Public Enemy

24 hours. That's how much time we have until the Vytal festival starts. With every second that passes I end up getting more nervous and with good reason. I had to admit I wish I could spend more time getting prepared for what was to come, but I've done all I can, now I just had to hope and pray that we can make it through this together as a team. Right now Jonathan and I were eating lunch at the cafeteria going over final preparations for the festival to hopefully change whatever we could in the hopes of altering the timeline.

Carlos: Okay since you upgraded the security protecting Amber we need to go over anything else important that we need to look out for.

Jonathan: I agree, luckily I'm already three steps ahead and I know you'll appreciate what I've done.

Carlos: Alright, what've you got for me.

Jonathan: For starters, remember a few days ago when Pyhrra said she was feeling a little dizzy, that was because of me.

Carlos: What did you do?

Jonathan: The night before, I sent in a small drone into her dorm and I secretly injected nanotech into her bloodstream. Right now it's successfully coursing in her veins and will be ready to deploy during her fight with Cinder.

Carlos: Okay I get how it will help when she gets injured but what about Cinder's fire abilities, is your tech strong enough to avoid getting disintegrated?

Jonathan: Unfortunately no, but I came up with a back up plan for that. After studying the legends of the Maidens from what Ozpin told me as well as the info you gave me I developed a protocol that will activate in the presence of extreme heat.

Carlos: What kind of protocol?

Jonathan: The kind that will hopefully save Pyhrra's life in the end.

Carlos: I really hope so, there's just a lot at stake here and I don't want to lose any of our friends.

Jonathan: I know, but all we can do is be ready and hope for the best. Let's change the subject, did General Ironwood inspect the CCT building?

Carlos: Not sure, considering that communications are still going he either didn't find anything or just ignored my warning.

Jonathan: I can try looking into it but if I do I might end up activating that curse like yesterday.

Carlos: What happened yesterday?

Jonathan: I tried hacking into Cinder's scroll but before I could do anything I started suffocating. Guess we can't stop them from messing with the match ups during the tournament.

Carlos: Then we better stay alert. You can still try but if you feel like you might suffocate then stop immediately, understand.

Jonathan: No problem.

A few minutes later and teams RWBY and JNPR joined us and we just started talking about how much fun we're going to have during the festival and the tournament.

Nora: I can't wait for the tournament to start!!! So many people to fight, so many legs to break!!!!

Ren: Nora we've talked about this, no breaking the other teams legs.

Nora: Not even a little?!

Ren: No.

Ruby: I just can't wait to show everyone what team RWBY is capable of!

Carlos: You guys are going to be amazing out there, make sure you guys show them what Beacon can really do.

Weiss: What about you though, are the two of you going to compete?

Jonathan: We can't, we're the only two person team in any of the academies so it puts us at a disadvantage already.

Carlos: It's cool though, that just means I have more energy to cheer you guys on, especially my favorite kitten in the world.

Blake: T-thanks.

Yang: Awww is the kitten embarrassed of getting complimented by her boyfriend?

While the teasing continued I got a message on my scroll about an order I placed a month ago that was ready for pick up.

Carlos: (Awesome it's finally arrived.) Hey I gotta get going, I gotta pick something up in Vale so I'll see you guys later.

Yang: Hey can I join you?

Carlos: Huh?

Yang: Well we haven't hung out for a while so I thought now would be a good time.

Carlos: Oh, sure I don't mind. Anyone else want to come?

Ruby: I can't, Weiss agreed to give me some last minute training today to get ready for tomorrow.

Jaune: Same with us.

Blake: I actually can't, I'm working on something important and I wanted to finish it up before the festival begins since I won't have time once it starts.

Jonathan: You know me, my current project is almost ready so I can't.

Carlos: Okay, well take care then.

Yang: See ya later.

As Yang and I made it to the city the streets were full of people and vendors getting ready for tomorrow. Even if the festival hadn't officially begun everyone was still in a great mood.

Yang: This is so awesome, just look at everybody having a good time.

Carlos: Yeah, it's moments like this that you can really appreciate.

Yang: So what was it that you needed to pick up anyway?

Carlos: That is my little secret, but what I can tell you is that it's something for you and your whole team.

Yang: Now I'm really interested, come on tell me!

Carlos: Nope.

Yang: Please!

Carlos: Hmmm, Nope.

Yang: Please!

This went on for the next 10 minutes so let's skip to when we finally made it to our destination which just so happened to be a small jewelry shop.

Yang: Please!

Carlos: Nope.

Yang: Fine I'll stop asking.

Carlos: Good cuz we're already here.

Yang: What?!

Carlos: Hey do you mind waiting outside, I don't wanna spoil your surprise.

Yang: Aww really!

Carlos: Yes really.

Yang: Fine I'll wait, you're lucky you're my best friend.

Carlos: And you're lucky that you're cute.

Yang: Okay that's enough flirting, now get in there you big dork.

As I went inside I managed to find the owner of the shop and showed him my order which he brought out very quickly, he soon presented me with four white boxes each with a special necklace inside and he wrapped up each box with a ribbon and placed them in a bag for me. As I payed for my purchase which I hoped the girls liked, I turned around I noticed two guys trying to flirt with Yang and she was visibly annoyed.

Yang: What part of "leave me alone" didn't you understand?

Guy 1: Come on you don't really mean that do you?

Guy 2: Are you seriously hanging out with a loser like that guy in the store when you could be having fun with us?

Yang: That "loser" is my best friend, now take that back before I get really mad!

Carlos: I'd listen to her if I were you.

As they turned to get a good look at me the two guys tried sizing me up to intimidate me. If it wasn't for everything I went through the last few months I would've been afraid of them, now guys like them don't even worry me anymore.

Guy 1: Get lost loser, this chick's hanging with us now.

Carlos: Wow, if you refer to every girl as "chick" instead of their actual name than you guys must be really pathetic.

Guy 2: What was that?!

Carlos: Oh sorry did I say pathetic? I meant desperate.

Without another word the first guy tried punching me only for me to grab his fist and flip him onto his back, the second guy tried to run only for Yang to punch him in the gut and uppercut him.

Carlos: Let this be a learning experience for the two you, never mess with a huntsman and huntress.

As we left the two of them to wallow in their embarrassment Yang put her arm over my shoulder and we began walking into the city to check out some of the sights. As we spent the next several hours just hanging out I noticed a large group of people gathered around the area where Ironwood announced his new tech when we were doing our investigation.

Yang: I wonder what's going on, I can't see anything past this crowd.

Carlos: And it looks like we won't be able to get past them either.

Yang: Well... I wouldn't say that.

As I turned to Yang she pointed to a nearby building next to the crowd that would be the perfect place to see and hear what's going on without being spotted. After getting to the alley behind the building I held Yang as she grabbed onto me while she held onto the bag with her free arm as I crawled up the wall. Once we made it to the top we had a perfect view as General Ironwood made his way to speak.

Ironwood: People of Vale, before I begin I just want to say it is an honor and a privilege to be here once more in representing Atlas in this years Vytal tournament along with the students of our honored academy. They have spent countless hours devoted to their training to make it here today, however that is not why I called for this statement today. As many have noticed, criminal activity within the city has been on the rise, most notably because of Roman Torchwick as well as the White Fang. Now that Roman is in custody of the Atlas military there is no reason to fear of his influence corrupting this proud city...

Yang: Wow he must really like the sound of his own voice huh.

Carlos: Maybe. Still just cuz Roman is behind bars doesn't mean we can let our guard down just yet.

Yang: Why not? Like he said he's got the Atlas military keeping an eye on him so what is there to worry about?

Carlos: Trust me, it's not always that simple.

Ironwood: ...but that doesn't mean we are 100% safe. We still have dangerous individuals loose within our borders, as such today I'm officially declaring an arrest warrant for the masked vigilante known as Spider-Man.

Carlos/Yang: WHAT?!

That simple statement alone was enough to cause confusion within the crowd, people kept asking why was Spider-Man a target for the military or where was the proof that I needed to be arrested.

Ironwood: For months now he has been taking it upon himself to uphold the law within his own hands. This is a job that is to be left to the police or local huntsman, his careless actions have needlessly put the lives of innocent civilians at risk, therefore the Atlas military forces are instructed to bring this vigilante to justice, we have been given full cooperation by Jacques Schnee himself to bring in Spider-Man by the end of the festival so that he may face punishment for his actions. Spider-Man if you're listening I promise you that I will personally bring you in myself if I must, your days are numbered and your time in this city has come to its end. As we speak my troops are currently patrolling the streets, we will find you and you will be removed, by force if necessary.

As the people kept asking questions I simply couldn't believe what was happening. I just became public enemy number one.

Yang: Carlos what's wrong, you're not moving, snap out of it!

Carlos: Y-Yang I... I gotta get you out of here.

Yang: What?!

Carlos: Come on let's go!

As we made it back down to the streets we were almost spotted by some soldiers that were already on the lookout for me. It seemed like there were soldiers almost everywhere we looked and it wasn't going to be easy getting back to Beacon without someone possibly suspecting me.

Yang: This is crazy, why is the General after you anyway?

Carlos: We can worry about that later, right now we have to find a way for me to get back to Beacon undetected.

Yang: Well we know swinging back isn't an option, and you can't just walk back since if they spot you they might notice your spinnerets or they'll ask to talk to you and you could get caught either way.

Carlos: Which leaves only one option.

Yang: Which is...

Carlos: If you can't go over, and you can't go through, you should try going under. I hate to say it but, I have to go through the sewers.

Yang: Ewwwww.

Carlos: I know it's not the best choice but it's all I have left. Listen just get back to Beacon and if the others haven't heard of this let them know immediately.

Yang: Okay but what do I do about your bag?

Carlos: Just take it and give it to your team, it should be easy for you to tell who gets what. Also make sure the guys on team CRDL don't try and call the General in case they want to reveal my identity.

Yang: Do you really think those guys know you're Spider-Man?

Carlos: No, but I humiliated them and I'm a spider faunus, they might just use this to get back at me. Just make sure they don't try anything funny.

Yang: You got it, good luck.

As we split up I looked behind me and found a manhole cover, once I made it down into the sewers I called Jonathan for help but I got JARVIS instead.

JARVIS: Good afternoon Mr. Ortiz, I'm afraid Mr. Stark is currently unavailable at the moment.

Carlos: That's fine, actually maybe you can help me, I need to get back to Beacon but I have to travel using the city's sewer system since Ironwood basically put a bounty on my head.

JARVIS: Yes we were all informed of the General's speech, rest assured your friends have been notified of the situation, but I must inform you that Ms. Belladonna is very worried about you.

Carlos: Honestly I'm not surprised. Just send me a route back to Beacon to my mask and I'll be on my way, oh and while your at it can you call Blake for me and have it connect to my mask as well.

JARVIS: Certainly, one moment please.

As I put my mask on I jumped to the ceiling of this place to avoid stepping in something nasty and not a moment later a map of the city sewage system came up on my masks heads up display with a path for me to follow, as I began crawling I soon got through to Blake ready to explain what the heck was going on.

Blake: Carlos are you okay?!

Carlos: Yeah don't worry I'm fine, or as fine as you can get traveling through the sewers.

Blake: We heard everything, Yang even called us to make sure we got the news. What's going on?!

Carlos: Not entirely sure, as far as I know the General has it out for me and I need to be more alert than usual.

Blake: Okay, okay, just promise me you'll make it back safe.

Carlos: I will, by the way has team CRDL tried to expose me as Spider-Man?

Blake: They did, whether or not they knew your identity they just wanted to get back at you but I managed to "convince" them otherwise.

Carlos: What do you mean by "convince" them.

Blake: Well... let's just say I borrowed an idea from Nora and that they'll barely recover in time for the tournament.

Carlos: Wow, and here I thought I couldn't fall in love with you even more.

Blake: Thanks. Listen I know you're trying not to get caught but can we just keep talking, I know you're capable of getting back safely but just hearing your voice is helping me stay calm right now.

Carlos: I don't mind, I like talking to you too. So how was your day...

After roughly an hour or so I safely got far enough away to catch a bullhead in time to get back to Beacon as I stayed on the roof so no one spotted me or suffered from my new scent.

Carlos: Okay Blake I should be in my room in about 5 minutes, let me get a decent shower first and I'll stop by your dorm.

Blake: Okay, and thanks for getting home safely.

As we hung up I wasted no time getting to my dorm as fast as possible, luckily Jonathan was already in the room and left the window open for me.

Jonathan: Glad you made it back without... oh brother you stink!!!!

Carlos: Tell me something I don't know, just let me grab a shower and then we'll head to the girl's dorm so I can explain.