Chapter 3: Settling In

August 24, 2681; 0930 Hours

Remnant, Beacon Academy (Classroom 201: Grimm Studies)

Ivan leaned back in his seat in the front row of the classroom. This was the first class of the day for his new team, and most of them seemed completely disinterested. Ruby was quietly doodling in her notebook, Yang was absentmindedly staring off into space, Blake was simply watching Professor Port ramble on about a tangential story, and Weiss seemed somewhat attentive. His first meeting with Weiss and Blake had gone rather well. The both of them welcomed him to their team just as Ruby and Yang had. Weiss had questioned him a bit on how he liked Atlas, and he responded with information that Merlin fed him through the neural implant. None of them seemed any the wiser about him, but he wasn't taking anything for granted.

Even with Port's near-constant tangents, Ivan found the information he received from the man invaluable when it came to the Grimm. He had started a small collection of notes on any relevant information, which he would send back to Reach with his next report that was due in a few days' time. From what he understood, his last report on the Faunus and Dust threw ONI for a bit of a loop. After Evans had confirmed that this 'Dust' was the cause of scanner interference, as well as the seemingly-endless properties of the substance, the Avalon had been called back to Reach with samples of it for study. The ship would be back in about a week, hopefully with more personnel for the ground-side research camp.

"Now… Mister Chesnokov…" Port began, grabbing Ivan's attention. "Since you're a new student from another academy, I'm curious. What do you think the best way to take down a Deathstalker is?"

"Depends on the situation." Ivan answered with a shrug. "If you've got range on it, a high-caliber round into one of its eyes. If you're close, explosives underneath it."

"Ah, now there's the correct answer!" Port smiled beneath his moustache. "It does indeed depend on the situation." Ivan settled back in as Port rambled on about another tangential, and very likely embellished, story.

XXXXX

August 24, 2681; 1200 Hours

Remnant, Beacon Academy (Cafeteria)

Ivan sat down next to Blake on the end of the cafeteria table. He let out an audible sigh. "Man, I thought you guys were exaggerating about Oobleck." He shook his head. "I can safely say that I was wrong."

"Ooh yeah…" Yang nodded, taking a bite of her sandwich. "Most of us don't even listen, we just read the book and hope for the best."

"You? Read?" Weiss scoffed, looking over to Yang. "Funny."

Yang pointedly ignored the jab. "So, Ivan. Now that you've got a taste, what do you think of Beacon?"

Ivan shrugged. "It's a good school."

"Better than Atlas?" Ruby asked.

"Haven't seen enough yet." Ivan answered. "I'll get back to you on that."

"Well, you've been doing very well so far." Weiss piped up. "I think Ozpin made a good choice putting you with us."

"I'm not so sure about that one." Ivan thought to himself. "Thanks." Ivan smirked, nodding.

XXXXX

August 24, 2681; 1700 Hours

Remnant, Beacon Academy (Team RWBY Dormitory)

Ivan walked into the dorm he would be sharing with Team RWBY. Just as Ozpin had promised, a fifth bed was now occupying the room. Beneath it, he could see four hardened, unmarked green crates the UNSC used to transport ordinance and ammunition. Each of them contained various pieces of his armor, and were locked by a biometric scanner. He allowed himself a smirk as he placed his belongings at the foot of the bed that was tucked between Ruby and Weiss' bunk beds and the closet.

"Wow…" Yang commented, seeing the new bed. "Ozpin works fast."

"No kidding…" Ruby affirmed. Ruby watched as Ivan reached into his waistband, removing a holster containing his M6 SOCOM magnum. "Wait… did you have that all day?" She asked.

"Yeah…" Ivan nodded, opening the footlocker that had been placed at the foot of the bed, and placing the weapon inside.

"Huh… I had no idea." Ruby murmured.

"That's the point of concealed carry." Ivan smirked. "Doesn't do you much good if you leave the gun visible."

"True." Ruby shrugged.

Ivan sat down on the bed and started removing his shoes, simply placing them down atop the footlocker. He was certainly surprised. He was almost starting to enjoy this.

XXXXX

August 29, 2681; 1700 Hours

Remnant, Beacon Academy (Dormitories)

"God, Cardin's an ass." Yang grumbled, taking point on their route back to the dorm room. "I'm glad you kicked his ass, Ivan."

"I'll admit… it felt good." Ivan smirked, following behind Yang. Earlier today, Ivan had seen Cardin harassing a young rabbit Faunus girl in the cafeteria. Pulling her ears, calling her a freak, essentially just encapsulating everything that could be wrong with Humanity. Now that he had been on Remnant long enough to witness the discrimination against Faunus firsthand, it was no surprise to him that an organization like the White Fang existed. At the very least, Goodwitch had matched him against Cardin in their combat class. If he had to guess, he had earned some serious points in Yang's book with what he did.

"That was pretty cool." Ruby said, walking behind her sister as she craned her neck over to look at Ivan.

"Oh man, it was hilarious." Yang laughed. "'I'll keep the rifle away, make it fair for you' he says." Yang shot Ivan a smirk.

"How did you move so fast?" Weiss asked, still taken aback by the SPARTAN's quick movements and terrifyingly effective fighting style. The fight had barely begun and it was already over. Cardin's arm was pinned behind his back, and Ivan's foot was firmly planted on the side of his head. "I mean… you're no Ruby, but that was terrifying."

"My Semblance." Ivan answered with a shrug. "Reflexes. Time seems to slow for me."

"That's a pretty cool Semblance." Yang added. "It'd be useful."

As they approached their dorm room, Yang pressed her scroll to the reader on the wall, allowing he lock to click open. Ivan made his way over to the bed, going about his normal routine until he heard his name called out from across the room. "Ivan!" Yang shouted. "Want to go into Vale with us tonight?"

"Sure." Ivan shrugged. "Been meaning to head into town anyways. What did you guys have planned?"

"Just some shopping and dinner. Maybe a movie if we get bored." Yang shrugged.

"Sure, count me in." Ivan nodded.