Author's Note:

Kind of a short episode for reactions compared to the others. Hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 28- Self Assessment

"Play it." Ruby continued, "I don't get it, why would they all leave early?"

"Self Assessment" appeared on screen with the theme.

Blake frowned at the screen.

"Self assessment." Ruby read, "Felix said that whether they go or not is up to Kimball. If she decides they're ready."

"Oh and they think they're ready now."

Nora understood.

Fade in to the New Republic Headquarters. Cut to the interior of a bunker where Tucker, Grif, Simmons, and Caboose are seen standing.

Simmons: "(to Tucker) What do you mean 'leaving'? Where are we going?"

Caboose: "(excited) Is it to the park?! Ooh, I know, it's the beach! Wait a minute, you're not taking me to the vet, are you?"

"Caboose is Zwei." Yang snickered.

Ruby giggled, "Caboose lost his pet so he became one."

Pyrrha shook her head.

Tucker: "No, we're going to break into that compound and bust out our friends."

Simmons: "But, we still have some time left to train the squad. Why would we leave now?"

Tucker: "Because the squad's not coming with us."

"What?" Jaune looked up.

"Why not?" Ruby asked.

"They need all the help they can get." Pyrrha added.

"Yeah, Felix said breaking someone out would be..really hard." Jaune grimaced.

Caboose: "Are they going in a separate car?"

Tucker: "No."

Caboose: "Ah, so they're flying. Ya know, I have an extra bag to check. Is that gonna be a problem? Cause-"

Tucker: "No. Caboose, we're going on this mission alone."

Caboose: "Alone with the squad. Got it."

"Caboose does not understand this stuff, like in season nine with Church wanting alone time with Tex." Yang chuckled.

"He doesn't understand it when people want to do things alone." Pyrrha nodded.

Grif: "Why would we do that?"

Tucker: "I don't know if you guys have noticed, but our super-elite team sucks. There's no way they'll be able to pull off a rescue mission."

"That's a little harsh, I mean Felix thinks they suck too. Honestly the lieutenants seem a lot like the reds and blues themselves." Weiss commented.

"Yeah, they can do it. They've been fighting for a long time too." Ruby nodded.

Simmons: "We don't know that. Kimball could still pass us."

Tucker: "I'm not talking about passing. I'm talking about our trainees blowing up or getting shot or disintegrated or something."

"Disintegrated, that's a stretch." Yang laughed.

"But I see his point, he doesn't want to bring them because he doesn't want them to die." Jaune realized. "The last mission he went on, his men died. He doesn't want anyone else dying because of him."

Ruby nodded, understanding. "…I agree with Tucker now."

Simmons: "Oh. Yeah, that's a problem."

Tucker: "Look, Felix, was right. We're just gonna end up getting more people killed."

Grif: "So you're saying we should just get ourselves killed instead?"

Tucker: "Hey, we've done crazier things than this. Remember that time we fought, like, a bajillion hundred robots? We didn't fuck that up."

"He makes a good point, they're used to crazy things. The Rebels aren't, they're used to normal warfare." Blake explained.

"While the Reds and Blues have never had a normal fight." Ruby giggled.

Simmons: "We had Church."

Tucker: "Okay, well, what about C.T.? Or the Meta?"

Simmons: "We got lucky."

Tucker: "Bullshit."

"I agree that's b- he's wrong." Ruby blushed. "And what about fighting the Wyoming clones? Or breaking Church out of the Epsilon unit?"

"Luck can only take one so far." Ren quoted the director. "The Reds and Blues get results."

Tucker: "Now maybe we can't teach a bunch of people how to fight, but the four of us can totally pull this off. We're not gonna get another chance like this. We just have to go in and get our guys back. After that, Wash will know what to do."

"He trusts Wash a lot more than he used to." Blake smiled.

"And Tucker has a good rudimentary plan." Weiss added. "Wash will know what to do after they escape."

Simmons: "But even Felix couldn't break into this place."

Tucker: "We're not Felix. Felix is smart. The Feds won't be expecting dumb."

"His plan doesn't sound so good anymore." Blake frowned.

Weiss's grin fell, "Is he serious?"

Yang laughed, "I like it."

"Think about it, they're unpredictable." Ruby pointed out. "Not dumb, the Feds won't expect them."

Caboose: "Hey! Who are you calling dumb?"

Simmons: "Shut up."

Caboose: "No, Simmons, I was just asking for some clarification. I'm a little lost."

Tucker: "Look, we keep trying to strategize and use codenames and act like real soldiers, but we're not. We haven't been from the beginning. So why are we trying now? I say we just get in there and do what we do best."

"Felix was right, why are they trying to be something they're not? They're not real soldiers and never have been." Jaune smiled.

"This took an interesting turn, rather than rise up and become true soldiers leading a well trained team. They realized they are already good enough to do what they need to do." Pyrrha smiled.

"I like it, I thought they would train their team and become true soldiers." Blake chuckled. "I never know what to expect with them."

"And the Feds won't either." Ruby smirked.

Grif: "Uhh, which is ...?"

Tucker: "I have no idea. But, uh, whatever it is, it's worked for us before."

"It has, it's unpredictability." Pyrrha stated once again.

(a short pause)

Simmons: "That's your plan? We just show up and wing it? That's the worst plan I've ever-"

Grif: "Alright. Let's do it."

"Grif is always ready to go along with things. Even though he doesn't act like it." Ruby grinned.

Simmons: "(surprised) What- Grif? You wanna do this?"

Grif: "Yeah. So what?"

Simmons: "(incredulous) So what? You never wanna do anything. Ever."

Grif: "Simmons, I've been following orders I never liked for years."

"That's one way of looking at it." Weiss rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I may be able to say the same in the future."

"Hey!" Ruby huffed.

Simmons: "No you haven't. You disobey orders all the time."

Grif: "Well, I don't wanna be the guy that gives shitty orders that nobody wants to follow. I will not become a Sarge, dammit. There's no way I'm making a bunch of stupid rebels get shot for something I want. So yeah, whatever. Let's just do it!"

"Their growth this time is that they don't need to grow." Ren smiled. "There is benefit in change, but sometimes you are good just the way you are."

"The Reds and Blues are already perfect!" Nora shouted.

"I wouldn't go that far." Weiss hesitated.

Simmons: "(sniffs) That's the most selfless thing you've ever said."

Grif: "But I wanna steal more food before we go."

Simmons: "(sniffs) Okay, that's more like it."

"I like this plan, I mean they need rations." Ruby grinned.

"I'm sure that is what Grif is thinking too." Weiss scoffed.

Caboose: "Yay, mission!"

Tucker: "(encouragingly) Simmons?"

Caboose and Grif turn toward Simmons.

Simmons: "(sigh) How are we getting there?"

Tucker: "Ha ha, yes. Okay, I snuck into Kimball's office and grabbed all the data I took from the Feds' lab. We've got a map that will lead us straight to them. All we need is a ride."

"Kimball did say that he could come into her office if he needed anything." Nora grinned.

"She probably didn't mean for him to steal from her. But then again he was the one who got the information in the first place." Ruby shrugged.

Grif: "Vehicle bay's got plenty of Warthogs, I guess."

Caboose: "And I can drive a tank!"

All: "NO!"

Caboose: "Well, you're all just jealous."

"They should just put Caboose and a tank in the center of the Federal army's base. He'll end the war." Yang suggested.

"They can just tell him that they want him to pay Taxes." Jaune added.

Simmons: "Wait, what about the rebels? I mean, I don't think they'll be happy with us just leaving like this."

Tucker then turns to a computer screen to his right, and the others follow his gaze. Cut to Matthews in the vehicle bay. Bitters walks into view.

Bitters: "Hey, Matthews. Have you seen the Reds and Blues around? Can't find them."

Matthews: "No, but that might explain why two of our jeeps are missing."

"Two? One of them could have sat in another's lap." Yang quipped.

"Please, Donut isn't with them." Weiss rolled her eyes.

"Not yet at least." Pyrrha added.

"They'll need both eventually." Jaune finished.

Cut to the bunker interior. A recording starts playing with Kimball and the squad listening.

Simmons: "(voice recording) Hello everyone. If you're listening to this, it means we're already gone."

Tucker: "(voice recording) Look, it's not you, it's us."

"Tucker is using the classic break up line." Yang laughed.

"When someone says that, is it ever true?" Jaune asked.

Yang shrugged, "You never know.. unless it's obvious."

"Thank you for your wisdom Yang." Blake chuckled.

"Hey, relationship advice is hard." Yang crossed her arms.

Caboose: "(voice recording) Tell them not to leave the lights on!"

Grif: "(voice recording) Caboose! Not now!"

Caboose: "(voice recording) I miss you already. I promise we'll call. (recording ends)"

Kimball: "Dammit, Tucker."

Palomo: "They just... left us?"

Felix walks in.

Felix: "Who left us? (notices the paused recording) Oh no."

"Felix has only expressed worry like that once before." Ren recalled.

"When he saw that Locus was in the canyon with him." Jaune nodded.

Cut to a desert refueling station. The Reds and Blues arrive in the borrowed Warthogs and dismount to investigate the station.

"Desert Refueling Station" appeared on screen.

Simmons: "Okay, the ability to fly... North."

Grif: "Eh, I don't know."

Simmons: "What do you mean? That's a great 'terrible superpower'."

"Terrible superpower?" Ruby asked.

"Oh I know what he means! I've always thought it was weird that every time a comic hero gets a super power. It's really useful or a curse but still really powerful or something. What if it's something small or weird?" Jaune asked. "That's not useful at all."

"But they're called superpowers for a reason." Ruby pointed out.

"I've wondered something similar though. With semblances." Ren added.

Jaune winced and looked down.

Pyrrha's features softened, "Jaune you haven't discovered your semblance yet. And everyone's semblance reflects their soul. You won't get a terrible semblance."

"..A great terrible semblance." Jaune chuckled. "I don't know, nevermind- anyway." Jaune hit play.

Grif: "Yeah, but you can still fly."

Simmons: "You can only fly North. It's so inconvenient. Once you land, you've got to walk wherever you're going."

"It's still pretty useful.. and is it super strict? Like can you fly northeast or northwest?" Ruby asked.

"Probably strictly north." Jaune guessed.

Grif: "Mmm, I guess so."

Simmons: "Okay, what about the ability to teleport ... one foot at a time."

"That's an amazing super power." Pyrrha pointed out. "In a fight that would be very very useful."

Grif: "Mmmmm, meh."

Simmons: "You're meh. This road trip sucks."

"I like their road trip conversations." Pyrrha chuckled.

"Me too." Jaune nodded.

Tucker: "Hello-oh! Anybody home?! We got some cars that need fuel"

Caboose: "Yeah, yes! We would also like to purchase some lottery tickets! Yeah, I know the odds, but I just, I still think it's just fun."

"Caboose is looking at this like it's an actual road trip." Pyrrha realized.

Simmons: "This place looks deserted."

Grif: "Whoo hoo! Let's loot! I've always wanted my own Slurpee machine."

Tucker: "Oh, dude, let me know if they've got any magazines."

Caboose: "Me too! One with pictures!"

Tucker: "Specifically ones with pictures. You know what I'm saying."

"Gross." Weiss shook her head.

An odd-sounding explosion goes off inside the nearby cave system.

"That sounded like a future cube." Jaune turned to the others, "Right?"

"I heard it." Blake nodded.

Simmons: "What was that?"

Tucker: "Maybe it's the owners."

Grif: "Oh man. Can't we just pretend they're not here and loot anyway."

Tucker: "Hey Caboose, go tell them they've got customers. You guys start filling up the cars."

"It was a future cube wasn't it?" Jaune asked.

"I'm sure it was, Caboose might be walking into a trap. I didn't know the Feds had the cubes. They probably found them on the ship." Blake guessed.

Grif: "Do it yourself. I'm gonna take a leak. (walks off-screen)"

Caboose: "Oh, alright, but be sure to get my lottery ticket. My numbers are 5! 7! And don't forget them. (walks into cave system)"

"There should be more numbers right?" Jaune asked.

"I don't know, I've never gotten a lottery ticket." Weiss admitted.

What a surprise Ruby giggled.

Tucker: "I know I said a bunch of inspirational crap back at the base, but it's times like these when I really wonder how we haven't been killed yet. You know?"

"This is where Locus killed the pilot." Blake realized.

"Oh yeah it is." Ruby grimaced. "He just wanted to help, Locus did it without hesitating."

Simmons: "The power to turn into the Hulk ... but only when you're asleep."

"They've mentioned the hulk before at some point." Ren recalled.

"Oh I have an idea for a terrible super power!" Jaune's eyes widened. "The ability to see into the future, but you immediately forget it so you only have deja vu."

"That would suck, oh! What about the ability to turn invisible but only when no one is looking at you." Ruby suggested.

Yang burst out laughing, "Super strength but only when lifting things that aren't heavy."

Cut to the inside of the station. Grif walks into view with an empty Slurpee cup.

Grif: "Hello? Just here to use the bathroom! Also, somebody emptied out your Slurpee machine! Might want to get that filled!"

He tosses the empty slurpee cup onto the floor.

"Ugh, Grif is disgusting." Weiss crossed her arms. "The least he could do is find a trash can."

Grif: "Man, what kind of gas station doesn't have hot dogs?"

Grif opens a door, revealing a corpse.

Grif: "Puh-hoh! Wheah! Jesus, it smells like somebody died in- (notices the hand; becomes terrified) -here."

Behind Grif a Fed poster reads "Protect Your Planet. All Employees should probably wash hands before returning to work."

"That's probably the pilot Locus killed, or one of the attending staff." Blake guessed.

"Should probably wash hands? Of course they should wash their hands!?" Weiss threw her hands up.

"That's what you focus on?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, cleanliness is very important to me." Weiss huffed.

Cut to Caboose walking through the cave system.

Caboose: "(humming)"

An indistinct voice is heard.

Control: "(voice only) Targets will be arriving in the morning. Do not disappoint me."

Jackson: "(off screen) Understood, Control."

"They're feds." Blake pointed out. "They said control."

Caboose: "Eh. I think I hear the sound of new friends. (reappears from behind a rock pillar) Hellooooooo- (Tucker quickly covers his mouth with his hand) Oh! (whispered) Tucker. Perfect! You can help me and my friends come up with a secret high five!"

Cut to the Reds and Blues approaching a pile of crates upon a ledge overlooking a group of steel-armored Space Pirates.

Trooper 1: "So what's the word?"

Jackson: "Control says to give it thirty more minutes."

Female Trooper: "Ugh, this is a waste of time."

"They look.. very badass." Yang grinned.

"And very dangerous, these soldiers are likely special operatives." Weiss pointed out.

"Yeah, soldiers in black are always special operatives." Ruby said, recalling the lesson learned from season one. When Tucker and Caboose disguised themselves.

Trooper 1: "Agreed."

Grif: "Who are these guys?"

Tucker: "Well, they're definitely not the gas station attendants."

Grif: "(sarcastically) Wow, Tucker. I can really see why you're the leader."

Tucker: "Up. Yours."

Simmons: "Quiet. I can't hear what they're saying."

The group inched closer to listen in, as if they were with the Reds and Blues.

Jackson: "You know what they say: Orders are orders."

Locus: "(over radio) Jackson."

Jackson: "Yes, Locus."

Ruby went still, "Oohhh."

"What is it?" Yang asked.

"Look at their guns." Ruby pointed.

Her entire team groaned.

"Those definitely aren't normal guns! They look kind of like the future cubes!" Ruby gasped.

Blake looked up and narrowed her eyes, "They do."

"The feds found more than just the cubes on the ship." Jaune said.

Locus: "(over radio) Change of plans. Report back to base immediately. The Reds and Blues will be requiring... an escort."

Jackson: "Understood. (to the squad) You heard him, grab the gear and prep for evac."

"Now is he talking about them? Or Wash, Sarge, Donut, and Lopez." Blake asked.

"The others right? I mean the Feds don't know about their mission. If they did, they would know that they're literally ten feet away from them." Ruby pointed out.

"Hm, good point." Blake nodded.

The troopers walk away into a nearby tunnel.

Caboose: "Where are they going?"

Tucker moves after them.

Simmons: "Tucker, wait!"

Another odd explosion goes off, and Tucker sees an empty tunnel.

Tucker: "They just... vanished."

Simmons: "Vanished?"

"Definitely future cubes." Jaune nodded.

Grif: "They said something about Reds and Blues."

Caboose: "Oh my God! I know those colors! They're us!"

Tucker: "They were Feds. I heard one of them mention Locus."

Simmons: "Well they didn't look like the typical Stormtrooper guys. You think they were Special Ops?"

"Stormtroopers? Is that what the guys in white are called?" Ruby asked.

"They sound awesome! But I think those new guys fit the name better." Jaune shrugged.

Tucker: "I think we should get to the base as fast as possible. Come on, let's go."

Fade to black, the episode ends.

"They might be in a little over their heads." Pyrrha chuckled warily.