Chapter 8: Hail Hydra

"Intriguing, very intriguing." Otto muttered as he examined a dust crystal under a microscope, "How much of these resources do you have?"

"We already told you Octavius." Adam sneered, "Dust is Remnant's main energy source. Serious, what pathetic rock have you been hiding under?"

"That's enough Adam." Cinder intervened, "Go back to your men now."

"Hmph." the bull faunus muttered before leaving

Torchwick, who also happened to be in the room then spoke, "Well, I hope you get some results soon. I am very intrigued at this metahuman project you're working on."

"Indeed." Otto replied, "Though it would go faster if you left so I can work in peace."

"Very well." Torchwick retorted before leaving, followed by Cinder. Once the room was empty, Otto couldn't help but smile, as his eyes turned red, and his body suddenly flickered ever so slightly, revealing that his body was actually that of a robot.

Otto smiled in satisfaction at the computer monitor, which displayed his new 'lab' in Mountain Glenn. After getting the place cleaned up for proper use, he secretly replaced himself with and LMD, aka a 'Life Model Decoy', a robot that could take on the appearance and/or abilities of any person.

"I must say, I'm quite impressed Doc."

Otto turned around to see a man in a greyish black, sleeveless shirt that showed off his muscular arm, with an emblem of crossed bones on the front. He also wore a skull mask, grey pants, and boots.

Brock Rumlow, aka Crossbones.

"Your work with us has been very beneficial to say the least." Rumlow continued, "Ever since we lost Schmit and Zola, we nearly fragmented."

"Well." Otto muttered as he turned to face his ally, "Just like your motto says: Cut off one head…"

Otto then pressed a button on his wrist, and suddenly his body was covered in a blueish technological substance, which appeared to be altering his appearance. Once it dispersed, Otto's uniform changed. His once sage green suit was now black with red accents. His arms were now armed in black and red gauntlets that could display holograms. His face was covered in a black mask and his traditional red goggles that stopped just at his hairline. Lastly mechanical arms were balck in color.

"...Two more shall take its place."

"Hail Hydra." Rumlow replied, "So Remnant is our target I presume?"

"Our first target to be precise." Otto explained, "That pesky fool Salem and her petty excuse for puppets think they have me on their leash. They will be quite useful in our plans."

"What do you propose?" Rumlow asked

Otto then walked over to a table, with racks filled with test tubes, each filled with various substances. He proceeded to pick up several tubes filled with the same green liquid.

"Time for recruiting…"

Within the ruined surface of Mountain Glenn, a WF patrol walked through the rubble of the ruined city. They were currently discussing the news of a new benefactor they received the other day.

"Hey did you hear about that new guy we got?" one of them asked

"Yeah, Adam spoke with him earlier." another goon replied, "Calls himself 'The Doctor'. Heh, what kind of a name is that?"

BMPH!

The patrol all looked around, weapon raised.

"What was that?" one of them muttered

"GAH!" everyone turned to see that one of their brothers was no missing.

"Huh? What's going one on?" the same guy asked, as he didn't noticed that several mysterious robotic arms grabbed his fellow brothers. He the unturned back around to see them gone.

"Guys? Seriously! This isn't-OW!"

A needle then punctured his neck. As he rubbed the spot where it was, he began to feel weird. He fell to his knees, as he noticed his skin turning sage green, his eyes yellow, and overall DNA change within him.

"Excellent." Otto muttered as he gazed at the now goblified-WF soldiers donning new Hydra armor, "It seems the Osborn's goblin formula has been successful."

"These many won't be enough, Octavius." Rumlow retorted, "We need more than this."

"Which is why I'll be sending our new Goblin soldiers to convince other White Fang supporters to join our cause. But not just radical Faunus, but other people with...unique traits."

"I see." Rumlow muttered, "So what about your new friends? Still gonna make them metahumans?"

"I will honor Salem's contract, for now." Otto replied, "My LMD will do the dirty work there. While you and I, my friend, will work here."

Back in his lab, the LMD of Otto Octavius was currently working on a serum for the metahuman army. The current one he was mixing seemed to be ready for an immediate test.

As he was admiring his work, Cinder then barged into the lab, flanked by two individuals. One was a girl with dark skin and mint green hair, while the second was a boy with fair skin and grey hair.

"What is taking you so long Octavius?" Cinder demanded, "This metahuman experiment better work."

"If you want this done properly girl, it will take some time!" Otto retorted, "I never said this would be one in a day. Science takes time, and time is a gift, one that we don't have in store of us."

"So this the scientist you picked up?" the boy muttered with a smug attitude, "He's not what I expected. No better than Watts if you ask me."

Otto growled at the boy's comment, "Cinder, remove that pathetic buffon out of my lab at once. He's tracking mud all over the floors."

The boy looked at his feet before sneering at Otto, but was stopped by Cinder.

"Mercury please." Cinder said to him, "Ignore my...disciples. They're with me."

"I see…" Otto muttered as he turned around to face them all, "Well you're in luck, I've completed a serum that is ready for testing. All I need now is someone to use as a guinea pig."

"Yeah, not it." the girl muttered, "Mercury's all yours."

"Not happening." Mercury hissed

"I'll send word out to the White Fang." Cinder answered Otto, "I'm sure one of them will be willing to help."

After an hour or so, the LMD of Otto was preparing the serum for injection, while a WF goon was sitting in a chair, strapped down. Cinder, Torchwick, Emerald, and MErcury were watched from behind a glass wall.

"Serum is ready." Otto announced before walking over to the goon, "My friend, are you ready?"

"I am." the goon replied

"Good." Otto said before injecting the scrum into the goon's arm

"Is it...working?" the goon questioned

"You tell me." Otto retorted, "It's in your body."

"Wait." the goon muttered, "I feel...something's happening…"

Suddenly, the goon's body began to glow a bright orange. He then started to scream in agony. Realizing that the scrum wasn't working, Otto ran behind the nearby desk to avoid any form of explosion that could happen. Instead of an explosion however, the goon's body just glowed even brighter before it dissipated, leaving nothing.

Otto emerged from behind the desk, "Unfortunate."

He then looked up at Cinder who just started at him before leaving the room. Emerald, Mercury, and Torchwick however, were shocked.

"You'll get used to it." Otto said to them before leaving the room as well.

Peter woke up lazily from his slumber and looked around his new dorm room. After being forced to remain where he was after the initiation, Peter was summoned by Ozpin to his office. Since Peter was the odd man out in the first-years, both mathematically and literally, Ozpin then made him a team of just one. This seemed fine to Peter at first, but then came the catch: He had to watch over Team RWBY, thus making him unofficially part of their team, and in turn, their co-leader alongside Ruby. Something he heavily objected to, but after a stone-cold glare from Glynda, he had no choice. But since he had no where else to go, no money, nor any lead on what was to come. Beacon was his only option.

"Time to start the day." he muttered as he got dressed into his Beacon Academy uniform and left his dorm, "Now, Oz did say that I'd have access to one of the labs. Better head there first, I don't have class for quite awhile."

Peter walked through the halls until he noticed a hallway that read 'science labs'. As he walked by, he came across one lab room with a note on the door.

'For Mr. Parker.' -O

Peter shrugged, "Guess this is for me."

Peter opened the door, and was surprised at the sheer size of the laboratory. The blue and white and aesthetic surely gave off the idea of a highly advanced room.

"I hope it's useful. This is the biggest lab in Beacon."

Peter was startled at the sound of someone speaking to him. He turned around to see Ozpin and Glynda standing behind him.

"I guess I can check 'knocking' off the list of things that don't exist on Remnant." Peter quipped

"Sorry, my bad." Ozpin said to him, "This lab has Atlas technology. I assume this will do?"

"Uh yeah, it'll do." Peter replied, "Just wanted to break it in this morning."

"Is there anything else that would be useful?" Oz then asked

"Well that depends, can I get a transfer?" Peter asked, somewhat jokingly and seriously

Glynda folded her arms and glared at the superheroes through her glasses, "Are you still trying to get out of this school?"

"More like leaving than trying." Peter retorted before looking back at Ozpin, "Why keep me here? Kinda feels like you want trouble here."

"Because you are a valuable student." Ozpin replied

"Student?" Peter questioned, "Or are you referring to asset. Yeah I know that look on your face, I've seen it so many times. But I don't really care what it is you want. Look I'm not just some superhero from another universe. I'm a normal kid with normal problems, and to further add on that this is my first time alone in another universe."

Oz couldn't help but sigh, knowing what Peter was trying to say, "Look, Peter, I understand. But each of Team RWBY are just like you: At a crossroad. They just need some guidance."

"Look Oz, each one of them seem cool. Hell even Ice Queen." Peter argued, "That's why I don't want to stay here. I won't be responsible for them and their safety. But you gotta intervene in my decision making and give me responsibility."

"Well, with great power, comes great-"

"Don't finish that sentence." Peter hissed as he walked past the two, with Glynda obviously glaring at him interrupting Ozpin, "Now you'll excuse me, I'm gonna be late for class."

Once Peter passed through the door frame, he was stopped by one question.

"What were their names?"

"Whose?" Peter asked

"The people you lost." Ozpin replied

Peter instead decided not to answer, instead, he answered with, "I'll think about staying while at class."

With that said, Peter left the room. Leaving Ozpin and Glynda behind.

Once Peter arrived at the classroom, he noticed something odd. Everyone was leaving the room, while he was entering. Once he got inside, he noticed several stragglers getting their belongings and Professor Port.

"Mr. Parker." Port said to him, "You first day, and you are late?"

"I apologize Professor." Peter replied calmly, "I was speaking to Headmaster Ozpin. In my defense it was important for both of us"

Port chuckled, "Yes of course! Oz informed me, I'll let your tardiness slide by this time! Do please try not to miss anymore."

"Alright." Peter answered before asking a question, "What did I miss today, anything important?"

"Well, other than the story of a rather handsome huntsmen taking on a horde of Grimm." Port replied, "Ms. Schnee managed to contain a Boarbatusk without hitting it."

Peter raised an eyebrow, quite impressed, "Really? I'll have to ask her-OW!"

Peter was cut off as a book flew across the room and hit him straight in the face. Once he got his barings back, he noticed Weiss standing a few feet away. She grit her teeth at him, all while making fist with her hands before storming out of the room. Leaving the rest of RWBY behind.

"Sheesh what with her?" Jaune muttered

Peter rubbed the section of his head that the book hit him before looking at Port, who simply shrugged in confusion.

"I better see what's wrong with her." Peter muttered in frustration

Peter quickly left the room, now with Ruby in tow. They noticed Weiss turn the corner of the hallway and managed to catch up to her.

"Weiss!" Ruby shouted at her, which caused her to stop and turn to face them both.

"What?" he muttered

"What's wrong with you?" Ruby asked, "Why are you being-"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be a leader, snd Parker's supposed to watch over us, and all you two have been so far are a nuisance!"

Peter, rather than get annoyed, decided to act a bit calmer, "In my own defense, Ozpin requested to speak with me. That's why I wasn't at class."

"Yeah, what did we do?" Ruby added

"That's just it - you've done nothing to earn your position! Back in the forest, you acted like a child, and you've only continued to do so! And you Parker, missing classes and 'claiming' to be with Ozpin isn't gonna cut. I won't be supervised by someone who misses class."

"Weiss, where is this coming from?" Ruby questioned sadly, "What happened to all the talk about 'working together'? I thought you believed in acting as a team."

"Not a team led by you or Parker." Weiss retorted, "I've studied and trained. And quite frankly, I deserve better."

Weiss then turned back around and walked away, all while saying, "Ozpin made a mistake."

Ruby looked down at the floor, dejected, before looking at Peter.

"Is she right?" Ruby asked him, "Did Ozpin make a mistake?"

Peter thought to himself for a moment, he sighed internally before speaking.

"No, he didn't." Peter replied, "And I'm gonna make sure it stays that way."

With that said, Peter walked off in the direction Weiss was heading. Where he found her standing on a nearby balcony. He proceeded to take the same book she hit him with, and throw it at her.

"OW!" she hissed, once the book hit her head. She then turned around to see Peter standing there.

"The only one who made a mistake, is you." Peter said to her before walking up to her.

"Me!?" Weiss retorted, "What did I do!?"

"You can just yell at someone who hasn't been a leader for less than a day." said Peter

"Yeah, and that someone is two years younger, and acts like a child!" Weiss shot back, "I should be the leader of Team RWBY!"

"Your attitude says otherwise." Peter retorted

"Wha- excuse me!?"

"Sure, Ruby may not have the experience yet." Peter continued, "But that doesn't give you the right to scold for it."

Weiss just scoffed, "Well what do you know about leading a team!?"

Peter leaned against the balcony before speaking, "I know a lot actually. I led one, a long time ago."

"You led a team?" Weiss questioned before scoffing

"I did." Peter replied, "I'd rather talk about you though. I already know what you are."

"And am I?" Weiss shot back

"Full of it." Peter said, "You got everything you're whole life. Now for the first time, you aren't. So you resort to acting like a child."

"That is not true!" Weiss shouted before looking away slightly, "Well...not entirely true…"

"You shouldn't be angry that you didn't get what you want." Peter continued, "You should be happy with what you have, and got. You got a team now, and while you may not be a leader. You can still be helpful and part of it."

Peter then walked away, leaving Weiss standing by the balcony. Before vanishing behind the corner, he uttered one last thing.

"Besides, you don't know when you might lose them."

Later that night, Weiss entered her dorm room. She noticed that both Blake and Yang were sleeping in their respected beds. She then noticed that Ruby bunk was covered by a blanket. Curious, she opened it and found the young girl asleep with various books and notes surrounding her.

Weiss gently shook Ruby awake.

"Weiss!" Ruby shouted, "I-I was studying, and then I fell asleep! I'm sorry..."

Weiss quickly covered Ruby's mouth, "How do you take your coffee?"

"I...I don't…"

"Answer the question!" Weiss hissed quietly

"Uhh, cream, and five sugars." Ruby answered

Weiss then disappeared before reappearing with a cup of coffee, and handed it to her.

"Um..Thanks Weiss…" Ruby thanked her

Weiss then smiled before looking somewhat apologetic, "Ruby, I think you have what it takes to be a good leader. Just know that I am going to be the best teammate you'll ever have! Good luck studying!"

Weiss then went down to her bed, only to reappear once more and point at a section of Ruby's notes.

"That's wrong by the way." she jokingly muttered before going back to bed

Peter heard the whole thing as he stood on the roof of the dorm building, dressed in his Spider-Man suit.

"Now that's the spirit kid." he muttered

"Going out for a late night stroke I see."

Peter turned around to see Ozpin standing there, "I must warn you that the curfew ends at 10:00, though I presume to be back a lot later."

"You say that." Peter replied

"Or even never." Oz added, "I shouldn't have forced you to stay here Peter. If you wish to leave, it's your choice, and I will respect it. I should've learned that a long time ago."

"Well, if you don't mind." Peter began, "Maybe I'll stay. These kids need to learn that its not perfect being heroes. I had to learn the hard way."

"Of course." Oz replied, "Is there anything I can do to help with this crisis?"

Peter then put on his mask and looked at Oz, "I need to form a team."

Spidey then jumped off the roof, and swung towards the City of Vale, leaving Ozpin standing there.