Ironwood looked out of the window. He had just killed two people today, cold blooded... He was alone in his thoughts, trying to figure out how to stop Salem from destroying Atlas...

"Make them pay... Bring them to their knees..." That voice again. Ever since he had received reports of Argus being under attack by Grimm, he had been hearing a cruel voice in his head. It would be bad enough were it not for the fact that this voice would take control of him, making him do things that he wouldn't have thought of doing. Neglecting Mantle? Pulling back his army when they could have helped take care of the recent Grimm attack? Shooting Oscar? Those were the actions of the voice.

"Who are you? What do you want?" They had been silent, gentle nudges in the past... But it had grown louder over time, more forceful.

"You wouldn't bother to care who I was when I was alive... Now you want to know who I am? Typical of a human." The voice said.

"I ask because you've seemed to misunderstand who I am..." Ironwood focused, hoped his Mettle would overpower the voice this time.

"No. I know who you are. General James Ironwood, the man who thinks he runs Atlas. You're nothing but a cog in a machine, drilling out orders like the soldier you are... You even let yourself be maimed to save your commander... And for what? Just so he could constantly berate you while you try to earn his approval?" Ironwood's eyes widened and he pulled out Due Process.

" So you just decided to read my thoughts?" Ironwood pressed the barrel against his head. Whatever this voice was, it was too dangerous to be kept alive, even if he had to go with it.

"Well, they're our thoughts, now." Ironwood saw his reflection change to a man half his age wearing a black military jacket with an oddly placed zippers on the left breast pocket and his sleeves. Among his spiky red hair were two black horns, the indicator that this man was a Faunus, though the more obvious sign was the bone white, Grimm-like mask that was the tell-tale sign he was a member of the Faunus terrorist faction, the White Fang.

"General?" The door opened and the lights turned on as Ironwood quickly turned to see Winter.

"Winter?" Ironwood noticed her shocked expression and swiftly put away the gun. She took a moment before she straightened herself, if only briefly before she winced. Ironwood wanted to reach out to her, but something clutched at his chest... He knew this feeling all too well... The feeling that the voice would take over. He noticed his aura ripple as his posture shifted, his shoulders slouching and his neck craning.

"... I know this is hard, but I also know that, whatever you're planning next, it'll be for the benefit of Atlas." Winter said.

"Thank you, Winter. It's good to know I've still got you..." Even the tone of Ironwood's voice was different to a more relaxed yet sadistic nature. Ironwood couldn't fight this voice... Whatever the hell it was, it seemed to take full control of his body...

And there was nothing he could do about it... Or rather...

He didn't want to do anything about it. Even though this man, this voice, was directing him to paths he wouldn't dream of taking... He had that initiative and determination that he used to have when he was young.

And he knew he would need that for this war.

[Author's Note: Okay, so a little explanation here. People have heavily debated about Ironwood's character and whether it was derailed or not. During these debates, I had a very weird idea that the God of Darkness decided to reincarnate Adam Taurus into the mind of Ironwood to spite Ozma and the God of Light after finding about Ozma getting reincarnated.]