Before I start the chapter I want to talk about the reason I took a while. As an author I try to write something coherent, a story with a plot and narrative that can keep people attracted to the story and wanting to continue reading. But as an author as I write stories I do research on certain topics of the story, and as the author I can write the story the way I best see fit. So it infuriates me when I see people leave reviews telling me how to write my stories.
I rewrote the same chapter three times because I assumed it was for the better. Sure I agree the first take was bad and clunky but I can't rewrite chapters because you didn't like the way it was written. I know there is one consistent reviewer that is always nitpicking about what I write, his most recent review was talking about how hunters are like mercenaries.
That statement is very false and here's why. Hunters and Huntressess are people who get paid to exterminate grimm, they can be hired by small towns and cities to protect people or the place itself. A mercenary is a man or woman hired by the highest bidder and does as the bidder tells them within reason. That includes a crime, protection, transportation, or any other. The difference between these two is that Hunters work for the betterment of the people and kingdoms, Mercenaries work for themselves and only themselves.
It's because of this that the team in the Schnee Manor acted against Jaune, Mercenaries are viewed as criminals that only do missions for their own benefit while being paid. A merc can go rogue and still get paid. If I the author have to explain to the audience something as such it means one of two things, one is that I failed as an author to express to you how the characters feel, two is that the reader skimmed through the chapter and didn't give the incentive to learn or do outside research.
This author's note is already a bit long, so I think it would be best to start the story.
Ch 8 Relic Heist (planning)
Jaune laid in bed, looking out the window the night sky enveloped the area. He sighed to himself and buried himself deeper into his blankets. After his fight with those girls he felt...out of it. Sure he's fought people stronger than him, he's fought aliens that were known serial killers. But these people...they were in a whole different league. He was able to take out the other ones at the beginning at the fight but only because of his gear, but the white one was able to outclass him in different ways.
"Jaune? Are you awake?"
Turning his head he saw a screen on his left turn on, there was a silhouette of a woman for the Icon and underneath it was the name Ms. J
"No J"
"Can I ask why?"
Jaune grumbled to himself, he heard her sigh and waited for a bit. Jaune looked back at the screen, he saw that it was turned off. His reflection showed a blonde haired boy, his clothes dirty, hair a mess, there were bags under his eyes. Jaune sighed and laid back down, his mind was a mess and it showed.
"Jaune?" he heard a soft voice call out to him. Jaune turned his head, he saw a tall woman, she wore casual clothing but it was her silver hair and red eye's that caught the attention of most people. She sat down next to him and started to play with his hair.
"Jocasta, why did you get in your body?"
"I think it's obvious why. What happened to you? You've never come back from a fight only to lay in bed for a week and eat nothing but pizza rolls. Tell me Jaune, what happened?" her dark fingers played with his hair. Sighing, he sat up and leaned into her shoulder.
"I lost, but I didn't just lose. I lost why I came to this place. I was supposed to just arrive, go meet my family and leave. Instead I help out some people, go home, prevent an android from getting hacked, and then lose to a girl who can shoot fireballs and summon blue knights"
"That doesn't seem out of the ordinary" Jaune looked at the dark skinned android, he noticed she was wearing his hoodie
"It's not that...it's just…"
"It's because you lost Jaune. I know you, and what I know is that after winning you get it stuck in your head that you're invincible. Jaune..." she angled his head to look at hers "You're not invincible. You lost, big deal. You've lost before and have gotten back up, it's like that song made by...um...Belton Ron" she said confidently
"It's Elton John, and yeah I get you"
"Do you? Jaune look at me. I want you to realise that not everyone is like you. Now, this is what I want you to do. I want you to stand up, clean your room, shower, and figure out our net course of action"
Jaune nodded and looked at Jocasta, after a bit he decided to follow through "Ok, but give me 5 more minutes, ok?"
Jocasta puffed up her cheeks and looked at him. "Fine, scoot over" Jaune made room on his bed and the two sat next to each other.
"J?"
"Mhm?"
"Thanks"
"Your welcome"
Jaune slinked a hand over her stomach, the android let it happen. She turned to face him and gave him a small smile.
"Your the best"
"Tell me something I don't know"
Jaune leaned in closer and kissed her forehead. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into it. The two stayed like that for a while, unmoving and calm. Something Jaune was thankful for.
"I think we can spend a bit more time like this" she said to him
"Yeah, I think that works"
"But I'm thinking bigger...Jaune"
…
…
…
She leaned over him, his face was that of a calm boy, sleeping with no peril. She sighed to herself and snuggled deeper into him.
"Fine, i'll have my fun differently"
Jaune rubbed the side of his neck, red marks outlined it. He hated when Jocasta used him for her science experiments, when he woke up he found himself with a weird collar. It didn't have much but when he went to question Jocasta she stuttered through her words and her face was extremely red. Jaune assumed it was a cold but realized that androids can't get sick, she told him it was a malware virus and that she would fix it herself.
Jaune was currently going through different radio frequencies, his main objective was to figure out what was currently happening. After beaching the whale - get it - he had noticed the military hadd set up a defencive formation. Jaune wasn't a genius but even he knew that soldiers with guns shouldn't stand one behind the other.
"General the grimm are at a standstill…"
"Nope"
"General we currently have numerous injuries…"
"Nuh uh"
"Specialist Schnee have you secured the relic?"
That piqued Jaunes interest. He looked over his shoulder and saw the blowing blue lamp, currently acting like a paper weight. He tried to open it but couldn't really do much. He should take it to Strange, figure out what he could do with it since the whole...magic thing was his area of expertise.
"Yes General I have the relic. The Ace- Ops are curious as to what it is"
"Tell them it's a prototype"
"Sir…. are we sure we should do this?"
"Specialist, Salem is right outside our doorstep. We need to keep the relic safe and out of her reach. We already lost the relic of knowledge I don't want the same to happen to this relic"
"Understood...sir"
Jaune began to track where the message was being broadcasted from. Plugging in the frequency code and where the message was being received from there was able to get a rough estimate of where it was. He placed a waypoint to where the relic was, it was near the bottom of Atlas. Putting the ship on autopilot towards the waypoint, he stood up and went to his armory.
"Huh, Oh Jaune your leaving?"
"Yep, just a little shopping trip. When I come back we'll be heading to earth"
"Good, we're running out of some food items after somebody stress ate"
"Your just jealous I can stay in shape"
"Among other things" She walked past him and smacked his bum. Jaune yelped and turned to Jocasta, she had a sly grin
"Whatever" He grabbed his DE-10, some concussion grenades, Frags, Smokes, Incendiaries, and a disco bomb. One of Rockets inventions. Closing the main armory he went to a side compartment and opened it up, there was an assortment of weapons but instead he got a bowie knife and slid it to a side holster
"Arriving to our destination in 30 seconds"
"Allright Jocasta, see you in a bit"
Before he left Jaune heard her say something, due to the wind rushing past his face and the sound of the engines he wasn't able to hear what she was saying.
"Yeah?"
She didn't respond back and Jaune just shaked his head, he jumped off and activated his ankle thrusters. A mini map appeared on his mask's hud. He began to make his way towards the spot of the red blip.
Winter Schnee ran through the white halls of Atlas Academy, the Staff of Creation in her hand. Turning around she saw the Ace-Ops following suite. Winter had feared this day would come but didn't hope it would, having dropped off Weiss' friends near the Grimm whale she heard rumors of Cinder freeing Watts. Not wanting to take any precautions she made her way to the vault and grabbed the relic.
One of the many flaws the vault had was that it could be opened with a password, then again it was to be only used for situations like these since it would lead to people evacuating the building.
"Specialist Schnee, what is going on? Why is that thing so important"
Winter turned her head, it was obvious they didn't trust her. Not after the stunt she pulled in the airship. "The general deems this important and needs to be secured, as for what it is that is classified information"
Harriet growled to herself but followed behind her. At a time like this Winter knew that questions like that were unimportant. Rounding the corner Winter raised her saber to deflect something. Standing in front of her was an Atlesian Officer but the weapon in her hand was all too familiar, she blinked and the once dull green eyes turned into mismatched pink and brown.
Winter narrowed her eyes, the Ace-Ops formed behind her but she knew that her opponent could easily overpower them. Her semblance was tricky and her fighting capabilities weren't to scoff at. Neo changed back into her usual clothing and prepared her assault.
Only to get covered in rubble and debris. Dust covered the hallway, from the dust cloud an orange t was visible due to it being illuminated by some light. After the dust settled a lone figure stood in the hallway, his clothing was that of some punk with militaristic gear plastered in.
"We can do this the easy way...or we can do this the hard way" he stretched out his arm "Hand over the staff"
"Are you with her?" Winter heard Marrow speak out
"Who?"
Before Winter could react two green, slime like projectiles shot out from behind her. They were intercepted by two blue beams of energy launched from the man's pistol. He twirled it on his finger and held it, pointing the barrel to the sky
"Looks like we're doing this the hard way"
A bit of a short chapter, just getting back into the groove of writing for this story. Next chapter will be a fight scene so that should be fun. A new character is introduced, she was the AI teased in an earlier chapter. Poor Neo.
Anyways hope you enjoyed it and if you have any questions you can PM or leave a review
