Melanie was at lunch, noticing the cafeteria was far more crowded than usual. She observed students in different uniforms sitting around, and eyed them cautiously.

"She's at it again." Reed muttered.

Crimson sighed. "Alright, which one looks suspicious this time?"

Melanie narrowed her gaze. "That team from Atlas...they're way too...unorthodox..."

"Melanie, just because the academy is run by a general doesn't mean every team will be strictly militaristic. Huntsmen and Huntresses are still a separate branch from the military." Crimson said.

"This is literally the perfect opportunity for someone to sneak in." Melanie stated. "Right now, anyone could walk in wearing the right uniform and nobody would notice. This is the only time where you could get away with not being recognized."

Reed raised an eyebrow. "Don't you think you're being just a little paranoid?"

"Alright, let me put it this way." She said. "Lizzie warned you to get your family out of Vale. Carl's clearly moving resources in preparation for something. Kane warned us that Adam was getting ready for something that was about to happen here, and do we even want to go into team RWBY's little skirmish with that Torchwick crook last semester?"

Crimson ran a hand through his hair, thinking it over. "When you put it like that...oh my gods..."

Melanie nodded. "All these pieces from different players, but they're all moving in the same direction at the same time. With everyone's attention on the Vytal Festival, it's the perfect opportunity."

"Atlas is running security." Reed pointed out. "Getting past their defenses doesn't seem feasible for organized crime, and dangerous as Adam Taurus is known to be, he's also crazy."

"No." Crimson muttered. "It's not just any one thing...like she said, it's different players all moving together...a synchronized strike could do it...and if Strikz is part of it..."

"We have to do something." Melanie stated.

Crimson sighed. "Melanie, you know we can't. Trust me, I want to more than anything."

"We can't just sit back and watch it happen!" Melanie protested. "We're training to be Huntsmen and Huntresses, this is literally our job."

Crimson shook his head. "No, it's the job of the Huntsmen and Huntresses that are already licensed, and if we managed to figure this out, so did they."

Melanie frowned. "Being older doesn't make them infallible."

"They're experienced." Crimson insisted.

"Yeah, well so is my dad." She said. "Adults aren't just better because they've been through more. They fuck up just as much as we do, but they think they can handle bigger stakes all on their own anyway, and it either kills them or leaves them broken, and we have to suffer through the fallout."

Crimson hesitated. "Melanie...look, I'm sorry, but...we can't do anything. We just have to focus on our training."

"Fine." She muttered. "But I don't have to like it.

Crimson leaned forward to look her in the eye. "If I find a way for us to help...I promise, we'll do it."

She met his gaze. "...thank you."