Author's Note:

Wow, almost done with season 11. Yes I will do the best movie in the galaxy reactions and yes I will do the journals before season 12. Any suggestions for next season?

Cover Art: Cruz7808

Check my profile for polls and planned fics!

Review, point out mistakes, and flame!

Chapter 17- Ready...Aim…

"I'm glad some questions were finally answered. Except.. well I guess it was Locus and the Feds who stopped all transmissions from leaving." Jaune realized.

"Ready...Aim…" Appeared on screen with the theme.

"Fire!" Ruby shouted.

"They're getting prepared for the fight against the feds." Blake hummed.

Sarge is seen on top of Red base with the Red team assembled below.

Sarge: "Alright, boys. We don't have much time, so let's see what we've got."

Cut to Simmons.

Simmons: "Ahem! Hello everyone. Private Simmons. Great to be back."

Grif: "(offscreen) Wrap it up!"

"Grif isn't as welcoming as he was last time Simmons switched sides." Pyrrha noticed.

Simmons: "Good to be back."

Grif: "(offscreen) Nobody cares!"

Simmons: "*sigh*. Alright, just shut up and listen. We had a full armory on board the ship consisting of firearms as well as explosives. I moved as many as I could down here and also took the liberty of setting up a minefield near Red base."

Cut to several unburied mines.

"Aren't those supposed to be like.. underground?" Jaune asked, gesturing downward with his hands.

"Yeah so people can't see them, remember the minefield in the desert?" Ruby asked.

Nora nodded, "I have mixed feelings about landmines. On one hand they're boring! People should see the explosion coming at them. But on the other hand." Nora raised up one of her hands. "The desert landmines were awesome! They shot up out of the ground because they're meant to get cars and tanks and stuff. And a surprise explosion can be fun."

"No one should get surprised by those mines." Weiss pointed. "They can't be more obvious."

Grif: "But you didn't even bury them."

Cut back to Simmons.

Simmons: "From what I can tell, they're designed to rest above the ground."

Grif: "With big red warning lights?"

"Maybe they're training mines? Wait, no that wouldn't make sense." Ruby frowned.

Simmons: "Yeah, it doesn't really make any sense."

Sarge: "Excellent work, Simmons. Now go organize those firearms."

Simmons: "Yes, sir!"

Simmons runs off.

"Even though I think he would be better off on blue team. Sarge does appreciate his work now and then." Weiss hummed.

"Yeah, mainly when things get serious." Nora nodded. "Like right now! Red team can always get the job done!"

Sarge: "Grif, Doc, how are the teleportation tests going?"

Doc: "Well we've learned the cubes can be set to different frequencies."

"I knew the cubes couldn't be too simple." Ruby nodded. "Ugh I wish I could make those." She whined.

Doc: "For example, if I throw a cube set to frequency A, it will absorb an object."

Doc throws a cube at a traffic cone.

Doc: "If I then throw a second cube on frequency A, that object will reappear."

Doc throws another cube and the cone returns.

"It's so cool seeing Doc interested in weapons!" Ruby grinned giddily.

"The teleportation cubes aren't weapons." Yang pointed out.

Ruby froze, "Oh.. right. Well still! It's great seeing him use the cubes."

Grif: "Meanwhile, if I have a cube set to B, I can throw it like so."

Grif throws a cube at a nearby crate.

Doc: "Yeah- (gets caught in the cube) Hey wait!"

The crate and Doc disappear.

"Doc was right, the cubes might be dangerous." Pyrrha sighed.

"That was just user error." Ruby pointed out.

Grif: "And then throw a second cube set to B, without ever messing with the stuff sucked up by the cube set to A."

Grif throws another cube. The crate reappears but there's no sign of Doc.

"Uhh where's Doc?" Yang asked.

"…"

"…"

"Purgatory?" Blake suggested.

Sarge: "hm So all they do is teleport things? No explosions? No violence?"

"Yeah but they're still kind of cool." Nora admitted, as if embarrassed that she was interested in the cubes.

Grif: "Nah."

Sarge: "Well I suppose we could make them absorb grenades. Then we could throw the grenade-filled cubes at the enemy."

Nora's eyes widened, "Yeah! I knew there was a reason I liked the cubes! You could even make the landmines more useful! Just absorb a bunch of them then throw them like bombs at the enemy!"

"That defeats the purpose of the landmines." Weiss pointed out. "Though so do the warning lights."

Grif: "At that point wouldn't it just make sense to throw grenades?"

"Not if you put a bunch of grenades in one teleporter cube." Nora grinned.

"Yeah then you could throw the cube up high and have the grenades fall down like an AOE attack." Jaune added.

Sarge: "We're not here to make sense, Private! We're here to win!"

Ren hummed, "That could be an interesting commentary on war. But I doubt it was meant in that way."

Sarge: "Now take Donut and figure out how to make your stupid cubes do somethin' useful."

"Revolutionizing transport would be very useful." Weiss rolled her eyes.

Grif: "*sigh*. Fine."

Grif and Donut leave.

"So wait, are they really not going to talk about Doc?" Weiss asked.

"Yeah I thought he would show back up late or something. He still might." Ruby shrugged.

"They didn't even react to him not reappearing." Pyrrha grimaced.

Weiss winced. "On second thought, maybe the cubes aren't perfect for transportation."

"I don't think they transport people." Jaune guessed.

Sarge: "And at last we have the Lopez's. Stop standin' next to each other! I can never tell you two apart!"

Lopez 2.0 looks at Lopez's head and then at Sarge.

Lopez 2.0: "¿Está jodidamente serio?[Are you fucking serious?]"

Weiss burst out laughing.

"It's an honest mistake." Nora giggled.

"All robots don't look the same." Ruby crossed her arms. Though they can look like people.. I wonder if Penny has a secret robot form? That'd be cool!

Sarge: "I need you two to get to work on repairing CC's fuel tanks."

Lopez: "¿Reparar el robot descompuesto?[Repair the malfunctioning robot?]"

Lopez 2.0: "¿El que trató matar a todo el mundo?[The one that tried to kill everyone?]"

"Yeah! And set her off against the enemy!" Nora grinned.

"It might come back to haunt them, though, when it turns around to attack them." Ren pointed out.

Sarge: "I can't wait to see her, triumphantly leading the charge on the front lines, glistening in the sunlight, with the blood of her fallen enemies!"

Ruby grimaced at the image while Nora grinned even wider.

Lopez 2.0: "¡Esa será su sangre! ¡Ella cree que todo es su enemigo, idiota![That will be your blood! She thinks everything is her enemy, you moron!]"

Weiss nodded.

"They shouldn't risk it, they should only turn her on as a last resort." Jaune commented.

"They already have Freckles and he should be enough if they protect him while he fights." Ruby added.

Ruby and Jaune looked at each other and smirked.

"But, they could cover her with the sticky bombs. Those take a while to explode." Jaune raised a finger.

"Turn her on and let her fight the bad guys until she blows up." Ruby nodded. "And if they're timed detonators or if they can be remotely blown up that's even better!"

Sarge: "Wait a minute, this is a terrible idea!"

Weiss sighed in relief.

Lopez 2.0: "Gracias a Dios.[Oh thank god.]"

Lopez: "Solo espera.[Just wait.]"

Sarge: "I can't trust an idiotic robot with a job as important as this!"

Weiss groaned in frustration. "Why did I fall for that?"

"There is no hope for Sarge." Blake explained.

Lopez: "Ahí está.[There it is.]"

Lopez 2.0: "¡¿DISCULPE?![EXCUSE ME!?]"

Sarge: "Change of plans. You two go prep the work station, and then wait for me to arrive to do the job myself. I'm gonna go find my favorite welding torch."

Sarge walks off. Cut to the Lopezes.

Lopez 2.0: "...Está loco. Están todos locos.[...He's insane. They're all insane.]"

"He's finally got it." Weiss laughed.

"I'd exclude Wash from that." Blake said almost as if she was asking for him to be excluded.

Lopez: "¿Oye, dónde está Doc? [Hey, where's Doc?]"

"It's no surprise he noticed, I think Lopez has the most common sense out of all of them." Weiss commented.

"I think Church does too but he never cared to say anything." Ruby shrugged.

Cut to Blue base. Cut to Tucker backing up from Caboose.

Tucker: "Okay, how's that?"

Cut to Caboose with his helmet repaired.

Caboose: "Nope. Still can't see anything."

Tucker: "Open your eyes."

Pyrrha held a hand to her mouth and giggled.

"I love Caboose." Yang laughed.

Caboose: "Oh my god, the graphics are incredible!"

Ruby, Yang, and Jaune shook their heads.

"The memory unit game had better textures." Jaune commented.

"And better armor designs." Ruby nodded.

"Even in the game before that the colors looked better." Yang finished.

"While the coloring in this game is bland." Blake chimed in. "The under-suit is the same color as their armor. It should be black or a neutral color to add contrast and bring more attention to the shapes of the armor. The other games did it that way."

"They did? I never really noticed." Jaune admitted.

"It's Blake's art eyes." Ruby grinned. "She's really good at drawing."

"I only sketch." Blake blushed slightly.

Tucker: "You're welcome."

Caboose: "Ah, ah thanks, Tucker. Ah... Ya 'know you- you and I have had our differences in the past. I have called you stupid... You have called me stupid... I have tried to kill you…"

Tucker: "Uh huh."

"Wait, he's tried to kill him?" Pyrrha asked. "When?!"

"When O'Malley infected him I think." Jaune recalled.

"That shouldn't matter, he was under Omega's influence." Pyrrha argued.

"Yeah, without his influence he only tried to kill Church." Ruby pointed out.

"Yes..." Pyrrha paused and chuckled, shaking her head

Caboose: "But ya'know at the end of the day, I like to think that you and I are actually (Helmet short circuits, muffled) pretty good friends."

Tucker: "What?"

"Yeah what did he say!?" Ruby sat up.

"Pretty good friends." Blake smiled.

"That's sweet, I haven't really thought about Tucker and Caboose being friends." Pyrrha admitted.

"Their friendship may have been overshadowed by Caboose's friendship with Church." Blake explained.

Jaune nodded, "And same with Tucker's and Church's. I think all of them are friends in a way."

"Forced acquaintances that would fight and die for one another." Blake hummed. "I think that describes all of them best."

"You're right, that's really good." Yang complimented.

"Especially for Red team." Nora giggled.

Caboose: "(muffled) What?"

Tucker: "I can barely hear you."

Caboose: "(muffled) You can't hear me?"

Tucker: "Dammit, I think fixing your visor somehow broke your radio."

Caboose: "(muffled) Tucker, can you hear me!?"

"He sounds like he's talking with his mouth closed. Like this." Ruby closed her mouth. "(High pitched muffle) Hey guys do I sound weird? It tickles when I talk like this!"

Nora closed her mouth too, "(high pitched muffle )I've never talked wit- oh wow it really does tickle!" She laughed.

Ren chuckled and shook his head.

"I had to put up with this all the time when we were kids. This was Ruby's workaround to talk with her mouth full." Yang explained.

Tucker: "Just stand still."

Tucker resumes repairing the helmet. Cut to Felix and Washington watching them.

Washington: "So how bad is this?"

Felix: "The man coming for us is named Locus. He's a merc like me, only.. ya'know... terrifying."

"He's a mercenary too." Blake hummed, "But for the other side, that's interesting."

"Both sides have mercenaries fighting for them." Jaune's raised an eyebrow. "Oh I bet the evil guys have a bunch of mercenaries and they pay a lot for them. And the rebels don't have a lot of money but Felix still fights for them."

"That sounds cheesy but I can see it." Blake smiled.

Washington: "Locus?"

Felix: "Yeah. Guy's so far off the deep end he prefers to go by the name of his armor instead of the name he was born with. (whistles)"

"Wait, is his name the whistle?" Nora asked. "That's a really cool name! I want to be called a sound!" Nora slammed her fist into the floor. "That's my name now!"

"So I'm Felix and you're uh.." Jaune paused for a moment before slapping the floor.

"No you're not pronouncing it right." Nora shook her head and slammed her fist into the floor again, the sound seemed to make everything else around them quiet.

"So like this?" Yang asked with a smirk before raising her fist.

Jaune rushed over and grabbed her arm. "Yang stop! Her name isn't a hole in our floor!"

Yang laughed, "Yeah uh I probably shouldn't. Anyway I don't think his name is a whistle. It sounded like Felix bleeped himself."

"I think he was just calling Locus crazy." Blake facepalmed.

"That makes a lot more sense." Jaune nodded.

Washington: "That's unsettling."

Felix: "(sarcastically) Oh, are you first name 'Agent' last name 'Washington'? That's so weird!"

Jaune laughed, "He's got him there."

"If he wanted to go by David he could." Blake commented. "But he even asked the Director not to call him David. I think he wants to be Wash for a reason."

Washington: "That's just...old habits."

Felix: "Yeah well, here's to hoping those old habits of yours kick in when he shows up. You know I thought there'd be more of you. Weren't you with another Freelancer, and an A.I.?"

Washington: "They disappeared not long after we crashed."

"It's awful that Carolina and Church just abandoned them." Pyrrha sighed. "I know it's likely because they changed the setting from Blood Gulch to a crashed ship on another planet but.."

"In the context of the story it's cruel." Blake nodded.

"Thank you." Pyrrha smiled.

Felix: "Sheesh. Any idea where they went?"

Washington: "...No."

Felix: "Hmm. Well, if it makes you feel better I haven't heard anything about them over the radio. So um...That's probably good."

"It means they haven't been involved in the civil war- if they're even on Chorus anymore." Blake commented.

Washington: "How was he able to cloak himself?"

Felix: "Huh?"

Washington: "Locus. He turned invisible. How?"

Felix: "The Federal Army's got all sorts of fancy stuff. I got my light shield off a dead soldier. (turns on shield) Shum! (turns off shield) Wah! Pretty cool."

"It's amazing! I want one!" Jaune begged.

"Velvet said she'd be happy to make you one for the tournament. She has a lot of hard light dust for some reason, she said she's willing to lend you and Pyrrha some until the end of the tournament." Ruby explained.

"How do we know she isn't lending you the dust so you get dependent on it in the first few rounds. But when you advance and need more she can neglect giving you enough so that you lose?" Weiss asked.

"Velvet would never do that! I mean Coco might but Velvet wouldn't." Ruby assured her.

"It's what I would do. I know the answer but did you put any flaws in Coco's new turret design?" Weiss asked.

"Nope! And I bet that's why Coco let Velvet make Pyrrha's shield and why she's letting her make Jaune's shield too. Normally she's super stingy about anything related to Velvet's weapon." Ruby grumbled. "But she probably appreciates everything!"

"She probably appreciates the fashion suggestion even more than her turret upgrades." Blake chuckled.

"Fashion suggestion?" Weiss asked.

"Remember how the flamethrower guy had a shark's mouth painted on his visor? Coco liked the idea and got a cool shark mouth bandana!" Ruby explained.

"She's going to kill with just her looks in the ring." Yang smiled.

Washington: "It's just that I've never seen that kind of equipment outside of Project Freelancer."

Felix: "Welcome to the future, Wash. Technology is incredible, and everyone uses it to kill each other."

"Not us! We use it to kill the Grimm!" Ruby smirked.

Not if we get into another war in the next few years Blake thought cynically.

Washington: "Does that mean your guys have the same equipment?"

Felix: "I wish. The New Republic's barely getting by with what they can. You wouldn't happen to have any high-tech armor aboard that wreck, would you?"

Washington: "Plenty of armor, just nothing out of the ordinary."

"What he should be asking about is high tech weapons!" Ruby grinned.

"Sometimes defense is the best offense." Jaune glanced at Pyrrha. "I learned that the hard way." Pyrrha chuckled and nodded approvingly.

Felix: "Hmm...Well at least you can accessorize? Eh? Try a little color combo? Mix it up? I...I'm sorry. I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Jaune, Yang, and Pyrrha chuckled

Washington: "...Actually...I think I might indulge in some of those old habits you were talking about. Follow me."

Wash walks off.

Felix: "Man, you are just... cryptic. Like all the time, do you realize that?"

Blake smiled, "He doesn't like to admit things directly, it's easier that way."

"Last time he was cryptic we thought, well mostly you thought he was going to do something bad. What do you think he'll do this time?" Ruby asked.

Blake thought for a moment, "I think he'll practice. Next episode he'll have to use his freelancer training."

Cut to Lopez's head.

Lopez: "¿Qué haces?[What are you doing?]"

Zoom out to reveal Lopez 2.0 repairing Cyclops.

Lopez 2.0: "Arreglando el robot estúpido para que nuestro creador estúpido termine muerto...estupidamente. [Fixing the stupid robot so our stupid creator can get himself killed...stupidly.]"

"He sounds like a kid throwing a tantrum." Yang sighed sympathetically.

"He was built not that long ago." Weiss nodded. "And since he was made, Sarge and the others have done nothing but insult him."

Lopez: "Felicidades, chico. Finalmente te han roto.[Congratulations, kid. They've finally broken you.]"

"It took Sarge mistakenly attacking him to break Lopez." Weiss recalled.

"Yeah it's the blues fault he's so mean." Nora crossed her arms.

"I should thank them." Weiss smiled. "Though I'm sure the Reds's stupidity would have broken him eventually."

Lopez 2.0: "Cállate. [Shut up.]"

Lopez: "Sabéis...No tiene por qué ser así. [You know...It doesn't have to be this way.]"

Lopez 2.0: "¿De qué estás hablando?[What are you talking about?]"

Lopez: "Si usted arregla a Ce-Ce, ella probablemente nos matará a todos.[If you fix CC, she'll probably kill everyone.]"

"That would be a win for them." Weiss hummed.

Lopez 2.0: "No me importa. [I don't care.]"

Lopez: "Pero si arreglas Ce-Ce, y me cargas en su cuerpo...yo puedo asegurar de que nadie nunca nos ignore otra vez. [But if you fix CC, and upload me into her body...I can make sure no one ever ignores us again."

Weiss laughed, "That's a great idea!"

"He'll blow up the whole world with that thing." Ruby grinned.

Lopez 2.0 stares at Cyclops.

Lopez 2.0: "...Tienes razón. Pero...¿Por qué darte su cuerpo a ti, cuando lo puedo tomar por mí mismo?[...You're right. But...why give you her body, When I can take it for myself?]"

Weiss gasped, "That fiend! After all Lopez has done to comfort him?"

"This is like a soap opera." Blake mumbled.

Lopez: "Espera. ¿Qué? [Wait. What?]"

Zoom in on the Reds and Blues in the fortified area around Blue base.

Donut: "Well, it just goes to show that with time, effort, and a little bit of elbow grease, we really can achieve wonders."

Tucker: "We spent hours turning this place into a warzone and you made me hate it in one sentence."

"How? Donut didn't even make an innuendo?" Yang asked. "That was just inspirational."

"And I applaud him for that." Weiss exhaled, relieved that Donut didn't make an innuendo.

Grif: "It's what he does."

Washington: "Donut's got a point, though."

Cut to Washington and Felix. Wash is wearing his old steel and yellow color scheme.

Washington: "I think we're ready."

A grin spread across Blake's face and she laughed, "Old habits, I've missed this look."

"He still had his old armor?" Ruby asked.

"I think he just repainted it. Even with this game's graphics, it looks good." Jaune complimented.

Blake nodded, I wonder if I should incorporate yellow into my outfit? ..Because Wash is making me consider it. And I'm not exactly sneaking around everywhere now that I'm here.

Donut: "Oooh. Back in black. Looks good, Wash."

Caboose: "Yeah that's something that brings back memories. It's like when we first met. And then we met again and you shot Donut."

"I hope he doesn't bring back too many old habits." Yang chuckled.

"I doubt betrayal is a habit of his." Blake rolled her eyes.

"Being betrayed is a habit of his though." Jaune pointed out sheepishly. "Yeah Tucker was right. The director, Maine, then South, then Maine again when he was the Meta."

"You could also count everyone who was a part of the break in too. And C.T." Yang added.

"I'm glad that after all of that, he can trust the reds and blues. But like he said, they're just dumb enough to trust." Blake laughed.

Washington: "I'm impressed, guys. This place looks good. And between the landmines, Freckles, and the tank...I don't think anyones going to stand a chance against us."

A missile hits the side of Blue base.

Sarge: "(off screen) RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

"So. Lopez dos or Locus?" Jaune asked.

"Lopez dos." Everyone chorused.

Simmons: "Sarge?"

Grif: "Oh shit, they're here!"

Washington: "Everyone, get ready!"

Felix: "No wait! Th-this isn't right. Locus wouldn't attack like this!"

"Locus must attack the rebels often." Blake hummed.

"Locus probably attacks with planned accuracy, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who likes random explosives." Jaune commented.

"Boo!" Nora booed.

Tucker: "Well who else on this planet wants us dead!?"

Cut to Lopez 2.0 chasing Sarge with Cyclops' body.

Lopez 2.0: "(CC's voice) ¡Sí! ¡Sí! ¡Mira quién es estúpido ahora, Sargento! ¡Es USTED! [Yes! Yes! Look who's stupid now, Sarge! It's YOU!]"

Weiss laughed, "Even though he betrayed the original Lopez, I can support this."

"Me too." Pyrrha smiled.

Sarge: "Dos Point-O, cease fire! No mas! No mas!"

Grif: "Dos Point-O?"

Lopez 2.0: "DISPARANDO CAÑONES PRINCIPALES. [FIRING MAIN CANNONS.] (gets shot by Freckles) Ow!"

"Yeah! Firing main cannons!" Ruby grinned. "Finally someone said it."

Caboose: "Freckles!"

Freckles: "Deadly force authorized."

"Donut was right, giant robot fight." Yang smiled.

Lopez 2.0: "Ay bien. ¡El maldito perro quiere protegerlos ahora! Maravilloso.[Oh great. The fucking dog wants to protect them now! Wonderful.]"

Donut: "Yes! Giant robot fight! Totally called that on Basebook."

Yang nodded.

Washington: "Wait, everyone calm down!"

Cut to Felix deflecting a sniper shot with his shield.

Felix: "Shit!"

"He's so fast!" Jaune stared in awe.

Cut to Locus reloading his rifle.

"That theme that played right before the sniper shot, that must be Locus's." Weiss noted.

Locus: "Surrender now, and I promise only to kill the mercenary."

Simmons: "Well fuck."

Grif: "Oh yeah? You and what army?"

Several soldiers uncloak behind Locus.

Locus: "The Federal Army of Chorus."

"Never ask that." Jaune facepalmed.

"Yeah that's just an invitation for more baddies." Ruby nodded.

Grif: "Well, I guess I walked right into that one."

Felix: "Looks like backup isn't getting here in time!"

Tucker: "Uh Wash? What's the plan?"

Washington raises his rifle.

"Ready. Aim." Blake smirked.

Freckles: "Engaging target."

Cut to black as Wash fires his rifle.

The episode ends.

"And fire." Blake finished.