Chapter 10: Put in Place
Taylor
Everyone stood, weary but smiling, as they took turns handing Ozpin their relics.
I tossed the red queen piece to Ozpin. He gave no reaction beyond a nod.
We made our way back to Beacon, exhaustion settling in. They would announce if we had passed the initiation later when they placed everyone else in teams.
All the other students had made their way back already; we had been the last ones to finish. I hoped that didn't affect our standing.
The group parted, to change, shower, or decompress.
My fights with the Grimm had been humbling. For all my training, I doubted I matched the martial skill of any of the other students, the constant exception being Jaune.
I lagged behind in Aura usage, Dust in general, and equipment.
All my movements were exaggerated or filled with wasted motions since I still hadn't adjusted to Aura-enhanced speed. Not to mention how the others already knew and had largely incorporated their Semblances and their complex weaponry into their fighting styles.
Ruby's weapon was perfect to hook around an enemy after getting up close with her Semblance. Weiss's glyphs were the most versatile; Mover, Blaster, Shaker, and possibly Trump as well. Blake's clone trick that shot her in a direction, leaving a clone in her place, was perfect for mobility and evasion. I wasn't sure of Yang's, beyond the eye color change and her Aura moving like fire. Probably enhanced strength of some kind.
I hadn't even seen Pyrrha's, Nora's, or Ren's.
Ignorance and lack of preparation had been my greatest obstacle since arriving on Remnant.
Thankfully, I could take my time to learn things. The unique relic meant I could be a lone agent, save some time from dealing with teammates, and catch up at my own pace.
I arrived in the locker room and restocked the ammo for my gun. Then, I headed back to the Emerald Forest.
The gun on my hip was more for caution instead of something I planned to use. My firepower had been laughable compared to the others.
My melee weapon had broken, and my ranged weapon hadn't been near powerful enough to battle the Grimm. Not to mention all the possibilities that foldable frame weapons offered.
Though, the amount of time one would take to learn how to adequately use…
I paused, taking the moment to stretch out sore muscles.
Huntress training was a four-year enrollment. I had the time to learn, but I would be starting from scratch, putting me even further behind everyone else.
The entire economy of battle was different when Aura was involved. Non-lethal or glancing hits still chipped away at Aura levels. Opponents could attack through potentially lethal hits because their Aura protected them.
With Grimm, they were either too large or resilient for daggers to be as effective as a sword, simply because one sunk deeper into a giant Grimm than the other. It was why smaller weapons needed Dust, for the extra killing power. I hadn't even thought about how to add Dust into my arsenal.
I'm already so far behind...
There was also the issue of money. Beacon's example course load was full time, and I wasn't even sure I was allowed to work a job if I passed the initiation.
Even if I managed a job on top of studying, training, and learning about life on Remnant; how long would it take for me to earn enough for Dust, new equipment, and possibly a robotic limb?
There was money in the criminal world, and no matter how peaceful society was, there was crime. Stealing gang money, if I could somehow find them, would be faster...
No. I didn't want to jump into vigilantism. That was the first step on a downward slope that would slide me right back to where I was—who I was trying not to be anymore.
I sighed and shook my head. None of that mattered if I didn't get into Beacon first.
Farther down the gorge from where we fought the Nevermore was a winding path that led back down into the forest. A much nicer route than trying to climb with one arm again.
I focused on my bugs and walked into the forest.
Five blocks still. There hadn't been a change for my power's range, even through the chaos of combat and everything.
I wasn't sure what that meant, or if something had happened to my Passenger.
Meditation, hypnosis, or talking had never worked before, but something still needed to be said.
I stopped, making sure I was far away from any of Ozpin's cameras.
"Passenger…" I stilled all my bugs completely, an attempt to get my power's attention. "I wanted to… thank you. I wish there had been another way, but we still did it. I hope you're okay after everything"—our 'fusion'—"but I'm glad you're back... I don't know what I'd do with myself without you." The last confession hit deeper than I expected.
As expected, there wasn't any sign of an answer, but I didn't regret taking the time to say it.
I found my target deeper in. More of those spiders specialized in web-spinning. Regardless of Aura, I wanted the extra armor of spider silk, and most of the students I had seen needed some armor as well.
The spider came to me so I wouldn't have to deal with the Ursa that lumbered between the two of us.
I continued my hunt, gathering what bugs I could and stashing them under my armor for transport back to Beacon.
Time to start breeding my swarm.
Ozpin
The chess pieces formed neat groups on my desk, all but one. The red queen piece stood alone, away from every group.
I took another sip from my mug. Chocolate and warmth were a comfort while I chastised myself.
Team placements had become an easier matter over time. I had known so many different people throughout history, I thought myself skilled in understanding others and how they would work together. The gears didn't always fit together perfectly, but they had always turned.
I was now paying for my arrogance.
The quest for the extra relic confirmed more of my understanding of Taylor Hebert, but her proficiency in coordinating others had blindsided me.
She had noted everyone's fighting style, organized them, then in a large battle, she had gauged when and how to support the other students as needed, all despite having just met them.
Experience guided her tactics and moves; I had only theories as to where she'd gotten it.
She would be proficient as a team leader, but there was apparently little for her to learn in terms of military planning.
I had called Peter about his thoughts on the matter. From what he had seen during the initiation, he claimed that Taylor had shown the mindset and thought processes that three years of military tactics classes were supposed to ingrain.
Placing Taylor in a leadership position would just deprive another student the chance to develop such qualities.
Her dubious history and memory also made me hesitant to make a decision.
I rearranged the pieces once again and placed the red queen piece beside the black queen pieces.
Team HARRT (Heart), perhaps? I smiled; making up team names was part of the fun. Alice wasn't a leader, more of a subtle guide, while Reina was too impulsive and harsh. Though, the team didn't need a wrangler. They were incredibly different, yet able to bring out new things in each other.
Taylor would be wasted on the team. Their skills were unique but not very powerful or complementary. The same was true with what drove them. With Taylor, they would be effective, but they wouldn't be instrumental.
My fingers traced the screen of my Scroll until it brought up the desired scene from the initiation.
Miss Hebert darted around Grimm and ally alike, setting up other Grimm to be finished off or killing Grimm about to attack another student, all the while avoiding the majority of the Grimm's focus.
The level of battlefield awareness was astonishing. She stayed close to Jaune Arc until others could take her place in protecting the less experienced fighter. Using Grimm against one another.
It looked almost rehearsed, like she knew what the Grimm were doing and reacting before they could act. Her Semblance must be some sort of area perception after all, a coveted ability for battlefield tactics of any kind.
I frowned at the next part, where Miss Hebert broke away from the rest of the group to attack the Nevermore. She undoubtedly saved both Russel and Sky from being eliminated from the initiation.
Sadly, I did not think the two boys showed any gratitude for the act. Glynda had been ready to jump in just as Taylor made her move.
The problem with the act was that she didn't tell her fellow students or ask for assistance. It showed an instinctual preference toward working alone. Or a much more dangerous belief that the others couldn't be trusted to do the job.
I shifted the red queen piece once again, this time to the pair of black bishop pieces.
The boys were quite brutish and selfish. I knew the type; they would be problems in the beginning, but they would also fail because of it. From their failure, they would blossom into promising Huntsmen.
Taylor would be another method of reforming them. From her interaction with Miss Schnee and her general demeanor, I had little doubt Taylor would stand for any belligerence the boys might try to engage in.
Team TDRCS (Thunderclouds)? They would resent her until they realized that they were becoming true warriors. I did think they would ultimately limit Taylor though. It would take years for them to follow her without hesitation or resentment. Not having her be team leader only increased the timeframe. Those years would just be time wasted with Taylor fighting with the boys to cooperate. Years we might not have.
I set the bishops aside.
Next, the white rook pieces—most likely the best matchup. Jaune had shown promise in being a leader, and I knew he could grow into one, despite his lack of Huntsmen education thus far. Those of the Arc family had always been as such. Having Taylor on the team would give him someone to push him to grow. However, it would be best if Jaune found that strength on his own, instead of relying on others for it.
Perhaps the leadership position would work better for Taylor... Jaune would still grow into the emotional leader of the team; he had the makings of someone to uplift others after all.
However, while Taylor was effective, she shared so little about herself—her history or her emotions. I was worried about her building a sense of companionship within the team.
Though, Taylor would make the best use of them. Their potential and synergy would be frightening under her guide. Team AVLNH (Avalanche) with Jaune as the leader or HARPN (Harpoon) with Taylor as the leader.
Finally, I glanced over at the white knight pieces, the biggest risk.
Ruby's potential to use her silver eyes was too promising to undermine by placing her anywhere besides team leader. She showed great aptitude for the position, which was only natural considering her parentage. As leader, she would have the most pressure to grow as both a person and Huntress, pushing her to activate the power hidden within those eyes. A power the world needed.
Taylor was too much of an unknown, and her allegiances were, as of yet, unclear.
Blake's past could be used as something for the team to overcome and grow together, as well as hopefully provide some form of closure to the former White Fang member. I was sure that they could work through it.
Weiss's attitude and drive would help incite Ruby's ability to bring those around her together, while also showing the heiress that there were more valuable things than skill and achievement.
Yang would be Ruby's support and strength, someone who could always bring the young girl back on her path if she should lose her way. Meanwhile, Ruby would be Yang's center, a reminder of what a Huntress should and could be. They were each other's lighthouses.
It was a team that was almost designed to elevate one another through and beyond their troubles to become Huntresses. Fate, it seemed, had brought those four together. They would become a team that could help decide Remnant's destiny. At least, I hoped as much.
In contrast, Taylor was a mystery. Goal-oriented and determined, but closed off, her history unknown. I was sure that she had remembered more than she was telling. I had prompted her to use amnesia as an excuse in hopes of her choosing to open up, or that I'd be able to find out more about her on my own, but both seemed unlikely.
I didn't want to push the issue. Not yet anyway. She was too skilled to be an unknown, too experienced to have appeared from nowhere. Whoever she was, it could hinder Ruby and the rest of her team.
This would have been a lot easier if Taylor was less versatile and capable than she had shown she was.
I nodded to myself and placed the red queen back with the rook pieces.
My scroll flashed an alert—'Incoming Call from: Blossom Gleason'—and I answered.
The screen flared to life with the picture of Blossom's white office. She wore the same bright pink shirt under her lab coat as yesterday, small bags hanging like weights under her eyes. Had she not stopped working since we'd last talked?
"Ah good. I hope I'm not interrupting anything, Oz." Blossom gave a polite smile, but her exhaustion seeped through.
"Of course not, Blossom, I was the one who asked for your help. Though, I didn't mean for you to spend all night on it."
"Is it that obvious?" Her head slumped with a sigh, curly pink hair shifting with the movement and falling in front of Blossom's small spectacles. She spent a moment trying to blow the strands back in place, to no avail. "I just lost track of time trying to find out what I could about this thing you had me looking at."
"Thing?" My eyebrow raised at her choice of diction.
"Yup. No clue on what this thing is or how it works and the rest of my team won't let me call it the 'Super-Miracle-Backpack!', so we're calling it 'thing' until I can come up with something better." The energy in her words surged when she said the name then dipped back down. "I don't even know how it would be possible to make something like this. I couldn't find any place where the Dust to power it could go. All the circuitry in this thing is so tiny. And there's so much in it too. Not a single bit of wasted space, everything looks to flow so nicely. Almost impossibly so. Not even Atlas stuff is this cleanly designed. I took copies of the layout and everything to base future blueprints on, that's how advanced this thing was made. I don't even know what it does and I'm learning from it. Where did you say you got this thing again?"
"It's previous owner left it behind after a hospital stint." Possibly because it was held in another part of the building. "I thought it would be something worth looking into, but I didn't anticipate its intricacy."
"Would it be possible to get in contact with the previous owner then? I would love to talk shop with them. They would probably take my job but at least I'd learn a lot."
"Unfortunately, the previous owner is… indisposed for the foreseeable future. We won't have a way to contact them for some time. Is the device truly that impressive?"
Blossom reached off-screen and brought forth the item of discussion, the hi-tech backpack's metal shell having been removed to show labyrinthian circuitry within.
"From what I can tell, the S.M.B., pending a cooler name, was made to control whatever used to extrude from these openings." She moved the backpack around to show sections along the sides and back that might have once housed some form of extremity but were now empty except one, which held a metal cylinder with a melted end.
"Is there no way to determine what that was used for or what it ended in?" I asked.
"None, the insides are melted halfway through, along with any clues for what it did." More questions, all leading to dead-ends. "There are also these," she said holding up an odd white metal disc of about an inch in thickness. "There are four of them and I don't know what they do. No one here does. I haven't even been able to look at half of it yet because of how complex it is. I haven't been able to put some of it back together because I literally don't know how it all fit. It's like there's more stuff inside it than should be possible. The interface is totaled, no chance of recovery. I'm sorry, Oz, this thing is as magnificently engineered as it is incomprehensible."
A device beyond what Vale's brightest could understand? Not even an inkling? Yet there had been no attempt to retrieve it or keep it out of our scientist's hands. Who would keep such advanced technology secret if they were willing to let it be discovered without a fight?
"I might have to invent other devices just to properly examine it because of how minuscule some of the parts are," Blossom continued. "Basically, please hurry up and get whatever wizard magicked this thing into existence so I can give them a super doctorate in mechanical engineering... and probably a few others." Blossom had always had an unwavering determination for her work and despite her peppy remarks, I could feel the defeated air about her.
"That is… as surprising as it is concerning, Blossom. Thank you for everything. Again, it isn't a rush by any means, so you can examine it at your own leisure. I don't want you to overwork yourself."
"Of course, thank you. The only reason I stayed to work on it was because of how frustrating it was not being able to parse anything substantial about it." She grated the words out like it hurt to say them. "I'll get back to you if I find out anything else but this might be something to send to Atlas if you really want to know about it. They have the best facilities there to look into this backpack-thing."
"Take care, Blossom."
"You too, Ozpinnnnnn," Blossom drew out my name as I watched the miracle of inspiration shine to life within her, and she shot up from her seat. "The Haversack of Infinite Possibility! H.I.P.! It's genius! I'm trademarking it!"
I ended the call as Blossom ran off back into the depths of her lab off-screen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Taylor appeared in the middle of the city, no cameras catching her entry. Not entirely implausible considering the girl's apparent ability to sense the environment around her. She could have avoided the cameras if she wanted.
Then, she had a hostile encounter where she was shot from behind. Meaning possible ties to a dangerous group. She was in possession of this strange backpack that she hadn't asked about, or had chosen to leave behind. Was it because she had forgotten about it, because it was functionally useless, or because she didn't want to have a connection to it?
Her Scroll's search history showed her researching the basic history of Remnant. It was as though she had forgotten all the general things about the world but still remembered abstract things like the rules of chess.
This latest development did not at all help in my decision for what team she should be on.
It seemed that Taylor had ties to a group or individual who built a device so intricate that the best engineering team in Vale had to resign themselves to give it up to Atlas. Or at least she used to have such ties; whether she knew of them now was entirely unknown.
She was much too guarded to give up the information at the moment. Her searches of Beacon and my own practices and history were enough to see that she was paranoid regarding our interests in her, and my own interactions only fortified my belief that she wouldn't reveal anything she didn't want to.
Thus, I needed her to open up.
Whatever group she was connected with could be a powerful ally, or a devastating enemy.
A new player on the board.
The elevator doors opened up and Glynda stepped in.
"Have you finished the team placements? We need to create the graphics for the presentation." She slid a folder on my desk, the final checks for the ceremony.
"Not quite." I waved to the pieces on the desk, the red queen isolated from the rest.
"Miss Hebert?"
"Her placement has been… difficult."
She tilted her head slightly in thought, before returning to her ramrod straight posture. "I would suggest placing her with Jaune Arc's team."
"Your reasoning?"
"Someone to train with. They are both below the level of the other students in combat, Jaune much more so, and he doesn't have her tactical mind to make up for it."
That could work. A way to get Taylor to open up, two underdogs trying to catch up.
I smiled. Glynda was a stern arrow leading straight to the heart of the issue; it was why I treasured her advice.
"Thank you, Glynda, I happen to agree." She nodded in return, all business.
The red piece was moved beside the white rook pieces, and Team HARPN was born.
"I will finish—" The chime of the elevator opening cut her off, and Taylor Hebert walked in. Serendipitous timing, to be sure.
"Miss Hebert, should you not be getting ready for the ceremony?" Glynda asked, even though there was an hour before the event started.
"I needed to confirm something with Professor Ozpin," Taylor stated, her voice a hairbreadth shy of monotone, the barest sliver of iron peeking through.
"It is no trouble, Glynda. I can spare some time."
"I will see you there, then." Glynda gave me another nod before heading into the elevator.
"What may I help you with, Miss Hebert?" I gestured to the chair in front of my desk.
She didn't look around the room, not to investigate or admire. She went directly for the chair and sat down. "I wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to be on a team." Her tone was controlled, almost inhumanly so.
"Why wouldn't you?"
"That was why I got the unique relic."
"The relic was so that the leftover student without a partner could pass the exam."
She paused, the only indication she was frustrated. "If I must be on a team"—her words were clipped but level—"then I want to make sure that I'm not in the leader position."
Interesting. "May I ask why?"
"I wouldn't be a good leader." Her tone dipped, not on 'leader', but on 'good'. She knew she could lead, but where was the hesitation then?
"You seem unsure." She frowned, if the barest tug on her lips counted. Taylor was one of the least reactive people I'd ever seen. That made her very hard to read, which spoke volumes, none of them good. "What is the problem, Taylor?"
"I… I'm not confident that I…" If anything, her expression steeled into a rigid mask, her words the only hint that she spoke from a place of emotion, more than before. She was forcing herself to be honest but hesitating. Trust issues? Yes, but not the root of the issue; she was trying.
"You're afraid." She tensed, then shifted slightly in preparation to flee—no, to lunge.
"I am." The pieces fell into place, only to show that the puzzle was far from done. I knew the look that flashed in her eyes before it was quickly hidden away, it was the same one I saw when I looked in the mirror. Guilt.
"Of others?" I had suspected a history of abuse or bullying before, though it was a guess more than anything. Perhaps she had remembered more.
"No." A single word, yet a heavy meaning.
"I understand." The burden of leadership, guilt from failure, the need to persist despite the pain. She did have some memories, just not good ones. "You will not be placed in a leadership role."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"That does present a problem though. You have the aptitude"—as well as the experience, but that was a story for later, evidently—"for strategy and tactics, one that could easily fill a leadership role."
"You don't want to waste the skill," she said calmly.
I almost reeled from the insinuation. "No, Taylor, I don't want you to waste your talent."
A few blinks were her only sign of surprise. "Okay."
"We'll go over your role then."
The next twenty minutes was a discussion that shifted into a battle of concessions. There was no shouting or arguments, but my every proposition was met with a dozen clarifications that subtly tried to chip away at the oversight over her.
She needed to be the one to set her own schedules and rules.
Finally, we had a base outline that she agreed on, and she left for the ceremony.
The elevator doors closed, and I was left to take another sip that emptied the mug, along with another chastisement.
Arrogant.
I had misread the young girl.
Her story was worse than I had thought. A tale that I needed to know.
An idea formed, a way that may even negate some of the risks I had seen.
I typed a message to Miss Rose, asking for a chance to talk after the ceremony.
One can not gain anything without risking something, and I don't have any trouble placing my bets on you.
Taylor
We waited in a side hall of the auditorium, Ozpin's voice dull through the wall as he spoke.
Ruby whispered to Weiss ahead of me. "Ohhh I'm so nervous. How are the teams going to go? What if—"
She was cut off by Weiss's finger. "You're my partner, so I'm sure we'll be fine, okay?"
Her reassurance was both thoughtful and arrogant; an... interesting combination, but it worked to calm Ruby's anxiety.
Goodwitch gestured for us to shuffle forward, ready to head out at any moment.
"I will point out those who are going up. Go directly to stand in front of Professor Ozpin, then exit off the opposite side of the stage behind him," Glynda stated and pointed to the first four students to go, the group I had passed near the relics.
They walked through the door and the crowd's murmuring filled the hall, along with Ozpin's voice.
"Alice Roimata, Chesh Aronia, Reina Brandr, Mirana Tahti. You four retrieved the black queen pieces. From now on, you will work together as Team RABT (Rabbit). Led by, Alice Roimata."
A round of cheers filtered through the walls.
Glynda then pointed to the four boys, the two pairs that had chosen not to help us against the Deathstalker, including the two we had saved from the Nevermore.
"Oh god, she's pointing to the people who are gonna be on teams together." Ruby panicked, her foot nervously bounced faster than should be possible as rose petals seemed to peel from the red of her hood.
"It's fine, look who's left. We'll be fine," Weiss said, obviously wanting Ruby to keep quiet under Glynda's gaze.
Glynda did another round of pointing and the rest of us moved to the mouth of the hallway, the sound of the audience and Ozpin much clearer now.
"Jaune Arc, Lie Ren, Pyrrha Nikos, Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR (Juniper). Led by, Jaune Arc!" Ozpin announced to the school.
That was surprising, to say the least. While Jaune had shown some aptitude for strategy, he himself was… lacking in fighting abilities. It was almost like he had trained in fighting with Aura as little as I had. I was unsure of the logic behind his placement.
Glynda gestured for me to wait at the entrance, the door open so that I could watch.
"Next, Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From today onwards, you will work together as Team RWBY (Ruby). Led by, Ruby Rose."
The roar of the crowd covered the sound of Yang crushing Ruby in a hug. Weiss looked disheartened at best, trying to hide some inner conflict. Blake wore her usual blasé attitude.
"Finally, I would also like to call out Taylor Hebert, a last-minute participant in the initiation who, on top of passing, was able to solve the temple's puzzle and retrieve the red queen piece."
I walked out, and the eyes of hundreds of students followed me.
Above the stage were two large screens displaying the pictures of Team RWBY, but they slid off the side as my picture came in.
I joined Ozpin beside the stage.
"Miss Hebert showed a unique capability during this initiation, a proficiency in tactical thinking and coordination that we would have expected in our third or fourth years. Thus, we have decided to place her as a liaison amongst the teams, having her assist her fellow teams in missions when needed."
The crowd clapped and cheered. All I felt was anxiety.
This was my first step in deciding how I would live my life, and it started with me being responsible for helping others learn to lead—a position I didn't trust myself with, but now had to teach others.
Four in, hold for seven, out for eight.
I wasn't sure if this was the right path, but I needed to try.
Chapter 10 End
Author Notes:
Hearts to Juff, Breakingamber, Sigravig, Max J, Chris C, Majigah, Joshua C, and Demifailure (As well as another person who wishes not to be named but still deserves many hugs) for catching my crap.
Team RWBYT is dead, long live the new guard! But seriously, I think this will add a much more interesting layer to RWBY's relationship with Taylor going forward, even if it means that the teams follow canon more closely.
HAVNL became HARPN, because that was better. Team RABT was better than… whatever name I had in before, fits their new theme better too.
Blossom Gleason is based on famous mechanical engineer, Kate Gleason, but pink.
The flight pack was in another part of the hospital, in a sealed container. It was broken, and the staff didn't know if there was volatile Dust inside or not, so it was locked up for safety. It is very different from the Dust powered technology of Remnant, especially since it's Tinkertech vs Dust tech.
