Bad batch tensed as the RWBY clones gave them a once over. Outrider kept his eyes on his girlfriend's clone. "You know if you weren't with the white fang you'd make great allies." He said. "you flatter me honey." HC-004 said. "But there's only one yang for me. she's right here." The non-clone said pulling the buxom blonde in by the waist. "HC-003, can I punch his teeth in?" the faunas clone nodded before a voice spoke up. "Wait… you're calling yourselves by your designations?" hunter asked. This caused confusion for both the original team RWBY and the RWBY clones. HC-001 looked to her team then to hunter. "What do you mean?" she asked taking a cautious step forward.
"We aren't numbers. We have our own names, our own identities." Echo said. "I don't follow." Blake said. Outrider looked at her. "What do you think the 'clone' in Clone Force 99 means?" he asked. "You're clones!?" Weiss asked looked at Tech. "Save for outrider yes. We are of the same template, but we're genetically modified to serve our roles in combat." The brains of bad batch said.
HC-003 growled. "Enough!" she yelled rushing outrider and yang. "No, you don't." neo thought getting in front of the duo and blocking the strike. And with that the RWBY clones attacked with HC-001 being hesitant. "We're fighting clones of a different template? Why?"
Wrecker traded blows with HC-004 before neo dropkicked her. "I'm not going to let you hurt him." She thought with a fierce expression that promised pain. The buxom blonde's clone raised her eyebrows before gaining a Cheshire grin. "Sorry, but is he your boyfriend?" she asked making the ice cream girl blush slightly. "No. I'm not, but if you hurt her… I will break you." Wrecker said causing neo to look at him in shock as the gentle giant let out a war cry.
Hunter dodged a swing from HC-003 while Blake made a counterattack. "leave him alone!" the cat faunas exclaimed entering a deadlock with her clone. "you betrayed Adam! I don't know why he wants you alive." HC-003 said shooting Blake in the arm making the faunas drop her weapon. Hunter shoulder tackled HC-003 before punching her into a pillar stunning her. "Blake, you alright?" he asked worried. "I'm fine thanks for asking." She said standing up. "That's enough. You're outmatched HC-003." The leader of bad batch said before aiming his blaster pistol at her.
HC-001 watched as her sisters fought their templates. Unfortunately for her she didn't see an alpha ursa sneak up behind her. "HC-001. Look out!" HC-004 yelled having caught a glimpse of the Grimm. The warning however came too late as the ursa slashed HC-001 knocking her out. "SAPPHIRE!" Outrider yelled before blasting the ursa.
"Back to the bull head!" HC-003 yelled after seeing HC-001 get hit. "What about HC-001?" HC-002 asked. "Leave her." HC-003 said. "No. I'm not leaving our sister behind." HC-004 said turning towards HC-001's location only to find outrider carrying HC-001's body. "Don't worry, she's still breathing." He said placing the unconscious RWBY clone in HC-004's arms. "Thank Oum." The buxom blonde clone said in relief. "Can you do me a favor HC-004?" The non-clone asked. HC-004 looked at him. "Tell her that her new name is sapphire. A name gives a person character." HC-004 nodded before boarding the bullhead and departing.
"Why didn't you stop them from escaping?!" Yang demanded. "Because they have to find their own way." Outrider said as the rest of bad batch, team RWBY, and Neopolitan walked up beside the two. "I have the feeling that we'll cross paths with them again." Hunter said as outrider wrapped an arm around Yang's waist.
Later at Merlot's island
"Mission was a failure Adam. Evidently we weren't ready." HC-003 said "Why?" the bull faunas asked. "They're more skilled considering they have seen more action than us." HC-002 said. "HC-001 didn't even fight." The faunas clone said. "Sapphire. Her name is sapphire." HC-004 said. "Names are irrelevant for you." Adam said. "They give us character. We aren't numbers Adam. None of us are." The blonde brawler clone said. 'sapphire' gave HC-004 a questioning glance. "Did you think up that name for me?" she asked. "no, one of the bad batch's members did."
"What's this about names?" Merlot asked walking in as Adam departed. "One of bad batch's members gave HC-001 a name father." HC-003 said irritated. "And what name was it?" the scientist asked. "Sapphire, father." The blue clad ruby clone said. "That's a beautiful name. I should that that man if I ever meet him." This caused the RWBY clones to gain question marks. "What do you mean father?" HC-002 asked. "I've been meaning to give you names, but Adam insisted on keeping you with designations."
"If outrider gave me this name, then we all should have names. HC-004, considering you a clone of yang. We'll call you Yin." Sapphire said. the newly named 'Yin' smiled. "I like it." she said. "And me?" HC-002 asked. "How about… frost." Yin suggested. Weiss' clone pondered the name and nodded. HC-003's eyebrow twitched
"Are you crazy? Names aren't relevant." The faunas clone said. "HC-003, I'm well aware that you follow Adam's ideals, but like that cybernetic man said. we aren't numbers. We're living beings." Sapphire said. "but don't you find it weird that even though he cares for you… he hasn't thought of giving you a name." yin said furrowing her eyebrows. HC-003 paused. Why hadn't Adam given her a name. Merlot looked at her as she sat down in a nearby chair cat ears drooping.
"Jade." The scientist said gaining HC-003's attention. "hmm?" the faunas clone said. "If I ever had a daughter I would've called her Jade and since you four see me as your dad and you're the only one without a name, your name will be jade." The newly named 'Jade' smiled. "Thank you… father."
"I should thank the bad batch for reminding me of giving them names." Merlot mused. He smiled knowing that bad batch would protect the person he'd saved a decade ago for the leader of team RWBY's sake. "Something on your mind father." Jade asked. "Yes, I may have something to give to bad batch. However, I'll only let Sapphire and Yin see it" Sapphire and Yin looked at him.
"Why only us father?" Yin asked. "The something or rather someone I plan to give to bad batch is very precious to your templates. "What's the person's name?" Sapphire asked. Merlot beckoned for her and Yin to approach him. They did and he whispered it to them making Sapphire and Yin widen their eyes and side-glanced each other.
A/N: that's it for part five of the eclipse arc. The identity of the mystery person merlot spoke of will be remain hidden until towards the end of the arc. This story may be my longest yet, but we'll see. In the timeline of RWBY this mission is set before team RWBY meets sun. just so you're aware. Please read and review. Constructive criticism is much appreciated.