Thank you to everyone who has commented. This is my MOST reviewed story so far.
/==/
Ozpin looked at the clock on his monitor and sighed. It was just about time. Ever since the article came out and announced not only that Jaune was alive, but where he was; Nora had been demanding for Beacon to invade Atlas to save her 'fearless leader'. Ren on the other hand was only slightly more subdued, demanding that he the Headmaster of Beacon arrange a rescue party with Ren leading. It was a now standard routine that sometimes broke up the monotony of his day. Today however was different. The amount of protesters outside had grown by a substantial margin, and they were starting to get rowdy. The clock ticked tp twelve and they entered unopposed by Glynda. She had given up trying to stop them a few days into the now daily ritual.
"Mister Ren, Miss Valkyrie. How may I help you today?"
"We need draftees to invade Atlas, and get back our fearless leader!" Nora exclaimed as soon as Ozpin stopped speaking.
"Nora we are not invading Atlas." Ren informed her, causing the ginger girl to pout. "We need your assistance. We need to see Jaune."
"Why do you need to see Jaune?" Ozpin asked already knowing the answer.
"To save him from whatever Atlas is doing to him." Ren replied bluntly.
"And what do think Atlas is doing to Jaune?"
"Secret military weapon experiments!" Nora enthusiastically informed.
"He is NOT being experimented on Miss Valkyrie." Ozpin countered knowing full well that he had been.
"Then why is he NOT back at Beacon?" asked Ren, his voice tinged with more than annoyance.
"He was involved in an altercation and Atlas is currently looking into it. He'll be coming back once that has been cleared up."
"We don't believe you." Nora said flatly, her eyes narrowing on the Headmaster, "You're not telling us something."
"I'm telling you everything I can, and everything I know about..." Ozpin lied.
"We want to go to him." Ren cut in. "He's our friend, he's our leader. We want to see him."
"And how do you propose that Mister Ren? He's being held at a military base. They just wont let you walk in and talk with him."
"You can make it happen. You know who to talk to. We need to see him. Need to make sure he's alright."
"I can tell you he is alright."
"You also told us he was missing," Ren countered "when he wasn't."
/=/
Blake sat in her room at her parent's house in Menagerie. She was on her scroll going through the various sites that she knew were used at some point or another by the White Fang to pass messages and orders around. Several were nothing but message boards, a couple were cooking and fashion sites, along with a independent news site. The final ones were the conspiracy sites. She had gone through the others and found nothing of recent interest; so now she was stepping into the place where the slightly stranger humans and faunus played.
It had been quite awhile since she had visited those sites, and she was not disappointed in seeing the jumble of wild theory threads and page links. Everything from Ozpin was an immortal lizard person, to the SDC was creating weapons capable of creating earthquakes anywhere in the world, not to mention the Atlas was subjecting it's citizens to mind control experiments. The normal fare for these types of sites, except for one thread. Following the link Blake was confronted by a pdf file and several video files. Knowing the video files often were embedded with malicious software; she chose instead to view the pdf. Amber eyes grew wide as she read.
"No. This can't be. It's not real."
Blake finished the article; then reread it a second and third time. She knew from the editorial marks through out the document, that it was a rough draft, but what it was suggesting about Jaune was monstrous. Deciding to risk virus infection she clicked the link to the first video. Her anti-virus software didn't pop up with a warning, so she figured whomever posted this to the site wanted people to see it. She nearly dropped her scroll as the video began to play.
"No, no, no, no." she repeated to herself in shock as she watched the lovable goof that was JNPR's team leader unleash wholesale carnage about him.
Blake felt sick. Jaune was doing things; horrible, terrible things. She never knew, never heard the story from Wiess. As soon as Yang was getting treated for the wounds Adam had caused, Blake had taken off. She had run, back to her home; back to the very start of her journey. Blake had no idea what to do. She was conflicted; the White Fang was still a very real threat, yet Jaune was a friend; a friend who was in trouble. She knew Yang, and the others would be around him trying to help; or at least she assumed so, but the feelings of guilt for running away, for leaving her partner behind without even a word of why pulled at her.
She didn't know what she do. She was frozen into a state of inaction as conflicting needs, wants, and emotions boiled about inside her.
/=/
"Father! Mother! Winter! Whitley!" Weiss exclaimed as she hopped of the chair she was sitting in and rushed forward with Blake held firmly in her arms.
"Weiss!" snapped her father. "That is no way for a lady to act."
Weiss stopped her headlong charge, and quickly went to walking forward, her head down. Winter pursed her lips. She was annoyed,at her father's reaction, and the state of their mother. It was afternoon and she could she that Willow was already swaying unsteadily on her feet. Whitley for his part remained motionless, as if waiting to be allowed to doing something; although Winter could see the same aloof look upon his face that her father wore.
"Father." Weiss a second time in a much more subdued tone.
"Weiss." Jacques Schnee regarded his middle child with a cold, and stern eye. "What is this with you playing with dolls. You are much too old for such ridiculousness. Get rid of it, immediately."
"Father!" Winter exclaimed.
"Well it is true." Whitley commented, echoing his father's sentiment.
"But this is Blake." Weiss responded , cradling the doll closer to her chest.
"This will not help Weiss." Winter snapped as she moved forward to put herself lightly between Jacques and Weiss and then stopped as Willow took a couple hesitant steps forward and did just that.
"Come here baby." Willow opened her arms offering a hug.
"Mother." Weiss responded as she took some hesitant steps of her own to close the gap.
Winter watched as the pair met and Weiss was quickly enveloped in an obviously warm and motherly embrace. It lasted much longer than Winter would have expected. Once it ended Winter herself moved forward offering her younger sister a hug of her own, although much stiffer.
"Whitley greet your sister." Willow instructed her youngest child.
Whitley took one look at his father noticing the shake of his head, and they returned his gaze of the three women gathered before him. He was torn as to what to do. His father clearly disapproved to Weiss current actions and state, but it was his sister and seeing her this way, made him feel pity for her.
"Weiss." Whitley opted to greet her, following his father's example, although with a much less hard tone.
"Whitley." Weiss greeted back, with an obvious look of wanting to also greet him like she had her mother and sister.
"And who is this." Willow asked pointing to the cat faunus doll Weiss was holding near her chest.
"This is Blake." Weiss chimed in a cheery tone holding the doll out to her mother.
"Enough of this nonsense." Jacques snapped as he took a step forward, absolute frustration rising with in him as he slowly raised his hand. He was going to do something he had never once before done to one of his children. "To think of all that money wasted. I know exactly what you ne..."
Doctor Martin who had been standing off to the side watching the exchanges between family members; stepped in. His hand intercepting Jacques' attempted slap with an iron like grip.
"I suggest you leave Mister Schnee. Your behaviour is unacceptable."
"I leave they all leave." Snorted Jacques yanked his hand away.
"They are more than welcome to stay." responded Doctor Martin,"You sir however are not and before you threaten them with being left behind, understand we are more than capable of making sure they return to the manor safely."
With another snort Jacques turned, and strode away, walking past the orderly who was up from his seat and prepared to intercede if the doctor hadn't acted first. Whitley was torn between leaving with his father and staying. Seeing his father raise his hand towards Weiss was disturbing. He had never done such a thing during the whole time they had been growing up. In fact the entire family was aghast with what almost happened.
"Father?" Weiss asked goring from surprise to anger in that short word. "Father."
"Weiss, are you okay?" Doctor Martin asked as he took a couple steps forward closing the distance between himself and his patient.
"I..."
"Never mind father, Wiess. We brought someone else who like to see you." informed Winter, before she turned to the orderly by the door and nodded.
Opening the door, he waved to someone outside.
"Klein?" Weiss asked in a soft voice as she watched a familiar figure step into the common room. "Klein!"
"Why hello Little Miss." Klein replied to the warm greeting, spreading his arms wide to receive a hug from the onrushing young woman.
/=/
"There have been too many leaks in regards to Mister Arc," Rear-Admiral Niedhart informed Allison and the rest of the gathered JAG officers. "So as of today everyone in this office is getting re-vetted. Council has also motioned to have all systems in Atlas scanned and all security protocols and firewalls replaced. So expect you systems to lag and be unresponsive."
"Any idea how long this will take?" asked a junior officer in the back of the room.
"They are estimating three weeks to a month and a half. That is all." Rear-Admiral Niedhart then pointed at Allison and motioned her to come forward as the rest of the staff went back to their assigned duties.
"Yes, sir?"
"I want you and your security detailed vetted ASAP. We can't afford any delays in bringing Mister Arc's case before the tribunal, the prosecution is already going through the process."
"Understood sir." Allison stopped herself from leaving, "Sir?"
"Yes."
"About the conversation we had the other day."
"I'm sorry but we can not assign Atlas personnel to civilian protection details, just because someone in our custody thinks there might be a threat made against them."
"But, sir."
"I have however contacted the Argus authorities and expressed your concern, and using the weight of this office pushed for them to go and check out the situation. Though I did not have the specifics to give them."
"I'll get the information from my client, and forward it to you, sir."
"Good. The sooner the better."
/=/
"What are you thinking about Jaune?" Doctor Watson asked the blond young man who seemed to have a distant look in his eyes. "Is it about your family?"
"Yes, and other things."
"What are these other things?"
"If my family is safe, how my friends are doing, are they safe?"
"I'm sure they are fine. You yourself said that your father was protecting them. As for your friends I would assume they are doing well and are also safe."
"Why would you assume that?"
"They are huntsmen and huntresses in training are they not? So one can assume that with that type of training that they could protect themselves if they needed to. Am I right?"
"They are, but..."
"But what Jaune?"
"I was able to hurt them, even though they were trained, and what about my sister Saphron and her family?No one can or will tell me if they are okay."
"That is really bothering you isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Maybe I can help alleviate that concern. Would you like to speak with your sister?"
"Can I?"
"Yes you can. I'll make the arrangements, but I will ask you to NOT destroy another room."
"Sorry about that."
"I know you are. You're in for a more than your fair share of stressful times ahead, you know this right Jaune?
"The trial."
"Yes. The trial. It is going to be hard on you. There is no question about that. Do you feel ready to deal with the kind of stressors such a situation will put upon you?"
"I...I don't know."
"That's a very honest answer. I can help with that thought. How about after you speak with your sister, we spend the rest of you time here working on ways to cope. How does that sound?"
"Okay I guess."
"As much as I am here to observe and evaluate; I am also here to help. I think helping you is more important. Do you agree?"
"I guess."
"Now before I make arrangements for you to speak with your sister, and seeing that we still have time left in this session. Tell me about what happened in the basement again."
"Why? We've gone over it like a hundred times."
"I know, and I doubt one more time will hurt. What do you remember feeling when your semblance activated, what do you remember seeing?"
"I remember being afraid and angry."
"Afraid of what? Angry over what?"
"My friends being hurt."
"And what do you remember?"
"Blood."
/=/
Taiyang Xiao Long a,d Helen Nikos stood apart from their collective children as Doctor Walters spoke with them. The girls for their part were looking out the windows at the large mass of protesters by the gates of the institute They couldn't hear what was being chanted, but from the various signs that were being waved about they could only guess.
"So Mister Xiao Long, Missus Nikos your girls have completed their tenure here, and my and Doctor Martin are confident they will be able to handle themselves outside of the confines of our walls."
"So they're cured?" Tai asked the question that was also on Helen's mind.
"No."
"What do you mean no?" Helen interjected.
"I mean they have come to terms with what has happened to them, what they experienced, and are now open and willing to speak about it. They are however not cured. They will never be cured."
"Then what was the..." Tai started to complain, only to be cut off by Doctor Walters raising his hand.
"The point of them being here was, one to get them to admit to themselves they needed help. Two to get them to open up about what was causing them to need help; and three to give them the tools to control and cope with what is bothering them." Doctor Walters paused for a moment to let his words sink in before continuing, "As I've and my colleague have no doubted mentioned. There is no magic bullet or miraculous pill that will remove the trauma they have endured. But that trauma is now out in the open, and if you ask them they will tell you."
"So what now?" asked Helen.
"They go home, and pick up their lives. We will of course give you copies of all their records so that if you or they choose to seek additional help, those who step in to fill that role will know what has already taken place in regards to treatment."
"Can my girls return to school?"
"That is up to them. They are physically capable, but emotionally and mentally they may not be ready to take such a step."
As the adults continued to talk, Ruby and Yang, whom were both using their cybernetic limbs, and Pyrrha considered what was happening outside.
"Any idea?" asked Yang.
"No." replied Ruby
"Maybe something else happened at Beacon besides what we experienced." offered Pyrrha.
"This more like it's something that happened here, than in Vale." commented Yang.
"Too bad we couldn't ask Jaune." Ruby spoke as she shuddered at one of the signs, that depicted a hanging figure.
"I'm not sure he could really tell us." Pyrrha responded as she too took in the disturbing images and slogans on many of the upheld signs. "I doubt he really remembers, considering how he looked."
"Yeah he did look like he was sleepwalking." added Ruby.
"Either way, it's not like they'd let us go see him, before we leave." Yang commented.
"Yang. Ruby. Time to head out."
"Pyrrha we should be going as well."
The girls all shared a quick group hug before moving off to stand with their respective parent.
/=/
"He's panicking." informed Janice as she watched the remote feeds of Jaune's various vitals.
"No he's going berserk." Marrow corrected as he watched Jaune viciously shredded through a few more of the training droids, while pulling his weapon free. "Everyone get back behind me!"
"Hit the kill switch!" Doctor Jekyll shouted.
"Don't!" Marrow countered. "As long as he's dealing with the drones, he'll ignore us."
Janice, Allison, and Doctor Jekyll at that point followed Marrow's order and quickly scrambled behind the Specialist; trying to put as much distance between themselves and the turning form of Jaune Arc.
Twenty minutes earlier Doctor Jekyll was explaining the current test to everyone in the room, as Janice placed remote sensor's on Jaune's chest and back. Allison was impressed with what she saw. Though she wouldn't admit it out loud. Even with all the time spent comatose and inactive Jaune was still in remarkable shape. Though she was worried about the test that was going to be conducted.
"Now this is a combat test. We want to see how you react to a constant and armed threat. We have a company of training droids that we will be sending against you. Some are armed for melee, others for range." Doctor Jekyll explained, "All the ranged units are loaded with rubber bullets. They will hurt if they hit you, but are nonlethal. Questions?"
"So what do you want me to do?" asked Jaune.
"Fight them using your semblance and any other skills you have. The main point of this exercise to to gauge the combat abilities of your semblance. We will be recording the whole thing with IR and normal cameras."
"Is this safe?" Allison asked as Jaune pulled his shirts back on.
"Perfectly. As I have mentioned all the drones are equipped with nonlethal armaments, in addition to being programmed to a single kill switch. If Jaune is appearing to be overwhelmed we can stop it all with the push of a button."
"Sounds good to me." Jaune commented, "Allsion?"
"If you are okay with it, then I have no objection." she replied.
"Alright. If you are ready Jaune please enter the training room; and once you feel ready give us a nod and we will start the process."
"So how many drones do you have?" Allison asked as Jaune walked through the double doors into the Atlas Academy training room.
"Like I said a company. A hundred in total."
"A hundred? You expect him to be able to deal with that?"
"No, I expect him to fail, and us to hit the kill switch. We need to know the limits of his abilities. If we see that twenty drones is too much for him we know that a team of twenty to thirty guys could probably overpower him if needed." Doctor Jekyll informed Allison, "Plus if he still intends to become a huntsman when everything is settled it will provide a baseline as too how many grimm he could legitimately handle on his own."
"Still seem like a little too many."
"That's the point. It is to overwhelm him." Doctor Jekyll noticed Jaune nod, "He's ready. Janice activate the drones."
Janice quickly entered a couple of commands in her remote terminal. A second later doors along three sides of the facility opened, and row upon row of armed drones fanned out as the moved to approach. Those with firearms started to fire almost instantly.
"Amazing. Look how none of the rubber rounds are even reaching him. Janice?"
"Four of his arms are wrapped around him forming a barrier."
More and more rounds stopped in the air before Jaune. They watched as he turned his head to the left and right, and then it began. The melee equipped drones were the first ones targeted. The three observers witnessed limbs being sheared off, bodies being ripped open, and heads torn off.
"He's ignoring the ones firing on him." commented Marrow.
"Probably because they are too far out. The room is sixty by sixty, to allow for students who used ranged options. They are out of his ran..." Doctor Jekyll stopped there as suddenly several of the stationary firearm equipped drones where torn apart. "Janice?"
"He's extending his range, and there's something else doctor."
"What?" Doctor Jekyll asked as he watched as several of the surviving melee units started to twitch and spasm.
"His arms are passing through some of the drones. The ones that are twitching."
"Outstanding." commented Doctor Jekyll.
"Doctor this is not outstanding. This is worrisome."Allison spoke as she watched the continuing carnage.
"How many left Janice?"
"Sixty doctor."
"He's taken out forty of those things that quickly?" Marrow asked as he looked at the two digital readouts on the monitor, one for the number of active drones, the other for the elapsed time. "It hasn't even been two minutes."
"The speed at which he is processing information is incredible." responded Doctor Jekyll as before him outside of the what was once considered Jaune's operational limit three drones were smashed together, crumpling into a heap of twisted metal and smashed circuits.
"Doctor he's readings are spiking." Janice informed the assembled group.
"How badly?" asked Doctor Jekyll.
"He's panicking."
/=/
Jaune was annoyed, frustrated and angry. The droids were not stopping and continuing their assault on him. No matter how many he turned into scrap. Before him a growing number of rubber rounds floated, with many more having already fallen to the floor at his feet. So he lashed out faster and harder. Reducing the remaining drones but nearly scores at a time. Snarling he focused his attention of the last few remaining. Ripping them to shreds, before grabbing the last one lifting it into the air and crushing it against the floor.
With the immediate threats dealt with he turned, and set his eyes on the four figures behind the protective steel and glass observation wall. Stalking forward he closed the distance; and suddenly found himself unable to move.
/=/
"Stay." Marrow commanded as he walked forward to intercept the encroaching figure. Jaune's form froze in mid step, and Marrow narrowed his focus upon him. "He's fighting me. I can feel it."
Doctor Jekyll couldn't fathom what was happening, Jaune has just decimated a full company of droids, without one ever getting close to him; and he did it with remarkable efficency. But that was a side point, because now they had to calm him down, and for the life of him the doctor had no idea how to do it.
"If SOMEONE has an idea. I willing to hear it." Marrow spoke his voice gaining an edge of strain. "Cause he is fighting me."
Allison didn't wait to give the idea that popped into her head any voice; she just acted upon it. Rushing forward, making sure to stay out of Marrow's line of sight she reached the training room door, and opened it.
"Allison?" Marrow asked, his eyes never leaving Jaune's form
"Trust me."
She entered the debris littered room, and cautiously made her way towards Jaune's side. Keeping herself away from the main viewing window, and thereby not interfering with Marrow's line of sight. Cautious foot step followed by cautious foot step she closed.
"Jaune, it's me Allison."
She got no response. Chalking that up to how Marrow's semblance worked she continued to close.
"Jaune I need you to calm down. Please, calm down." Allison tried to keep her voice calm and even, but she could tell it was taking a pleading tone. "Can you do that? Can you calm down?"
"I think it's working!" Marrow shouted, as Allison covered the last couple of metres to reach Jaune's side.
"Please." Allison almost pleaded as she reached out and placed a soft warm hand upon his shoulder. "Please."
"I think it worked." Marrow informed.
"Jaune, Marrow is going to let you go. When he does I want you to look at me. Will you do that?" Allison regarded Jaune with her hazel eyes. "Let him go."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Letting go now." Marrow dropped his semblance, and Jaune as Allison asked stopped moving forward and turned to face her.
"Are you okay Jaune?"
"I..."
"Are you okay?"
"I was going to hurt you." he spoke in a pained tone. "I wanted to hurt all of you."
"You didn't, and that's all that matters. You didn't."
/=/
"My Lady Salem." Hazel addressed his employer. "I have news."
"What of it my dear Hazel?" Salem asked as she seated herself upon her throne.
"Watts, Emerald, and Mercury have failed in the task you set for them."
"I see. Are you sure?"
"Yes. Here is the proof." Hazel pulled out his scroll and after a couple of swipes and thumb presses he handed it to her. "It is an article detailing his actions and detention in Atlas."
Salem sat quietly as she read the words offered to her. Time passed slowly as Hazel stood there waiting. After a few minutes she reached forward and handed the scroll back to him.
"So he is alive, and more dangerous than I had imagined." she commented as she leaned back against her throne. "He must be dealt with, and soon before Ozma can make use of him. We will also have to punish the Doctor and Cinder's underlings for their treachery."
"What do you suggest my Lady?"
"If you want someone removed, there is only one of you who will do so without hesitation."
"You wish to send Tyrian out after them?"
"No. He will deal with this Jaune. You my dear Hazel will track down Watts and the other two. You will make sure they understand what it means to displease me."
"Emerald and Mercury will have long since fled from Atlas. They could be anywhere."
"I will give you the aid of a thousand eyes. Have no fear in that regard."
"And Watts? He is surely hidden somewhere."
"Watts will be easier to locate than you think. I know of his little hideaways. My children have long ago sniffed everyone of them out."
"Pardon me then my Lady. Why wait so long to act?"
"I wished to give him the benefit of the doubt, just in case he was having difficulty or choosing to make an example of this Jaune; but it appears my faith in him was misplaced."
"So what shall I do with each of them?"
"Break the children. Make them come crawling back to me to beg forgiveness. As for the Doctor; bring him to me, I will deal with his punishment personally."
"As you wish."
"Send Tyrian to me. Wish to speak to him about the task I am setting him to."
"Yes, my Lady."
/=/
On the ride back to the institute Allison was able to get the information she needed. Passing it on to her superior officer, through a a quick scroll call; she turned towards Jaune as she hung up.
"So we will be pressuring the authorities in Argus to look in on your sister and her family. They'll make sure there are no threats, and if there are, they'll deal with them accordingly."
"Thank you." Jaune responded in a depressed tone.
"What is it Jaune? Is it about what happened back at the training room?"
"I could have, I was going to hurt you guys."
"But you didn't. There is a big difference between could have; would have, and did. You didn't hurt any of us."
"I lost control."
"That was the doctor's fault. He should have stepped up the test instead of just going full out; and he's taken responsibility for it. He apologized to you directly. He apologized to everyone there. So you have nothing to be worked up about."
"I can't get it out of my mind."
"Then I suggest you speak to Doctor Watson about it. I know his words will be of some help to you."
"I'm almost done there. What happens next?" Jaune asked.
"You'll be moved back to the base; and put into protective custody. Then you and I will have several days of long conversations; before your tribunal is held."
"When is that going to be?"
"About a week after you are done at the institute."
"It's going to be rough isn't it?"
"I wont lie to you. It will be. You've been charged with multiple counts of bodily harm causing death. The prosecution will be pushing the angle that even though you may have been not in control of yourself, that you are still responsible for all those deaths."
"I was."
"You may feel that way, but I'm here to defend you, and I will."
"How?"
"I'm going to use your semblance, the assessment from Doctor Watson, and the research of Doctor Jekyll to show that while you have some measure of control now, back when the incidents happened you didn't, and therefore can't be held responsible." Allison paused to see if Jaune was following what she was saying. "What I'm going to try and do is use a version of the by reason of insanity defence."
"So I'm insane."
"No Jaune, I do not think you are. But the SCS does make provisions for individuals who are completely consumed by their semblances. I'm going to use those statues, and rulings to defend you."
"If it works?"
"You'll probably have to spend sometime in an institute much like the one you are in now; and undergo more semblance testing and training. But you would be technically not guilty, and free."
"That the best I can hope for?"
"What do you hope for?"
"To go home."
"I'm sorry Jaune, but I doubt that doing so will be an option for quite some time."
"We're coming up on the institute. There is more of them." reported Winter from her seat behind the wheel. "So, should I try the back way, or just drive past and head to the base?"
"Head to the base. We'll contact Doctor Watson and let him know of the situation." Allison instructed.
/==/
So Salem is not happy, Tyrian is going to be set loose; and Jaune's is proving to be a force in his own right.
Hope you all enjoy; and as always comments, critiques and suggestions are always welcome.
