Chapter 9

Two more Jedi hopefuls have been discovered, Weiss and Blake. After early personal training by Plo Koon and Shaak Ti. The end of the break came with a food fight between team RWBY and JNPR, with Rosa being knocked out before the battle. At the same time across town, Emerald and Mercury use their Sith powers to kill Tuskon

Fordo looked at his men, nodding at them. He didn't need to say anything. He was taking the man named Ozpin to their ship. One of the only ones that made it through the crash. They were flying out to the forest where Master Maku and his padawan Rosa crashed. When they got there, two Grimm were sniffing the remains. The doors opened of the LAAT, and two quick shots took care of the Grimm. They were dead before they even knew what was happening.

They landed beside the back half of the destroyed ship, and Fordo led Ozpin in. Ozpin had been in there already more than once, but he wondered something that Fordo couldn't tell.

"It's been so long since I've been on a ship like this. Commander, tell me what do you think the odds are of anyone making it out of this?" Ozpin asked.

"The two Jedi must have been saved by the force. There is no other way they could have survived. One clone survived. That was a miracle." Fordo said.

"Yes… I assume so." Ozpin said. He turned back and looked at the ship. Still, so much tech that Ozpin knew Ironwood would want.

"Alright. I think this is enough." Ozpin said. "This site hasn't been touched since we started coming back."

Fordo nodded.

"Commander, I would like you and your men to attend the meeting with General Ironwood later this week. He is excited to meet with the clones, though I have told him relatively little about you." Ozpin said.

"Copy." Fordo said.

Rosa had another dream. Vague and blurry images swam around her mind's eye. She saw a massive arena, black blurs in the stands. She was there alone. No one else that she could recognize.

She raised her hands, and she saw a red light come from them. She felt energy gather into her. The black blurs were gone.

A light appeared before her… then the image faded. She woke up in her bed, looking at her hands. Most of her dream visions were of the past. She didn't know what that was. It was so strange to her. She looked at her teammates, and quickly got a robe on and left her room. She went to the balcony and saw someone else was there. Cyan. He was looking out at the stars.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were using the balcony." Rosa said. Cyan looked at her.

"Ah, Rosa, It's fine." Cyan looked at the emblem on her robes. She reminded herself the emblem was on her chest, so he wasn't trying to undress her.

"I've seen that emblem before…" Cyan said. He sat up and took out a necklace. "This necklace was on the ground. I've been looking for whoever dropped it." Cyan tossed her the necklace, and she caught it. She looked at it and sighed. Relief rolled over her.

"Where did you find it?" She asked.

"On the ground. It must have fallen off when you weren't paying attention." Cyan said, looking back out at the stars.

"Thank you." Rosa bowed to him. She couldn't see the smirk that crossed Cyan's face. She looked out at the stars, feeling a longing for a home she could never return to.

"There's life out there. Life beyond number. Trillions… septillions. Unknown amounts of lives out there, and we're all connected. Isn't it wonderful?" Cyan asked.

"Yes…"

"But in the end… what matters? Look at the Grimm. Dark creatures that kill everything they can. And if there's so much life out there… what makes our lives matter?" Cyan asked.

"You think your life doesn't matter?" Rosa asked, sitting down next to him.

"Of course, it doesn't matter. No one life could matter that much. All we're here to do is live in this god-forsaken world, have kids, and die. But we can't handle even that, and we have determined to go on with the longest suicide letter known to exist. General Ironwood's going to arrive soon. He shows us how little one life matters. Not even the magicians in the woods that could bring about change matter. Only planets matter." Cyan said.

"You're a nihilist." Rosa said.

"We're forced to live on this damn planet fighting and fucking. I want to leave here. I know I could if only we understood how to get off the rock." Cyan looked at Rosa. "What do you think? About this planet I mean."

"It's… cozy." Rosa said.

"Cozy?"

"When you take away the Grimm, and gangsters, and terrorists. But besides that, it's pretty good." Rosa said.

"Is it a world you'd want to raise a kid on?" Cyan asked.

"I doubt I would have a kid." Rosa said.

"Oh, I'm sorry I assumed… though I guess being on your team…" Cyan started

"No, you have the wrong idea. I don't have those kinds of feelings." Rosa said. "So, I don't see a kid in my future."

"Sorry for assuming." Cyan said.

"I just don't get it. Why does everyone care so much about sex?" Rosa asked.

"Um… it feels good. So, pleasure. But also, reproduction… and intimacy. But not everyone who has sex wants kids or wants to be intimate. That's why prostitution is our longest-standing profession." Cyan said.

"What about farmers?" Rosa asked, jokingly.

"Yeah, that's a pretty old one." Cyan said.

"Do you like honey?" Rosa asked.

"That's a weird question. I mean, it's good on stuff, but I don't really go out of my way to eat it." Cyan said.

"But honey's the greatest." Rosa said.

"…"

"It is." Rosa took out her jar of honey and ate a glob of it.

"Did you really come here to eat honey?" Cyan asked.

"…yes." She said quietly.

"I'm going to bed." Cyan said, getting up. "But I'm sure we'll run into each other soon." Cyan left Rosa on the balcony and entered his room, with Emerald and Mercury looking at him.

"Why were you asking her about sex?" Emerald asked.

"If she was straight, I was planning on using that to our advantage. Her power… haven't you felt it?" Cyan asked.

"It's a wonder how the Jedi haven't noticed it." Mercury said. "But then again, they've always been blind."

"Her master has probably been suppressing her emotions. He's got to go when it all goes down." Emerald said.

"And we get another Sith. Good strategy."

The memories of the last fight flashed in his mind. The green blade he held tightly in his hands; the other masters next to his side. His emotional sensory glands felt around the room and for a moment, he felt killing intent. The next second, Palpatine let out a cry, and he jumped forward, killing Saesee Tiin was the first to fall. His defenses were down as he tried to feel for the chancellor's thoughts. The jump and scream made all of them take a step back, and the lightsaber went through the chest of master Tiin. He spun around and decapitated Agen Kolar. In less than the time, it took to breathe two Jedi council masters were dead. Palpatine turned on himself and Master Windu.

His Shii-Cho was able to keep him from the claws of death so many times. Grievous tried to kill him but he survived. He survived Ventress. He survived through the clone war. He survived the arena of Genosis, but here, his Shii-Cho wasn't enough. The moves of the Sith Lord were too fast for him to block. He was giving it his best, but his best barely kept him from losing his head. He wished Obi-Wan was there. But he wasn't. Windu was keeping him safe for as long as he could, but not even the master of the order could defend himself and another forever. He went to strike, feeling the blade hit the puffy shoulder, making a small mark on the Sith Lord, but in return, he felt a burning across his stomach, and he fell.

Kit Fisto, Jedi council master, was taken down so simply. He wasn't dead. They didn't even notice him get up, holding onto his stomach. They were too engaged in their battle. Kit used the force to gather the lightsabers of his fallen Jedi masters. He wouldn't let them fall into the hands of a Sith Lord. He was able to sneak out of the building, avoiding Anakin Skywalker's arrival. Neither knew about the other. Kit sent out a message to the temple telling them to get an evacuation ready. They asked why.

"We failed." The Jedi temple was being emptied when Windu came into the council chamber, finding the wounded Kit.

"Anakin has betrayed us." That was all he could say, then he fainted.

It wasn't long after he and his shuttle got out of Coruscant space when the curfew was instated. Shaak was going in one of the last shuttles, and she took down a traitor temple guard before he could do too much damage, but the temple doors were blown down.

Shaak Ti and a group of Jedi were able to meet up with them on Plo's ship, but soon they were followed. They jumped quickly, nearly breaking the engines. Four jumps. Four dangerous jumps. Then the crash. It took most of the Jedi to keep the ship from tearing in two when they entered orbit.

That was the last thing Kit could remember. He felt the pain in his stomach was gone. He opened his eyes, and saw he was in a Bacta tank, but sensed outwards. They were in an unknown place. He used the force to open the bacta tank, and he stepped out, almost naked. He took a breath, and his chest barely hurt.

"Looks like I survived." Kit said. He saw fresh robes and the three lightsabers on a desk in front of the tanks. He began to dress when Shaak Ti stepped into the room.

"Master Fisto, you've awoken," Shaak said.

"It would seem so." Kit said, cringing at the pain he felt putting the tunic on his chest.

"But even with almost five months in a bacta tank, you still hurt from then." Shaak said.

"I've been in for that long?" Kit asked.

"Yes. There is a lot we need to discuss. Including the new Jedi padawans, we found here. It appears we landed on a planet where you can almost breathe in the living force. And most of the inhabitants have Jedi blood in them." Shaak said. Kit grabbed his lightsaber.

"The other two… they were…"

"Yes. I wasn't going to let the Sith have their hands on the lightsabers. But… I fear Aayla is dead. I… felt her light force disappear at some point." Kit said.

"She will be missed. She was a wonderful Jedi." Shaak Ti said. "And I fear many other Jedi were killed. Order 66 was an order in the head of the clones, an order that made them kill us. The temple was being raided when Vader attacked me. Only the arrival of Battle master Cin Drallig and knights saved me from death. One of his padawans forced me to take the shuttle. The guards kept Vader at bay for a time."

"Vader?" Kit asked.

"Anakin called himself Vader." Shaak explained.

"About these padawans." Kit started.

"Four women. I have taken an interest in training one of them." Shaak explained everything about what happened. Kit stepped back and shook his head.

"So much has happened while I was asleep." Kit said.

Fordo was summoned along with his men to meet with Ozpin. Ozpin was looking out a window at an airship flying through.

"Ironwood certainly loves bringing his work wherever he travels." Goodwitch said.

"Well, running an academy and a military makes him a busy man. But yes, those are a bit of an eyesore." A message popped up on Ozpin's deck, where he stepped to it and answered. "Come in." A hologram of Ironwood appeared with a smile on his face.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." Ironwood said.

"Acknowledged." Ozpin said. The hologram faded, and almost exactly ten minutes later, Ironwood came up the elevator. Fordo was impressed by the punctuality.

"Ozpin!" Ironwood said in a friendly manner. He glanced at the clones, then at Glynda.

"Hello, General." Ozpin said. Ironwood raised his hand.

"Enough with the formality. How have you been Ozpin, and you too Glynda?" Ironwood asked, then he turned to the clones. "Excuse me while I catch up with them. I'd love to get to know you after."

Fordo gave him a salute, then took off his helmet. His men did the same, and Ironwood looked at them all.

"You were right when you said clones." Ironwood said.

"There is one issue that we need to discuss before catching up. Six months ago a ship crashed in here from the republic. In it were blasters, the weapons you see with commander Fordo. I need to know if you took them." Ozpin said.

"Blasters? That's what they're called. I was running the school when one of my trusted teams came back from a crash with that weapon. I thought it was strange, but I didn't realize it was important. I apologize for not bringing the issue up sooner." Ironwood said.

"James… we've been worried for months that you know who got a hold of them." Glynda said.

"If I knew the gravity of my actions, I would have notified you. But I can't stop the production of them anymore." Ironwood said.

"Since they're with you, I'll trust you to not abuse them. But we need to be more careful. You know who and her allies have the blaster pistols. I fear that soon, they will kill one of your people with a blaster rifle and they will have everything they need to arm an army." Ozpin said.

"You're worried about an enemy army?" Ironwood asked.

"You'd be a fool to not be worried about it. Now onto the next topic, why am I seeing an army outside my window?" Ozpin asked.

"Oz, you and I both know why I brought those men." Ironwood said.

"This is the Vytal Festival. The show of force isn't going to be appreciated. Especially amongst the Faunas population. You know how they consider Atlas." Ozpin said.

"I know that the Faunas would have just cause to worry about racial tensions… but I hope to be a part of ending that. We both know that the SDC is suffering the greatest from the dust heists. They've had to lay off thousands of workers. Mines are being closed, and being bought up by a recent start-up, headed by a group of six wealthy individuals, including four Faunas. The New Yoron Dust Company. Jacques is and has always been a problem. I've tried my damnedest to fix the problems he creates. But we come up short. Lawsuits, investigations, and allegations. Nothing can touch him. I don't understand how he can be so untouchable, but I believe he has an ear in the supreme court." Ironwood said.

"Mr. Schnee is a problem for me as well. His daughter, Weiss, has enrolled in this school. But she's not her father… James, what I'm going to say can't get back to Atlas." Ozpin said.

"What is it?" Ironwood asked.

"Promise me this won't get out." Ozpin said.

"I promise you." Ironwood said.

"Weiss Schnee is training to become a Jedi, along with everyone else on her team. The force… is strong with them." Ozpin said.

"That's wonderful news." Ironwood said.

"The Jedi have arrived on Remnant. All of them crashed in Vale, so I have been gathering them. Our enemy has also been acting in Vale predominately." Ozpin said.

"You think there's a connection?" Ironwood asked.

"Most definitely."

"Glynda?" Ironwood turned to Goodwitch.

"I agree with Ozpin in this situation. The attacks are concentrated on us. What little we know about the Sith and the darkness point to them not gathering in one place. But Vale has been a prime target." Glynda said.

"Then I assume my men will be needed." Ironwood said.

"We have a new group of public defenders… but your men along with the clones will be a welcomed sight." Ozpin said. "But professionalism is the top priority."

"My men are always professional." Ironwood guaranteed.

"Commander Fordo, you and Ironwood should talk." Ozpin turned to Fordo and gave him a nod. Fordo nodded back, and he followed Ironwood.

"General, I've been going over all the reports of your battles with the Grimm and raiders. You've been having success pushing them back, but the question is efficiency." Fordo said.

"What do you mean?" Ironwood asked.

"General, my men and I are trained to fight large armies, and small forces alike. In the fourth month of the clone wars, my men and I took out the separatist cannons and leadership with only one gunship's worth of men. Your troops have a lower kill ratio than most shinies."

"Shinies?" Ironwood asked.

"Clones that just graduated Kamino are called shinies because of the shiny white armor." One of the men explained.

"I see." Ironwood said a little deflated.

"Your men are trained for peacetime, instead of fighting large-scale enemies. There is an entire galaxy of hostiles out there, and this planet seems to have an uncanny ability to drag people here." Fordo said.

"Problem with that is I don't have the right permissions to do that." Ironwood said.

"Then train special taskforces. Raiders are only beaten back. They are never wiped out, and they come back to become a problem. The same with the terrorists you have. The terrorist group known as the red sun was responsible for repeated bombings a decade ago in Atlas. Some members joined the white fang, and others created the YRA, Red Dawn, and other terrorist groups. You took out most of the foot troops but failed to kill the heads." Fordo said.

"How do you know?" Ironwood asked.

"You look at the similarities of the groups' actions, and you're able to quickly find the way back to the origin." Fordo said.

"I may need you by my side." Ironwood said.

Weiss stood opposite Yang. Both were given training lightsabers, but before they could start the match, Kit Fisto came to the training field.

"Master Kit Fisto." Rosa said, bowing.

"Hello." He said with a smile on his face.

"Training I see." Kit said.

"Shii-Cho, as you well know." Plo said.

"Yes, Shii-Cho. My preferred style."

Cyan watched as the Jedi practiced the first lightsaber form. The girls were sloppy, but the new Jedi master was amazing at it. He wrote down what he saw.

Team JNPR walked by and saw the training.

"Why do you two have lightsabers?" Nora asked.

"Nora, didn't we tell you?" Ruby asked. Nora shook her head.

"We're all being trained in the Jedi arts."

Nora looked at them all.

"You all have the power?" Nora asked.

"Yes." Blake said.

"How do you know?" She asked.

"We all took a blood test. Then we were awoken to the force." Ruby said.

"We can give you a test if you want. All of you." Maku said, holding a blood test device.

"Ren… come on, you'd be a great jedi! You look like a monk already!" Nora said, pushing Ren forward.

"Why me?" He asked. Kit smiled at them.

"If you don't want to, we won't force you." Kit said.

"No, he's trying." Nora said. Shaak Ti shook her head.

"You're persistent about this. Might you want to try as well?" Plo asked.

"If it will make him try it, then I will." Nora said. "And those two should try as well."

"Alright, we will." Pyrrha said.

So they all stood in front of Maku. He took out the device, cleaned their fingers, and took blood samples from them all.

"Masters, here are three of the readouts. I'll talk to Jaune." Maku said, handing the other masters their readouts. Maku read the readouts. Jaune's surprised him. His count was high. Almost as high as Master Windu. It was amazing no one could sense it.

"Well… damn. Jaune, you have a deep connection to the force." Maku said.

"What?" Jaune said deeply surprised.

Maku felt the eyes of Ozpin on him. Maku felt suspicion about the man. He had wondered about the man. How had he been so able to find so many unawakened Jedi? He may say it was just luck, but something was off about that. No one could be that lucky. No, he was hiding something. Maku needed answers, but he had to turn his attention back to his student. But there was something that he couldn't ignore, involving Blake.

She had thrown herself into training. More than anyone else. She had barely become a Jedi and she had run head long into the fight. It was too much too soon. She hadn't been taking care of her school life, and Oobleck came to him with the concern. Peach as well. Something happened with Blake.

"Well, Jaune, you can train to become a Jedi. What do you say?" Maku said. Jaune looked at him confused.

"Someone like me can be a Jedi?" He asked unconvinced.

"Jaune, in our order's history, we've had people from all over. Those who started out as nothing and risen to the challenges of the day. One of them even rose to lead the Jedi order. Her name was Nomi Sunrider. She was one of the best Jedi our order had ever produced. She survived the Freedon Nadd Uprising, a very bloody conflict, and the great Sith war. Two fallen Jedi lead an army made up of other like-minded Jedi who fell to the dark, and nearly destroyed the order and the galactic republic. Nomi Sunrider lead the Jedi effort against the darkness, suffering great personal tragedies, and eventually was a great hand in ending that war. For the rest of her life, peace remained. It was only after her death that the Mandalorians attacked." Maku explained.

"You're going to have to go into a lot more detail for me… but I'm interested." Jaune said.

After Maku saw the other results, he was convinced that Ozpin was gathering them for some purpose. He had to know that they somehow had special force powers. It was too unlikely that all of them passed. What was Ozpin doing? How was he doing this?

"Alright Jaune. We'll about training you later." Maku looked at his fellow masters and they all shook their heads. They all had the force.

"Ozpin… how?"

Team RRWBY went back to their dorm, and after everyone entered, Weiss closed the door, and looked at Blake.

"Stop! Lately you've been quiet, antisocial and moody!" Weiss narrowed her eyes.

"Uh, have you met Blake?" Yang said.

"Which I get is kind of your thing, but you've been doing it more than usual! Which quite frankly, is unacceptable! You made a promise to me, to all of us, that you would let us know if something was wrong! So, Blake Belladonna, what is wrong!?" Weiss asked, flipping a copy of her emblem in the air.

"I just, I don't understand how everyone can be so calm." Blake said, shaking her head.

"You're still thinking about Torchwick?" Ruby Asked.

"Torchwick, the White Fang, all of it! Something big is happening and no one is doing anything about it! We've received some Jedi training… maybe we can do something." Blake said.

"Blake, none of us are close to being Jedi knights. Toppling an organization like the white fang will take a master." Rosa said.

"Ozpin told us not to worry. Between the police and the Huntsmen, I'm sure they can handle it." Yang said.

"Well I'm not! They don't know the White Fang like I do!" Blake said. Rosa's necklace began to glow slightly, unnoticed by all the girls. The negative emotions rolling off Blake are quietly absorbed slowly by the necklace.

"Okay, between blowing up nightclubs, stopping thieves, and fighting for freedom, I'm sure the four of you think that you're all ready to go out and apprehend these ne'er-do-wells!" Weiss started.

"Uh- what?" Ruby didn't understand.

"But let me once again be the voice of reason. We're students! We're not ready to handle this sort of situation!" Weiss finished.

"And we may never be ready! Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for graduation day. They're out there, somewhere, planning their next move, and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready or not!" Blake said.

"Blake!" Rosa shouted, getting everyone's attention. "Weiss is right. If we're not ready to fight, then all we'll be good for is target practice… or worse. The white fang has no qualms with killing, and they have Sith with them."

"One Sith can't handle five Jedi." Blake said.

"One, we're padawans, not full Jedi yet, two, a powerful Sith can in fact take on five Jedi at once, Three, we have time on our side, and the light side. I'm not saying we can't, but you are being reckless right now." Rosa said.

"So… we just need a plan!" Ruby said.

"Alright… so…" Rosa said. She looked at her teammates, but none of them moved.

"I got an idea, let's get one of the masters!" Ruby said.

"Ruby wai- and she's off." Yang said. They heard a thump some distance away. Yang shook her head and went after her sister.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Ruby asked. Emerald was on the ground, wiping rose petals off her.

"I'm fine, just watch where you're going." Emerald said. Mercury stepped up next to her and looked at the scene.

"Oh, right, sorry. Um, I'm Ruby! Are you new?" Ruby asked. Cyan stepped next to them and smiled at Ruby.

"They're with me. Visiting from Haven." Cyan said.

"Ooh! You're here for the festival! But exchange students have their own dormitory." Ruby said. Cyan started rubbing the back of the neck and smiled.

"I guess we just got turned around." Mercury said.

"Happens all the time. They really should make it easier for guests to tell where they're supposed to go. your building is just east of here." Ruby said.

"Thanks. Maybe we'll run into each other again." Cyan said.

"Yeah, maybe. Welcome to Beacon."

They waved back to Ruby as they left. Ruby remembered what she was going to do originally, and she went to look for the masters. She stopped when she saw Maku.

"Perfect." Ruby said. She ran up to Maku, with the sweetest smile she could make, and addressed Maku.

"Master Maku… can you help us with something." Ruby said. Maku turned back and raised his eyebrow at her.

"What is it?" Maku asked.

"We have a little problem. You know about Blake's past, so you know about the group she used to run with…" Ruby started. Maku put his hand up.

"Ruby, that group is a problem for her. One that she has to overcome. Those emotions take time to heal. But if you want me to topple the organization, then no." Maku said. "If we're talking about having her join my sessions, then yes, she may come. And none of you are strong enough to do anything else but get in the way. We have this under control." Maku said.

"But the white fang is dangerous." Ruby said.

"Which is why you need to avoid it. Ruby, right now you are in a dangerous time in your studies. The dark side is hard to see to those who haven't had to felt it." Maku said. Yang came up to Ruby, taking a few breathes, and put her hand on Ruby's head.

"Sorry master, we were talking… and the idea came up." Yang said.

"It's alright. But it is far too daunting. With the Sith having aligned with the white fang, we can't risk sending any of the padawans." Maku said.

"We understand." Yang said. She dragged Ruby back to the dorms.

Maku went to Ozpin's office. Ozpin turned around to see Maku walking to him. He smiled and offered Maku the chair.

"Hello professor Maku. What's troubling you?" Ozpin asked.

"I believe you know already. Eight students at least of this year just so happen to turn out to be force sensitive. I could believe one. Two is stretching it, but eight? How did you know? It's impossible for you to not have a way of knowing after gathering them all here. They've come from all over the planet." Maku said. Ozpin took a deep breath in.

"My friend, as you said, it is nearly impossible for someone to know without doing a test. You know we don't do blood tests on them. What possible tool could I use to discover if they're force sensitive?" Ozpin asked.

"I don't know." Maku said.

"And what purpose would I have in gathering so many force-sensitive individuals to the school? The Sith would be able to sense them, and they would kill them." Ozpin said.

"I understand professor. But I still have concerns about the children." Maku said.

"And that makes you a good teacher." Ozpin said.

"I wish master Windu were here." Maku said.

"He is healing quite well."

Windu opened his eyes. The fight, then the retreat from the temple. The betrayal of Skywalker. He felt the deaths of so many Jedi through the force. He estimated that half the Temple was able to be evacuated in time. The temple guards were the first ones to attack. Windu saw the battle even though his body was in… the worst shape of his life. He almost died more than once, but he was rescued each time through force healing others gave him. Small quantities, only enough to keep him alive.

But he saw the fighting. The Jedi defenders fought the clone army. Jedi temple guards fought back, but they were killed. The entire Jedi guard was wiped out, giving the clones a fight worthy of the histories.

He saw the destruction of the temple. The pillars being brought down by Skywalker, used to crush Jedi. Master dying in front of their padawans. The padawans got killed shortly after. Windu saw death. The familiar specter that haunted him for so long. He saw it all.

He saw when the Jedi forced his body on board a ship and watched as they met up with the other Jedi that joined Plo. Then he saw their jump to hyperspace. He also saw the planet they stopped over. It was a nexus in the force, and a great enough gravity well that Hyperspace no longer worked. The marvel at the discovery was short-lived as they were falling to the surface of the planet. But he saw no longer until this moment. They were here. That was what he knew, wherever here was. He suspected they were in the outer rim.

Windu had no lightsaber anymore. His blade lay somewhere on the ground in the lower levels. His blade had become another arm. He lost it. It hurt more than losing his hand. It hurt more than the lightning coursing through his body. But what hurt the most was the betrayal of Skywalker.

He closed his fist. Was he the cause of the fall? Could he have stopped this from happening? His shatterpoint was unknown to Windu. Skywalker was a mystery, an unknown. He thought he would have stayed true to his order, but the Sith corrupted him. And it had cost them everything.

Windu put on his clothes and left the room. He saw a familiar pair, two Jedi who had come to them more than once to see him while he was healing.

"Master Maku. Padawan Reidan." Windu said.

"Master, you're up." Maku said.

"I am." Windu said. "And I know we have work to do."

During the next training session all nine of the padawans were training in the force. Jaune had unlocked a rare force ability called battle meditation. The masters were shocked when he used it. Nora was a natural at force augmentation. Pyrrha was a natural at all aspects, and she was quickly rising to where Ruby and Yang were in the force. Her potential was great in the force. Ren was the most subtle of all of them. Maku began training him with Rosa and Blake.

Weiss and Pyrrha were taught by Shaak Ti. Kit trained Jaune. Plo trained Yang and Nora. Windu took Ruby.

"Ruby Rose, I am Mace Windu. Jedi Master. I will take over your training from here." Windu said, with a firm, but kind tone. "I understand that you have the power to see shatterpoints. I too have this ability."

"What's a shatterpoint?" Ruby asked. Mace took out a glass bottle and handed it to her.

"Look through the force, and you will see the point weakest in the object. Even when you weren't awoken, you had a natural ability to spot them in battle, the weak point in your enemy's defenses. I will help you from here." Windu said.

Ironwood looked out at the group of Jedi that came to Beacon. All of them were gathered together. So many padawans. A handful of knights, a few masters. Mace Windu was at the head. His prosthetic arm a gift from him. He didn't know what was going on entirely, but they had discovered a recent lease to what was once a temple for the Jedi. Mace Windu had put up the suggestion of obtaining that building again, but not publicly announcing themselves until after the Vytal Festival. An idea that he agreed with entirely.

"Isn't it wonderful to have the Jedi back? James, I believe this will bring in a new era of peace and justice." Ozpin said. Ironwood looked back at his friend.

"Yes, but we both know that the White fang is planning something." Ironwood said.

"That's why I have asked for a Jedi hunter combined strike team to be sent to find out what's going on." Ozpin said.

"In exchange for the temple?" Ironwood asked.

"A fair trade I say. We give them a permanent home, and we get people who can end the threat of the white fang. On a similar note, have you heard about the SDC losing more money because of mysterious attacks?" Ozpin asked.

"Yes. Jacques is mad that I'm not sending everyone to help him, but his influence on Atlas politics is… slipping." Ironwood said.

"With no doubt everyone else on the council buying the cheap stocks hoping to end the problem. He's nearly had to sell off half the shares he held. He's in danger of losing his seat in his own company." Ozpin said.

"You didn't hear this from me, but someone who had a large share has been buying more under a different name. She's using a puppet company to retake her company, or whatever's left of it. Hell, all the smaller dust companies are closing down too. Atlas is in… a delicate space right now." Ironwood said.

"Then it is good timing that we found the Jedi when we did. I suspect the Sith have some hand in this operation. Salem… she's been gathering force sensitives from all over. Many of the recent disappearances have been because of her. I'm hoping that with so many Jedi gathering in one place will encourage the wandering Jedi that we need to gather our forces. Salem is going to strike soon. I know it." Ozpin said.

"So you have been gathering them. How?" Ironwood asked.

"This school has always attracted those with force potential. They can sense the past of it in a way no one can put words to. A sense of familiarity. I have honed the ability to spot them in a way. That's why I do those interviews. So I can gather the Jedi together, and give them support systems against the Sith." Ozpin said.

"The Sith… how dangerous of a threat are they?" Ironwood asked.

"Very. The campaign against the darkness in secret is the only thing that has kept the Sith from rising." Ozpin said.

"I hope we can keep it that way." Ironwood said.

"I do too."

Author's Notes: Kit and Windu are out. More Jedi, more schemes. More in the next chapter.

A life update, my cat of 14 years passed away recently. And at work I went through an Active Shooter situation. No one at work was harmed, and we're all safe.

There are no reviews this time around.

May the Force be With You

-DragonZlayerX12