"The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death." -Monty Oum
RWBY x Red vs Blue Crossover:
"Metastability"
Chapter 2: Project Freelancer
Death had not come for Pyrrha. When she opened her eyes, she found only Jaune standing over her. Hot air danced next to her. Her green eyes looked to the right side of her head. The barrel had aimed next to her head, firing at the ground. When she looked back, she found the gun shaking in his hand, and his face wracked with different emotions. Pain. Hurt. Anxiety. Fear. Confusion. Agony. His breathing was becoming haggard and erratic, and his expression looked like the face of someone who was horrified.
What...was he doing?
What...the fuck...w-why was he pointing a gun at her?! No, wait, it wasn't a gun...it was her weapon. Miló. But why? Why was he holding it? Why was she underneath him, beaten down? Why was he over her like some kind of executioner?! N-no...wait...what...was happening?!
"So, this is the newbie? Nice to meet you, Maine. Name's York. The purple guy next to me is North Dakota."
North...York...they were...they were gone, weren't they? He remembered. Wyoming shot and killed him. And North...oh...oh god...no no no...no...!
"M-Maine, what are you doing?! S-stop! No! NO!"
Carolina...no...what...what was he...?!
"TAKE THEM! TAKE IT! TAKE THEM ALL! TEAR IT FROM THEM!"
The rifle dropped from his hands, and he backed away. Pain and torture erupted from inside his skull, bringing forth unimaginable sorts of agony. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came. Only pained whines. He grabbed his head, as if trying to lessen the pain, but it failed to help in any way. Carolina, York, North Dakota...they were gone, weren't they?! And not just them...everyone from Freelancer...all of them...killed...k-killed by...!
'No...no no no! No! NO!'
He...he...couldn't...he did...he killed...!
*bang*
Another gunshot resounded, a sharp pain emerged from the Meta's back.
The pain forced him down to his knees, all the while cradling his head. "Ruby, stop!" he heard the Carolina look-no, that wasn't her name! It wasn't her name! It wasn't! "Don't shoot him!"
"What?! Why?!" The red hood girl questioned as she used her weapon as support after wincing. The Meta's attacks from earlier left her with ribs that were bruised and cracked. Hell, she could barely breathe properly without feeling something stabbing into her lungs. "Pyrrha, he tried to kill us! He was about to kill-"
"It's Jaune!"
"...WHAT?!" She screamed after letting the words sink in. The silver-eyed girl gawked in disbelief. She thought she must have heard her friend wrong. Jaune? How?! How in the hell was that white guy Jaune?! She looked to Nora and Ren, as if trying to discern that this was a mistake...but their faces told her otherwise. She limped over, wanting to confirm for herself. The armored figure writhed in agony on the ground, both hands tightly clenching his head. Slowly and cautiously, Ruby turned him over and gasped. The hair had grown messier and unkempt, and it was definitely longer, and the eyes were red...but there was no mistaking the face of Vomit Boy. "J-Jaune...?!"
Only pained grunts and hisses escaped his mouth. That was then she took note of the massive scar across his throat. It was jagged, stretching across the front, though she noticed some circular patches, around the size of a bullet. There were over nine of them in total.
The blonde haired teen continued to shake, as if burdened by something. Unknown to the girls, Jaune was breaking down. Badly. Images were flashing by...images of when he killed his own teammates.
North Dakota was on the ground, his once proud purple armor stained with blotches of red.
The triplets, scattered and left mangled, hanging upside down from hooks with the backs of their necks left bare with red skin.
Carolina, eyes wide in horror, held by his throat, dangling over the edge of a cliff.
It was all too much. Every Freelancer...every friend...no...every family member he killed with his own hands!
All the while...he saw it.
Sigma, standing next to him, smiling like the devil he was.
"You look upset...Agent Maine..." The fiery AI spoke coldly.
It was a phantom image. He knew that already. Sigma was gone. Dead. Destroyed by the EMP that Washington released. It was nothing but a trick of his mind...yet the anger and rage inside his chest burned and boiled. 'Your fault...its all your fault...YOUR FAULT!'
Enraged, he swung his fist to strike the nonexistent AI. But it vanished and reappeared a few feet away.
"Come now, is that any way to talk to me?" Sigma's Phantom taunted. "You disappoint me, Agent Maine..."
'SHUT UP!'
He swung his fist again and struck a tree. The tree fractured upon impact, causing it to fall to the ground. The earth shuddered beneath his feet. He let out a strangled wail as the pain in his head grew worse, forcing him down to his knees. "Why are you being so aggressive?" Sigma's Phantom questioned, kneeling down to face him in the eye. "You truly think you can put all of the blame on me?" He gave a cruel chuckle, shaking his head. "I'm sorry to tell you this, Agent Maine...but while I did have a hand in killing your fellow Freelancers, as sad as it was...do not forget, they died by your hands."
'Sh-shut up!' he shouted in his head, shaking the upper appendage profusely. The pain grew only worse, and his forehead rested against the ground. 'Shut up shut up! Get out! Get out of my head!'
"But I speak the truth." The AI stood back up on hiss feet as he folded his hands behind his back. "You can only blame yourself for having their blood on your hands."
'Stop it!'
Sigma's Phantom slowly walked around him. "Honestly...I am surprised. When I was killed by the EMP, you were free. You could've done whatever you wanted. You could've felt regret and own up to your crimes..." He then stopped. "But you didn't. You joined Agent Washington to retrieve Epsilon because the prospect of having an AI again was too great to pass up...to feel powerful again...even if you had to kill Washington, your only fellow Freelancer left, to get it."
'Stop it! Stop it! Get out of my head!'
"Even now, you desire the Alpha, even when he was destroyed by the emp as well, to feel complete. I suppose I shouldn't call you Agent Maine...even with AI gone, you are still The Meta."
'That's not true! Get out! GET OUT!'
"Oh but it is...After all, you were so set on obtaining the Alpha that you were killing to kill the very people you once called friends..."
'That's not true! I-I was...I was...!'
Sigma's Phantom smirked coldly. "No matter how you slice it...it is the truth, Agent Maine."
'JUST SHUT UP! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GO AWAY!'
No matter how much he continued to scream and wail and cry, the phantom would not vanish. Was this his punishment then?! For everything he's done?! If this is his punishment...then he should have just died back at Sidewinder! In a fit of rage, grief, despair, and confusion, he spun around and struck the thing closest to him, which happened to be a boulder. Debris flied into the air. All the while, Sigma's Phantom stood by, gazing at him with crueltly. Even if he tried to punch him, shoot him, or strike at him...it would do nothing. He was but an illusion. The remains of whatever happened to him. The pain continued to grow worse. It was as if there was something writhing inside of his head, growing with each angry outburst. Once more he fell on all fours, clutching his head. He heard the cries of the people around him, rushing to his side. They had witnessed him lashing out, writing in pain, but knew naught of the cause. How could they? They knew nothing of him...except for her. The girl who stood next to him, crying out in fear and worry of him.
"Jaune?! Jaune!"
He turned his head, seeing her holding his shoulder, as if trying to comfort him. To make the pain go away. Eventually, the pain became too much for him. His brain could no longer process the strain. Sigma's Phantom disappeared, and his body grew heavy. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and the darkness claimed him. As it did, he remembered something...something wonderful.
Her name...it was Pyrrha. The Invincible Girl, Pyrrha Nikos.
"...e's waking up, Director."
Slowly, the unconscious teen's eyes opened. At first, the harsh lighting above him forced him to squint, blinking to adjust to it. Eventually, his eyes became used to it, allowing them to open fully. As it did, the world around him became clear. He was inside a room of white, surrounded by four white walls. To the left was a curtain, obscuring whatever lay behind it. Closest to him was a small table with a pot of flowers and a pitcher of water. To his right was a metal door, framed with dark gray and electronic blue lights, which glowed brightly in a symmetrical manner. He sat inside a bed of some kind, covered by a white blanket while his head rested against a pillow. Standing next to him were two men, both dressed in a black and gray uniform. The first man had dark brown skin and a shaved head, bearing a somewhat gentle yet somehow off-putting smile, and calm eyes. Beside him was a much older man, a dark beard growing on his face while his dark hair remained slicked back, cropped and well-maintained, vibrant green eyes held behind a pair of glasses.
"W-what...?" the teen found himself speaking. His throat hurt. It felt like he hadn't spoken in so long. "W-where...?"
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Agent," the glasses-wearing man said. "How do you feel?"
"Wh-what...?" He grasped his aching head as he slowly sat upright. He turned to face the man. "Who...who are you...?"
The dark-skinned man hummed thoughtfully, a hand at his chin. "Hm...it appears you're still recovering," he said, turning to the more serious looking of the two. "Director, perhaps we should allow him to-"
"He will be given all the time he needs to rest, Counselor," the man said sharply. "After all, he is a hero as far as others are concerned."
The teen frowned. "I-I'm sorry, but...what's going on?"
"Your in the medical bay of the Mother of Invention, Agent," the man who the dark-skinned companion of his called the Director answered. "You were on death's door. We brought you back. Plain and simple. Also, congratulations on your hard-earned promotion, son. As of this moment, you will be working under me, alongside many others."
"Huh?"
"You may not recall, but you had managed to complete a mission of great importance to us," the dark-skinned man told him. "However, you were badly injured as a result. It appears you also suffered a concussion as well. That's why you can't remember anything at the moment. Don't worry, you'll remember everything in time."
"A...mission...?" The teenager rubbed the space between his eyes, trying to ponder what he was told. "What type of mission was it...?"
"One of vital importance." The Director repeated. "And thanks to you, we've gained the upper hand we need." He then turned to his companion. "Counselor, please inform our recruit of what he will be doing for us here."
The Counselor smiled and nodded. "Of course."
With that, the Director walked away, heading to the door. However, just as it opened, he stopped, and turned to the young teen. "Welcome to Project Freelancer, Agent Maine."
"...how bad is it, Krim?"
The old doctor sighed as he stepped away from the unconcious form of the blonde male who sat in the medical bay of Beacon's infirmary. "Physically, he's suffered a few minor injuries," he said. "Which is odd, as his Aura should have healed him. Mentally, though...I'm afraid that no amount of time will heal those scars."
Ozpin frowned heavily. "...What do you mean?"
"I mean that the young lad has been through so much since his absence. He has seen and done things that would even make a grown man break down. And that is barely the tip of the iceberg."
"And where has he been?" the blonde teacher asked. "And how did he receive that wound on his neck?"
"From what I could tell, he got that wound years ago. As for the cause, it was nine gunshots point blank. I'm surprised he even survived that..." The doctor shook his head. "It was confusing as his Aura should've healed it over given enough time. But the wound remains in that state. And that's not even all of it. There are other injuries as well; a stab wound to the chest, which was completely cauterized by extreme heat, another bullet wound to the chest, and several ribs that show previous signs of bruising or fraction."
The two teacher's faces paled considerably. Nine shots at point blank? Broken ribs? A blistering stab wound? And his Aura didn't heal the damage? How could that have been...
...wait.
"You said 'years,'" Ozpin noted. "What exactly do you mean?"
"I mean what I said." The doctor answered. "I examined and scanned the scar tissue and based on the results, the injury had healed years ago."
"How is that possible?" Glynda asked, clearly not believing it. "Mr. Arc has been gone for only two months!"
"I do not know...Glynda. What I do know is that based on my mental diagnosis and what I've seen...this boy has witnessed and experienced years worth of combat."
The Headmaster furrowed his brow, and looked at the unconscious form of Jaune Arc, who sat in the bed, unconscious. He was stripped of the armor he was found in, left only in a torn and battered black bodysuit. However, aside from the previously mentioned injuries and damaged mental state, he seemed to be physically alright. If only the same could be said for Teams RWBY and NPR...
"I still refuse to believe it!"
Ruby groaned. "Weiss, for the hundredth time, I'm telling you! It was Jaune!"
"And I still refuse to believe that the person who knocked Yang's teeth out, cracked your ribs, beat up Blake within an inch of her life, and tackled me through several trees and broke my arm to be our idiotic friend who was missing for months." Weiss shook her head before wincing from her recently set arm.
It had been over three hours since Team RWBY and NPR had returned with an unconscious Jaune Arc in tow. After being treated for their injuries, they had returned to their dorm rooms...though all of them were worried in one shape or another. Ruby and Pyrrha most of all. After months...after all of that time, that blonde lovable idiot had come back...only in the worst way possible. Her hand gently touched her abdomen, still feeling the pain. Weiss did have a point...Jaune had never displayed such aggression or strength. She even doubted if it was Jaune...though she couldn't. There was no way she could forget the boy who vomited on the ship where they met.
"I'm kind of with Weiss here," Yang said, nursing her cheek. Even though she had been given fillings, her mouth still hurt like hell. "We sure that's Jaune? You know, Vomit Boy? The guy who puked from motion sickness?"
"I'm sure it was him!" Ruby argued. "I mean, he looked exactly the same as we last saw him!...Well, aside from the red eyes and the massive scar on his throat, but I'm sure it was still him!"
"His hair was longer," Blake said, wincing. Out of the four of them, she suffered the worst. Several wrappings of gauze were on her form, especially around her chest, arms, and her head. "And his face looked a lot rougher. He definitely looked like Jaune," Ruby's eyes looked hopeful, thinking that Blake was also in agreement with her but her next words shot down her hopes. "But I can't see it. Ruby, I know you want to think that's Jaune, but he tried to kill us. He nearly shot Pyrrha. He even hurt Nora and Ren. BAD." Her gaze softened. "Would Jaune really hurt his team? Especially Pyrrha?"
"He..."
She really wanted to argue that point...but the words died in her throat. Blake was right. Jaune was their friend. And from what she knew of him, he wouldn't EVER hurt them like what happened earlier today. She lowered her head, biting her lip.
"I know it hurts Ruby but...you have to face facts." Blake shut her eyes. "The guy we fought, no...the THING that massacred us...could in no way be the friend we know..."
"...b-but..."
"Ruby's right!" Suddenly, the door to their room was nearly thrown off of its hinges as it was swung open, revealing the wounded, yet healthful faces of Team NPR. In front of them was Nora Valkyrie, grinning widely. "That's Jaune! No two ways about it!"
"I agree..." Ren nodded in agreement with his friend and partner. "He may have acted differently, but there is no mistaking what we saw."
Weiss gawked. "H-how can you say that?!" she shouted in hysteria. "He nearly killed us! He nearly killed YOU!"
"We're well aware of that..." The raven haired male nodded. "However...in the end...he stopped himself from killing us and Pyrrha."
"That," Nora grinned widely. "And you can't fool me! I know my leader anywhere!"
"Then why didn't you think it was him before he beat the crap out of you?" Yang asked with a deadpan stare. Even though she wanted to trust their judgement, Jaune was pretty obvious to her. He was skittish, but kind and grateful for his friends. He was sorely lacking in skills, but he was showing improvement. The fact that he beat them so brutally definitely made it clear that while he shared the same face, it was doubtful the man in white was Jaune.
"Well, he did have a helmet on," the hammer-wielding girl pointed out. "That...and he really seemed kind of out of it."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Out of it? How?"
"I don't really know. It's like he was seeing things that weren't really there, his head seemed to be hurting, and it's like he didn't even pay attention to us when he passed out."
"Seeing things?" Ruby questioned. Suddenly, her memory came back to her. "Oh yeah...Jaune was acting weird. It was like he was lashing out at something. Something we couldn't see." She gave a small whimper, clenching her hands in her lap. "It looked like he was in a lot of pain."
Yang frowned, cocking her head. "You sure?" she asked skeptically. "Hey, look, I know you guys wanna believe it, but..."
"It IS Jaune, Yang," Nora insisted, this time more forceful. "That's why we're gonna go see him at the infirmary!"
"Wh-What?! We are?!"
"Of course we are," From behind, Pyrrha stepped into the room. Out of all of them, she seemed to be the least bit injured, though she did have a few bruises. "After all, meeting with him and trying to talk with him is the only way to figure out if it really is Jaune or not. Plus, I heard that Professor Ozpin brought Doctor Krimzen here."
Weiss' eyes widened, recognizing the name. "Doctor Krimzen? As in, Krimzen Reed?"
"Who's he?" Ruby asked. "Is he famous?"
"In a way," Blake told her. "He's considered to be an expert in nearly ever medical field. Psychology, surgery, physician, pediatrician, and the list goes on. He uses his Semblance as a sort of thereputic method to help his patients. If memory serves...it lets him view a person's memories."
Weiss nodded. "That's exactly right, Blake," she said, confirming her friend's words. "He's highly regarded, even in Atlas." She paused, then smirked. "...I think I just found out how we can prove that barbarian isn't Jaune."
"Oh boy," Yang rolled her eyes. "This ought to be good."
"If memory serves," the Ice Queen continued. "Dr. Reed's Semblance allows him to tap into a person's memories. Because of his profession, this makes it very easy for him to see what sort of trauma his patients may have suffered. He's highly recommended for any soldier who's seen some more darker things in combat. If we can ask him to show us that brute's memories, we can determine whether or not that really is the same blonde idiot we know."
"Well what are we waiting for, then?!" Ruby perked up and grabbed her partner by her non-injured arm. "Let's go!" Weiss was taken completely by surprise by the action. She couldn't even voice her plan, as Ruby had used her Semblance and bolted right out the door, leaving behind a trail of rose petals. The blonde sighed, shaking her head. "Might as well follow them."
"Yeah...just give me a minute." Blake grunted as she slowly pulled herself out of bed.
Yang moved over, helping her partner and steadying her to her feat. "You okay, kitty cat?" she asked. Though she meant it as a joke, she was clearly concerned. "Don't force yourself."
"I'll be fine, Yang," she said. "Just give me..."
"You know that isn't what I mean," the blonde said, narrowing her eyes. "You've been pushing yourself too hard lately."
The black-haired girl blinked. "W-what? I haven't-"
"Yes, you have. Ever since what happened with Torchwick, you keep looking over your shoulder like your expecting something bad is going to happen."
"Th-that's not..."
"Bullshit it isn't. You're being paranoid about this..."
The Faunus bit her lip. "Look, l-let's just go..."
Yang wanted to press the matter further, but she knew it would be pointless. Ever since what happened back at the docks, her friend had become distant. She even noticed that she was beginning to develop bags underneath her eyes. Ruby and that monkey Faunus had told her that the White Fang were there, and that Blake was disturbed...but did the idea of them working with a mobster like Roman Torchwick worry her that much?
For now, she put the matter on the back burner...but the conversation was not going to be forgotten.
"...Project Freelancer?" Ozpin repeated, a curious look on his face. "Hm, interesting...I've never heard of that project before."
"Neither have I," Krimzen said as he adjusted his spectacles. "From what I glimpsed into, it appeared to be some sort of military project. A man calling himself the Director referred to Mr. Arc as Agent Maine. From what I saw, it appeared that Mr. Arc had completed some sort of mission, but lacked any memories. I took another dive, but not too deep...if my guess is right, Oz, whatever happened in that boy's life must have caused some sort of mental block."
Glynda raised an eyebrow. "Mental block?" she asked. "You mean...he's subconsciously repressing his memories?"
"Not intentionally...it's more like there's something keeping them blocked. What it is, I can't say." A sigh escaped him. "I have met many troublesome patients, but he is truly the greatest headache in my career."
That may be...but I still trust that you would be able to get to the bottom of this matter." Ozpin reassured.
The old man smiled. "I'll do my best," he said.
The door to the infirmary then opened, revealing a group of seven students. "What are you all doing here?" Glynda asked sternly, narrowing her eyes at them. "You should all be at your dorms, resting."
"Sorry Miss Goodwitch..." Ruby apologized. "But we all really wanted to see Jaune again."
"How is he?" Pyrrha asked, clearly worried. "He's not...badly hurt, is he?"
Ozpin smiled wryly. "I believe that question is the one I should be asking all of you, given your injuries," he said before answering her. "Regarding Mr. Arc's condition, he's stable. A few minor ones, but nothing too serious...except for the fact that he will never be able to speak." Instantly, their faces fell into horror. "According to Krim's diagnosis, the scar you saw on his neck was caused by nine point blank bullet wounds."
Their expressions became even more horrified. Nine point blank bullet wounds? How was he even alive?! "How is that even possible?!" Weiss cried, saying what they were thinking. "His Aura should have protected him, and even if it hadn't, it would have healed those wounds over time!"
"That is the problem..." Dr. Reed replied solemnly. "Somehow...his Aura is dormant once more."
Pyrrha frowned. "Dormant? Is that even possible?"
"Theoretically, yes. Aura can be locked down, but only if one is exposed to extreme, and quite unsafe if I might add, more dangerous levels of stress, anxiety, and most importantly, near death. Most of his memories are being suppressed, so I can't say what caused his Aura to become dormant." Dr. Reed then gave a worn smile. "Although...something tells me his memories are why you're here and not resting like your supposed to."
"Well...yeah...we wanted to confirm something ourselves."
Glynda frowned. "Then I'm afraid that it will have to wait. You are to return your dorms, immediately."
"Oh, come now, Glynda," Ozpin placated. "Let them say what they have to say." The blonde teacher turned to face him with large eyes, clearly shocked that he was willing to let them do as they pleased. He seemed to have a habit of doing that, if only for those he favored. "After all, Mr. Arc has been gone for two months, and the situation made it appear as if he had died on that mission. It's only fair of them to want to know of what became of him in those two months."
"Sir, with all due respect-"
"It's fine, Glynda," he told her. He then looked at Dr. Reed. "Well, Krim? Any chance they can see what happened?"
"It is possible...given we have the necessary equipment." The doctor replied.
"I'll have the staff bring it up," he said. "Now, in the meantime...let's discuss what exactly happened at the Forever Fall forest, shall we?"
After a month of resting, the teen, Maine, was allowed to leave after all of his examinations were complete. There was nothing wrong with him physically, though mentally, he was still suffering. He still couldn't remember anything, though the Counselor told him that it would take time. For now, he should focus on the present. Not long after he left the medical ward, the Director had brought him to a room and gave him his own personal armor. It was a pristine white, although a bit bulky. After he suited up, the Director dragged him away, saying that it was time to meet the rest of the members.
"Project Freelancer is a secret project," the Director told him. "Outside of the highest ranking military personnel in the UNSC, no one knows about our existence. After your brave act out in the field, it was decided that you would be apart of this project. To date, you are our 46th addition."
Maine's jaw slackened. "46th?" he asked. "There are only that many people in the project?"
"As I said, Agent Maine, it is a secret project," the Director stated again. "And you're going to meet the rest of the Freelancers. I will expect of you what I expect from the rest of my agents. Do we understand that?"
"Yes sir. Understood." The soldier nodded.
"Good." The man nodded curtly. At the end of the long corridor was a door, which Maine assumed led to where the other members of Project Freelancer were. The two stopped in front of it, and the Director looked at Maine. "After this, Agent Maine...there's no going back for you. Do you understand that?"
"...perfectly."
The man smiled thinly, and then the door opened, letting them step inside. The room was spacious, and obviously some sort of command center. The interior leading to the door itself was a small space, with the walls being nothing but monitors and consoles, though further on, the walls spread out, and were replaced by glass windows that revealed only the black void where the Mother of Invention drifted through, guided by the twinkling stars that made the sight so beautiful. At that space was a circular platform, no doubt where the Director would stand during operations, giving out orders and receiving new information. The monitors surrounded a large console that sat in the middle of the interior, which showed various different schematics.
Maine took notice of the various individuals that were inside this room, though only a few wore different colored armor, rather than the plain white ones he had been seeing walking around the ship. There were six of them, two of which wore purple armor with green highlights. They appeared to be twins, with blondish silver hair, and very good looks. The female looked antsy, and maybe a bit aggressive, while the male looked more laidback and casual. The third wore light brown armor, his hair was slicked back somewhat and had a more easygoing aura around him, evident by the smile he had on his face. The fourth wore black armor, though it had bright yellow highlights. He looked to be in his late twenties, with slight stubble on his chin, light brown eyes, and dark gray hair that was unevenly cut, giving him a roguish look. The fifth wore pristine white armor, different from the other white soldiers, and wore a helmet. He was sitting down, with a rifle leaning on his shoulder.
The sixth, however, took his breath away, as he stared at her with large eyes, his mouth turning dry. He had no idea why, but he felt like he should've recognized her. Fiery red hair tied up in a pony tail and bright green eyes.
"I see your all accounted for," the Director said sternly. "All except for Florida, I see."
"Yeah, but you know how he is..." The brunette commented with a shrug.
The man in purple armor chuckled. "Yeah, he can be a bit...you know," he said before noticing Maine. "He the rookie?"
"That is correct, North Dakota," the Director said. "This is Agent Maine. As of today, he will be joining Project Freelancer."
The woman in blue armor gave Maine a look, specifically focusing on his face. Then, she frowned in disapproval. "Sir, with all due respect...are you sure its okay for a kid to be joining this project?" he asked. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning your choices, but...this isn't exactly the best environment for kids."
"He may be young, but Agent Maine here has shown exceptional ability in the field." The Director answered.
The man in white armor chuckled. "Well, if he's got the skill, he's more than welcome," he said. Maine immediately noted the strange accent in his voice. "Good day, Agent Maine. Wyoming, at your service."
"Er...hi."
"He's British," the man in purple armor said with a grin. "Case you didn't know. Name's North Dakota, and the angry lady next to me is my sister, South."
"Hey!" South Dakota growled. "Who are you calling an angry lady?!"
"Just sayin, sis."
The man in black armor sighed, shaking his head before turning back to Maine. "Well...for what it's worth, welcome to Freelancer," he said before smiling. "I'm Agent Washington. I joined a couple of months ago. Nice to see another new face here."
"And I'm York," the man in brown armor introduced with a smirk. "Nice to meet ya, Rookie."
"Likewise..." The new recruit nodded in kind. He then turned to face the remaining soldier in the room, who was giving him a scrutinizing look. He couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated, though he stood his ground. The red-haired woman folded her arms, staring back at his red eyes. Eventually, she scoffed. "Whatever," she said before introducing herself. "I'm Agent Carolina." She paused, then glared. "Try not to screw up early on, alright rookie?"
"Sorry I'm late, everybody!" a voice called out from behind the Director and Maine. The two turned to see a man dressed in dark blue armor. His armor was far more light, and only seemed to cover less of his body, revealing a dark bodysuit. Slung over his right shoulder and across his chest was an ammo strap, with each pocket filled with one bullet. "I had to speak with Mr. Hendrickson about the status on the weapons project."
"And?" the Director asked, curious. "What did he say?"
"Should be ready in a few weeks, give or take," he said, shrugging before turning to Maine. "Oh! You must be the new rookie! Wow, your younger than I thought you'd be!" He offered a hand in greeting. "I'm Agent Florida, and I'm pleased as punch to meet you, Maine!"
"S-Same here..." Maine accepted his hand and shook it firmly, surprised by the lax behavior from the veteran soldier.
"Good, now your all here. Now we can begin."
"Begin?" York questioned. Then his eyes. "Whoa, wait...are you saying..."
"...a TV?" Nora questioned, staring at the large screen that sat next to Dr. Reed. "I thought we were gonna find out what happened to Jaune, not watch something on the tube?"
Dr. Reed laughed. "It's not a television set, dear girl," he said. "Rather, this is a holographic device."
"Holograph?" Ruby asked. Immediately, stars lit in her eyes. "Oooooooh, I know those! They're used in Atlas and Shade Academy for simulation battles!"
"Correct, Miss Rose..." The Doctor nodded. "Rather than simply explaining to you all what I've seen through my semblance...I believe it would be more appropriate to show you what happened to Mr. Arc."
"So, basically..." Ren said. "We'll witness what happened in his life."
"Correct," Dr. Reed nodded again. "However...I should warn you in advance. It appears that Mr. Arc's memories have been...damaged, in a word. Up to a certain point, everything is static. Thus, I can only show you the middle of his memories, not the beginning."
Pyrrha nodded. "That's fine," she said before her eyes fell on Jaune. Her green eyes fell into sadness. "All we want to know...is how he became like this."
"Of course, Miss Nikos...whenever your ready."
She looked to the ground. Everyone gave a nod. She then turned back to Dr. Reed, giving him the okay. The old man moved over to Jaune, and gently placed his hand over his temple. His other hand then moved to the monitor. He took a deep breath, and let out a calming exhale. Soon, a green glow began to emanate from his body, extending to both Jaune and the monitor. The black screen fired up, glowing vibrant teal. The machine hummed. The glow from the screen grew brighter. Eventually, it came to the point where it consumed the room, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the light faded...they were treated to quite the sight.
"For fuck's sake, Wyoming, will you stop with the knock knock jokes?!"
While Maine was busy holding in his lunch, hanging near the trash can that was conveniently placed inside, York was quickly becoming annoyed with Wyoming's jokes. His helmet was gone, revealing a face befitting that of a gentleman, and matching his accent, along with a mustache that oddly seemed familiar, covering the upper lip and curling around.
"Knock knock," the mustached man said with a smirk, earning another groan from the brunette.
Florida answered, "Who's there?"
"ENOUGH!" South snapped. "I swear, Wyoming, if you answer that, I will ram a sniper rifle so far up your ass the barrel will pop out through your mouth!"
"...what did I tell you, kid?" North chuckled, standing next to the currently ill Maine, one hand over his mouth and one arm over his stomach. "Fun guys, am I right?"
Maine chuckled nervously. "Y-yeah...I guess?"
"Geez, you don't have to act so stiff all the time. Just relax. You're with friends here." The man said reassuringly.
"Alright, enough chit chat." Carolina snapped as she entered the interior. "We're going to reach the drop off zone in two minutes. You know what we're here for. The resistance cell has a base here, and we're taking it out. South, Washington, Wyoming, your with York."
"Got it," the black-armored soldier nodded. He then sighed. "Why'd I get stuck with Wyoming...?"
"North and Florida, your with me," the red-haired woman said before turning at Jaune. "You too, Maine."
Ruby: Wow, she looks like Pyrrha!
Yang: Yeah, she does, doesn't she? You think she's her long lost sister?
Weiss: Who are these people? All of their armors are different...and where are they from? They don't look like their from Atlas.
Ren: Special Operations, maybe?
Weiss: I don't know. Winter would know more, I'd think.
Nora: Oooh...the white guy has an awesome mustache! It's like Professor Poop's!
Pyrrha: You mean Professor Port, Nora.
Maine let out a nod before he resumed trying to keep the contents of his stomach coming out from greeting him. Ever since the damned thing started moving, he felt sick to his stomach. He wished he could have remembered about having problems like this. It only got worse when the Pelican began to shake violently due to turblance. He let out another groan, clasping his mouth over his hand.
"You okay, Maine?" the blue soldier asked. "You look ready to hurl."
"I, uh...don't think I'm good with flying."
"Ah, I see. Motion sickness..." Florida nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, it's a more common problem than people realize. No need to fret, I'll grab you some carbonated soda to settle your churning stomach."
Maine let out a grateful nod, and after calming himself a bit, he slipped on his helmet, then followed Florida over near the end of the chamber. The doors swung open, allowing for a view that would make any sane person question what the hell they had gotten themselves into. They must have been several thousand feet in the air, with a blue sea sitting below them, covered partially by white streams of clouds. A small dot lay in the center, likely where their objective was.
Carolina stood at the head of the group. "Alright people, let's move!" Without another word, she jumped out of the carrier. Following her was York, who grinned and winked at the Freelancers before falling backwards. Wyoming said nothing, instead leaping out with a jump. Florida followed soon after, only jumping out with a bit more flare, performing a spinning somersault. The twins looked at one another, and then jumped out in sync.
Maine gulped. "...too high," he muttered. "Too damn high."
"Yeah," Washington laughed. Nervously, he might add. Obviously, even he was scared about jumping from this height. "It is, isn't it?" He fashioned his helmet on, made sure everything was in order, then patted the teen on the shoulder. "Well, kid...let's face our fears." Maine nodded, and braced himself. "On three. One, two..."
He gulped.
"THREE!"
Then they jumped. The Pelican flew out straight, letting their bodies hanging for a few seconds before they began falling through the air rapidly. The blonde couldn't help but panic slightly, wailing about as his body spun around in different directions.
Ruby: WHAAAAA! OH GOD OH GOD WE'RE GONNA DIE!
Weiss: Calm down you dolt! This isn't actually happening right now! It's just Maine's memories!
Yang: Still terrifying if you ask me! ...though you gotta admit, these people have style!
Weiss: Of course you'd think that!
Nora: Look Ren! We're standing in mid-air!
Ren: ...I'm more concerned about Jaune at the moment.
He managed to correct himself, but his heart was thumping. Soon, he joined his comrades, though he wasn't sure if he was screaming or not. He was too freaking terrified, and the roaring wind didn't help at all.
"YAAAAAHOOOOOOO!"
Maine stared at Florida like he was a madman. Was he seriously whooping?! "ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ENJOYING THIS?!"
"HE ALWAYS DOES THIS!" South Dakota shouted over the roaring wind. "EYES UP ROOKIE! WE'RE LANDING IN TEN! USE YOUR JETPACK!"
"AND MAKE SURE IT'S SET STRAIGHT!" York added. "EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN SPACE, KEEP IT ON STRAIGHT! UNLESS YOU WANT TO END UP LIKE GEORGIA!"
"WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGIA?!"
"NOBODY KNOWS!" South shouted back. "THEY NEVER FOUND HIM!"
"WAIT, WHAT?!"
"JUST GET READY!" North advised as they were getting closer to the ground.
'Distance to impact, three meters,' a synthesized voice said inside of Jaune's helmet. 'Initiating Jet system.'
"JET SYSTEMS?!" Maine questioned over the roar of rushing air. His jet pack then sparked to life as the propulsion forced him upward. He nearly spiraled into a forward summersault, left hanging in the air. The others' jet packs activated, leaving them suspended.
"This is your first time using a jet pack, isn't it rookie?" South snarked.
"Y-yes!" Maine commented, trying to keep himself in balance. It looked harder than it looked, and he was absolutely terrified. For a moment, he was worried the thing would fail, and he would plummet to his death. "Oh god...oh god, okay...your safe, Maine, your safe."
"Stay frosty kid." York advised as he floated over to the teen. "This is the easy part. Next comes the fun part."
"Fun...part?" For some reason, Maine didn't really like the sound of that.
Wyoming chuckled. "Knock knock."
Weiss: Ugh...why do I sense a Yang moment coming?
"Uh...who?"
"Drop."
"Drop who?"
"Drop into the enemy base in a free fall."
"...Wait, what?"
'Mission Initiative Time, reached,' the synthesized voice in his head spoke again. 'Now deactivating jetpack systems.'
Maine's heart dropped. "...oh no." Then, as one, all of the jet packs ceased to function. The Freelancers were left hanging in the air...
...and then promptly began to fall.
"OOOOOOOH SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!"
"SON OF A BIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH!" Washington cried in tandem as the two newest recruits flailed in the air in a free fall.
The others, however, fell through the sky with style. Carolina tucked her arms to her sides, and placed her feet together, thus fell faster than the others, and in a nosedive. York had his arms and legs spread out, falling while learning forward. Wyoming fell with his back facing the group. Florida seemed to do the same, though his posture made it seem like he was napping. North and South took to Carolina's approach, falling in a nosedive with their arms at their sides and legs straight.
Yang: ...okay, now I'm starting to think that Maine is Jaune, if only because he's acting like how he did at Initiation.
Blake: Yeah, hard to forget him pinned to a tree because of Pyrrha.
Yang: Oh yeah! Almost forgot about that!
Ren: Unfortunately, I don't think anyone is going to help him stop at this rate.
The ground was fast approaching, and Maine and Washington had yet to stabilize themselves.
"We're coming in hot!" York shouted. "Hey! Wyoming! You brought that thing with you, right?!"
The white-armored soldier smirked underneath his helmet, and whirled around. He whipped out a purple rifle. The make was foreign, not resembling any sort of weaponry used by the military. At the back of the weapon was a large green chamber, filled with some kind of fluid. With a pull of the trigger, a greet blast shot forward. It sped past Carolina, and struck their intended target; a landing platform. The structure seemed to be some kind of military base standing in the middle of the ocean, supported by several steel beams sinking down into the ocean depths. The facility wasn't large, but it had several large buildings and machinery scattered around.
Once the blast struck the ground, it seemed to explode, leaving behind a green gas that lingered. However, the gas also seemed to be some sort of liquid, flowing and dancing around.
Nora: Ooooooh, green goo!
Blake: I'm curious as to why they did that.
Ruby: Well, maybe it's some kind of goo that turns into a cushion or something?
Maine was panicking. Oh god oh god ooooh god he was gonna die! He was either gonna sink to rock bottom and die of drowning or of suffocation, or he was gonna die being flattened to death by hitting the ground! This was bad!
Carolina hit the ground first. As soon as her form made contact with the green goo, her body nearly ceased all movement. She slowly fell to the ground, flipping her body around so that she would touch the pad feet first. Others followed, their bodies also slowing down and landing on their feet.
The two rookies were the last to touch the goo. Almost immediately, Maine felt his body slow down to a crawl. The transition in speed was sudden, but he didn't feel any jerking motions of slowing down so quickly from the free fall. At first, it felt like he just dove into a pool, and the water inside the pool was thickening to the point of gelatin. Slowly, he touched the ground flat on his body.
Washington landed on all fours. After a few seconds, the goo seemed to evaporate, almost into green mist. As it did, Maine found his voice again, which was sore from all of that screaming when he was flying through the air. "I feel sick..."
"You and me both," Washington groaned. "Remind me again...why couldn't we have just dropped down here like we usually do instead of this?"
York chuckled. "Ah, rookies," he said nostalgically. "I almost forgot. First time doing this for you too, huh Wash?"
"Washington I get," South snorted. "But we sure Maine's legit? So far, he hasn't done anything impressive."
Yang: What. A. Bitch.
Weiss: Well can you blame her? We haven't exactly seen anything worthwhile from the soldier.
"Hey, c'mon.' North nudged her. "If the Director recruited him, then he must've done something to catch his attention. It was the same with us too, remember?"
"Eh, true...still think he's a wimp."
Carolina turned and gave the woman a glare. "If you've got time to run your mouth, South," she snapped. "Then you've got time to move. You know the objective. Take out the military force in the base, take the data from the control room, and leave."
"We know the drill, Carolina," Florida said. "Although, for clarification...when you say military force, which do you mean? The soldiers, the civilians, or both?"
Carolina was silent. "...when I say military force, I mean MILITARY. That goes for the scientists working here as well."
Pyrrha: Wait, what?!
Ruby: Why would she target the scientists too? Wouldn't they just have to attack the soldiers?
Weiss: Unfortunately, the scientists are part of the military, so they are also fair game.
Blake: I...can actually understand that. Doesn't mean its right.
Maine and Washington got to their feet, still groaning. Their stomachs were starting to settle, but the unpleasant feeling of something rising up their throats were still there. Still, Maine couldn't help but feel that the situation was oddly familiar to him. He wasn't sure why, though. Perhaps he had undergone something like this before? "O-okay," the black-armored soldier said weakly. "Which team handles the data mining?"
"That'd be me," York said, chuckling. "Carolina's team will take down the major facilities. We're blowing this place sky high."
"So, we're setting explosives to the vital parts of the compound?" Maine questioned.
Carolina nodded. "More or less," she answered. "The primary targets are weapon manufacturing facilities. This base is used to build and mass produce weapons for the Resistance. We take out this place, we can hit 'em. HARD."
"R-Right!" Maine nodded as he pulled himself together. This was his first mission with them...he couldn't screw up. With that said, the group moved out. Maine, North, and Florida followed Carolina while York and the remaining others branched off from them. So...will all our assignments be like this?" Maine chose to ask his team mates."
"Sometimes." Florida answered. "It all depends on the specific objective."
"In this case," North supplied. "Take down guys inside of labs, and pretty much anyone who has a gun aimed at you."
"Oh...O-okay..." Maine replied uneasily.
"Hey, don't worry so much, Rookie!" the purple-armored man said, grinning underneath his helmet. "Just stick to the plan, and everything will be fine."
"Right...the plan...got it..." Maine couldn't help but feel like there was something seriously wrong here. Killing people? He was a soldier, so the idea should actually be easy for him...yet he felt his hands start to shake. Why? Why was this troubling him so much? Was it because they had orders to kill people? Or...was it something else? He wasn't sure what it was...but something that Carolina said disturbed him.
What did she mean by 'scientists?'
"North," the red-haired woman called. "How many are here?"
The man stopped, and placed his hand against his helmet. He moved his head slowly, as if peering out at something, scanning the area despite them being inside a corridor. "...I count thirty. Six up top, ten on our level. Most of them look like they're in the same spot in a room to the left side of here, and I count maybe 12 or 13 people to the far right."
Ruby: Wait, how'd he know that?
Weiss: Probably thermal scanners. It's actually a common tool in the military. It lets you track heat signatures.
Ruby: Really? That's so cool!
"Alright..." Carolina said. "We'll split up and take out each group. Florida, you get the ten on this level. North, you take the group to the far right. Maine, you take down the six. I'll take care of the rest."
Maine blinked. Wait, what? She wanted North to take down over ten guys? Sure, he was more experienced...but that seemed like an awful lot of soldiers. Florida had the same. And Carolina wanted to take down the remaining soldiers? "Um...okay."
"Good," she responded. "Alright, F.I.L.S.S, give me a schematic for the place, and all the routes we can take."
Yang: Filas? The heck is that?
Weiss: It's probably an AI. Atlas uses them all the time in the military.
"Affirmative." A Feminine, robotic voice resounded in the soldier's helmets. The images on their visors changed to accommodate for the calculated map data.
Maine looked at the map. The facility's interior wasn't all that complex, though some of the rooms were abnormally huge. He also took notice that the room where six of the hostiles were in had large cylinders, no doubt one of the labs that the teal-armored veteran had mentioned. He took out the shotgun strapped to his back, and gave it a quick inspection. He made sure everything was working perfectly, and double checked his ammunition. He then took a look at the schematic. The quickest way into the room was through the back entrance, which required him to go through the same room where Florida had to go through. It was the quickest and most efficient.
"Everyone know what their doing?" she asked them. Everyone gave a nod. She then faced forward, and raised her hand, showing a closed fist. "On my mark."
Blake: Ruby, when the fighting starts, I think you should close your eyes.
Ruby: What? Why?
Blake: Have you ever seen people actually kill each other? And not in movies, but in actual combat?
Ruby: U-um...
Blake: This isn't the sort of stuff you need to see.
Yang: Yeah...just tune it out when the gunfight starts, okay sis?
Ruby: O-okay...
The group waited on baited breath. Their grips on their weapons tensed, their bodies pulsating and ready to go. Carolina opened her palm, and flicked it. Then they were on the move. Carolina and North went in the same direction, while Maine followed Florida, trailing from behind. They turned the corner as they branched away from their teammates, heading up the staircase found in the same path. Their boots pounded against the metal, echoing slightly. Soon, they reached the top floor. Out past the top of the staircase was an open entrance into what Maine assumed was another hallway, though Florida stopped, quickly moving into one of the corners. The blonde teen quickly bent down, using the staircase as cover.
Passing through were two soldiers, dressed in gray armor, and carrying standard UNSC rifles.
"Hey..." Soldier 1 asked.
"Yeah?" The other responded.
"You ever wonder why we're here?"
"Uh..." Soldier 2 cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you know we're supposed to be fighting against corruption and all that, right?"
"Yeah, and?"
"Well...why are we sitting around here? I mean, really, the top guns hired us to protect this facility, but whats the point? I mean, why'd we get stuck with this job?
"I don't know. Why?"
"I mean, why are we here in a facility when we could be out fighting on the front lines? I mean, nothing ever happens here! No attacks, no explosions, nothing. Day in and day out...complete mundane boredom."
"So...you're saying that you'd prefer getting into a battle where there is a high possibility of death, over a mundane patrol job?"
"Yes!"
"...alright, your funeral," Soldier 2 shrugged. "As for me, I like the peace and quiet...though I hate it whenever that asshole from command shows up. You know, the one with the bigass flamethrower?"
"You mean Sharkface?"
"The last time asshole came here, it was during that BBQ we had. Remember that? Supposed to be like a celebration."
"Yeeeaaaah...?"
"He burned down the whole thing! We were supposed to use the grill! Not the fucking flamethrower! He nearly burned down the facility! Who the hell does that?! Dammit, I lost my bunk and stash thanks to him!"
"Wait, THAT'S what your pissed about?"
Weiss: What?!
Pyrrha: ...is it possible that this 'Sharkface' is related to Nora? I vividly recall her mentioning doing something like that in the past.
Ren: She nearly did.
Florida looked over to Maine. He nodded, and readied himself The blue soldier held up a hand, holding up three fingers. He slowly began counting down.
Three. Two. One.
Mission start.
Florida popped out and aimed his rifle at the second soldier before pulling the trigger. Maine followed up and fired his shotgun at the other one.
*bang bang bang bang*
*BANG*
The first soldier was pumped full of bullets before he even had a chance to register what was happening. His body crashed against the wall, pumped full of holes before slumping to the floor, limp as a noodle. The shotgun shell blasted straight through the second soldier's chest, knocking him off of his feet and sending him against the wall. He gasped, blood gushing from his mouth before he slowly fell to the floor, his head rolling to the side.
He didn't get back up.
"They probably heard that, so let's get moving," Florida said as they quickly moved into the hallway. "You good to go, rookie?"
Maine nodded, though his eyes fell on the soldiers. He felt bile rise up from the back of his throat, but pushed it down. "...y-yes, sir."
This was no time for revulsion and shock. He had a mission to complete. He was a soldier, and he will not fail his squad and superiors. No matter how uncomfortable he felt about this.
That didn't mean the sight didn't sicken him.
Nevertheless, he had to suppress those feelings and continue with the mission. With that said, the two parted ways.
Weiss: See?! There's no way it's Jaune!
Yang: I dunno...something seemed off when he looked at the bodies.
Blake: I agree. It was as if he was disgusted and scared by the thought of killing.
Maine ran through the corridor, eventually reaching a corner. He skidded to a stop, and took cover behind it. Slowly, he peeked his head around it, searching for hostiles. He received readings on his screen, approximately six heat signatures within the room. He found no guards stationed outside the door, which was only a few feet away from him. He tapped the side of his helmet, and gave a quick look around the area. Based on what he saw, there were only two soldiers in that room, as their outline had a small protrusion around their side, no doubt the rifle. One was right next to the door, and the other was directly in front of it with his back turned. He took a deep breath, and stepped out, moving towards the room. He had to make this quick, and efficient. If he could take them down in less than three seconds, the chances of success would be influential. That and it would also lower the chances of being discovered by more troops, allowing him and the rest of his squad to complete the mission without unnecessary interference.
So without another thought, he opened the door and went in.
"Whoa, what the?!" he heard the nearest soldier cry right next to him. "Who the fuck are-?!"
*BANG*The soldier was silent as he received a shotgun blast to the face. He crumpled in a dead heap.
"Wh-what the?!" the other soldier was also silenced. Before he even had a chance to bring up his gun, Maine rushed up, tore the weapons out of his hand, and knocked him to the floor. He slammed his foot down on the chest, pinning him to the floor, and aimed his shotgun to his helmet. The soldier stared at him with eyes, wide with fear.
*BANG*
Then his face became unrecognizable from the shot. Maine once again felt the urge to vomit, his hands twitching violently. Even though this was his handiwork, it was still so...sickening. God, how could they deal with this? How did Carolina and the others handle this? Did the just...push it to the back of their minds to forget about it? He tried to push those thoughts down, and instead turned his attention to the remaining for individuals in the lab. They were dressed in lab coats, all wearing latex gloves and white coats. As soon as the gunshots echoed through the room with a deafening boom, they had backed away with their hands in the air.
"D-don't shoot!" one of them begged. "P-please! We're unarmed!"
Maine kept his gun up, just in case. "Command, I'm here at the lab facility," he reported on the specified frequency. "Targets are neutralized."
"Good," the Director said. "And what of the scientists?"
"All civilians present and accounted for," he replied. "Carolina and the others are handling their own targets, sir."
There was a pregnant pause, added with a disturbing silence. "...I see. Agent Maine, I do believe your orders were to eliminate any and all military personnel inside that facility. Including the civilians."
Maine choked. "W-what?!" They wanted him...to kill the civilians?! But they didn't have a part in this battle! "B-but sir-!"
"No buts Agent." The Director snapped.
Yang: Dude, the hell?!
Blake: he's forcing him to kill civilians?!
"Sir, with all do respect!" Maine tried to reason with his superior. "These people have nothing to do with this!"
"They are working with the Resistance, Agent Maine," the Director replied with a cold voice. The tone sent shivers down his spine. "Regardless of whether or not they are innocent, they are our enemies."
"B-But I can't-"
"This is an order, Agent Maine. SHOOT. THEM. NOW."
"But-!"
"This is an ORDER, son," the Director hissed. "I don't care if you don't like the idea of killing soldiers, this is war. You WILL follow your orders."
Pyrrha: N-no! That's horrible!
Ren: I can't believe he's making him kill them.
Nora: You stupid meanie! Don't tell Jaune what to do!
Yang: Yeah you jackass! Stop forcing him to kill innocent people!
Weiss: He can't hear us, remember? This is...a memory.
"I-I...I..."
"Please!" one of the civilians begged. "I have a wife and daughter at home! I-I won't say anything, just please! Don't kill me!"
"I...I-I..." His shotgun was trembling.
"I will not repeat myself again, Agent Maine..." The Director repeated coldly. "We are at war and we cannot show the enemy any mercy!"
"Don't kill us! Please!"
The screams and shouts and pleads ringed in his ears. The shotgun was heavy in his hands. The weight was almost unbearable. He looked at the people in front of him, seeing their faces. Horror. Fear. Tears running down their faces. The world fell silent to him. He heard nothing. Not their screams, nor the sounds of battle echoing around him. Time even seemed to slow down to him. Inside his helmet, Maine felt sweat running down his face, his breath hot and smothering him from the enclosed space. His heart was thumping loudly against his chest. He didn't want to do this. It wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. These people were only guilty of helping...so why? Why did they have to die?
'Because it's war.'
The thought had made him grit his teeth. Those three words echoed in his mind, as if proving as some sort of clarity. War...he knew nothing of the experience, but he knew what it meant. What it entailed. He wanted no part of it...yet he knew it was useless. After all, he was already a foot deep in it now. He knew, in the future, that he would be in an ocean of blood. A future that he had chosen, willingly, to walk into. He had walked into it the day he had been thrusted into Project Freelancer, a choice that was not done by his free will. He was forced into it...because that was what it meant; being a soldier, you would step forward into hell, whether you wanted to or not.
And now...he sat in hell.
He braced himself for it. The emotion and terror it would bring to him. He raised his gun, aimed right at them, only increasing their panic. "Agent Maine, I will not repeat myself," the Director said. "Eliminate all military personnel inside that base."
Pyrrha: No Jaune! Don't do it!
"...yes, sir," Maine answered, his voice devoid of emotion. Unknown to anyone, sans for those who would witness this memory, underneath the helmet, Jaune Arc was crying, his mouth trembling, and jaw locked into a position that made his mouth hurt, and his teeth threatening to crumble from how hard they were gnashing against each other. "I..."
He squeezed the trigger.
"...I'm so sorry."
*BANG
The first scientist got his head blown off.
*BANG*
The second received a gunshot to the chest.
*BANG*
The third got shot in the throat.
*BANG*
The fourth was shot in the leg, blowing apart his knee as he tried to run away. He fell on the ground in a pained cry, whimpering as blood gushed from his wounded limb. Almost robotically, Maine walked up to the downed scientist, who's cheeks were damp with spilling tears. The soldier swallowed his regret as he pressed the muzzle of his shotgun to the man's temple. Two words escaped his lips.
"...I'm sorry..."
*BANG*
His head was blown completely off, splattering nothing but red liquid and bloody bits of brain matter, flesh, and bone to the floor. Maine stepped away from the carnage he reeked, and the gun hanging limply at his side. He did nothing. Just stare and stare at the bodies. The eerie silence in the room only added to the creepiness to the scene, had anyone seen it. However, after ten minutes had passed, the actions seemed to register in the young soldier, as the gun dropped from his hand. He ripped his helmet from his head, and immediately doubled over. Green vomit spilled out from his mouth like a floodgate, oozing unto the floor and leaving behind a putrid and acrid taste and smell.
After several seconds, he just about emptied all of the contents from his stomach and was now dry heaving. Tears spilled from his eyes as his expression was twisted into one of sheer horror. "Oh god...oh god oh god ohgodohgodohgododgodohgodohgodohgododgodohgodohgodohgododgodohgodohgodohgododgod!" He clutched his head, his ears blocking out the screams and pleads that shouted in his head, the result of his actions. "IkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthemIkilledthem!"
His mind was in a panicked frenzy, his heart was racing and he was not rolling on the ground, slamming it with his forehead.
What did he do...what did he just do...WHAT DID HE FUCKING DO?!
'Someone...anyone...please...if this nightmare...please...WAKE ME UP!'
The memory sequence had ended there. The light faded away, seeping back into the monitor and fading away into black. Everyone in the room could not find it in themselves to speak after what they had just witnessed.
In fact, the girls were shaken up. Ruby's hood was pulled over her head, shielding her eyes away from what she had witnessed, all the while her hands were pressed against her ears. She was trembling, crouching down on the ground while a somber Blake sat next to her, comforting her with her hands on her shoulders, as if to try and cease the trembling. Yang stood there, a hand on her mouth while her eyes were as wide as dinner plates. Her face had lost all color, clearly horrified and unable to believe what she had seen. Weiss had looked vastly disturbed, having chosen to look away from the carnage, but still looked disturbed by what she had seen. Nora was crying, hanging onto a shaken Ren, who held her in his arms. The ginger-haired girl's face was buried in his chest, while his chin rested atop her head, eyes shut.
Pyrrha, however, looked the worst out of them all.
Her expression was one of soul-crushing despair...her eyes empty and hollow as tears cascaded down her cheeks. Unable to support herself any longer, she collapsed onto her knees.
It was...her fault. She knew that, somehow, someway, what she just saw...was all her fault.
Because she couldn't save him.
The mission was done. The data had been retrieved, and all the soldiers were eliminated. The labs were utterly destroyed to ensure that they would never be used again, and the Freelancers were already on their way home. However, Maine had sat away from the rest of the group, holding his helmet in his hands, and staring back at his own reflection. "He looks dead to the world," South rudely commented, hanging back with her arms behind her head. "You'd think this was his first time shooting someone."
"It probably is, South." Her brother frowned at her. "That type of thing leaves that much of an impact."
"Then why the hell is he even here if he never shot anyone before?" She rebutted.
North sighed. "I don't know, and frankly, I don't care," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We don't question who the Director brings in, or why. Fact of the matter is, if he tells us to jump, we don't ask 'how high', we do it."
"He's got a point," York agreed with his friend. "Hell, we really don't know much about each other, mainly because we didn't care about our backgrounds. The only thing that mattered was the mission." He gave a dry laugh. "Isn't that what being a soldier means?"
Washington shook his head. "...just because we're soldiers, doesn't mean we can't be human."
"I know, Wash...but sometimes, we don't have a choice. Right Carolina?"
No response.
"Uh...Carolina?" He looked at the teal-armored woman that he had grown close to, finding her without her helmet and staring at Maine as if she were trying to solve a puzzle. "Hello, earth to redhead?" She ignored him. Instead, she moved past him, and moved over to Maine. "Uh...okay?"
"Don't look now, York," North chuckled. "But I think she's cheating on you."
"Pft. Yeah right. Young guys like him just aren't her type." York chuckled back.
"You never know~" Florida laughed. "Say, actually, now that you mention it...what kind of guy IS Carolina's type? I mean, she's gotta have one if she's in a relationship with THIS guy!"
"Hey!" York shouted, offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Wyoming stroked his mustache, humming in thought. "Hm...perhaps someone who is confident in their skills, both in and out of bed?"
"Fuck you too, Wyoming."
"No thank you...I prefer the company of a lady, not a brute."
Carolina rolled her eyes. 'Men,' she thought, overhearing their conversation. Honestly, a bit of her felt somewhat offended. She made a mental note to punch Wyoming later...though while she wouldn't ever admit it, York wasn't as good in bed as he thought he was. He was a total and utter bedhog, and too much of a pansy to even try anything. Then again, that's what she loved about him. Nice and gentle. She walked up to the emotionally dead blonde sitting away from them, carrying her helmet in her arm. "Hey," she called out, causing Maine to jump. "You okay?"
"I...I don't know..." The rookie shook his head. "It's just...crazy..."
The red-haired woman sat down next to him. "Yeah, the first mission with us tends to leave that impression," she said. "Although...was this really...your first time killing someone?"
Maine shook his head. "I...don't know," he answered truthfully, earning a confused look from her. "After the last mission, I got seriously banged up. I can't really remember anything after I woke up in the med bay. The Counselor said it was because of head trauma, but I don't know." He stared back at his reflection, his red eyes seeming to glare back at him. "Does it...get easier? Killing someone, I mean?"
The female agent stared at him for a moment before sighing. "In all honesty...not really. While you eventually grow numb to the killing, it never makes it any easier. But remember, we don't kill because we want to...we only kill because we have to. If we don't, then other innocent people could be endangered because of the enemy."
"...I still don't like it."
Carolina smiled thinly. "You want the honest truth, Maine? None of us do," She paused, then laughed. "Except maybe South. If you haven't noticed, she's a real bitch...don't tell her I told you that."
"Heh...got it..." Maine smiled thinly, letting out a weak chuckle. While he was still struggling to cope with the killing, he was grateful for his leader trying to help him out.
He still couldn't help the feeling that she seemed familiar to him though.
"These A.I., they all come from somewhere; they are all based on a person. Our Alpha, was no exception. And while the law has many penalties for the atrocities we inflict on others, there are no punishments for the terrors that we inflict on ourselves. So you send your men. They won't find themselves a fight. They'll only find an old man. An old man tired, but satisfied he did his duty. An old man weary from a mind more filled with memory, than it is with hope." -Leonard Church
A/N: Okay...so originally, this chapter, or at least a portion of it, was meant to be the conclusion of chapter 1, but as we worked on it more and more, me and Daemon decided to make it a separate chapter. That's pretty much the only reason this chapter is out so damn fast.
As you can see, thanks to the work of the OC, Krimzen Reed, who I will assure you will only be featured in this arc only, showing them Jaune/Maine's memories. This is meant to act as a sort of character development for both the girls, and for Jaune, showing HOW exactly he came to be as Agent Maine during the events of the Project Feelancer Saga. The italicized portions, for future reference, are the segments being viewed by Team RWBY and NPR. In that sense, it's...also kind of like a reaction fic. Hope that doesn't turn people off. I'm also trying to properly capture their reactions to Jaune's past.
Anyway...bet none of you saw THAT coming. Jaune actually being forced to kill people. You know, that is really one of my pet peeves about RWBY. Don't get me wrong, its an awesome show...but do NONE of these people understand that they are not just dealing with Grimm?! I mean, c'mon! They've even stated in the World of Remnant miniseries that there are assholes in the world who want to make people's lives miserable (yes, I am looking at you, Raven, if what I've heard on the net is to be believed). Grimm are HARDLY the only threat these kids will have to deal with. Your gonna have to deal with people like Roman, the White Fang, maybe even Cinder. Its a fact. The fact that you are training kids to be warriors, but only in the art of dealing with monsters, kinda pisses me off...so yeah, viewing Jaune's memories is also going to serve as a reminder that Grimm are not the only threat here.
Now, with that out of the way...lets go over some stuff.
The Fight with Pyrrha - As one reviewer mentioned, Pyrrha should have had the obvious advantage over Jaune, both before and after she learned who was under that helmet. Her Semblance pretty much makes her almost untouchable if your using metal. However, going back to my pet peeve, these kids are trained to fight monsters, not actual people. True, Pyrrha's had to fight human opponents, but never ones that have tried to kill her, something Maine was trying to do. Also, because this is Jaune, who was familiar with her fighting style, and even though he doesn't have any memories of her YET, he knew how she fought, so he naturally knew, instictively, about her Semblance. His time as a Freelancer gave him an edge over her, if only in combat ability, and his knowledge about her Semblance did help again somewhat as well. Plus, when your fighting the boy you love (seriously Pyrrha, just be honest with yourself instead of doing what you did in Vol. 3), you tend to be hesitant.
Atlas Possibly After Maine's Armor - Ooooooh yeah, this is definitely gonna happen. Especially when Ironwood comes into the picture and becomes overly paranoid about a trained killer in Beacon's halls and proving to be a possible threat. The armor's abilities would definitely catch the interest of the military, and possibly even the Vale council. However, I really doubt they'd be able to reverse engineer most of the stuff on that thing. Sure, they're pretty advanced, but not as advanced as the UNSC, or Project Freelancer, an extreme Black Ops project/organization, for that matter.
Well, I think that's everything. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Later, losers! I'll see you guys next time!
P.S: Review this chapter with the utmost honesty, or I will sic an angry Michael J Caboose on your ass. Or, as one reviewer suggested, an angry Tex. Pick your poison boys!
