I know I usually do this at the end of the chapter, but I feel these points need to be addressed prior to getting back into the story.

Watts infiltration of Atlas' systems –
According to the RWBY wiki before his "demise" he had installed a back door into the Atlas infrastructure. But in the reviews it was pointed out that he need someone to physically insert his virus into the CCT at Beacon. I have no reasonable explanation for this contradiction. As I am mainly dealing with Atlas I will continue to work under the premise from the wiki, that Watts has compromised the Atlas systems.

Brainwashing/Conditioning -
Several reviewers have mentioned this. In fantasy/sci-fi it is a thing; in reality there is more of a consensuses that it does not exist. There is also suggestions that my "method" would be ineffective/not work at all. All good points, and things for me to consider.

Lack of action on the part of Jaune's Team & Friends -
There will be a couple more scenes showing what is going on with other members of JNPR and RWBY. I thought I had avoided this "plot hole" with the listing of Jaune as "Missing" in the aftermath of the Fall of Beacon. I will have to work to fill this hole in a more satisfying manner.

Thank you to specifically hirhja, He Who Seeks The Joys in Life, GeraltRex, X3runner; for pointing out the various contradictions, and plot points I should look into.

Also Thank you to everyone else who commented. I'd almost have a chapter just to thank you all for your input. Without your comments, both the positive and critical I wouldn't be able to attempt to improve as a writer. Thank you again.

/==/

Salem's hand slammed down on the top of the conference table, causing Hazel and Tyrian to jump slightly at the sound.

"Where are they?"

"I do not know my Goddess." came Tyrian's cackling replied.

"It is possible they are just delayed my Lady." was Hazel's reply.

"How? They only had to remove this Jaune, prevent him from ever interfering in our plans again. It is a simple assignment for the Doctor and two assassins. So how could they be delayed?"

"Maybe he wasn't as easy to reach as they thought. Maybe his death caused some commotion and they were delayed in getting out. I don't know my Lady, I just suggest that it is a possibility as to why we have yet to hear from them."

Salem returned to her seat and clasped her hands before her on the long conference table. She was already down one associate, with Watts having confirmed Cinder's demise. Now with his absence she was currently left with only Tyrian and Hazel to push forward her plans. Yes she still had her agents scattered about, not to mention Lionheart in Haven. So she was not without people to call upon; but Watts was one of her inner council, his opinion and insight were needed to push forward their machinations; now that Cinder was gone, and along with her the powers of the Fall Maiden. Even Cinder's two followers could be of use.

"Reach out." Salem ordered, "See if there is any word about what has happened. If they have been seen, if they have been successful."

"Successful, my Lady?"

"I have also come up with reason for their delayed return," Salem replied, "Failure."

/=/

Winter exited the rear of the car she had been riding in. It was under the insistence of her now attorney Markus that she stay away from the office, for at least a part of the day. So she chose to do something that she had been putting off. A visit to her sister. Smoothing her uniform, she didn't know why, but she felt like she needed to build up her courage in order to move forward. Taking a deep breath, she took a step forward and moved up the flower lined stone walkway up to the entrance of the three story building. Stepping through the first set of doors, she opened the second set and found herself in the spacious lobby. It was sparsely furnished with hospital like waiting chairs situated about the edges of the room; but it had a welcoming feel to it. Striding forward she moved to reception desk and waited for the young lady behind the desk to get off the her scroll.

"May I help you?" she asked as she hung up.

"Specialist Winter Schnee. My sister is a patient here. Weiss Schnee. I'm here to see her."

"Okay. Give me a moment please." the young woman moved to the terminal on the desk and started typing into the keyboard. "I'm sorry Specialist Schnee according to my information Weiss is in group right now, and she wont be out for almost a half an hour. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"I see. Is Doctor M. Walters or Doctor J. Martin available to see me?"

"One moment please." she once again turned to her terminal and typed in a few commands.

"Doctor Walters is on duty tonight, but Doctor Martin is available. Shall I page him for you?"

"Yes please."

She nodded in response and picked up her scroll. Winter watched as she punched in a code and held it to her ear.

"Doctor Martin? This the front desk you have a Specialist Winter Schnee here; she would like to see you." the receptionist nodded her head, "All okay, I'll send her in."

"He's in his office. Third door on the right." the receptionist addressed Winter, as she put down her scroll.

"Thank you."

Winter made the short journey and quickly found herself standing before an open door leading into a comfy and well appointed office. Pictures, certificates, diplomas and plaques decorated the walls, and the shelves were cluttered with nick-knacks and books. As moved forward to knock on the door frame Winter noticed the middle-aged balding man sitting behind a picture and knick-knack cluttered desk.

"Specialist Schnee." the man greeted as he looked up from the file in front of him at the sound of her knock.

"Doctor."

"Please come in and have a seat."

"Thank you." Winter replied to his offered as she took one of the two chairs situated before his desk.

"I take it that you are here to check up on your sister Weiss' condition."

" I know of her condition, I would like to know of how progress is going in regards to her treatment. I... My... family would like to know when she will be able to leave your institution and return home."

"I see." Doctor Martin, took in a deep breath as he leaned forward and clasped his hands before him on the paperwork he had been reviewing. "Well to be blunt Specialist. Weiss will not be leaving anytime in the near future."

"That is why?"

"While the sedative medications have been having an effect, we are still in the the process of determining the appropriate dosage, in addition to an estimate on the duration she maybe required to take those medications."

"What about the anti-anxiety medications I was informed of during my last call?"

"We have been able to ween her off of those medications entirely."

"Well that is a good sign."

"It is, but..."

"But what Doctor?"

"There have been some troubling developments in regards to her case."

"And those are?"

"Specialist. May I call you Winter?"

"You may."

"Winter your sister, Weiss has undergone a sort of personality change since her arrival here."

"Personality change? Explain."

"I will, but first are there any other traumas that she has suffered? We've noticed the scar."

"That happened in the months prior to attending Beacon." Winter paused a moment before continuing, "Our father decided to test her resolve and skill. He had pushed for her to attend Atlas Academy. She rebelled and chose Beacon."

"I see, go on."

"So in order to prove herself and earn the right to attend Beacon... she faced an Arma Gigas. During that encounter she was wounded and as a result has the scar you mentioned."

"I see. Was this engagement forced upon her by your father?"

"I do not wish to discuss it further."

"Understandable." Doctor Martin responded while also nodding. Moving his hands he moved a couple pages in the file on his desk before returning his full attention to Winter. "What about her relationships with in your family? Your father?"

"Strained."

"Mother?"

"Our mother," Winter regarded the man before her coldly. "is recovering from an affliction. She has not been a stable figure in our lives for quite sometime."

"Siblings?"

"There are myself and our younger brother Whitley."

"And the relationships?"

"Weiss and I have a strained relationship."

"Your brother?"

"Spiteful."

"And by your own estimation was there are triggering age that these relationships became this way, or where they always so."

"I am not following this line of questioning Doctor."

"Bear with me, please. Was your relationship with your sister always as you mentioned, or was there a time that it wasn't as you put it strained?"

"I care for my sister Doctor. Deeply."

"No one has said you don't. Let me try this another way. Did Weiss have a happy childhood?"

"I would like to assume so yes."

"Assume? Why would you say that?"

"Well Weiss, like myself, and Whitley had full childhoods. Tutors, lessons, training; public engagements. Our time was always full and regulated. There was always something we were to be doing."

"I see. When for yourself did this regulated time become standard?"

"I still do not see the point to these questions."

"Again, please bear with me. This is information that will help us treat your sister. Help us make her better. So at what age would you say this regiment of tutors start?"

"I was maybe eight or nine."

"So I would assume, you could say the same for Weiss?"

"Yes, I would say so."

"Okay. Okay, this has helped, and I would like to thank you for being so candid Winter."

"So what does all this have to do with my sisters treatment?"

"Well as you are aware; as we informed you at your sister's intake we believe she is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and we still feel that is the case, but in a much deeper level that we originally thought."

"And that means?"

"While we feel that the incident she experienced at the base was the final contributing factor to her current condition, there are other events that are also in play with in her mind."

"Such as what she had to do at Beacon during the fall?"

"Yes. Along with other events and stressors that she has been repressing."

"Can you please tell me what is going on Doctor."

"Weiss has involuntarily gone through regression. Age regression to be specific."

"Age regression?"

"It's probably better that I show you. You'll understand better than me trying to explain it." Doctor Martin rose from his seat and bidding Winter to do the same. "She should be out of group now. Let's go see her."

/=/

Ren and Nora were wandering the halls of small apartment building that had become the makeshift dorms for the remaining Beacon staff and students; or at least those who remained behind to continue with their training. The lower floors were turned into temporary classrooms. Even with the original buildings of Beacon having been destroyed, or damaged to the point of being unsafe; the Headmaster had decided to continue to provide those who wished to stay a way of continuing their training. It was also widely known through the student body, that those teams wishing to transfer were allowed to without delay. The other academies welcoming them with open arms.

The building itself was not much, and had seen better days, but it was safe, and more importantly had been available for the Headmaster with the help of the Vale Council to procure. Having just finished attending a rather subdued grimm Studies class, the pair were returning to the two bedroom apartment that served as their dorm room.

"We should go again. He has to be up there." Nora commented as the pair continued their slow walk through the halls.

"Nora, everyone who could be found has been. Even those that didn't..." Ren didn't want to finish his statement.

"He couldn't have just vanished. He has to be somewhere. Jaune is too strong to just give up. Fearless leader wouldn't just give up."

"I didn't say he gave up Nora. I know Jaune wouldn't have; but maybe he ran into something he couldn't handle on his own."

"Nope, nope, nope. That wouldn't have happened."

"Then what Nora? Did he just walk away?"

"No, he would have told us if he was going somewhere."

"Than what?"

"He's been taken."

"Who would take Jaune?" Ren asked, shaking his head. This conversation having become the standard for the pair, ever since they were informed that Jaune was 'Missing'.

"The White Fang. They have him."

"And why would the White Fang take Jaune?"

"Ransom. They want money so they grabbed him in hopes of making his family pay for his release."

"I seriously doubt the White Fang would do that."

"They could have."

"Nora, the White Fang were running away when the dragon showed up. You saw it, I saw it. They were not abducting people for ransom."

"Atlas then."

"Atlas?" Replied Ren. This was a new one, he thought; before it was always he's still at Beacon, or been taken by the White Fang, once it was even the grimm having kidnapped him.

"Yeah, definitely, Atlas."

"Why would Atlas take Jaune?"

"Secret military project."

"Secret military project?"

"He's really powerful, they grabbed him to lock him away, experiment on him, turn him into a weapon. He's has to be confined in some hidden military lab."

"Nora..."

"That has to be it. Atlas has him. We have to go save him Ren."

"Nora, this is not some anime or comic book. Jaune is 'Missing' you and I both know what that means."

"No, he's been taken. Fearless leader wouldn't be..." Ren watched as tears began to well up in her eyes. Reaching over he pulled her into a hug.

"It's okay. It's okay."

/=/

Pyrrha tossed, turned, and squirmed on her bed shoving her covers off and exposing her nightie clad body to the cool Mistral air. A sheen of sweat covering her face, as her head snapped back and forth; right to left. Bolting up right, her eyes snapping open, her hands clawing at her neck she began to shriek and scream in utter fear. Her bedroom light snapped on and her mother rushed to her side. Dark circles under her eyes. She grabbed her daughter and pulled her into a strong and comforting embrace. Her left hand stroking her hair. A moment later her father appeared. He too looking as if he hasn't han a solid night of sleep for several weeks.

"We need to do something." her mother told him in between the shushes and coos she gave her trembling and sobbing daughter. "The pills, the doctors. Nothing is working."

"I know." her father replied as he took a seat upon the foot of Pyrrha's bed.

His heartbroken eyes taking in the sight of his daughter wrapped in her mother's soft and caring arms. The once four time Mistral champion was a shaken, sobbing wreck. The sleeping pills she had been prescribed seemed to be of little use. The doctors they took her to, unable to break the silence that Pyrrha stubbornly held to when they tried to discover the reason for the terrors she now nightly suffered. They knew she had seen something truly disturbing her final days at Beacon, they just couldn't get her to open up about it.

Pyrrha shivered,as she allowed her head to be pressed into her mother's bosom, her eyes still wide in absolute terror. It was always the same dream, the same nightmare that woke her. She could see his cold dull eyes, distant and uncaring. She saw the head of Cinder floating beside him blood dripping from the torn and ragged stump that was once her neck. It was twisted with the emotions she felt during her final moments. Then it would change, she was looking up at his dull blue eyes, she was feeling a pressure upon her neck, felt as if her head was being twisted, slowly past her shoulders.

"I've been researching, looking for answers, for places that might help." her father spoke, his comments aimed at her mother, as Pyrrha's heaved for breath. "There is an place, a hospital in Atlas."

"Atlas?"

"It specializes in treating things like this. Things like what the doctors are claiming she has."

"But Atlas?"

"It is worth a try." her father spoke as he brought his right hand up and gently pushed Pyrrha's red bangs out of her seat soaked face. "We can't keep this up."

"But the doctors here?"

"Are doing their best, I know this, but it's not working." he replied as he stood and moved to the night stand next to the bed and picked up the small bottle of medication sitting there.

The dosage was continually going up, and he was afraid soon it would be so high that his little champion, his little girl would end up addicted to the cursed things.

"See if you can get her to swallow these."

He poured out three pills into his hand and handed them to Pyrrha's mother, before setting the bottle down and picking up the glass of water that had been sitting next to the bottle.

"Her honey. Take these." her mother softly instructed her precious child; as she lifted her hand and put the pills into her palm. "They'll help."

"Okay mom." Pyrrha responded in a robotic fashion. She put the pills into her mouth and accepted the offered glass of water. A swallow later she handed the water back.

Her mother gently laid her back into her bed, her head onto the nearly sweat soaked pillow. Reaching down and pulling up the tangle of blankets, she did her best to straighten them out before covering her little girl with them.

"Atlas? Are you sure?" her mother asked after settling her daughter into bed.

"No, but it is worth trying."

/=/

Jaune woke up more refreshed then ever. Turning off the monitor he rose from bed. It was the first night in weeks that when he closed his eyes; the images never came. Taking a quick shower, he turned to the desk and sat to eat the meal that had been delivered just minutes before. It was going to be a long day. Allison had warned him of it. They would be going through his statements again, the motions she had drafted, the motions the prosecution had drafted; and reviewing several of the reports to the incidents attributed to him.

It was just over a day until Jaune would be in front of the panel of judges that would decide his fate on if there was to be a trial or not. Stepping out his door and in between the two Atlas soldiers that were his personal guard, he prepared to make his way to the interview room in which Allison would be waiting. While he was well rested, he was also nervous. Today was going to be a long day, and tomorrow even longer. He knew what he was being accused of. Part of him could recall the actions he had taken. While in his sleep he could see the images, in his waking hours it was more foggy, and unclear.

Flanked by his guards he started the trip towards the room where his lawyer waited.

/=/

Doctor Martin lead Winter up a set of stairs to the second floor and through a set of secure double doors. As they walked through, he nodded to the rather rough looking dog faunus orderly sitting on a stool next to the doors. The pair continued forward stopping at the Duty Nurses station.

"You'll need to sign in." Doctor Martin informed Winter as he himself wrote his name down on the clipboard the nurse handed him. Winter followed his example and did likewise.

"So this is the main common room." Doctor Martin explained. "This is just for the patients who are assigned to this floor. There is a second common room on the third floor for those patients."

"Very nice. What about my sister?"

"If you'll follow me."

"I have been following you. Where is my sister?"

"Look to your left, near the windows."

Winter turned her head and looked in the direction indicated by Doctor Martin. Her eyes scanned the room taking note of other patients sitting around various round tables doing simple things, like working on puzzles or reading., a couple were even playing a game of checkers. Then she saw her, just like the doctor had said, or almost. She wasn't seated near the windows, she was actually seated on the window sill. She was in a pinkish sundress decorated with purple and yellow flowers. In her hands she was playing with a black haired cat faunus doll, complete with ears and tail.

"What is the..."

"As I said, she has regressed. Her mind has turned back in a manner of speaking, and she now reacts to the world around her as if she was a little girl, of about seven years old."

"What do you mean? She's not seven!"

"Winter please keep your voice down." Doctor Martin admonished her, before continuing on with his explanation. "Physically she is not seven, and realistically her mind is that of a eighteen year old; but in order to deal with her traumas, stress, and insecurities she has taken on the personality and mannerisms of herself at a much younger age."

"The dress. The doll?"

"Jessica, one of our nurses, has twin girls who are about Weiss' size. She brought in some of their clothes to help Weiss feel safe. The doll was given to her by Samuel, the gentleman guarding the door. His own daughter having grown out of playing with it. The doll was given to her as a safety blanket of sorts. A way for her to interact with us and the world around her."

"A safety blanket?"

"Yes, we have found that when Weiss gets uncomfortable she uses the doll to communicate for her." Doctor Martin explained. "That was why I asked all the questions I did. To try and understand why Weiss had regressed to the age she has."

"So what is being done to correct this issue?"

"Our methods are the same for her now as they were when she was first admitted. We are working on getting her to come to terms with her issues, through one on one and group sessions. It will be a long process, there is no magic pill that will cure her. In the end it will be all up to Weiss to decide if she wants to, or even if she can deal with the items that are causing her mental pain." Doctor Martin informed Winter as he took a step forward towards where Weiss was seated. "Would you like to speak with her?"

Winter took a breath and just nodded. She then fell into step next to the doctor as they approached the humming form of Weiss.

"Weiss? I have someone here who would like to see you."

"Winter!" Weiss exclaimed as she hopped off the window sill, and rushed forward in her ankle sock cover feet, her doll held against her chest with her right hand. Winter bent and intercepted Weiss, and reluctantly returned the hug of her sister.

"Weiss." Winter returned the greeting, while trying to keep her tone even and soft. Her mind was rolling with questions, and worries. This was not was suppose to happen when Weiss was brought here. She was supposed to be treated and cured, not become a child.

"Who is this?" Winter asked after the embrace finished. Memories of Weiss when she was still playing with dolls coming to her mind.

"This is Blake." Weiss informed her sister with a wide smile, as she held the doll out with both of her hands towards Winter.

"Hi Blake." Winter greeted.

/=/

Tai didn't know what to do. Both Ruby and Yang refused to use the prosthetic limbs that had arrived from Atlas about a week ago. The letter that had accompanied them informed him that they were created for his girls by Pietro Polendina at the request of James Ironwood. While both girls had tried them on, and then fumbled with them for a couple of hours; they quickly discarded them. Yang returning to sit in her room, while Ruby hobbled around the house on her crutches trying to keep herself busy.

There had been some instructions and advice in the letter. It mainly focused on how to tune the new limbs to better suit the needs of each of the girls; as well as contact information to Pietro if there was a need for any drastic adjustments. Tai knew from the several visits he had made to the local doctors, that the girls were suppressing the loss of their limbs. Refusing to acknowledge the handicaps they now faced. It was in fact one of the things he was warned to watch out for in both of his girls, plus any signs of phantom pain. While his girls had yet to admit to, or show any signs of suffering from it.

"I need help." Tai muttered to himself as he sat at the kitchen table.

He watched Ruby hobble into the kitchen and help herself to the cookie jar. With a pair of cookies firmly held in her mouth she hopped and struggled to manoeuvre herself around on her crutches before leaving. A twinge of anger rose up in him as he thought about how his daughter had been hurt. How her life had been changed so drastically. Tai still didn't know the full story, aside from what Ozpin had told him. A rogue semblance was blamed. Ruby wouldn't talk about anymore than Yang would about her incident. Pulling out his scroll he sent two messages. One to Ozpin, the other to Pietro. He was sure Ozpin may have suggestions, and hoped the creator of the limbs might have some advice on the matter.

He received a reply and a link from Pietro twenty minutes later. The message was simple Check the link and see if the place had a program that could help the girls come to terms with their limb loss. Ozpin's reply came in a couple minutes later, basically the same advice; get the girls in touch with someone that could help them cope with their new reality. After checking the link and reading about the programs, Tai once again reached out to Ozpin for his thoughts. Ozpin replied that it would be a good place, that he had heard of them, and they seemed to know what they were doing. He even offered to make the arrangements if Tai wanted him to.

Tai studied the replies for about an hour, going over alternatives in his mind. He knew he needed help, professional help. Patch was a great place, and they had good doctors, therapists and counsellors. But maybe going to a place, known for this type of work would be best for his girls. He sent a reply to Ozpin asking him to make the needed arrangements.

"Yang. Ruby. I need you to each pack a bag." Tai called out as he rose from the chair he had been occupying for more than a couple hours.

"Why?" came the muted response from Yang as she continued to hole herself up in her room.

"Dad?" Ruby asked from her place upon the well used couch.

"We're going on a trip."

"To?" asked Ruby as she adjusted herself and after a minute of struggle rose from the couch on her crutches.

"Atlas."

/=/

Watts had awoke from his much needed sleep and returned to his work station, and then sat there staring at the screen. He was now thinking his plan through not with a frantic manic mind, but with a well focused critical one. His plan wasn't going to work the way he had originally thought. While his first program would work as intended. Put Jaune into a deep trance like sleep, the second part was a fabrication of an overly caffeinated and sleep deprived mind.

"Fantasy." he snarled as he hit the delete key.

Once his screen was clear he leaned back in his chair, and began to reconsider his options. He had let outside factors overrule his normally concise and critical thoughts. To get Jaune to act the way he wanted him to; he was going to have to find a way to coerce him. But how to do that? Watts knew he could easily get in touch with the young man. He still had some supporters with in the walls of Atlas; that he could rely on to deliver messages, or better yet a very specific type of scroll.

"Now for the real problem." Watts spoke to hear his own voice."How to compel him."

Bribery was not an option, and Watts doubted offering Jaune any sum of lien would work. No he needed to drive him to unleash chaos, to keep everyone focused on him and away from what Watts' true target was. If he could get Jaune to go on a rampage; and if in the course of that rampage he destroyed or mangled the might of the Atlas military, then that was just a side benefit. A welcome side benefit. No to get him to act the way Watts needed will require something emotionally direct, over that offering large sums of lien. That left him two options, blackmail or threats; neither of which he was against using.

"Time to find out what my beauties have discovered about you Jaune." Watts again spoke to break the background hum of his servers.

Moving from one set of monitors to another he began to enter search criteria. His Trojans should have by now pulled every bit of data about Jaune that Atlas knew. Now Watts just needed to find the proper pieces to use.

/=/

Jaune returned to his room and instantly just fell into his bed. He was spent. Hours of reviewing information, and being instructed by Allison on what to expect and how to behave during the preliminary trial tomorrow. She had explained it to him in detail over and over again. Emphasizing that he was to let her speak for him. This was not going to be what is shown in some movie. This was real and was important.

/=/

Winter fell into her own bed. She was spent like Jaune. Hers was less mental or physical, but more emotional. The state her sister was in, pulled at her. She loved Weiss, more than she would admit, and what she saw, what she was told; just tore at her. She was suppose to be getting better, not worse; and that was how Winter saw it. Weiss was getting worse. Even though Doctor Martin explained it over and over, all Winter could focus on was that Weiss was not the young woman she had watched leave for Beacon.

/=/

Jaune woke the next morning tired. The images had returned, causing him to toss and turn all night. Rising from his bed, he went to the attached bathroom and cleaned up. The night before he was given a small shaving kit, and he took today to clear the scraggly mess of a beard he was growing. It was a slow process with him using two of the four disposable razors from the kit; but finally he looked more like himself. Leaving the bathroom, he found on of his guards standing in the room. A pile of folded clothes in her hands, with a pair of boots sitting on top.

"I was instructed by your attorney to provide you with more suitable clothing for today." she informed him as she moved over to the desk and deposited the load upon it. "Breakfast will be arriving shortly, and then we'll take you to the court house."

Jaune just nodded as she turned to leave. Removing his scrubs he pulled the pile of clothes apart and started dressing. The underwear, socks and under shirt were basic white cotton. The pants black cargo pants, with a web belt. The shirt a black hoodie, and the boots standard issue combat boots. Once dressed he turned to take a quick look in the bathroom mirror. He looked better, more like himself, now that he had something other than medical scrubs to wear. Breakfast arrived shortly thereafter.

Scarfing down the meal, he finished it quickly. Gathering up the remains he moved to the door and opened it. One of the guards took his tray and set it on the floor to the side of the door, before standing straight and pulling a set of hand-cuffs from behind her back. Jaune looked at her with a questioning look. They had never had to restrain him during all his trips to see his lawyer.

"You're being taken outside. Standard procedure." the guard informed him as Jaune extended his arms out.

Once secured they flanked him and directed him out of the housing complex and into the main yard. Turning to the right they lead him along the cement sidewalk. It took several minutes for them to reach their destination. A fairly sizable two story building. Outside the main doors Allison waited, in her dress uniform.

"With a crew cut you'd look like a recruit." she offered as he came to stand before her.

"Thanks I guess."

"Well we should head inside. You remember everything we discussed yesterday?"

"I do. Keep silent and let you do the talking."

/=/

Winter rose from her bed and made her preparations for the day. Donning her dress uniform, she exited her quarters and made her way through the hallways to the main doors; stepping through and out into the main yard. Checking her scroll she still had time to make her trip and meet up with her now attorney Markus Alexander. It was going to be a long and strange day. She had been informed by Markus before her visit to her sister, that due to her own case being so intertwined with Jaune's hearing that she would also be a defendant, at least at the preliminary. It would only be a formality though, as after this appearance; her issues would be ruled on by a separate tribunal. She was not looking forward to this day.

"Are you ready?" Markus asked as Winter met him outside the courthouse doors.

"As ready as I ever will be." she replied.

"I'm here to speak for you. So remain quiet. If I need information or direction from you I will ask. Understood?"

Winter just nodded and followed Markus inside the building.

/=/

They all stood as the trio of military officers who would form this preliminary hearing's tribunal entered. Winter, Markus, Allison and Jaune all sharing the defence table while a single JAG officer stood behind the prosecution's table.

"You may be seated." ordered the middle judge. A rather homely looking female officer with greying hair. "And now we shall begin. Introductions."

"Captain Jason Stanson for the prosecution your Honours." said the stoic looking gentleman as he rose from his seat.

"Captain Markus Alexander, defence for Specialist Winter Schnee, your Honours."

"Lieutenant Allison Richards, defence for Mister Jaune Arc, your Honours."

"I am Lieutenant-Colonel Samantha Saunders. Lead judge." informed the greying haired woman.

"I am Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Carson." informed a middle aged man with a dirty blonde crew cut, to the left of Lieutenant-Colonel Saunders.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Tyson." commented the orange haired cat faunus woman to the right.

"With that out of the way. We shall begin." Judge Saunders informed them as she opens the portfolio sitting before her.

/==/

So it begins.

Originally I was going to ignore the rest of the RWBY cast; in favour of just doing a short story about Jaune. But as the comments came in, and I started really thinking about the direction I was headed, it felt just organic to include them a bit more. I'm still going to ignore some of them. Blake for instance; she would have symptoms of mental issues just as anyone else would, having gone through the Fall. But with her background it is highly doubtful she would choose going to Atlas for treatment.

Why Atlas? I chose to have them all go to Atlas for treatment under the assumption that Atlas; the only kingdom with a standing army would have more doctors/therapists capable of dealing with PTSD and related afflictions. I know the other kingdoms would have the same, Hunters would need treatment, as would Emergency workers. I'm just choosing to focus on Atlas.

Watts dropping the "brainwashing tactic". I see Watts as a megalomaniac. He's so caught up with his own power and abilities, that any idea that comes to him in a flash of brilliance is worked on until he has time to come down from his "creation high" and critically thinks about what he is doing. Hence the 180 about his attempt to control Jaune. Again I understand "brainwashing/mind control" is trope in fantasy/sci-fi. I just when considering the comments, and my own thoughts decided that there is a better way. Having Jaune "chose" to do something, even if it is against his will; or just having him do it like a robot. The robot lost.

Just so everyone is aware, and understands why I adjust things so much from my original ideas. I write as ideas hit me. Which is why some of my stories have such a long delay between updates. I have plans, but unless I'm inspired by something that I feel can fit in my plan, I can't really write. (This is an issue I have to correct, as it does lead to my stories being a bit fragmented.)

I promise to limit the exposition in later chapters. It just felt appropriate to have it in this one, as the flow of the story is changing. I hope everyone enjoys this offering, and that is flows well with the previous chapters.