Ruby POV
"Unbelievable! This is exactly the kind of thing I was talking about!" The white-hair princess yells at me, her soot-stained dress making her appearance more intimidating.
"I'm really, really sorry!" I quickly stammer out. This mess started because of me, just because I got dazed by Yang's friends- though I wonder if my sister really does know them. They did appear from nowhere, making me doubt further. When Yang returns, I'm going to give her a piece of my-
"Ugh, you complete dolt! What are you even doing here? Aren't you a little young to be attending Beacon?" She yells at me again.
"Well, I-I…" I flinch at her harsh words.
"This isn't your ordinary combat school. It's not just sparring and practice, you know! We're here to fight monsters, so... watch where you're going!" She crosses her arms, facing away, acting like a toddler is annoying her. I curl my hands, unwilling to take more of her insensitive yelling.
"Hey, I said I was sorry, princess!" I reply angrily, fed up with this incessant white-haired b-
"It's heiress, actually." Someone interrupts our argument. "Great, another girl who's going to side with the princess." Her black hair is eye-grabbing, as is the rest of her Mistralian-inspired outfit, her white vest contrasting her black vest and leggings. Her amber eyes pierced into us, though oddly enough, they remind me of cat eyes. To accentuate her cat-like eyes, she wears a black bow. Standing beside her is someone who personifies strength itself.
He wears a worn green vest, a black shirt, and gray cargo pants. Slung around his shoulder is what I assume is a gun, though one I've never seen before, along with two smaller guns. One mounted on his chest and the other strapped to his left leg. He carries two bladed weapons to his waist. To finish it off is an assortment of gadgets and various devices attached to his vest.
What terrifies me is his metal arms. They aren't new. They don't look like anything I've seen, not even the prosthetics made in Atlas. And his face…a large scar runs from the top of his nose to his neck. Maybe a Grimm, perhaps a person, but the fact remains. Someone tried to kill him long ago, and they failed.
"Weiss Schnee," the catgirl continues. "Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."
As if failing to notice the guy's menacing appearance, the heiress responds, smiling even, "Finally! Some recognition!"
"Yeah," he chuckles humorlessly. "The same company who buys faunus from Menagerie to use as slaves and her father is Ironwood's personal dick-sucker." The white-hair- Weiss Schnee's smile stops immediately, replaced by an angry scowl. "Princess, I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Wha- How dare- The nerve of…" she stutters angrily, not having words to match her anger.
"Leave bitch," he said, crossing his arms, smirking. The heiress strides to the black hair girl and takes the dust shard from her, giving a huff to the guy before storming away. She walks past her servants, who are quickly gathering her disheveled luggage. No doubt they face her Schnee wrath on the daily.
Mustering a smile, I turn back to my would-be saviors. "I guess I'm not the only one having a rough first day," nervously chuckling.
"Nah, she just has a stick up her ass. Anyway, am Alex," he extends his hand for a shake. I obliged. His hand is metal and chipped in various places.
"This is Blake, we were just getting to know each other on the airship," Alex explains, gesturing to the girl. He leans in, putting his hand next to his mouth, whispering, "She doesn't talk much."
I'm slightly taken aback by how talkative and open he is. The only person who's this open is dad, who isn't this relaxed around strangers. Alex is telling me stuff that I didn't ask for. And to put it bluntly, he's a little rude.
Though, I know one more person who's like this…kinda.
Blake rolls her eyes before walking off, though not before I see her resisting to frown. Alex seems to notice this, pulling back as he shrugs.
"Anyway, it was nice noticing you, uh…."
"Ruby," I answered almost subconsciously.
"Nice," Alex starts walking away. "Anyway, I gotta catch up to my acquaintance. Catch ya later, Ruby." He waves as he rushes back to Blake. I awkwardly wave back. Though, for some reason, I have a bad feeling about Alex. Rarely do I get a bad feeling around people. It might be that cautious side of me, but somewhere, somehow, I feel like I've seen him.
In a bush or an eye inside a tree.
"I should be more careful around that Alex guy. Like Yang said, the world has bad guys. But what bad guy goes to Beacon? Wouldn't they go to Atlas?" I think to myself.
My dad and sister try to hide it, but I've seen the broadcasts. Atlesian soldiers rounding up faunus to be sent into 'camps'- never to be heard from again. Pro-Atlesian movements that cause protests and the occasional riot. Vale is the last kingdom not under complete Atlesian domination. Last night, the council agreed to become part of the Atlas Co-Prosperity Sphere. While there were lots of little details and words that confused me, the simple version was Atlas could enforce their laws in Vale. Already two Atlesian patrols stopped in Patch, often questioning my dad if he saw any faunus or Railroad members.
Dad's a great liar when it comes to the Atlesians. Misdirection and false information while keeping us safe.
I want to help too. Again and again, I've begged dad to let me join the Railroad or the White Fang like he allowed Yang. Sometimes, she'll be somewhere in Vale, aiding the good guys, freeing faunus prisoners bound to Atlas, and distributing anti-Atlesian leaflets. Sometimes she comes back home quiet and bruised. But she smiles.
I've asked dad to let me join. He thinks I am too young to join the Railroad and the White Fang only accepts faunus into its ranks. He forgets he's a member of both groups. And Yang joined around my age, so I don't understand what he means. I can handle my own as I did with that Torchwick guy at that dust store.
It's the whole reason I met Professor Ozpin. The sole reason he fast-tracked me into Beacon.
Weiss Schnee is here. I remember my early encounter with the heiress to the SDC. She's a bad guy, right? Of course, she is. She's the daughter of Jacque Schnee, so she must be bad. Everything about her reeks of evil. I have to stay away from her.
Silently groaning at having to avoid two potential bad guys, I look at my surroundings, finding myself in a hedge maze. Amid my rambling, I must have walked into a said maze.
"Great, how do I get out of this maze?" I look around, trying to retrace my steps. Coming to a dead-end, I groan frustratingly.
"I got to stop rambling," I say out loud. Pulling out my scroll, I try to call Yang, only for a no-signal icon to pop up. "No signal either." Putting the useless device back in my pocket, there was only one thing to do.
"Hello!" I call aloud. "Is anyone out there!" I continue down the confusing maze, turning down twists and corners, meeting dead ends, and walking in occasional circles. I haven't seen anyone for a few minutes now. The only things that accompany me are stone vases, pedestals, and benches.
A brush of blonde hair catches my eye as I turn the corner before I collide with someone, making me fall backward.
"Augh. Am sorry, I was taking a corner too fast…." In front of me is a blonde man wearing white chest plate armor and shoulder pads. The events flash through my head faster than my semblance. Much faster than the image of vomit on Yang's motorcycle boot.
He gets up, an awkward smile plastered on his face, extending a hand to me.
"Sorry. Am Jaune," I accept his hand, pulling me off the pavement. "Ruby," I say in response. "Wait, aren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?"
Alexander POV
Towering high above me is the clock tower. The buildings and halls are also much, much taller in person. Looking at images doesn't do it justice. As I marvel at the structures, HUDDAC begins explaining the history behind the academy.
"Although I'm unable to determine the exact date, the Great War's conclusion saw the academies construction, including but not limited to Beacon. Covering 500,000 square feet and straddled between the Autumn and Twilight rivers, Beacon is currently the sole remaining academy not administrated by the Empire of Atlas." HUDDAC takes note of the vast plaza we stand in. I nod, amazed at her in-depth analysis of Beacon academy. It's only us at this point. Blake and I parted ways as per our agreement.
"When does Ozpin's welcome speech begin?"
"Half 'n hour."
"Time to kill."
"Sir, you should be heading towards the auditorium for Headmaster Ozpin's speech."
"Oh right," I stroke my chin, "I forgot he's a headmaster." The scroll shows a map of the academy grounds, including but not limited to the auditorium and dorms. Back then, when I planned for college, I always imagined my biggest worry would be passing my classes with at least C's. I didn't plan to protect Ruby without arousing her suspicion. Though Yang would no doubt help protect her.
The funny thing is, Ruby intrigues me. When I was her age, I fantasized about becoming a hero too. Here she can chase that dream. I'm kinda jealous, to be honest. I am also impressed by Ruby's fascination with huntsmen and huntresses despite her short coma. I had hoped Tai would convince her otherwise, but he encouraged her to be a huntress. Something about it being a 'dying' practice.
A chuckle escapes my lips. Someone collides behind me, sending me sprawling on the ground.
"Nadia!" I feel someone slowly rolling off my back, like a dog getting up after sleeping on me. The person is light, probably not weighing more than a hundred pounds at best.
"Sorry, sorry I was-" She- Nadia stops mid-sentence as she reaches down to offer a hand to pull me off the ground. The girl is lean, white as snow, her blonde hair hiding two dog ears and her hazel eyes innocent to look at. I accept her hand.
"No, it's cool. I guess taking in the sights is mind-boggling, y'know?" Both of them stop and look at me apprehensively. They're siblings, if I had to guess by their similar appearances. The guy has blonde hair also, and his white-tipped tail is stiff as a board. Following their stares, I put two and two together.
"Oh, this?" Flexing my metallic arm. Obviously a bad call, the girl backs away from me. Her brother rests his hand on her shoulder and the spear on his back. I stop flexing, step back, and put my hands up to show that I am not a threat. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," I tell them. "Don't worry, I was just caught in an explosion accident. Had to replace these with prosthetics."
Nadia looks at my arms. I instinctively demonstrate their obvious harmlessness. People always assume I am from Atlas solely because of my cybernetics.
Her brother brings his sister behind him, putting himself between us. "Stay away, Atlesian," he angrily mutters. His posture reflects that of an angry guard dog: erect tail, furled ears, a snarl of his teeth.
He grabs his sister's hand, leading her away from me. "Let's go Nadia."
She looks at me once, then lets her brother guide her away. All the while, their tails, and ears are on edge. Say something I dare not.
Somewhere between annoyed and disappointed, I drop my hand. Releasing a sigh, I gather my thoughts on a nearby stone bench. The cold rocks match my cold metal ass, resting my tired, wearing servos.
"Can't I meet new people without being called an Atlesean?" I stare at the stone statue in the middle of the plaza.
"If I may, sir," HUDDAC chimes. "You aren't here to make friends. Adam was very clear with our objective. We're to introduce Headmaster Ozpin to Adam and request support from the Vale government."
Think I forgot?
She giggles robotically. "You are 257 years old. Some screws may have wriggle loose."
Then you assume I'm really here for Adam. You forget our one true objective: protect Ruby Rose at all costs. While I do care about the White Fang and am sympathetic to the faunus plight, Ruby Rose takes priority at all costs.
"Have you heard of the trolley car question, sir?"
No.
"A trolley is speeding down the rail towards a group of five people. The operator sees this but is unable to stop the trolley. Whether through mechanical failure or spotting the group to late, the trolley will kill all five. However, the operator can switch the trolley's course to kill one person. The question is this: kill the five for the one? Or kill the one for the five?"
Acknowledging this logic, I chuckle at her oversight. While you have a sound argument, I spot a flaw in your reasoning.
"Explain."
The PSA system activates, the speakers calling out to everyone still roaming the plaza. "All freshmen students are required to attend Headmaster Ozpin orientation speech at 12pm. Failure to do so could mean possible expulsion from Beacon Academy. Again, all students are to head to the auditorium at 12pm."
"You fail to mention who the people are. Are they doctors or elderly? Is the one person terminally ill?" I walk to the auditorium, footsteps clicking across the paved square in military fashion. The same marching speed I've become accustomed to time and time again.
"Would you kill two million second-class civilians for a single person?"
Given a choice, I would kill the one person who ordered the killing. Why choose two options when I spot a third?