Chapter 1 - Inchoate
Beacon Academy, present day
Team CBLT stood on a balcony overlooking the campus entrance, carrying an air of impatience mixed with curiosity. The move-in and class scheduling of the second-year students had been relatively tame compared to their first-year orientation. CBLT had been "volun-told" to assist with getting the new class of first-years situated, helping them move in and schedule their classes. For many, it was their first time away from home with no supervision, and that kind of adjustment didn't go smoothly for everyone. Accounts of first-year off-campus parties were the stuff of legend, though reports of homemade liquor being served were...unsubstantiated. Sam Covacs chuckled to himself as he recalled accompanying his teammates to such an event the year before. The usually prim and proper Blauer Hoffman had gotten blackout drunk and proceeded to show off his "sophisticated dancing skills" before vomiting directly into the spiked punch bowl.
The blonde-haired swordsman noticed the change in his team leader's demeanor.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Just thinking about that first-year party we went to. How much of that do you remember, exactly?"
"I'm..not sure. I think I had filled a cup from the punch bowl?"
"The punch bowl that was equal parts grape juice and grain alcohol?" Lapis Lazulic chimed in. "If I recall correctly, you said something about having an 'iron liver' just before you downed your fourth cup." Her deadpan delivery roused a laugh from the whole team.
"I think the events of that night are best discussed in hushed tones when we are on campus." Turq T'alan gestured towards the unmistakable figure of Glynda Goodwitch, passing below them and walking toward the landing platform.
"Don't think she's in earshot, Turq. Looks like the new class is arriving soon, best we head down and greet them like we were told." Sam walked back to the open door of the study lounge and led his team downstairs.
Covacs looked at the list of student names in his assigned orientation group, then back at the new arrivals disembarking from the airship. He recognized four of them immediately. Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long from a picture in the file his bosses had kept on their father. Weiss Schnee, from a similar file on the company she was heiress to. He stared a second longer at the last one. He could remember the capture/kill notifications with Blake Belladonna's face and name on them. He also remembered the last time he'd seen her in person: looking through a rifle scope from an urban hide site. He remembered the light primer strike that had allowed her to live that day. Maybe she's turned over a new leaf, like you did. Maybe those reports of her leaving were true after all. "Maybe" isn't confirmation, Sam, keep an eye on her. He looked back at his list. Belladonna was on it. Good. Gives you an opportunity to surveil her in a group setting. Tradecraft was easily recognizable to those trained in the art, but that worked both ways. What are the odds that a politician's daughter was trained in counterintelligence? Possible, however unlikely. Do NOT underestimate her. He held up his sign marked "A-F."
The tour of the campus went off without incident, at least for Covac's students. He'd seen the dustup between Schnee and Rose and didn't envy Turq, who wound up with both of them in his group. He'd crossed paths with his friend's group and overheard Turq admonishing one of them. It had been one of the few times he had ever heard the normally stoic Yalwani tribesman raise his voice. He turned his attention back to his own group. Belladonna hadn't given him any further reason to be suspicious. It was still too early to tell what her real intentions were. The rest of his orientation students were mostly unremarkable, save for the first name on his list, Jaune Arc. Besides smelling of vomit, he'd set himself apart as someone who clearly didn't belong in a place like this. Deeply unsure of himself, he stood in stark contrast to the confidence, excitement, and enthusiasm that most first-year students exuded. Better keep an eye on him, too. After depositing their orientation groups in the amphitheatre to listen to a speech from the Headmaster, CBLT was officially relieved of their responsibilities. The four teammates held an informal debrief as they headed back to their dorm and changed out of their uniforms into their regular clothes. It would be another two weeks before classes started.
"So, anything interesting?" Sam started.
"Actually, yes." Lapis leaned in as if sharing a secret. "Pyrrha. Nikos."
"I thought that was her. She has won more than a few tournaments, as I recall." Like most of them, Blauer had heard about the young protegé while she was still in combat school. That she had decided to pursue a life as a Huntress surprised no one.
"Typical. You get the next Huntress of the Decade, and I'm stuck with the Schnee Dust Company's prodigal daughter."
"Just be glad it was her, Turq, I hear the son is way worse."
"I think you read too many tabloids, Lap."
"I hear what I hear. Care to join in the gossip session you started, dear leader?"
"Fine. Blake Belladonna." The jovial mood shifted. He'd already told them about his past, and had left little out. Turq spoke first.
"The daughter of Menagerie's Chieftain?"
"Before that he was the head chair of the FDP. His own daughter was one of the first to go over to the White Fang when they split off."
"What do you think she's doing here?" asked Blauer.
"I don't know yet. I've got a few ideas, but nothing concrete." He took a deep breath. "Look, whatever happens, just promise you'll let me handle it?"
One by one, his teammates nodded in agreement. He'd earned his team's trust through competent leadership, and he had no intention of betraying it anytime soon.