Author's Note:
ANNOUNCEMENT: Hey guys! This chapter I will be introducing a brand new OC SI of me to react along with the characters! He'll be giving them interesting commentary and answering questions about the real world.
Just kidding, that would be fucking stupid.
Cover Art: Cruz7808
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Review, point out mistakes, and flame!
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Chapter 30- the Federal Army of Chorus
"That remains to be seen." Weiss frowned. "Something strange is going on."
"I agree, Caboose knows they're in a show." Ruby nodded.
"That is not what I meant." Weiss sighed.
"They didn't seem to be brainwashed.. but that might be shown in this episode if it is true." Blake commented.
"The Federal Army of Chorus" appeared on screen with the theme.
"I hope that means we will see more about the federal army." Ren sat up straight.
"WEEKS EARLIER... JUNGLE CANYON, "CRASH SITE BRAVO'" appeared on screen.
Fade in to Washington's point of view, who sees several Feds assisting an unconscious Sarge nearby.
Fed Soldier: "I repeat, we have three survivors in need of immediate assistance. (to a Fed) Make sure the docs are ready. He really did a number on them this time."
"Is he talking about Locus?" Jaune asked.
"Who else?" Yang asked.
"He almost sounds sorry." Ruby added.
Washington: "(weakly) Sarge…"
Locus approaches Wash.
Locus: "He's not dead. ...Not yet."
Washington: "No…"
"We've seen his point of view before, when he was injured by Tex." Blake recalled. "It's interesting that it's being done again."
Wash turns his head towards the sky and sees Locus looking down upon him.
Locus: "I warned you, Agent Washington. I gave you a choice. And you chose to fight. I admire that decision."
"We do too." Ruby smiled weakly. "Locus is weird."
"What choice is he talking about again? I forgot." Nora asked.
"He basically asked them to surrender and he would only kill Felix." Jaune explained.
Washington: "(weakly) Fuck... you... monster."
Locus: "No, I'm not a monster. I'm a soldier, like you."
Locus leaves as the screen fades out. Fade back in to reveal a broken down facility. Wash is seen wearing his blue armor, hearing the Director.
Director: "(voice only) Why hello, Agent Washington."
Washington: "Project Freelancer?"
"Is this his mind?" Blake asked.
"It looks broken." Nora commented.
"Because it is." Yang grimaced. "Wait- no this looks like the place where Tex kicked the reds and blues asses."
"It's a freelancer facility." Ren realized. "Though still in Wash's mind. He's hallucinating and or dreaming."
Counselor: "(voice over) Agent Washington."
Washington: "Huh?!"
Wash suddenly flashes back to the past where he sees himself talking to the Counselor.
Counselor: "(voice only) So you would say that you have overwhelming feelings of anger, and a need for revenge?"
Past Washington: "More than you know."
"If this is Wash's mind after he got captured, why is he in his blue armor?" Jaune asked.
"He's looking at himself in the past, they had to differentiate it for us, the viewers." Weiss pointed out.
"That's the practical reason." Blake nodded. "The other reason is to show that he's different from who he was before. He only changed armor color after he was accepted by the reds and blues." Blake explained.
"Speaking of armor, I think it's cool that they're reshooting this scene in the new game." Ruby grinned.
Washington: "...What?"
Wash then flashes back to the point where he shoots Lopez and Donut. He runs towards his past self in order to stop himself from shooting Donut. However, the scene goes as it did before.
Washington: "Wait! WAIT!"
His past self fires at Donut, causing him to collapse immediately.
Simmons: "Why did you do that?! What's wrong with you?!"
"I didn't know he felt guilty about shooting Donut." Blake frowned. "He acted like it didn't bother him but it did."
Washington: "No...! I was just…"
Locus: "(echoing) I was just following orders."
Washington: "I was just following orders…"
Doyle: "(echoing) You shot him!"
Washington: "What?"
"Who said that?" Blake asked. "I don't recognize their voice."
"It was really high pitched and echo-y." Ruby rubbed her right ear.
Simmons appears in front of Washington.
Simmons: "You shot him! You shot Donut!"
"It didn't sound like Simmons." Blake added.
"Yeah I don't think it was him." Jaune nodded.
Washington backs away and aims his pistol at Simmons.
Washington: "No, I just...! I did what I had to do!"
"To stay out of jail." Blake shook her head, sympathizing with him.
Locus appears behind Washington.
Locus: "Don't we all?"
Washington turns around and shoots at Locus. However, he finds his own body on the ground afterwards instead.
Locus: "(voice only) Agent Washington…"
Now back in his steel and yellow armor, Washington stares down at himself.
"It's like they're showing Locus as a dark reflection of who Wash was turning into. What Wash could be." Blake commented.
"Pfft no way could Wash ever be like Locus!" Ruby laughed nervously.
"Remember what he was like before he met the Reds and Blues? In Recovery One?" Blake asked. "He was somewhat cold, not as bad as Locus I know."
"But after he sided with the Meta he got worse." Jaune nodded.
"He wasn't like Locus though." Ruby crossed her arms. "He wasn't.. that bad."
Blake stared at her, recalling Wash and the Meta killing the aliens. Then she remembered how coldly he killed South. Shooting her mid-sentence. "I know, like I said. He wasn't as bad as Locus. Though if things went differently during the fight with the Meta and Tex. He could have gotten worse."
Dr. Grey: "(voice only) Agent Washington? Agent Washington!"
Cut to black.
Dr. Grey: "(voice only) Oh. Well...that was close."
Ruby sucked in a breath and turned to Blake. "I wouldn't call myself a violent person Blake. Maybe against Grimm but not against my friends. But-"
Yang cackled, interrupting Ruby, "This. Is. Amazing!"
Blake blushed, "I'm sorry Ruby."
Yang burst out laughing again, "Blake do your Ruby impersonation!"
Blake shook her head, "I don't think it's a Ruby impersonation anymore. It's an impersonation of whoever that character is now."
Ruby groaned, "I hate this! I don't sound like that!"
"It's the best I can do to sound like you." Blake winced at how it came out.
Ruby groaned.
"In my defense." Blake met Ruby's eyes. "Yang is the one who tried to impersonate you in the first place and I did my own impersonation to one up her."
Ruby giggled, "Yeah I remember, I still don't sound like that though!"
Cut to Washington, Sarge, and Donut, handcuffed inside a Federal Army outpost.
"F.A.C. OUTPOST 37"
Sarge: "Dirtbags! Each and every one of 'em! The soldiers: dirtbags! The medics: dirtbags! That good-for-nothin' mercenary, who shoots a man when he ain't even lookin': you best believe he's a numero uno dirtbag! And you…"
Sarge acknowledges a Fed standing nearby.
Sarge: "You know what you are…"
Nora giggled, "Sarge is going to be a model prisoner."
"For once, I hope Sarge acts like Sarge." Weiss smiled.
Donut: "Ooh, ooh, me! Pick me, Sarge!"
Sarge: "Shut up, Donut."
Donut: "But I was gonna say dirtbag."
Sarge: "What? Do! Do- For the love of-! Now you've gone and given away the answer to my rhetorical question!"
"The Feds are going to learn soon enough that their prisoners are going to be a lot harder to handle than they expected." Blake chuckled.
"I can't wait to see their escape." Nora grinned.
"I'm sure there will be some failed attempts here and there too." Ren commented.
"I can already picture the grainy security footage." Yang laughed.
Washington: "I have an idea. Let's play the quiet game."
Blake chuckled and shook her head.
"Aww I hate that game." Nora huffed.
Donut: "Ohohoho. It. Is. On!"
Sarge: "Great Monopoly's top hat, Wash. Now is not the time for games! Now is the time for action! Come on, help me get out of these cuffs. There's a certain someone in this room that I feel like bludgeoning to death!"
Sarge glares at the Fed soldier.
Donut: "Just use your feet, Sarge. If he fights back, I'll beat him off ya!"
"Donut is absolutely the person I want with me when I'm arrested." Yang laughed.
"I hope you meant to say 'if' you get arrested." Weiss paled.
Sarge: "You're not thinking, Donut! That would just alert more guards."
Donut: "Well if I can't beat off a room full of dudes, then what have I been training for this whole time?"
Yang and Blake snorted.
Washington: "I would really like to play the quiet game, please."
"Poor Wash." Pyrrha chuckled.
"In season six, Grif did the same thing to get Caboose to stop talking." Jaune recalled with a chuckle.
Fed: "(off screen) Officer on deck!"
Cut to Doyle and a couple of Feds. Doyle approaches Wash, Donut, and Sarge.
Doyle: "Agent Washington, Franklin Donut, Sarge."
"Oh don't tell me." Blake sighed.
"That asshat with an asshole's hat has a voice in the show?" Yang asked.
"That's definitely Torchwick." Ruby groaned loudly. "Are all the baddies getting voices?" I wonder if that woman who attacked the CCT during the dance voices a character.. I wish I knew her voice!
"Ohh next there will be a Grimm!" Nora gasped. "Would they do a voice or a growl?"
"I would suspect a growl." Ren answered.
Doyle: "I... am so-oooh sorry!"
Sarge: "(pause) Say what now?"
"I'm with Sarge, what?" Weiss asked.
"I don't trust him, he's got a snake's tongue like Torchwick." Blake crossed her arms. I knew people back in Menagerie with literal snake tongues that would never tell a lie even if their life depended on it. Even the truth sounded like a lie coming from Torchwick.
Doyle: "Guard, uncuff these men at once! And return their weaponry, for God's sake!"
Fed: "Yes sir. (walks up to Sarge) Really sorry about this, sir. I'd appreciate it if you decided not to bludgeon me to death."
Sarge: "Ah, I suppose I could settle for near death."
Nora stood up, "What? No! They're the bad guys! The evil empire!"
"It's beginning to seem like they're not so evil." Ren frowned.
"I'm confused." Pyrrha frowned.
"They can't be good, they lied about a peace meeting, and they have Locus fighting for them." Ruby pointed out. "R- whoever that guy is, he's a liar."
Donut: "Bye, handcuffs. Aw, wait. I didn't even get to use my safe word. (whispering) It's Chrysanthemum."
Washington: "Okay, wait, stop. Stop!"
Doyle: "Um, what is it, Agent Washington?"
Washington: "What is it? What is it! First, you send men to kill us. Then you send men to capture us. And now that we're here, you're giving us guns and saying you're SORRY?"
"It's a trick." Jaune guessed.
"They want information." Blake nodded.
Doyle: "Uh... Is that a problem?"
Wash aims at Doyle.
Washington: "Only for you, if you don't-"
Doyle: "O-oh dear. (faints)"
Donut: "What a weenie."
"…I don't think it's a trick." Yang snickered.
"He could have.. faked fainting?" Ruby didn't believe it herself.
Nora laughed, "He is a weenie!"
"He's as cowardly as Torchwick." Blake chuckled. "But maybe not as dishonest. I think he was the one screaming about Wash getting shot earlier. When Wash was dreaming."
—Donald Torchwick SS— Not Canon
Ironwood smirked, "Don't faint on me now Roman."
"Screw off General." Roman huffed. "And that's Torchwick to you."
Ironwood rolled his eyes, "Once again I have to ask. Do you know anything about the show? Your voice is in it."
Roman sighed, "We've been over this, you're a bad interrogator."
"Answer the question." Ironwood stared through the bars of Roman's locker like cell.
"I know nothing about the show. And come on! My voice showed up way earlier. I'm none other than the heartless killer, Locus!" Roman said with exaggerated theatrics. "Couldn't you hear it?"
Ironwood shook his head, "Lie all you want Torchwick, I'll find the truth eventually."
That seemed to spark genuine laughter out of Torchwick.
—Madman's Glee SS— Not Canon
Tyrian burst into a fit of giggles. "He is a weenie! HaHA!"
—Madwoman's Glee SS— Not Canon
Neo burst into silent laughter, the only noise being her rapid breaths. I miss him, I hope he doesn't faint when he sees me again. Though that would be really funny.
Cut to Wash, Sarge, and Donut standing outside atop a bunker.
Washington: "I don't understand. None of this makes any sense."
The group notices Dr. Grey talking to Doyle.
Dr. Grey: "(enthusiastically) Now just take it easy for the rest of the day. Remember, 'You're no good to me dead.' Although, I suppose I could run some experiments on your body."
Ruby grimaced, "Uh Blake, your character sounds a little weird."
"I'm sure she was joking." Blake hoped.
Doyle: "Uh, thank you, Emily. Ahah, your help is always appreciated."
Dr. Grey: "Anytime General Doyle! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have limbs to amputate! (leaves)"
"Blake, please never administer first aid to any of us. I beg of you." Weiss paled.
"I won't cut off anything." Blake grimaced.
"I like your character." Nora giggled.
"I wonder why." Ren sighed.
Doyle: "Of course."
Doyle approaches Wash, Sarge, and Donut.
Doyle: "Gentlemen. I'm afraid I have nothing but apologies for you today. It must be the thin air up here, I-I've been doing a lot of travelling lately and my body's still adjusting to-"
Washington: "(approaches Doyle) 'Doyle,' right?"
Doyle: "Oh, uh... well yes. Very observant. General Donald Doyle of the Federal Army of Chorus at your service."
"Wait, he's the general? I thought he was someone lower." Yang frowned.
"Me too." Blake's eyes narrowed. "How did he become a general?"
"Yeah he's so nice! Not like Torchwick at all." Ruby stared at the screen, perplexed.
"He seems like a very pleasant person." Pyrrha nodded.
"He has excellent manners as well." Weiss added.
Sarge: "At our service?"
Donut: "Full service?"
Washington: "Okay General. Let me catch you up to speed on what the past few days have been like for me."
"Oh here we go." Yang grinned.
"The yelling will begin shortly." Nora quipped.
"Good." Blake smirked.
Washington: "I've got a canyon of shipwrecked survivors all trying to hail a rescue, when a squad of soldiers, all wearing your uniform, come down and attack us with their leader, a big black suited son of a bitch who goes by the name Locus. Then once he leaves, I've got another guy named Felix telling me you and yours have been terrorizing this planet and to top it all off, that we're wanted men for crashing on it in the first place! (angrily) So please, if you could do your best to convince me not to kill you this very second, that would REALLY BENEFIT THE BOTH OF US!"
Sarge: "(nervously) ...Uh, yeah!"
"He even scared Sarge." Nora laughed.
"I want him to explain, I don't get it." Weiss frowned.
Doyle: "(sighs) Yes, I see. None of this happened the way that it should have. Tell me, how much do you know about the New Republic?"
Sarge: "They don't try and kill us, for starters."
Doyle: "A note-worthy quality, yes. But uh, what else do you know about them?"
"I feel like that's very very important. Though that's just me." Yang shrugged.
Washington: "They're rebels, fighting to overthrow a corrupt leadership. They heard our distress call and hoped we could help."
Doyle: "And you heard all of this from a mercenary, hired to assist them at all costs? ...A bit of a biased source, don't you think?"
"Here come the lies." Ruby sighed.
Ren frowned, not so sure that Ruby was correct.
Doyle: "These 'rebels' aren't looking to free this planet, their aim is to dominate it!"
"As if they aren't trying to dominate it themselves." Weiss scoffed.
Doyle: "They were given ample opportunities to move to uh, form their own society, somewhere else on Chorus; it is a large planet, I can assure you."
Blake's eyes narrowed, "Their own area to form their own society? Why does that sound familiar?" She asked rhetorically.
"Menagerie." Weiss grimaced.
Blake nodded.
Doyle: "But nooooo. They are determined to uh, 'take back what is theirs!' I'll admit, times were hard, but as a planet cut off from the rest of the galaxy we did our best to govern the people. But it wasn't enough. Suddenly buildings were exploding! There... There were riots in the streets! Complete and utter panic, everywhere! These were not acts of freedom, they were acts of terrorism!"
Blake's face softened. "That sounds familiar too."
"He's.. he's just lying right?" Ruby asked.
"The Faunus revolution began with riots and.. terrorism." Blake winced. "And we were also given Menageries. Their situation, on both sides. Is very familiar."
"But. He's still lying? He has to be right?" Ruby asked again.
"Just because Torchwick voices him doesn't mean he's not trustworthy. We can't assume he's lying." Ren pointed out.
"But he still has Locus fighting for him! And I trust Kimball, she said that thing about the peace meeting." Ruby reiterated. "I assume he's lying because of those things."
"The rebels.." Blake paused. "Revolutions aren't the fairy tale heroic stories we were read when we were kids." Blake sighed. "The White Fang also started riots and bombed buildings. We committed acts of terrorism, just like the rebels."
"But the Rebels don't.. they don't seem evil." Ruby frowned.
"And now the Feds don't seem so evil." Ren pointed out.
"And it wasn't meant to be evil, at first." Blake frowned. "It was only meant to show the world that we were serious. I wonder if the same can be said for the rebels."
—A lesson on Revolutions SS— Not Canon
"Dreadful, simply dreadful." Oobleck sighed. "I should have expected this. Many great stories have their basis in reality. I was naive to expect the rebels to be the heroes of this story and the feds the enemy. Of course of course they're grey!"
"Many great stories are morally grey." Ozpin smiled.
Oobleck nodded. "Ah sadly enough many revolutions start off very nobly. Most revolutions have two stages." First the moderate stage, The goal is clear and the methods aren't too extreme. But after time passes and little to no change is made. The radical stage starts. Most commonly, new leaders take over and suddenly moderates seem like supporters of the enemy. Before long there are riots in the streets and buildings explode." Oobleck shook his head. "I don't doubt that the Feds started somewhat moderately too. But as time went on, I'd assume crackdowns became more and more violent and extreme."
"It's an all too familiar tale." Ozpin sighed. I have seen it far too often. Though thankfully with new government systems it isn't as prevalent. It takes much longer for corruption to take hold.
"History repeats itself, time is not made out of lines. It is made out of circles!" Oobleck shouted.
—The guilty Tinman SS— Not Canon
Ironwood looked at the world map below him. All too often his eyes had glazed over Menagerie. Not even considering it when worrying about the world. What a fool. The Feds in this story made the same mistake my predecessors did. This time when he looked at the map, he zeroed in on the island. Examining every inch of it.
Ironwood let out a grunt of disgust. Their decision gave the White Fang a permanent base- probably even sowed the seeds for the White Fang to begin with. We gave them a next to worthless island and have since refused to acknowledge their own autonomy as nothing more than a large town. What's worse is, I can't do anything. If I show any form of support to Menagerie. I'll be seen as weak, giving in to the White Fang.
But without supporting them, I only show that they're right. That the world, and more importantly, Atlas doesn't care about them. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
Yet they do support the White Fang. Regrettably it is our fault. Yet they still made their decision. Even if I could. I can't support those who support terrorists.
Without hesitation the General's eyes left Menagerie and focused on Atlas.
—The not so Happy Huntress SS— Not Canon
Robyn growled. What else could she do in her cell but watch this show. It had been enjoyable for a long time now. Especially after meeting the rebels, they were misfits. Just like her happy huntresses. And of course she saw herself in Kimball. Her resolve and ideals matched her own almost word for word. Except now the showrunners started painting the Feds as if they were the good guys. As if they didn't provoke a rebellion. It's insulting.
Glaring at the guards she turned back to the screen and hit play. Though it doesn't matter. I have nothing else to do while the city burns and Ironwood fans the flames. Totalitarian idiot, what happened to him? He was once great, a tough visionary but a visionary nonetheless.
Robyn sighed and hit play. I hope the rebels win. It's obvious the reds and blues will pick sides and the real war will begin. I just hope Wash will see sense.
Doyle: "And we could not risk warriors of your caliber allying with them."
Washington: "So you sent your men to kill us?!"
Doyle: "Absolutely not!"
"Uhh.. Locus." Nora stated simply.
"Like that one fed said. He really did a number on them." Jaune winced.
Sarge: "I've got a few cracked ribs that beg to differ! And a hipbone that strongly disagrees!"
Nora giggled.
Doyle: "Again, I must apologize. The way this was handled was not at all what I had wanted. Upon hearing of your arrival on Chorus, I ordered Locus to confirm his findings and bring you to us as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it appears as though I should've been more specific in the exact method of your acquisition."
Weiss scoffed, "He can't be serious."
Washington: "So what, this was all your mercenary's fault? Y-You expect me to believe that the general of an army can't control his own men?"
"That is exactly what I was thinking." Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Does Doyle strike you as the kind of general who can control his own men?" Pyrrha asked.
Weiss paused, "Hm, you make a good point."
Doyle: "Y-Y-You're mistaken in assuming I have any control over Locus whatsoever! He is a dog, that has long since broken from his leash. ...But we need him."
"Just like the rebels need Felix." Ruby realized.
"Except Felix isn't a massive meanie." Nora commented.
"Yeah, it's starting to look like the Feds aren't all that bad. Only Locus is the real evil one." Yang stated.
Doyle: "(walks towards the edge of the roof) As I'm sure you already observed, I'm not a battle-worn soldier ripe with military expertise. On the contrary, I was simply next in line to run the army should something happen to its leader."
Washington: "Wh-what do you mean? Lieutenant General? Major General?"
Doyle: "(embarrassed) Uh, personal secretary to the Brigadier."
Washington: "(shocked) What?!"
"I'm guessing that means he's a low rank?" Ruby asked.
"He said he was a personal secretary. It doesn't matter to who, though the brigadier is also a relatively low rank." Weiss grimaced. "He filed papers and wrote letters. Probably more than that but that's the essence of his job… a job I almost had myself."
"Wow, you could have become a general." Yang shook her head.
Weiss chuckled, "If only I had the foresight to see it."
Jaune sagged, "I feel bad for him, I know what it's like."
"Being under qualified doesn't necessarily mean bad. Look at yourself as an example." Ren ordered.
Jaune smiled and held up his hands, "I know Ren, I know I'm a good leader. I'm not allowed to be a bad one. But still, I can understand being in his position."
Donut: "Where'd all the other guys go?"
Doyle: "Some of them left before things took a turn for the worst, but uh hmmmm...most of them were killed. Yes, definitely they were killed. Not many of us left these days, I'm afraid."
"Just like it is for the Rebels." Blake noted. I wonder if any were killed in bombings.
—A True General SS— Not Canon
"Worried about your position there general?" Roman asked.
"Not at all, while there have been plans to assassinate me. None ever jumped up to an attempted assassination." Ironwood smiled. "It is distressing to know that so many of a higher rank have died. The Federal army command structure must be extremely understaffed or worse under qualified."
"Sounds like your military." Roman taunted.
"Maybe I should make you a general to help with both problems. You'd make a good one." Ironwood smirked.
"The thought is torture alone." Roman mock gagged.
Sarge: "But you're supposed to be the evil Empire! With giant warships and floating space lasers! Not camping out in the snow, that's stuff for rebels! And the sadly endangered polar bear…"
"Aww their polar bears are endangered? That's sad." Nora sagged. "They're really cute."
"Why is the snow for rebels? They've mentioned that before." Weiss asked.
She only received a shrug from Ruby in answer.
Doyle: "Well, we are doing significantly better than before! We still have multiple bases of operation and Locus has managed to acquire top-notch military equipment! He even helped us strategize some of our more recent victories. Mmm, though I would not consider your rescue to be one of them."
Washington: "I also wouldn't consider it to be a rescue."
"More of a kidnapping." Yang quipped.
"In military terms it's called getting captured." Weiss pointed out.
Doyle: "Well, I can assure you that he was punished severely for taking such drastic measures against you! I made sure he wasn't paid a single penny for the job!"
"Neither Locus nor Felix were paid due to their actions.
And both Locus and Felix support their respective armies the same way." Ren commented.
"It's become clear that neither side is perfect." Blake realized.
"The rebels could be the true enemy!" Nora shouted.
"I doubt it." Jaune chuckled.
Washington: "How comforting."
Doyle: "Gentlemen, I am fully aware that I may never gain your trust. But let me be perfectly clear: we are not your enemy. The New Republic has your men and I can promise you, they are likely recruiting them into their rebellion as we speak. Now I can inform my troops not to attack them, but I cannot stop them from defending themselves. I'm.. also unable to promise you a safe escape from Chorus in the middle of this conflict. Most of our ships are shot down before they can escape the atmosphere."
"Both sides shoot down the other's ships." Blake grimaced.
"War is so hypocritical." Ren wisely stated.
"I don't know who's right." Ruby sagged. "The rebels did bad things. It sounds like they started the war by hurting innocent people. Like the White Fang when they caused the breach. But the Feds killed the rebel leader by lying about peace. And.. the rebels rebelled for a reason." Ruby gripped her head. "Ugh it's like real life politics."
"Both sides seem to be neither good nor bad." Ren stated. "Just two different sides."
Blake chuckled and smiled, "I didn't expect it, and I like it."
"I like it too but I also don't." Ruby whined. "It's interesting! But also I don't know who to support. I guess neither? Both?" Ugh! I like simple good guy bad guy stories.
Washington: "So what can you promise us?"
Doyle: "(sighs) If you can help us defeat these terrorists, it would not only save our planet, it would also save your comrades. Then, once the skies are clear, you can leave this forsaken planet once and for all!"
"They're even getting the same deal as the others." Ruby noted.
Blake paled, "I wonder if they will be forced to fight each other. Each group has been taken in by one side. And both have only heard one side."
"They won't fight.. right?" Nora asked. "What would that even be? Red and Blue vs Red and Wash?"
Jaune chuckled, "Wash is still on blue team."
Sarge: "(to Wash) ...Hmmm, I don't like it, but I'm not really seeing another way out. (to Doyle) Unless beating you unconscious would somehow work."
Doyle: "(laughs nervously) Highly doubtful."
"He laughs like Torchwick. Except he doesn't sound annoying." Ruby commented.
"There's no taunt in his laughter." Blake nodded.
Sarge: "Drat. I guess I'm in."
Wash looks at Donut.
Donut: "No man left behind, right?"
Wash turns to Doyle.
Washington: "I still have one question for you General."
Doye: "Uh which issss?"
Washington: "Where are.. our... robots?"
"I didn't expect him to care so much about them." Blake smiled.
Cut to the inside of a bunker. Lopez is seen reactivating next to a Fed technician.
Lopez: "(stands) Heauegerkergerk!"
"Lopez is being possessed!" Nora gasped.
"Church is back!" Ruby added jokingly. Nora however, was serious.
Fed Technician: "All right! Fixed up and ready to go."
Cut to the blue screen of death.
Jaune, Ruby, and Yang flinched.
"Ah! No!" Jaune panicked and hit pause.
Ruby's eyes flitted over the words and she relaxed. "Oh it's a joke."
The blue screen of death read:
WARNING!
A fatal error has been detected and LOPEZ has been shut down to prevent damage to your system.
DRIVER_IRQL_OUCH_PAIN
If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your LOPEZ, if this screen appears again, follow these steps:
* Quit being an idiot
* Stop damaging hardware
* Perform proper repair
***** 0x000000001 (00002000100 x 00000029910 x 80085
Beginning physical dump of memory
Press CTRL+AT+DEL to restart your LOPEZ
Press any key to continue _
Jaune laughed, "That's funny."
"They should add a fourth. Turn it off then back on." Ruby commented. "Always works."
"Look! Boobs." Yang pointed to the 80085 on the screen.
"So childish." Weiss sighed.
Cut to Lopez's hud which read:
LOPEZ FIRMWARE - V1.01
HARDWARE MODEL - V2.0
Failed to initiate
Sarcasm module 100%
Lifeforms detected:
1. Idiot
2. Loud idiot
3. Agent Washington
Booted
Switch not found
404
"Lopez lost his switch aww man." Yang sagged.
Weiss chuckled, "I like how he identifies the others. Sarge is a loud idiot."
"His firmware and hardware are also cool. Firmware version 1.01 because he's not loyal to Sarge anymore and hardware version 2.0 because he took Dos's body." Jaune explained.
Weiss's eyes scanned the screen some more and she laughed. "Sarcasm module 100%. I knew there was a reason I liked him."
"And of course his english failed." Jaune added.
Weiss chuckled, "It always has, which allows him to insult whoever he wants without them knowing. I wish I could do that."
Sarge: "Bienvenidos robo-buddy! You're back in the world of the living! Viva...la viva."
Cut back to Lopez.
Lopez: "Yo no estaba muerto. Mis miembros simplemente dejaron de funcionar y ellos me tiraron en el basurero. Fue la experiencia más agradable que he tenido en años. Después aparecieron ustedes. [I wasn't dead. My limbs just stopped working and they put me in the trash can. It was the most enjoyable experience I have had in years. Then you showed up.]"
Weiss cackled, "It's great to have him back."
"Lopez finds enjoyment in being away from the reds and blues." Ren noted.
Sarge: "(chuckles) No need to thank us son."
Lopez: "Me hice amigos de una rata espacial.[I made friends with a space rat.]"
"The one that chewed through the cables!" Nora gasped.
Donut: "We have got a lot of catching up to do!"
Lopez: "Cuéntame más tarde. Seguro que es estúpido y confuso.[Fill me in later. I'm sure it's stupid and confusing.]"
Washington: "Now, what about Freckles?"
Fed Technician: "(confused) Uh, what's a Freckles?"
"Only the coolest weapon since Sheila." Nora grinned.
Locus suddenly appears before the group.
Locus: "Agent Washington is referring to a MANTIS-class military assault droid. And you won't find it among this wreckage."
Ruby gasped, "No, is he dead!?"
"Poor Caboose." Pyrrha winced. "Losing another friend will be even harder on him."
Fed Technician: "Ahah, I'll uh, just look somewhere else then. (leaves)"
Lopez: "Ay mierda.[Oh shit.]"
Wash positions himself in front of Sarge, Donut, and Lopez and aims his rifle at Locus.
Washington: "(distrusting) Locus."
Locus approaches the four.
Locus: "The droid was malfunctioning. It refused to surrender, and was therefore destroyed."
"Sounds like Freckles." Nora grinned.
"He was very loyal to Caboose." Pyrrha smiled.
Donut: "(shocked) He's dead?!"
Locus: "It was a machine. It had no life to begin with."
"He acts like a machine himself." Pyrrha frowned.
"Machines can have life." Ruby mumbled angrily.
—Creator and Created SS- Not Canon
"He couldn't be farther from the truth!" Pietro. Polendina laughed. "You're the shining example of that Penny."
Penny beamed, "Thank you father. As friend Ruby once told me. My nuts and bolts don't make me any less of a person."
"That's the spirit.. though speaking of nuts and bolts. Your hardware needs some fine tuning." Pietro mumbled as he looked over Penny's damaged head.
"The magnets struck again." Penny stated with a smile. "I underestimated them."
Lopez: "Culiado. [Douche.]"
Sarge: "You know, it takes an awful lot of nerve to come strolling in here after what you did!"
"I doubt he cares." Ren commented.
Locus: "Does my presence upset you, Sergeant?"
Sarge: "It gives me an itchy trigger finger. I can tell you that."
Nora grinned, "Good."
Washington: "(angrily) What do you want?"
Locus: "Aside from my initial examination, the men under my command were ordered to take you alive. All attacks were intended to wound, all shots were designed to intimidate. Let me assure you my raid on your base was calculated, choreographed, and designed to apprehend you. Like herding sheep to the pen. Were it not for the intervention of the mercenary and his forces, I would've succeeded entirely."
"He can't expect that, his men attacked and he expected nothing to go wrong?" Pyrrha asked. "There is always a danger in fighting. That is why competition rules are so detailed and strict."
"He could have killed Wash and Sarge. Those shots were meant to wound but that's like Yang punching you as hard as she can and then saying it was a warning punch!" Ruby crossed her arms.
Yang laughed, "That is my warning punch. The warning is, you'll get another if you do whatever it is you did again."
Jaune nervously scooted away from her.
Sarge: "And what, is that supposed to make us feel better? 'Cause quite honestly it's having the opposite effect."
Locus: "It's supposed to make you understand."
Lopez: "Yo entiendo que eres un culiado. [I understand you're a douche.]"
Weiss nodded in agreement.
Locus: "(to Wash) Agent Washington, I am a professional. I follow orders, and I complete my missions at all costs."
"Well Locus is still an evil douche, that hasn't changed." Yang chuckled.
Washington: "I don't care what you think you are. You just stay the hell away from me and my men."
Locus: "You still don't understand. Or perhaps... you do."
Washington: "What?"
—The True Soldier SS— Not Canon
"A true soldier does complete their mission. But not at all costs. The lives of civilians and their fellow soldiers take priority over any goal unless that goal is to save more lives." Ironwood glowered down at the screen.
"You say that, but it's never stopped your troops from abandoning people before." Roman taunted.
Ironwood simply shook his head at the taunt.
—Winter and the Ace-Ops SS— Not Canon
Harriet smirked, "Locus may be an evil bastard but he's right."
Vine shook his head. "No he is not. General Ironwood has always told us that-"
"Yeah yeah." Harriet waved him off. "But the mission of Atlas is always to protect and serve its citizens. If we're not doing that by completing our missions at all costs. Then we're not doing our job."
"You make it sound so black and white." Clover chuckled. "You know it's not like that."
Harriet huffed and looked away.
Winter looked at them and shook her head. I know a dysfunctional team when I see one. The only thing holding them together is Clover. Without him, they'd be a mess. He is a true soldier, the others are not because they can't handle their duty without him. A true soldier acts in the way that best serves their mission goal and those they serve. The people and their leader. A true soldier knows what is right and fights for it.
Dr. Grey appears behind Locus.
Dr. Grey: "(to Locus) Excuse me! If someone tells you to leave them alone, you leave them alone."
Locus: "...Of course, doctor."
"Whipped." Yang grinned.
Blake smirked, "Hm, my character is strong."
"I got absolutely cheated." Yang sighed.
Locus turns to Wash and hands him a storage unit.
Locus: "(to Wash) Here."
Washington: "What is this?"
Locus: "Before your droid was dismantled, I had a technician remove its primary storage unit. Its heart and mind, so to speak."
Wash quickly grabs the storage unit from Locus.
Washington: "Is this supposed to be some sort of apology?"
Locus: "Is it?"
"I think it is." Ruby frowned. "..Maybe Locus isn't so bad either."
"Ehh." Yang shook her head. "He's still pretty bad."
"But it is nice of him.. Despite his lack of effort to gravely injure. he stuck to his word. He didn't want there to be any casualties." Pyrrha smiled.
"Including Freckles even though Locus says that he didn't have a life to begin with." Ren added.
"He has principles, he sticks to his word." Yang shrugged. "I can respect that."
Donut: "(quietly to Lopez) This guy doesn't make any sense."
Lopez: "Se debe a que está loco.[That's because he's insane.]"
Locus: "(menacingly) I am not!"
Lopez: "ALARM! MIERDA. EL ES BILINGÜE. POR FAVOR NO ME MATES. [HOLY SHIT. HE'S BILINGUAL. PLEASE DON'T KILL ME.]"
Blake chuckled, "Well.. he finally met the one bilingual person in the show."
Yang burst out laughing, "Oh man that's perfect."
Weiss huffed, "Lopez is braver than that."
"Brave because he didn't think anyone would ever understand him." Yang snickered.
"Now his favorite game is ruined." Weiss pouted.
Locus: "(to Wash) You give meaning to meaningless objects and meaningless people, and risk your lives to protect them. Where's the sense in that? ...I look forward to your answer, soldier."
Locus leaves.
"Meaningless to him." Ruby crossed her arms.
Jaune grinned, "Couldn't have said it any better."
Emily approaches the group.
Dr. Grey: "Sorry about that. I promise the rest of us aren't like him. I'm Dr. Grey."
"Doctor Grey." Blake smiled. "I like that like the rebel medic, she has purple trim."
"It's like an inside joke for the show." Jaune nodded
Donut: "Ooooh, a doctor! That's like a medic who saves people!"
"That too." Jaune laughed.
"So far she's sounded like a medic who kills people and experiments on their body." Yang quipped.
Sarge: "(chuckles) You a civilian, little lady?"
Dr. Grey: "Civilian? (laughs hysterically) I don't think you realize how bad this planet's gotten! The only people not wearing armor these days are dead! (laughs)"
"That's horrifying." Weiss gasped.
"And a way of explaining why everyone is wearing armor." Blake mumbled.
"I wonder if that is why both sides seem to have less than qualified soldiers. All the skilled ones are dead too." Ren pondered.
"You'd think that after so much death, they would want to end the fighting." Pyrrha shook her head.
"The feds ended any chance of peace." Blake pointed out yet again. "Though now I wonder if the rebels are to blame as well."
"They probably are. As with any war, no side is guilt free." Ren explained.
"The good guys in the great war were Vale and Vacuo but they did bad things. They weren't entirely good." Jaune recalled some lessons in Oobleck's class.
"But no civilians." Ruby looked down. "Who are they fighting for if everyone they're supposed to protect is dead now?" Ruby sniffled at the thought. "I guess they're fighting for each other now. And in memory of everyone that died."
Washington: "I know you. Your voice…"
"It's Blake!" Nora pointed at Blake.
Dr. Grey: "Is that so? Oh, well I performed surgery on you after they brought you here. Sorry if you find a few new scars. A shot from a Concussion Rifle isn't bad, but a severe injury to the back of the skull can be a little tricky. Especially when your head is already filled with pretty little wires and chips. I hope I didn't damage those neural implants."
Yang chuckled, "I just realized. Your character serves under Torchwick."
"Your character is Jensen." Blake countered.
"Yeah I'm in no position to talk huh?" Yang frowned.
Washington: "I-I'm sure they're fine. Thank you."
Dr. Grey: "You can thank me by ending this war as soon as possible! Bullet wounds and prosthetic limbs have become so booooring. So, come by my office tomorrow morning for a check up. Once you're cleared, you three will be shipping off."
Sarge: "Shipping off?"
Donut: "Where are we going?"
Dr. Grey: "I don't give people orders boys, I just fix them when they break! Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be back. Tomorrow morning. My office. 0800. (leaves)"
"She's like a mad doctor." Nora grinned, "I want her to be my doctor."
"I don't want to lose any limbs." Yang grimaced.
"Me neither." Jaune rubbed his arm.
—White Fang SS— Not Canon
Adam snarled, this woman is a mockery of Blake. But hearing that traitor talk so happily is like salt to a wound. Is she that cheerful now? Now that she's left me? And abandoned our cause? Adam clenched his fists and glared directly at the screen.
Ilia looked on the verge of tears, hearing Blake's voice again. But the malice radiating off Adam made her too afraid to show any emotion. I miss her so much.. how could she choose him over me? How could she leave both him and me? Did she just not care?
Sienna had no care at all for hearing Blake's voice. Her anger was directed towards the show for other reasons. "A spineless coward leads an oppressive regime. Not very original."
Adam growled, the true cowards are the flaccid Faunus who bow and kneel before their subjugators with smiles on their faces. And that is who Blake has turned into. Cattle.
Ilia sat up straight, turning red. Forgetting all about Blake in an instant. "Calling acts of freedom acts of terrorism. Where does he get off to that? What does he know? He even said it himself, he doesn't know what he's doing."
"He was right." Adam grinned maniacally. "Acts of freedom and terrorism are the same. To be free from our chains our captors have to fear us. And they do, or they will learn to."
Sienna frowned, In his hate he always loses sight of our true goal. Spiteful and nearly insane. "Only in certain cases Adam. We are not terrorists. That is a label given to us by Atlas. Don't accept it."
Adam scowled, "Of course Ma'am."
—Belladonna's SS— Not Canon
Ghira sighed, "I have missed her voice just as much as you alright! I admit it."
"Aww I knew you would." Kali smiled.
"You forced it out of me." Ghira mumbled, turning away.
Kali laughed, "You're just embarrassed to have feelings like always… it's nice isn't it?"
"No.. it's her voice but it's not her." Ghira met Kali's eyes. "I wish it were her real voice. She sounds happy but.. not like Blake."
"Even when Blake was here we hadn't heard her happy in a very long time." Kali shook her head. "I hope she remembers us one day."
Ghira softened "She will." He said with conviction. "She will come back, I know it."
"That's my line." Kali smiled back. "Don't worry tiger, we'll hear her real voice again."
"You're always right." Ghira exhaled in relief.
Sarge: "Mmm. Well, what do you fellas think?"
Donut: "I think she's... nice?"
"Yeah me too." Ruby grinned.
"If a little crazy." Weiss chuckled.
"I like crazy." Nora grinned.
"I've quickly warmed up to her." Blake added.
Sarge: "Not the doc, Donut, the army! The general! The whole dealio! Grif and Simmons are out there with the Blues! Alone, confused! Probably eating, and complaining, and back talking! God damn it Grif, just shut up already!"
Even Nora got angry. "Agh! Damn it Grif!"
"He's not wrong." Weiss chuckled.
Washington: "We do what we have to, and go along with it for now."
Cut to an exterior view of the compound.
Washington: "(voice only) I just hope the others aren't in too deep without us."
Fade to black.
"Oh they went deeper." Yang laughed. "That was a bombshell of an episode."
"What are they going to do now?" Ruby asked.
"They have to stop the war, then maybe they'll be able to leave." Jaune guessed.
"I'm worried they're going to pick sides." Blake commented.
—Salem's Crew SS— Not Canon
"Hm, both sides are right and wrong." Salem sighed. "As they always are. How boring."
"All wars in history have been the same." Watts commented.
Salem turned to Watts and raised an eyebrow.
"Ah of course.. you don't need me to say it." Watts cowed.
Tyrian cackled, Hazel grunted.
Salem hummed, "I've noticed that Felix and Locus are in the exact same position in both armies. Both have manipulated events and situated themselves in a position where they are needed. I wonder if they planned this, as a little game. After all, they do wish to see who is better. Their story is what interests me. Not this tired tale of rebellion."
—Cinder's Crew SS— Not Canon
Mercury laughed, "I can't hear enough of the general's voice."
Cinder herself even chuckled, "He sounded pathetic, though there isn't much difference with the original there."
Neo glared at the back of Cinder's head.
Cinder paid her no mind, "I think the writing of this episode was lazy. Both sides are exactly the same? It's cheap, and a boring way to comment on how no side in war is ever truly right." She scoffed.
"We don't care about that though." Emerald smiled.
Cinder nodded, "Right and wrong are arbitrary concepts. All that matters is our goal. And we will complete it with little cost on us. But our enemy will pay a very high price."
—Ozpin's Crew SS— Not Canon
Ozpin sighed, "I have seen this too many times."
Oobleck frowned, "Apologies sir, but what do you mean by that?"
Ozpin chuckled, "I meant to say, the world has seen this too many times. And I'm sad to say that we are seeing the beginnings of it again."
Oobleck nodded, "Ah yes I know what you mean."
"I simply cannot believe it! That general is weak, unfit to lead his men! He can't even control his rabid dog." Port shook his head. "The Feds and Rebels may not be entirely good nor bad. But the Rebels are certainly better than the Feds."
Goodwitch scoffed, "They became terrorists. Nothing is more childish. They blow things up and spread fear to get what they want. It's equivalent to a kid throwing a tantrum. Both are bad. The Feds did the exact same thing. They spread fear to get what they wanted."
Port and Oobleck both neglected commenting on the fact that Glynda spreads fear in her classroom to get what she wants.
"I agree with you wholeheartedly." Ozpin chuckled. "Though not as harshly. Both sides committed evils, but I doubt either side saw it that way. Their road was paved with good intentions as most are."
—Cowardly Lion SS— Not Canon
Even this coward of a general is braver than me. And he fainted! Leo sighed. I may be a fainter as well, but this general still fights for what he believes in. When did I put my life before the lives of my students? What do I even believe in anymore?
Locus and Doyle sound completely different. Locus and The chainsaw dude are both voiced by Gray and they sound alike. Doyle and Roman are both voiced by Gray and sound alike. That's why the main cast don't hear Locus and Doyle sounding alike. However those who know Roman better, recognize both voices.
Thanks to LordDeraxus, RayvenShade, Brian.H.H, Forsty Zuko, Omni warrior, The Knight of The V Table, Blaiseingfire, Sectooper, and many others who gave me suggestions I'll use next chapter.