Chapter 11: The Face of the Enemy

(Beacon Academy, Common Room)

Jaune was not having a good day, that tended to happen when a viral video starring Adam Taurus made the rounds. As it turned out, the emergency meeting that Ozpin had called, was to discuss what to do about the video.

In the end, it had been decided to leave it up, at Ilia's suggestion. If they got it removed from the video hosting site that it was uploaded to, that would give the White Fang's propaganda crew more fuel than they wanted.

In the video, which Adam called his manifesto, he had laid it out, plain as day, ripping the last bit of illusion away. Adam didn't want equality, at least not in the way that Blake, Ilia, or Sienna Khan did.

To Adam, equality meant a reversal of what he perceived as the status quo, Faunus on top, and humans on the bottom.

"We'll show THEM what's it's like to be hunted down and killed for what they are, we'll show THEM what it's like to be thrown into cages!"

It got better. The next part of the video is what truly had made Jaune's blood run cold. The part where Adam had detailed what he would do to the Schnees and any who stood with them. It was quite simple really.

Public execution.

Jaune had tuned out at that point. Adam had effectively threatened to kill not only Weiss, but each and every one of his friends. Oh, and him. So, yeah. Jaune was not in a good mood.

Then came the most damming part of the video. Adam took off his mask, revealing the SDC brand on his face.

Weiss had been beside herself, she had insisted that the practice, as she called it, of branding Faunus workers who stepped out of line had been stopped years ago. She had vowed to get to the bottom of whether Adam had been branded before or after her father had claimed that it had been stopped. She had refused Jaune's help in the matter, stating that, oh what did she say...

"I'm sorry, Jaune. I need to do this on my own, it's... I feel guilty, I feel like my own complacency in what the SDC did to Faunus led to Adam being who he is." Weiss had said.

Jaune winced, he hadn't exactly been... understanding... "What about the Oath, Weiss? Your burdens are my burdens now, so let me help!"

"No, Jaune. I need to do this alone. Please understand, I'm not trying push you away. I just need to find this out on my own."

So, he had relented. As far as he knew, Weiss was on hold with the SDC Records department, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

But if those records are open to the public, then they'll only show what Jacques wants them to. Maybe I should... no, if our positions were flipped, I'd want her to trust me.

Jaune looked up from his internal argument to see that Cardin had just walked in. "Jaune, don't take this the wrong way, but you look like shit." Cardin said.

Jaune shrugged, "I guess that's what happens when you find out that that a racist terrorist leader wants to publicly execute your girlfriend just because her last name happens to be Schnee, oh and then you're next." Jaune kept his tone light, as if the situation he had described was absurd, instead of real.

Cardin winced as he took a seat next to Jaune. "That's rough, buddy." Cardin said awkwardly.

"I've been trying to get inside Adam's head, so I can predict what he's going to do, but it's like he doesn't follow any sort of logic except I hate humans." Jaune said, more to himself.

"Well, there's your first problem." Cardin said. "You're trying to use logic."

"Well, why wouldn't I?" Jaune asked.

Cardin wagged a finger at Jaune, "That's because racism isn't logical, Jaune. I would know."

Jaune frowned, "What about his followers, though? Sure, some are probably true believers, but some are probably loyal out of fear that Adam will kill them or their loved ones if they leave."

Cardin remained silent, so Jaune continued. "When I'm out there, fighting them, I can't help but wonder which it is for every White Fang in front of me. If I gave them a way out, would they take it? Who would walk away if I extended a hand instead of a sword?"

Cardin shook his head, "Jaune, I knew you were soft, but this is ridiculous." When Jaune tried to argue, Cardin shouted over him, "WE'RE AT WAR! And you're over here trying to kill as few people as possible? Get over yourself, Arc!"

"But if we could get enough of them to desert-" Jaune started.

Cardin cut him off, "Don't be naive. They've made their choice, it doesn't matter if they're a true believer in Adam's crap or if he's got them over a barrel! They will try to kill us all either way, so don't you dare make it easier for them! You hear me?"

"Yeah, Cardin. Loud and clear. " Jaune said.

"Believe me, Jaune, I get it." Cardin said, "I get wanting to save them. I was them, just... on the other side. They have to want to change, and they don't. Otherwise they wouldn't be following Adam."

"I hate it when you're right." Jaune said.

Cardin grinned, "Hey, if that keeps you alive, I don't think Weiss would complain. You're a good man, Jaune, but war isn't the place for good men."

Jaune smiled sadly, "Adam has his private war, and I have mine."

"Jaune, what are you..." Cardin trailed off as he considered what Jaune was saying.

"My private war is making sure I live long enough to kill the bitch that killed Pyrrha."

(Team RWBY Dorm)

Useless! The records keeping arm of the largest, most powerful company in all of Remnant was useless!

Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. Records had plenty of information on Adam Taurus, but none of it was from before he had joined the White Fang. Which made sense, records from before the Faunus Labor Laws were scarce at best.

Weiss sighed. That meant... there was only one person who had the answers she needed. The last person on Remnant that Weiss wished to talk to, especially right now.

Jacques Schnee.

Weiss took a deep breath, and reviewed what precious little she did know. According to Blake, as a child, Adam's parents had been forced to take jobs at one of the more remote SDC mines, which meant that Adam had to come with them. All went well, until Adam turned 18. The foreman came to the Taurus residence, such as it was, and told Adam that if he wanted to continue living with his parents, he would have to work in the mines as well.

He refused.

The foreman had his lackeys drag Adam out into the street, where the foreman "showed those filthy animals what happens when they disobey". At this point, Blake had commented that the foreman's words were probably an embellishment on Adam's part. However, the facts remained, that Adam had a brand, a brand that taunted him every time he looked in the mirror.

What Weiss was concerned about when it came to this whole affair, was it happened around the time that the Faunus Labor Laws were put in place, stopping practices like branding.

But it went deeper than that.

Months prior, a twelve-year old Weiss had discovered that the SDC did things like branding Faunus. She had been horrified, and had half a mind to march into her father's office, and flat out beg him to call for a halt to it.

But the memory the night of her tenth birthday was still too fresh in her mind. So she waited for months.

When she had finally done it, Jacques had agreed readily, but that was only because that the Faunus Labor Laws had been passed that night. What Weiss wanted to know, was if he would've stopped the practice of branding if she had come to him sooner. Because if he would have, then everything that Adam had done could've been prevented if she.. if she...

Weiss took a deep breath, when was the last time that she had willingly faced her father before then? It must have been... when she was eight. She had been so excited to show him that she had unlocked her Aura. Despite herself, she smiled at the memory. A memory of a simple time, when she had been able to fool herself into thinking that...

Nope, not thinking about that.

She took the plunge.

One ring...

Jacques Schnee's image appeared on Weiss's scroll.

"Weiss." Jacques said, "This is a surprise."

"Hello, father." Weiss said. "How are you, today?"

"Weiss, drop the pretenses. I know full well that you don't have time for small talk." Jacques said, "And I also know that you wouldn't be calling me unless you needed something."

Well, straight to the point then. "I need any records the company has of Adam Taurus. Pre-Labor Laws."

Jacques narrowed his eyes. Pre-Labor Law records were dangerous business. If it got out how cruel that Jacques had been allowing his employees to be towards Faunus... "How would that help you fight him and the White Fang?"

Weiss fidgeted, "It's more for me, actually."

Jacques's patience had effectively run its course. "The point, Weiss."

"Do you remember that time I came to your office in the middle of the night? I was about twelve years old."

Jacques nodded. "I remember, you had found out about the practice of branding Faunus miners who stepped out of line, and you begged me to stop it."

"And I was so happy you said yes, not knowing that the Faunus Labor Laws had just been passed." Weiss finished.

"Again, Weiss, what is the point of this?" Jacques demanded.

"What would you have done, say if I had come to you a few months earlier?" Weiss asked.

Jacques leaned back in his chair, "I would've said no, of course. The branding notwithstanding, the Faunus Labor Laws cost the company a great deal, both in lawsuits and profits."

Weiss let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank the gods."

Jacques raised an eyebrow. "Well, now you've got me interested, Weiss. What's this really about?"

Weiss quickly explained Adam's manifesto, which culminated in the reveal of his SDC brand.

Jacques stroked his chin, "I see, you felt guilty, and wanted to know if there had been a way for you to prevent Adam from becoming..."

"Adam." Weiss finished.

Jacques closed his eyes, and Weiss looked at him in confusion, it was almost as if... "Weiss," Jacques finally said, "You do not have to atone for my crimes. That is for me, and me alone."

Jacques then terminated the call, leaving Weiss with the answers she had been looking for, but leaving her with even more questions.

It's almost like he regrets the things he's done, but that's ridiculous.

Right?

(Vale, Industrial District, Reign-Beau)

"Comm check." Winter said. There was a chorus of affirmatives from her men, but then...

"I hear ya loud and clear, Ice Queen." Qrow quipped.

"I expected a Huntsman of your caliber to be more professional, Qrow." Reign-Beau grumbled.

"Enough!" Winter snapped, "You have your targets, go radio silent, we move in 5."

Reign-Beau shook his head, and turned to his men. "Alright, this is a lot different than protecting Gallia from Grimm and bandits. If anyone wants out, now's the time."

No one made any move to leave, after all, this was personal for them. Gallia was a tight-knit community, and everyone was treated as family. As far as they were concerned, the White Fang had declared war on them when they threatened Jaune's life.

"I know this will be the first time clearing a building for all of us, everyone remember the crash course that Delta Squad gave us?" Reign-Beau asked.

One of the Valean Hunters spoke up, a man by the name of Feldspar, spoke up. "Yeah. Point man picks a direction and goes, we cover the rest, yell clear if a room is clear."

Reign-Beau nodded, "Good. Weapons at the ready, and ah... I believe stack up is the term."

They proceeded to line up, at the entrance to the bar that they had been told was a hideout for a White Fang cell. Reign-Beau had chosen to take point, due to his semblance and shield upgrade, both of which would get a workout today.

"No one near the door, no explosives either." Feldspar muttered through their local comms, his semblance, Radar Sense, allowed him to detect people and objects within a short distance.

Despite retiring, Reign-Beau had made a point to not let his abilities atrophy, so he had more than enough strength to kick the door in.

Which he did.

He rushed inside, shield ready to deflect a hail of gunfire, quickly appraising the scene before him.

Five White Fang members opened fire, aiming to turn the seasoned Huntsman into Swiss cheese. In response, Reign-Beau activated his Semblance, Bulwark. His shield glowed as solid light covered it and expanded, creating a barrier that shielded him and his men.

"Sterling! You're up!" Reign-Beau yelled.

A cracking of knuckles and whirring of drones told Reign-Beau that Sterling had begun to use his Semblance, Rigger. It allowed him to control simple machinery like his drones. A few lightning dust powered zaps later, and the five White Fang goons were out cold.

Sterling shook his head, "Damn, they nailed one of my drones. I don't enjoy the headache..."

"One more in the kitchen!" Feldspar said, "He's either a big guy, or he's got a lot of weapons!" Reign-Beau surged forward, barging into the kitchen, only to be met with a crocodile Faunus brandishing a belt-fed machine gun. He opened fire, sending the others diving for cover.

Reign-Beau, on the other hand, stood his ground. Inspired by Jaune, he had also gotten a dust upgrade to his weapon, gravity dust to be specific.

He planted his shield, creating a gravity field in front of him that suspended the bullets in mid air, and after a few seconds, sent them back to where they came from. The crocodile Faunus screeched as he was eviscerated by his own bullets.

"Clear!" Reign-Beau said, "Alright, tear this place apart. We need to know everything they know!"

After a few minutes, the comm channel popped, it was Winter. "All clear here, status?"

"Done and dusted." Reign-Beau said. "I've got my men searching for any intel."

"Reign-Beau, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were one of my men."

Reign-Beau smiled, "Ah, I've worked with Atlas military before, I know the jargon."

Qrow cut in, "Clear here, a couple injuries, but nothing life-threatening... wait, hold on..."

Winter was not in a patient mood, "Qrow, I swear, if this is some practical joke..."

"It isn't." Qrow retorted, "We've got a situation at the school. It's Tyrian. He just attacked team RWBY."

Winter practically screeched into the radio, "Tyrian? As in Tyrian Callows the mass murderer?"

"Did I stutter?"

(Team RWBY Dorm, 10 minutes earlier)

There were many things that Ruby considered terrifying to wake up to, oatmeal cookies and moldy strawberries, for example.

She was forced to revise this list when she woke up to the grinning face of Tyrian Callows. She was about to scream when he swiftly covered her mouth.

"Ah, ah, ah," Tyrian whispered. "You make too much noise, and I start killing your friends."

Ruby immediately stopped trying to make noise. Jaune was sleeping with Weiss tonight, and it would be just like Tyrian to only kill Weiss, leaving Jaune to find...

Ruby shuddered, she did not want that mental image. Confident that Ruby would remain quiet, Tyrian removed his hand from Ruby's mouth. "What do you want?" Ruby asked.

"The same as before, little rose." Tyrian said. "My queen wishes to have an audience with you, and one does not refuse her."

"Then she can come to me!" Ruby said, defiance clear in her voice. "I'm not letting you take me!"

Tyrian laughed, and it was not a pleasant sound. "Good, I still need to pay you back for cutting off my tail, you bit-" Tyrian was interrupted by Ruby Rose's secret weapon. A headbutt. Tyrian yelped in pain and fell to the ground, and Ruby took the opportunity to wake up the calavary.

"Everyone wake up! Now!" Ruby yelled.

Weiss was the first to wake up. "Ruby, what is it, it's... it's..." For the first time, Weiss locked eyes with Tyrian Callows. Weiss reacted immediately, using her glyphs to trap Tyrian.

"Well, that's just annoying." Tyrian muttered.

Weiss used her free hand to shake Jaune awake, as Yang and Blake finally joined them. Jaune's eyes went wide as he saw the intruder. "Yang, Blake, go for help, I think we can hold him." Ruby ordered.

Blake was out of her bed in a flash, quickly grabbing her scroll and darting out of the room, Yang followed much slower, pausing for a moment to give a warning, "Guys, be careful, his s-semblance..."

"We know, Yang." Ruby said, "I was there, remember?"

Yang nodded and hurried after Blake, glad to be running away from Tyrian. Tyrian, on the other hand, was cackling with glee. "Oh, she's rather afraid of me, isn't she?"

"Quiet." Jaune ordered, "We have you outnumbered."

Tyrian's hands began to glow malevolently as he deployed his wrist blades. "Do you really think that matters?" Tyrian said, leering at Jaune as he dragged one of his blades across a glyph.

Weiss screamed in pain, clutching her hand. "Weiss, what's wrong?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"Normally, when my glyphs break," Weiss said through gritted teeth, "I get some phantom pain, but this, it's like he's tearing into my soul!"

The glyph that Tyrian had attacked started to flicker, but only for an moment, until Weiss regained her concentration.

"You know, I think I'm going to enjoy making you scream some more, Miss Schnee," Tyrian taunted, "Except the next time, the results will be more... final."

Jaune's breath caught in his throat. He interposed himself between Weiss and Tyrian, his face contorted in fury. "You'll have to get through me first, Tyrian."

Tyrian replied by attacking the glyphs that held him back in earnest. To Weiss's credit, she held on for as long as she could, until finally they broke. Tyrian lunged forward, intending on making good on his threats.

Unfortunately for him, Ruby and Jaune had other plans. Using her Semblance, Ruby switched places with Weiss in a flurry of rose petals, and Jaune...

Jaune was on the warpath.

While he had never been formally trained in hand to hand combat, hours of watching Yang and to a lesser extent, Mercury, in combat class had shown him what worked and how to make it hurt.

Tyrian made the mistake of ignoring him, so Jaune grabbed him by his jacket and hauled him back, then delivered a left hook. "You will not touch her." Jaune seethed.

Tyrian cackled, "Oh, I think I will, and I'll enjoy your look of despair when you see the light leave her eyes!"

Jaune surged forward, faster than even Tyrian anticipated, grabbed Tyrian's head, and jerked it downward, right into a knee strike.

"Oh, that's interesting." Tyrian said after recovering, "Did I touch a nerve?"

Jaune responded with his fists, delivering two brutal hooks to Tyrian's face. Tyrian snarled, and swung his blades at Jaune, but caught nothing but air as Jaune jumped out of the way. Tyrian reacted by jumping onto Jaune's shoulders, intending to use him as a springboard to get to Weiss and Ruby.

Jaune had other ideas, and reached up, grabbed Tyrian by the ankles, and slammed him into the ground.

"I thought I told you-" Jaune said, interrupting his own warning to stomp on Tyrian's gut, "You will not touch her, Cinder!"

Weiss gasped. Even if that had been just a slip of the tongue... the implications were nothing good.

Jaune continued his assault, dragging Tyrian off the ground and pinning him to the wall and punching him, again and again, with Tyrian cackling all the while.

Weiss stopped counting after the tenth punch.

Finally, after gods only knew how long, Tyrian's aura broke, and after another vicious strike from Jaune, went unconscious. Jaune finally relented, and let the madman fall to the floor.

He turned to Weiss and Ruby, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry, you had to see that. I don't have a lot of practice at putting aura into unarmed attacks, so it... took a while."

Before anyone could bring up the elephant in the room, Yang and Blake returned with Professor Goodwitch. Goodwitch quickly used her Semblance to restrain the unconscious Tyrian and remove him from the room. "Is anyone hurt?" She asked.

"No, I think we're alright, Professor." Ruby said, "Just shaken."

Goodwitch nodded curtly, "Good, I'd advise you to get what sleep you can, Professor Ozpin will want to discuss this incident with you tomorrow morning." She quickly left with Tyrian, intending to get him somewhere secure before he woke up.

"Well, we should probably get back to-" Jaune started.

Weiss cut him off, "Jaune, wait, we need to talk about this."

Jaune froze, "What do you mean? What's there to talk about?"

"Jaune, you called Tyrian... Cinder." Ruby whimpered.

Jaune blinked. "I... What?"

Yang and Blake were mercifully quiet as they sank back into bed, both of them claiming the bottom bunk through some unspoken agreement.

"Do you not remember?" Weiss asked, worry plain in her voice.

Jaune shook his head, "N-no. All I remember was being so angry that he was trying to hurt you, and knowing that I had to stop him, because if I didn't you would... you would..." Jaune trailed off as his mind supplied a cursed scenario where he had failed, and Weiss lay dead on the floor.

Weiss took his hand and placed it over her heart. "Do you feel that, Jaune?" She asked.

He nodded, unable to speak at the moment.

"I'm still here, Jaune. I'm not going to leave you, that's a promise. Arc's honor."

Yang's head popped up, "Wait a sec, Weiss, why did you say 'Arc's honor'? Isn't that Jaune's thing?"

Jaune had regained the ability to speak, and replied, "That's an explanation for tomorrow, Yang. Add it to the list, I suppose."

Weiss nodded, "Yes, but for now, come to bed, Jaune."

He was all too eager to obey, and fell back asleep as soon as they were settled.

A/N: Alright, I need to Word of God one thing here, Tyrian does not have his robotic tail yet. Watts hasn't had the time or the parts to make it yet.

Nothing else, really, I greatly appreciate all of you, first and foremost, I'm writing this story for me, and it means a lot to me that you guys are getting enjoyment out of it. So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks.

Next Chapter: Ozpin debriefs team RWBY and Jaune on Tyrian, Sienna Khan arrives, and the gang helps Jaune heal some more.