Unified Through Division
"The king has arrived!" Torchwick threw open the doors to Merlot's lab, each slamming against the walls behind them. To his chagrin, however, Doctor Merlot did not so much as budge. The man was barely fifty, yet with his powder-white hair and how he was hunched over, furiously typing away at his terminal, he looked like he was pushing eighty. The sterile, white, windowless room gave the impression of a cell. Frankly, Torchwick thought, it was like he'd never rescued Merlot from that rotten prison at all. What a waste of freedom.
"You know, Doc, this is why I don't even come around here: you don't even throw a glance my way. You are just like my parents, you know that?" He strolled closer, only to stumble and be forced to support himself on his cane. Torchwick grimaced, and his eyes fell to glare his right leg. 'It would feel brand new', they said. Yeah, right.
Grumbling, he stepped closer and looked over just what Merlot was doing: the man was typing way too fast for him to catch what he was actually writing, so Torchwick's gaze naturally wandered over the terminal to the thin wire trailing to the deactivated android girl laying there without a scrap of cloth—
"Oh, good Lord, Merlot! What kind of creepy shit are you doing in here!" He had a line and whatever might've been going on here was definitely crossing it.
Merlot paused, but didn't bother even looking at him. "Excuse me?"
"Don't you give me that 'excuse me' crap; where's her clothes!"
He turned to look over his shoulder and glare at Torchwick. A blocky, gray implant with a red lens replaced one of his eyes. "How prudish. She's a machine."
"Who looks exactly like a teenage girl."
"Oh, I'm sorry, do you dress up your toaster as well? How about your various Scrolls and computing devices?" Merlot grunted and returned to his computer, leaving the disgusted Torchwick out of sight and out of mind. "Don't be so immature."
Torchwick snorted. "Hmph, I expected this kind of perversion from Mercury, not so much from you. I guess you're less a grandfather and more a 'creepy uncle' type, anyway."
Merlot sighed in exasperation. He didn't understand this generation. "If I throw a... hospital gown on her, will you quit your whining?"
"... I'll contemplate it."
Adam had just lifted his hand to knock at their temporary dorm's door when it was suddenly flung open. Yang stood grinning on the other side. He couldn't help but notice that it faded slightly upon seeing him.
"Oh, hey, Adam. We were just talking about you! Long story short, Penny's kidnapped."
His brow rose. "During the attack?"
"She's a robot," Yang kept talking as if she hadn't even heard him.
"What?"
"We need you to track down her Scroll because Weiss called her and Torchwick answered—"
"You need to slow down—"
"And—ooh, is that for us? Thank you!" She snatched the package from his hand and slammed the door in his face. Adam stared at the door for a couple seconds in a mixed state of shock and growing agitation. Scowling, he swept his Scroll past the door's scanner and threw it open, storming in with eyes glowing red.
"If I could just get an explanation as to what is happening, that would be... wonderful..." He slowed to a stop as he saw Yang with the package opened and upturned, along with what looked like just a mass of trembling fur clumped onto the ground beneath it. Ruby and Weiss were curiously leaning over it, while Yang fiddled with a small note that had been stuffed inside. Adam sighed. At least the atmosphere wasn't nearly as stifling... emotionally, that is. Adam's nose twitched, and he grimaced: whatever that thing was, it smelled like wet dog.
After a last tremble, the mass bounced up, shook itself and turned to look at the members of RWAY with big, happy, puppy eyes. Ah. It was a dog.
... Wait.
"Zwei!" Ruby gasped. "Oooh, I missed you!" She practically tackled the black-and-white corgi and swept it up in her arms, giggling as both Weiss and Adam stared on in utter confusion. Yang did not so much as blink at the oddity, instead reaching over and petting Zwei any time she could, laughing with her sister. Were they not in a completely different dormitory, one might not have been faulted for believing that last night simply hadn't happened at all. However, there were other thoughts on the two partners' minds:
"Who sent a dog?" Adam asked in disbelief.
"In the mail?!" Weiss added.
With Ruby busy cuddling with her dog, Yang was left to answer her. "Ah, our dad did! He does stuff like this all the time." She waved it off as if this was the most normal thing for a father to do. Weiss warily stepped towards Ruby and the dog in her arms while Adam shook his head.
"What, send your pets? That's dangerous: how could it breathe?" He scoffed.
"It has breathing holes, duh." Yang waved her hand over the package's small holes.
"How did he eat?"
Yang flipped over the package, and a veritable pile of dog food cans poured out of it, along with a can opener. To Adam's even greater confusion, two of those cans were already opened. How? Did they awaken the aura of their dog? Did their dog have a Semblance of some kind to open cans? Before Adam could ask either of these increasingly important questions, Yang had plucked an envelope out from now-empty package.
"Oh, cool! Dad sent a letter with him! 'Hey, girls! I don't know why, but for some reason yesterday, I got this weird feeling that you two needed a good cheering up. Since I'm heading out on my first mission in a while(ah, the joys of an empty house)"—Yang paused her reading to huff and pout at that—"It sounds like a great time to go ahead and leave Zwei with you for a while! I'll come by to pick him up myself when I get back. Love you both, Taiyang.' "
Weiss scoffed and leaned over to glare at the corgi, which rolled around in Ruby's arms until it could flop on its side and stare at the heiress. "So you are telling me that this mangy, drooling..." Her lips twitched up when it flipped onto its back. "Mutt, is—"
Zwei yipped, and Weiss' icy persona shattered in an instant.
"Going to live with us forever?!" She let out an unladylike squeal of delight and happily pet their new (temporary) dog, giggling as he hopped out of Ruby's arms and into her own. As Weiss descended into babytalk and cute noises playing with Zwei, Adam looked the three over. Seeing them this happy, Adam decided his questions could wait. With a slight chuckle, he reached out to pet Zwei...
And immediately stepped back in surprise as it barked viciously at him. Just as quickly as he'd become so angry, Zwei was back to his normal happy self as the three girls snickered at him.
"Dogs can see the true side of people," Yang teased. She was only half-joking.
"No wonder he doesn't like you then, Adam: he can tell you're more of a... cat person." Weiss looked a little too proud of herself as Ruby broke into full giggles and Yang gasped and grinned like a mother proud of her child. Stoic, Adam stared at Weiss, but any response of his was swept away by the intercom system turning on and reminding them that all first-year students were to come to the amphitheater in one hour.
"Alright, we can figure out what we're going to do with him when we get back! Let's... actually get ready!" Yang declared and unceremoniously shoved Adam back out of the dorm so they could get dressed.
Walking through campus was a grim reminder of the events that had transpired last night: though Professor Goodwitch had been left working overtime, she could not find every bullet hole, nor could she easily wash away every scorch mark or groove carved out by a sword. Such would take at least a couple days and, until then, every sign of the assault drew the students' eyes towards them like iron to a magnet. Gray clouds left the sky overcast and left the normally vibrant academy dull and dreary.
Students now walked in packs that paradoxically glanced between one another with faint suspicion, unable to even trust their own friends. It was clear that news had spread that many of the perpetrators were former students of Beacon, with some even saying there were some from Mistral who joined in on a whim. By the time they'd gotten close to the amphitheater, Team RWAY had noticed a different, far darker change. It had started with a simple gasp: a student realizing Adam had horns, now that he'd cast away his hat. A few had stepped away or shot suspicious glares and whispers in their direction, as well. The groups were very clearly segregated into faunus and human. The majority of the suspicious glares and whispers were directed at the faunus, and the bigger the groups of faunus, the more space coincidentally grew around them.
More than once did Adam notice worried glances from his own teammates thrown in his direction, both no doubt wondering how he was feeling... and from that all-too-similar suspicion he caught flickering in both Yang and Weiss' gaze, if he was going to do anything. His grip had tightened on his weapon enough to whiten his knuckles beneath his gloves.
A cry rung out in the crowd when they reached the door, and Adam immediately spun to face where it came from: a faunus girl with a squirrel tail—something so hard to hide in times like this—shoved to the ground, and another girl standing above her, ranting. Furious and afraid, screaming about how they'd brought the White Fang here. All faunus did.
Eyes glowing a cold red, Adam nearly abandoned his team without a thought, about to storm over at once, when someone grabbed his arm. He turned his hateful gaze down to whoever dared try to stop him: even if it was his own team, they of all people should know how he could never let this happen. If they thought he would stop, then—
Crimson eyes met silver. Ruby did not so much as flinch, instead looking up with a determined, silent plea in her eyes. Unlike Yang and Weiss, there was not even a spark of blame in her gaze. Adam was reminded all too much of Velvet: striking out now could ignite the tension rather than crush it underfoot. He looked over at the incident one last time. What he found both pleased him, yet brought that anger in on himself: two faunus had come to her aid, standing on either side of the squirrel faunus and glaring at the girl lashing out at her. Both wore black armbands.
Reluctantly, Adam conceded.
The beginnings of a crowd had already begun to hurriedly disperse, a wide berth of space now suddenly given to the faunus and their accuser. A mix of fear and shame flickered across the human girl's face, and she quickly departed. Fear. Adam could practically smell it spiking whenever the faunus grew close to one another, now. This attack had spread fear throughout the entire academy, and it was only that which was keeping the faunus who were not even involved from suffering for it. Perhaps if there were more attacks, more terror applied time and time again, it would keep the negativity from outweighing it, but not for long. Eventually, the hatred would overwhelm the fear. Eventually, there simply would not be anything left to do to make humans fear the faunus more, and when that did happen, it would all collapse.
He'd never bothered staying in the aftermath of one of his White Fang's attacks, before. He would have returned to his people, to celebration and triumph, not to this despair that left the air thick. He'd seen the truth too late. He'd understood the truth too late.
Adam nodded in thanks to Ruby without a word. As the first drops of rain fell, the group took their place in the amphitheater, quiet and deep in thought. Briefly, Adam caught Blake's eye from the other side of the room. She turned away.
Goodwitch looked upon the students and sighed. Beacon, unsurprisingly, formed the majority of the students there, with the members of the other three academies only having the students participating in the Vytal Tournament and those who had gotten the permission to visit and serve as exchange students during the festival itself. Her students were fractured, beaten, afraid. For that matter, only Vacuo's students, sticking out like sore thumbs with their casual, brightly-colored clothes, escaped this oppressive feeling. Yet, she could still see one thing in all of their eyes, standing out even within the anger, fear and hate: determination. The determination to still do right.
"Students." And their attention now laid solely upon her. "I know that the previous night has been trying for all of you, and I know that it may not seem fair to send you away on missions not but a day after such a terrible assault on Beacon Academy... however, as I look out and see all of you still standing here today, prepared to uphold our way of life, I must say that I have never been more proud. Thank you, students of Remnant." With a genuine, warm smile, Goodwitch stepped aside for their headmaster, leaving higher spirits in her wake.
"Today, we stand together," he began, his voice managing to carry all the strength of his declaration the previous night, yet without much more than a mere hardening of his tone. "Mistral. Vacuo. Atlas. Vale. We have received a grave reminder of the forces we stand united against, but we must not forget that it was not always like this. Eighty years ago, we fought not together against the Grimm or terrorism, but against ourselves. We fought for more than just borders and trade, but for the very right to express one's self, for individualism, and for the very survival of creativity itself. It was a war that could leave the very core of humanity hollow, and it was something that we could not stand for." Ozpin's solemn voice echoed through the hall.
"And so we named our children after the very core aspects of our creativity: color and art, music and nature. It was a way to demonstrate that we would not stand for such tyranny, and it was a trend that has stood the test of time. We encourage individuality, expression, and unity through diversity. Today we stand together, yet no longer are our threats nations or faces to put names to. Today, we fight against the abstract: Grimm. Terrorism. Hatred. Fear. We have seen yesterday just how dangerous these abstractions are, yet we stand united nonetheless, for we have no choice. We stand between the innocent and a grave fate, and as our cities celebrate the end of that cataclysmic war eighty years ago, we shall celebrate too, by fighting as one against the menaces threatening our very way of life." He swept a hand out to the crowd, and countless holographic screens began to rise across the edge of the amphitheater, one by one.
"As first-year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission to do just that. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best." A slim smile slipped across Ozpin's face as he turned to leave, but paused, as if he had forgotten something.
"Ah yes, and do remember: simply because a mission is short does not mean it will be any easier. Be warned."
And with that, the students began to scatter for the boards, searching for the perfect mission to serve as their first steps into becoming genuine Huntsmen and Huntresses. As Ozpin walked away, his eyes locked with Adam's in the crowd. They nodded to one another, and Adam wordlessly walked off towards the holographic screens, leaving the rest of his team's conversation and leaving the three girls confused.
"Here." Adam pointed to 'Mission #31'. Search and Destroy located in Mountain Glenn.
"Mountain Glenn? Are you sure they're hiding out in there, Adam?" Weiss mused. "There's an awful lot of Grimm, there..."
Ruby perked up.
"Yeah, if we try for a mission that dangerous, what if our Huntsman or Huntress is too strong for us to give them the slip?" Yang added on.
Ruby's eyes gleamed.
"Maybe a reconnaissance mission?" Yang offered.
Ruby's response was to leap over and type RWAY's name into Mission #31 as fast as she could.
'Mission unavailable to first-year students' flashed on-screen. Ruby looked shattered as Yang and Weiss looked back at Adam.
What, was this some kind of joke? Adam let out a deep sigh.
"Well, any other bright ideas?" Weiss teased him.
"Oh, oh!" Ruby called and bounced on her heels. "We mail ourselves there!"
"That's certainly one option," Ozpin chuckled to himself as he stepped out from behind the screen. The three girls noticeably straightened up, knowing that their headmaster was right there listening to them. "Unfortunately, we determined the concentration of Grimm was much too severe for first year students. It seems that particular region has become rather popular for them, as of late. Yet, I get the sneaking suspicion that the four of you will find your ways there, whether we want you to or not."
The three girls chuckled and shifted nervously, but Adam only narrowed his eyes: this was all just a setup for Ozpin to arrive and look better. Clever, but manipulative. Him being used as the trigger for something this simple left him all the more agitated.
"What makes you say that?" Ruby tried to put on her most innocent, adorable grin.
"Well, first, I'm still curious as to how you four managed to find yourselves at the docks, last semester." Ozpin's gaze fell to Weiss, who shuffled nervously.
"Just as curious as I am on just how you really"—He glanced over at Adam. Really, did he think that ploy would work?—"managed to find out about a hideout in the southeast."
"And I'm certainly wondering about that report of robots, motorcycles and red-headed girls saving citizens on the highway..." Ozpin's gaze slowly drifted to the sisters. He shrugged and sipped from his mug. "I doubt I'll ever find the answers I'm looking for. But I'm certain that anyone who has had the same achievements would be far and away above the capabilities and restrictions of first-year students, wouldn't you agree?" His smile became much more knowing as he looked from Ruby to the screen once more.
Taking the hint, she reached out and put her team in once more. This time, no error flashed.
Ruby turned to Ozpin with determination in her eyes. "Thank you, Headmaster. We won't let you down!"
Ozpin's expression grew serious. "Do not thank me for this. Persistence and audacity have carried you far, but you must understand: the forces outside the Kingdom's walls will not care. Stay close to your Huntsman at all times, do not 'give him the slip', and do exactly as he says."
Yang cleared her throat.
"He will be aiding you on your mission, and he can have you sent back to Beacon if your skills prove to be unsatisfactory... that being said, good luck." He departed, leaving the four to mull over their decision.
"I think he already knows..." Ruby let out a nervous chuckle.
Four hours. They had only four hours to prepare themselves for their journey.
"I see it as important to remember just who we are supposed to be fighting, once we arrive in Mountain Glenn," Adam spoke up back in their temporary dorm room as he scanned through a Scroll. Ruby and Yang paused in their weapon maintenance on their beds, and Weiss curiously looked over from where she sat, petting Zwei.
"... The White Fang? Exactly what are you saying?" the heiress asked.
Adam did not even look up from the Scroll. "I'm saying that we should remember that we'll be fighting people."
The room grew colder. Adam sighed: he did not wish to bring the room down, but it was something they needed to hear. To be warned of.
"Not just people, but faunus who have been grabbed off of the street and given only weeks—even days—of training. They will be almost indiscernible from those with a wealth of aura, and will be trying to kill us all the same. They will be far more ruthless than mere goons trying to protect robberies or even local bases." Trying to... put a face to a villain was not his forte, Adam knew. Were it the opposite—were he trying to get them not to care for the souls about to be extinguished, he could have three killing machines in moments... but he supposed it was harder to build than to destroy.
Yang shrugged. "If this is another attempt to get us to stop, you're a bit late on this."
"No, this is an attempt to get you to prepare. Aura levels will fluctuate from soldier to soldier, some may not even have the same power as even normal first-year students, but you cannot afford to approach them lightly."
"You're asking if we can... take a life." Weiss figured it out.
Now, he looked over to them. She held Zwei close, but her eyes shined with steely determination. Yang watched him warily, slowly understanding what he was implying, before. Ruby was the only one who kept her eyes averted, trying to keep herself small.
"I cannot blame you if you cannot, but you still must be able to answer it. Can. You. Kill?" Adam looked between Weiss and Yang, then tossed the Scroll over to Weiss: he'd tracked Penny's Scroll, visible as a lone, green dot flashing on an old map of Mountain Glenn. "Those coordinates, keep them in mind, because by the time we reach them, you will need that answer, at least for yourself."
Seeing Ruby threaten to slip back into the sadness before Zwei arrived, Yang growled and stormed over to him. "Look, I really appreciate you worrying, but we are not like you. Murder is not our first course of action: we can make it through with our hands clean."
Adam stared at her without visible emotion, his gaze only turning to Ruby. The youngest of them shuddered, and Adam sighed again.
"The point is not if you want to, it is if you can. That is all that matters. If you cannot by the time we reach that base, then let me take point. I'll handle the brunt of the fighting." He slowly rose from his own bed, gaze impassive as he focused on Yang. She prepared herself for another lash at Adam when he simply stepped past her. "Ruby, come with me. We need to talk."
"She doesn't want to talk about it, alright?" Yang defended her sister. "Even if she did, she probably wouldn't want to talk about it with you—"
"Alright..." Ruby's mumble left Yang speechless.
As Yang watched the two of them leave the dorm, she could only wonder just what was going on, here? Her own sister wouldn't tell her a thing, but was totally willing to chat with the one who screwed her up? Her eyes steadily turned red with her rage: even if this was just some attempt at getting a little more independent, being chucked aside like this was infuriating!
"I'll take that scowl as a sign that you haven't the slightest on what is going on between those two, either?" Weiss sighed and let Zwei go, where his dog instincts brought him over to Yang's side, happily chasing around her in an attempt to bring her hopes up.
But Zwei wasn't a cure-all. Yang cracked her knuckles. "Not a damn clue, but whatever it is, I don't like it one bit..."
