AN: Finally in Volume 3. A lot of you answered what suit Mercury took and the answer is… You'll find out later on. This was delayed because I had some writer's block so I was working on other stories. I'm going to try to at least get a chapter out a month. Well, this sucks I just heard about Jason David Frank, I loved power rangers as a kid and Tommy was one of my favorites. Rest in Peace Ranger.
Chapter 29
A man with a handlebar mustache sat at his desk looking over the information he had gathered. His eyes flickered to the screen of the 'breach' and settled upon one thing, particularly the mechanized suits that had come to the city's aid. While most seemed like they were military falling into a classic Atlas formation there was a handful that didn't. It seemed like Atlas had allowed students to pilot these machines. But out of all of them, one stood out. If he didn't know better he'd figure it was the specialist the general kept by his side.
"Schnee is too stiff and formal, that stance doesn't fit her." The man muttered. "No, it's almost as if that suit was moving on it on, but that doesn't work either." The machines Atlas used as its 'soldiers' were preprogrammed and had obvious tells. "It's not a soldier, it's not Schnee, and it's not a drone. So it must be a student or huntsmen." He'd have to wait for the full report from that 'brat' but more than anything he knew for certain they had a new type of enemy to contend with.
"Watts have you finished your report? She wants all the data you have on those machines." A large muscular man growled from his doorway.
"Almost Hazel, if Ironwood thinks he can trip me up with these new machines he's got another thing coming. He hasn't even found my backdoor into the communications tower yet." Watt's gathered his completed notes and left his desk with his theory about the new type of enemy. Should the 'brat' have any news he'll inform the queen, but until then it's best they don't get sidetracked.
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Jaune finished tightening the last screw and took a step back. Sini had come through with a way to use the bit Ruby and he had made, sure the power was scaled down but it would be functional. The time to make more would take up far too much of his team's training so he stuck with one for now and designed the charging port like the Zudah's Mercury Engine he saw from Char's memories.
The difference is this will not rip you apart like that death machine. Char reminded him. Jaune blanched at that memory of how the engine went critical and ripped the suit apart killing its pilot.
"Thanks for that image," Jaune replied in a deadpan way. The tournament officially started in just a week, so for now the rival teams were scouting out the combat classes to try to learn any secrets. Jaune Placed the neural interface headset into his Char mask and smiled as he placed the bit and mask in a secured locker.
"I guess it's all done huh?" Ruby said with interest from the doorway. "Does that mean you have time for your girlfriend?" Jaune rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Sorry about that. It's just when I got Sini's message I had to try." Jaune explained.
Remember you are your own person don't make my mistakes. Char reminded him.
"It's fine, I can't wait to see it in action but we just have a week left," Ruby looked at the locker. "Everyone is so busy now, we barely spend any time as a team."
"I know. I've been thinking though, how would you like to help me plan some team activities." Jaune smirked. "Sure we'll be training but that doesn't mean we can't have fun." The glint in Ruby's eyes promised something great.
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"Yang you're too far forward if you get surrounded we can't assist you in time, fall back!" Pyrrha called out. "Weiss, focus on supporting the south flank."
"Come on P-dog I've got this," Yang said confidently.
"Right away." Weiss acknowledged. "Yang, listen to Pyrrha she knows what she's doing."
"D-Don't start arguing, p-please." Pyrrha stuttered. "Ren enemy on your left."
"Got it." Ren spun into action quickly dispatching his target.
"What the…" Yang went quiet.
"Yang?" Weiss called out "Yang! Wait, I can't see there's too…" Weiss was cut off by the sound of hundreds of leaves being flung forward and went silent.
"Weiss, Yang?" Pyrrha called out to her team. "Ren? Can you hear me? Ren?" There was no answer and Pyrrha fell silent. She prepared and set out to try to find her team.
"Fire!" Three voices called out. Shots of water hit where Pyrrah once stood, if she wasn't so used to uphill battles she would have been hit.
"Achilles got away!" A serious voice reported.
"Don't worry I'll flush her out A cheery voice bragged.
"No don't! Stay in for…" The serious voice groaned. "There she goes, Bell, prepare to strike Achilles when she goes for Red."
"Aye, aye captain." Bell saluted and hid in the shadows. The next few minutes were hectic Red set off a tripwire but dodged the water trap only for Bell to be soaked and Pyrrha rolled out of cover getting Red while she was distracted. All that was left was the Commander, a barrel pressed up against her head.
"Well, well Achilles you gave us quite the scare but it looks like it's our win." Commander gloated.
"Yeah, I guess so…" Pyrrha spun around pulling her head to the side at the last minute and stuck Commander's wrist knocking his gun away. Commander followed suit by wrapping his arm around hers leaving putting her in an arm lock which she quickly broke. Commander quickly came forward leaving her right arm and his left unable to do anything major and with their free hands, they both went for the other's side weapon and circled around with both placing the other at the end of the barrel.
"If you fire I'll still take you out at the same time," Commander told her mere seconds away from pulling his trigger.
"It looks like we are in a stalemate." Pyrrha nodded flicking her eyes to the side for a split second. Commander smirked Turning her the other way right as another stream of water hit her back and fired.
"You got me Jaune." Ren walked from the bushes with a blue stain on his training clothes. Jaune let go of Pyrrha as Blake picked Ruby up from the ground.
"That was so not fair Blake!" Yang came up from where she was taken out. "You tricked me."
"All's fair in love and war Yang." Blake shrugged with a sly smirk.
"We would have won if you didn't go so far ahead, you dolt." Weiss glared at Yang. "That was a smart move with the leaves and your semblance Ruby, if you weren't Jaune's partner you'd make a good leader."
"Aw, you think so?" Ruby blushed at the compliment.
"If it wasn't for the end there I'd completely agree." Jaune wrapped his arms over her shoulders bringing her in close. "You just need a bit more control and honestly you'd probably give me a run for my money in planning attacks."
"Ok you two, leave the kissy stuff till later." Yang teased. "Speaking of that, where's Nora?"
"Ren! Are you going to get me down from here? All the blood is rushing to my head!" Nora called out. Off in the distance, they could make out the silhouette of Nora dangling upside down by a rope.
Really?" Weiss raised an eyebrow. "How does someone fall for such a trap?" Everyone turns towards her with the same "it's Nora" expression. "Ok, I can see it. Need a hand?"
"No need the rope will break in 3…2…" The sound of a snapping rope followed by a thud echoed through the forest arena.
"Nevermind! I'm fine!" Nora called out. After helping Nora out of a bush the two teams make their way back to the courtyard of Beacon.
"You know Ruby when you suggested a water gun war, I thought you were just trying to goof off." Weiss admitted and Rubby pouted. "But it turned out to be a good exercise in teamwork and showed us some things we could work on and it was kinda fun. Good job."
"Yay! Thank you so much bestie!" Ruby burst forward embracing Weiss in a bear hug.
"Ruby… can't… breath." Weiss tapped the younger girl on the shoulder.
"Oops sorry." Ruby let go and Weiss gasped for air.
"How… are you used to that Jaune?" Weiss gasped out. "I swear I saw my life pass before my eyes."
"It takes practice but you get used to it." Jaune laughed. "Ruby's a very affectionate girl."
"Maybe too affectionate, remember the time Nora and I came back to the room from detention when…" Ruby tackled Blake to the ground.
"You said you wouldn't say anything!" Her face was as red as her cloak.
"Hehe, well I think it's time to get cleaned up." Jaune chuckled.
"No, I think I speak for everyone when I say we want to hear the rest of that story, vomit boy," Jaune swore he saw a dragon glaring at him when he saw Yang's red eyes.
So what did happen Char? Amuro asked as they watched Yang chase Jaune around.
It wasn't that bad just some touching. Char shrugged. So how is Ren holding up after that nightmare?
He's doing better I guess but I'm still worried about what might happen if something were to hurt his team.
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"Welcome one and all to the first round of the 40th Vytal Festival, I Peter Port will be your host alongside my fellow professor…"
"Doctor!"
"Doctor Bartholomew Oobleck. The first match will be Team ABRN from Haven academy against Beacon's very own Team PYSL! If this is your first time watching, allow us to break down the rules." Processor port announced.
"The tournament is divided into three distinctive rounds; teams, doubles, and singles. Age and school year are irrelevant! In this tournament, your only attribute being tested... is skill." Oobleck held up three fingers.
"Correct! The winners of this battle will elect two of their members to represent them in the doubles round, followed by the winners of that round choosing one member to advance once again. The remaining combatants will then fight their way through the final bracket in the hope of achieving victory for their kingdom!" And with that, the Festival began.
