Hunter looked at Ozpin's hologram as the headmaster pondered what he'd just been told. "A new kind of Grimm. This is both intriguing and worrisome." Ozpin's hologram said. "I believe the term you're looking for professor is mutation." Tech said. this made everyone look at him. "the Grimm had the appearance of an Ursa, but was colored differently." Outrider nodded. "he's right. All Grimm are colored the same, but the one we just fought wasn't." he said before looking at team RWBY and neo.

"I think it's best that team RWBY returns to beacon." The heavy gunner said. "WHAT! WHY?" Weiss yelled. Yang gave her boyfriend a betrayed looked. "I'm not saying this to be mean Weiss or to any of you. You're first years." Outrider said walking up to Yang. "And I don't want to lose you." Yang furrowed her eyebrows. "this is going to be one of those fights huh?" she asked. "Yang, I'm asking you to head back to beacon because I couldn't forgive myself if you died on this mission." Outrider said flipping his faceplate up.

Yang could see the worry etched on his face but countered his argument. "And I wouldn't forgive myself if they came back without you. I'm staying by your side no matter how hard you try to make me leave." The heavy gunner saw the fire and determination in the blonde's eyes.

Yang wrapped her arms around outrider's neck and kissed him. Wrecker's eyebrows shot up and used a hand to cover Ruby's eyes "Wrecker… I've seen mom kiss dad before."

"Save the make-out session for your date you two." Wrecker said making neo snicker. "On second thought, keep you hand over my eyes." The scarlet reaper said. unaware to ruby, yang ended her kiss shortly before Wrecker spoke. Both were glaring at him. "Relax, I was just pulling little Red's chain."

"I'm honored that you want to see this mission to the end Miss Xiao Long, but I agree with bad batch. This mission has just gotten far too dangerous for you and the rest of team RWBY." Ozpin's hologram said. "I'm sending a bullhead to…" hunter interrupted him. "Headmaster if I may, Outrider merely suggested it. The others, myself included didn't agree with him." The sergeant said. "therefore, they get to stay." Ozpin hummed in thought. "Very well, but be careful. I fear there may be more of these 'mutant' Grimm lurking around." The headmaster said before cutting the transmission.

Beacon academy

"Are you sure that's wise Oz?" James Ironwood asked over video feed. "I have to agree with him on this one professor." Glynda said. "Glynda, you saw how well Bad Batch operated during Team RWBY's initiation. Which reminds me. I'm sending you a copy of said initiation test to you James. But remember these men aren't to be messed with. While they are residents of my school, they have the right to defend themselves whether it be stunning or shooting the assailants." Ozpin warned. Glynda frowned remembering Team CDRL's attempt to get back at the clones for stopping them from bullying two fellow classmen.

"What do you mean? Have they killed any students?" Ironwood asked worried. "No, but one of our teams of huntsmen hopefuls learned the hard way not to mess with them about ten days into the fall semester." Glynda said. "I see. I'd very much like to meet this so called Bad Batch when the Vytal festival occurs." Ironwood said before cutting the feed.

"I wish he hadn't done that." Ozpin said facepalming. "Done what?" Glynda asked. "Cut the feed."

"why would that matter?" the vice headmistress asked. "Battle droids." Was all Ozpin said. Glynda's eyes widened slightly. "You were going to warn him about bad batch's distaste for robotic soldiers?" she asked wincing. "Yes… Yes I was." They knew that there would be hell if they didn't warn ironwood.

Merlot's island

"Yin, do you think this is the life that father intended for you, frost, Jade, and I?" Sapphire asked looking around at the numerous white fang soldiers. "I used to think so Saph, but now I don't think it was." Yin said wrapping her arm around the Ruby clone. "When that bad batch guy handed you my unconscious body, did you see any ill-intent?" the blue reaper asked. "to be honest, sapphire, I was half expecting to shoot me in the back." The yang clone said as the other RWBY clones joined them. "Pondering life are you Sapphire?" Jade asked

"Yeah, I am." The blue reaper said. "So, what was it that father wanted to show you two?" Frost asked. "Something precious to my and yin's template. We can't tell you sorry." Sapphire asked. "understandable." Jade said before narrowing her eyes glaring at Adam. 'Your time to answer my questions draws near Adam.'

Forever Fall Forest

"So, what's the plan?" Yang asked hunter. "well, we need to find a way to this so called Dr. Merlot's island." He said. "I think we just did." Blake said pointing in a direction. To the group's shock, there was a cargo dock. "There's no sea ports in forever fall." Ruby said. "Well, boys… and girls. We just found our ticket to Merlot's island." Hunter said glancing at the rest of Bad Batch and team RWBY.

A/N: and so, ends another part of the Eclipse Arc and we inch closer to said Arc's climax. This doesn't mean that I'll end the story with the end of the Eclipse Arc. Oh no there's much more to do. However, it'll be some time before the next big story arc comes out after this one concludes. As always, read and review. Constructive criticism is appreciated. That being said peace.

Reviews:

Guest- if you have read the last two paragraphs of the previous chapter you would know that it is.

MagicalCatgirl68- I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Rest assured that the RWBY Clones will get into many shenanigans after the Eclipse Arc.

KnightWolf1875- you'd be right on both accounts, but I won't say how.