In the security room, Ilia hummed merrily as she typed away at the computer. On the monitor, the buildings service elevators were listed as locked one by one.
Throughout Schnee Plaza and the parking garage, all of the gates rolled down closed and the escalators slid to a stop.
Back in the lobby, the elevator opened to reveal Adam and his men. He casually stepped out with Tuskon. Finished with her work, Ilia giggled as she ripped the wiring out of the monitor she was using and kicked the console, busting it.
"They've locked down the whole building," Velvet said, worried for everyone inside.
"And now, with the computers damaged, nobody can access the system to open the gates and elevators. All of those people are trapped inside," Penny added.
"It's standard White Fang procedure during raids. They make sure nobody gets in or out until they're finished with their task," Blake said, remembering her days as a White Fang operative with shame.
Karl returned to the lobby, grabbed a bag from Tuskon, and handed a keycard to Adam before heading to the elevator. Tuskon removed one of the dead guard's suit jackets and put it on to disguise himself while Adam approached the front door. He peered out to check if anyone was outside, then slid the keycard through the scanner, locking the door. He tossed the key back to Tuskon and returned to the elevator with Ilia following him.
Meanwhile, in the basement, one of the terrorists, Tony, a bespectacled cougar Faunus, navigated through the concrete hallways.
"Left, right, then left again," He said to himself until he came to a metal stairway, which he slid down into the next sub-level.
He descended a ramp until he reached a power box with multiple phone cables stemming from the top. He removed a circular saw from his bag, cut open the maintenance panels, and got to work with the wiring.
"Now they're cutting off communications," Velvet fretted.
"And nobody on the 30th floor even has a clue what's happening," Jaune added, hoping his counterpart could intervene.
Up in Pyrrha's office, Jaune had removed his shoes and socks and was clenching his toes. The technique seemed to be working.
"Son of a bitch. Fists with your toes," Jaune chuckled as he stood up.
"Looks like it does work," Qrow said.
"You think that would help with my air sickness?" Jaune asked Pyrrha curiously.
Pyrrha shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. I think it only helps with anxiety from flying, not sickness."
He took out his wallet and opened it to retrieve the card Neptune gave him but was distracted by the family photos inside. He flipped through them, stopping at a picture of Thetis and a little note that read: 'We miss you, daddy. Love, Thetis and JJ.'
Jaune gazed sadly at the note. He missed his children dearly.
"Awww," many female audience members cooed in sympathy.
"Jaune may not be the best husband in this universe, but at least he's a good father," Yang said, realizing Jaune was a better parent than Raven ever was.
"You're right, Yang. He did buy that big teddy bear for them after all," Nora added with a smile.
"Perhaps he and Ms. Nikos will patch things up by the end of the film," Glynda said hopefully.
Tony was busy rejiggering the alarm system for the phone lines.
"What is he doing?" Sun asked curiously.
"I think he's setting up a decoy signal before severing the lines. That way the phone company won't receive an alarm and investigate once the lines are cut," Penny assumed, being the expert on technology.
"I hate to admit it, but these guys are good. They planned this out well," Neptune remarked, eating some popcorn.
Jaune picked up a phone and dialed the limousines number. Neptune answered it.
"Yeah, Neptune?" Jaune asked.
"Hey, man. How's it going in there," Neptune replied.
"All right. Where are you?"
In the parking garage, Neptune was listening to RB music in the limo's backseat alongside the teddy bear.
"I'm kicking it down in the garage. What's the word with you and your lady, man?" He asked on the limos phone.
"Uh…the votes not in yet," Jaune answered uncertainly.
"Well, at least somebodies enjoying himself," Sun chuckled at Neptune's counterpart.
In the basement, Karl hummed as he approached the row of phone cables Tony was working on. He was wearing a protective mask and carrying a chainsaw.
"What's up, little brother?" Karl asked.
"I've almost got it," Tony answered.
Karl lifted his chainsaw and revved it up.
"No! No! No! Not yet! Just wait!" Tony shouted, but Karl ignored him and started cutting the phone lines.
Tony frantically fumbled through the wires until he found last one and cut it only a split second before Karl severed the last line. He signed in relief.
"Clearly he's the brawnier and more impulsive sibling," Glynda observed.
"He certainly seemed that way when I fought him on the train," Weiss recalled from her battle with the White Fang lieutenant.
"That's one possible distinction between siblings," Blake said as she glanced at Yang with a grin.
"Hardy-har-har," Yang deadpanned.
The line went dead on Jaune's end. "Neptune?"
As it did for Neptune. "Arc, you there? Hello?"
"Great. Now I'm totally in the dark," Neptune referred to his counterpart.
"You don't even know the parking garage is locked down," Sun added, slightly amused.
"At least the White Fang doesn't know you're there for the time being," Weiss said with relief, earning a thankful smile from Neptune.
Tony glared up at Karl for almost setting off the alarm. But Karl just chuckled and swaggered away.
Getting no answer from Jaune, Neptune shrugged and hung up.
"You know the number. Use it," He said to the teddy bear.
Everyone laughed or at least chuckled at this, despite how grave the situation had become with the terrorist's arrival.
In the service elevator, the terrorists removed their weapons from their bags and loaded them. They reached the 30th floor and slipped out, unnoticed by the party goers. Adam had a chilling smile on his face.
Everyone braced themselves, praying there wouldn't be a bloody massacre.
"They're helpless, even with Jaune there," Weiss whispered in fear.
"She's right. There's too many of them," Blake added.
Jaune discreetly crossed his fingers, hoping at least Pyrrha would survive in the worst-case scenario.
Jaune looked at the dead phone in puzzlement. Suddenly, automatic gunfire rang out outside the door, along with the panicked screaming of the partygoers. Jaune immediately sprang into action as he grabbed his handgun from his removed holster on a chair. He rushed to the door, cracked it open, and peered out.
The terrorists were rounding up all the Schnee Dust employees while firing sub-machine guns into the air. Pyrrha and Nora clung to each other amidst the panic. The terrorists were also searching the offices one by one. Jaune looked to the left and spotted a door to the stairwell, but one of the terrorists, Perry, was moving towards him.
"Oh no!" Ruby gasped. "He's cornered!"
"And outgunned. All he has is a handgun," Ren added.
"Then he has to escape somehow," Pyrrha said, knowing Jaune couldn't fight all of the terrorists by himself.
Luckily, the terrorists were distracted by a couple of SDC employees who were interrupted while making love on a desk. The topless woman screamed while the man picked his pants up as Corsac pushed them both out of the room.
Yang quickly covered Ruby's eyes. "Don't look, Ruby," She said.
"Awww!" Ruby complained. "I hate it when you do that!"
"So uncouth. Treating your workplace like your bedroom," Weiss said with disgust, having heard of seedy SDC employees engaging in such behavior.
Perry and Trifa laughed as they moved onto Pyrrha's office but found it empty.
Everyone sighed in relief that Jaune got away at the last second.
"Good job, fearless leader!" Nora cheered.
"He did well. Taking advantage of a distraction like that," Ironwood complimented, drinking a glass of water.
Jaune rushed up the stairwell, having managed to slip away. He stopped at the 31st floor, and cracked open the door. He spotted more terrorists wheeling a large crate down a hallway. Quietly closing the door, Jaune continued up the stairs.
The terrorists herded all the hostages towards the center of the room by the indoor pond.
"Just stay calm," Roman muttered with a sweaty face. "Everything's gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine."
Ironically, Pyrrha and Whitley were more composed than him.
"He's one to talk. He's practically pissing himself," Yang snickered.
Jaune arrived at the 32nd floor, still under construction. Swiveling his gun left and right in case any terrorists were present. He spotted a phone on a nearby desk. He picked it up, but the line was dead.
"Shit!" Jaune muttered, now realizing the phones were out. "Think. Think."
Jaune then noticed a woman in the distance through her window in another building across the street. She was on the phone while in her underwear.
"Seriously, Jaune? You're wife is being held hostage and you're being a peeping tom?!" Weiss reprimanded as she glared at the screen.
"Naughty, naughty, Vomit Boy," Yang said, wagging her finger.
Jaune sighed deeply. "It's not me!"
"I think that scene is meant to juxtapose Mr. Arcs situation," Ozpin pointed out in Jaunes defense. "Namely his inability to call for help."
The terrorists had finished gathering up the clamoring hostages. Adam, now without his overcoat, approached the crowd while holding a book.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Adam called out, silencing the crowd. "Due to the Schnee Dust Company's legacy of greed around the globe, they're about to be taught a lesson about the real use of power. You will be witnesses."
Adam closed his book. "Now, where is Mr. Schnee."
"They're probably there to kill him to rally more faunus to their cause," Weiss accused angrily.
"Or perhaps hold him and the others for ransom," Ironwood theorized, knowing terrorist organizations still needed money to operate.
"Either way, it would send a frightening message that even the Schnee family isn't safe in their own kingdom," Blake noted, knowing the White Fang would love nothing more than to get their hands on a Schnee.
Pyrrha grasped Whitley's arm. "Don't move," She whispered.
Adam strolled through the crowd of hostages, searching their expressions for hints.
"Whitley Schnee. Born in Atlas, from Jacques and Willow Schnee. Interned at SDC. Scholarship student, University of Mantle. Law degree, University of Atlas," Adam inquired, stopping at Roman, who simply smiled nervously and shook his head.
"Even at the mercy of the White Fang, none of them are willing to sell out, Whitley. Not even Roman," Ironwood noted, admiring the courage and loyalty of the SDC employees.
"They wouldn't be so faithful if it were my father instead," Winter noted, since Jacques often treated his employees like dirt.
"MBA, University of Atlas. President, SDC. Chairman, Schnee investment group…" Adam continued.
But then Whitley stood up. "Enough!" He declared.
Adam turned to face Whitley. "…and father of five," he finished.
"I am Whitley Schnee."
Adam smiled cordially. "How do you do?" He offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Whitley reluctantly shook Adam's hand before Karl grabbed him and took him towards the elevator, prompting gasps from the crowd.
"What are they going to do with him?" Weiss said worriedly, now knowing she had five nieces and/or nephews in this universe.
"Jaune managed to slip away. Maybe he can rescue him," Velvet replied, even though she knew it was unlikely.
"I can try," Jaune said, hoping his counterpart could save Whitley's life.
On the 33rd floor, Jaune opened the stairwell door and peaked out. The room was dark and deserted with glass cubicles, desks, and computers. Jaune shut the door and continued up the stairs.
"Computers," he said to himself as he went. "32, construction. 33 computers."
"It looks like I'm getting a feel of the building and trying to find the most secure location," Jaune observed.
"It seems that way. It's always wise to familiarize yourself with your surroundings during situations like this," Port said from experience.
On the service elevator, Whitley stood calmly next to Adam, the latter humming a classical opera tune. Karl and Tony stood behind them.
"Nice suit. Jon Phelps, Argus. I have two myself," Adam complimented Whitley, who looked at him speechlessly.
The elevator reached the 34th floor.
"Rumor has it, Sienna Khan buys her dresses there," Adam said as he stepped off.
"That's true, actually," Blake confirmed with a nod. "My parents told me Sienna has an eye for fashion."
"I gotta admit, she has very good taste," Coco praised, having owned a Jon Phelps dress herself.
On the 35th floor, Jaune peaked out from the stairwell, spotting Tock and Fennec pushing some green, metal crates while Corsac guided them.
"In there. On the left, on the left. And don't drop any of them," Corsac instructed.
Jaune caught a glimpse of the crates. He could make out the words "guided missile" written in yellow. Finished, he moved back down the stairs towards the 34th floor.
"Guided missiles? These guys are packing serious firepower," Qrow stated, taking another sip from his flask.
"But why would they need them?" Velvet asked curiously.
"Perhaps in case the police or military find out and respond with heavy vehicles," Ironwood assumed, reluctantly admitting to himself the terrorists were well prepared.
On the 34th floor, Adam swaggered across the room, still humming. Whitley, Karl, and Tony followed behind him. All around the room were numerous models of SDC projects and technological breakthroughs, including one of Schnee Plaza itself.
"And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there were no more worlds to conquer," Adam quoted history with a chuckle as he observed the Schnee Plaza model.
"He's referring to King Alexander, founder and first ruler of Mistral. That quote pertained to Alexander's lament upon discovering the extent of the continent of Anima," Oobleck lectured briefly.
Several of the students nodded, remembering Dr. Oobleck's lessons from history class.
"This version of Adam seems more intelligent and educated than the real one," Glynda noted.
"But his viewpoint of the SDC isn't much different," Blake added, having heard plenty of Adams tirades against the SDC, labelling them greedy conquerors and slavers of Faunus.
"Benefits of a classical education," Adam boasted.
Another nearby model of a large bridge spanning across a river caught Adam's eye.
"Oh, that's beautiful," Adam praised as he approached the model. "I always enjoyed to make models when I was a boy. The exactness, the attention to every conceivable detail. It's beautiful."
"Is this what this is all about? Our project in Menagerie?" Whitley asked defensively. "Contrary to what you Faunus may think, we're going to develop that region, not exploit it."
"I find that hard to believe," Blake said bitterly.
"Blake! Don't be so cynical," Weiss scolded. "I feel this version of Whitley is genuinely altruistic."
"And the real one? Would he ever help develop Menagerie out of goodwill?" Blake asked heatedly, already knowing the answer.
Weiss simply sighed and shook her head. Whitley had too much of his father in him.
Unbeknownst to Whitley or the terrorists, Jaune had managed to sneak in from the stairwell.
"I believe you. I read the article in Schnee Magazine," Adam said smiling as he put a hand around Whitley's shoulder. "Mr. Schnee I could talk about industrialization and men's fashions all day, but I'm afraid work must intrude, and my associate Ilia has some questions for you. Sort of fill-in-the-blanks questions actually."
Adam led Whitley to an adjoining conference room where Ilia was sitting in front of a computer monitor built into the table.
The green text on the screen read:
'Schnee BSD 9.2.
Z-Level Central Core.
Preliminary Clearance Approved.
Sub-route: Finance/ Alpha Access.
Authorization:
Ultra-Gate Key
Daily Cypher
"What's all that?" Nora asked about the computer text.
"It looks like a security system for the SDC database," Penny pointed out, having experience with computers. "The terrorists must be trying to access the companies information."
"I don't have that code!" Whitley denied to Ilia before turning to Adam, who sat opposite of her.
"You broke in here to access our computer?" Whitley asked. "Any information you could get, when they wake up in Atlas in the morning, they'll change it. You won't be able to blackmail our executives, threaten our profit…"
"Sit down!" Adam ordered.
Whitley scowled at Adam but obeyed, sitting at the head of the table.
"Mr. Schnee, I'm really not interested in your computer," Adam said. "But I need the code key because I am interested in the 640 million lien in negotiable bearer bonds that you have locked in your vault. And the computer controls the vault."
"640 million lien?!" Ruby exclaimed, amazed by the sheer amount stored in the vault.
"Even for our SDC, that's a substantial amount of money," Weiss remarked, realizing that Gold-Sith wasn't kidding when he said her families company was even more wealthy in this universe.
Qrow whistled. "No wonder they're robbing Schnee Plaza," He said, taking another sip from his flask.
"And since they're bearer bonds, they can spend the money at their leisure without significant risk of being arrested," Glynda said, realizing she was right about this version of Adam being more intelligent.
"You want money?" Whitley asked in puzzlement. "What kind of White Fang are you?"
Adam chuckled. "Who said we were White Fang?"
Winter cocked her brow. "What does he mean by that?" She asked.
"Maybe Port was right. Perhaps Adam and his gang aren't White Fang in this universe," Ironwood presumed.
"So, it seems they're merely thieves, albeit professional ones," Ozpin concluded.
Outside the conference room, Jaune tiptoed past the models towards the conference room. He silently hid under a table, giving him a partial view of the room through the glass doors.
"Mr. Schnee," Adam tried to reason. "I sympathize with your reluctance, but I'm sure you realize you're not dealing with anything significant here. It's not as if it's the education of your children. The bonds represent, at most, ten days of operating capital for your parent organization. It's really no more than a temporary inconvenience."
"Jaune is right there. Maybe he'll save Whitley in time," Ruby said hopefully.
"I don't know, Ruby," Ren said dubiously. "There's four of them and only one of him."
"She's right. The odds aren't in Mr. Arcs favor, even with the element of surprise," Port admitted, knowing the dangers of being outnumbered.
"Now, the code, please," Adam requested, unscrewing the silencer from his handgun.
"It's useless to you," Whitley replied. "There are seven safeguards on our vault, and the code key is only one of them. You'll never get it open."
"Then there's no reason not to tell it to us," Adam reasoned, setting his gun down.
"What if Whitley does know the code? Why won't he just give it up?" Ruby asked.
"It could be a matter of family honor," Weiss theorized. "Relinquishing that amount of money would be extremely shameful for the Schnee family name. Especially to a terrorist like Adam."
"Or perhaps Whitley believes Adam will kill him and the other hostages anyway, and is trying to buy time," Winter added, eating some popcorn.
"So either way, he may not be walking out of that room," Qrow said grimly.
"I told you," Ilia said to Karl.
"It's not over yet," Karl replied.
Adam glanced briefly at his two henchmen. "That's a very nice suit Mr. Schnee. It would be a shame to ruin it," He subtly threatened.
Whitley began to sweat in fear, but still didn't answer. Outside, Jaune watched helplessly.
"I'm going to count to three. There will not be a four," Adam declared. "Give me the code. One…"
Adam placed his hand on his gun.
The audience went rigid at the tense scene.
"Come one. Do something!" Jaune urged his counterpart through clenched teeth.
"Two…"
"This suspense is killing me," Yang said softly.
"Three!"
"I don't have it, I'm telling you," Whitley said. "Get on an airship to Atlas to ask my father. I'm telling you, you're just going to have to kill me."
Adam paused for a moment. "Okay," He replied simply, aimed the gun at Whitley, then shot him in the head.
Whitley's blood splattered the window behind him, prompting Jaune to gape in shock.
Many audience members recoiled at the scene.
Weiss and Winter gasped, placing their hands over their mouths. They may not have liked Whitley, but they'd never want to see him murdered in cold blood either.
"That bastard!" Weiss growled as tears brimmed in her eyes.
Ruby and Winter embraced Weiss in a comforting hug.
Jaune hung his head in shame, feeling responsible for Whitleys death. Pyrrha noticed and put her arm around her partner.
"Despicable," Ironwood sneered, prompting nods of agreement from the rest of the angry audience.
Whitley's corpse fell to the floor.
"We'll do it the hard way," Adam said as he stood up. "Tony see if you can dispose of that. Karl, you better go and check on Fennecs work up on the machine room floor."
Karl frowned and handed 50 lien to a smirking Ilia. The latter won the bet they made.
That was Jaune's cue. He quickly got out from under the table, but accidentally rattled it, alerting the terrorists.
"Uh-oh," Ruby said.
"Get out of there, Jaune," Pyrrha whispered.
Karl and Tony instantly searched the model room. Karl checked the adjoining doors. The last one was locked. On the other side, Jaune was hiding in a supply closet.
Adam and Ilia stepped out of the conference room.
"Nothing," Karl said as he returned from his sweep.
Jaune sighed with relief. "That was a close call."
"You're good at stealth in this universe, Jaune," Ren complimented.
"He has to be, being outnumbered and outgunned," Blake said, having experience with stealth herself.
"See to Fennec," Adam ordered.
Karl and Tony left the room.
"Now you can break the code?" Adam asked Ilia.
"You didn't bring me along for my charming personality," Ilia reassured.
Adam smiled confidently as he and Ilia headed back to the elevator.
From his hiding spot, Jaune exhaled.
"Neptune, tell me you heard the shots and you're calling the police right now," He muttered hopefully.
In the parking garage, Neptune was still in the limousine with the teddy bear. RB music blared on the stereo system as Neptune spoke on the phone.
"Of course, I'm coming by later," Neptune said smiling. "Sweetheart, have I ever lied to you? My boss? He thinks on my way to Vacuo."
Many audience members laughed at this.
"Nope," Neptune said, making a popping sound with the 'p'.
"Well, at least the situation is bearable for him," Yang said with a smirk, referring to the giant teddy bear.
Everyone groaned at Yang's terrible pun.
On the 35th machinery floor, just beneath the roof, Corsac, Fennec, and Tock arrived with their equipment.
"Tock, get up on the pipes. Corsac, you go through here," Fennec instructed his two associates.
Corsac set down a spool of yellow wire and walked between the buildings two large air conditioners.
"Now what are they up to?" Qrow wondered aloud.
"I'll throw you the cord," Fennec shouted to Corsac.
On the pipes above, Tock clambered along towards the other side of the room.
"Adam, we're on the roof," Fennec said on his headset.
Fennec unwound a length of cord from the spool, cut it, then tossed it to Corsac. "Here."
"Tock!" Corsac shouted as he tossed up something to the crocodile Faunus above him.
"I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like they're planting explosives," Penny assumed.
"But why on the roof?" Coco asked, wondering what the terrorists were ultimately planning.
On the 30th floor, Adam followed Ilia down a hallway towards the vault. At the end of the hall, Adam's assistant, Mata, waited outside a double set of wooden doors.
"Thirty minutes to break the code. Two hours, two and a half hours for the five mechanicals, at the minimum. The seventh lock, however, is out of my hands," Ilia explained to Adam.
Ilia held up Whitley's ID to the card reader. It beeped, and the doors slowly slid open. Inside was a metal plated room with a grey carpet bearing the SDC logo. On the far side was a thick, half-cylinder, vault door with a control panel next to it.
Adam crossed his arms as he eyed the vault. "I'm sorry?" He asked Ilia.
"The seventh lock. The electromagnetic seal. You do understand the circuits cannot be cut locally," Ilia explained.
"Excellent failsafe for a vault," Penny pointed out. "That last lock makes it very difficult to open by force. The power would have to be disabled."
"But will that stop them?" Ruby asked.
Adam grinned. "Trust me," He replied as he walked away.
"Probably not," Blake answered, knowing Adam must have been planning something else.
"So, if they disable the seventh lock, it'll be at least three hours before they can enter the vault," Oobleck summarized. "After that, who knows what they'll do with the hostages."
"Let's hope that's enough time for Jaune and the authorities to stop them," Pyrrha said.
Jaune hurried back to the 32nd floor.
"Why the fuck didn't you stop them, Jaune?!" He berated himself. "Because then you'd be dead too, asshole!"
"Even so… I was right there. I was useless," Jaune said sadly.
"Don't beat yourself up like that, Jaune," Pyrrha said, placing a hand on her partner's shoulder.
"Ms. Nikos is right, Jaune," Ozpin added. "They would have killed you too. And the hostages would be completely helpless."
Jaune wildly scanned the room. "Think, Oum-damn it! Think!"
He looked up and spotted a fire sprinkler. Then he spotted a fire alarm nearby.
In the main lobby, a fire alarm indicator light shined on an electronic board, showing which floor the alarm came from. Tuskon, still disguised as a guard, grabbed his into his walkie talkie.
"We've got a fire alarm," Tuskon reported to Adam.
"That was a good idea, Mr. Arc. Emergency services are alerted whenever a fire alarm is pulled and respond accordingly," Oobleck complimented.
"Yeah, but now the terrorists will get wise to Jaune," Qrow pointed out.
"Then they'd better show up quickly," Jaune said.
Adam stood on a staircase overlooking the 30th floor with his own walkie talkie. Tony stood nearby.
"Call 911. Give them the guard's name, the building code number, and cancel the alarm. Then disable the system," Adam instructed before glancing at Tony. "Tuskon, on what floor did the alarm go off."
"Oh, come on!" Nora shouted, throwing her hands up in frustration.
Jaune sighed. "Should have known it wouldn't be that easy," He muttered.
"Is there anything these guys aren't prepared for?" Yang asked aloud.
On the roof, Fennec and Corsac were still working. They stopped when they heard Adam's transmission.
"Should we go?" Corsac asked.
"No," Fennec replied and continued with his business.
Tuskon dialed 911 on his cellular phone to call off the fire alarm.
Outside, a convoy of firetrucks drove down the street towards Schnee Plaza with their lights flashing and sirens wailing.
"Yes. Oh, baby. Come to papa. Come on," Jaune said excitedly as he ran to a window and spotted the firetrucks.
"The fire department is on its way. Maybe they'll make it in time," Coco said.
Jaune laughed. "Baby. Come on, baby. Come on, baby. Come to papa. I'll kiss your fucking Dalmatian."
"Kiss a dog? Ugh!" Blake said in disgust.
Ruby pouted. "What's so gross about that? I kiss Zwei on the head sometimes."
Unfortunately, the flashing lights shut off and the sirens stopped as the trucks began to turn around.
Everyone groaned that the terrorists had called off the alarm in time.
"Oh, you stupid motherfuckers!" Jaune shouted, pounding on the glass. "No! No! Turn the fucking truck around!"
Jaune then heard the elevator chime from the hallway right outside the room. He swiftly turned his head towards the sound, realizing he'd been caught.
"Time for him to hide again," Yang sighed.
Neptune shook his head. "It won't work this time. Now the terrorists know there's someone sneaking around the building," he said.
Tony marched into the room, submachine gun at the ready. He switched on the lights, illuminating the entire room. Jaune hid behind a stack of drywall with his pistol out.
"The fire has been called off, my friend," Tony said as he approached the stack slowly. "No one is coming to help you.
"It's just one guy against Jaune. He can take him," Ruby said, confident in her friend.
"But he's better armed than Mr. Arc. He can't just rush in gun blazing," Ironwood countered. "He'll have to try and take him by surprise."
"You might as well come out and join the others," Tony continued, cocking his gun. "I promise I won't hurt you."
Tony reached the drywall stack, then leaped around it, firing a burst of bullets at the space behind it. But nobody was there.
"Dirty liar!" Ruby shouted at the screen.
"What do you expect? He's a bad guy," Yang pointed out.
"But where did he slip off to?" Sun asked.
Tony then heard a metallic, spinning noise. He rushed towards the sound carefully. He spun around a corner where the whirring was coming from. It was an arm saw that slowed to a stop.
Tony blinked in puzzlement, before feeling a gun muzzle press against his cheek.
"Drop it, dickhead. It's the police," Jaune warned from behind.
"And so he did," Qrow chuckled, referring to Ironwoods earlier comment.
"Clever move, using that saw to distract the terrorist and muffle his footsteps," Port complimented. "Reminds me of my younger days when an Ursa Major was stalking me through the Forever Fall-"
"Peter. Not now, please," Glynda interrupted, much to the relief of the audience and the annoyance of Port.
"You won't hurt me," Tony replied calmly.
"Oh, yeah? Why not?"
"Because you're a policeman. There are rules for policemen."
"Yeah. That's what my captain keeps telling me," Jaune quipped before pistol whipping Tony's glasses off. Jaune then hopped on Tony's back, wrapping both arms around his neck.
"Kick his ass, fearless leader!" Nora cheered loudly.
"Yeah! Take him down!" Ruby whooped.
Tony spun around to shake off Jaune, firing his gun wildly around the room until it ran dry. He then pivoted himself, slamming Jaune into a drywall, but the cop refused to budge. Tony swung his arm backwards, trying to whack Jaune in the head with his gun, but missed and Jaune slapped the weapon of his hand.
Tony ran to a section of drywall, slamming Jaune's head repeatedly against it a few times. Tony then quickly backed up until he and Jaune went crashing into the stairwell, knocking the door off its hinges. Both men tumbled down to the bottom of the stairs. Luckily the terrorists body cushioned Jaune's fall. Tony cried out one last time and lay still.
Pyrrha smiled. "Good job, Jaune."
"He sure handled that, step by step," Yang said with a laugh.
Everyone else groaned at the pun.
Jaune paused for a few seconds before releasing Tony's now broken neck. He slumped against the wall panting before he hoisting Tony's head up by his hair. His face was bloodied and lifeless.
Ruby gasped in shock. "Jaune killed him! I thought he was just unconscious!" She cried.
"He was trying to kill Jaune as well, Ruby. It had to be done," Qrow reasoned, having been forced to kill on occasion himself.
"Your uncle is right, Ms. Rose," Glynda begrudgingly agreed. "Killing is an unpleasant experience, but sometimes it can't be avoided."
JJJJJJ: Jaune won't be the main character for all of the adaptations. I decided that when I first thought of this story.
Chronosign: Lol. I couldn't have said it better myself. That's not happening here.