IV

187.M4224-69, Shrine City Beacon

'Be like noble Ollanius,

Faithful to the last,

He held the line against frightful odds,

We owe our present to that past.'

Palatine Athanasia Corinthus starts singing in a solemn and grim tone as she begins pouring the sacramental wine, red like blood into one large bowl-like golden goblet. Around her are two circles, the inner are the black armoured warriors who command her squads, the outer are the tanks of Sister Superior Hadrian's force. The beautiful courtyard at the base of the great tower serves as their stage. It's beauty is marred a little by the scars of battle, or what the previous night's massacre may be called, as the sun finally rises over the scarred city.

'Be like the bright Sanguinius,

With a devotion most pure,

Strike incessantly at the xenos and the heretic,

Even in death must we endure.'

She continues, circling the inner circle and pouring wine in each of her subordinates silver goblets as they bow their heads to solemnly take the wine. She then takes her place in the centre of the circle.

'Think on the mighty Emperor,

Sitting on His golden throne,

No matter where His will takes us,

We will not fight alone.'

Then she stops as the circle takes up the chorus lines.

'Blood of martyrs, blood of heroes,

Flow from thine to me,

Lend me strength, lend me courage,

Let all the Emperor will, come to be!'

'Dear Sisters…' Athanasia says as she raises the golden goblet and then takes a large mouthful of wine and takes it down. She savours the flavour for a moment of the sacred Terran-grown and processed wine they use in their ceremonies.

'...though through the Emperor's will we have taken no casualties so far during this campaign. It takes nothing away from our triumph. Our performance has been far beyond commendable, it has been as professional and swift as I could ever hope. An example for the textbooks back in the schola. Though it breaks my heart to see a branch of humanity so helpless and backwards, so darkened and hidden from the divine light of the Emperor. It must have been through sheer luck alone that this seems to have been their first contact with the wider universe. Through His will, I will dedicate this world as a shrine world. Remnantus, it is well named, a remnant of light in a segment of the universe long since shrouded in darkness. As is Beacon, this city's name before we came and what it shall remain. Only now it is not a beacon for cowards to hide from the beasts that beleaguer this world, but a beacon of faith. A beacon of what this world can be lifted to when we have rid this world of the dark ignorance and crippling incompetence they are mired in.'

They all nod and take a deep drink from their own goblets as the sermon/debriefing service continues. As the God-Emperor's most faithful, the battlefields they cleansed in His name were as much a cathedral as the vast, ornate places of worship they have grown up in.

'Yes, Beacon will serve as an example to the rest of this world in war and in peace. As we move on to the other pretty kingdoms of this world, we will have Beacon as an example of how we stand as giants far above them. And in peace, over there, across from the tower…' She turns and points with a visionary purpose to a densely populated residential district. '...a great cathedral shall rise. Dedicated to our order's saints from the Indomitus Crusade. It will be grander in scale and beauty than the tower. A beacon of what faith and glory this world could attain.'

Amongst her words, the gasp could almost be missed. But not the clanging of a silver goblet on the concrete below. And Athanasia only had to turn to see what had gone on. Naturally fair, Zephyrim Superior Cocytus had somehow to lose whatever colour already had as she looked up to see the Palatine summon her with a hooked finger. For a moment she looks down to the gauntlet in a puddle of crimson wine and decides to leave it be as Palatine Corinthus summons her for chastisement. The Zephyrim Superior sheepishly follows her commander from the circle and into the tower.

'I… ...I…' Zephyrim Superior Cocytus begins to explain when they're out of earshot and line of sight of everyone else. She is cut short by the Palatine grasping her in an iron, vice-like bear hug. The taller Palatine is silent but motherly and just holds her tightly, pinning her arms to her sides as Zephyrim Superior Cocytus stops trying to explain and tries to breathe regularly.

Palatine Corinthus says nothing, she just continues to hold the Zephyrim Superior as her breathing returns to a more regular pattern and heart beats slow down.

'The mind-scaping at the Schola, it is not what it used to be…' Palatine Corinthus begins, gently whispering in her ear. She had learned once that the chemicals used to wipe the cadets memories clean were running low, they were being diluted. She feared for the future of the Imperium though she was grateful she had a little memory left. '...I still remember a little of my mother. When I would get upset or frustrated she would hug me. Hug me tightly, not let me move until I had calmed down. It was extremely effective.'

'I saw a world burn…' Melanthe sighs, closing her eyes, warm tears leaking from her closed eyes.

'Where?' Athanasia asks.

'In the wine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to waste the holy wine.'

'In its reflection?'

Melanthe nods as Athanasia lets go of her and steps back.

'You are not in trouble.' Athanasia reassures her. 'If the Emperor deems you a fit conduit for His premonitions and commands. I am confident that greatly outweighs the accidental waste of sacred wine. Though it goes without saying when you return, it is best you let them think you were punished or verbally chastised.'

Melanthe humbly nods. As great an honour as being chosen by the Emperor like the Zephyrim is, Athanasia can't even begin to understand the strain on Melanthe's soul. Only that the Zephyrim ought to have their load lightened as much as possible.

'Which world burned?' Athanasia asks as she puts a hand on each of Melanthe's pauldrons.

'T… ...this one I think.'

'Did the God-Emperor reveal anything else to you?'

Melanthe nods, her head down as warm tears run down rosy cheeks.

'Cities, forests, the skies… ...all burning. Guardsmen, Sisters, Astartes and their heretic kin dying in the thousands on the ground we now walk… ...the eight pointed star, the eye… ...the Traitor King…'

187.M42

24-69, Patch

Let it ring all it wants. I'm not going anywhere until my girls are safe. Tai Xiao Long thought bitterly as he sat on the stone fence surrounding his property and watched down the road as far as he could as the sun rose over the island of Patch. Part of him felt guilty, guilty and downright dirty. He was a Huntsman, a sworn professional. He should answer Professor Goodwitch's summons to defend Beacon. Normally it would be the right thing to do, and normally he would oblige without question. But his girls could be scared and injured, and in danger out there. He had searched the surrounding lands but returned in case they came back. His thoughts were downright schizophrenic, whether to say or go. He knew the protocols. He knew that Professor Ozpin and his subordinates would do whatever they could to get the students out of the fight. He assumed they would be on their way to safety. As much as they wanted to fight, he trusted Qrow and the others enough to not wantonly throw the kids' lives away.

'By the Brothers!' Tai gasps as he sees some shapes on the horizon, coming down the road in his direction.

'Daddy! Daddy!' Ruby exclaims, her voice thick with emotion as she runs towards Tai. Zwei yapping and fast on her heels. It takes all her strength not to shorten the distance by using her petal burst semblance but she wants to hug him more than anything.

'Ruby!' He shouts with relief, catching her in his strong arms as they meet, lifting her up and spinning her like when she was a little girl.

'You're alive!' He proclaims loudly. 'You're alive!' In a fluid motion he spins her once more and then returns her to solid ground, before hugging her tightly like he never wants to let go.

'And Yang?'

'She's okay, dad.'

When he finally lets go the rest of her group have caught up with Ruby and Zwei. He kneels to pay Zwei before looking up at Ruby's friends.

'Dad!' Yang smiles as she walks with Blake's arm around her shoulder. Tai warmly looks at the group, the dark girl with bloody bandages around her abdomen and moving with Yang. A long haired boy moving with the help of a blonde boy and redhead. A short girl in all white and a tall girl in bronze armour.

'Stay here, rest up and recover.' Tai invites them as he helps the mysterious girl Yang is helping. They line up after the gate to stroll down the cobblestone road through Tai's quaint garden of well kept flowers and fat vegetables almost ready for eating.

'Thank you, Mister Xiao Long.' Blake says.

'Dad, this is Blake Belladonna.' Yang introduces her when they're in the house as Yang leads Blake up the stairs to her bedroom.

'Please, call me Tai.'

'Aaaaand thiiiiiiis iiiiiis Weiiiiiiss!' Ruby exclaims in a sing-song voice as she hugs Weiss from behind.

'Schnee?' He asks, recognising the name.

'The one and the same.' Weiss smiles. Normally Ruby's hugs would irritate her but with everything that they've been through, Weiss is happy to have people who care about her.

'I'm Ren…' Ren groans as Tai gestures to them to take him to a guest room. Jaune awkwardly introduces himself and Nora introduces herself with some of her customary cheer and loudness.

'Hello, Pyrrha Nikos.' Pyrrha smiles softly.

'It's an honour to have the Champion of Argus in my house.' Tai smiles, shaking her hand firmly.

'It's not that big a deal.' Pyrrha sighs. Usually she'd say that out of modesty. But after the night's events the title of "champion" seems like mockery, she no longer felt worthy.

'Oh, Ruby, a word please?' Tai summons Ruby to the kitchen where they can speak alone.

'Ya! Dad?' Ruby exclaims curiously as she comes into the kitchen and reaches for the cookie jar.

'I know you've been through a lot lately…' Ruby stops and turns back to him, being forced to think on the past night's events has saddened her and she no longer feels like cookies.

'I don't even know what happened.' She sighs sadly. 'But it was horrible. A lot of people died.' She closes her eyes as her pained tone betrays her anguish.

'And you are your team's leader?'

'Yes.' Ruby whimpers, lowering her head like she feels she is no longer worthy because they couldn't defend the people of Beacon.

'Ruby.'

'Dad?' She looks up, alarmed a little by his harsher tone.

'Professor Goodwitch has summoned the Huntsmen of Vale to defend Beacon. I will be heading off in the evening, to avoid any unpleasantness or threats under the cover of darkness.'

'Dad, please…' Ruby begins, but the words die on her lips, she wouldn't abandon Beacon if she had been summoned back and she couldn't expect her father to abandon his duties either.

'Ruby.' He repeats firmly. 'I need you to be a leader. Keep them together and safe. Keep them in good cheer. And most importantly keep them here until we have some idea of what to do.'

Ruby nods with firm determination. She couldn't do much to save Beacon, but this she could do.

187.M42

24-69, Shrine City Beacon

Mercury tries to protect his eyes from the bright light, but his hands won't move. He squints a little to see where he is. Last he could remember, he was fighting a cyborg woman or something near Roman's warehouse.

'He's awake.' A woman leaning over him caudally observes. He figures he must be laying on his back.

'About time.' Another woman, out of his sight, distractedly responds. Mercury can only groan.

The woman above him is wearing some sort of red or crimson cloth on her head, nothing can be seen but a pair of grey eyes. The lower part of her face is covered by some sort of breathing mask or gas mask looking apparatus. It has a mechanical ominousness about it.

'It's time to talk.' The masked woman continues as she opens one of his eyes, then the other with her fingers, forcing him to become accustomed to the bright light in the Beacon Academy's Medical Station.

'You can begin by telling me who this fire witch is…' A tall woman in a long red robe says as she holds up a scroll to his face. A scroll playing footage of Cinder and her team during the Fall of Beacon. His scroll playing the footage of the Fall of Beacon he recorded just before. For a moment he wonders how long ago that before actually was.

He tries to reach for his scroll in his pants pocket before looking down to realise that force keeping his arms in place are shackles keeping him chained to a bench. She holds the scroll closer to his face with it paused on Cinder standing on a roof, with a satisfied smirk on her face, looking down at the carnage.

'Again, who is she?'

'I. Don't. Know.' Mercury snarls looking up at them both.

'You may ply your trade, Sister. But, I want him more alive than not.' The taller one commands, looking back down to the scroll casually and resumes watching the footage Mercury had captured.

'Yes, Palatine.'

Mercury's eyes widen in horror as mechanical sounds begin to emanate from her ominous looking medical tools. Arms with small rotating saws, needles and what seems to be a chain saw come to life as he sees what is attached to her right mechanised gauntlet.

'Stay still…' The masked one coldy says as she stabs his arm and half empties the contents of the syringe into his veins.

'Do not worry about that…' The tall one begins, dispassionately says as she continues to watch footage of Beacon civilians running from those grimm abominations. '...it will keep your heart from stopping as the Hospitaller does her work.' Mercury's blood chills, he wonders what kind of shock they mean to administer that could cause him to go into cardiac arrest.

'Wha- what?!' Mercury shrieks in a cowardly fashion as he watches the Hospitaller change the syringe on the mechanical arm. The colour of the liquid is different.

'Feel like talking yet?' The Palatine asks without looking over. She already knows his response but it would be poor form to continue if he was about to crack.

'Fuck off!'

'Sweet dreams.' She smiles. 'Proceed Sister.'

Mercury prepared for the worst as the needle pierced his flesh, the machinery pushed the liquid rapidly into Mercury's veins. Mercury loses track of all time as the room darkens and the walls begin warping. Horrible, groaning faces, damned faces of the evil dead with wicked teeth lean forwards to bite at him. As the walls seem to melt; wicked, inhuman arms grab at him, their boney fingers, ending in talons just miss him. His heart beats in terror as the darkness is shaped by the interrogation drugs into the stuff of his nightmares. And the soundtrack of this nightmare is a chorus of moans and screams, all seemingly in slow motion. The screaming becomes more and more hysterical and a cold sweat overtakes him. If it wasn't for the other drugs he had been injected with, his heart would have given out at the crescendo of his waking nightmare.

'Make it stop! Make it stop!' He begs as he writhes in terror and tries to break his bonds.

'Feel like talking yet?' The Palatine looks over and asks matter-of-factly. Her indifferent expression warmed into some sort of unholy beast in his drug addled perception.

'Anything! Anything!'

'The smell of urine and the other excretions never gets any easier…' The Palatine flatly says as she gestures for Hospitaller to administer the antidote. The Hospitaller reluctantly agrees. She isn't happy about putting a heathen out of their suffering but orders are orders.

'Soooo… who is the fire witch?' The Palatine asks, showing him paused footage again.

'She isn't exactly a witch!' Mercury explains, as he speaks at a rapid pace, eager to please. His body untensed as he lay in a warm and foul puddle of his own waste. 'She's a Maiden! The Fall Maiden!'

'I would have a kindness from you, if you would indulge me.'

'Yes! Yes!'

'I am new to your world. Your ways and natures are quite alien to me and the vast majority of humanity as well. Your words carry different meanings and are afloat in different contexts. If you mention a phenomenon or concept like a "Fall Maiden", please elaborate further on your own initiative.'

'Yes!' He cries, anything to keep the terrors at bay.

'So… the Maiden powers. They're magic but not witchcraft. The powers travel from young woman to young woman. They're elemental powers; fire, ice, wind and all that. There's four of them: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.'

'How do they transfer, how do you know?' She leans over him, her tone softer, almost motherly.

'I used to think they were a fairy tale, but I was with her, I was a follower of hers. I helped her kill the previous Fall Maiden.'

'So the Maiden powers can be stolen?'

'Yes, if there's a conduit.'

'I see.' She says in thoughtful distraction.

'Now, back to who she is.'

'Her name is Cinder Fall!' He desperately answers, in fear of the soft spoken alien woman.

'A fire elemental user called Cinder Fall… Cinder… Fall… What a stupidly contrived name. Pray tell, that is not her real name is it?'

'Cinder, I think is her real given name. I don't know any more than that. Fall, yes, she made that up. Like a stage persona.'

'From the video it seems that this Cinder is quite the egomaniac.' The Palatine dares to diagnose.

'She's an up-herself bitch!' He moans, cursing his current fate.

'How did you-' He asks in a moment of distraction.

'Your device is extremely primitive. Tens of thousands of years behind the best comms devices. As a child I could easily discern a means of unlocking it.' She smiles down on him condescendingly. 'In this case I just pressed your fingertip to the device. The "scroll".'

'Ane this attack on Beacon, why did you attack? What did Cinder want?' He feels uneasy as she asks, her golden eyes fixing on his expression and body language as she awaits his answer like some sort of beast of prey.

'We were ordered to.'

'You and Cinder and this green haired woman.' He resolves to give her as much information as she'd like about Cinder to keep her from asking about Emerald.

'Yes.'

'So she is not your leader?'

'Well she is my leader, but she serves Salem.'

'Salem you say?' The Palatine asks, having heard that name mentioned before, cryptically like it was some secret or someone important.