Hey, so I'm surprised by the amount of people that actually want more from this story.

I want to say thank you, I appreciate it.

I feel like I may have wandered with this chapter, and now it no longer fits the first;

but that could just be me, as I've been having a mentally and physically trying time these last few days.

So I'm doing a poll. Read it and let me know. Should I keep it or redo it.

/==/

"Command this is Warlock-37; we're picking up an automated distress beacon. Requesting permission to deviate and provide support. Over."

"This command Warlock-37 permission granted. Bulldog-13, and Maverick-24 will continue on to primary mission objective."

"This is Warlock-37, copy. Over."

"This is Bulldog-13, copy. Over."

"This is Maverick-24, copy. Over. "

The formation of bullheads broke up. One pulling off, while the other two continued forward.

"This Warlock-37, eta 5 minutes. Over."

"This Bulldog-13, eta 20 minutes. Over."

"This is Maverick-24, eta 20 minutes. Over."

"This is command, copy. Over."

General James Ironwood stood in the command and control centre listening to the radio messages. He was the one that gave the permission for the deviation from the assigned mission objective. As much as he wanted six fire teams to regain control of Site 51, he couldn't in good conscience ignore a downed aircraft; especially in Solitas' climate. It had taken too long to assemble the strike force and get them moving, they had already been in the air for almost an hour which means it would be over an hour for Atlas Search and Rescue to make the crash site. That was too long a delay.

"General."

"Speak."

"We are just now receiving the transmission from the beacon. We've cross checked the craft code. It is from on of the bulldogs stationed at site 51."

"Warn them. Warn them now."

"Warlock-37 this is command, be advised down aircraft is from primary target location. Possible hostile in vicinity. Repeat possible hostile in vicinity. Approach with extreme caution. Over."

"This is Warlock-37, copy. Will proceed with extreme caution. Over."

/=/

Jaune's head hurt, as he stumbled through the ankle deep snow. He felt dizzy and cold, so very cold. Being barefoot and wearing nothing but hospital scrubs he was ill equipped to be outside. Stumbling for like the third time, he stopped, and weaved on his feet. His vision was blurry and blood dripped down the right side of his face, while clear fluid dripped from his nose. He could distantly remember the crash. He shivered, and started to walk again; making five more steps before he fell forward his eyes closing long before he hit the snow covered ground.

/=/

For General Ironwood time felt like it was standing still. Standing on the slightly elevated command platform with his arms crossed he looked about the equipment packed room. All around him teams of staff worked, while before sat a massive monitor, its screen split into thirty six smaller windows each featuring delayed footage from the helmet cams his teams were outfitted with. Deciding he needed to do something to past the time he cleared his throat.

"Bring fire teams Echo and Foxtrot's cams front and centre. I want to see what they see."

"Right away sir."

It took maybe a minute or less the miniature feeds to be shuffled with eight now larger and in the centre of the screen. Currently all he could see was the various members of the fire teams. Warlock-37 having yet to reach its target location.

"This is Warlock-37, we are at the target location, preparing for drop. Over."

"This is command, drop is a go. Repeat drop is a go."

General Ironwood watched as the cams blurred as the teams moved out in rapid succession. In a stagger formation he watched as the disembarked using heavy black ropes attached by heavy duty rungs hanging from the roof of the bullheads cargo bay. They were well trained and it showed in their actions. Everything was by the book. First to touch down dropped into a perimeter, as other made their decent. He was impressed, the Rapid Response Teams were living up to their reputation. He had wanted to deploy Ace-Ops, but those teams were currently engaged elsewhere, so he used the next best thing in his arsenal the RRT.

"This is Warlock-37 drop is complete. Repeat drop is complete. Moving to over watch station. Over."

The cam footage bounced and shook as the teams moved forward. Ironwood waited, almost holding his breath. It took them just over a minute to reach the crash site. The crumpled form of a bullhead that had gone nose first into Solitas frozen ground.

"This is Echo-1 we have reached the crash site. Preparing to secure. Over."

Ironwood waited, and watched. It was hard, the footage bounced and shook. Multiple images were shown. It was hard to fully keep track of everything that was going on.

"This is Foxtrot-3. We have tracks. I repeat we have tracks leaving the site. Over."

"General?"

"Order Foxtrot to follow the tracks, but with extreme caution. Have Echo secure the site."

"Echo you are to secure the site. Foxtrot you are go to follow the tracks. Extreme caution is advised. Over."

"This Echo-1,copy. Over."

"This is Foxtrot-1, copy. Proceeding with extreme caution. Over."

On several of the cams the inside of the crumpled bullhead appeared. On the others a trail of what General Ironwood could only guess were made by shuffling feet.

"This is Echo-2 we have a body, looks to be the pilot."

Ironwood focused on the indicated cam and watched as Echo-2 closed, upon the slumped figure. A hand reached out and two fingers touched the side of the figure's neck.

"This is Echo-2. She has no pulse. I repeat no pulse."

"See if they can extract her. Bring her home." Ironwood commented, as he turned his attention to the Foxtrot cams.

"This is command. Bring her home Echo. Repeat bring her home. Over."

"This Echo-2. Copy."

Ironwood held his breath, as a shape began to appear in the Foxtrot cams.

"This is Foxtrot-1 we have a body. Repeat we have a body."

"Tell them to approach with caution and secure."

"Foxtrot, proceed with caution and secure. Repeat proceed with caution and secure. Over.

"This is Bulldog-13 we are eta 5 minutes. Over."

"This is Maverick-24, we are eta 5 minutes. Over."

"This is command, copy Bulldog-13 and Maverick-24. Over."

Ironwood half listen to the exchange nearly his entire focus on the figure appearing in four of the eight cams currently front and centre on the main monitor. There was no reason for someone from site 51 would be dressed in medical scrubs, unless it was him. Ironwoods cybernetic hand dug into the metal of the railing of the command platform. He watched as a pair of fingers was pressed against the side of the figure's throat.

"This is Foxtrot-1, we have a pulse. Repeat we have a pulse. Over."

"Tell them to turn him over. I need to see his face."

"Foxtrot this is command. Confirm identity. Repeat confirm identity. Over."

"This is Foxtrot-1, copy."

Ironwood watched holding his breath, as the scrub clad figure was carefully turned over.

"Jaune." Ironwood almost whispered.

"What was that sir?"

"That's him." he repeated louder. "That's the priority target. Secure him as per mission briefing."

"This is command. You have the priority target. Repeat you have the priority target. Secure as per mission briefing. Over."

"This is Foxtrot-1, copy. Over.

"This is Bulldog-13 eta 2 minutes. Over."

"This is Maverick-24 eta 2 minutes. Over."

"Should we recall them sir? We have the target."

"No. We still need to secure site 51, and there could be survivors."

"Yes sir."

"I want a condition report of the target."

"Foxtrot this is command. Requesting condition report on priority target. Over."

Ironwood watched the feeds as one of the Foxtrot team moved in, most likely the medic and proceeded to do a quick examination of Jaune. He held his breath as one of Jaune's eyes were opened and alight shined into it. He released it when the eye closed and the blindfold was securely back in place.

"This is Foxtrot-4, probably head trauma, and possible frostbite. Over."

"Copy Foxtrot."

"Get Warlock in and out of there."

"Warlock-37 prep for a dust-off. Over."

"This is Warlock-37, copy command. Preparing for a dust-off. Over."

"I want a medical team standing by in the hanger for Warlock-37. The target is to be restrained and sedated immediately upon arrival."

/=/

"Tell me Doctor what killed my dragon. I felt its pain, its fear. What did Beacon have that could such a thing to my beautiful creation?"

"I do not know my Lady Salem."

"I want you to find out."

"As you wish."

"What of Cinder?"

"She is dead."

"You are certain."

"Through my channels, I've gained copies of the Beacon causality reports and her autopsy file."

"Tell me what killed her."

"Her head was removed. If I recall correctly..."

"So Ozpin bested her even with the maiden's powers."

"I do not believe it was Ozpin."

"Why?"

"As I was going to say; your Grace. Her head was torn off. I doubt Ozpin has such power, or tendencies."

"You would not believe what Ozpin is and has been capable of."

"I stand corrected your Grace."

"What of Cinder's underlings? Have they returned?"

"Yes, your Grace. They have just arrived."

"Bring them to me. Maybe they have some of the answers I seek."

"As you wish."

/=/

Taiyang was a conflicted man. He was happy that his girls were home safe, heart broken over what they had suffered and angry, so very angry at those whom had let it happen. Currently he was alone in the garage unloading upon a heavy bag. Thoughts tumbled in his mind, at who he should blame. Ozpin for one. Definitely Ozpin. Atlas, though he had to concede that with out the quick action of their medical teams he may have lost the two most precious things in his life. Of course there was the White Fang, or more specifically Adam Taurus; for what he had done to Yang.

Tai paused in his beating of the heavy bag. Then there was Ruby. Yang's injury had been clean, concise, almost surgical; Ruby's was not. He still could remember the revulsion, the powerlessness he had as the Doctors told him they would have to amputate Ruby's leg at mid thigh in order to save what they could. Her injury had been tortuous. They had explained it to him, or attempted to, but all he had really heard was that her leg had been ripped off slightly above the knee. They of course had gone into more details, about injury and as to why they need to amputate, but he had only heard that first part.

"Who the fuck does that!" Tai yelled in frustration and anger as he once again, "Who the fuck does that!"

"Dad? You okay?" Tai stopped throwing punches at the sound of her voice.

"I'm fine Rubes. I'm fine."

"Your upset again, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little bit." Tai replied as he turned around and took in the sight of his baby girl. She stood in the doorway of the garage, leaning forward on her crutches. "You hungry?"

/=/

Ozpin answered his scroll surprised that James was calling him, especially so quickly after the last customary weekly in the know call.

"Hi James, what..."

"They woke him up."

"Woke who..."

"Jaune."

"What has happened?" Ozpin snapped as he suddenly was sitting up straight in his chair.

"He's in custody. We have him secured."

"You said he was secure the last time we talked, and now just said he's awake. What's going on up there?"

"I think Council went around me, and had him awoken. I'm still looking trying to confirm."

"What happened, James?"

"He escaped containment, but we recovered him after the bullhead he had been on crashed."

"How many?"

"We're still waiting on confirmation but at least thirty."

"By the brothers."

"There were survivors."

"Survivors? How?"

"We're going to review the security footage from the facility, and conduct interviews once they are back in Atlas. "

"So what do you need from me?"

"I don't know yet. Political pressure, maybe an alternate place to house him. I just don't know yet. I need to find out where exactly the order came from and why."

"Obviously from like you already said Council, and as to why."

"I have my own suspicions, that are probably the same as yours."

"So what are we going to do?"

"I have him sedated and under constant guard."

"Again that was what you said the last time we talked."

"I know, but this time I can visually confirm it. I have him here at base. Winter is in charge while I conduct my investigation."

"Well whatever you need you have my support."

"Will you be able to convince Vale's Council to step in if I need them to?"

"No guarantees but I can try."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. What else?"

"Alternate locations to house him, or at least ideas on who we can approach."

"There is always going to be that risk."

"I know and that's the problem. We need a way to mitigate it."

"To be honest I don't think there is a way to realistically do that."

/=/

"It had to have been that tall lanky goof of a kid." Mercury replied.

"His name was Jaune you dolt." Emerald corrected.

"And why would you say that?" Salem asked as she peered down at the two who had been under the employ of her agent Cinder.

"Saw him rip apart a Beowulf just by looking at it."

"Just by looking at it, you say?"

"That doesn't mean he's the one that ..." Emerald could bring herself to finish.

"Iced the boss?" Emerald shot Mercury a murderous glare as soon as he finished talking.

"So let me get this straight. You believe it was this Jaune who defeated Cinder, just because he tore apart a Beowulf by looking at it? There are many huntsmen and huntresses that are capable of such feats. I need more, do you have anything more to add?"

"Ozpin was running from him." Emerald offered.

"Ozpin was fleeing from him? You saw this?"

"Kind of."

"What do you mean, kind of?"

"Well I saw the Headmaster dragging that Pyrrha girl behind him. Like he was in a hurry to get somewhere, then there was the huge crash, and Jaune appeared. Walking all weird."

"Go on." Salem encouraged as she folded her hands together before her face.

"It was like he was in a trance or something. Then the Beowulf came up, and after that we had to leave."

"Interesting."

/=/

Ironwood thought he was going to sick as he watched the carnage that Jaune Arc was capable of doing. Ironwood was no stranger to injuries, wounds, blood or death. He had seen his share during his rise through the ranks of the Atlas military, but what Jaune did was inhumanly brutal. No one had survived the encounter on the fifth floor, where they had been housing and testing him. Though the footage was in black and white; it was easy to make out the splatters and sprays of blood, as Jaune walked through everyone in his path. The only saving grace was that there was no sound, James wasn't sure could have stomached any of this if there had been.

The fourth floor was a repeat of the fifth, although this time Jaune's only victims where security personnel. James watched as brave men and women trying to do their duty were ripped and torn asunder. Through it all Jaune showed no emotion, no enjoyment or disdain for what he was doing. It was if he was just removing any and all obstacles in his path.

"They should have been using gas not bullets." Ironwood commented to himself and made a mental note to make sure all of Jaune's current detail did in fact have gas grenades on them.

James knew from going over the floor plan that floor three, four and five where all testing and lab facilities. The second floor was the dorms, and the first was security and the hanger. The whole place had been build in a step style format. The only way up or down was to go through an elevator, and each elevator only went down one floor. The first floor and the fifth each had one elevator, all the others had two, one at each end. One for travel down a floor, and the other for travel up a floor. Why it was built in such a manner confused James. Maybe to make it harder to breech, easier to defend?

James was preparing to skip through the third floor footage, when something happened to make his blood run cold. He even rewound and played it back in slow motion just to make sure he was seeing it correctly. He watched as one of the team that was trying to prevent Jaune's progress stepped forward with a cylinder fed grenade launcher. James watched as three rounds impacted the floor with in a couple metres of Jaune's feet. Jaune stopped moving forward, acting as if he remembered something. The gas was quickly starting to fill the corridor, obscuring the camera, when it suddenly all vanished, or more to the point was crushed to the floor. James could see the gas, coiling about Jaune's feet as he massacred the men and women that stood before him and then walked through the bloody carnage.

"He knows how to beat gas. How does he know to do that?"

Still in shock, and trying to come up with a solution to having lost their best weapon in dealing with him should he manage to get free; he almost mixed the next revelation. It was the floor two feeds. The dormitory. It was where they had found the survivors. All six of them. He watched as the feed showed Jaune looking into the dorm room, and then continue on. By the feed it was obvious he had seen the five individuals huddled there, yet he just passed them by. The next encounter was just as telling. A researcher, maybe even a nurse bolted from the shared bathroom into the hallway directly in Jaune's path. James' knuckled went white as he expected to see the poor woman meet some horrific fate, only to watch Jaune use his abilities to pull her closer to him. James could swear it looked like Jaune was studying her, and then he moved aside, tossing her down the hall behind him. Afterwhich he continued his brutal, progress forward.

"Why?" James asked himself as he continued to watch the footage until its conclusion.

The first floor was the last stand of the outmatched security force, and as on the previous floors the encounter was one sided. Jaune with brutal efficiency tore through their ranks, and walked into the hanger. There he watched as one of the pilots drew a weapon, their head vanishing in a spray of gore. The second dropped to their knees hands up. James leaned forward, it looked like Jaune was saying something. The pilot seemed to have agreed with his demand and lead the way outside. The footage was ended when his own teams entered the facility.

James rubbed his face with his hands. He needed to understand what was going on. At Beacon Jaune slaughtered anything and everyone he saw. Here it seemed he was only ripping through those that got in his way, but then their was the woman he had spared, in a way almost seemed to have protected, by putting her behind him. And of course there was the pilot, the one who surrendered. Was he just taking out people or things that were threatening? James stood and walked over to his bar and poured himself a stiff drink. The research data was going to take a couple of days to compile and the interviews a couple more than that. Maybe that would give him some more pieces to this puzzle.

All he knew for certain was out of a facility that had housed 42 individuals only 6 had made it out alive. One had passed due to injuries consistent with the bullhead crash. That left thirty-five more names to add to his body count. Added to the deaths from Beacon that were being attributed to him; he had alone murdered the population of a small settlement. With that thought James belted down his drink and poured himself another.

/=/

Arthur Watts was a man of many talents; one of those talents was being the ability to ferret out information. Be it through contacts with like minded individuals, bribery, threats, or one of his favourite tactics viruses. It was by using several such malicious and intrusive constructs that he is continually able to get the information his queen desires from any of the four kingdoms. It was by using such programs that he was now receiving some very intriguing developments. Ones that he was sure Lady Salem would be very grateful in seeing.

"So is this the Jaune, Emerald and Mercury spoke of? Interesting."

Watts allowed the pirated video to continue, and at a couple of points he flinched at what he was seeing.

"Effective but not very subtle my young man." Pausing the video he returned to his keyboards and screens. "Let's see what else they have on you shall we."

After a few short moments icons showing other files being downloaded appeared. Watts sat back and smiled. He knew in a few short minutes he would have everything one ever need to know about this young man Jaune.

/=/

"Winter."

"General."

"Status report."

"His injuries are healing, and there should be no complications in regards to a full recovery."

"What about his restraints and sedation?"

"The restraints are being checked at every shift change, and the medical team come in every two hours to check vitals and administer another dose."

"Anything else I should be aware of."

"No sir."

"Very well. There is however something you and your team should be aware of. Gas is no longer effective. He's figured out a way to neutralize it."

"Then how are we to engage if he happens to awaken again?"

"You wont."

"What do mean? We have to, we can't just let him..."

"You have new standing orders. If he awakes and tries to leave you stay out of his way. No direct confrontation. Escort him, keep people safe."

"May I ask why?"

"There is evidence that indicates that he only reacts violently to threats and obstacles. If we do not appear to be either of those things we maybe able to keep things contained and under control."

"That is a big maybe."

"It is, and for now the best course of actions is to keep him sedated."

"To be honest General, that seems to be the only course of action."

"Maybe the interviews and data will tell us more, give us better options; but for now we have to go by the footage."

"How long, sir?"

"A few days for everything to be compiled."

"That is a longtime to keep him guarded in a hanger. Could we not move him inside. To a secure room. It would be easier to guard. It would also be quicker to evacuate if the need arises."

"Point taken. Make it happen."

"Yes, sir."

/=/

"You have information for me Doctor?"

"I do my Lady Salem. If you would please." Watts moved forward and handed her a tablet. "Tap the icon in the centre to play the video."

Salem reached forward and with a pale finger touched the icon indicated, and was instantly rewarded with a visceral and bloody scene all in black and white. She watched with a slight smile as humans were torn to shreds in what she could only call grimm like. She continued to watch the footage, with a slight frown appearing once. Watts knew at what point she was at when that happened. It was when Jaune spared the girl.

"That my Lady is one Jaune Arc." Watts informed her as she set the tablet down.

"I take it he is the one Mercury and Emerald spoke of."

"Yes my Grace."

"The we should send Tyrian to greet him. Let him know what happens to those who hinder my plans."

"There is more, my Lady."

"Is there? What more can there be? He has interfered in my plans, he should be removed."

"I have information that suggests that he alone defeated your dragon along with murdering upwards of at least twenty individuals."

"Then he shall be removed."

"But my Lady, with that type of power, if we could control it."

"That is the question isn't it Doctor. Could we control it? Or would he like the mad dog he appears to be just turn on us at any given moment?"

"Lady Salem please."

"There is nothing more to it Doctor. He is to be removed. As entertaining as it was to watch him work, as hilarious as it was to hear that Ozpin fled from him; it is obvious to me; that he is beyond control. He is a threat and must be neutralized."

"Atlas has him under guard, restrained and sedated..."

"Again you prove my point Doctor. He is beyond control. Remove him."

"Think of the chaos, and fear he could..."

"Doctor, you are trying my patience. You have already said he was possibly responsible for the death of one of my most power children. Emerald and Mercury have spoke about him destroying grimm. You show me evidence of him slaughtering, and sparing his fellow humans at random. He is mindless destruction. My aims, my plans do not require mindless actions. You will assist Tyrian in making sure this Jaune can not interfere."

"Tyrian is too well known. He will not be able to get to him surrounded by Atlas military." Watts offered in a defeated tone.

"Then send Emerald and Mercury."

"As you wish."

"Doctor."

"Yes Lady Salem."

"Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes."

"Good. Do not disappoint me."

/=/

General Ironwood had a headache, more than one. The first one, the one he could most easily ignore for the time being was the counsel shaped one. Their demands to know what was happening and how are things being handled, boiled down to him knowing they were trying to cover their own asses. It was clear from the research documentation that the order to awaken Jaune was proven to have come through them. Though he was sure they would claim it was for the betterment of Atlas, he knew it was all grimm shit. While he was not a scientific mind, he could easily read what was happening with the tests they were conducting. They wanted a new weapon. They figured Jaune could be that new weapon.

Setting down the research report he picked up the Black Box summary from the downed bullhead. It was a quick read, as the transcriber had made the effort to only include the portions that dealt directly with the minutes before the crash. It became obvious as he was reading that the pilot initiated the crash, probably an attempt to stop him from reaching Atlas, to stop him from hurting anyone else. It had proved to be a futile attempt though; as he survived and was now in Atlas.

"He wants to go home? Who is this she he keeps talking about?"

Setting down the transcript he reached for the pile of survivor interviews, or at least the abridged versions. That was his other headache the amount of reports and paperwork he had piled on his desk. The piles of information he needed to review, to understand; to get a better handle on what had and was happening. His teams had be thorough. Excruciatingly so. The first file he looked at had a little stick-it note on it. Settling the others down he opened it. The first thing he saw was a picture; a picture that bore a striking similarity to someone else he knew.

"At a glance they could almost be sisters." James muttered to himself, before turning his attention to the neatly typed report, "Let's see what Miss Samantha White has to say about her encounter with Jaune."

/=/

It took a week for Mercury and Emerald to make it to Atlas; their hair dyed black, and wearing coloured contacts. With the forged certifications and identification provided for by Watts they entered the military base without problems. Hidden upon her Emerald carried a small vial of clear

liquid. It too was provided by Watts; he assured them it would do the job. It would kill Jaune and make it look his semblance had made his heart give out. So they made their way through the hallways towards the medical bay. The plan was simple, infiltrate medical, swap out his sedative and leave. No mess, no fuss. An in and out job where they really didn't need to get their hands dirty.

/=/

While Emerald and Mercury made their way by a memorized route towards their target; Winter and Ironwood were in his office discussing all the findings that had been unearthed during long hours of reviewing documents and security footage.

"It still makes no sense. Why direct the pilot to come to Atlas if he wants to go home?" asked Winter as she sat before Ironwood.

"Maybe he knew they would need to refuel for the bullhead to make it Ansel."

"They could have just as easily refuelled at Argos, or one the SDC mining camps."

"He might not have known that."

"The pilot would have."

"I doubt we'll find the answer to that question unless we wake him up and ask; and that is something we can ill afford to do."

"What about this Samantha White?"

"You have to agree."

"Yes she does bear a passing resemblance to my sister Weiss."

"Is it possible that Jaune feels Weiss is the one who would get him home?"

"I don't know why he would feel that way. Weiss has no control of SDC or family assets. She could in no way order a bullhead to take him back to Ansel, anymore than I could order an invasion of Vale."

"Did they have some sort of connection in Beacon, something that could give rise to this possible fixation?"

"None that I am aware of. Weiss was, and is not the most forthcoming about her activities or experiences during her time at Beacon."

"Then there could be something."

"You make it sound like he's stalking her."

"How else would you describe it?"

/=/

Jaune was groggy, and dizzy. He tried to move but couldn't. He opened his eyes and saw only black. He distantly heard voices. They were faint like whispers. To his side he heard the continued steady computerized beeps. His mind rolled bringing back the memories from his time at the lab. They had him again. His breath came faster, and hitched. This couldn't be happening, not again. He wouldn't let it. He focused his eyes forward straining against the blackness before them. He willed it to be gone, to rip away so he could see light.

/=/

Watts watched the security footage in glorious colour, thanks to one of the many back doors he had left in Atlas computer infrastructure; before he had his accident. The feed from Jaune's room showed an almost beautiful sight. The shredded remains of his blindfold and restraints fluttering through the air like leaves caught in a breeze. He watched as leads where pulled from his chest. He smiled as Jaune focused on the door, and then switched to view of the hallway footage. The guards were moving, obviously alerted by the monitor alarms going off inside the room.

Watts winced as the one guard that had moved to look through the window was crushed, as the door was torn from its hinges and embedded into the far wall. The other guard stumbled and fell backwards landing on his ass. He fumbled for his weapon as Jaune stepped out and into the corridor. Before the guard could full bring his weapon to bear he dropped it and grabbed the sides of his head. Watts was glad there was no audio feed, the sound of a man shrieking in agony was not one he liked to hear. Seconds later his head burst like a water balloon showing the confined space in gore.

"Prove her wrong my boy. Show Lady Salem your worth as a weapon." Watts muttered as Jaune walked through the mingling pools of blood and down the hallway out of the view of the camera.

Moving to his keyboards he began typing commands. On the multitude of screens security feeds began to appear in little boxes. He would later compile and weed out any feeds that showed nothing of interest; but for now he needed to make sure everything was captured.

/=/

An alarm began to sound causing Winter and Ironwood to jump to their feet. A moment later a voice called out over the PA system.

"This a priority one order. All staff and personnel are to vacate the hallways immediately. Repeat all staff and personnel are to vacate the hallways immediately."

Ironwood looked at Winter, he imagined her look was very much an echo of his. Utter shock. It couldn't be happening, there is no way. Reaching forward he hit the call button on his terminal. A second later a uniformed faced appeared.

"Status report!"

"He's awake and wandering the halls sir!"

"How is that possible? Casualties?"

"Unknown, and two confirmed, sir."

"Deploy ACE-Ops, Spec-Ops, and RRTs. Encircle and contain. Try and direct him to the hanger bay!" Winter was already at almost through his office door when he disconnected the call and looked up. "Winter we may need your sister."

"No, sir! You will not involve my sister in this." Winter wheeled about a look of dread and anger in her eyes.

"Everything we have leans to him looking for her."

"No sir! You will not involved my sister. I'll stand in for her. I'll face him."

"Winter?"

"I think I know what he's after, sir. I won't let my sister suffer through that. I won't."

"What does he want then?"

"He wants someone to send him home." Winter spun on her heels and walked off to vanish around a corner.

"I'm sorry Winter," Ironwood spoke softly as he reached for the call button again. "Have a RRTs deviate from the hanger and proceed to the Schnee manor."

"Schnee manor, sir?"

"Have them escort Weiss Schnee to the base."

/=/

As soon as the alarms sounded Mercury and Emerald knew something had gone seriously wrong with the plan. If he had died as the operation was meant to accomplish then there would be announcements for a general evacuation. The pair stopped their escape and for a brief moment looked at one another. Fear was etched across both their faces.

"No way they're doing all that if was dead."

"Watts played us." Emerald spoke, saying the words that were also in the front of Mercury's thoughts.

"What do we do now? They'll blame us, you know they will."

"What can we do?Return and hope they listen to our side of the story? Turn ourselves into Atlas?Like that'll turn out any better."

"Keep running, and"

"Make sure no one ever finds us."

Mercury just nodded, and with Emerald following close behind dashed off, disappearing into the shadows of the quickly falling night.

/=/

Jaune's mind was awash in a turmoil of conflicting feelings and emotions. Part of him wanted to hurt the, hurt them all; hurt them like he was currently hurting. Warring with that part was revulsion and fear. Fear at what he was capable of, revulsion at what he has done. Hopeless was there too; centred about this existence he was now suffering. Joy, envy, anger, concern; danced about his mind as well. All this mixed, tumbled and rolled in his mind as he regarded the line of two heavily armed and armoured Atlas Spec-Ops kneeling with their hands upon their helmeted heads, before him; blocking his path forward.

One was pointing down the corridor to Jaune's right, as if directing him on the correct path to take. That caused a light of hope to flicker with in him. Maybe they were going to take him home. So he followed the indicated path and moved onward his bare feet making no sound as they moved along the metal floor.

/=/

Watts ripped one of his keyboards free and threw in against the back wall of his computer room. He was seeing his plan falling apart, Jaune was not committing wholesale slaughter, no he was wandering the hallways of the Atlas military facility being directed along like a lost sheep; by kneeling soldiers.

"It is not possible!" Watts yelled as a second keyboard collided with the cement wall; sending a shower of keys to the wire covered floor.

Turning around he watched as again, and again Jaune walked past those whom he should have been rending to shreds. In his rage he wasn't seeing the pattern; he wasn't processing the data available to him. All he saw was Atlas dogs once again escaping the justice he felt they deserved.

"How?" Watts yelled as he pulled one of his monitors from the wall and sent it crashing screen first to the floor.

/=/

"Update." Ironwood commanded as one staff met him in route to the hanger.

"We've checked with Medical. They said he had received his booster about forty-five minutes ago. They are currently evaluating the syringe used, to confirm that it did hold a dose of sedative and not something else. sir"

"Something else?"

"Sort of an anti-sedative, or at least that is how they explained it; sir."

"What about Jaune?"

"Our approach seems to be working. There have bee no further casualties, and he is falling the route towards the hanger, sir."

"Good, now the question is what do we do when we get him there."

/=/

Weiss wasn't sure what she felt as she looked upon her father. Part of her wanted to laugh at the situation he had put himself in, another part wanted to feel sorry for him, and a smaller third part wanted to be upset at the men who had done that to him. Overall though she felt indifferent, and silently turned away from the image of her father on his stomach, his feet bound and his hands zip-tied behind his back.

She fell in between the four figures that had arrived to escort her, and like they did she tuned out the sputtered venomous words her father was spewing. She knew he had the power and connections to back up the threats, but the soldiers surrounding her seemed either unaware, or uncaring of that fact. It was only a couple minutes walk to the waiting bullhead and she climbed in without pause. Taking a seat she waited to feel the shudder of the machine lifting off, before speaking.

"May I ask what this about?"

"General Ironwood asked us to escort you to the base. That's all we know, mam."

Weiss wasn't stupid, she knew they knew more. She just didn't know how to get them to admit that they did.