale to be left behind due to their arrogance. So… I received an order."
What Killian was about to say was no lie… Salem did indeed command the first attack, and in a way the second…
… but she was not the only one.
"The U.G.R. They wanted to… cut off loose ends." Killian revealed, and Jaune's eyes widened.
"What?" Jaune asked.
"Have you ever heard of the Inhumane Necessity?" Killian asked him curiously.
"No."
"Well… there are three Levels to it. Level 1: Low Level Eradication. That tends to be used to stop a small populous, a town or a village. Level 2: Medium Level Eradication. Sometimes… an Academy or a City. Level 3: Societal Reset." Killian looked at Jaune.
"Societal Reset?" His voice trembled with disbelief.
"Total Cultural Annihilation. That will only be issued if they are left with no other choice but for a complete reset of all of the Kingdoms. The Inhumane Necessity was created to Combat the Possibility of a second Great War. It was meant to be Final War… but the odds of another happening are increasing with every day." Killian explained.
He turned to face Jaune. "They issued Level 2 to me… to eradicate Beacon Academy. So I decided to use the Black Smog to hide the truth."
Finally… the full truth.
Yes, Salem wanted Beacon destroyed as well, and wanted Ozpin dead and the Relic in her hands – but the real order to wipe out Beacon Academy? The Official Order… came from the Unified Governments of Remnant to cut off loose ends. To remove Ozpin, and Ironwood, and anyone else that would stand in their way.
As Salem said…
Never underestimate the usefulness of others.
And she wasn't wrong, the U.G.R were very useful in giving them a way in to take down Beacon Academy.
Yet even then, Beacon wouldn't fall. "But when you fought off the Black Smog and they started to attack Vale? I knew I had to step in, to make sure that Vale and its Councilwoman would trust the U.G.R… and me." Killian explained, and Jaune's eyes were wide. "This is Highly Confidential Information I am telling you, if you do tell anyone else about this? They will send assassins to fix my error… and they'll send them to you." Killian explained, and Jaune felt sick from that.
"Okay… why? Why are you telling me this?" Jaune asked him.
"Well… I guess in a way we're family, huh?" Killian said as he crossed his arms. "I had Terra and she asked Saphron to keep my secret but now you know. You asked… so I answered truthfully. Be careful who tell this to, I know you will most likely inform Pyrrha. But do not spread this – for your own sake. The U.G.R do not broker with those who speak too much." Killian warned, walking ahead of him.
This was a lot to take in… it all made sense now. He still did not hate Killian, but… he kinda hated the U.G.R more for that order.
How can I support the Vytal Consensus now?
Those people? The ones who are fronting the whole thing? They were the ones who ordered Killian to kill us all…
Maybe… maybe Ruby was right.
Jaune closed off those thoughts, and he looked at Killian. "Tell me something." Jaune said and Killian stopped. "What do the Black Gallows truly seek?" Jaune inquired and he turned. "Outside of what the U.G.R want… what is it that the Gallows want?"
"Order. Purpose. Direction. No more than that." Killian answered. He did not say anything else, he just walked back towards where Terra and Saphron's house was located, and Jaune had to stand there for a moment. He understood why Killian did not go any deeper than that – but now he knew the truth.
Not only was Killian not to be trusted, but neither were the U.G.R. Jaune caught up to Killian and he sighed. "I… assume you heard me talking to Terra, right?" He asked him.
"I did." Killian agreed.
"About a deal I wanna try and make with you?" Jaune asked him and Killian nodded his head.
"I did." He repeated.
"Well… if I can convince them to help me… will you let them go? As long as they stay with me?" Jaune asked.
"Help you with what?" Killian asked.
It was now time for Jaune to spill the beans.
"On our way here to Argus, we encountered multiple assassins… you know a lot of secrets… what do you know about Salem?" Jaune asked, and Killian stared at him.
He knows… damn it…
Killian walked over to the bridge over a babbling brook of clear water that fish were swimming in. "By reputation." Killian lied. "You mean to go after her?"
"To try and locate her, to figure out who these people are and why they are trying to kidnap me. I can't imagine it's for a good reason, but if we can locate her and figure out how to stop her, we can return… and then throw everything we have at her. Black Gallows, Atlesians, Valerians… everyone."
Killian laughed at that. "Your optimism is inspiring; I'll give you that." Killian laughed.
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.
"If you think that the whole Common Enemy Common Goal thing will work with the U.G.R and their Kingdoms then you're wrong. They might allow me to go with you, but the rest of the Kingdoms? Pretty much all the Representatives of their Kingdoms are cowards who would rather watch from the safety of their homes… or hell… all of them would retreat to the Foundations of Sovereignty. You'd have better luck convincing the Grimm to protect the innocents than convincing the world to fight against her." Killian explained, and Jaune sighed.
"So… it's worthless. All we've got then is each other." Jaune said, and Killian chuckled.
"When has that ever stopped you kids before?" Killian asked him, Jaune looked at Killian and the Commander exhaled through his nose. "If you can convince them… then I will bring your request to the U.G.R themselves. After that? It's their call… not mine." He said, sounding pretty resentful of them. Killian walked ahead of him, and Jaune looked back up at the Shattered Moon, sighing.
He was right.
Things were just getting worse by the day.
Veronica
Back at Cypher's Ridge…
Veronica stood in the Repair Tower of the Atlesian Colossus. Her eyes gazed and examined the massive mechanised robotic armour that was built to challenge the Leviathan-Class Grimm of Remnant. It recently had to fight against one in the harbour, and the scars of the massive beast could still be seen on its huge armoured body. Deep slash marks and suction cup marks from the tentacles that tried to drag it into the dark depths of the ocean. The Grimm Threats of the sea were completely unknown, the Leviathans were only discovered a few decades ago, and even earlier – the Sea Feilong was only discovered three years ago.
And more unknown classifications of Grimm were being uncovered nearly every single day. Like Unseen Abductor and countless others that are starting to appear. Like the Praetorian Knight.
She stood there and she looked at her prosthetic leg and she sighed, the low gravity inside of this facility was the man reason why her shoulders were both at the same angle. Normally she would have a limp. She watched the Engineers float around the Colossus, repairing the extensive damage that the Leviathan dealt to it when Cordovin fought and killed it. It was close, and the second Grimm – the Kraken – that one nearly pulled her into the depths.
"More and more we find monsters wherever we go." Sienna's voice surprised her, and Veronica turned to see the High Leader of the White Fang walking up the steps towards Veronica.
"Hello, Miss Khan. I've never seen the Colossus in person… looks like it suffered one hell of a fight." Veronica said as she observed its body.
"It did. I saw the footage, two massive Grimm from the sea attacked at once. The city was barely even scared, they just attacked out of nowhere. If you ask me? It was like they were testing their defences." Sienna admitted, and Veronica raised a brow with concern.
"Ever since the Battles of Beacon things have definitely been different." Veronica admitted. "Was the footage true by the way? That massive one at Beacon? The Hydra?"
"Yes. I remember seeing all those Grimm being fused together into that monster. It took everything we had to kill the son of a bitch." Sienna remembered, especially when Nora sacrificed Magnhild to kill it.
"It was one hell of a fight. I arrived to help tend to the survivors in Vale… but I wandered the destruction of the battle there. It was like a War… like the pictures of the Great War." Veronica explained and Sienna nodded her head.
"Yes it was…" Sienna agreed. The High Leader of the White Fang glanced at Veronica and she narrowed her eyes. "Tell me Veronica… what is your last name?"
"Chamberlain. Why?" She asked.
"Surprising… most people I've met tend to have a name that followed the colour convention that Ozpin said the world put in place after the Great War. Yet you… and Killian… do not." She noted, and she softly smiled.
"My parents… were odd people. They didn't overly care for the new world that was created after the Great War. My bloodline initially stems from Vacuo… the Vacuo Mongrels in particular." Veronica explained, which made Sienna chuckle.
"Could've fooled me." Sienna said.
"A lot of people say that. But… the Chamberlain Family chose to keep their name the same as it always was. I don't care for the past – only for the future. I want the world to be a better place for everyone. Rich and Poor, Strong and Weak… we're alive… avoiding the Grimm. We should be banding together, not pulling apart." Veronica explained.
"On that we can agree. Admittedly my focus for the White Fang became… confused for a long time. But I remembered what we were fighting for. Tell me, what does your boyfriend fight for?" Sienna asked her, and Veronica looked at her again. She sighed, looking back at the Colossus. "Veronica? How much do you trust him?" She asked.
"Nathaniel is… a complicated man. Like everyone he has faults, but those faults can be cataclysmic if they are not tempered. He is a good man, at heart, but he's a good man with an inner demon which fights for control. I'm afraid that one day the monster may destroy the good man forever… I'm trying to help him… but… it's getting harder." She admitted, and Sienna nodded her head. "But I won't give up on him."
Sienna looked at her and she cracked her neck. "I said the same thing once… about Adam Taurus. And look at what he has become." Sienna said, walking away from Veronica. She stood there alone, and she looked at her wrist, seeing some of the scars from the explosion that took her leg.
She looked back at the large Low Gravity Repair Tower for the Colossus… pondering on Nathaniel Killian… and his decaying mental state.
Killian
He and Jaune returned back to Saphron and Terra's house, and as the door opened, Terra looked at her brother. "Can I… talk to you, bro?" Terra asked softly, she let Jaune in and she stood outside with her brother. Killian stood with her and he scratched the back of his neck.
"I'm… really sorry that I ruined your night. I should've called first." Killian said.
"Yeah… you probably should've, but it's okay. It's good to see you." Terra assured with a sweet smile as she hugged him. "Just… no more surprises, okay?" She asked him, and he smiled.
Killian turned when he felt his scroll vibrate, and he sighed. "That's the U.G.R meeting, no doubt. I've gotta go." Killian said to her, and Terra smiled.
"I'll tell Saph you said hey. But little Adrian would love to see more of his Uncle Nate." Terra said to him, and Killian smiled.
"Uncle Nate… I like the sound of that." He said to her. "Well, I'll be sure to come by when I can. See you around, sis. Stay safe out there." He said, wrapping his arms around her lovingly, holding her in a warm embrace. He released her and turned to walk away into the darkness. As he walked down the street, he passed by one of the alleys… where he heard the sound of a sinister giggle from it.
He stopped and his eyes widened, turning to see Tyrian Callows emerging from the shadows. "Well played… with her skills as a detective? She could either prove to be a valuable asset… or a dangerous adversary…" Tyrian said as he emerged, brown hood pulled over his head to conceal his identity from the drones patrolling the streets.
Killian clenched his hand into a fist.
"She is not an asset – she is my sister. The deal was that Terra, Saphron and Adrian would be unharmed." Killian reminded, staring the Serial Killer down. Tyrian smirked back, but he shrugged his shoulders.
"Just remember where your loyalties lie, Killian. Our Queen does not broker failure." Tyrian assured with a smirk.
Killian sighed, and he looked at his scroll.
U.G.R Meeting in 30 Minutes
He exhaled. "Time to chat with the Unified Governments of Remnant."
Author Note - One Hell of a Revelation in this chapter
Do not trust Killian, we know that, but definitely do not trust the U.G.R. They'll sacrifice anything for what they want. And yes, I can promise you that he was not lying there. That is the truth, Salem simply took advantage of the U.G.R wanting to pull a clean slate on Beacon, but the moment Killian saw that the Huntsmen were winning that battle, he needed to do something that will get them to turn back to the U.G.R, all so then he will have Beacon on their side, and therefore on his. But it's clear that now the U.G.R seem to be looking at Killian with the same eyes that they had for Beacon four years prior... so he better be careful.
Of course, they should be careful too. As a Child of Salem, he has her on his side - and as a certain someone in Volume 5 said "Salem only uses people until they are no longer useful." So the U.G.R better be careful.
This was a challenging chapter to write because it is mainly a bunch of conversations, but I think it turned out well enough. XD I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, follow and favourite!
Stay tuned for the next chapter - The Unified Governments of Remnant
- Matt
