Chapter 61

Jaye skidded to an uneven stop as Jaune picked the motionless girl up off the ground. Blood leaked slowly from the wound, staining the carpet beneath them a deep maroon. Through the haze in his mind, Jaye briefly rationalized that the wound must have been cauterized from the heat of the spear, explaining the lack of blood. Eyes closed, barely breathing, Weiss lay frighteningly still as Jaune tried in vain to shake her awake. Jaye was momentarily distracted by the headmaster rolling down the stairs in tangle of limbs and tail. The faunus crashed into Hazel with a grunt, bouncing off the much larger man.

'Ruby get up!' Oscar yelled, shaking the unconscious girl. Ruby groaned in response, and he shook her harder. 'Get up! We need you!'

Hazel shook his head at the group, seizing the lion faunus by the collar of his shirt and dragging him off his feet. He sneered down at the man, yet there was hardly any malice in his eyes. 'You're letting that boy make a fool of you.'

'That's not just a boy. That's Ozpin!' Lionheart gasped, scrabbling at the hulking man's hands still wrapped around his collar. 'He's already reincarnated!'

The massive man turned slowly to face the boy, still crouched protectively over Ruby as he tried to shake her awake. Hazel's eyes widened, his breathing gradually growing heavier as the anger started to crease his usually impassive face.

'OZPIN!' The anguished scream made all the occupants of the room jump, and Oscar glanced slowly up at the man as dread flooded his body. Hazel stalked heavily towards them, throwing Lionheart aside as his hands balled into fists. 'YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD HIDE FROM ME?!'

The group watched cautiously as the man began to tear off his jacket, yanking dust shards from the pockets of his pants. He raised the dust in his hands as he seethed at Oscar, and the boy got hesitantly to his feet.

'YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID! YOU'LL DIE OVER AND OVER AGAIN!' With a cry of anguish, he stabbed the dust shards into his arms, and Jaye stared dumbly as the dust lines curled across his forearms in a peculiar pattern. His eyes shooting open, for the first time that night filled with unmistakable rage, lightning surged through the enraged assailant as he released a blood-curdling scream. Qrow dived for the petrified boy, dragging him out of harm's way as Hazel charged for the kill. Jaye raised his swords, eyes darting between the fight and the girl gasping for air beside him. Cinder narrowed her eyes at the exchange.

'Ozpin is here?!' She muttered incredulously, and Raven stepped up to her side.

'Is that a problem?' She asked, and Cinder cast her eyes to the flor uncertainly.

'I'm not sure, but right now we've got the upper hand. Let's not waste it.' Cinder turned towards the lion faunus still gathering himself off the floor. 'Leo! Open the path to the vault!'

The old man darted to his feet, running towards the large marble goddess in the middle of the room. Removing an embossed pocket watch from his vest, he placed it into a cubby hole in the goddess's belt. The watch hands began to spin, slowly at first, then more rapidly as the statue began to lower itself into the floor. The chains rattled in response as it jerked to life, and the women approached it carefully. Jaye turned his attention from the group, finally making up his mind as he wrenched his eyes away from the scene before him and focused on the dying girl. Weiss breathed harshly, her face gaunt, the air barely wheezing its way into her lungs. He dropped to his knees in front of the girl.

'Ren, talk to me!' Jaune said, keeping his hands on the wound. Jaye laid a hand across her forehead, measuring her pulse at the neck quietly. He grimaced as the beating grew weaker with every pulse, and he turned her lips upwards.

'This is bad.' Ren said, fingers on her pulse point on her wrist. Jaune shook his head, the tears already spilling across his face.

'No no no not again!' He cried. 'Weiss come on, please!'

Jaye ignored the boys, pinching the nose of the heiress and pressing his lips to hers. He ventilated her quickly, turning his head for air as he continued the resuscitative breaths. He watched as her chest fell quicker and quicker each time as she continued to grow weaker, realizing with stark horror that she probably wasn't going to make it without intensive care. Unlike at Beacon, there was no one around to help them, and her chances were growing slimmer by the minute. Still he continued to ventilate the girl, hoping beyond hope that a miracle would occur.

'She's hardly breathing.' Ren said, his face screwed up in a mask of despair. 'I don't know what we can do.'

'I don't have any drugs on me.' Jaye swore, taking a moment from his ventilations to breath. Weiss remained limp on the floor, the strength very visibly leaving her body, and Jaye cradled her head gently in his hands. Jaune let out a shaky gasp.

'No, it wasn't supposed to be like this!' He cried, hands curling over the gaping wound in the girl's stomach. 'Please! We can't lose anyone else!'

The boys fell silent, still holding the dying girl in their hands, and Jaye flinched away as a beam of light pierced his eye. He glanced down at Jaune's hands, flooded with a white light as aura began to flow across Weiss's body. The boys watched incredulously as the glow spread, finally enveloping her from head to toe, and the girl's head very nearly shot off Jaye's hands as she sucked in a desperate breath.

Inside the elevator shaft

The three women stood uncomfortably in a line as the platform descended, the gently hum of the machinery the only thing breaking the silence. Vernal kept her eyes glued to the glowing floor, and Cinder smirked at the silent girl.

'Are you nervous girl?' She hummed, and Vernal narrowed her eyes at the woman. Cinder's smirk spread even wider across her scarred face. 'The first maiden in, why I'm not sure anyone knows how many years, is about to open a vault. I would say it's quite an exciting time.' She cooed childishly at the short haired woman, earning a distinct glare of irritation. 'Don't you feel honored?'

'No.' She replied evenly, keeping her voice steady in spite of the anger that reeled within her. 'I'm not concerned with any of this. All I care about is my tribe; my family.' She shook her head at the still smirking woman, turning away from her. 'This is a burden, not an honor.'

Cinder scoffed at the women. 'You've conditioned her quite well Raven.'

The conversation cut short as a ray of light passed over their faces, and their attention was drawn by the massive, glittering tree before them. Orange lights glowed brightly like fireflies against the dark green leaves, in spite of it being deep underground. The platform came to a gently stop, the metal gate before them sinking piece by piece into the ground to clear the way. Cinder raised an eyebrow at the sight, the smirk still not leaving her face.

'Hmm. It's certainly grander than Beacon's.' She remarked, and the other women ignored her as she pondered the decor. 'I wonder what the extra effort was for?'

'Can we please not linger?' Raven hissed through her teeth, and Cinder raised her hand in gesture towards the tree.

'After you.'

'Weiss!' Ruby staggered to her feet as Nora helped her up, running unsteadily over to the girl. She dropped to her knees as she approached. Her breathing still ragged, Jaye continued to ventilate the girl as she slowly stabilized. Her pulse was coming back stronger, and her chest was now rising on its own as she began to take deeper breaths. The sound of gunshots distracted the group, Yang currently engaged in combat with seemingly unseen enemies as Emerald seemed to be concentrating in front of her. Mercury was battering the girl with blows as she continued to fight the unseen, taking advantage of her apparent inability to see him to fight her uncontested. Ruby reached forwards towards the blond boy, raising his hands off Weiss stomach. The blood-stained hold in her dress looked almost out of place as the wound seemingly disappeared, and Jaye wondered hazily why on earth he never got that lucky. Ruby locked eyes with the blond.

'Whatever you're doing, don't stop!' She said, and Jaune nodded in response.

'I won't.' He promised, and Ruby smiled gently at the boy. She turned her attention back to the fight behind them.

'Oscar needs help.' She said, and Ren pushed himself to his feet, drawing his guns from his thighs.

'I'm on it.' He said, making way for Nora as she stepped over.

'Jaune and Weiss still need cover.' Ruby added, and the pink-clad girl raised her hammer in response.

'No one's gonna touch em.' She declared, and Jaye made it a point to nudge the still unconscious girl as she lay there. Nora shot him a glare, and he smirked back at the girl. Ruby smiled appreciatively at her close friends and constant allies.

'Okay.' She said, getting to her feet and extending Crescent Rose. 'Make it happen RNJR! And you too Jaye.'

'I refuse.' The boy replied, still cradling the girl's head in his hands. His eyes, however, were trained on the girl's face, watching her with an almost unreadable look as he continued to monitor her signs of life. 'Your request has been denied.'

With a battle cry, Ruby launched herself into the air, spinning into a sweeping slash as Emerald approached Yang. She forced the girl to back off, and with a start Yang seemed to finally notice the girl and her partner there as if the spell had been broken. Ruby spun Crescent Rose onto her shoulder, her eyes cold as she stared down their two assailants.

'Thank sis.' Yang got to her feet, shaking the dirt off her. 'You okay?'

'No.' Ruby's grip tightened on her scythe, and the pair across from them prepared for battle. Ruby narrowed her eyes at the two, spinning her scythe in response. 'I'm angry.'

'You guys doing okay?' Nora asked, still standing protectively over the three as she watched the fight continue. Jaye continued ventilating the girl as she remained unconscious. Jaune glanced down at the girl.

'I-I think so, she's coming to!' He heaved a sigh of relief. 'I just wish this would go faster.'

'How about you don't complain and just be thankful you unlocked your semblance when you did.' Nora said, rolling her eyes at the boy. Jaune looked up at her inquisitively.

'My semblance?'

'How else do you think you're healing her, dummy?' She smiled affectionately at her former leader, and Jaune turned his eyes back down to the girl beneath his hands. He shook his head.

'No, I don't think I'm healing her.' He said. 'Our Aura heals our bodies. It feels…it feels more like I'm using my aura to amplify hers!' He nearly burst out laughing as the relief finally seemed to wash over him. Nora's face turned to a look of worry.

'Wait, aren't you worried about running out?' She asked, and Jaune gave the girl a small smile.

'Pyrrha once told me I've got a lot of it. I still believe her.' He said, nearly jumping in joy as the girl's eyes fluttered open. She made a sluggish face of annoyance as she realized someone's lips were sealed over her own, and Jaye continued to ventilate her regardless. Her eyes drifted over to the blond boy.

'Jaune?' She slurred, mind clearly still hazy from the ordeal, and Jaye nearly cried out in relief. In a break of character, he picked the girl up from the ground, pulling her into a tight embrace as she made a face of confusion. She picked blearily at his black hair, frowning at his jacket. 'You're not Jaune. I could've sworn I saw him just now.'

'I'm so glad you're okay!' Jaye choked out, and Jaune looked away awkwardly as he realized the assassin was crying. Jaye squeezed the girl tighter in his arms, and Weiss made a sound halfway between a whine and a cough. 'Sorry.'

Ren hit the doorway with a resounding thud, dropping to the floor as he bounced off the thick wooden surface. The surface of the door splintered behind him, he tried in vain to drag himself to his feet as the still-furious man approached him. Merciless, Hazel let out a fierce growl as he unleashed a bolt of lightning at the still recovering boy, and Ren screamed in pain as the lighting spread through his body.

'Ren!' Nora yelled, nearly dashing forwards as the boy fell face-flat to the ground. Jaune glanced up at the writhing boy.

'Go! I've got her!' He shouted, and Jaye laid Weiss back down on the floor. He drew his blades, standing over the two of them protectively and relieving Nora of her post. She nodded her appreciation, dashing forwards to help the boy. Weiss groaned audibly as her consciousness finally began to agree with her.

'Jaune…what's happening?' She slurred again, more firmly this time, her eyelids fluttering as she struggled to stay awake. Jaune glanced down at the partially conscious girl.

'You took a heavy hit; you need to stay with me while the others fight.' He said, and the girl managed to roll her eyes in her half lucid state.

'That's…annoying.' She mumbled, and Jaune managed a weak chuckle as tears threatened to spill from his eyes once more.

'Good to have you back Weiss.'

The room shook like thunder as Nora swung her hammer, and Jaye raised an eyebrow as he watched Hazel sail over his head and through the wall.

'Well that's not something you see every day.' He whistled, spinning his swords in hand. He turned to the broken piece of the wall, peering through it as he tried to see what was happening on the other side. He watched with horror as Hazel continued to inject more dust into his body, and he swore aloud at the man.

'Now that's just not fair.' He shook his head, sheathing his wakizashi as he stepped back towards the girl. Now much more awake, Weiss swatted the boy's hand away as he reached for her pulse line. 'Well good to see you've got your strength back.'

'How are you feeling?' Jaune asked, raising an eyebrow at the girl as she sat up slowly. Quietly pondering the raven-haired boy's sudden talkative cheeriness, Weiss glanced across her body slowly, smiling devilishly at the glow that covered her body.

'Better.' She said, raising her hand. The white glyph sprung to life in her palm as her smile grew wider. 'Keep it up.'

'Great! Now that you two are all well and good, I'm gonna go kill some people. Cool?' Jaye said, keeping his face turned away from the two as he discreetly brushed away the tear tracks from his cheeks. He glanced over at Emerald and Mercury, who were still in battle with the two other girls from his team. 'There's a Cinder that needs to be extinguished, and I think I owe that dude over there a decapitation.'

Meanwhile outside

'HOW?!' Adam screamed his fury at the cat girl who landed before him. Blake got to her feet slowly, almost relishing the moment as the red-haired man raged in the police spotlight. 'HOW DID YOU DO THIS?!"

'With a little help.' She said, smiling over her shoulder at the masked man clad in orange. Tipping his fedora at the man, Kamina smiled his characteristic shit-eating grin as he prepared himself for battle. 'Adam…it's over.'

The bull faunus stared incredulously at the army of his people surrounding him, his eyes focusing back on the white-clad girl at the front of it. Blake glared him down with a passion, and Kamina stood at her side making faces at the furious man. His rage seemingly spent; a strange calm came over the man as he pulled the detonator off his belt.

'Then it's over for all of us.' He declared, pushing the button. His followers screamed in fear as he did so, but to his dismay nothing happened. Adam made a sound of confusion, hitting the button a few more times, and Kamina laughed out loud as the man stared, dumbfounded, at the now useless button in his hand. One of the masked members stared furiously at their leader.

'What are you doing?! Trying to get us all killed?!' He yelled, choking as Adam seized him by the collar. The rage came back to the bull faunus's face all at once as he dropped the detonator.

'I AM MAKING HUMANITY PAY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE!' He screamed, much more than half-crazed, shoving his underling backwards as Blake spoke up.

'We sent someone over to confirm your explosives.' She explained, looking up at the rooftop across from her. 'And once we did, she disarmed them.'

Stepping out from behind the tower wall, Ilia held up a handful of wires as she turned back to color, glaring down the crazed man as he heaved in the spotlight. Close by to her, Artemis and Apollo contented themselves throwing bits of the wires down at the raging bull below. Adam ground his teeth at the traitor, turning slowly to the massive man who had been watching the scene quietly.

'What do we do?' He asked. Hazel shook his head at the faunus, cracking his neck as he turned back towards the hold he'd flown out from.

'This is your business. Not mine.' He dusted off his sleeve, glancing back over his shoulder at the faunus leader. 'Fix it.'

Adam's face, or at least what they could see of it, contorted with rage once more, and Blake sighed at the small, pitiful man whose plans had fallen completely apart.

'I told you Adam. It's over.' Blake shook her head at the desperate man. Adam let out a scream of anguish, charging the woman as he drew his blade. He swung with all his might, cutting through her body as it vanished before his eyes. Through the thick fog of anger, his brain just barely registered the woman standing beside him, fists raised above his head, before they came crashing down onto him. He hit the floor with a groan, rolling to a stop some distance away. The other members of the White Fang glanced across each other, unsure of what to do next as Adam tried in vain to collect himself off the floor. He raised his head to the crowd in fury.

'KILL THEM!'

End of Chapter 61.