"So... all this time we've been speaking to a monster?" Ren didn't bother to hide his disgust for the creature that revealed its nature to them.

"Someone that transcended their humanity." the thing was quick to correct him.

"More like someone that sold their humanity for an idea."

"Jaune, you seem to think that humanity is something that should be kept under lock and key of the individual, never to be lost, when the reality is quite the opposite. Your humanity is the foundation for the next step to your greatness. Leaving it would be like leaving your nest after you've grown strong enough to fly."

Jaune's grip on his weapon tightened. The disgust he could feel oozing from Ren now infected him too.

"I was born human. That means I get to do human things. I had my fair share of embarassment, of hardships and struggles, but even that serves to define who I am. Thinking that in order to be the better version of you, you have to abandon your humanity, and your flaws, for something that's supposedly better? That's vanity."

His team's eyes looked at his back. They were surprised by his outburst of thoughts as much as he surprised himself. But he refused to care at the moment. His inner self began to cultivate an outrage at the former human's choice of discarding their own nature. He, who grew up in a society where people chose to put their own lives in danger for strangers they never met, couldn't fathom the ideas that were served to him by someone whose beliefs were the closest thing to a hostile, opposing force to his cultural upbringing. It made the Wanderer look like the peak of selfishness.

"Is it? I like your implied statements about the human condition, as if you are the best example of humanity at large."

"I may not be perfect, but then I wouldn't be me. I would be somebody else."

"I wonder whether something you can call "self" actually exists inside of you, that you feel like you can cling on to."

"Naturally. I have it. As does everyone here."

"Then why did you chose to be a Huntsman? Is it because you came to your own conclusion that it would be the best profession for you, or because you felt the need to 'right the wrongs', motivated by the line of heroic personas from which you were born? Because you felt you had a duty to fulfill towards your ancestors?"

The fact that this creature knew so much about Jaune, who didn't know anything about it in return, irked him. He didn't feel like he was part of a dialogue, but rather someone put on display in front of a crowd of thousands, while an inquisitor read all his supposed crimes out loud, just so everyone could shame and poit fingers at him.

"Why did your two friends over there chose the same profession? Did they consciously agree or was their choice the most obvious byproduct for a victim of circumstance?"

He frowned, looking at Ren and Nora. Their eyes and expressions betrayed their newfound fear of the monster, who had no mercy when it came to exposing his team's dirty underwear. Jaune suddenly realized how little he knew about his teammates, people with whom he was supposed to trust with his life, not to mention lead as a group. Ren locked eyes with him for a brief moment, before turning his head as if ashamed. That gesture alone hurt him more than a Grimm's claw ever could. Suddenly all his speeches about acting like a team sounded hypocritical to him.

"And lastly, could your red-haired comrade be an exception? Or the environment motivated her to pursue this careeras it suited best her natural talents?"

Jaune glanced at Pyrrha, seeing her downcast expression. Everyone knew who Pyrrha Nikos was. But did anyone know who Pyrrha was? Of course! He slapped himself mentally. Now it all made sense! Now he understood why whenever he talked to her he felt as if she didn't speak her mind entirely. Now he understood why she, the Champion, someone who was used to fame and recognition, was so quiet and reserved with people she didn't meet before. A quiet gasp escaped from his lips. She was a stranger! So were Ren and Nora! And it was all because of his stupidity and his inability to pick up on cues.

"That, right there, is the living proof of your incompetence. Your nature as a human observer led you astray. The "self" you think you have is based on false constructs that stroke your fragile ego, itself a requirement for a society that preaches individualism. How can there be 'unity through individualism' when you live unconsciously inside your own cosmic bubble? And what about your moral schizophrenia or the half-truths you like to cultivate? Be kind to others, but be first in every competition. Always tell the truth, except when its convenient to tell a lie. Everyone can succeed with a bit of effort, even if no amount of effort will beat natural talents. A Huntsman is a person that works for the common good of the society, yet they expect to be paid for every service they provide. And when you take all of this into consideration, please illuminate me, should someone like that have the knowledge of good and evil? Should someone like you deserve to have a free will?"

He kept his silence, showing his teeth like a dog on a leash. What was he supposed to say there? Doubt crept into his thoughts now that he got a bigger picture of his failure to meet his duties the way he saw them. Worse, it took a monster to point out his inadequacy. He fought back the tears that kept coming without control. Ren said something about not listening to it. He didn't have the courage to look at them.

"Geez. You sure do like hearing yourself blabbering."

JNPR looked up. A small patch of reality near a stained glass window flickered, morphing into cage made of solid light. Red Rivers stood proud behind the bars, hands folded and staring down at the Wanderer.

"This doesn't concern you."

"But it does, you absolute fucking prick. Consider this a payback." She turned to JNPR. "Heads up, morons! Stop standing there and listening to his bullshit! Fight him off so we can end this fiasco."

"How typical of you. When you have no retorts, no arguments to defend your position, you revert to violence to solve your problems."

"Like you're the one to talk!" She snapped. "You think I didn't hear your monologue? Fuck! I can't remember the last time a man made nearly piss myself from laughter."

The Wanderer didn't answer, but everyone could feel the tension rising.

"You sure do like acting sanctimonious for someone with a rather kooky history."

"Don't..."

"Listen up, kids! Let momma Rivers tell you a story! In a place, far, far away, there was this family of rich folk in this high-class society. So rich, in fact, that they could buy a city if they had the mind for it. Thing is, there were some spicy rumors going around. Rumors about their fortune. Which does make sense when you are one of those people that the Sixth Reich doesn't like..."

"An interesting argument from someone who knows nothing about my personal history."

"Y'see kids, this family prided itself on its members. Each of them was a respectable man or woman in a respectable field of respectable work. Yadda yadda yadda. What the public didn't know, however..." she gave the Wanderer a malicious smirk, "...is that the eldest progeny was a teeny bit fucked in the head. He was brilliant, you know? Had at least three doctorates and medicine was his passion. A passion that would prove way too devastating for the family-"

"SILENCE!"

The deafening command echoed throughout the place for an entire minute. JNPR watched, stunned, the Wanderer from whom they would never guess an eruption of rage could be voiced with such a deep, violent voice. Red Rivers gave her colleague a withering gaze.

"One more word out of you and I will report it to Master! I can't fight you, but I can teach you a lesson."

River's fist hit the bars of her cage. Her tone was as icy as the Wanderer's.

"Oi, you wanna know what happened to the last person that tried to threaten me?"

"I could not care less."

"Let me show you then."

She grabbed the bars as a dark red aura began evaporating from her body. The cage shattered into hundreds of shiny droplets.

"What are you doing, you degenerate mong-"

In the time it took for JNPR to blink, Red Rivers closed the distance between her and the Wanderer. Her leg hit the hands that covered the latter's face, breaking some of the fingers with the force of the impact. A second kick to his throat threw him on the ground, causing a shockwave that shattered nearby windows. Four rings of light appeared around Red Rivers, shrinking until they blocked all movement. As she fell, the Wanderer flew back up.

"You can expect disciplinary actions from our lords after this little stunt." He ignored her stream of curses. "As for you, children, I believe I said everything that needed to be said. Speaking more than necessary would be a waste."

Jaune kept his silence. After their little display of violence, he felt like an ant in front of an elephant; weak and far too unimportant to make a change. You're selfish, he cursed himself, only to jump in his own defense and claim how there was nothing he could do.

"Go away!" Nora threatened with her weapon.

"Leave and don't come back." Ren added, much calmer than his partner.

"And give back the people you turned to monsters." Pyrrha spoke with her usual confidence.

Jaune stared.

The entity was silent for a moment. Red Rivers tried and failed to free herself.

"I will put you back on the train and leave. But the passengers won't come with you. They found their purpose."

"Wait, you can't just-"

"Master willing, we will meet again. But if we don't, never forget the lesson you learned today. You are not the same people who boarded the train. Not anymore."

A bright flash exploded from the Wanderer's body. When JNPR lowered their hands, they found out that they were back on the train. They looked at their surroundings, then at each other. Everything went back to normality, except for them. No member could recognize the other. Their eyes were hardened, sad, questioning. They were truly different from the old JNPR.

Ren rushed to the next wagon as the other three sat down in silence. He returned moments later.

"No passengers. There's nothing. All clean."

Jaune saw Pyrrha burying her face in her hands, weeping so quietly that even he, who sat near her, had difficulty hearing it. Nora just stared at the darkness outside the window, clearly stuck in her own world. He wished he had a mirror.

"Nothing we can do about it. They're gone."

After everything he experienced lately, Jaune had still some room left for amazement. He couldn't believe how nonchalantly he worded his response for Ren's implied desire to find survivors, something even he noticed, and frowned at.

"Wait herel go check the other wagons."

"Don't bother. Didn't you hear what he said? They didn't come back."

"I don't care what he said!" Ren raised his voice,though nobody seemed to care, "There may be survivors on board!"

Jaune raised his head. He knew he had his "do you truly believe that" look. Ren opened his mouth to say something, only to swallow his own words. He spun around and went to check the other wagons. Nobody followed him.

(Beyond the Ghost - Lights Out)

Like Nora, Jaune lost himself. He stared at the ceiling, head empty of thoughts as the train kept following the tracks. Pyrrha's sobs became slightly louder, letting her own facade crumble at the face of the horror and tragedy. He didn't dare turning his head towards her and say something that could help her work through her emotions. He was far too tired for that. He was far too tired for everything. A bitter smile came to him when he remembered his words about what it meant to be a Huntsman. He wondered if any Huntsman out there had to go through something like this once in their life. The fact that there was an astonishing rate of suicides in this profession suddenly made perfect sense.

Some unperceived amount of time later, a bell rang throughout the wagon, as a computerized voice warned the passengers about the next station and how the train would reach it in time, as scheduled. It thanked them for using the services of the company in charge before shutting itself off. Ren returned at that time and sat at one of the seats in the corner, away from his teammates.

When the train arrived, Jaune could see a wave of people being held back by army policemen as armed Atlesian forces waited for the train to stop. Flashes of light erupted from the crowds. Journalists, he thought. Clinking could be heard as multiple boots invaded each wagon. Two soldiers armed to the teeth opened the doors in front of them. They yelled "clear", then entered, guns raised. It was then that they saw them.

"Holy shit."

That was the only reaction they had, aside from one puking all of his lunch near one of the seats. Jaune frowned and looked down. He, as well as his teammates, were covered in gore. He would have laughed, but he didn't have the strength to do it. A couple of scenarios ran through his head as he saw the soldiers calling for backup, before slowly approaching them with fingers on their triggers. They will probably think that it was his team that murdered the passengers and that will be enough to throw them in jail, thus failing his teammates one last time.

He wished to see the eyes of the human or Faunus that were hidden behind that helmet. There was this inexplicable desire for some kind of connection, as if he were an old hermit that encountered sentient life after being isolated for decades. He shut off from their conversation, refusing to answer to any question they threw at him. The soldiers helped them stand up and carried them out. The flashes increased in speed, as did the incessant rambling and, to no one's surprise, gasps of horror.

Jaune knew that the day was far from over, no matter what he thought of it. They would all have to go through a tiresome investigation. What happened, what did you do, where are the bodies... They would answer their questions, nobody would believe their crazy stories, then they would be accused of lying and possibly murder, which was a few steps away from being imprisoned for the rest of their lives. He would get the brunt of the blame, being the team leader and all. Jaune Arc, the criminal that dragged three kids with bright futures down to share his doom.

He thought about Ruby and her team for seemingly no reason at all. Would her team do something better than his? Or would Ruby reach her breaking point, like he did? Oh, he knew this little "adventure" would cause a whole lot of problems to him and his team. Problems that would never go away, no matter the therapy. He was sure of it. Nobody could go through that and maintain their sanity intact. Not even Braylon.

He blinked as the soldier brought JNPR to an armored vehicle. Why did he suddenly think about that guy? Recalling the nerve-wracking moments of JNPR's mission on that island, Jaune tried to remember Braylon's reactions, his thought process and anything else that might give him an answer to his question.

He remembered Braylon's behavior. His composure was frightening to the blonde leader. Never once did he lose his stuff like he and his team did, not even when they did the impossible; travel to another world. He would like to think that his comrade simply had better control over himself and was thus more mature than them. But no. There was something else in there. Something that reeked of experience. Did he meet the enemy before? If so, why didn't he tell them?

The vehicle roared as it carried JNPR away from mass of people and into the streets of Vale. Jaune wondered what fate had in store for them. He doubted it would be anything good.


Hello! It's been a while since I posted a chapter. I'm sorry. These last few months were packed with so much shit that I didn't have the time to do anything, much less write. Also my reading list keeps getting bigger by the day. I reached the point where I have to make peace with the idea that I probably won't read all of it in my lifetime...

Anyways, this chapter concludes the first subplot I had planned for this Volume. With the next chapter, we will begin with the second subplot, the shortest of the three, though I can't say who is its main character. After that, the third subplot should begin and after that one the events of RWBY: Grimm Eclipse should take place, though altered somewhat to fit the story. That's the theory, at least.

I think that's all for now. Bye, bye!