*The Emerald Forest, Near the 'Ancient Temple of Relics'*
It was a confusing day for our Corporal Adrian Shephard. First, he had found himself waking up and accepting a deal from this 'G-Man' and to then be thrust into a world where 'huntsmen and huntresses' fought against creatures called 'Grimm', and this 'Dust' replacing basically every fossil fuel he had heard of. Adrian should've expected this, but instead he kept finding himself surprised by every new term of this strange world.
"So, Adrian," Ruby was the first to speak in their trek, "What's with all the stuff you're wearing? It looks pretty cool, if a little scary seeing it for the first time."
"Oh, all of this?" Adrian looked over himself, waving a hand over his being to show Ruby. "Standard military-grade equipment for the HECU, includes a gas mask with an in-built HUD that tracks things from ammo, health, vest energy and everything else. And my PCV, or Powered Combat Vest lets me take hits without major injury."
"Cool! So, it's like an Aura!" Ruby cooed with excitement, Aura? What does she mean by Aura? This place is really confusing the hell out of me. "Aura? Care to explain Ruby?" Adrian asked.
"What? EVERYONE has an Aura! It's the manifestation of one's soul. You should have one too, don't you?" Ruby questioned. Adrian now hearing this, wondered if he had his own aura too, but presuming this wasn't Earth, the chances were unlikely which bummed Adrian out a bit.
"No, my… parents… never really told me about Aura when I was growing up. I survived in this world with just my wits and training from my drill instructor, Dwight T. Barnes." He chuckled as he remembered him. Wonder where the bastard is now that I'm here, hopefully doing well. "I can still remember taking the piss out of me during training, but to be fair he did that to all the recruits too."
Weiss had stayed silent for most of their walk during her encounter with Adrian, secretly talking with her mind and on how stupid this 'Adrian Shephard' was for offending the future heiress of the SDC. But after hearing more of the HECU and Adrian's lack of knowledge on Aura, she spoke up intent on asking some more questions.
"So, Adrian," Weiss venomously said, "Is this 'HECU' part of the Atlesian military? Special Forces?"
"Oh oh! What was Dwight like?" Ruby questioned too, she was curious about the man who 'took the piss' out of Adrian.
"Firstly…" Adrian stopped his sentence, he hated lying to others, or was forced not to lie during boot camp, it was etched into his very being really, nothing he could shrug off very easily. "The bigger the lie, the harder the fall." Adrian silently muttered to himself, it was a quote he believed in very much, almost religiously.
"Well, yeah, the HECU is part of the Atlesian Military's special forces, along with Black Operations, the two usually work together to clear up threats and create 'cover-ups'." It was a half-truth, Adrian liked that. "And Ruby, Dwight was the meanest son of a bitch I've ever met," He saw Ruby cover her ears, Adrian swore to himself. Oh right, no profanity, dammit.
"Sorry. Anyway, I remember the bastard would wake everyone up at 6, me and my buddies would be tired as hell but he shouted our butts out of bed. 100 push-ups and 15 laps around the base. We were sweating like the Sun just hit us, but it was all to make us better soldiers, and he did just that. He and the other drill instructors had a saying, "I will have you eating battle, and shitting victory", I say I did that pretty well." Adrian answered.
Ruby, although she heard the profanity, smirked at the description of Dwight T. Barnes, imagining an angry man saying the exact same line Adrian has just introduced to her. Weiss just uttered out offences and shook her head. So that's where he got his lousy attitude from. What a jerk!
And so, Adrian, Ruby and Weiss walked for some time, either taking in the view of the Emerald Forest or talking with one another, although Weiss refused to talk to Adrian at all. Occasionally, they would encounter a group of Grimm which Adrian suggest they sneak past to save ammunition. Soon enough, Adrian and the two then came to realise that they had been walking for some time, maybe even for too long.
"Hey uh, you two know where we're going right?" Adrian asked the two. Ruby just look defeated at this point and sadly shook her head. Weiss however rolled her eyes at Ruby's stupidity and the two soon started to argue against one another. Hearing Weiss' points about Ruby, Adrian groaned in annoyance as he pulled the two apart before they said anything else.
"Okay look! We're not getting out of this shit-infested hole alive unless we work TOGETHER. We keep bickering and we'll be skeletons buried in the earth at this point. These Grimm feed on negativity," Adrian mentally thanked Ruby for mentioning this, "So let's stop comparing breast sizes and get our heads in the game alright?" Adrian calmly stated.
Ruby was taken aback by his comment, but she agreed with Adrian, nodding in approval. They had to stay focused and keep moving or get cut down piece by piece from Grimm claws and talons. Weiss however, just moaned, rubbing her temples as she nearly stormed off without them had it not been for Adrian holding onto her shoulder.
"Let go of me you dunce!" Weiss demanded.
"No, I will not, you're staying with us. That's an order." Adrian commanded.
"OH RIGHT, AND SINCE WHO MADE YOU-
"Please Weiss," Adrian was begging at this point, "We need to stick together. You may be a brat but I've let too many people die because I was too late or made a simple mistake. So just stick with us, please."
Weiss just stared at the man, she could clearly see the pain in his voice when he said that. She saw Adrian look down in defeat and Ruby watching in the background. "Adrian's right Weiss, we need to stick together, we're partners and Adrian doesn't even have one. We all need one another whether we like it or not." Ruby sorrowfully said.
Weiss looked at Adrian, who had now let go of her shoulder and was staring blankly at nothingness, then she looked at Ruby, who had a mix of determination and sadness on her face.
Weiss only sighed, before stating, "Alright fine, since you both asked so politely, I'll stay." She saw Adrian sigh in relief as he stood himself up, ready for anything. Ruby took out her sniper rifle and smiled, she was adamant for sure to do whatever it took to complete their initiation.
Adrian let other people die before? Weiss thought to herself. What exactly are you hiding, Shephard…
"Alright team! First order of this great journey, we should get above and scout out the area!" Ruby cheered, Adrian and Weiss both nodded in agreement. "And how will we do that exactly?" Weiss questioned in her usual 'entitled' tone.
All were on alert as a loud shriek came from above them. Readying their weapons, they looked up to see nothing, it was far away for sure but getting closer by the second. "We stay here any longer and we all get our asses kicked, let's double time it out of here." Adrian suggested. Turning to Ruby, he saw her rubbing her hands and chuckling manically, before she turned to the two, a smile fully plastered on her petite face.
"Actually, I have a WAY better idea." Ruby simply and deviously uttered.
*A minute later…*
Adrian stared in awe as he saw Ruby and Weiss cling for dear life onto a Nevermore, with Ruby shouting at the top of her lungs on how awesome it was and Weiss complaining on how stupid the idea she had was. He recounted on their plan and its execution. It was weird, in all honesty.
[Flashback, a minute prior]
"So let me get this straight, you want me and Weiss to hang onto a giant bird while you try and scout ahead for the temple while also flying said bird too?!"
Ruby's plan was just absurd, shouldn't even be humanly possible, but she thought it was. The plan was for her use her sniper rifle's recoil to reach the bird and Weiss to use her glyphs to get to it too. Sadly, she did not consider Adrian into the plan and they soon found themselves in a dilemma.
"Let me change that plan," Adrian voiced his idea, "I don't have anything to reach that Nevermore, and plus, I don't want to die too. You two go and I'll catch up with you later, it's a lot better than the original plan."
"Well, I can use my glyphs to propel you to the Nevermore, no matter how infinitely stupid this plan is." Weiss simply cemented. She heard an audible "Hey!" from Ruby and Adrian soon spoke up. "You need the energy, and the Aura, to fight the damn thing too. I can handle myself, trust me Weiss."
Adrian soon heard a terrible caw in the distance, the Nevermore was getting nearer, and the had to do this, even if Adrian had no idea how. "Now you two better go. Just remember, you both need each other, don't doubt each other either, alright?"
"Yeah~! White Rose power~!" Ruby sung.
"Humph! Of course, I will!" Weiss added, offended by Adrian's lack of confidence in her.
The call of the Nevermore was getting ever so closer, and the two couldn't let their opportunity leave them. Adrian was gawking as Ruby switched her rifle into its scythe mode while Weiss summoned a glyph beneath her, visibly surprising Adrian as well. Girls with over-sized scythes and magic at their fingertips. What kind of world did the G-Man send me too?! Before he could even say a word about it, the Nevermore suddenly appeared above them, and Adrian was bewildered as ever by this sight too.
To summarise, the Nevermore was a giant crow that had the same jet-black colour scheme as all the Grimm, but this one had bone covering its face, its defence exchanged for feathers that could tear a man apart, as Ruby had put it. The Nevermore paid no mind to them, flying over the trees looking for more suitable prey to kill.
"OKGOTTAGOIT'SBEENCOOLPLEASEDON'TDIEBYE!" Ruby quickly exclaimed as she pulled on the trigger of her sniper scythe, propelling her straight towards the giant flying Grimm.
"It's been a pleasure, Adrian, and… try not to die too." Weiss weakly asked, using her glyph to throw herself to where Ruby was heading. Adrian smiled, pleasantly surprised. Those kids are going to be a treat to know, good luck to the both of you.
[End Flashback]
Adrian watched the Nevermore fly out of his sight, and he was alone once again. But the experience of adventuring Ruby and Weiss had given certainly warmed Adrian's heart. Ruby was an innocent girl, naïve yet steadfast. Weiss was a brat and an inconsiderate girl but he saw the skill she had. She's hiding something, I bet on it.
Adrian snapped back to reality as he heard another shot ring in the distance and realising he was on his lonesome once again. The Grimm would tear him limb from limb if he stayed, so he elected himself to run elsewhere, or more precisely, north-east of where the two girls had ridden off to, and where the gunshot was heard.
"Better keep moving." Adrian gripped the grip of his Displacer Cannon tightly as he ran off to the direction he heard the shot. Dodging the branches and logs, and firing his Displacer Cannon at any unfortunate Grimm that decided to chase after him, all of them collapsing before disappearing.
Adrian soon saw a red-haired girl in some sort of Greek or Roman armour, a shield on her left wrist and a spear in her right hand. The person next to her also wore some sort of armour too and had blonde hair, but he had a sword instead and seemed to be wearing normal clothes under the armour.
Adrian didn't want another encounter where he was near the brink of death, so he calmly walked away to make some distance before bringing some attention to himself. Luckily for him, the redhead warrior spun around hearing Adrian's footsteps. She sighed, uttering something about him not being a Grimm, before introducing herself.
"Hello," greeted the girl, "I'm Pyrrha Nikos, and you are?" Adrian was happy this encounter wasn't so violent. Relaxing, he took a step forwards before lazily saluting. "Adrian Shephard, nice to meet you Pyrrha." Adrian decided not to reveal his Corporal status or his affiliation with the HECU, it was easier and stopped answers coming his way "Who's the kid next to you?"
Before Pyrrha could say, the blonde suddenly shifted in front of her, but accidentally fell off his feet due to how quickly he had done it. Lying on the ground, he smiled in an attempt to make a good impression. "Uh, Jaune, Jaune Arc. Ladies like the name, rolls of the tongue real nice." he finally said.
Adrian chuckled at the comment, holding out a hand to help Jaune up. "Yeah, sure they do kid." Jaune took the hand as Adrian helped him up, patting him on the back. "Don't worry, you already look like a good guy, no need for impressions."
"Huh? How'd you know?" Jaune questioned, surprised at his intuition.
"Soldier senses," Adrian simply replied, "Helps me not get a bullet through the brain or a grenade to the face. Now, you two looking for the relics too I'm guessing?"
"Of course." Pyrrha softly smiled at Adrian's brotherly emotions.
"What she said," Adrian could see Pyrrha's smile turn into a frown as she turned towards a cave that was in front of the three. "We think the relics are in the cave, want to come with us?"
Adrian just nodded, although he was disappointed, internally swearing. Shit, if this is really where the relics are, Ruby and Weiss are heading the wrong way, I'll pick up a relic as a 'thank you' present later.
It was enough for Jaune as she motioned Pyrrha to move into said cave. They could all see etched carvings of men fighting with some scorpion, the carvings getting more and more intense and cramped with more events as they went inside. Soon the natural light couldn't do anything to light their way, and so Jaune had grabbed a thick stick and some flint-stone, with Adrian offering to tear off his shirt as some rags which Jaune accepted with a "Thanks." squeaking from his mouth.
The trio had a torch burning bright as they continued further into the caves. Soon the carvings completely dissipated and Adrian was feeling unsure of this whole plan. He could see Pyrrha felt the same too, as she gripped her spear tightly and constantly was looking everywhere for any dangers. "Hey Jaune, you sure this is the relics are? Seems like a normal cave to me." He begrudgingly stopped to take in his surroundings before continuing to walk.
"I'm pretty sure," Jaune confidently squeaked, "Just some more walking and we'll be out of here."
"I'm not sure this is it." Pyrrha blankly said, afraid of how claustrophobic it was getting.
"Pyrrha, I made the torch. Could you at least humour me for, like, five more feet?" Jaune sighed at Pyrrha's comment.
"Good work Jaune, if we all die crying I'll thank my friends, my drill instructor and most especially, you, once we get to Heaven." Adrian sarcastically added. Pyrrha just laughed, although not too wildly while Jaune just gave him a thumb up.
Before they could trek farther, Jaune suddenly found himself tripping as he let go of the torch he was holding, it going into a puddle as it gasped its last breaths before going out. Jaune grumbled as he got to his feet and Pyrrha was now very worried for their safety, even if Adrian and Jaune couldn't see it.
"Luckily, I'm here with you lot," Adrian wooed and cheered softly as he turned on his night vision, and thus the directions became clear once again. "I got night vision, so you two just stay behind me, I'll stay up front, got it?" The two nodded as he switched out his Displacer Cannon for his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, aiming to where they intended to walk.
"Do you… feel that?" Pyrrha, scared, requested for their answers.
"Soul-crushing regret?" Jaune answered.
"Shit, I feel it too, I'm guessing what you're about to say is going to be real dark." Adrian murmured.
"It is," Pyrrha cried out. "It's… warm."
*Ruby PoV*
The moment was sooooo exhilarating! Flying on this giant Grimm like all heroes would do is such an amazing feeling! The air! The danger! The excitement! Oh, if Yang was here she would be screaming with me too, and be worried for me as well, she's my sis after all!
"DO YOU SEE ANYTHING?!" I heard Weiss shout at the top of her lungs.
"I GOT NOTHING!" I simply yelled, "WE SHOULD KEEP LOOKING!"
"OH OUM THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLY UNSAFE! I WISH I WAS ADRIAN RIGHT NOW!" Weiss cried out, with a tear running down her cheek. I knew that Adrian was safe on the ground so unprotected while Weiss was in the air tearing up for dear life. Oh, she's such a cry-baby!
"OH, I WISH ADRIAN IS SAFE TOO!" I screeched. Hmm, I wonder what Adrian's doing? Probably being so cool and being all soldier-like and screaming "I'll make you dirty Grimm eat battle and poop victory! Haha!"
Then I noticed, THE BIRD'S GETTING FASTER, YEEEEEEEEAH!
Weiss could only scream, "OH OUUUUUUUUUUUUM!"
*The Emerald Forest, Unknown Cave System*
LOST IN THOUGHT
- CHRIS JENSEN, HALF-LIFE: OPPOSING FORCE OST
"Move slowly, with me, and don't go forward unless I tell you to."
The two blind teens stayed behind Adrian as he walked further into the cave, although they we're creeping up to whatever would greet them at the other side, and not much progress nor distance was being made. What only seemed to be a minute felt like an eternity of a walk as they continued forwards onto whatever presented itself soon enough.
"I'm scared, it's really dark." Jaune seeped out.
"Don't worry Jaune, I'll protect you, and Adrian will be our eyes. We'll be safe." Pyrrha assured Jaune.
"She's right, just hold onto my shirt and you'll be fine. We'll keep each other's asses safe, I promise." Adrian turned his head slightly to see Pyrrha lift her hand towards Jaune's as she held it tight. They both blushed in a scarlet fashion as soon as they felt it.
Ah man, teens.
They tip-toed onwards as Adrian could see some light in the distance, shining gold like the Sun as it dangled right in front of them, easing them to come forward. He carefully advanced, before stopping.
"H-hey! It's the relic!" Jaune ran forwards intent on grabbing it and legging it out of here but Adrian sliced his hand where Jaune was going to run to, with the blonde colliding and stumbling back.
"I need a clear visual first. Stay here, I'll scout ahead." Adrian readied his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon as he stepped forwards. As he got closer and closer, he could see that the "relic" was attached to something, his eyes soon widening as he realised what he was facing up against.
It was a scorpion, a massive, mother-fuckin' scorpion.
The "relic" was in fact, its stinger acting as a lure for unfortunate souls. Stepping back quietly, Adrian breathing was slow and steady, his feet barely making much sound as he walked back towards Jaune and Pyrrha.
"We need to get the hell out of here, now." The two tilted their heads in confusion, "Look, this isn't where the relics are, unless you consider a giant-ass, man-eating and bone-crushing scorpion a relic of worth." He explained to the duo.
"Oh crap," Jaune shivered, "Yeah, we really need to leave, like now."
"The carvings were trying to warn us…" Pyrrha mentioned, "Let's just go."
Before anyone could even move an inch, they heard shuffling coming from the direction where the scorpion laid. Peering back, Adrian could see the beady eyes of the insect open as it lifted itself off the ground, snapping its pincers to get them ready for the three idiots who had just stumbled into its lair.
Its ruse had failed, and now it was time for Plan B of killing these humans.
[END MUSIC]
WE'VE GOT HOSTILES
- JOEL NIELSON (REMIX BY MORCH KOVALSKI), BLACK MESA OST
"Uh guys! What's going on!?" Jaune was 'pissing his pants' scared now, Adrian placed his hands on both the teens' shoulders.
"Run, and get the hell out of here, I got a plan." The two nodded and ran off the opposite direction. Adrian turned off the safety to his weapon and aimed. "Come and get me, you ugly shit." The giant scorpion shrieked, almost like laughter as it made its advance towards the corporal.
Firing his weapon, the bullets dissipated as they made contact with the insect, making nothing more than simple scratch marks from the shrapnel of said bullets. Swearing, Adrian ran away, running backwards as he continued firing at the creature with no killing effect. Swearing again, he finally turned, legging it as the scorpion kept on its onslaught.
Luckily for our Shephard, he was much faster than this beast, and soon enough he was making distance. The scorpion was about a few feet behind when Adrian burst from the entrance of the cave, with Pyrrha and Jaune awaiting his arrival.
"Adrian, what's going on?!" Pyrrha was paid no mind at all as Adrian walked to the entrance. Taking out his remaining satchel charges, he threw them to the sides of the cave before walking back with the trigger in his hand, eyes gleaming through his mask with a soldier's look.
"Adrian! Please what is going on?!" Pyrrha requested again. Adrian snapped back from his soldiering world, staring at Pyrrha before calming his eyes. "Just stay behind me, and watch my back."
Pyrrha rapidly switched her spear into some sort of rifle, while Jaune raised his shield and sword. Watching the monster get nearer, he simply waited for the right time to do what he needed to do. Smirking under his mask, his thumb was itching to press the trigger and as the thing got close to the entrance, he knew now was the right time.
"Sayonara."
Adrian squeezed the trigger, activating the four charges with them exploding in an orange blaze, Adrian stared, contempt with his actions while the two teens turned back in awe as the smoke soon rose to reveal Adrian had caved in the entrance. The shrill screams of the scorpion could be heard as it probably was surprised by such events.
[END MUSIC]
"Now that we have that sorted, we sho-
A sudden rumble caught the trio's attention and they soon saw some of the rocks shaking and falling to the ground. Dammit, damn it all god damn it. Adrian turned to Pyrrha and Jaune, nodding their heads to hear what he had to say.
"The rocks won't hold it back for long," Adrian stated, "Jaune, you go north-east from here, and go look for help. Since me and Pyrrha have the ranged advantage against it, we'll stay back and try to ward it off if we can. If we can't, we'll lead it back to you. Hopefully you'd have found some help by then."
The orders were simply, but effective. Jaune uttered a "Good luck Adrian, you too Pyrrha, stay safe." As he ran off for help, Adrian noticed the girl was smiling, despite what was going to happen to the both.
"You got the hots for Jaune? Or something else?" Adrian asked.
"Oh!" Pyrrha jumped from his comment, blushing red. "Oh it's not that, rather, it's good to hear from someone who cares for just who I am as a person instead of my achievements." Pyrrha blurted out, still flustered.
"Oh?" Adrian curiously titled his head. "What do you mean by that, you seem like any normal girl to me."
"You don't know?" Pyrrha inquired. Both turned to see the rocks getting more and more loose, the bug's bright red eyes staring into their beings through a nook as it resumed taking down the makeshift barrier.
Pyrrha sighed. "Now's not the time, we need to keep it away." Pyrrha raised her rifle while Adrian aimed his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon at the entrance.
"You ready for this, Spartan?" Adrian joked.
"Maybe?" Pyrrha shrugged, smiling sheepishly.
The rocks soon collapsed as a pincer thrust itself through the entrance, Adrian could now see that the scorpion was in fact another Grimm, with the usual bony coverings around it. Crawling out from its cave, the scorpion Grimm clapped its pincers and scuttled towards them, attempting to intimidate the both. Adrian and Pyrrha weren't so let down by it what-so-ever.
"Death Stalker…" Pyrrha whispered.
"Oh great," Adrian moaned, "Here we go again…"
*The Emerald Forest, 'Ancient Temple of Relics'*
"Blake, did you hear anything? The explosions, gunfire, nothing at all?" Yang turned to her partner for an answer, but received none, as she was still paying attention up above. Yang paid no mind to this, "What should we do?"
Before both could answer, Yang swore she heard a faint scream that sounded exactly like her little sister Ruby Rose. Dismissing it at first, she turned her head to where Blake was staring to find her sister, falling like a torpedo, was heading straight towards them, and she was going to crash like a downed aeroplane.
"HEADS UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!" Ruby warned the two as she continued to fall, presumably to a sick and grisly death. Before she could even land, Yang ran towards where she was going to land, holding out her hands and successfully catching Ruby before anything bad could happen. Yang just looked at her little sister, disappointed. Blake just watched and Ruby started to snicker nervously.
"Hehe, hi… Yang." Ruby hid under her hood, but Yang simply smiled before ungraciously letting her fall onto the ground with a loud thump.
"That was an awesome entrance sis! Sooooo, how'd you do it?" Yang questioned Ruby.
"Yang, did your sister just fall from the sky with no context at all?" Blake interrupted. Yang turned to say something but was stopped again when crashes were heard coming from the forest. Watching to see what would happen, with Ruby getting herself up before joining, an Ursa suddenly jumped out from the brush, swiping its claws in a mad fashion just as a pink blast of energy radiated from its back, sending it to the ground dead as the one behind it revealed themselves, or, herself.
"YEEEEEE-HAAAAW!" The hyperactive one hooted as she rolled off the beast, before realising the Ursa was now gone. Saddened, she got up from the ground. "Awwwww… It's broken." Yang, Blake and Ruby were just bewildered, and worried too.
Another person revealed themselves, a male in green, seemingly Imperial clothing and black hair, with some pink on some of the strands on the right. "Nora! Please… don't ever do that again." He breathed hoarsely to catch his breath as he suddenly realised Nora was gone from her position. Suddenly terrified for her safety, he looked around frantically, calming himself a bit when he found Nora at the supposed 'temple' picking up a golden rook piece.
"I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!" She chanted.
"Nora!" Ren called her back. "Coming, Ren!" Nora sang as she skipped back to her best friend.
"Did that girl just ride on an Ursa?" Blake commented.
"That was so cool, I wanna try doing that!" Ruby exclaimed.
"I…" Yang struggled to get an answer out of herself.
Then, to add to such randomness, Jaune came running from the forest, panting as he collapsed, feebly getting as much air into his lungs as he could before getting up. He could see Ruby, who he had met during his arrival at Beacon, and some other people he didn't know of. He rushed to Ruby since she was the only one he got to know.
"Ruby! I-I need help, my partner's fighting some giant scorpion and she's with some guy called Adrian Shephard!" He pleaded to her.
"Wait! You know Adrian?! T-then how can I help?" Ruby was stopped as Yang suddenly stepped into her way, arms crossed.
"Ruby," Yang said, "Who's this Adrian guy? And…" She stopped, before smirking, "How old is he, exactly~?"
"YAAAAAANG!" Ruby groaned, "Now's not the time! We need to go and-"
Before Ruby could finish that sentence, Pyrrha came running from the trees, towards Jaune as she skidded to a stop. "Jaune!" She sighed, and looked around, seeing he had found some help.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune was glad she was still here. "Where's Adrian!?"
All the teens turned to hear the sounds of trees being uprooted as the Death Stalker came crashing out, lasing about and letting its limbs flail about as it struggled with something most of them didn't know was happening.
But Pyrrha knew.
The giant thing was trying to get some man in military apparel off its back, not using its stinger in an attempt to not hurt itself.
"HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-"
*The Emerald Forest, The Cliffs*
IIIIIIIIIIIT!" Ozpin heard Adrian aloud as he saw him clinging for dear life on the back of a Death Stalker. He simply chuckled at the sight, sipping from his mug as he silently kept watching. What a peculiar man, such bravery too…
Glynda watched as well, surprised by his actions. Seeing Adrian crawl his way to the head of the Death Stalker. By Oum, this man… he is something alright…
*The Emerald Forest, 'Ancient Temple of Relics'*
"ADRIAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Ruby cried out, she reached for her scythe-rifle to help him in any way.
"NO! STAY BACK ALL OF YOU! I GOT THIS!" Adrian confidently gave a thumbs up as she crawled within arm's reach of the scorpion's eyes. Pulling the knife from his holster, he aimed for the left eye. "Say cheese, Hanzo." Adrian grunted as he shoved the knife into its eye.
The Death Stalker shrieked in pain as it used everything it had to shake him off. Adrian ignored this and pulled out a grenade, shoving it into its now non-functioning eye as he let go, falling to the ground as the grenade finally blew up, baking off the Death Stalker's head as it fell, dead. Adrian groaned, he felt like all his bones had broken bailing out, but him standing else told him otherwise. Wooing, we turned to the teens, "And that, is how you kick ass, like Barnes told me." He spoke.
"Adrian…" Ruby walked up to Adrian dumfounded, he expected Ruby to hug him or scream about how brash he was, he closed his eyes in anticipation and leaned back. But the true result was unexpected, but not impossible.
"That. Was. So…" Dangerous? Stupid? Insane? Adrian thought, bracing himself.
"AWESOMELIKEYOUJUMPEDONTHEGRIMMANDYOUHURTIT'SEYESANDTHENBLEWUPITSHEADLIKEBOOOOOOOMOHMYGOSHYOU'RESOAWESOMEADRIAN!" Ruby babbled out like a baby with a sparkle in her eyes. Adrian was at this point dead-confused.
AWESOME?! SINCE WHEN DID DANGEROUS ACTIVITY CONSTITUTE TO AWESOME?! Adrian rubbed his head a little. "Uh, thanks Ruby, I appreciate it."
"Ruby!" A yellow-haired girl paced towards the hyperactive teen and smacked her head lightly, "Hehe, sorry about my sister. Name's Yang." She held out a hand for Adrian to shake.
"You're her sister?" Adrian was a little surprised. "You two look barely alike."
"We get that sometimes, but it's same father, different mothers…" She looked a bit down saying it, Adrian noticed, but she kept speaking, "Soooo, how old are you Shephard~?"
"Old enough to the point where it'd be illegal to date you." Adrian went sour instantly knowing that Yang had just hit on her despite the age gap. Yang raised her hands. "Alright then." Adrian raised his brows before noticing something was missing…
"Ruby, where the hell is Weiss?"
A feminine scream was heard and all looked up to see Weiss hanging onto the talon of a Nevermore, which both she and Ruby had flown on. She was struggling to hold her grip and was slowly slipping. Adrian just face-palmed and turned to Ruby, who was trying to act all innocent-like.
"Seriously Ruby, if she dies it's on you. Just saying." Adrian noted.
"Don't worry, I think Ice Queen will be just fine!" Yang shrugged off the fact.
"HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME?!" Weiss was startled as she began to slip more and more.
"I said 'jump' y'know!" Ruby shouted to her.
"I think she's gonna fall, really soon." Blake added.
"Oh, if she falls! I call dibs on catching her!" Nora excitedly ordered, although no one really cared.
Pyrrha analysed the situation, and thought of a simple suggestion "If she can use her weapon to get somewhere with a better grip, maybe she cou-"
Then Weiss let go, and then Weiss was falling to her demise.
"Hold on… to… something." Pyrrha finished.
"And now she's falling." Ren looked on as Weiss continued to fall, with her screaming with all her breath.
"Shit! Who's going to catch her?!" Adrian ran forward to hopefully catch Weiss before she became a puddle of broken bones and blood. But he stopped in his tracks as he saw Jaune on a branch, watching Weiss plummet to the ground with a smile on his face.
"Jaune you crazy bastard, what do you think you're doing! Get back here!" Adrian commanded.
"No can do!" Jaune laughed heartily, "I've got a girl to save!"
Adrian watched in awe as Jaune bravely leaped from the branch, managing to catch Weiss before she hit the ground. Adrian just clapped in applause while the others cheered. Ren was calm as ever and Pyrrha smiled at Jaune's new-found bravery.
"Just… dropping in?" Jaune confidently smiled but Weiss said nothing as she was too stunned. Had Jaune been a bit too welcoming? The quote wasn't her taste? Maybe she was just shocked to be in the arms of such a man like-
Then they all realised the two were still in the air, applause turned to horror in an instant.
"Oh, God." Jaune hung onto Weiss, and she did the same as they both fell, their weapons falling with them from a distance. Adrian watched on, the fall wasn't too high, they'd survive.
"Oh nooooooooooo- Oomph!" Jaune landed face-first onto the ground, the air taken out of him as he laid there. Adrian went to help him but Jaune was getting himself up again to only be forced back down by Weiss, who had used him as a landing pad of sorts.
"My hero." Weiss mockingly called out as she stood up, sweeping the dirt from her skirt.
"My back." Jaune at this point didn't get up, too beat to do anything.
"My boy." Adrian crouched to lend Jaune a hand, of which he did and received a pat on the back and a nod from Adrian.
"Umm, not to break this reunion, but I think we should be getting out of here." Ren pointed above and the lot all saw Nevermores of various sizes circle their position. "Crap, I agree with Mulan here."
"It's Ren." He said.
"My apologies, Ren." Adrian kept staring at he started to pick out his targets.
"Oh great! Now we can aaaaaall die together as a gang of misplaced students!" Yang joked grimly.
"Not a chance," Adrian butted in, "We're getting out of here, together. The ones with the ranged advantages, rockets, rifles and the such, stick with me and pick off the smaller ones. The others watch our backs and lead the way out of here. We'll be right behind you." Adrian suggested.
"A good plan." Ren smiled.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Nora cheered.
"Agreed." Weiss stated.
"I think it'll work." Blake added.
"Hell yeah! Let's go punch ourselves some Grimm! Yang style!" Yang smashed her fists together.
"No punching Yang." Adrian ordered, she pouted at the fact but was gleeful none-the-less.
"And we'll be right behind you." Pyrrha reminded them.
"Good job Adrian." Ruby smiled, proud.
"I mean hey," Adrian started as he reloaded his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, "I've led teams before, I can handle it." He nodded. "Alright ladies! Into formation! Double time! And don't break from the group!"
Taking the relics beforehand, they sped off before any Grimm could land an opportunity. While Jaune, Ren, Nora, Weiss and Blake held the front, Adrian, Ruby, Pyrrha and Yang held the Nevermores back.
Yang used her rockets, blasting them from her gauntlets as they flew towards the flock. Ruby and Pyrrha took pot shots at their heads, downing them one by one while Adrian sprayed wildly as the bullets ripped through flesh and bone. The ones at the front easily dealt with the odd Grimm attracted to such action.
The gang soon were out of the forest, now facing a series of more abandoned structures as the remainder of the Nevermores circled their position, firing their feathers when necessary. The four managed to take them all down, but there was still one giant Nevermore left. Adrian gritted his teeth, it looked bigger than the rest, and its actions certainly told him this was a creature who had been through many things. Almost like myself. Black Mesa was a mess, just… a fucking mess. Adrian thought.
Roars of various creatures could be heard as Adrian could see a lot of red eyes striking right at them, getting closer as they ran with killer intent. He internally swore while Jaune looked with him. "That's a lot of Grimm! Are you sure we can face them?!" Jaune stumbled back, afraid of what would come. "Beowolves, Ursa and some Creeps, I see 4 to 5 Alpha Beowolves too. We should be fine provided we have a plan!" Pyrrha said.
Adrian squinted his eyes, thinking of a plan. Then it all clicked in his mind and they were ready to go. "Jaune! Nora! Pyrrha and Ren! You stay with me and hold these Grimm off! Ruby! Weiss! Blake and Yang! Take out that Nevermore before it kills us all!" They all agreed. Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang raced off to confront the Nevermore while Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha and Ren alongside Adrian directly faced the horde of Grimm.
Bullets blazed the air and the sounds of battle rung through the forest as the Grimm fell one by one. Nora and Ren worked exceptionally well, considering they were best friends. Jaune's sword-fighting was atrocious, with Pyrrha often having to come save him, but he led the others well, even Adrian was impressed counting on the fact that Adrian led squads of HECU through Black Ops territories during the Black Mesa incident.
Ruby and Weiss were begrudgingly working together, but the combination of their skills gave them the advantage. Yang and Blake, not so much, and Blake usually confronted the Nevermore alone sometimes while Yang was a lot more troublesome than Adrian could ever dream to be.
But they managed to pull through in the end. Ruby with the help of the other three, pulled off an amazing feat as she ran up a cliff and decapitated the Nevermore's head. Adrian and the others had also pushed the Grimm back, some running as soon as they knew they were to be defeated. He had used the Displacer Cannon a few times, the teens amazed as they saw the Grimm collapse before disappearing.
"WOOHOO, YEAH VICTORY!" Yang hooted as she collapsed from all the fighting.
"Woooooo…" Jaune fell soon after, not being able to move.
All the others either collapsed or sat down, exhausted from their fight. Adrian was the only one standing, not even remotely tired as he turned from the teens, walking back into the forest. Ruby noticed this and crawled her way to him, latching onto his leg.
"Adrian, where are you going?!" Ruby questioned, she was worried that Adrian looked like he was heading back into the forest full of Grimm.
"My stuff…" Adrian panted, "I left my stuff back there. Ammo, weapons, everything. I can't leave it there!"
"Then perhaps, I can assist you in such matters." A new, unfamiliar voice called out to him. Adrian and the teens turned to see a really sleek V-22 Osprey, unlike the Ospreys back in America which were admittedly clunky, this one was smooth and elegant, way more advanced too. The Osprey landed onto the ground and the side doors open. The faces Adrian saw were alien to him, but the teens fully knew who was facing them.
A man came out, he had grey hair as well as spectacles adorning his face. He wore an unzipped black suit over a more casual dark-green buttoned vest and green shirt. The most noticeable thing about him was his cane. He didn't look old, yet he still had one. He also had a mug of which he took a gulp out of before smiling at Adrian, almost in a fatherly way.
The woman behind him acted more like he was an unneeded danger. She had light-blonde hear that was tied into a bun. Wearing a white, long-sleeved and pleated top and a pencil skirt complete with stockings. She held a riding crop in her hand, tightening her grip as she stared suspiciously at Adrian.
"I would like to congratulate you all for your efforts, I assure you it shall not be wasted. But," The man walked up to Adrian, with some spacing between them. "You on the other hand, are much more interesting to me, Corporal Adrian Shephard."
Adrian had to step back a little. How the hell does this guy know my name?! And my rank none-the-less?! He clenched his fists in anger, with the man seemingly noticing this.
"Don't worry Mr. Shephard, I'm not here to hurt you. I have cameras all over the Emerald Forest to keep track of the participants, you only happened to stumble upon some of them." He held out his hand, "I am Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy, it is and honour to have a man with such a skillset be here in my beloved school."
The woman stepped forward. "Professor Goodwitch. I'm one of the many staff at Beacon Academy, and the combat professor."
Adrian acknowledged Goodwitch while shaking Ozpin's hand, although wearily. "Might as well. Corporal Adrian Shephard of the HECU, or Hazardous Environment Combat Unit. Trained in the Santego Military Base, I'm a soldier through and through, sir."
"Santego? Hmm, I see." Ozpin finished the handshake and took a sip from his mug. "I've already taken the liberty of transporting your goods to Beacon, now all you have to do is come with us. I'm sure staying here doesn't sound too pleasant now." Adrian nodded, but before he walked he ushered the man to come closer.
"Did you perhaps… find a green thing? Two arms, green and greenish-grey, smells like rotten fruit and coos a lot? You take it too?" Adrian asked, he liked the Spore Cannon quite a bit.
"Rest your concerns, I have taken anything worth of value from the crates." Ozpin leaned back, "Now, let us get going, I'd like to have a chat with you."
Adrian nodded as he followed Ozpin and Glynda to the Osprey. Waving the kids goodbye as they made their way up the cliffs to head back too. Adrian got inside as it took off. The day had certainly been something, fighting beasts from nightmares and looking after kids with sophisticated weapons. But where ever he was heading next, his future lied beyond there.
And he wasn't going to let it go so easily.
SUBJECT: SHEPHARD
STATUS: ACTIVE
OBJECTIVE AWAITING COMPLETION
Woo, I must say first of all, I'm sorry for not uploading this chapter. Apparently someone had cut something outside causing the Internet to not only die on me, but everyone in the apartment too. Sad I must say really.
Anyway, time for some more redundant review... reviewing(?):
Roboman - Good to hear. Hope this looks appealing too. Also I did actually read your fanfiction, "RWBY: Continuing Science", I'm not usually a fan of AU fanfictions but your one just kinda, clicked with me. But thanks again for the comment.
Ghogenesis - I will be keeping it up, I assure you with that. And also nice to see another 'A. Shephard' fanfiction writer, I might take a look at your 'Interceptor Six: Remnant" soon enough.
As always, leave any criticism/critique on my work, it helps massively and I appreciate it too. And I'll see you later!
Next Chapter: A loooooooot of explainations...