Chapter 65: The Shot heard around Remnant
Yang
Ironwood was still staring daggers at Yang as the static of the screen in front of him continued to buzz.
"I said-"
"Yes," Yang answered coolly looking at Ironwood. "I know what I've done."
"I sincerely doubt that child!" Ironwood spat as Raven started walking around the desk her muscles exposed to the air, her heels clicking as she moved.
"You've ruined years of planning and confidence." Ironwood went on ignoring the predatory woman stalking around him. "Do you know how long it took both Ozpin and I to build up that confidence? All that we've done to keep the people of Remnant safe?"
"You could've stopped it," Yang said simply her eyes taking on a glassy complexion as she looked down at the man who wrecked her life.
"What on Remnant are you talking about?" Ironwood spat back as if he were speaking to a particularly dense child. "I've been trying to keep this panic from people for decades and have been trying to bring YOU to justice for these past two years!"
"Is an illusionist such a rare type of Semblance?" Yang said dully. "Is it so hard to believe what I said about Mercury and the rest?"
"We are so far gone from that right now!" Ironwood spat back. "You've jeopardized so many secrets of our order, jeopardized that it-"
"You're the one in love with secrets," Yang said locking eyes with the general again. "I've seen the files, that's a lot of black ink."
Ironwood was taken aback before hardening his stance. "Fine if you want to talk about that the population of registered Illusionist Semblances rates around the 0.3 to 0.1 percentile in terms of the population, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai both registered without semblances. There was no evidence, no corroborating witnesses."
"Coco Adel saw things in her fight against Mercury and Emerald," Blake spoke up, drawing the attention of everyone here. " She saw Yatsuhashi in the forest after he'd been taken out elsewhere. Both Ruby and I got hit with the same semblance today alone."
"Besides," Ruby cut in. "Mercury had metal legs, those two medics who came to help him saw flesh and blood, but I know that he had metal legs."
"You have-"
Ruby lifted up her scroll to stop the General's words in their tracks. On the scroll was the image Blake had taken of Mercury Black, his three-year-old Mechanical legs clearly evident on his legs. Ruby placed the scroll on the desk and slid it to Ironwood. The General stared at the image.
"This could be doctored."
"Hey is it Penny?" Yang asked not looking at the Robit girl.
"Negative, my scans of the pixels and the lighting of the photo show that it is 100% genuine, and considering what I saw of mister Black later, I can confirm its authenticity."
Ironwood glared at Penny until the mechanical girl shrunk behind Ruby, when she did that his glare returned to the scroll on his desk. He stared for a long time squeezing his fist tightly.
"That's not All," Yang said giving him a minute with his rage. "I didn't break Mercury's legs… and I didn't kill those people.
"Oh yes, you did" Ironwood hissed back not looking up from the scroll. "You were a murderer then and you murdered plenty of people since, no matter what you say on the CCT. You killed them."
"No she didn't." a rasping voice coughed and everyone's eyes even that of the General were brought to the room's doorway. Standing in it hanging off of Jaune's shoulders was Pyrrha, her blind eye exposed for all to see. "Yang didn't kill those people General… I did. And I think we both know that."
"Agent Nikos?" the General said aghast staring at her before his gaze shifted to Yang. "You said you killed her."
"I said the fall maiden was dead." Yang corrected. "My friend Pyrrha Nikos is very much alive."
Jaune set her down in a chair to rest.
"She may not be for very much longer if she doesn't rest." He chastised.
"I killed so many people, targets I was supposed to capture, civilians I thought I could get away with," Pyrrha said running her fingers through her hair. "I killed people in my dreams, I couldn't tell what was reality and what wasn't anymore."
Pyrrha started breathing in heavy gasping breaths inflating her whole chest in her desperation and fear. Her hand dropped away from her hair and her eyes were exposed to the light both were pouring out rivers of tears as she struggled to regain her breath and control of herself. Jaune tried to calm her with his hand but she pushed it away and struggled to stand up straight.
"But you knew..." Pyrrha said finally standing to her full height pointing at Ironwood. "You knew all about what I did, and who I did it to. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! But you covered it up, you covered it up Ironwood!"
Everyone but Raven and Yang flinched when Pyrrha let out that wail of torment. Pyrrha's breathing returned to ragged as she stared down General Ironwood with a single eye pleading for some received none from the general. Pyrrha let her hand fall down next to her side, letting it hang there limply.
"You let me kill innocent people… why?" she asked devoid of energy and life. "So many people… why didn't you just kill me? I couldn't stop myself."
"We needed to maintain peace" Ironwood answered, actual shame evident in his voice. Pyrrha's face scrunched up as she processed what he'd just said and the disgust was clear on her face. "It's not like we-"
"AT THE COST OF MY LIFE? MY SANITY? MY FRIENDS?" Pyrrha screamed slamming her fists down on the table, her hand started bleeding, and a loud crack rang out as she evidentially had rebroken her hand. Pyrrha didn't seem to notice.
"Why didn't you stop me!" she said through the blubbering tears. "why did It have to be meheeheee? Why general?"
"We couldn't have stopped you, Agent Nikos," Ironwood answered.
"Don't call her that!" Jaune snapped.
"No one on remnant could have stopped you , I knew it Ozpin knew it, everyone knew it," Ironwood continued on. "We administered regular tests to make sure you were following orders and operating at peak performance… it was all we could do."
"I was trapped in there," Pyrrha said holding herself tightly. "Screaming… and no one heard me… no one wanted to hear me."
Pyrrha walked over to the chair that Jaune had found for her and sat down holding herself tightly, all the while muttering "no one heard me" over and over again. That sight had Yang's blood boiling. She could feel the Grimm inside her urging to get out, she could sense the emotion off of Pyrrha, and for once it wasn't corrupted by the emotions of two other people inside her skull vying for control. The Grimm were less disturbed by what was going on inside of Pyrrha's skull than Yang herself was.
Pyrrha was miserable, tormented, and filled with anguish. The fear was the worst and Yang could tell that that fear was over what might happen, that this all might just be a dream she'd, unfortunately, have to wake up from. That kind of feeling only came from years of systemic torment.
"I am not your scapegoat," Yang said looking back at Pyrrha but speaking to Ironwood. Ironwood scowled at her and even Jaune gave her the stink eyes.
Yang breathed deep and looked at her mother. Raven had such control and discipline that Yang knew she needed to emulate and rein in the creature inside her. The Grimm quieted before she spoke next. She needed it controlled before she spoke lest her anger controls her words.
"I'll get in again" Yang whispered though it sounded like a hiss she felt so intense saying it aloud. "I got into the CCT system, they booted us out at the end there but that's only temporary… we've been in it Ironwood, the files the missions, everything behind the black ink. I've seen the things you kept even from Ozpin"
The room was silent and Yang could feel the general's rage, but she didn't need Empath powers to see that, all she had to do was look at the side of the general's head to see his bulging vein.
"I'm sure other people would like to know about it too," Yang said coyly
"Then you'll surrender us to Salem" Ironwood chastises her through gritted teeth. "You sell our secrets to that witch?!"
Yang laughed out loud long and crazed before punching her fist down on the table splintering wood. When she pulled her hand away still laughing her knuckles were dripping blood to an excessive degree. Instead of crying out in pain Yang's laughter became more manic and she flung her hand sideways spraying blood in all directions. It hit Ironwood, his desk, and the pristine white walls of the room. The rest of Team RWBY took a step back from her as the mania went on.
"All these secrets, all your choices will feed us to Salem," Yang bit back killing her laughter. "not my revealing it, some shit needs to be secret but you've hid your humiliations." She pointed to Pyrrha. "Or tried to kill them." Yang pointed to herself. "You made this situation." She pointed at him
Ironwood's eyes lingered on her knuckles.
"The people, Ozpin they don't know what needs to be done to bring security to the kingdoms!" Ironwood said rising to his feet to glare down at Yang.
"And you do!" Yang laughed back
"YES DAMMIT!" Ironwood snarls, a maddening look starting to overtake his own face. "I am still the only one with the will and the vision to see this through and You're just a stupid girl who barely understands the world."
"And you're an arrogant dictator who only wants control!" Yang jeered back not backing down from the General glaring up at him, her teeth barred at him. "You're worse than Salem."
Ironwood stood up straight, closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath. The vein on the side of his head reduced in size, he adjusted his tie and breathed out. He raised his finger and pointed, not at Yang but at Penny.
"Agent Polendina," He said in his eerily calm voice. "Place Yang Xiao long and everyone else here under arrest and throw them in the ship's brig."
Everyone froze for an instant before all eyes turned towards the mechanical girl, but no one except Raven put their hands on their weapons. Penny, for her part, looked extremely upset by the order she'd just been given, looking back and forth as if hoping he was referring to another Agent Polendina. Her search was in vain.
"On what grounds-?" Penny finally asked sheepishly looking at everyone, in turn, lingering on Ruby for an especially long time, she turned to the general and the pleading on her face was even worse.
"on the grounds that I ordered it," Ironwood said flatly, not used to having his orders questioned so. "We are currently under martial law over the kingdom of Vale and I am currently in charge. This is an alpha level order superseding all other orders. You've responsibly followed the letter of the law and my orders with some leeway, there will be none now. Now, do as I say and Arrest them Agent Polendina, Right Now!"
Penny stared at the General then her gaze returned to Ruby. Then to the General then back to Ruby. Yang watched this whole thing go down and hope stayed in her. She could fight, even now without aura but she wouldn't want to, not against Penny, she'd have to go all out just for the chance of winning and she might hurt the Robit girl or even Ruby in the act. Yang was tense like almost everyone else in the room, except Ruby.
Ruby had turned away from the General to just look Penny eye to eye. Penny stopped turning back to Ironwood and just stared into Ruby's remaining silver eye, then Ruby smiled and Yang could see the grin of Summer Rose on that face, it was a smile that said 'Don't worry everything will be alright'. Penny's lower lip started to shake as she looked at the smaller redhead. Finally, she turned around and gazed upon the shivering weeping mess that was Pyrrha Nikos huddled up held tightly by Jaune.
"…no sir…" Penny whispered. Yang was too shocked to let out a sigh of relief though she felt her squeezed fists relax. Ironwood on the other had turned his head as if he'd misheard the robot woman's response.
"I'm sorry , please speak up." The General said. "please clarify what you said!"
"No!" Penny said gripping the hem of her skirt and shutting her eyes as she spoke, Yang could see that she was fighting the fear.
"I gave you an order soldier."
"It's not right sir." Penny countered, opening her eyes pleading with the general. "I might have grounds to arrest Yang but her initial warrant must've been invalidated by now and the others have done nothing to warrant an arrest in the first-"
"You will do as you're told because I OWN YOU!" Ironwood screamed, flat out screamed at Penny. The Girl flinched back lifting her arms as if she expected a beating. From how loud the general was Yang would've done the same "YOU ARE A SOLDIER AND A MACHINE THAT I FUNDED AND HELPED BUILD YOU WILL FOLLOW ORDERS AND DO AS YOU ARE TOLD OR I WILL HAVE YOU DIASSEM-"
What happened next was too quick for the human eye to track, but one second Ruby rose was leaning heavily on Blake, the next Ironwood was thrown back into his chair with a bleeding lip. She'd moved so quickly Yang had had trouble tracking it and her little sister had right hooked the General of Atlas square in the face. Her fist was still shaking as she looked down on the now seated general. Her fist quickly shifted into a pointing finger aimed right at Ironwood's eyes.
"You will never speak to Penny like that do you hear me?" Ruby snarled with more concentrated fury than Yang had heard from her sister as she stared into the General. "Penny is more human than you will ever be and she is NOT a thing!"
All Ironwood could do was nurse his injured chin and stare, the only one more dumbfounded by his actions was Penny herself. Ruby walked over to the Robot girl, took her hands in hers, and breathed out. The mechanical huntress was shaking but when Ruby took her hand she stopped again and her mouth opened slightly.
"You have a soul penny." Ruby intoned. "you are not a thing… not to me."
Penny started to weep and enveloped Ruby in a tight hug, Ruby hugged back despite her no doubt breaking bones. Yang watched the moment when her eyes caught Raven behind Ironwood watching and a finality of everything seemed to press down on her. Yang nodded, cocked her arm back, and punched a round into Ember Celica's chamber.
Blake
The noise of Ember Celica cocking echoed loud in the room and everyone turned towards the noise. Blake watched it all, saw the first sign of real fear on the general's face and the determination upon Yang's. It was like everything had become slow motion; the arm moved back, the General's panic even the twitch of Yang's muscles.
Then Blake felt something strange as she watched all this. Blake felt approval. That feeling made her skin crawl and she felt shocked and disgusted with herself for feeling it. But still, she saw how callous the General had been regarding Yang's apparent innocence, how he treated Pyrrha and Penny, and especially his arrogance. Those things she saw that day disgusted her immensely, she was only mortal, her joy made sense to her.
Life with this megalomaniac in charge seemed too terrible to her, that it made her fearful for the future if this was the caliber of men leading her. She thought of Yang's offer to run away with her into the wild places of Remnant, bucking his rule.
The fang was no so different, and Yang is not so misguided as the fang. Maybe we could help her if we went with her; Ruby, Weiss and I.
At the thought of the Fang Blake's eyes locked on to Yang's face. She saw the determination on her face and anger, but what she did not see was Adam Taurus within her former partner.
Ruby
Ruby watched as Yang's fist pulled back and she felt her breathing hitch as she leaned against Penny for balance. If Ruby had more aura she'd move in and try to intercept Yang's strike, divert it or something, anything to stop her sister from making this mistake. It was horrifying to watch and as Ruby stared she felt her old panic attacks start to come on. Out of the corner of her eye in her peripheral vision, she saw the white cape of her mother Summer Rose gazing at Yang.
Mom. Ruby thought when Summer glanced her way. The image of her mother was filled with as much worry as Ruby's face had been. Ruby couldn't tell if it was a hallucination, a ghost, or some middle ground vision but Ruby knew a panic attack wouldn't overcome her from that vision
No Yang. Ruby thought starting to move towards Yang though she knew that she'd never make it in time. You're making a mistake Yang.
Raven
Raven watched the fist pull back and heard the click of Ember Celica chambering a round. She watched with dull uninterest. Until she pushed the Grimm down and out of her mind. It took effort she hated this man so much for all his sins. Her hatred of Ozpin was a different; her hatred of Ironwood could be sated. Still, she pushed the Grimm down and emotion flooded back into her mind.
I don't want this for Yang. Raven realized what had been inside her mind these past few months that only seeing Yang about to murder a man made her understand. She saw Yang face when she thought she'd killed her sister and did kill the Mercury boy. She saw the anguish. Raven thought about all that killing had done to her mind and soul, all the ruin she'd wrecked upon herself.
This was a mistake. Her hand left Yureru at her side and she saw the flutter of a white cloak back behind Ruby. Summer.
That sight checked her movement for a second and that second was all that Yang needed. Raven moved as fast as she could as Yang's fist shot downwards towards a mistake, a mistake Raven was responsible for.
I failed her Summer, making her choose this. Raven thought. I failed you.
Yang
Yang's fist shot forward faster than lighting with all the fury of two years behind it. A loud click rang out and Yang viciously pulled her arm back.
Ping!
Ember Celica made the noise as the unfired round was ejected from the gauntlet and sent spinning in the air. Yang focused on that slug and with still fast reflexes caught it out of the air. She tumbled it between her fingers focusing only on the round.
Why did I do that? Yang mused as she admired the dust round for the weapon she designed and built herself. It took her a second to realize the answer to her questioning.
She looked from the round to Ironwood, he'd flinched at her movement. There was satisfaction in that action and Yang basked in it for a minute before ceasing her twirling and calmly placing the unfired round gently upon the General's desk right where he could admire it. Yang felt a void but after taking a deep breath the void didn't tug at her as harshly.
"I've already killed you," shesaid quietly seeing the man cower from what he thought was inevitable death. He looked at her then at the shell she left upon his desk, Yang suspected that he'd be looking at that shell for many days after.
I know I'll be thinking about this for years too.
Yang turned around to see almost everyone else in the room letting out a sigh of relief, it looked like everyone had held their breaths at that last instant, even her mother looked incredibly relieved by Yang's choice. That pleased Yang she expected to see disappointment and betrayal on Raven's face, that worry of exile from her mother had weighed heavily upon her, it was pure bliss to see it was for not.
I love you too mom. Yang thought worried she'd cry right now. Then her eyes fell on icy blue eyes and Yang realized that Weiss Schnee was the only one without a relieved or shocked look on her face. Weiss had that look on her face that radiated certainty, like when they used to play cards and the Ice queen could guess the cards in Yang's hands. It was a look that said 'I knew it'
Weiss smiled at Yang, Yang smiled back and when her eyes blinked Blake flinched, Ruby blinked fast and Weiss just smiled all the brighter.
I know why I did it. Yang thought looking at her family and friends and not seeing that fear on their faces. She gave the General one last look.
"I don't need to kill you, General…" Yang said quietly. "Killing you would cost too much."
Yang turned away from Ironwood and started to walk towards the big door. She heard a click from behind her.
"No one Humiliates Atlas," Ironwood said in a sinister voice. Yang had time to see the barrel of a gun sticking out of Ironwood's mechanical finger, she could see the dust round straight down the barrel. Then all she saw was a bright flash.
Bang!
Author's note
Oh I am an arse for leaving it on this one. As always leave a review, stay safe out there and positive and hey we got another season of RWBY to look forward to. Thank you all. Sorry its so short
