KS: Hey there, folks, it's your boy. Now, I have been reading a rather interesting fanfic called Ironside written by GodHand96 and... (exhales) goddamn, it's something. They took a radical idea, ran with it, and boy oh boy, did it gain some traction. Of course, this meant they had to- and I'm using this term as loose as possible- demonize certain characters to a particular extent to emphasize their flaws and decisions presented in Volume 7. This will focus on one of those characters as her actions have brought her to the position she is currently in. GodHand, if you're reading this, I hope it's to your liking. Same with everyone else. Now, enjoy.
The frozen wastes of Solitas discriminated against no one. Not even the Grimm themselves were exempt from its cruel, frigid grasp. The early settlers of Mantle were able to adjust and build their kingdom in the middle of the frozen tundra. Discovering a hidden gold mine's worth of dust and using said dust to power their technology was one of the many benefits. As time went on and technology advanced, Atlas was soon born and was lifted up from Mantle, through the use of gravity dust.
One city floated above another. One prospered, while the other struggled to get by.
And yet, even though people in Mantle have it rough, it's still meager compared to who lives outside the broken walls.
The sounds of a buzzer rang loudly throughout the room. The scribbling of a pen ceased as a sigh rang out.
"About time they brought more rations. We've been running low since last week."
Standing up from her desk, Minerva Victor walked out of her private quarters and down the hall. She has seen the same gray, bland walls for months, and was tired.
"It better not be Harriet again," she grumbled. "I swear, that girl runs her mouth more times than needed. Someone ought to punch her sometime."
She finally made it to a large door and typed a numerical combination on the keypad next to it. The keypad beeped and a loud hissing noise was heard from the door as it began to open. As it did, Minerva widened her eyes in shock as she saw the last person she ever would expect to arrive in such a miserable, desolate place such as this.
The individual in question was none other than Yang Xiao Long, looking miserable as ever with her belongings in a few boxes. Minerva was truly at a loss for words.
"Are you in charge here?" the blonde asked in a dour tone.
Minerva stared at her in silence for a few seconds before speaking.
"Yes, I am," she said. "My name is Minerva Victor, and I am in charge of this base here."
Yang looked around at the abandoned-looking complex. It honestly looks like it hasn't been tended to in years. In fact, it looks as if time itself has forgotten it existed, in her opinion.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if this can be called a base," Yang said.
Minerva narrowed her eyes and adjusted her glasses. "I'll admit the exterior is… abysmal, to say the least, but there's much more to inside, I assure you."
Yang shrugged. "Whatever. Are you gonna help get this stuff inside?"
Minerva sighed. "Just what I needed… another difficult person dropped onto my lap. And it just happened to be the one who has possibly doomed us all."
"Hey!" Yang shouted indignantly. "I heard that!"
Against her better judgement, along with every fiber of her being, Minerva carried most of Yang's belongings through the hallway. As the blonde followed her, she noticed that she wore the same uniform as Winter, but with a few personal additions. There were gray and orange pauldrons on her shoulders, and her gloves had metal tips on the fingers.
"Have you been given any details about this particular unit?" Minerva asked as they walked.
"Not really," Yang admitted in a somber tone. "All they told me is that it was a dumping ground for trash the military had no use for or didn't want to deal with any longer."
Minerva grit her teeth in frustration. "Leave it to regular personnel to not only give the exact details of the unit, but to treat us as cannon fodder…"
Yang tilted her head at the woman's muttering.
"But to put it in simple terms," Minerva explained. "It is a covert penal unit that specializes in operations the regulary military, special squadrons and even huntsmen refuse to go near, let alone take on."
"Wait, operations that even huntsmen want nothing to do with?" Yang repeated in shock. "Missions like what?"
"You'll know soon enough," Minerva said. "For now, I'll have you get acquainted with your fellow subordinates."
Yang sighed. "This is going to be peachy, I just know it."
Minerva paid no mind to the blonde's sarcastic tone as the duo walked towards a large door that slid open to reveal a very bizarre-looking lab. As far as the eye can see, there were vials containing various liquids, machines of questionable design, and at the center of was a girl with messy green hair and purple eyes with bags under them sitting at a chair, typing away rapidly at a keyboard in front of a large screen.
"This is our technological specialist, Hyoka Fuwa," Minerva introduced the girl. "She may appear bizarre, but she's very capable."
Hyoka paused her typing to look at Yang. To say that the blonde was put off by her appearance would be putting it mildly.
"Uh…" Was all the blonde could start with before being cut off.
"I know who you are," Hyoka said in a blunt tone. "You're the one who foolishly leaked the plans of the Amity Project to those self-righteous frauds."
Yang felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. It seems word of her latest transgression somehow reached to this place as well.
"Hyoka, I thought I told you to take it easy on her," Minerva said in a light reprimanding tone.
"I have no reason to mince words," Hyoka replied, keeping a pointed gaze on the blonde. "Especially when they're towards someone who might as well doomed our kingdom."
Yang felt the urge to deck Hyoka where she sat. However, she began to weigh the repercussions should she follow through. On the one hand, slugging Hyoka would only give the greenette ammunition to use against her, which in turn would lead to Minerva scolding her. On the other hand, her reputation was basically at rock bottom, and she was drafted to a new squad that she had never heard of until now.
As if sensing her pseudo-murderous intent, Minerva grabbed her shoulder and guided her out of the lab. "Let's go somewhere else. It can be quite stifling in here."
"Yeah," Yang said in a low tone. "Stifling."
Hyoka paid no mind to either of them as they walked out.
"I hope you won't take what Hyoka said to heart," Minerva said as they continued their walk. "She has a habit of speaking her mind."
"Well, that's just freakin' perfect," Yang replied sarcastically. "Another person eager to tell me how bad I screwed up like I didn't hear it before. Which I totally did, for the record."
Minerva sighed. She needed to find a way to get Yang's mind off of the the circumstances that lead her here.
"Would you like to take a look at the training room?" she asked. "It might help you let out some steam."
"I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll take a pass," Yang replied. "After everything that happened, I just need to take it easy for now. I'll still take a look if it makes you happy."
Minerva sighed once more. She figured Yang would want to rest after coming here, but she was more or less happy that she got the opportunity to present the training room.
"I just hope the usual suspects aren't in there," she muttered.
The moment she stepped into the training room, Minerva swore that she felt a vein pulse in her left temple at this very moment. Yang, however, was surprised this was happening.
Inside of the training room were two people who were fiercely fighting with each other. One was a young man with black hair on the sides, grey hair at the top and a black mohawk. He had blue eyes behind blue shades and a scar on the left side of his forehead surrounded by three pairs of dots. The other was a young woman with long white hair, white eyes with a scar on her left eye and a black hair clip on the front of her head. Another notable feature would be the wolf ears, signifying her faunus heritage.
The young man clashed with the wolf girl using a flaming baseball bat, while the girl used twin swords that doubled as whips.
"This time, I'm gonna even the score!" the man shouted.
The girl laughed in response. "Tough talk for someone who keeps losing all the time!"
A sharp whistle made the two pause and turn towards the source.
"If you two are quite done with destroying the training hall, I'd like to introduce you to our new recruit." She gestured to Yang, who waved awkardly. The two walked towards them to get a closer look.
"Huh," the young man said while observing her.
"Introduce yourselves!" Minerva ordered.
Much to Yang's shock, the delinquent-looking man stood at attention.
"My name is Magna Swing! It is a pleasure to meet you!" he said in loud tone.
The wolf girl was far more casual.
"My name is Lappland," she said. "And before you ask, no, it is not my real name."
Confused, Yang turned towards Minerva, who simply shrugged.
"I don't fully understand it myself, but I choose not to question it. That aside, you've now met with our resident troublemakers."
"Aw, come on, boss," Lappland said in a snide tone. "When you get down to it, we're all troublemakers. We did get dumped here, after all."
Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose. "Please do not make this harder than necessary."
Yang just continued to look on in shock.
"Alright, then," Minerva said. "It's time to meet our last member. Believe me when I say that this one is the most normal compared to everyone you've met so far."
"I hope you'll forgive me when I say that I'm keeping my expectations as low as possible," Yang replied in a deadpan tone.
"This is your idea of 'normal', huh?"
Yang's comment was due to seeing the last member: a boy laying on a bed, completely still. Short purple hair and round glasses, along with a red arrow pointing down on his head.
"This is Bedman," Minerva said, almost apologetically. "Another alias, I'm aware. He suffers from severe narcolepsy, and is seen sleeping throughout the day."
Yang fought back the urge to make a sarcastic remark. "No kidding."
"On that note, however, he is quite fearsome," Minerva continued in a serious tone. "His semblance is known throughout the military, and often spoken with such disregard."
Yang turned towards Minerva with a surprised look. "Really?"
Minerva adjusted her glasses, her red eyes directly staring into Yang's violet ones. "Really."
Yang turned back towards Bedman, who slept soundly in his rather small room.
"I've seen everything now. I'd like to see where I'm staying for the remainder of my time here."
"I suppose that is best," Minerva replied. "We've spent enough time meeting everyone. The tour will continue tomorrow."
Minerva brought Yang to her room. It was medium sized, but composed of only a bed and desk. Yang took the boxes inside wordlessly.
"I can help you take put your belongings together," she offered.
Yang didn't reply. She took her things out the boxes with a somewhat sullen expression. Minerva sighed, knowing that the blonde would have to grow accustomed to her new position, for better or for worse.
"Very well. I'll leave you to your devices."
Yang simply let out a murmur in response. Minerva didn't bother to press further and walked off.
"I don't really condone what she did, leaking such sensitive plans to outsiders," she said, scratching her radiant, scarlet hair. "Still, to be put in a squad such as this… just how bad are things over there, I wonder?"
She walked back to her office, wondering what her next course of action should be.
KS: And so begins Yang's new life in the Atlesian military's most disliked and unorthordox squad. Keep in mind that this will not be a bash fic. In fact, while I'm at it, despite public opinion and the numerous comments that hint at it, Ironside is also not a bash fic. It is merely an AU fic to show what happens when a characters flaws are ramped up as part of the narrative. All rants aside, I intend to continue this little side story. Shout out to GodHand96 for indirectly inspiring me to write this. Until next time, fave, follow, review and I'll see you when I see you. Peace.