RWBY Reloaded Volume 6 Chapter 4 Alternate: Argus's Fate
(City Of Argus, Military Installation)
Four out of the Five Ace-Ops meet before Cordovin. Heads hung in shame.
Cordovin: So, you four failed to stop the traitor, Reuben Clark. Now Harriet Bree is missing, or possibly dead?
Vine: It would appear that way, Special Operative Cordovin.
Cordovin looks at the four. Hoping that at least one of them were competent enough.
Cordovin: I should have you all reprimanded from the General himself.
She smirks while Elm trembles. Knowing the power she wields.
Elm: No, Special Operative Cordovin, we will fulfil the mission! We swear it!
The base then shakes, Cordovin looks around for the source. Cracks appear in the structure, as small chunks start to fall off of it. Suddenly Team RWBY and Reuben descend from the sky. Then, explosions go off, destroying Atlesian Air vessels. The mighty machines erupt into flames, which quickly engulf and swallow them whole.
Reuben: You will not take me back to Atlas, and you will not escape Argus, Caroline Cordovin.
Marrow then looks up and regains his posture.
Marrow: STAY!
Marrow freezes the group, wagging his tail. Suddenly, he feels something's off. Marrow can't feel the rest of his body. His eyes widen as pain explodes throughout his entire being. He then looks around and notices his teammates staring at him. He feels the world around him go dark. His head slides cleanly off his body. His canine Faunus body falls to the ground, blood soaking the ground.
Clover: Marrow!
Team RWBY are unfrozen, falling unceremoniously to the ground. They look over at the faunus with shock.
Reuben: He was too dangerous to let live…
Reuben looks over at the head of the slain faunus. He marches over and quickly crushes it under his boot.
Yang: Holy!
Reuben had been influenced by Raven. He wouldn't allow someone with such a powerful semblance to possibly hinder his goals.
Clover: The gloves are off! Kill those damn kids!
Weiss launches herself at Vine, clashing with him. Ruby uses her semblance and tackles Cordovin so no more backup can be called. Yang then blasts Ember Celica at full power, hitting Clover with its full force. Reuben knows Yang can handle himself, but this burning bloodlust inside of him, awakened by his new mate Raven Branwen needs to be quenched.
Yang: I have this!
Yang continues to fight against the Ace-Operative, wearing him down. Reuben slowly walks over to Clover, powering up his semblance. Yang punches Clover back before getting smacked in the face by Elm Eldrine's hammer. Ruby and Weiss were busy working as a team to fight Vine, while Blake was fighting Elm, until Elm decided to save her boss. Now Elm had to contend with angry girls who fought like bumble bees.
Clover: I never thought it would come to this.
Clover tries swinging his weapon at Reuben. Reuben looks at the weapon and grabs it.
Reuben: Kingfisher…you brought a fishing pole to a death battle? You better hope that semblance of yours keeps you from dying at my hands!
Reuben yanks it from Clover´s hand. He crushes the Atlesian metal, snapping the pole in two and tosses it towards Cordovin. The two of them impale her and hold her body to the ground. Tying up that loose end permanently.
Clover: Man on man?
Reuben stares at Clover, who rushes towards him. Reuben ducks and delivers a bone shattering blow to Clover´s gut. His Aura shatters instantly upon impact. Clover´s eyes widen, he can feel the pain vibrating his entire being. He then spits blood out of his mouth, the fluid staining the ground.
Reuben: Did you honestly forget how Pure Progress works?
Reuben's laughter echoes in Clover's ears.
Reuben: You see Clover, you're not dealing with the Average Huntsman anymore….
Reuben's tone of voice shifts, sounding like a different man.
Reuben: Pure Progress allows my body to not only become stronger after every little fight, but it also learns. I've learned how to surpass the Spring Maiden when not at her fullest, and the Fall Maiden who is on the cusp of mastery, after a single battle. Whether I win or lose, eventually I will come out on top.
Clover's eyes start to bulge as the pain continues, Reuben driving his fist in further.
Clover: Y-You worthless! Do you think you'll get away with this?! I-I'm a member of the Elite Ace-Operatives! Once Ironwood hears of this you will regret ever being born!
Ruby and Weiss mange to subdue Vine in the background. While Blake and Yang continue to fight Elm, whose own aura begins to crack.
Reuben: Oh believe me, I intend on crushing the dear General!
Clover's eyes roll back in his head as he succumbs to his injuries.
Ruby: Finally, It's over…
Reuben disappears and reappears, slamming his boot down on Vine's neck.
Elm: Vine!
Elm then gets punched, full force by Yang. The force of it finally shattering Elm's aura. Elm falls to her knees before Reuben lobs his sword at her. The sword spinning around wildly in circles. The sword cuts through her abdomen cleanly, slicing the last Ace-Operative in two.
Blake: Well, It's finished…
Blake puts away gambol shroud as the rest of team RWBY sits uneasy.
Reuben: It didn't have to come to this…If Marrow would have hurt any of you…
Weiss: it's alright. You made a judgement call. Morality aside, it was the right one to make.
Suddenly, Jaune Arc arrives with the ship, he lands it by the Military Prison. He walks out with the last member of the Ace-Operatives, Harriet Bree alive.
Jaune: Oh my God….
Harriet is in total shock at the carnage.
Harriet: You Monster!
Jaune slowly draws his sword.
Ruby: Jaune don't!
The blond-haired boy's hand vibrates as he aims it at Reuben. Reuben smirks as he stands before Jaune.
Jaune: Y-You did this didn't you?! I-I should've trusted my instincts when it came to you!
He stands infront of Harriet, moving to protect her from the Haven Academy Headmaster. His pulse quickens and his breathing becomes shallower. He tries in vain to calm himself down. Reuben starts to walk slowly, his boots echoing in Jaune's mind.
Reuben: Are you still going on about your delusion? LARPing as a hero when you are little more than an unimportant side character.
Reuben closes the gap between the two.
Jaune: I'm not afraid of you!
Reuben: You have no reason to, Jaune.
Reuben shoves him out of the way.
Reuben: You were never a real huntsman.
Reuben then makes his way to Harriet. He places his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes nervously meet his as he grins. She knows that if he wants to, he could vaporize her brain in seconds.
Harriet: Mercy…please…
Reuben glares at her, his eyes not showing an ounce of mercy.
Reuben: Little Harriet, I'm not going to waste my energy killing you. You'll take me to your leader.
Harriet looks confused as the bloodlust that consumed Reuben seems to subside.
Harriet: Betray Him?!
Jaune looks up at Reuben and Harriet conversing. He weakly crawls over to the rest of the team.
Reuben: Yes. You see l have a plan for just us. It will save the lives of those being held hostage under his regime.
Reuben looks to Ruby.
Reuben: Your team shall travel to Vacuo. We need to speak to Theodore and discern the location of the Spring Maiden.
Ruby: Okay! Take care up there!
The group split off once more with Reuben on his way to liberate Atlas.
(End of Volume 6)