A/N

Hey everyone, I'm back! For the people following this story I'd like to offer an apology for my radio silence. Between school, family and everything else life can pile on, the time I have to sit my ass down and write has diminished somewhat.

Last chapter I mentioned in the authors note that I would have an upload schedule. I'm happy to report that I now do! You can expect the next chapter of this story next Sunday (October 11th) and another chapter uploaded every Sunday to follow.

I know the chapters for this story aren't the longest and waiting an entire week for the next one can be a drag, so I'll try to write longer chapters for this story to compensate. The good news is that I'm almost done writing the second installment of my RWBY saga, so once thats complete I can focus a little more on this story and some other (smaller) ideas I've been cooking up.

Chapter 5…

Ashley took a moment to bask in the tranquility of the quiet meadow. The dark haired woman was seated cross-legged on a patch of grass; it was a nice little spot, overlooking a babbling stream that carved a furrow into the nearby ground.

Apparently this place was modeled after the planet Harmony. Although Ashley had never been to the planet to verify if this was true or not, mainly because it was enemy territory.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

The gentle movements of Ashley's expanding and contracting diaphragm was the only indication that she was still conscious. It had been a long time since she had properly meditated… for the first time in a long time she was doing it without the assistance of alcohol.

Behind the seated woman, a stone brick staircase led upwards towards her trial…

Obsidian coloured eyes snapped open, alight with purpose and concentration. In less than a moment the woman was standing, pulling her helmet off her hip and slipping it over her head. As Ashely ascended the stone steps, she took a moment to address the many weapons strapped to her person.

Two Hammond P2016s were strapped to her hips, resting on the outer surface of her armour's protective thigh plates. Strapped directly to her chestplate was a B3 Wingman Elite, the hammer of the heavy revolver already pulled back and primed. On her lower back- just above her hips, rested a magnetic grenade launcher, just in case she ran into a titan…

It had been a long time since she had run in the trials… who knew what this place was hiding…

The helmeted woman reached the top of the steps, seeing the floating path stretched out before her. She tensed her muscles and crouched low, separating her legs to allow for a powerful impulse of speed.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

The trick to success was in the breathing… it was all about rhythm…

Ashley pushed off in a powerful burst of speed! Her legs a blur of motion as she tore down the straightaway and towards the nearest challenge. A few steps ahead of her there was a gap in the path disappeared, a floating wall erected on the left to provide Ashley passage. The dark haired woman angled her feet and pushed off the ground, her jump kit flaring up to stick her to the wall like a bug. Ashley maintained her motion as she ran, defying gravity as she leapt off the wall and landed on the others side of the gap.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Up next was a narrow gap, modeled to look like a pile of erected stones; the gap at the bottom couldn't have been more than four feet tall. Ashley forced herself low to the ground into a powerslide, her jump kit roaring to fight against friction and propel her underneath the gap. Once her head was clear Ashley forced herself back into a standing position, counting on her jump-kit to maintain her momentum.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

One last obstacle left… a vertical jump.

Ashley crouched low to the ground, slowly reaching maximum velocity as she approached the final challenge. She leapt upwards and activated her jump-kit, the rocket booster blasting her upwards to curl her fingers around the edge. Ashley kept her grip with both hands and swung her lower body and legs forwards like a pendulum, giving her the physics advantage and allowing her to clamber atop the path.

Once she was on top of the platform Ashley slowed down to a jogging pace; running was no longer necessary seeing as the end of the path was in sight. In front of Ashley was a massive circular temple, the top half of the structure defying gravity and flowing unsupported.

This was where the interesting part of the trial began…

Ashley walked across the center plaza of the stone temple, checking over her weapons again and crouching at the starting line. On an adjacent wall a scoreboard was displayed, featuring the names of pilots and their fastest times.

Two years of "retirement" had dulled her skills somewhat… but she would try her hardest…

Once again Ashley was off like a shot, drawing one of her Hammond P2016s and clenching it tightly in her right hand. The obstacle course before her was littered with holograms, glowing orange and modeled to look like enemy soldiers. Ashley jumped up and stuck to a wall as the first three came within range; she raised her pistol and squeezed off three quick shots. Two of them landed as body shots, but the third hit true on the final hologram's heads; all three fizzled out of existence.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Ashley planted her feet and crouched into a slide, her pistol raised to eye level as she continued to fire. The dark haired woman emptied the magazine, causing another four holograms to fizzle out of existence. Ashley didn't reload the empty pistol, instead hastily shoving it back into its holster and pulling her spare Hammond P2016 as a replacement.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Up next was a maze like structure, concealing multiple orange holograms. Ashley couldn't let a single one slip by her, every single one counted towards her final score. The dark haired woman slid under a gap and reduced the first to sparks. She got back to her feet and continued to run, kicking off a wall and rebounding to the opposite side of the corridor. Now with a birds eye view of the maze Ashley rained down shots from above, "killing" the last of the holograms and emptying her second Hammond P2016.

Ashley didn't bother keeping it, she released the spent weapon from her hand and let it clatter to the floor.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Ashley's gloved hand maneuvered to the Wingman Elite strapped to her chest. She drew the pinpoint accurate revolver from its holster and kept it low near her hips as she flew through the air. The end of the course was in sight now!

A large stone ring surrounded by walls and ledges where holograms hid in waiting… the final stretch…

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

Ashley jumped to her left and stuck to a wall again, lifting the revolver up to eye level. The first three shots hit true, causing the holograms she targeted to fizzle out of existence.

There was only one hologram left… and the final gap Ashley had to slide under to complete the trial. Although she had never been one for unnecessary theatrics, but this wasn't a real battle scenario…

Ashley sprung between multiple walls to gain vertical height as she approached the final hologram. She could see the top of its simulated helmet, the bright orange light sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the brown and tan scenery.

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale…'

This was it! Ashley pushed off in a powerful leap, keeping her elbow bent so that the Wingman was close to her chest. She corkscrewed in air, tilting and rolling like a flying missile as she rocketed towards her target. As she stretched out her arm to fire the pistol… a smile began to tug on the edges of Ashley's lips… for the first time in a long time…

'Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhal-'

Pain… a blinding pain in the head that made Ashley scream. The revolver flew from her outstretched hand as the helmeted woman crashed into the hard ground. Her entire side flared up in throbbing heat as she writhed; she tore off her helmet and continued to grab her head.

"Oi! What the hell are you doing you bloody idiot! Don't pull her mid-course!"

"I'm sorry sir! You said it was urg-"

"Shut up! If she has brain damage I'll slice your throat!"

The beautiful, tranquil world of Harmony went up in a puff of smoke, replaced with the inky black void of nothingness that represented limbo. There was a blast of light and sound as the virtual reality pod was forcibly torn open.

"Ashley? Is your brain a puddle?"

"What?" Ashley stuttered as she grit her teeth, her eyes slowly adjusting to focus on the silhouette of a man.

"I told that idiot tech not to pull you yet… but I take it you have no brain damage?"

Ashley knew that voice, that accent. "Blisk…" The dark haired woman rasped out weakly.

Blisk's face could now be made out. The man bent down to peer into Ashley's dark eyes, his hard face covered with a fine layer of stubble. "How's the head?"

"Just… give me a second…"

"I'll do you one better… one whole minute!" Blisk joked, standing upright as Ashley shut her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Doubt you can walk right now anyways… best to stick to safety protocols in these things…"

Blisk turned his head to glare at the pods technician, who cowered in fear.

"Anyways," Blisk turned back to Ashley. "I have a special present for you, Ishikara…"

"Yippee!" Ashley mock cheered, shaking her head and planting her hands on either side of the pod. "Don't keep me in suspense Blisk…"

"Hmmph," Blisk huffed and smiled. "I managed to get you a date…"

"Date?" Ashley snorted, cracking open a bloodshot eye. She began to shakily get to her feet, her headache lessening as her mind adjusted back to reality. "Sorry Blisk… I don't feel the same way…"

"As if!" Blisk snorted with a grin, extending a hand to a wobbling Ashley. "No… someone I know you're going to love."

"Tell me about him…"

"He's got a big sword," Blisk chortled, seeing Ashley snap up to attention and give him a quizzical look.

"Blisk…" Ashley muttered, moving her gloved hands up to gently massage her temples. "Banter aside, what the fuck are you talking about…?"

"Your titan," Blisk explained, seeing a look of realization slowly dawn on Ashley's face. "Are you ready to meet the love of your life? Hey?"