Chapter 6: Converging Interests
Remnant, Kingdom of Vale, Beacon Academy
POV: Professor Ozpin
Premise: As the Reds and Blues debate over the threat of Torchwick and the White Fang. Several new factions take an interest into the Blood Gulch Crew.
Beacon Academy stood as a sign of hope to humanity and four kingdoms of Vale, Vacuo, Mistral, and Atlas. The Academy along with Shade, Haven, and Atlas worked to teach young men and women to become huntsmen and protect humanity from the creatures of Grimm. A day of peace was coming soon: The Vytal Festival, and celebration of culture, and other stuff from each kingdom. This year, it was hosted in Vale and big preparations were to be made as soon as possible.
Within the tallest tower of Beacon Academy sat a man with messy white hair. He wore a black dress suit and overcoat with a green scarf. A pair of glasses were on his face as he examined his large scroll.
Professor Ozpin: the headmaster of Beacon Academy.
"...and you're sure there was nothing there Qrow?" Ozpin asked the man on his screen
"I'm sure Oz." Qrow replied, "The Queen has been silent for a while now. Ever since we found Amber nothing else has happened."
Ozpin sighed heavily, "Alright."
"But there is something I want to know." Qrow muttered, causing Ozpin to perk up slightly,
"Go on." Ozpin replied
"Several days ago, a large village in northern Sanus was attacked by a White Fang battalion." Qrow explained
"Well, the areas far away from Vale are a good place to cause harm." Ozpin muttered, "Was it a small force?"
"No it wasn't." Qrow replied, "In fact, it was led by Adam Taurus. The leader of the White in Vale."
"Intriguing." Ozpin muttered
"The attack was so massive, that Grimm started making their way into the village." Qrow continued, "That was, until help arrived."
"What kind of help?" Ozpin asked
"Well, here's the catch. I don't actually know who it was." Qrow explained, "Eyewitness reports claim that whoever they were. They looked like Atlas military."
Ozpin rubbed his chin, "Well, Ironwood did say that he was coming to Beacon. Perhaps he stopped to help these people."
"He didn't Oz." Qrow replied, "Cause I just got off the phone with James, and he didn't even know what I was talking about. I have video footage courtesy of some of the villagers of these soldier's. They're blurry, but they're something. I'll send them to you now."
"That'll work." Ozpin said to him
"Alright, see you around Oz." Qrow replied before ending the call.
Once the call ended the elevator door opened and out stepped a woman around Ozpin's age. She had light blonde hair tied into a bun with several strands hanging loose. She wore a white blouse with cuffs, black skirt, and heels. A black and purple cape was on her back, and a riding crop firmly in her grasp. Her overall appearance looked like a witch.
"Well, I finally got the cafeteria cleaned up after the whole food fight incident." she huffed as she walked up to Ozpin's desk.
"Professor?" she asked him
"Hmm?" Ozpin muttered before he took notice of her, "Oh, Glynda. Sorry, I just got off the phone with Qrow. Said he found something."
"About her?" Glynda asked
"No." Ozpin replied, "Something else. A village up north was attacked by the White Fang. Several individuals of military appearance saved the townsfolk."
Glynda scoffed, "Ironwood had to have something to do with this."
"I think not." Ozpin explained, "Qrow said he talked with Ironwood, and he claims he knows nothing about it."
Glynda crossed her arms, "So who do you think it was?"
Ozpin placed his scroll on his desk and several holographic images appeared in the room. Each image was slightly blurry, but showed either Grimm of members of the White Fang getting slaughtered by what appeared to armored soldiers.
"These are images Qrow sent us." Ozpin explained, "Not the best evidence, but they get the job done."
"Did Qrow tell you how many soldiers were at the village?" Glynda asked as she examined a picture of a pink-color soldier.
"Unfortunately no." replied Ozpin, "But from these photos,I suspect that there are at least 12 soldiers."
"They look...familiar." Glynda muttered
"Indeed they do." Ozpin replied
Glynda looked at him, "You don't think-"
"I do." Ozpin cut her off, "We'll explain this to James when he gets here."
POV Change: The Reds and Blues
It had been several days since the Reds and Blues saved the small town from the White Fang and the Grimm. Afterwards, the two teams made their way south. Gathering intel, and anything that was resourceful about Remnant. But their overall plans were now at a complete stop. While in the village, they had an encounter with someone who had the mad eye on Ruby: Roman Torchwick. Apparently, he is a wanted criminal and domestic terrorist charged with theft, and destruction of private property. He had friends in powerful places and won't stop until his goals were achieved.
The Reds and Blues were now residing in an abandoned village. It was slightly bigger, and didn't appear to attack abandoned from either Grimm or a White Fang raid. Rather, it just seemed semi-constructed and left alone. The village itself was funny enough, surrounded by snowy boxed canyon. The perfect place to make a base.
Carolina was watching over Wash who had just taken another dose of his medication.
"...So I thought I was back in my Freelancer days?" he asked as he held his neck
"Yeah." Carolina replied, "You neary shot me."
Wash looked down at the ground, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." Carolina assured him, "You did fine."
"Are you sure?" Wash asked her
Carolina was silent for a moment, "...I'm sure."
"Hey lovebirds." Grif said as he and Simmons walked up to them, "How's the neck holding up."
"In the condition I'm in." Wash muttered, "FUBAR."
"Damn." Simmon replied, "Sorry to hear that. I don't think I'll be able to whip up an antidote in time."
"And with Dr. Grey back on Chorus, I don't think we'll get her medication in a while." Grif added
"Did any of you notice when we tried fighting those three crazy guys, we couldn't injure them?" Carolina asked the three
"Oh that?" Grif questioned, "That was their aura."
"Their aura?" Carolina repeated
"From what we learned from Team RWBY, aura is a manifestation of one's soul." Simmons explained, "It's kinda like the energy shields built into our armors. But aura is more natural, and can heal wounds."
That last sentence caught Carolina attention, "What did you say?"
"What did I say?" Simmons repeated, "Didn't you hear me?"
"That last sentence." Carolina said to him, "Say it again."
"Aura is more natural, and heals...wounds." Simmons trailed off, "No way."
"Yeah way."
Later…
The Reds and Blues were all sitting in their new common room/command center. A large holotable with several seats surrounding it. Red Team sat on one side, Blue Team on the other. Tucker on the other hand, sat at the head, wearing a white powdered wig, and holding a small hammer.
"I now call this Red and Blue meeting to order!" he said in a funny British accent
"Hey! Judge Kavanaugh!" Grif shouted, "Drop the act!"
"Ugh, fine." Tucker groaned as he tossed the wig aside, "Now, our mission to see Team RWBY cause some shit, has to be unfortunately postponed."
Both teams, minus the Freelancers and Locus, all groaned.
"Look guys, I'm sorry but now we have a problem." Tucker explained, "Carolina?"
Carolina pulled up a hologram of one of the three individuals they encountered a few days ago.
"Roman Torchwick." Carolina muttered darkly, "Wanted for murder, theft, destruction of both private and military property. Now a domestic terrorist. How about that."
"Ok." Sarge replied, "But what does he have to do with Ruby? We know those two didn't hit off very well."
"According to the records Simmons recovered while hacking Vale's communication tower." Tucker began, "Which by the way, good job Simmons. Ruby met Torchwick while the former was robbing a dust shop in the city of Vale. Torchwick got away similar to how he did the other day with us."
Carolina then continued, "Several months ago, the entirety of Team RWBY encountered Torchwick at the dock in Vale. They managed to sabotage quite a lot of their property in the process."
"Impressive." Locus muttered, "Most impressive."
"Well, they're skills definitely painted a target on all of their backs." Doc spoke up
"What about that red bull bastard?" Kai asked Tucker, "Or that ice cream chick?"
"We're still looking through the files Kai." Simmons explained, "It's gonna take some time."
"So, what do we do now?" Donut asked the million dollar question
Everyone looked at Tucker for an answer, "Well...like I said we were originally gonna find Team RWBY and cause some shit. But I'm starting to think we should just cause some serious shit."
"What are you thinking blue?" Sarge asked him
"We're going to war fellas." Tucker announced, "Against Torchwick, and the White Fang."
"Hot damn!" Sarge shouted, "Finally! I get to fight! Someone go get my shotgun!"
Wash on the other hand, had a different take on the idea, "Are you guys sure about this?"
"We are." Carolina replied, "Besides, it will tie in with your condition."
"My condition?" Wash questioned
Carolina then spoke, "The people of Remnant have aura, which is capable of healing wounds at tremendous speeds. If we can capture a White Fang soldier, maybe even Torchwick, we could-"
"Ok, stop." Tucker cut her off, "Just stop."
"What?" Carolina muttered
"Carolina, we can't just take someone's aura." Simmons explained, "That's like Nazi experimentation/alien abduction shit, meets...uh...Pet Cemetary."
"Maybe it doesn't have to be." Carolina countered his claim, "I found out from the files you got from the CCT Tower that people can transfer their aura."
"Carolina" Wash spoke up, "Its still a an unnatural idea. Besides, we don't know what will happen to aura when it becomes one with my body. I am not from Remnant."
"We have to try." Carolina insisted
Simmons sighed, "Are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure." Carolina replied, "Tucker?"
Everyone looked at the aqua soldier for an answer, "Fine, but we do it humanely. Nothing creepy. Got it?"
"Got it." Carolina answered
"Alright." Tucker muttered, "Let's get to work."
POV Change: City of Vale
Within a dark warehouse in the industrial district of Vale. A large portion of the White Fang was using it as a base of operations to conduct various attacks on the city and its inhabitants. Roman Torckwick was there, along with Neo and Adam. Torchwick was overlooking every goon that was either working or conversing with one another. Adam was leaning against a support beam sharpening Wilt. While Neo was sitting on a storage crate.
A voice interrupted their peace and quiet, "Heard you got into a fight? Why'd ya run off?"
The three looked and noticed two individuals walking up to them. One was a boy with fair skin, messy silver hair and grey eyes. He wore a black and gray jumpsuit with fingerless gloves and combat boots. The latter of which had ammunition straps on them. Next to him was a girl with dark skin, short mint green hair, with two longer sections in the back, and red eyes. She wore a brown crop top and brown and white pants. She had two pistol-like weapons on her back.
Adam sneered at the two sudden appearance, "We didn't run, and we especially don't need your idiotic comments Mercury."
"Don't listen to him." the girl spoke up, "He's still jealous that we couldn't go on your mission."
"That's because it would sabotage your boss's objectives at Beacon my dear." Torchwick replied as he turned around.
Adam grunted, "Maybe we could've used the help. I lost nearly all of my brothers."
"What happened?" the girl asked curiously
"Well if you must know Emerald." Adam said to dryly, "We nearly had the entire town under our control. Torchwick was gonna round up all the dust, and I was gonna kill the humans. Until those colorful bastards from Atlas showed up and ruined everything!"
"Truthfully, I personally don't think they were Atlas soldiers." Torchwick muttered
"What makes you say that?" Adam sneered
"Because I agree." a seductive voice replied
Another figure walked to them. It was a woman with fair skin, long black hair that draped over her left eye, and amber eyes. She wore a dark red dress with gold accents.
"Cinder my dear." Torchwick said to her, "Welcome! I was wondering when you would show up again."
Cinder looked at Torchwick before looking at everyone else, "I believe Torchick here, has some information about our colourful new friends."
Everyone then looked at Torchwick for answers.
"While the three of us were in that village." Torchwick explained, "I had the pleasure of speaking with one of those walking tin-cans, the blue one to be exact. It appears that he has history with…"
Torchwick held up Caboose's pendant to show everyone.
"...Little Red."
"The pathetic child leader of Blake's huntress team." Adam growled
"Those ladies?" Mercury questioned, "Great."
"This information is surprising to say the least." Cinder spoke up, "But we must be cautious. They aren't a threat, not a pressing one at least."
"What?" Adam questioned, "Why!?"
"They will play their cards carefully." Cinder explained, "And when they do...we will crush them."