A/N: Oh yes, here we go, Chapter 36, The start of the original Chapter 7's material, and home to one of my favorite parts in the story! So without further waiting, Chapter 36: Waldstahl Burns!


Chapter 36: Waldstahl Burns


On the day that ended the year of boredom, Malserik identified an unauthorized long range off world transmission. He was shocked at where data that was being fed to, someone was using his long communication equipment for espionage. Slamming his gloved hand on the console he walked off, seething. He was angry, s very much so, that the staff of Waldstahl could feel his rage. It was hard to not feel when he walked past as he went to his office. He had logs of who had been into the comm rooms for this reason. He walked into his office, sitting down roughly at his desk. He pulled up the logs and got to work seeing who entered the comm room. He sighed in relief when the number was small and he narrowed that down to two people Ruling out Balikor and Dornettz due to their loyalties to him and his cause. He had a smirk, normally Sith protocol would not allow either of these people to live, but Malserik was a just man and wanted to clear anyone not involved. He had both people brought to his office. Though, as they were being escorted there, Imperious poked her head in, asking why Malserik was so angry, due to her feeling his rage when she was halfway across Waldstahl. He explained the situation to her, that is when she got an Idea of how to clear the name of the one who was not involved.

"Ruby could really help you here Malserik, Why not have her conduct the interrogation," Imperious suggested with a wicked smirk figuring her ability would be more than perfect for the job at hand.

"That is not a bad idea, Why don't you get her down here," Malserik smiled at Imperious who smirked back as she walked out to go find Ruby.


The now eighteen-year-old Ruby and twenty-year-old Weiss were in their quarters, relaxing they were both recovering from an intense sparing session with Pyrrha and Nora, the former was off working on some Sith alchemic ritual, while the latter was snoring away in her room. It was dark outside and they had moved the couch, to watch the force storm outside as it was very active today for some reason. They were cuddled together Ruby's right bare metal hand intertwined with Weiss's left. Weiss hadn't changed much in the time, though Ruby had grown her hair out into a low ponytail, under Imperious's recommendation, and she did like it.

Normally on Remnant, thunder snow would be a rare occurrence, it was common in Hiskal in Drommund Kaas. Though, it was still a beautiful to them especially tonight. Ruby and Weiss were wearing light relaxation clothing, meant to be comfortable, and loose. Just as they looked at each other, they heard a ping at the door to their home as it opened. Looking back they saw Darth Imperious, whose face bore a concerned look rather than its normal playful look.

"Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but Ruby, we need you in Malserik's study right now, we need your help." The voice of Imperious spoke into her room. Though, she quickly left to go back to Malserik as Ruby stood up with a groan as she frowned as she had to leave Weiss. Grabbing Rose De Sang, and clicking her together so she could carry her with one hand as Ruby did not have her harness on her leisure outfit at the moment. She walked out as Weiss got up and followed, Mitternacht in hand and her belt on her hips. Curious as to what was going on at this point in the night? Walking down the hall with Ruby, she planned to give Imperious and Malserik hell for interrupting them if this was something trivial.

It turned out it was far from trivial, they had two members of the staff suspected of espionage and treason. Ruby was needed to determine who the traitor was. Weiss was very uncomfortable with them using Ruby as a tool like this to determine the spy but it was a necessity, just in case their security had been compromised to the Republic, which from the sounds of things, It had been.

"So, Ruby, Now that you are here, can you interrogate them?" Malserik asked slightly guilty as Ruby looked at them like she didn't want to do this. That was until Imperious spoke.

"Ruby I know you don't want to use your ability for a purpose like this but it is necessary. The normal Sith thing to do would be to execute them both, and I am very willing to do that!" Imperious spoke boldly, appealing to the remaining sense of justice Ruby still had in her system. This made Ruby, tense as Imperious made her threat. She could feel the fear in the two staff member's minds. One a well-dressed Togruta from the kitchen, the other a Twi'lek from maintenance.

To push Ruby further, Imperious ignited both Castle and Jackal next to the suspect's necks. Ruby stepped forward, as she frowned. Her arm extended, she grabbed the first suspect's head with her right hand. Reading his mind and memories, she saw a Twi'lek male that was just trying to survive in the empire, she felt his pain and sympathized with him.

Returning to reality Ruby said, "This Twi'lek is innocent," Releasing her hand Ruby continued with, "let me check the Togruta as well, I won't let you kill someone who could be innocent."

"Thorough, I like it, go right ahead Ruby," Malserik smiled as Ruby put her hand on the Togruta's head, curiously just as Ruby thought this individual had nothing to do with the espionage either. Releasing the grip on his mind, she spoke, "We have the wrong people."

"That's impossible, the only other person to enter that room at that time was Balikor," Malserik said as he trusted Balikor implicitly, though Imperious, Ruby, and Weiss looked at Malserik like he was insane for not bringing in Balikor as well. That is when they heard and felt a loud explosion rack the fortress followed by multiple subsequent smaller explosions caused by heavy blasters. Then they heard blaster fire echoing through the hall. Malserik felt his gut tense up as his most trusted soldier was a spy. This was the first time the three saw Malserik's eye go yellow, his face contorted by anger.


Just minutes before, Blake and Satele descended upon the mountain City of Hiskal. They had passed through a layer of Storm clouds to get there, but they could tell the mountain top fortress's defense were disabled. This let them know that their allies had done their jobs. Then came the signal, a detonation in the fortress's structure.

This signaled the green light on the operation. With that signal, the captured fury swooped down, the blasters firing to strafe the structure as the dropships moved in to land in the snowy courtyard. Blake could feel the shock in the fortress below, as the fury swooped the structure as the came back around to land. She saw the small army the Jedi had amassed for this operation disembarking from their ships. They had breached the doors by the time Blake and Satele touched down in the fury with the rest of the troops and Jedi were invading the fortress, and the pillars of smoke and flame had already permeated the air.

To Blake the mountaintop air was thin dry and cold, she figured either the building was pressurized or Malserik and his people have adjusted to the environment, either way, she was glad she had her feline ears covered by her hood. Once on the ground Satele the designated second in command of the operation Anderon Alik-zander, who darted down the ramp with her, darted into the building clad their usual clothing. Blake's role was to serve as a rear guard and stay close to the main entrance of the structure and eliminate any Sith that strayed too close to the ship.

She had been briefed on the Knights of Hiskal, Malserik, and Imperious if any of those three scared her it was the knights as she heard all four of them were Remnants, this fact was a might bit disturbing because she couldn't help but think who they could be, and if they were who she thought they were, she was scared to see what they had become.

Blake looked at the structure as she approached it, with squads of troopers on her left and right storming into the structure. She could give it credit, it was an impressive structure with a variation of Sith architecture, but it had to fall, it had to be destroyed.


Away from the battle on top of a mountain watch post a rusty droid snapped to life to the sound of blaster fire. The droid had been watching Hiskal for the past year, and blaster fire let alone of this scale and volume was very concerning to the droid as he had been assigned years ago to watch observe and protect Ruby Rose. Standing up the droid grabbed his sniper blaster and laid down in a prone position scoped in on Waldstahl's courtyard.

No one knew of his infiltration, and HK-47 intended to keep it that way. Talking to himself the droid said through his underused vocabulator,

"Aggravated, I can not expose myself yet, unless Mistress falls under threat." The droid spoke concisely as he watched the battle below unfold. He knew Ruby Rose was a capable combatant, and would not require his assistance yet, but he kept his scope aligned with a few of the meat bags below, just in case.


"You three clear the other traitors, Balikor and Dornettz is my responsibility," Malserik hissed commandingly, standing up, pulling his gloves tight to his hand as he stood, readying SturmKrieg for battle. His anger was burning like a bright star to all of the Sith in the room, Imperious, however, smirked, as when Malserik got angry like this, bodies piled high. Once out in the halls of Waldstahl, Malserik darted down the halls, igniting the rear blade of his saber. He knew figured he knew where Balikor would most likely go to get out of Waldstahl, and that was most likely be the Whispering Spectre.

Malserik saw the damage that was caused to his home. Blaster bolts of Imperial Regulars, along with their corpses across from Hiskal Guardsmen. He was thankful they seemed to be loyal to him still. Barreling through the halls, Malserik had to quickly dispatch some Imperial Regulars or so they seem to be regulars. They seemed to be fighting with more Republic style tactics than Sith. This concerned the Sith greatly as he moved forward though the decimated halls to the main hanger, where the whispering specter was. He found Hiskal Guards led by Roman there guarding the ship, With Pyrrha, who looked quite agitated that she was interrupted while preforming a ritual. Seeing this he turned around to go check the other hangers, he had fallen for a diversion based on his own assumptions.


Waldstahl was in flames, a sight that could be seen from the city. Civilians looking up in horror, they all had one thought in mind, may the force be with Malserik and Waldstahl. In the streets, people gathered in silence as they looked up at the mountain top fortress. The people saw the Imperial dropships descend upon the fortress. The wisps of orange flames flaring up into the dark night sky. The thing that worried the people the most was how the fortress wasn't retaliating with its turbolaser cannons.


Ruby and Weiss had split up to cover more ground. Despite their bond, they could still operate independently. Weiss was heading to the lab and archive area, as per Imperious's orders. Ruby was told to go to the courtyard at the rear of Waldstahl, as Imperious suspected a few ships could have landed there.

Dashing to the location using her speed semblance and force acceleration, Weiss found her way to the archive, she found it surrounded by the traitorous Imperial Regulars. Leaping forth, her blade formed a blue blur, arcing though a large squad of troopers. She smirked as she saw a heavy blaster being set up. Bolting forth she swiftly cut them down and blasted some troops past them with lighting. They stood no chance against her, as she approached the door to the archive. Though another squad tried to unleash a torrent of blaster fire on her. She smirked as she turned around and held her hand behind her lightsaber blade. In mid air the bolts stopped, quickly manipulating her blade she formed glyphs around the bolts and returned them right back into the troops that fired them. Weiss chuckled that she could do that, as it was like a trick from some of the movies she watched back on Remnant.


Nora was sleeping when the raids started. Still, in what counted as pajamas for a Sith, she grabbed her lightsaber, Blodsverd, and ignited its compress pink blade. Dashing out into the hall, she saw an older what appeared to be a Jedi. He wore a black coat and bore two green sabers in hand. He was disguised to look like a Sith, but she could tell he was no such thing. Darting forth, she readied her saber for combat. The Jedi whipped around parrying her strike with a counter strike, one at her blade one at her leg. Nora's Aura tanked the strike. The Jedi looked shocked at her aura. Using that distraction, Nora lined up the blast extension system of the pike with the other arm and activated it. The scream made Nora smile as the pike went right through the Jedi's left wrist, causing the Jedi Drop the saber in that hand.

The clattering of the useless saber hitting the floor was music to Nora's ears as she proceeded to mount her foot on the Jedi's impaled arm. Using her foot to apply a downward force, Nora ripped the pike from the Jedi's arm.

The sound of flesh and bone being torn asunder ran through the air as Nora felt the warm sensation of blood coating her face. She looked at the Jedi's horrified eyes, as she retracted pike to a normal saber. Pushing the bleeding Jedi back with a force blast. Nora bolted down to grab the Jedi's saber, taking it for her own. She smiled as the wounded Jedi stood back up, his bloodied limb hanging by mere tendons.

"Well aren't you the violent one," The Jedi spoke as he came in for an attack that would be a grave error. As she blocked his strike, statically. The Jedi gasped as he saw the lighting running through her bare arms.

Nora smiled with her reply, "well now you are a sloth, Jedi," as she countered with a leg strike the Jedi could not block.


Pyrrha and Roman were defending the Whispering Specter after Malserik turned around, they found themselves under siege by a large contingent of troopers. Pyrrha had relegated herself to deflecting blaster bolts to allow Roman and his troops to move. She was deflecting bolts from all directions with her retrosaber, drawing the fire from the aggressors. Roman had managed to get off a few bolts of with lethal effect, as did his troopers. These opposing soldiers were very well trained, too well trained for Sith regulars. Though, dropping down behind them was a threat unlike any they had seen. A woman with an electrified baton. She darted though there fire, and Pyrrha joined her in the coming slaughter.

Winter, code named Lancer was ready to bash some skulls with her new baton. Dashing forth, a blaster bolt scuffing her armor, she slammed a trooper in the gut with the baton. Swiftly, Winter's armored shin hit another Trooper's head as she whipped around. Quickly jabbing the baton on the back of a traitorous soldier. This vigorous form of martial arts was originally foreign to Winter, though using it in full combat was elegant to her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an unstable Magma orange lightsaber blade that ripped through an Imperial regular's chest plate. Followed by a blast from the Tomb Witch's Scepter. Fighting in tandem Winter and Pyrrha were pushing the line for Roman's besieged Troops. More of the 'Regulars' swarmed the hanger. Though as they did a Sniper blaster went off, slamming one of the Regulars in their oddly shaped helmet.

"Miss me?" Cooed the accented voice of Neo, who was on the ceiling scaffold. Her sniper deployed on the railing as the three Remnants below took charge and the offensive. Neo covered them as they pushed. Roman commanding his troops, not like a criminal and henchmen. No, he was fighting like an officer at the front line, leading making it known, he was a fighter as well as a leader. Neo, Winter, and Pyrrha, serving as the pivot for his troops to push them back, He smirked as he fired blaster pistol in the air as he gave his order.

"Counterattack!" He yelled, giving his order. His troops left cover to push forward, vaulting and dashing, The Hiskal Guard showed their prowess as a combat force as Roman gave his next order, "Fall in on Orange and Lancer! Form up on them!" He yelled a midst the charge, blasting a 'Regular' as he did.


Outside of the hanger battle, Ruby was walking calmly toward the court yard, cutting down any disguised republic soldiers that got in her way. She had lost count of how many were felled by her blade. She had developed a technique to combat the non-force sensitive troopers. She hated how little of a challenge they were, even the Hiskal guardsman could keep her at bay in sparing with a vibrosword. She felt bad for the republics soldiers. As she knew if she spared them they would prove to be problematic, as they could accelerate Imperious's plan. A plan that required delaying the second war with the Republic as much as possible. She felt the fear in the troops as she cut them down, any time she had to kill like this she remembered something Imperious told her and that was, 'Ruby, I know killing should always be the last resort but Sith and Jedi alike will kill you if you show them mercy.' Though there was a growing part of Ruby that enjoyed this slaughter, and that part was growing bit by bit with each corpse.

She found herself smiling as she cut down the troops. They were the enemy, after all, they were the aggressors, to her the Republic and their Jedi were her new White Fang.


In the archive, Weiss dealt with a much different situation, the focus of the Jedi presence was in the Archive and Lab. They were nothing more than mere thieves, stealing data and information. Weiss had flashbacks to an attack on White Castle by the White Fang. This act just lowered her vision of the Jedi even lower than what it was. Her combat was quick, she didn't let the Jedi parry or defend themselves, they didn't deserve the honor of defending themselves. They were not presenting themselves as Jedi, and in Weiss's mind they did not deserve the treatment she would give to a noble Jedi combatant. Jedi and deception, two words that never meshed in the galactic vocabulary, but here they were dressed like Sith on Drommund Kaas.

Weiss whipped around slamming through, Slaughtering the troops and there commanding Jedi. As she cleared the room she found herself deep in the archive. Her saber ignited in hand, she saw the destruction she caused dead Jedi each a justified and quick kill, by their skill these Jedi barely knew how to duel with a lightsaber, and the braids gave away they were mostly still Padawans, this made Weiss scoff.

"The Jedi send children against me, how cute," Weiss spoke insulting the corpse of the Jedi as she continued on with he blue blade humming at her side. She felt not remorse for these thieves, as now she related the Jedi to the White Fang, they were scum that deserved no mercy.


Satele was not comfortable with how the operation was going, She felt her assault force being cut down by the Sith and the Forces loyal to Malserik. She realized what a mistake this operation was as she felt the agony of her Jedi and their troops. She felt their suffering as she escorted Dornettz and Balikor with Alik-zander and a contingent of troops through the halls till she heard a voice call her out.

"Satele Shan, well this confirms the Jedi are behind this operation," The voice taunted as a Sith descended from the ceiling, her blue blades ignited. Satele knew immediately this wasn't an ordinary Sith.

"Alik-zander, get the objectives out of here I will buy you time," Satele said as she readied her blue double saber for combat.

"Careful Satele that is the Visorium!" Balikor yelled back to his Jedi savior. This caused the blue eyed Sith to smirk wickedly, as she knew what her name meant to the Jedi, though she was nothing like her ancestors, but none the less the look on Satele's face made it all worth it for Imperious. Seeing Satele's fear, made Imperious's day.


Blake was wandering the halls of the mountain top fortress, her original goal was to keep any Sith occupied till the objectives could be secured. She couldn't bring herself to kill any of the Fortress's soldiers, then again only one or two made it to where she was. Instead, she chose to remain in the shadows, watching for Sith as she returned to the courtyard at the front of the mountain top fortress, her boots causing the snow to crunch beneath her feet. All of the assault forces ships were there, guarded by a light contingent of disguised troopers. Returning back outside, Blake was amazed by the darkness of Drommund Kaas, She looked up at the dark sky watching the bolts of lightning from the force storm above. As she zoned out watching the storm above, she heard blaster fire and the sound of a lightsaber. She watched a red double saber dart across a line of Republic troopers, with lethal affects. The Sith was like a whirlwind of red energy as she cut across the line of troopers.

Instinctively, Blake deployed her Saber, igniting its candle flame-colored blade. She brought the blade up to intercept the oncoming attack from the Sith. As the blade locked, the sabers clashed, accented by crackling and sparking. Blake saw the face of her opponent. Blake could barely recognize her and almost didn't want to believe it was her, but it was. Ruby was here, standing in front of her. At that moment Blake's fears were realized, and Surik's prediction was true, she had fallen to the Darkside. Ruby growled at the faunus Jedi as not knowing her identity as it was hidden behind her mask, a mask that reminded her of all of her pain from Remnant.

After the growl in the intensity of the saber lock, the Sith Ruby threw a punch with her right arm aiming for Blake's face. The masked Blake evaded this direct attack. Backing off, Blake took her mask and lowered her hood exposing her face and ears to the cold air and Ruby's gaze. Doing this made the woman in front of her burst out into a fit of laughter.

"Blake! I'll be damned seeing you here!" Ruby smiled though her laughter, which to Blake sounded like insane cackles more than it did laughter of joy. Blake was unnerved by Ruby's voice, as it was deeper and carried the Imperial accent, it wasn't the voice of the cute gun nut from Remnant, no, it was the voice of a cruel young woman. "I take it by your feeling right now, you are not too happy to see me." Ruby continued in her accented voice as she kept De Sang raised, pointed at Blake, the deep humming of the blade was something Blake could feel in her soul, though she wasn't afraid of her old leader.

"I am afraid Ruby, you would be correct. You have sins to atone for," Blake said calmly, raising Candlelight to Rose De Sang. "I can help you atone for them Ruby, If you come with me," the Jedi Shadow continued, attempting to appeal to Ruby but this only caused her to laugh even louder at Blake.

"I am sorry Blake, I can't," Ruby replied, though as she looked at Blake to continue, she smiled as she asked, "You could always join us?" Ruby asked of Blake with a smile, though she knew she would not turn that easily.

"Then I will have to defeat you, Ruby," Blake spoke with absolution, her voice cold with a sense of justice. Though there was a part of Blake that wanted to fight and that part was presenting itself in the subtle smirk on her face.

Ruby smiled extending her saber into a lance, deactivating the rear blade and increasing the length of the front blade to that of two meters and the quillons to a half a meter in length. The hilt fully extended, Ruby enter a Spear fighting stance. Blake bolted forward using her semblance to create her shadow clone. Ruby could sense which Blake was the real one. Bringing her saber to bare on Blake's blade to lock it on the quillon. Blake quickly adjusted as Ruby maneuvered the other end of her saber spear to slam into Blake's clone. In one fluid motion, Ruby back stepped, separating her saber into its halves and realized spear combat was not the appropriate style for this duel. Putting De Sang into its default configuration and igniting the second half of De Sang, Ruby pressed the offensive with her two cross sabers.

Blake could feel Ruby was holding back, even as she struck with speed and might. Looking at Ruby, Blake saw how much she had changed, she noted her body and figure was like that of a young woman figuring Ruby would now be eighteen. Blake thought the cloak-less Ruby in her own right was beautiful in a dark way, though the light burn scar on her face and right side of her body made her look meaner, along with her hairstyle which made her look more mature. Then she realized Ruby did get a prosthetic arm to replace her lost one, though her new, metal arm carried a dark aura with it.

After a few seconds of holding back, Ruby let loose a bit and in doing so, she had the Cat Faunus on the defensive. Blake was struggling with Ruby's speed and ferocity. Though, Blake had to win though she couldn't let Ruby defeat her here. She had to win she had to push back, even if it meant she had to kill Ruby.


Alik-zander was escorting the objectives until he felt something was off in the hall he was in. Turning around to face Balikor and Dornettz, as he did this he leaped back as a Viridian double blade lightsaber rocketed towards them, though the Jedi Healer learned quickly that he was not the target. As the saber cut the objectives legs off. Falling down to the ground screaming, the healer watched the infamous Saber return to the hand of a man he used to know.

"Malserik," The healer hissed, "Long time, no see. you still have your abomination of a lightsaber I see," Alik-zander spoke not drawing his sabers. The former Jedi in front of him held his ignited saber to the side disengaging the second blade along with closing the rotary track.

"Anderon Alik-zander. A pleasure to see you again, how is your master doing?" Malserik asked taunting the Jedi. As he walked forward towards the familiar face, Malserik used the force to disarm his former lieutenants and slam them off to the side.

"He is one with the light, unlike yourself." Anderon retorted in his heavily accented voice, "You know he regretted doing that, He acknowledged that mistake." the Jedi healer retorted, his white coat flaring as flames erupted from an electrical explosion in the wall behind him. "I wonder what your parents would think of you now." The tank of a healer continued as he approached Malserik. He was trying to interrupt Malserik's focus, but that taunt did no such thing, instead it helped the rogue Jedi focus his anger.

"This is the second time Jedi have tried to ruin my home, my family, NEVER AGAIN!" Malserik Roared as he performed his Makashi salute, darting forth at the Jedi who deployed a cyan bladed saber from his sleeve. Malserik knew how Anderon fought, he knew this wasn't going to be as easy as he thought.


Nora had killed that Jedi she had made into a 'sloth' as a contingent of Troops and a few more Jedi came her way. Her fist flew forward enhanced by her semblance enhanced with her force lightning, her punch imploded the trooper's helmet along with the skull inside in one visceral motion. Ripping back, she leered at the rest of the troops before leaping into the fray to annihilate them, she wasn't going to let them die painlessly, no she was going to make them suffer. As they took Lie Ren from her and turned him into one of them. They would get no mercy or remorse from her.


Satele was battling an opponent on the same skill level as Malgus, though this woman was much harder to combat than him. This was due to her use of illusion and deception, but Satele was able to combat this with various forms of combinations of force and lightsaber combat. Satele was shocked that this young woman was the Visorium, though her skill seemed to confirm this allegation. As their blue blades clashed Imperious kept both of the Grand Master's blades locked as she kicked in the stomach. Stunned, Satele back stepped to recover her balance as Imperious leaped forward coming down with a strike on the hilt of her lightsaber, slicing it in two, again. Satele countered with a force push as she took the separate halves of her saber and saw they were still functional.

Satele counterattacked with these halves against Imperious's Castle and Jackal. Their battle was a brutal one as they switched from defense and offense readily. Satele finally made some headway on her Sith opponent. A light cut on her right arm, then a stab on her right leg, these wounds staggered the Sith, giving Satele the upper hand. Visorium was getting sluggish and over extended, Satele took advantage of this fault. Managing to Disarm Visorium, Satele had her blade crossed ready to decapitate her at the slighted wrong move. It was at this point Imperious laughed wickedly at Satele. Imperious ripped castle from the floor with the force, igniting it midair across Satele left arm. At this point, the real Imperious Stood behind Satele the illusion in front of her fading as Imperious Rearmed herself. Satele with her left arm now severed and in great pain, she needed to retreat. Imperious baring down on her made this difficult with one arm. Focusing, the Grand Master performed a force repulse slamming Imperious on to the wall. This action gave the wounded Jedi time to escape, as in her condition this battle could not be won, as Imperious recovered quickly after that.

She shrugged as the Jedi Master retreated, she knew it wasn't her time yet, no she would be felled by someone she trusts. Imperious smiled seeing some more of the disguised Republic troopers soldiers, at least she wouldn't be bored.


In the hanger, the Slaughter of the Republic's disguised forces continued. Winter and Pyrrha leading the charge. Roman by this point had realized how the Republic pulled this off, they had deactivated Waldstahl's defensive turbolaser batteries. With an objective in mind and the opposition wavering and dwindling away, Roman gave his orders. Leaving a contingent force to support Winter and Pyrrha as they covered his rear flank. Taking some of his best men and Neo, Roman left the hanger to retake the command center.

Winter and Pyrrha, supported by the guardsmen, kept pushing their advantage. Eventually, they had defeated the force of Republic troopers, and no more seemed to be inbound on their position as more Hiskal Guards showed up with heavy blasters. Following Pyrrha and Winter's instruction, the Guard Readied for another wave setting up emplacements and cover. The next wave never came, though intense fighting continued in all the halls of the fortress.


In the Archive, Weiss had made it her goal to clear this room in Malserik's place. The Jedi were raiding the place like the White Fang looted Schnee Dust facilities. Seeing this only made Weiss angrier as she continued walking through the Archive. She had fire dust slowly being injected into her lightsaber blade along with her force lightning charge. This was the deepest Weiss had ever been in Malserik's Archives, the amount of Relics and Artifacts amazed the young lord. Swords of the Sith of alongside holocrons, Sith and Jedi alike. Clearing more masked Jedi and republic troops she made her way to a vault in the back of the Archive that the Jedi had to open manually, as they couldn't cut the door due to it being Mandalorian Iron. Weiss cleared the vault with little to no resistance.

In the vault, after clearing it, Weiss decided to see what was so valuable that Malserik put so much effort into sealing it away from the galaxy in the way he did. Looking inside she found a Holocron, that was oddly shaped, being a four-sided pyramid that could fit in her hand. It was black in color with a faint orange glow. Something about the Holocron ignited an urge in Weiss to open it, to understand its secrets. As she grabbed it, unable to look away from it. As she held it the Holocron opened it pulsed a concussive wave that knocked Weiss unconscious as she received a vision.

The young blue and white clad lord was scared. She was in a dark dimension, as she looked around she saw oily figures that looked like Grimm in the distance. In front of was a figure with oily black figure cloaked in black robes, his eyes glowing brightly through a bone-like mask with red markings above the eye. The mask seemed familiar to the White and Blue clad lord. Though, as she looked at the dark lord she felt the cold emptiness he was.

"You. You have fought my creations," The figure spoke his words were dead whispers that were boomingly loud. This voice and vision had Weiss cringing in fear, something she had not felt in a long time. "You are from that world, banished so long ago."

"What are you talking about?" Weiss asked of the figure, her voice quivering and trembling as she asked.

"You are a daughter of the force and you have been through the vortex," The voice continued in his horrifying tone. As he drew closer to Weiss, this figure had Weiss fearing the worst, wishing she had Mitternacht in this vision. "You have seen much for your young age, and you are the Disciple of Malserik, and the Daughter of Atris," The figure continued, "For this incursion, I give you a gift, the same one I gave your master, along with another gift, the secret of the Aura!" The figure spoke as he lowered his right hand to Weiss's left eye. As much as she wanted to move she could not her body was locked in place. Her face burned as his hand pressed on it, She Screamed as pain tore through her face. Though, she also felt another pain like her face had just be sliced open by a saber, from cheek to cheek crossing her nose. Though as the Grimm-like man did this Weiss felt something change to her aura, like it was morphing and merging with something.


Above in the courtyard Ruby and Blake were dueling in the cold snow, Ruby refused to hurt Blake. Though, Blake was pushing the aggression in this duel. Ruby could feel her anger as the cat faunus struck. Sparks flying off their crackling, humming blades as they collide against each other. Force powers implemented, to delay strikes, parry, and counterattack. Blake kept up with Ruby, pushing her darksided friend back further and further. Though with each step Ruby took backward she increased her ferocity as she was taking it easy on Blake, not wanting to hurt her.

Blake was feeling anger and rage, she wanted to stop Ruby as she realized she was behind the attack on the Pride of Alderaan, and she wanted to get revenge for what Ruby did to Jaune. Blake wanted to believe she could still have some good in her. Though, Ruby's actions killing an entire crew of Republic troopers, and leaving Jaune for dead, to Blake was unforgivable. The cat faunus was taking her anger out on Ruby, Her strikes powered by her lust for vengeance. Blake saw an opening and took advantage of it slicing at Ruby's legs.

Ruby leaped back, thankful for her aura as she tanked the blow to her right leg. She knew at this point she could not play around with this battle anymore. Throwing Blake back with a force push, the cat faunus slammed into one of the ships as she dissolved into shadows, tipping Ruby off to her semblance being used. As this happened Ruby saw Blake reappear right in front of her. Blake with her back turned plunged her blade into Ruby's stomach. She felt pain, pain unlike any other as her Aura was being depleted by the strike. Ruby backed off the attack to recompose herself as Blake swung around, slicing a line across her face.


A/N: I feel like an ass for a cut to black cliff hanger like that, but yeah things are burning (why do I feel like I am going to get another "What was that last sentence wtf" for this?). Also, some massive plot points are being revealed, though I haven't outright stated what is going on yet, but that's the fun of it all! I really don't have much to say here, as I don't want to comment on events in progress! Also see chapter one if you are curious as to why the title and chapter titles changed.

Review responses:

JimmyHall24: they might, they might not, all depends on things that happen.

hornofdesolation: I am glad you found it to be informative.

Guest: That's not a bad idea, I like that actually, I may use that in a later chapter.

Now with all of that out of the way, feel free to ask any questions if you have them, or give suggestions or corrections once again if you have any please give them or leave a review. Alright everyone, be safe, have fun, and may the force be with you!

Blitzing Raptor