Chapter 12
The dance finished without two young padawans. Ruby and Rosa followed after a mysterious figure, who they learned were a Sith. She left a path of destruction in her path, including Jedi…
Ruby and Rosa were summoned to Ozpin's office. They were looking at each other and holding each other's hands.
"It's not going to be that bad." Rosa said, not fully believing it. "We did a good thing."
"Yeah…" Ruby said. They let go of each other's hands, and they took a breath. The door opened, and they stepped out.
"Sorry, it took so long. Someone accidentally hit all the buttons on the elevator on the way up here. It wasn't me!" Ruby said. Ozpin, Ironwood, Glynda, and Master Windu didn't respond.
"Thank you for coming, Ruby. How are you feeling? And you as well Rosa?" Ozpin asked.
"Okay, I guess. I'd feel better if my bad-guy-catching record wasn't O-for-three." Ruby said. Everyone stared at her.
"Okay, so that's the tone we're going for, got it." Ruby said.
"Professor Ozpin, we're doing alright after… that. I'm… used to it." Rosa said.
"It is unfortunate that you've had to be continually exposed to such darkness, but that isn't all. Padawan Reidan, you fought as well as could be expected." Mace said.
"But not well enough." Rosa said, looking at the floor.
"You weren't trained to take on Sith." Ozpin said. Mace shot him a look, but no one else noticed.
"Ruby, Rosa, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Huntress is all about. You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did the very best you could. From what you have told us, the enemy was able to kill three fully trained Jedi. It was not expected for you to win that fight." Ironwood said.
"It doesn't make me feel any better sir." Rosa said.
Goodwitch glanced at the others. Ruby put her hand on Rosa's back. Windu let out a sigh.
"Now, the general here has already informed us of the events that... transpired last night, but now that you've rested, we were wondering if you had anything to add." Ozpin asked.
"Was anyone else with her? Did she look familiar to you at all?" Glynda asked. Rosa shook her head.
"She toyed with us. I could tell she was holding back a lot. I think she was using form V, Shien. But she might have been using Juyo. I think she may have also been trained in form II. She was testing me, and I assume I failed." Rosa said.
"She is an expert at lightsaber combat and stealth. A Sith assassin?" Windu asked.
"I couldn't tell." Rosa said.
"She was wearing a mask. I think her voice was… distorted. She used a flash grenade from Atlas, the make was distinct enough to understand that much. Its kick was powerful enough as well. Rosa and I used the force to keep the shrapnel away. She also used dust in her clothing. She also had a similar frame to the woman we fought that night we met Professor Goodwitch." Ruby said.
"That's a lot of details, but none of them help." Ironwood said.
"One does, that woman using dust in her clothing, and having the same frame as that woman. It may be a coincidence that they have the same shape. She's powerful, both women. But we didn't get a good look at the woman. We know she has a tie to the white fang." Goodwitch said.
"We're still searching for the white fang. Though I now believe I will have to take a leave of the search for some time." Windu said.
"Why's that?" Ozpin asked.
"I need to construct a new lightsaber. This woman killed three Jedi knights. There are other Sith like her on this world. I need to have a lightsaber to fight them." Windu explained.
"What about the lightsabers of the fallen Jedi?" Ironwood asked.
"That's not possible. Besides, it desecrates the memory of the fallen, the crystal won't attune itself to me. The power of the blade will be much weaker than if I find a crystal and construct it myself." Windu explained.
"Did the Sith say anything?" Ozpin asked.
"I… I think she said something about a base in the southeast. Just outside the Kingdom." Ruby said.
"Interesting." Ozpin said with a smirk.
"Isn't that where we crashed?" Mace asked.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ruby. Why don't you go and spend some time with your team? You have a big day ahead of you." Ozpin said.
"Any time." Ruby said, smiling. Rosa bowed. As they were going to the elevator, Ozpin stopped them.
"And Miss Rose, please try and be ... discreet about this matter. You as well Miss Reidan." Ozpin said.
"Yes sir." Ruby said. Rosa bowed again and joined Ruby on the elevator.
"Well, there we have it. We send as many troops as we can to the southeast, find out exactly what's going on, and eradicate any forces that stand in our way." Ironwood said.
"That wouldn't be wise. I'm sure Fordo has explained that has been the problem. You destroy one organization, and the survivors go on to make ten more. It only exacerbates the problem. Just look at the HDC, HDF, and HDA." The Human Defense force separated into three groups after a successful raid in Atlas. Now the Human Defense Coalition, Human Defense Federation, and Human Defense Alliance have risen.
"They're all basically one group." Ironwood said.
"The problem is there are more. They have been recruiting from three of the four kingdoms. All but Vacuo." Glynda said. "And besides that, there are still more terrorist groups rising. In Atlas alone how many have risen recently?"
"More than I'd like to think about. The economic downturn has turned people against one another. Then there are the relations between humans and Faunas. Then you look at Robyn Hill. She, or her people, are starting false rumors about the council." Ironwood said.
"If I remember correctly, her semblance makes her a human lie detector, except she can always find the lies." Ozpin said.
"Which is true. It makes people believe she can't tell lies. But she can." Ironwood said.
"I have served you faithfully for years... but if you mean to tell me that your plan is to really hold the defenses and wait…" Ironwood started. Ozpin jumped out of the chair and slammed his hands on the desk.
"It is not! You're a general, James. So, tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send in first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?"
Ruby and Rosa get back to the dorm, where they're team waited for them.
"How'd it go?" Yang asked.
"It went well enough." Ruby said.
"…It's obvious enough that I'm not strong enough." Rosa said.
Everyone looked at her, then looked at each other.
"Rosa, are you okay?" Weiss asked. Rosa's head shot up with a smile on it, and her eyes closed.
"I'm going to be alright." Rosa said.
"I got something that'll cheer everyone up." Yang said. She held a cylindrical package the length of her forearm.
"What's in it?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know yet." Yang said. She popped open the package and held the contents down towards the ground. Another cylinder, hairy and black, fell out onto the floor and started to shake. The object suddenly transforms into a corgi. Ruby and Yang were excited while Blake, Weiss, and Rosa were confused. Ruby grabbed the dog, showing him off to the others. A wide smile covered her face.
"Zwei!" Ruby shouted.
"Your dad sent a dog…" Weiss started
"Through the mail?" Blake finished.
"He does this sort of stuff all the time." Yang said.
"…Your dad or the dog?" Rosa asked.
"We're keeping him." Weiss said. Blake looked at her with a look of betrayal.
"How could you?" Blake said, looking at her teammates. "Keep it away from my stuff."
"Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater?" Glynda asked over the intercom.
"Well, we can't exactly leave him here while we're gone for the week." Weiss said. Rosa picked him up and hugged him.
"He's so fluffy." Rosa said.
"Yes, he is." Ruby said.
"Look, there's a letter!" Yang said. ""Dear girls, I've got to leave the island for a few days, so I'm sending Zwei to you to take care of. Enclosed is all the food you should need. Love you both, Taiyang."
Dozens of cans of dog food spill out of the small package, piling up around Zwei. A can opener drops on Zwei's head. He grabs it and to Rosa's shock, he opens a can of food.
"How is that possible?" Rosa asked.
"He's a very talented dog." Ruby said.
"Come on girls, Zwei will be here when we get back!" Yang said.
"Oh, I'll miss you so much, we're going to be best friends, I can't wait to see you." Weiss said as she was dragged out of the room.
"Come on, we've got a mission to get started." Rosa said. She dragged Weiss away. Blake jumped from bed to bed until she was out of the room. Ruby gave the dog a smile as they left.
The teams met up in the auditorium. Ruby put her baggage down were instructed and went to meet with her team. They stood in front of team JNPR. Rosa didn't notice a ring being slipped into her bag. Cyan put his bag down next to hers and moved on.
"Quiet! Quiet please. Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin." Glynda said. Ozpin stepped up next to her, tanking her, then turned to the student body.
"Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united. But this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsman or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best." Ozpin gave his speech. Cinder sneered as she heard it. She watched in the darkness. Unseen and unnoticed.
The students began to leave the amphitheater. Spirits raised high.
"This is perfect! All we have to do is shadow a Huntsman working in the southeast!" Ruby said.
"The first mission is usually the hardest." Rosa said.
"Yeah! We'll follow them around by day and give them the slip by night!" Yang said. Rosa shook her head. She was underestimating the huntsmen.
"Let's check "search and destroy"!" Weiss said.
"Here we go! Quadrant 5 needs Grimm cleared out!" Ruby said.
"I can handle Grimm." Rosa said.
"You can handle more than Grimm." Weiss said.
"Well, it's in the southeast!" Blake said, talking to Ruby.
"Sounds perfect!" Yang said. As they went to take the mission, the screen showed them that they couldn't. It was too dangerous for first years.
"Wonderful," Weiss said.
"Too bad." Rosa said.
"Any other ideas?" Blake asked.
"We can mail ourselves to them." Ruby said. Ozpin chuckled behind them.
"Well, that's one option. But I won't recommend it." Ozpin said. "Unfortunately, we determined that the concentration of Grimm was too extreme for first-year students. It seems that particular region is rather popular. In fact, I have the sneaking suspicion that you four will make your way there no matter which job you choose."
Her entire team looked at Ruby. She gave them a smile.
"Whatever makes you say that?" Ruby said nervously.
"I'm still curious how you all found yourself at the docks last semester. I'm interested to know how you really learned about a hideout in the southeast. And I certainly wonder why witnesses reported seeing robots and rose petals in a dance club some time ago." Ozpin asked.
"You see…" Ruby started.
"I doubt I'll ever find the exact answers I'm looking for. So how about this: instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, why don't we just bend them?" Ozpin said. He tapped his scroll and the screen unlocked.
"We won't let you down. Thank you, professor." Ruby said.
"Do not thank me for this. Teamwork and persistence have carried you far. But you must understand, the things that await you beyond the protection of the Kingdom will not care. Stay close to your Huntsman at all times, and do exactly as he says. He will be leading you on this mission, and he can have you sent back to Beacon, if he finds your skills to be unsatisfactory. Good luck." Ozpin said.
"Who's leading us?" Rosa asked.
"…Technically this is a joint operation, so you'll have two leaders. But Professor Oobleck can send you back at any point." Ozpin said.
As team RRWBY went to the docks, they waited for Professor Oobleck to arrive.
"That wasn't exactly uplifting." Yang said.
"But it's the truth." Blake said.
"We need to understand how dangerous this mission is. We might fight Grimm almost every day, but these Grimm will be in larger number and will be larger." Rosa said.
"It's gonna to be tough, but I know we can do it!" Ruby said, putting her hand on Rosa's shoulder.
"Hey! Team CFVY is back!" One of the students said.
Blake went to Velvet, wanting to hear what she had to say. Velvet looked defeated.
"Velvet? Are you okay?" Blake asked.
"I'm fine. I had Yatsuhashi to look out for me." Velvet said. The giant swordsman walked by.
"Your mission was supposed to end a week ago! What happened?" Weiss asked.
"Nothing happened. It was just ... there were just so many..." Velvet said, forcing herself to cheer up. "Oh, but don't worry. You first-years are just shadowing Huntsmen, so you should be fine."
"Right." Yang said, unsettled.
"I should go. Be safe, okay?" Velvet said. Velvet waved to the girls and walked away. Rosa frowned and wanted to hug her, but she had to be ready for her mission.
"We can do this. We've never backed down before, and we're not going to start now." Ruby said.
"Right." Blake said.
"Besides, it won't only be us out there! We'll be fighting alongside a genuine Huntsman!" Ruby said. She felt a hand on her head, and she looked up. Master Maku was standing there.
"Are you joining us…?" Ruby asked.
"No, I'm leading team CRMS. I'm here to see you off. Rosa, be careful out there. And the rest of you as well." Maku placed a hand on Rosa's head and smiled at her.
"Thank you master." Rosa said, a little embarrassed, but… also liked when he did that.
"I'm off now. May the force be with you." Maku said, leaving the girls.
"Ozpin did say it was a joint operation, so I wonder who the second leader is." Ruby said.
"That would be me." Master Kit Fisto said.
"Master Fisto. It's an honor to be working alongside you." Professor Oobleck said.
"The honor's mine." Kit said. "I'm leading a squad of troops to the down cruiser."
"Wonderful! Truly wonderful that we get to see a ship of that size up close!" Oobleck said. He turned to see team RRWBY and all their bags. He smirked and shook his head.
"I'm afraid those bags won't be necessary, girls, seeing as you've opted to shadow a Huntsman on what is now essentially a reconnaissance mission. I can assure you, we will not be establishing a single base of operations; rather, we will be traversing several miles of hazardous wasteland and making camp in any defendable locations we may stumble upon. I packed all of our essentials myself, plotted our air course, and readied the airship." Oobleck said. "Rosa, you are the only one who knows reconnaissance missions, and your bag is much smaller than your allies. While we're on the flight instruct them for next time."
"Yes Professor." Rosa said. Oobleck was in front of Rosa in a flash.
"Doctor! I didn't earn the Ph.D. for fun, thank you very much!" Oobleck said. He zoomed to the ship.
"Sorry." Rosa said.
"He's quite the character. I'll be heading off now." A LAAT dropped from the sky. "We'll meet at the landing site. May the force be with you." Kit stepped in the LAAT and waved at them as it took off.
"Come now, children; according to my schedule, we are already three minutes behind schedule!" Oobleck said.
"Well, alright, then! Looks like we're going to save the world with Doctor Oobleck- okay yeah when you say it out loud it sounds worse." Ruby said.
"Save the world?" Nora said. Team JNPR arrived. Pyrrha walked behind them, looking at her scroll.
"You're going on world-saving missions without us? I'm hurt... sad! Maybe a little hungry? That last one's not your fault, though, Ren..." Nora said. Ren folded his arms at her and turned.
"Sounds exciting. Where ya going?" Jaune asked.
"Oh, just outside the kingdom..." Ruby said.
"Hey! So are we!" Nora said.
"Ren and Nora wanted to shadow the sheriff of a nearby village." Pyrrha said. She put her scroll away and smiled. Rosa felt apprehension, but also excitement.
"We set out tomorrow." Ren said.
"Then you can party with us tonight!" Neptune said. Sun and he joined the group. "We're shadowing a crime specialist. All inner-city detective stuff. We get junior badges."
"We normally go to the city with you guys, which means stuff's always exploding and junk, so we thought this might be a better way to check out the kingdom when it's, you know... normal." Sun said. "Besides… there's still Jedi business to be done here."
"The HDF?" Rosa asked.
"I don't think we'll be dealing with them. But I did hear a rumor that a team that got expelled in the first semester joined up with them. One of them posted this on Chatter." Sun said. He pulled out his scroll and showed the group a video of Cardin, drunk, looking at the camera.
"I've come to make an announcement: Jaune Arc's a bitch-ass motherfucker, he pissed on my fucking career! That's right, he took his puny dick out and he pissed on my fucking career, and said his dick was THIS BIG…" He held his hands out as far as he could. "and I said "that's disgusting," so I'm making a callout post on my : Jaune, you've got a small dick. It's the size of this walnut except WAY smaller. And guess what? Here's what my dong looks like!"
He slammed two watermelons and a baguette on the table. Everyone was trying hard not to laugh. Sun failed. Jaune was one step behind.
"That's right, baby. All points, no quills, no pillows — look at that, it looks like two balls and a bong. He fucked my career, so guess what, I'm gonna fuck yours back. That's right, this is what you get: MY SUPER LASER PISS! Except I'm not gonna piss on the You, I'm gonna go higher; I'M PISSING ON THE SCHOOL! How do you like that, OZPIN?! I PISSED ON THE SCHOOL, YOU IDIOT! You have twenty-three hours before my piss hit your fucking mouth, now get outta my fucking sight, before I piss on you too!"
The video ended. No one could hold the laughter in.
"What the fuck did you do to him?" Sun asked.
"He tried fighting me and I stopped him. He's pissed about that." Jaune said, after getting his composure back.
"Careful Jaune or he's going to piss on you." Yang said.
"I'm sure this is all fun and games, but we are even farther behind! To the ship!" Oobleck said.
"Good luck!" Jaune said. Team RRWBY waved back.
Team RRWBY rushed forward, loading into the dropship. Rosa instructed her team about what they would need on recon missions.
"I guess I just never saw you as much of a fighter." Yang said to Oobleck. He smirked, fixed his glasses, then turned to the girls.
"I admit I fancy myself more of an intellectual, but I can assure you, as a Huntsman, I've had my fair share of tussles." Oobleck said.
"Like the mushroom?" Ruby asked, tilting her head.
"Those are truffles." Blake said.
"Like the sprout?" Ruby said completely befuddled.
"Those are Brussels." Yang said, leaning over to Ruby.
"Stop now Ruby. You'll just confuse yourself." Rosa said with a sigh.
"Hey! I… yeah, your right." Ruby sat back in her chair. Oobleck let out a cough and continued.
"Besides, given my expertise in the field of history as well as my dabblings in the archaeological surveys, our dear headmaster saw fit to assign me to this particular... assignment!" Oobleck said.
"What does history have to do with this?" Weiss asked. Oobleck turned sharply to her. Weiss fought to not jump back.
"Why, what a preposterous question, you silly girl! Why, history is the backbone of our very society! And the liver! Probably the kidneys, if I were to wager." Oobleck said.
"And that means...?" Weiss asked.
"The southeast quadrant outside of Vale is home to wild forests and deep caves, but it is also the location to one of the kingdom's greatest failures!" Oobleck said.
"Mount Glenn." Ruby said.
"That's right! It was an expansion of Vale... but in the end it was overrun by Grimm and fenced off from the rest of the city." Yang said. Everyone from Vale knew about Mount Glenn. It almost worked. But it failed. With the new knowledge that the girls had, Yang bet that it involved the Sith in some way.
"Correct! And now it stands abandoned as a dark reminder." Oobleck said.
"And a likely place for a hideout." Blake said.
"Precisely!" Oobleck said, adjusting his glasses.
They were over the city, or what was left of it. And there was the downed cruiser. It was what was the western section of the city, flattening it completely.
"Hello, Padawan!" Kit Fisto called over the comm system.
"Master Fisto, we're about to land. Have you cleared a site?" Oobleck said.
"We have, the Grimm in the area weren't difficult at all." Kit Fisto said.
"Good." Oobleck instructed the pilot to land in the indicated zone. When the ship landed, team RRWBY got out, and Ruby grabbed her bag.
"Ladies! You still may be students, but as of this moment, your first mission as Huntresses has begun! From this point forward, you need to do exactly as I say! Do you understand?" Oobleck said. Everyone nodded, then he looked at Ruby. She stopped dead. Rosa rose her eyebrow at the nervousness coming off her.
"Ruby?" Rosa asked.
"Ruby! I thought I told you to leave all of your bags back at school." Oobleck said.
"But, uh, you hadn't told us to listen to you yet. So I didn't." Ruby said. She tried to gently put the bag down on the ground.
"She's not wrong... Very well, Ruby; leave your bag here, we can pick it up upon our return." Oobleck said.
"But I, well uh…" Ruby started. Rosa could have sworn that the bag moved.
"Young lady, what in the world could you possibly have in that bag that could be so important to bring it with..." Zwei's head poked out of the bag.
"Get back in the bag." Ruby said. Zwei barked, jumping out of the bag. Rosa's mouth hung open as she looked at Ruby.
"We're here to investigate an abandoned urban jungle teeming with death and hostility, and you brought... a dog?" Oobleck asked.
"Uh…" A clone walked over with Kit Fisto.
"Genius! Canines are historically known for their perceptive nose and heightened sense of sound, making them excellent companions for a hunt such as ours" Oobleck proclaimed.
"I'm a genius!" Ruby said proudly.
"Humility is a key component of a being a Jedi." Kit Fisto said.
"Master Fisto. I see you have a clone with you. I have always been curious, I heard that you're all called the Wolf pack, and that it's one division. But I've counted far more than five hundred clones. How many did you bring with you?" Oobleck asked.
"We've taken the name of Wolf pack on us because we're the clones who first took out our inhibitor chips. We had enough to fill this cruiser, and have enough to crew the whole thing properly… so I'd say around ten thousand. But with the crash, we fell to around nine thousand five hundred." The clone answered.
"I'd say less than that. The Jedi were able to take care of a lot of the positions. So, eight thousand clones left." Kit said.
"Yes general." The clone said.
"Where are they all now?" Rosa asked.
"Mostly Vale. We've been spread everywhere." The clone said.
"How has no one noticed eight thousand men with the same face?" Rosa asked.
"Many of us have tattoos, different hairstyles, cybernetic appendages, that sort of thing. And we find most people in Vale are… well, unconcerned with the subtle details. It also helps that not all of us are in armor." The clone said.
"Doctor Oobleck, we're ready to start our mission. We won't keep you any longer than needed." Kit said.
"Yes, that is a good idea. We'll help you in any way we can, but we need to clear out the Grimm. Girls, our mission takes place in the southern section of the city. In the southeast section of the city, the Grimm have been reported in massive numbers. Now, there are several possible explanations for this behavior, one of which being... Grimm." Oobleck said.
"Are you making a joke?" Rosa asked.
"No, there's a Grimm, approximately one hundred yards from us at this very moment." Oobleck said.
Everyone turned and brought up their weapons, but before they could start firing, Oobleck stopped them.
"Why are you stopping us?" Rosa asked.
"There are a number of reasons why Grimm will congregate in this particular area, the most likely of which will be their attraction to negativity: sadness, envy, loneliness, hatred. All qualities that are likely held by our hidden group harboring ill intent." Oobleck said.
"Master Fisto, a reminder to be on the lookout for the white fang. They are armed and dangerous." Rosa sent the message.
"I hear you Padawan Reidan. I should be warning your group. We're missing some of the walkers." Kit said. He cut off the comm.
"So... What now?" Ruby asked.
"We wait. We track. If this specimen leads us to its pack, that pack may subsequently lead us to our prey." Oobleck said.
"Even though they may have walkers?" Rosa said.
"I'm sure you can take it down." Oobleck said, smiling at them. "And if you can't, then I'm here."
"How long do we wait?" Blake asked.
"It's uncertain. Hours, days, weeks. Why, lone Grimm have been known to stay isolated from the pack for months - and there's the whole pack." Oobleck said. Five Beowolves are following the first one, coming close to team RRWBY.
"What do we do now?" Rosa asked.
"I assume tracking them is out of the question." Ruby said.
"An accurate assumption, yes." Oobleck said.
"What's the plan, then?" Yang asked.
"Show me what you're capable of." Oobleck said. The girls all smiled and took out their weapons.
"Cover your ears, Zwei!" Ruby said. Zwei curled up in a ball.
Yang rushed forward, putting her full force into a punch, knocking the head off the first Beowolf. Blake used the force to disappear, then reappeared behind one of the Grimm, slicing the neck of the Grimm. It stumbled forward, clutching at its throat, Blake fired in it twice. It stumbled forward, only for her to slam her blade into it, killing the second Beowolf. Weiss used her Glyphs to speed passed the third Beowolf, then spun around. She aimed a blast of fire dust. The fire dust slammed into the chest of the Grimm, and it let out a scream. Weiss rushed forward, slamming her blade into the chest of the Grimm. Rosa jumped up in the air, and brought her lightsaber down, cutting the Grimm in half. A bullet ripped past all of the others, hitting the heart of the fifth Beowolf. Another shot ripped its head in half. Rosa threw her hand out at the last Beowolf, pushing it through a building wall. She rushed forward and tossed the chunks of the building at it. She then picked up the Grimm and brought it to the end of her blade.
In all, it took less than a minute.
"Six clean kills. Excellent job. But do not celebrate yet, for I am certain this is the first bout of many. Shall we continue?" Oobleck asked.
Kit Fisto led the troops through the ruined cruiser. The lights were destroyed, and glass lay everywhere on the ground, but besides that, it was basically the same. Kit held his hand up, and used the force to blast a hole in the top of the cruiser. Sunlight rushed through the dark ship, lighting up the area.
"We're here to check up on all this, nothing more." Kit reminded the clones.
"Yes, general." The clone next to him responded.
Kit held his hand up again, forcing the clones to stop. His head tails started moving slightly. He took out his lightsaber and motioned for two clones to check out the doorway. The door was cut open.
"Where does that hallway lead?" Kit asked.
"The medical wing." A clone said.
"It looks like someone used a lightsaber to get in here.
"I did." Someone dropped down, turning on his green lightsaber, and holding onto a blaster.
"Master Vos? What are you doing here?" Kit asked.
"I could ask the same thing. I heard that Palpatine killed you. And I heard the clones turned against us." Vos shot a glance at the clones.
"Not these clones. We made sure of that." Kit said. "But that doesn't explain why you're here."
"I was on the run. Kashyyyk nearly killed me." Vos said.
"Master Yoda and Luminara Unduli were both there with you." Kit said.
"I know Master Unduli died. Along with most of the Jedi. You're group was the only one that had success in fleeing." Vos said.
"But that still doesn't explain why you're here." Kit Fisto said.
"I was fleeing an imperial star destroyer with family and a few more Jedi who found me. Four others. I somehow ended up with twenty Mirialan rebels and jumped to lightspeed. Something must have gone wrong because we ended up here." Quinlan said.
"That… leaves a lot more questions than answers." Kit said. "And family?"
"I planned to leave the order when the clone wars ended Master Fisto. I have a family. A wife and a son. Didn't Aayla tell you? I know you were close." Quinlan said.
"I forget sometimes you were her master." Kit said.
"My group has taken refuge in this ship. Then those people in white came and stole the gear. I've had to protect everyone." Vos put his lightsaber away.
"We can get you all out of here. There's a city named Vale. It's where the rest of us are going." Kit said.
"I'm not going to rejoin the order… but the other four knights may." Vos said. Behind him were four Jedi, Two humans, one Pantoran, and one Twi'lek. All of them were in various states of injury.
"We'll get you back to Vale anyway. We should have a break in the Grimm, so extracting you won't be too hard." Kit said.
"We'll go." Vos said.
"We'll get the ship here."
As the day continued, another dropship arrived and took the group of thirty left the city, but team RRWBY continued to work. More Grimm attacked, and more Grimm were killed. Oobleck gathered a few samples of wildlife in the area, mostly plants. He stored them in plastic vials and continued on with his work.
"Excellent work, girls! Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any signs of criminal operations in this sector. Oh, well! Moving on!" Oobleck said.
"Hey, Doc, y'know, I was actually looking forward to seeing a "pro Huntsman" in action. Like, fighting, or at least, helping us fight?" Yang said. Rosa took out a ration pack and started munching. Ruby came up next to her and started picking at it.
"Ah, but I am in action! Scouring the ruins of this once-great city for any signs of irregularity! Not every mission is filled with daring and heroism, girls. Sometimes it's just a heightened form of extermination! Remember, this is a job, and you all signed up for it. I do hope you understand that." Oobleck said.
"…yeah, of course." Yang said. "I guess I was just expecting something… bigger."
"Sometimes it is."
As the day continued on, the team set up camp in one of the destroyed buildings. Yang and Oobleck were scanning the perimeter.
"Tell me, Yang: Why did you choose this line of work?" Oobleck said.
"Huh? Well, to fight monsters and save…" Yang started
"No, that is what you do. I want to know why you do it. The honest reason as to why you want to be a Huntress." Oobleck said after cutting Yang off. Yang stood there for a few seconds, thinking about the response.
"The honest reason? I'm a thrill-seeker. I want to travel around the world and get wrapped up in as many crazy adventures as I can. And if I help people along the way, then that's even better. It's a win-win, y'know?" Yang said. Oobleck smiled, nodding his head.
"I see."
His time with Yang ended, and Weiss was next up. Oobleck took out his journal and started writing. Weiss finished taking out another Grimm and turned to the professor.
"And you, Miss Schnee? A girl born into fame and fortune such as yourself certainly doesn't need the extra work. So... why choose this over a cushy job in Atlas?" Oobleck asked.
"It's exactly as you said: I'm a Schnee. I have a legacy of honor to uphold. Once I realized I was capable of fighting, there was no longer a question of what I would do with my life. It was my duty." Weiss said.
"Interesting." Oobleck said, nodding.
After Weiss, it was Blake. She killed a Grimm standing in a doorway as Oobleck and her searched the ruined building.
"And what about you, Blake? You seem to carry yourself with a sense of purpose." Oobleck said.
"There's too much wrong in this world to just stand by and do nothing. Inequality, corruption... Someone has to stop it." Blake said. She knew she could solve these issues when she was a fully trained Jedi.
"Very well. How?" Oobleck said.
"My Jedi powers." Blake said.
"I doubt that. No one Jedi could change the hearts that easily. Not even the Jedi."
Blake stood there dumbfounded. But she had to follow Oobleck. Soon her time was over, and it was Rosa's time.
"I've asked the others this Rosa, but why did you join the school?" Oobleck said.
"I was told it was the only way my master would get the help he needed." Rosa said.
"But he's been healed for months now. What keeps you here?" Oobleck said.
"I'm a Jedi. Joining the hunters looks to be the best option given to me." Rosa said.
"But you're holding back. Quite a deal I should add." Oobleck said. Rosa took a step back in surprise.
"I've been trying my best!" Rosa said.
"Have you? Maybe you have, but something is holding you back. I'm no fool Miss Reidan. I can see that you've lost most of your confidence, and you've become anxious. The Sith beat you every time you fought." Oobleck said.
"…Yes Professor." Rosa said.
"You need to find out what's holding you back. Your progress has been dammed. I can recommend a place of self-reflection. In the desert of Menagerie there's an oasis, massive, but no life is around it. Not even Grimm. It seems that the Jedi have historically gone there when dealing with issues of the spirit." Oobleck said.
Rosa nodded her head. She went back to the base group and Ruby joined with Oobleck. Rosa didn't see what they did. She started meditating once she got to the camp. But Oobleck had them move onto a new camp soon after.
"Are we ready to keep going?" Ruby asked. She just finished playing with Zwei. Oobleck looked around and shook his head.
"Nope! I believe that will have to do for today. It's going to be dark soon. You four, set up camp in that building. Oh, and please do make sure there are no more of those... creatures. Your leader and I are going to secure the perimeter. Come, Ruby." Oobleck said. He tossed his bag to Rosa, who wasn't ready to catch it and slammed into the ground.
Yang helped Rosa up, and she blushed.
"Sorry." Rosa said. Ruby smirked, then saw movement in her peripheral vision. She turned and saw a massive Grimm.
"Is that a Grimm?" Ruby asked.
"Yes." Oobleck said. Ruby took out her sniper, but Oobleck but his hand on her weapon. She looked confused at him.
"I'm afraid your sniper rifle will do nothing more than agitate a Grimm of that size." Oobleck said.
"But... What if it attacks us?" Ruby asked.
"Fret not, Ruby; those Goliaths are not concerned with us. Ruby, not every Grimm is mindless, or rather not every Grimm is still mindless. You see, the Grimm you see before you are so powerful, so superior to the Grimm you fought, that they've undoubtedly lived hundreds of years, and in that time between killing humans and attacking our borders, they have done one important thing: They've learned. They've learned that when they attack our borders, they're likely to die, and what we lack in strength, we make up for in will, and that killing one human will only bring more." Oobleck lectured, but Ruby listened with great intent.
"Then why are they still so close to the city? What are they doing?" Ruby asked.
"Waiting." Oobleck said. There was a moment of silence for the hunters to gaze at the Grimm.
"Doctor Oobleck?" Ruby asked. Oobleck turned and smiled.
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering..." Ruby tried to find the words, and Oobleck nodded his head.
"Wondering why I've been interrogating your teammates all day?" Oobleck said.
"A-Actually, I was wondering... Why did you want to become a Huntsman?" Ruby said. Oobleck became far more interested.
"Look around and tell me what you see." Oobleck said in a kind voice. Ruby looked around and wondered what was going on.
"Lots of old buildings, uh, empty streets..." Ruby said.
"I see lives that could have been saved." Oobleck walked with Ruby, and Zwei at their heels. "As a Huntsman, it is my job to protect the people, and although I am capable of doing it with traditional weaponry, I believe I can make a much larger impact if I do it with my mind. As a teacher, I'm able to take knowledge, the most powerful weapon of them all, and place it in the hands of every student that passes through my classroom. I look at this wasteland, and I see lives that could have been saved, but I also see an opportunity; an opportunity to study these ruins and learn from this tragedy, and therefore become stronger." Oobleck stops for his final answer. "I am a Huntsman, Ruby, because there is nothing else in this world I would rather be." Oobleck smiled.
Night soon fell. Team RRWBY gathered at the new campsite and started a fire. The five girls laid down on sleeping rolls, looking up at the ruined building.
"I can't believe we didn't find anything..." Yang said.
"We've always been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. I guess we can't always have luck on our side." Blake said.
"Blake, I thought you would know by now that luck has nothing to do with what we've been through." Rosa said.
"Alright, fine, luck doesn't exist." Blake said.
"That's not what I meant." Weiss said. The others looked over at her.
"Huh?" Blake asked.
"Earlier, about... upholding the legacy. There's more to it than that." Weiss said.
"Yeah... No, me too. I mean... I don't know." Yang said.
"I don't know, either. I know what I want to do, but I figured I'd always take things one step at a time." Blake said
"I've always had my life planned from the start. I was going to become a Jedi knight and protect the galaxy. Train an apprentice and serve the republic. Dammit, I even thought everything would go back to normal after the war. I couldn't be more wrong. Then I came here… and now I have no clue what I'm going to do." Rosa said.
"Rosa, you're still on the path to being a Jedi." Yang said.
"Yes… but I…" Rosa couldn't finish. She brought her legs to her chest and buried her head. Everyone looked at her, ready to help her.
"Rosa…" Weiss said.
"I'm… a terrible Jedi." Rosa said.
"What do you mean? You've helped us all more than you can imagine." Ruby said. Rosa shook her head.
"I'm having a recurring nightmare. A few actually. I can't sleep well anymore." Rosa said.
"What do you see?" Yang asked.
Rosa told them about the dream she had with that woman's voice. She kept seeing more of it. The hallways got longer, the rooms got darker, and she got weaker. She saw objects in most of the rooms. Weapons turned up a lot. She found a mask that still haunted her nightmares, but she could only remember the feeling of seeing it. It made her feel empty. Then in the end she would always find that closed door, and her lightsaber turned red.
"It may just be a dream." Yang said.
"It keeps happening. My dreams keep appearing." Rosa said.
"We'll talk with the masters when we get back." Weiss said.
"There's something missing." Rosa said. "Something that I'm not allowed to see. I don't know why."
"There may be a reason. Us adults are funny like that. Hiding stuff that doesn't belong to us because of how it makes us feel." Oobleck said.
The girls turned to him. His face was firm.
"What do you mean?" Rosa asked.
"We're odd creatures, adults. We like to pretend. Just look at Professor Ozpin, or Me for example." Oobleck said with a smile. "But enough of that. Eat quickly, then one of you needs to take watch."
"Yo." Ruby shot her hand up. After they finished eating, Ruby took watch. Rosa began to meditate, while the other girls prepared for bed.
"Hey, did Oobleck ask you why you wanted to be a Huntress? I mean... what did you tell him?" Yang asked.
"Hmm... No, he didn't. Weird. Oh, well; good night, guys!" Ruby said. She left with Zwei. Blake turned in her roll and sighed.
"Don't worry. Things will be better tomorrow." Ruby said.
Rosa opened her eyes and saw she was in a throne room. She felt eyes on her, but she also felt she needed to continue towards the throne.
"This is her? This weak pathetic child?" A voice called out. It belonged to a man. It was higher pitched, and Rosa sensed something wrong with him.
"Our Lady has spoken." A deep, proud voice rumbled out. Rosa could feel a strong presence.
"Perhaps she'll replace the weak link." Another deep voice came out. This one had an air of entitlement to it.
"One day soon child, you will see for the first time. I will be here when you do."
The image faded. Rosa felt a warm glow around her heart.
"Rosa, you are stronger than you know." It was Maku's voice.
An image of fire flashed in her mind, and she opened her eyes. The others were awake.
"I'm going to find a bathroom." Rosa said, and she took her lightsaber and left the room. She kept walking, until she left the building. She was following the force, but also looking for someplace to go.
"We found her." A white fang troop said.
A dark presence appeared behind him.
"I see. She's alone. Good. She'll know where the other padawans are." The Sith said.
"Try not to be too obvious when you take her. Last thing we want is for her friends to realize she's gone." Torchwick said over radio.
He turned around to the last of the dust being put in the train. Soon, the next phase of the plan would start.
Author's Notes: So first of all, an explanation. I've found myself to have had such a lack of inspiration, that it's been hard to write at all. But in the meantime, I've been expanding my knowledge of both Star Wars and RWBY, by reading the books.
Secondly, reviews are in order.
BlindFaunusGirl, Thank you. It means a lot to hear from people.
And from my friend, CT7567Rules
Thanks once again for the review. The HDF has splintered, and created three different groups. How are they different?
Just like The People's Front of Judea is different from Judean People's Front from Monty Python's Life of Brian.
I wasn't planning on having Mandalorians in the story, but maybe.
That's it for now. Please leave a review, favorite, follow and everything else.
May the Force be With You
-DragonZlayerX12