More than one way to protect you

by Z-ro

It were the huntsmen who told him, his spirit was willing, just not able. What else is a thirteen year old kid supposed to do? Jaune did not know what a patrolman was, but it was his only chance to be someone that could protect people. Picture by Perfilles-Studio.

13. Chapter 13 Patrolman

Jaune woke up with a lethargic groan. He shook his head to get some bearings. He had slept hard last night and only vaguely remembered Penny telling him to lay down. Jaune tilted his head and popped his neck with another loud grunt. Jaune grabbed his scroll to see the time and seemed happy enough with six hours of sleep.

The patrolman felt far more rested this morning than the last few days combined. He quickly got out of bed to shower and dress. His scroll beeped at him. Seven a.m. meeting in Koben's room. Jaune walked into the hotel room a floor below him to see the group already together. Jaune raised an eyebrow. "Sorry. I didn't know I was late."

The group smiled and each raised a coffee cup in greetings. Andrew teased, "We were unsure if you would sleep any longer. We got word from Beacon."

Jaune looked at his own scroll and just barely remembered Ozpin would still think he was out of range still. "What did he say?"

"The Council is putting a request to speak with you on hold until you return to Beacon."

Jaune smiled. "Alright then." Jaune sighed at the lack of tea and poured himself a coffee, he needed the extra caffeine anyway. "Anyone you need to keep an eye out who may be coming in while we start the operation?"

Penny looked out of the window to the building entrance. "Yes. Four men usually are escorted inside around noon. But not from the main entrance, they would enter through the staff entrance in the back."

"It's not an entry point we can use either. It's opened from the inside from God knows where." Andrew supplied.

"So we are going with Penny's plan then?" Jaune asked, pleased Penny was able to take an active role in planning the assault.

"Yeah." Andrew agreed after looking at the younger girl. "Penny's warrant officers said they had everything sorted when I called them."

Penny smiled slightly. "It was the best I had. If Arthur Watts is still involved and finds I had entered the tower, he will either move to leave Vale or come to find me. As long as we make him move we should be able to find him."

Jaune sighed. "Thanks Penny. I had no idea your family had a history with him."

Penny swallowed something in her throat. "My grandfather used to work with him. Watts would know my name right away. When you were gone, it was my only real plan to flush him out. It is just a shot in the dark though."

Jaune lost his good humor and nodded. "It's good enough if Andrew and Koben thinks so too?" The two older patrolmen nodded in agreement. "Alright then. Think you can handle being a member of a family then?"

Penny nodded. "Be assertive. Don't give an inch. I will be fine. I remember everything you taught me about the families."

Jaune tilted then scratched his head. "Just don't get carried away. I'll get into position and wait for Penny's signal. How much time do you think you will need?"

"Not sure. Getting to see the tower will take a while. Once I'm in the upper floors, no more than two minutes. I think as soon as all three of us are in, security will draw to us regardless. I confirmed that the guy who is unfamiliar with the families is present. He will be your key man to get in, Andrew. If they don't play along, you will have to stand guard and mess with the Vale PD."

Koben grimaced. "Let's hope not."

There was a knock on the door that interrupted their meeting. Koben immediately stood up and moved to the side of the door. The rest moved out of the way of the door. "Who is it?"

"Hotel staff sir."

Koben opened the door slowly and looked at the man. "Can I help you?"

The young man had black hair and a sleepy look to his eyes. "I just wanted to let you know that your package has arrived."

Koben relaxed slightly against the half open door. "Thank you. I'll check out shortly and pick it up."

Koben closed the door and waited until the bellhop was gone. "Looks like it's time to go."

The group nodded and went to their rooms to pack. Jaune had nothing to pack and simply waited for the others. Penny somehow had a collection of shopping bags that made Jaune curious to why she thought it was a good idea to even shop. His question was answered when Koben and Andrew set their travel packs with her purchases.

Penny smiled brightly at the receptionist. "Can you deliver these to Beacon Academy addressed to Penny Polendina?"

The cleric glanced at the bags. "Of course."

Jaune grabbed one of the four backpacks that were delivered to the hotel that morning. Penny, Koben and Andrew took their own and quietly looked at each other. It did not take long for the four patrolmen to leave the hotel each with a bag in hand.

"See you in a bit." Andrew waved as he took off in a full sprint. Koben smiled and waved at the two and did the same in the opposite direction.

Jaune secured his backpack and stretched his back. He wouldn't see any of them until everything was over. He was not too concerned with Andrew and Koben. But he gave Penny a look and patted the girl's shoulder. "Be careful in there Penny."

Penny gave him a smile that reached her eyes. "Yes sir!"

Jaune nodded in return then sprinted south while Penny took off towards the northern side of the city. Jaune was surprised how fast Penny's team managed to put these together. It was still early morning. Which meant they had come down personally to drop them off.

Jaune weaved into traffic to avoid the sidewalk pedestrians. A few vehicles honked in surprise as he ran past the slow ones in the city streets. Off the main roads Jaune looked at his scroll as his toes touched and springed off the pavement. Seventeen city blocks that curved around westward led him into the industrial sector. Jaune smiled slightly as he spotted the gate Penny walked into the city for the first time. It seemed ages ago but was barely any time at all.

Jaune slowed to a stop and hopped over a fence that blocked off the lower levels from the rest of the city. The noise of the busy city streets fell nearly silent against the soundproof walling. These groups of buildings were housing for the workers that lived in the area. It was in the newer sections of town. It showed with the modern creature comforts like sound dampening walls. Jaune moved past several people who paid him no mind. Someone that confident had a purpose and was easily tuned out.

Jaune went inside the apartment building and up the elevator to the thirtieth floor. Jaune found the right address and knocked on the door to the residence. Penny pointed out this location was perfect as the southern point mostly because Jaune knew someone who lived here.

"It's open Jaune."

Jaune laughed at the aggravated tone. "Morning Midori, just dropping something off and I will be out of your hair. I'll come and pick it up tomorrow."

Jaune went to Midori's balcony and knelt down to take the heavy canister out of his bag. He went quickly to set out the stand and turn it on. Jaune opened his scroll and grinned at the signal. He stood up and left the bag next to the canister.

"That's nothing illegal right Jaune?"

Jaune shook his head. "Hey, it's me. I wouldn't do anything illegal."

Midori scratched his head in a lazy sleep deprived gesture. "It's too early Jaune. Just be careful with whatever you're doing."

Jaune walked to the door and could already hear Midori's family begin to stir from their rooms. "Just let it run. I should be done using it by noon but can't pick it up right away."

"Something big then?"

Jaune grinned thinking of the last few times he had to call Midori in at the last moment for his cases. "I atleast I know what kind of show I'm walking into this time. It was good working with you."

Midori looked at Jaune's extended hand. After only a second, he took it. He was more alert when Jaune offered his hand. "You too Jaune. If you need anything..."

Jaune gave his friend a melancholy look. "Not this time."

Midori watched Jaune leave his home. The older man stared at the door for a few moments and back at the canister. "Damn."

Midori's attention was turned to his little girl who seemed to have escaped her room. He knelt to his daughter and kissed her head. "Go ask mommy for breakfast sweetie." When the pudgy three year old toddled back to his bedroom, Midori walked outside to the balcony and just watched the city. "Stay safe Jaune."

-o-

Penny looked at herself in the glass reflection one more time before she walked around the building. Her head was shaded by a wide brimmed summer hat and she wore a long green dress with a puffed white top. It was just thick enough to cover the vest the other patrolmen insisted she wore in case she had to identify herself to the police. Penny had taken the time that morning to admire herself in the mirror with the vest on. The memory made her smile at her reflection in the glass as she inspected herself one more time against the building glass. Finally she approached the doors. Penny thought she looked good. Maybe she was getting a hang of dressing herself to look good. She'll have to ask Bernedette.

Penny walked into the building lobby one more time with her small hand bag over her shoulder. This time, two of the receptionists recognized her.

"Miss Polendina?"

Penny smiled happily, "You remembered! I trust someone is ready to greet me this time?"

Two of the men shared looks. "Of course Ma'am."

Penny nodded and clasped her hands together. "Splendid! I would like a Atleasean Rose, cold, if you have any." Penny ordered as she was led to the elevator.

"I will see that it is done Ma'am." The oldest receptionist offered as the elevator door closed behind her.

Penny watched as the three men that followed her into the elevator scrambled on their earpiece to speak with someone. Penny rocked back and forth on her toes as the elevator ascended. She was unsure if she did a good impression of Bernadette, but the group made nothing of her playful attitude. She stopped in mid rock with her standing on her toes when the man looked up to her. She let her feet fall flat to the ground.

"We have a manager who has authorization to speak to you on our owners behalf. Mr. Canus will meet with you shortly."

Penny cheered as she raised her shoulders. The elevator opened and she walked ahead of the group. "Lead the way."

The man spluttered and looked to the guards helplessly. Penny watched the one that spoke earlier scramble to get ahead of her and lead her down a hall and into a large meeting room. Penny ignored the offered directions to the meeting table and took a seat at the couch facing the windows outside. She leaned back slightly to look over her shoulder. "Thank you very much gentlemen."

Penny took off her hat and placed it on the coffee table. She blissfully ignored the three men as they took positions by the door.

-o-

Koben took his position at the coffee shop and spotted Andrew sitting at a brunch place diagonally across the four way light. It looked like Penny had already gone in when he was still getting into position. Andrew across the way raised his drink a fraction when their eyes met. Koben did the same and took a sip. The waiting was the worst part. He hoped the kids were not going stir crazy while they waited.

-o-

Penny smiled as she analyzed the tea. "Oh, this is different." She looked up to the man that sat across from her. He had dark grey hair with only a few lines of black threaded through his scalp. He had been nothing but gentile.

"It's my favorite blend, Miss Polendina. I hope it is to your liking."

Penny looked up from her cup without turning her head. "Very much so." Penny took her time to sip one more time. The man seemed to sweat more as he looked anxiously at her. "Well, on to business. I've come because of the tower."

"What do you mean?"

Penny set the tea down and simply lowered her eyes. Her face was neutral. "One of the families in Atlas lost a lot of money due to a sting operation. We traced the leak to the lack of security communicated to Vale."

The man's eyes widened. "We have not heard of any breach on our side… I am sure you are mistaken."

Penny just stared at him. An uncomfortable amount of time passed as the man waited for her to say something.

Nearly two minutes passed when Penny took her tea again and sipped it. "I need more tea. Someone made a mistake. Cold water steeped for at least ten minutes."

That stopped Mr. Canus. His guard who walked forward at the man's waved hand. "Of course."

Penny watched as the man came with a tea tray. Penny's eyes bore into the manager with that same neutral stare. "Make sure that is the only thing that disappointed me today Mr. Canus."

Mr. Canus slowly stood up. A guard quickly took her tea and carried the tray of tea away. "I will speak with my owner. I am sure we can arrange something."

Penny grinned widely. "Thank you very much! I hate working on my vacation."

The man seemed to have sunk his shoulders even further. "Yes Miss Polendina."

-o-

Andrew watched as there seemed to be activity at the entrance of the building. "You watching this Koben?"

Across the street Koben seemed to look at something on the table. "Yeah. Police shouldn't be here this fast. Do we go now?"

"No. We'll wait and play it out. I'll send Penny a message."

Koben closed off the link. Andrew saw him lean back into his chair and waved at the waitress to get something. Andrew sent the message and watched the four police officers. Two squad cars sat right in front of the entrance.

Andrew was tempted to send a message to Jaune, but was reluctant to do so. The kid would have a hard enough time focusing without the added distraction.

-o-

Penny did not even register that she received a message. Her new tea was slightly cooler than the first but with a higher concentration of tea. She simply sipped it and set it back down. "Thank you Mr. Canus."

"Of course. I have word that the administrator is on their way."

Penny raised her lip slightly. "How long?"

"An hour." Canus said. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief.

"Do you have someone else I can talk to?"

Penny stood up. The man started to speak but was cut off. "No one greets me as I entered two days ago. They do not offer to take a message. I have given you warning I would return and you are ill prepared to receive me. And now, you are wasting my time and my money on some stupid idiot that does not know how to do his job. Let me speak to someone directly or I will leave."

Mr. Canus took out his scroll and dialed a number. "Sir?" There was a dead silence on the line before Penny could pick out the words in the conversation. They seemed to have expected this. The manager passed the scroll to her.

"Penny Polendina speaking."fargesii

"Miss Polendina. My name Is Lilium Fargesii. I apologize for not greeting you in person. I was not made aware someone from Atlas would be in Vale."

Penny exhaled exaggeratedly. "I was in The Mountain and was called to Vale." She ignored the flinch from the guards who were listening in. They knew of the resort. "I am sorry for being abrupt with Mr. Canus. I just need to verify the leak came from Vale. I have the time stamp and number to look up. I can do the rest personally."

"Very well. I will allow it. If you have time this evening, I would like to invite you to dinner in apology."

Penny's smile filtered into her voice. "I will consider your generous offer. Thank you Mr. Fargesii." Penny saw the number of the scroll as she handed it to Mr. Canus. He simply nodded to the man over the phone.

When Mr. Canus closed the scroll he looked to Penny. "This way Miss Polendina."

Penny hummed to herself as she followed. She sent the message to the three other patrolmen. Entering communications tower. We have their guests heading to our location. They said an hour. I am expecting half an hour at most.

-o-

Koben grunted as he stood up and placed a few bills as a tip on the table. His empty cup was tossed into the bin and he briefly let his eyes pass over Andrew across the street with a quiet nod. Koben took the long way around the street corner to move behind the building and into the alleyway used for buildings to load cargo. It was empty barring a loading truck the next block over.

Koben groaned with exertion. He rarely needed to get more than twelve feet up a wall. His feet pounded four times up the wall where he reached a ledge and pulled himself up to a perch to watch the alley. He opened his scroll. "Clear out here. No police either."

Andrew answered back. "The law enforcement went inside." After a brief pause. "The counter looked to know them. Probably on the family's payroll. They should be flushed out when we start."

I am inside and searching for the timestamp now. Penny called over the line. There was a slight synthetic tone to her voice. Andrew was not even sure how she could talk and not give herself away to the security inside. We will need to adjust our plans. This tower is a lot larger than it was described in the Vale municipal archives. Whoever has been running it has been expanding on it for decades. Backup generators start on a sub basement and connection terminals are threaded through the first four floors. Some kind of data center is housed in the seven through sixteenth floor. The higher I go through it all, the more it looks like this building is a giant station just to support this tower. Well it makes my job a lot easier.

Penny went dead silent while she sent commands into the terminal. Ok, the mini towers are connected now. I got a cross section mapped across the city. Jaune I can ping any scroll you want and give you a direction.

For the first time Jaune spoke up over the comms. "Penny. If you are expecting company, look for the connection record for the family member you spoke to."

Got it Jaune. Just a moment. Found it. I am sending you the ping to your scroll now. There was a concerned note when Penny pointed out, That shouldn't have been that easy. It looks like this tower has open access to the network. It does not go through any of the security protocols that the CCT integrates into its connection. I'm locking it up for now. It looked like someone was in the middle of reassigning something…

Jaune. The location of the admin sign in is the same location as the Fargesii address. If that is Watt's he's probably coming to the tower now.

-o-

"Be careful then guys. Andrew?"

"Yeah, operation is starting now Penny."

Jaune ended his connection to the group and followed the blinking light to the address. It looked like Penny was right. It would only take a car little under half an hour to get to the tower.

Jaune ran along the side of the street and weaved through the slow moving cars caught in traffic. When it looked like the traffic was coming to a halt Jaune ran to the side and kicked off a car bumper to clear a car that came to a complete stop and then some. Cars honked in alarm as he passed the intersection through equally slow cross traffic and veered off the main road. Jaune felt more than saw his toes in front of him while he jumped to clear a gap between roads that lowered into a ditch. Finally he finished going through the short cut and was back on a main road with less traffic. He sped up a little faster with the room and followed the ping. After a long run he slowed to catch his breath and looked at the roadblock ahead of him. The whole region he had to enter was guarded and walled with a checkpoint and armed guards.

Jaune ran off the road and along the wall for a few minutes and found that it never ended nor did it turn into a corner. "This is the closest to the point without going across the wall." Jaune took a moment to breath and sent a message.

Entering property.

-o-

Andrew and Koben met back up at the entrance of the tower. Their vests were fully on and equipped with hip bags and metal capped gloves. They were noticed by the guards and receptionists before they even stepped inside.

"Can I help you sirs?" Asked one of the receptionists.

Subtly the guards at the elevator stood straighter. Their attention was firmly on them.

Andrew walked forward to the desk while Koben stayed at the entrance. "Patrolmen Andrew and Patrolmen Koben. We have reason to believe that a wanted criminal is inside this building. Please contact the manager." Andrew pulled out his scroll and presented a long distance photo of Penny's hair and her hat taken a few minutes before Penny walked in.

Koben pressed the send button from his scroll.

We are in the foyer.

Koben listened as the receptionist and Andrew spoke. When it looked like they were cooperating, Koben made his way to the elevator. "Good morning. Is this the only access to the building upper levels?"

Both men stared at his vest. One reluctantly answered, "No. There are two fire escapes and another set of elevators directly attached to the loading bay in the back."

Koben nodded and patted the one who spoke on the shoulder. "Show me. We need to evacuate as many people as possible out of the building and need to use every option we have."

Koben whistled at Andrew and got a wave in acknowledgement back.

One of the receptionists watched the pair as they separated. "I sent out security to start to notify the first two floors. But it will take a few minutes for employees to evacuate."

"Very well. What floor is the subject on?"

The receptionist looked at the security camera. "She is currently with our manager. They are on the twenty eight floor. As soon as Mr. Canus was alerted that she was a person of interest, he moved her to a section of the building where there were the least amount of people."

Andrew nodded. "Commendable, I suggest your security detail not approach her. Me and my partner will."

-o-

Penny listened as several footsteps walked down the hall towards their door. They walked with a purpose and Penny felt ready when the closed door behind her was knocked on.

"Excuse me Miss Polendina." Offered the manager as he stood up from his chair. He had been hovering over her shoulder as she worked.

Penny looked towards the window reflection and realized it was the two police officers that Koben and Andrew mentioned earlier. One leaned close to Mr. Canus. While it was a whisper, Penny heard it clear as day. "Council was just informed that the patrolman is back in the city. The word is being spread to all the families."

Mr. Canus took a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and wiped his forehead. "Thank you. Does Mr. Fargesii know?"

The men nodded.

Just before they turned to leave, Penny pulled up her dress to pull a black bar that had laid securely against her thigh. She threw it over her shoulder and went back to typing. The black bar unfolded to a longer beam and smashed against an unsuspecting police officer's stomach before it spun and hit the second officer in the cheek. The bar flew towards Mr. Canus and hit him square in the forehead. It spun quickly to hit the door close and flew back to Penny's up raised hand where she placed it back against her thigh.

Penny lowered her dress back down and raised her left hand and pulled three fingers down. The line attached to the tip of each went taunt and the three unconscious men were dragged deeper into the room.

Penny went over the code one more time before she pushed to change the administration point of access to her current room. Penny finally spared a moment to make sure they were all alive and not badly injured.

Penny leaned back and finished her tea. "That was good." She was forced to admit she liked the tea. She pressed the button and she heard the blip from her scroll that it lost connection before another blip alerted her she had been reconnected to the CCT. Penny set down her cup and sent a message out to the other patrolmen. The police were here to pass on the word Jaune is back in town. All the families are being informed now.

There was a moment of silence before she went to one of the officers and shuffled through his jacket until he found his scroll. Only four calls in its history over this morning. She was happy to find Mr. Canus had his on him as well and scrolled through both until one of the numbers was found on both of them.

Penny quickly dialed the number from the police officers' phone.

"Has the message been sent out?"

Penny was not sure who it was. But Jaune did remind her that he gave the families a message last night. "The officer had been spreading the alert. Thank you for that. I would like to remind you Jaune Arc has informed the families they should not interfere. For your own protection and the protection of others, pass that message along." She clicked the scroll closed to end the call.

"That should do it." She said aloud to her unconscious audience. She stood up and walked to them. "Hopefully this will be all over by the time you all wake up."

Penny looked back to the terminal that was now logged out and shut down. Green energy coalesced into her hand for a brief moment before she released the discharge into the old disused computer below the monitor.

The tower was effectively shut down. Only she had access to connect to it and knew the new location where the system would allow an admin log in. Right now the antenna would barely function to send out a radio signal rather than a CCT communications signal.

Penny picked up her hat she left on an unused terminal and put it on before she walked out the door. She made sure it was locked when she shut it. As she made her way to the elevator, two men ran past her. She took that as a cue to follow them but a much more leisurely pace.

The elevator opened. Two men who had stood guard at the first floor spotted her, "Ma'am, Please come with us. Two patrolmen are on the first floor and are looking for you. Have you seen Mr. Canus?"

"No, he said he had to take care of something and left a few minutes ago. I wanted to see what the alert was about." Penny frowned as she wordlessly followed them. It was time to see what else this tower offered.

-o-

Jaune carefully jumped over the tall barriers and picked up his stride back into a sprint when he touched on the grass. The brick courtyard and fountain welcomed him as he approached the side house towards the main mansion. Jaune was unsure what he felt when he walked into the glass double door unnoticed. His heart was calm. No. resigned. Jaune had held out hope when he left Anvil that he would never have to kill anyone. If he worked in Vale proper, he would have the support of the police and huntsmen to overwhelm or deescalate any situation.

I really was naive.

Jaune watched a small group of guards make a patrol. He exhaled and knew he needed to assess how difficult this would be. He walked out of the room and called out to them. "I have a few questions for you."

The group rounded and started to pull their side arms at the intruder when they did not recognize him. "Hands up!"

Jaune followed the instructions as they cautiously moved closer.

"Identify yourself." A second man ordered. He looked to be the youngest of the group but the leader.

"Jaune Arc."

The leader immediately backed up and waved for his group to do the same. "What are you doing here?"

Jaune tilted his head and let his eyes go over the group. "This family has aided in the grim invasion attempt by the White Fang. I have come to remove that threat."

Several guards looked back and forth at the news. The leader frowned and pulled his pistol. "I don't believe it. Capture him."

Jaune actually never knew what others saw when he moved. His thighs burned as he went from standing to a full sprint from a single step forward. The group only showed a reaction that he moved at all on his third step forward just as he was nearly face to face with the leader. Jaune moved past him to his target.

Jaune ducked his shoulder under one arm and around another. He needed to remove the one in the back that was reaching for a scroll. None of the guards were prepared for him to hold the rear guards' wrist. Jaune twisted it in his hand and applied pressure to the man's thumb. A loud pop followed by a cry of pain followed before Jaune grabbed the scroll in mid air and pocketed it. "I don't want to fight you. But I will if you block my way. I do not have a lot of time."

The group looked to the downed person before they all unanimously fired their guns. Jaune reached for a hip pocket and threw a small heavy weight. The cylinder was made of nylon and dense and heavy sand. At a dead throw it could knock a man off balance. At a run it could even knock someone unconscious. Against so many people it would do little by itself. Halfway across the distance between them, the small bag exploded from the gun fire releasing a sand so fine it clouded the entire section of the hall. Jaune threw a second bag in a full sprint. Jaune heard one more round of dust fire as someone was knocked over from the bag.

The cloud of dust parted as he ran through it and planted a foot against the wall to leap into the air. His hands touched the ceiling. Jaune grunted as he pushed hard against the ceiling. Two metal encased boots crushed against the first gunman. Gunman's body collapsed in a heap. Jaune rolled and swung his arm against the achilles tendon of the next man.

"My foot!" was abruptly cut off as Jaune covered the man's mouth from out of his roll and raised and crunched the man's skull against the marble floor.

Jaune's legs moved from his crouched position to a near full leap to close the distance of the next man. Jaune grabbed the next man's gun hand by the wrist and pulled it towards him. He kicked the man with his steel tipped toe against the man's neck. He crumbled against the wall. Jaune took two steps to the next guard. With less people around him, they were able to be more accurate with the gun fire. Two rounds fired. Jaune threw the gun he had just disarmed at the one on the right and spun and crouched low to enter the man on the left's stance.

The guard's arm was already fully extended and had attempted to follow Jaune's movements to shoot him. Jaune took a single step forward with the momentum concentrated into his fist that met the guards' chin. Jaune felt the solid bone immediately give way. The patrolman felt the jaw shattered behind his metal capped knuckles. Jaune felt more than saw the drenched blood that ran over his glove. The man fell to the floor, his face a bloody mess.

Jaune spun and extended a hand into an edge down on the next man's arm that had already aimed and fired a shot that went wide. The sound of bones cracking echoed loudly followed by the next guard's cry of pain. Jaune kicked the man out of the way and stepped over him to a wide low stance with a fist extending to the man behind him. Metal studs on his gloves buried into the next man's stomach. Jaune's free hand at the same time punched downward to knock the man with the broken arm out.

Squelch.

Jaune refused to look at the mess that laid on the ground.

Jaune stood and watched the rear guard as he cradled his broken thumb against his chest and tried to shakily use his left hand to aim a gun. Jaune swallowed and breathed deeply to recover his breath. He couldn't think about being nauseous now. "I won't hurt you if you don't attack me."

The man looked at the pile of his group behind the invader. "What?"

"I am only after the person who aided Athur Watts. I don't care what happens to the family after that." Jaune answered honestly. He took a tentative step towards the last man and slowly moved the tip of the gun away from him. "Are there any guests in the building that I need to avoid?"

The man shook and leaned back against the wall now truly cornered. "No. The last guest in the home left less than an hour ago."

Jaune looked around the man and asked, "Did they leave in a rush?"

The man looked down to his comrades then nodded. He sighed and surrendered. Jaune pulled out his scroll and showed Atlas' criminal portrait of Arthur Watts. "Is this the man that had just left?"

The guard nodded still too much in pain to really think of anything but answer honestly.

"How long had he been here?"

"Months. All the guards have been rotating security-detail on the man's room along with his friend. They never wanted to be disturbed. Him and the other red head guy only went with Mr. Fargesii when there was a serious meeting." Jaune pulled the stolen scroll out of his pocket and asked impatiently, "Can this scroll send a message to all the guards?"

Jaune could hear more guards inside the mansion. If they didn't hear the fighting, they certainly heard the dust fire. He needed to speak to them now before they were committed to fight him.

The guard nodded and raised his hand to take back the scroll. He clicked two buttons and handed it back to the patrolman. "Everyone can hear this if they are security when you start the call."

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"Gelb. Gelb Ahm."

Jaune nodded and raised the scroll to his mouth. "I'll remember it. Stay alive until then." Jaune exhaled for a moment.

"Hello." Jaune paused. He could almost hear the sudden silence as he got the attention of every guard. "My name is Patrolman Jaune Arc. Family Head Fargesii. You stand accused of treason. Surrender. Any resistance will be met with deadly force."

Jaune waited and reluctantly lowered the communicator when there was no response. He turned and tilted his head to Gelb and moved further into the mansion. Jaune swept the hall for any guards but they seemed to have moved aside or, more likely, gone to protect their family head. Jaune remembered that some of the people he had just fought were likely branch family members. The hall broke into the main entrance where he finally had access to the second floor.

He had no wish to try and walk through the servants entrances to the next floor. Too many places to hide and too many people who would not want to fight would be placed in danger. It was better to make sure the danger came to him where he could control the setting. Jaune paused at the second platform that made a turn to the second floor and listened. The second platform only carried him half way up to the second floor before the stairs split into two opposite directions and up to the second floor.

Jaune leaned to his right. It was faint, but there seemed to be some noise coming from that direction. At the top of the stairs he only poked his head slightly but felt the wave of dust rounds explode past him. "Ah, a barricade."

Jaune moved back down half the stairs. He could hear noises again down stairs. It looked like a few guardsmen were using those servants entrances to come down and pincer him. Jaune started up the set of stairs he ignored earlier to the other flight of steps. In this hall, the rooms went to a hall that was not connected to the barricade. But that was fine. Jaune quickly ran by a few rooms until he stopped next to a small recessed part of the wall that had a small discreet door.

Jaune knocked on the door. "I am opening this door."

Jaune cautiously opened the door but kept his body laid against the wall. When nothing seemed to attack him, he entered the entrance and looked around the room. It looked to be more of an interior wall than an actual room. The siding was exposed where walls should be. The exposed support beams were converted into shelves with blankets and towels were neatly organized. Cleaning supplies lined the next one. Jaune walked past it all and found what he was looking for. Another entrance that led down stairs. In front of the first floor door, he knelt next to the door and opened it slowly. There was shuffling and whimpers from the room. Jaune swore slightly. Servants.

Jaune stood up and walked out of the room. A few gasps made him look in the direction of the servants who had taken to hiding against a table and desk. Three men and five women. Two children.

Jaune was about to raise his bloodied hand but thought better of it and raised his left relatively clean hand and made a silent shh. "I'm not here to hurt you. I am just passing by."

Jaune was not sure how he would have handled seeing a bloodied handed man with dust marking his head and chest walking out of what looked like a closet. But he thought the kids handled it well. They simply turned to the adults and cried silently.

Jaune walked past them and to the hall. Already he could see that the men that were sent to flank him had made their way upstairs and were alerted they lost track of him. Jaune sprinted down the hall. His toes pushed against the floor to dampen the sound of his boots. The sound might as well have been mistaken for the sound of an engine for how fast the sound repeated down the hall. Jaune ran past the stairs and down to the hall they had barricaded above him. The guards should have secured the servant entrances. With the guards spread as thin as they would get, now was a good time to try one of those entrances.

Jaune went to the end of the hall and looked into several rooms. Servant entrances on the first floor didn't open directly to the halls, but into the rooms themselves. Jaune found a door ajar and knelt as he slowly moved into the room. It was empty but the door to the servants entrance was open. Jaune pulled out the scroll from the guard. He raised the volume just above zero to listen.

-wing is clear. Moving onto Scarlet Hall.

Lock down doors as they are cleared. If he's gone we'll send the clear signal.

Jaune left the door open and approached the servant entrance. He leaned back against the wall and raised the scroll to his mouth. He clicked the scroll to broadcast long enough for him to inhale and cut it off. His boot slammed against a chair and into the wall creating a loud noise.

Jaune waited. His heartbeat was his only company. Eventually urgent footsteps from above him entered the servant room and down the stairs. The servant door creaked open wider. Jaune slammed the door shut on the person as they walked in. It stunned what turned out to be a woman with a firearm. Several voices shouted in alarm as Jaune opened the door and palmed the back of the woman's head before tossing her into the room to give him room in the stairway. Three more men pulled guns. Jaune leaned forward and grabbed the first man's foot and pulled it. The man collapsed backwards making both of them miss their shots. Jaune kicked against the stairway wall once on each side to climb several feet above the base of the stairs.

A tip of his left boot landed on the second guard's side the same time Jaune grabbed his shoulder and pulled him forward down the stairs. Jaune quickly used his right foot and his left hand to steady himself against the walls and twisted his hips to swing his free boot into the final guards knee where it crunched. That man fell in a pained whimper and tumbled down the stairs. He surveyed the four as he listened to the scroll's open channel on all four guards. None of them looked as if they would be in any fighting condition.

Jaune sighed unsure what he was thinking at the moment and poked his head out of the servant door. Apparently no one knew exactly which door made the noise over the scrolls. That group seemed to have just heard it since they were there. Jaune was behind the barricade with four men and women. He looked to the other side of the hall. Down it looked to stop having rooms and was likely some kind of study or library.

Jaune rolled out of the door and ran to the barricade. The staccato of his footsteps like an engine warned the group but not before Jaune was on them. Jaune slammed his fist into one man's kidney, turned and grabbed a guards arm and twisted it. The man nearly spun in mid air as Jaune carried him like a shield to take out two more guards with a single kick to the chin and stomp against a woman's lungs.

Jaune let go of his human shield and turned him as he was slammed against the wall. Jaune took a single step forward and slammed his fist into the last man's stomach at nearly his full running speed from sprint. His voice gurgled as he slumped to the ground.

Jaune looked around. The scrolls were silent. Jaune didn't realize how hard he was panting until he swallowed the lump of saliva in his mouth. He honestly couldn't remember when was the last time he didn't hear his blood pump in his ears. Jaune made his way down the hall to the study.

The door opened easily. Not even locked. Jaune walked in carefully.

"It's just me Jaune."

Jaune didn't relax. That did not mean that he didn't feel his stomach drop. "Good morning Roman."

Roman Torchwick half turned his head. A cigar in hand. His hat was off and his jacket hung over the chair. "Just one more drink Jaune." He stood comfortably in brown slacks and a red long sleeve silk shirt. Brown suspenders moved as he shrugged his shoulders.

The patrolman watched as Roman poured himself another tumbler of a golden liquid. The lump in Jaune's throat made it difficult for him to ask. "Is… it just you?"

Roman gave a humourless laugh. He looked up to the ceiling. "Like hell I would have Neo in on this. She's around. I have her keeping busy and out of the way."

"I didn't see any of your men down there."

Roman tilted his head as he stretched his neck. "What's the point? He wanted a top dollar mercenary. I am more than enough." The nearly inaudible 'usually.' was added just before he finished his drink.

"Where is Fargesii?" Jaune asked as he walked closer into the room.

"Can't say. Breach of contract." Roman set the glass down and put his bowler cap on. He set down his cigar on the ashtray and took his cane off the back of the chair.

"The contract was to come to Vale wasn't it? That's the only reason why you even came. Did you know beforehand?"

Roman gave him a wry smile. "Come to Vale. Protect the family. After the last one bit the dust I understood how cagey Fargesii had been. But this? Naw. I had no clue and it was too late to amend contracts." Roman was looking at something on the bar before he picked up what turned out to be a picture and pocketed it. "Thanks for waiting."

"For what it's worth. I'm sorry." Jaune apologized.

"Save it for Neo." Roman raised his can and fired the opening shot.

-o-

Penny looked around curious at the safe room she found herself in. It was sealed off from the inside with a few camera monitors for the security that ran it. Penny relaxed in her seat and watched the camera feed. Koben and Andrew had taken to observe the guards work while the first five floors were evacuated from the building. Penny didn't like the speed they were moving. Whoever was coming would be there soon. Everyone needed to be out of the tower before then.

Penny stood up and walked to the two guards next to the man that ran the security.

"Young man." Penny addressed the controller gently. He was anything but young. The man had a full trimmed beard in an expensive suit.

"Yes Miss?" He asked while he carefully watched the cameras.

"We need to make the patrolmen think I left the building. Trigger a fire alarm to make them think I am leaving in the chaos."

The man understood immediately. "Yes Young Miss."

Penny smiled and took a seat in time to hear the faint sounds of the fire alarm trigger throughout the tower. She reflected on the safe room. It really would have been a place they would have found troublesome to find. The entrance was next to the elevator shaft and used the angle of the building to hide there was a spare office room behind the elevator.

Penny hoped that Koben and Andrew could speed up the evacuation. Her warrant officers were ready for the next part. But she needed these people out of the building.

-o-

Andrew waved to the guard nearest to him. "Have the guards move from guiding people to just posts at the exits. Light red hair. Stop anyone and check to make sure it's not her. Once everyone is out, and if there is no sign of her, leave the building as well. Lock us in. We'll sweep the tower ourselves." It took a few minutes but a few hundred people were making their way out of the building by the two sets of stairs from the upper levels.

Koben sent out the message privately to Andrew and Penny. Floors are emptied. How much time do you think we got Penny?

Penny sent the message back immediately. Not even five minutes. I expected whoever would come to be here already. The guards in the vault are subdued and I secured the manager and dragged him in here as well.

Andrew smiled. The girl had been busy. He spoke into his scroll. "Go ahead and start it up Penny. We'll wait for anyone to come in from down here."

Koben grunted in agreement over the scroll on the back side entrance. Andrew leaned against the counter at the front and waited.

Three short minutes later Penny had triggered the evacuation warning. The sirens outside droned into a loud whine announcing a grim attack in the area. Andrew watched in satisfaction at the reaction of the people who had once been milling around the building. In short order people had run to the shelters.

Andrew looked at his scroll. Emergency grim invasion protocol has been initiated. The city is in lock down. Huntsmen had been ordered to go to Beacon to organize and defend. Walls have activated turrets and officers are on high alert for grim. We have a few hours before anyone realizes it's a false alarm.

Andrew grimaced. They would have hell to pay for this stunt.

-o-

Jaune did not bother with the sandbags when Roman fired the first shot from his cane. It was aimed at the floor to disrupt his legs. Roman moved his head and eyes to attempt to follow Jaune while he ran around the length of the hall. Each dust shot was aimed at destroying the ground in front of the patrolman.

Roman paused just long enough to adjust his aim. Jaune kept his pace until Roman fired a shot that he would have run into. With a lot of torque against Jaune's ankle, Jaune stopped all his momentum with his one foot and kicked back off to go the opposite direction. Without breaking stride Roman followed where he expected Jaune to go. The fraction of a moment to realize his mistake was all that saved him. Roman raised his cane and barely parried the fist with the barrel. Once he pulled back to block again Jaune spun on his toe and leaned low at the waist before he swung his bad almost healed hand into the man's elbow. Jaune grunted as his arm guard crunched against Roman's elbow. It was enough to force the arm clear to his ribcage.

Jaune's eyes widen at the opening. The thud of several unobstructed blows hammered against Roman's ribcage. Roman body lifted a few inches off the ground from the onslaught where he was pushed into the air repeatedly unable to get a footing to back away or defend himself.

CRACK

Jaune barely stopped himself from pulling back as he felt the sudden flash that destroyed the remains of Roman's aura. His already metal covered knuckles buried themselves into the older man's body.

Roman coughed a loud wheeze as something crunched beneath Jaune's fist. Blood began to seep from the older man's mouth. Roman growled and made an attempt to turn his cane and fire one last shot into the Patrolman's chest at point blank range.

Jaune felt training take over as he numbly ran his right hand along the length of the barrel pushing it out of the way and slammed his fist dead center of Roman's heart. Millimeters after he made contact, his fist thrust forward into the man's chest one more time.

Jaune blinked at something he had not realized he held in his eyes. He took a step back and watched as Roman gasped for air and clutched his heart. The mercenary looked disappointedly at his hands before empty eyes looked back to Jaune and collapsed. Jaune stared unsure what to do with the mercenary as he struggled to breathe. Behind him deep in the city, the grounding sound of the Grim Sirens blared.

-o-

"If anyone is listening, come to the study. I have a man down in critical condition."

Neo shook her head in horror before she looked to Fargesii who blustered at the sudden hostility. She glared at him and pointed to the door. Fargesii quickly waved his small group of guards to lead the way towards the landing pad in the courtyard. Neo picked up her parasole and disappeared.

The world warped in colors before Neo stood in front of Roman. She knew she was heaving silent sobs. He laid there weakly holding his chest. His breathing was shallow and his eyes lazily looked at her. She shakily reached for his hand. He seemed to realize who he was looking at and touched hers briefly before his eyes screwed shut and his hand went limp.

Neo shook silently before she stood up. She turned to Jaune and glared at him.

Jaune looked shaken at Roman's unmoving form. "Neo, don't do this."

Neo pulled her sword from her parasol.

"Neo!" Jaune called her urgently.

Neo took a single step, her sword already drawn back to full thrust. It moved in a silver ray of light right into that kids fucking mouth.

The kid's body moved. Neo was sure that the sword had already entered his mouth before he moved. But he had dodged. Barely. She felt a sudden vindictive satisfaction at the long nearly fatal cut that marred his left cheek and into his hair line. Blood flowed easily from the cut.

The kid uselessly tried to put his hand to it but that didn't stop the bleeding.

She hated this. She hated being a mercenary. She hated being mute. She hated how the world turned on her. She hated Roman for dying. But most of all she hated Jaune.

A silent hollow wail of air escaped her throat as she charged at him one more time.

-o-

Andrew waited at the front entrance to the tower. It was eerie to see the streets empty during the middle of the morning. He stood away from the door and walked outside. A man in a long black jacket that went to his knees walked in the center of the street. A sword in its sheath at his hip. The man had several scars that ran across an eye. It was the man Jaune described to them thanks in part to Miss Belladonna's description.

Andrew called out to the man. "It's a poor day for a walk Adam."

Adam Taurus glared back. "Human. You will not stop my revolution." Adam sprinted towards Andrew.

Andrew matched Adam's speed perfectly. The pair met in the center of the road cross section.

Adam roared as he drew his sword. The red blade arced across to biset Andrew's chest from his torso. Adam blinked at the confusing vision that the patrolman seemed to shrink and disappear. His only warning that the Patrolman was beside him was the shadow at his feet. Adam flared his aura as the first wave of hits covered his side. The unease turned into near panic as his aura rippled across his body in a way he never felt before. Adam swung his arm away to bat away the patrolman.

Andrew jumped back well clear of the arm before it even began to have the momentum much less the aura to truly hurt him.

Andrew hopped up and down like a boxer for several steps before he sprinted forward. A pair of cuffs in his hands. He watched as Adam swung his sword several times. His body flashed with aura before he took another single step forward. His speed seemed to double for the first three steps before he stopped. It seemed more like a fighting pattern to Andrews' eyes rather than aura infused speed.

Adam took several steps towards the patrolman. Each step blackened his body in aura. Every movement accompanied with a swing from his sword. Andrew felt the timing of the movements and stayed just out of the range of the mans' sword. His handcuffs flew the moment Adam pulled back his sword for another swing. The loop of the cuff slid over the sword. Andrew ran the cuff to the hilt and twisted the metal ring until the chains of the cuffs locked together. Andrew now had a better leverage on the sword than Adam did by holding it by the hilt. Andrew swung a steel toe into the sword wielder's ankle, back of the knee before he rotated his hips and stomped on the side of Adam's knee. Adam barely budged from the blows.

Adam nearly smirked at the seemingly ineffective attack. He took another step forward into Andrews stance to get his leverage back before his aura did a flip flop as it tried to move across his body to react to the blows to his leg. Adam nearly stumbled. He pitched forward slightly.

Andrew took the opportunity to twist the cuffs further and pull. Adam Taurus' body began to over extend. Andrew moved his free hand across Adam's side to find the spot to hit and slammed a fist into Adam's liver as he fell.

Andrew let go of the cuffs to jump stomp onto the man's liver one more time. Adam fell flat onto the floor and felt his body get pushed into the ground one more time. He was about to get back up until he felt the excruciating pain in his side.

Andrew jumped back before the terrorist decided to retaliate with a hand infused with aura. It would take some time to thin the man's aura, but all it takes is even a slight unexpected pressure to fell any man to a hit to the liver.

Adam punched the ground and it cracked from the blow. Andrew was still a long way from breaking the man's aura. "That human was right. Damn it. Fine. I tried my way, I'll try his way."

Adam slowly got up and grabbed his sword. He pulled it back into its sheath and glared at the patrolman. His body turned black with his aura. When the patrolman was in range Adam pulled the trigger in his sheath and the sword swung widely out in a sharp quick draw that blurred the air red.

Andrew dodge as soon as he heard the trigger explode in the sheath. It was the only thing that saved his life. The sword draw was easily three times as fast at Adam's first draw.

Adam glared. "Let's see how you dodge these." The faunus' body turned black and he started forward intent on a single draw to kill the patrolman.

-o-

Koben stood quietly in the loading bay when he heard the boots hit the pavement inside the hangar. The feet paused before the man in a relaxed baritone drawled, "You have me at a loss. I had expected Jaune Arc or Penny Polendina."

Koben raised an eyebrow. "They are both busy. Arthur Watts, you are charged with conspiracy to commit mass homicide."

The older man laughed. "Under whose authority? Patrolman." He spat out the word in disgust. He walked forward and pulled a pistol from his jacket. Koben sprinted for the man and dodged to the right when Arthur's pistol fired.

Koben was nearly incinerated by the pillar of flame that burst from the stray shot. It hit the ground and plumed upward into the ceiling and engulfed anything within its range. Koben dove to the ground and rolled twice to extinguish the fire on his back before he completed the roll into a kneel. He didn't have time to look at the last fire when he heard a clicking sound.

Watt's pistol barrel clicked over twice before he fired again. Koben watched as he dodged the aura infused shot and it hit the wall behind him. Now knowing what to expect, he had moments more time to dodge the pillar of ice that burst from the wall and deep into the room.

"You are going to run out of room keeping that up Watts." Koben grunted out. He jumped over the pillar of ice as another click from the man's gun fired a small back ball of energy. Koben was getting an idea of what that weapon did and made clear distance. The black ball hit the pillar of ice in an earth shaking crack. The pillar collapsed into itself, chunks of the pillar not in range of the gravity bullet fell to the ground in shards of ice.

"I've already addressed those problems!" Arthur taunted. The barrel clicked once more and fired into the ice ball. It exploded into powdered snow.

Koben, who had taken cover behind a truck, peaked out and placed a foot against the snow. That's going to make running hard.

"I take it I'm not the first patrolman you met?" Koben stalled to think of something.

"I have been preparing since Ozpin had that brilliant idea. I have to give the man credit…" Watts took the time to inspect his weapon before he pointed back to Koben's cover. "One patrolman was more than enough to ruin things. Seeing you here though. Maybe people were just not prepared to kill you all."

Koben used his cover to gain momentum before he took two steps onto the new snow. It had already melted to a degree and slushed on the ground. He allowed himself to slide on his feet a few meters before he clicked something in his hand. The truck he hid behind exploded on the snow free side and rolled twice towards Watts. It was impossible for the truck to have reached him but it was enough of a distraction for Koben to have grounded his feet into the concrete to get traction. With a herculean effort in his thighs to keep his legs under him, Koben sprinted and slid towards Watts. He let himself fall to the ground and under the line of fire as the older man turned his pistol and fired in his direction.

Koben kicked out to the man's ankle the same moment another plume of fire engulfed the room behind him. Koben's foot made contact with an aura that nearly repelled him backwards. Koben used the remains of the repelling momentum to kick upwards into a handstand. His right toe kicked hard into Watts' armed hand. Again, aura blocked the damage but the weight pushed the man's hand into the heel of Koben's left foot. This time Watt's grunted.

Koben pinched his heel and toe together and pulled against Watts' wrist. Watts grunted in alarm as he was lifted into the air and swung onto his back. Koben was about to mount Watt's chest to break the old man's aura when the whole tower shook.

Watts, in desperation, titled the guns' barrel into the ground and pulled the trigger. A plume of fire engulfed him. Koben screamed and jumped off the man and rolled on the ground several times to put out the fire using the slush to speed up his recovery. The rolls were enough to give him some distance. His jacket was still smoldering when he stood up. Watts took the time to stand up and walk out of the inferno. His aura gave off a life of its own as it protected him.

Outside the garage door, something akin to a faint whine began to get louder. Both Watts and Koben paused to look outside. Scattered glass just barely began to touch the ground before a cloud of dust and concrete lifted off the ground from the impact. Penny held her summer hat firmly on her head and lifted up her dress to walk over the crater.

Penny watched Koben go. "Hello Mr. Watts."

Arthur glared at her. " Ever polite. Just like your creator."

Penny lifted the hem of her dress and five black bars flew out and unfolded into four swords and a single jet engine that hovered behind her left shoulder. "We really don't have a lot of time." Penny waved her hand forward. The four blades circled around Watts. He attempted to fire one of them before the black bar hovering over Penny's shoulder flipped over her shoulder and fired a narrow precise beam against his hand.

Arthur grinned as the beam hit something before making contact with his aura. Penny simply looked at her weapon. The intensity increased but the energy shield around Watts remained.

Penny frowned and looked to Koben. "Sorry, I'm about to fry your scroll." Two sets of swords burst to life in electricity before the blades crossed the length of its pair. The loud screech that followed made both Koben and Watts shudder and fall to their knees. Koben threw his scroll from his pocket before it released a small puff of overloaded energy. Watt's was not as fortunate as he appeared to have had his controller for his equipment in his ear. It crackled and screeched in his ear canal before he could pull it out. Penny tried to subdue him one more time with much better success. The four blades each released a wire that moved to wrap Watts. When they all went taunt against his aura, the blades sunk deep into the concrete.

Koben really never had the time to help and just gave her a look as if to say, where have you been?

Penny looked up urgently to Koben. "Get to the front. Andrew is in trouble."

Koben stood up and ran past Watts watching him the whole way until he was out the door.

Penny's glowing cannon fired one more time at Watt's weapon destroying the barrel. The unique pistol spun on the ground and into the street. Penny looked in the direction Koben ran. Once she was sure he was gone, Penny looked back to Watt's. Penny was very casual when she informed Watts. "Just to let you know, the cameras back here are turned off. I have a few questions to ask you about what you were doing with the tower."

Penny watched while her strings stayed taunt around Watt's body. He tried to struggle but found no way to escape. Watts had not noticed at first but the cords had been pulling tighter until he was dragged to the ground on his knees.

Penny watched him for a moment. "I almost missed finding this tower." She confessed. "Oh and the call about leaked information that found its way to Atlas. That was real too. Security had a fun time finding the ring. So thanks for keeping that back door open."

Watts sneered. "Is this where you pat yourself on the back for a job well done? Congratulations. You captured me. I take it I am being sent back to Atlas?"

Penny shrugged. "Not sure. I work for Beacon right now. Technically you will be under them. Not even the council can really lay their hands on you."

Watts grinned. "They really did try and hold out. With leaders like them, Vale will fall soon enough. With something that shallow. It will just need to take one more good push."

Penny frowned. "You really think that don't you?" Penny walked up until she stood in front of him. She went down to squat on her toes and placed her hands on her chin and her elbows on her knees. "Did you know I found the frequency you've been searching the city with? It's really weird. I've never seen anything that complicated. It's why it took me so long to get down here."

Watts stayed silent and looked away. "It's too bad you haven't found anything since the first two blips. But that was months ago. Why is it still running?"

Watts stayed silent. Penny gave him a shrew look before she moved her hands and let her right hand ball into a fist and slap her left. "This has to do with the maiden lady you asked Jaune?"

Watts looked back to her. "I don't know what you are talking about."

Penny smiled and stood back up. "That's fine then. My team has already analyzed how you made the detection signal and know the frequency now too. Whatever it is, we'll know what it is after we find it. I already destroyed the machine you built upstairs by the way. Tower is now mine too. Well. I just wanted to try and get some kind of confirmation but if you are going to be quiet, we can just sit here in silence and wait. Vale P.D. should get their communications back up and running in about an hour or so. That is if the huntsmen don't find us first."

Watts grounded his teeth and looked at the ground.

Penny perked up at a thought. "Oh! I just thought of something! How did you make those heart things in the trains?"

-o-

Andrew whistled at the red blade. Adam wasn't that fast. But that sword and the range really paired well with that sheath draw. Andrew had attempted several times to get close after Adam drew his sword but the man was familiar with his sword enough to attempt a parry into resheathing the weapon in a single motion. It looked anything but natural for Adam to do. Someone had been coaching him on how to fight patrolmen.

Andrew heard the familiar rhythm of feet running behind him. Andrew ran straight for Adam. "I got top!" Three more steps, and Andrew kicked the floor hard to get into the air. Adam scowled and reached for his hilt to kill the easy target.

Koben slid under Andrew and scissored the faunus' legs so his heel made contact with Adam's knee and pushed it outward and his heel impacted Adams ankle kicking it inward.

Andrew watched as the terrorists' stance broke. Andrew kicked hard into Adam's shoulder to push him back. The patrolman used his toe to kick Adam just behind the ear.

Adam Taurus' already weakened stance collapsed as his inner ear shook from the blow. He barely realized two people pinned his arms in a single fluid movement.

Koben shouted, "Two! One!"

Koben and Andrew punched blows simultaneously. Andrew punched Taurus' forehead. Koben style for the man's sternum. All on its own, Adam Taurus' aura shimmered as it tried to make sense of the damage and protect him. Without any more calls, the two patrolmen in sync punched four more times in rapid succession. The aura rippled across Adam's body.

With a mighty roar, Adam turned his hand and grasped the closest thing he could and pulled.

Koben yelped and grunted as he heard something crack in his ankle before he was thrown half a dozen meters. His body rag dolled rolled across the pavement. He groaned as he tried to get on all fours.

Andrew pulled another pair of cuffs while Adam was still disoriented and cuffed one hand. The fight was getting ungly and they were running out of options and stamina to keep going.

The remnite handcuffs were barely latched to his right hand before Adam bucked off the ground in a large hollow scream. The cuffs vibrated in reaction to Adam actively using aura.

Andrew ran over to check on Koben while Adam thrashed on the ground. "Are you alright?"

Koben gripped his ankle. "Pretty sure it's broken in there somewhere." Koben flinched as he stood up on his left foot. "What do we do with this? Try and calm him down?"

Andrew shook his head and tried to catch his breath. Sweat rolled off his nose when he leaned forward to catch his breath and look at Adam writhing on the ground. "I really don't want to get anywhere near that until he runs out of aura or realizes he has to stop using it."

"I say we call Penny. She already subdued Watts and is holding him prisoner." Koben could have counted to ten before the flare of aura that erupted from Adam. The bull faunus slowly got up and gripped his arm. Koben hissed as he spotted the cuffs, along with the remains of Adam's hand lay uselessly on the street.

"I'll kill you!" Adam screamed in agony. He picked up his sword and wildly ran to them.

Koben flinched when he tried to lean on his injured foot. The younger patrolman exhaled with a nod. "For Vale." He gently pushed Andrew behind him.

Andrew's voice echoed in his own sad call, "For Vale." Then moved back to stand directly behind Koben a few meters.

Koben extended his hands low. Since he couldn't run anymore, he had to be the one to receive the blow. His only goal now was to direct it to a place he could live long enough to hold Adam in place. "Why are the bad guys always so slow?" Koben grumbled. Adam took seven more steps before he swung his sword in a sharp red swipe towards Koben left.

Koben moved both gloved hands and allowed the blade to make contact with his gloves first before he let the blade come to his body to soften the blow. The two metal bands in the palm hill of the gloves felt like they slowed nothing as the blade bit deep into Kobens' arm and only slowed slightly as it went through bone. Koben shouted loudly to focus past the pain as his right functioning arm gripped the blade and he anchored his feet and waist low to not get blown away from the sword.

Before the blade could move further, Andrew slammed his fist in a twisting motion against Adam's exposed back and into the mans' kidneys. Aura or not the energy of the blow transferred directly into the body. The unexpected pain and disorientation was enough for Andrew as he pulled back with caped knuckles to bury a second blow into the man's liver that lifted Adam off his feet and loosed the grip on the sword.

Adam wheezed at the blow before Andrew scored a hit behind the man's left, then right ear.

Adam sank to his knees at the sudden sensory overload.

Andrew glared at the man and pulled his hand back one more time. He focused on a single knuckle and punched into the forehead of the man's skull. Aura flashed and shattered along with the sudden crunch. Andrew had thrown the last punch to bypass aura. Without it, Adam's forehead was punctured from the metal knuckle.

Andrew stood back and waited to make sure Adam was dead. Finally he rolled the body over and found the man's eyes were bleeding and breath had clearly stopped.

Andrew turned to his downed partner and quickly pulled out a cylinder from his back hip pocket on his belt. "Hold still. This will hurt."

"Better than being dead. At least he didn't stop cutting at the bone. Last thing I needed was a severed artery with no way to stop the bleeding. Rather lose the arm." Koben was in a cold sweat and bit his lip while holding the remains of his stubbed arm.

Andrew inspected the stub. The sword had cut right through just above the elbow. He sprayed the foam on the wound quickly and gave Koben a protein bar to eat to take with a pain pill. Koben ate it quickly in silence. Once he was done he looked at his arm then sighed at his ankle. "Would you believe I am afraid of what the wife will say about the ankle rather than the arm?"

Andrew ignored the banter. He knew it was Koben's way to distract himself. Andrew pulled out his scroll. "We are clear here Penny. Do we meet you in the docking area?"

-o-

Jaune Arc held his gloved hand against the wound on his face. He could feel that the bleeding was sapping his strength. Jaune remembered that he never felt in danger when he faced Neo. He felt it now. And not for the reason he thought he would. He knew her background. He even fought her before.

How did he forget she was faster than him?

Jaune let go of the wound and it immediately began to bleed again. The sword was never infused with aura. Thank goodness for small favors. He knew it could be done only because of the old huntsmen who lived in Anvil, but he had rarely seen anyone in beacon much less anyone he actually fought with aura ever use it. It must have been a very hard skill.

Jaune focused as he realized the blood loss was affecting his mind. Jaune flipped backwards and kicked Neo's hilt to deflect the blow. Jaune's only real advantage was that he was heavier than her. If Jaune never fought someone faster than her. Neo had the same problem. She never fought someone who could keep up.

It had slowly enraged her when she had come so close to killing him several times. Jaune finally had time to grip his gloves in each palm and pull off the metal bands that had deflected the blades.

Neo glared at him hard.

Patrolmen gloves were unique for several reasons. The gloves themselves were more of a single glove fitted with pads and layers of lining and metal plating. It allowed a user's hands to bend and flex, but it always felt like Jaune was holding something in his hand when he wore them. When the protections of the padding were fully removed, Andrew told him he would live or die by those gloves.

Jaune raised his hands in his familiar open palm stance. His gloves palms were exposed revealing small studs woven into the gloves. Each stud was made of polished remnite.

Jaune, for the first time, took the offensive. Neo pulled back and kept her distance using her sword to keep out of range. Jaune knew any fancy footwork would not work on her. He just needed to corner her. Slowly he made her back away from him in a wide circle and kept cutting into her left side until the circle got tighter. She pulled her sword back and thrust one more time when she noticed she was pushed into the corner.

Jaune was always warned about fighting with this style. Without the metal bands he effectively had no protection. But Jaune had always had an affinity for fighting open-palmed. It was why, of the three of them from Anvil, Jaune had the most years experience with it. That showed with Neo as well. She was not prepared for Jaune to rush her just as quickly as she thrust her sword. Jaune caught the blade between his studded hands. Sparks flashed into his eyes but he ignored the blinding light to get into the woman's guard. He gripped Neo's sword wielding wrist. Neo promptly dropped it and jumped back pulling her burnt hand to her chest.

"Neo. Stop. The fight is already over."

Neo shook her head and raised a fist towards him. Her eyes flashed with the change of brown and pink. Jaune caught the aura infused punch in his hand and she screamed against and tried to pull back. Neo cut off her aura. It was the signal Jaune needed to grip her fist and pull her towards him. He slammed a fist into her stomach and she nearly doubled over. Neo reached up from her bent over position to grip Jaune's shoulder and thrust her knee upward into the patrolman's chest.

Jaune felt the wind get knocked out of him but he still retained his grip on her hand. The moment he let go, she would be able to use her aura. He twisted her fist outward and she grunted out a puff of air. Without the aura, he easily out classed her in raw strength. Jaune swept her legs and straddled her chest when she fell to the floor. Jaune finally grasped her free hand and held her to the ground. Blood from his face freely flowed onto her neck and chest. "NEO!" Jaune's voice gurgled as blood began to fill his mouth. The cut across his cheek ripped open. The shout caused him to wince and he felt the cut begin to bleed faster. Jaune ignored it all to focus on Neo. Tears collected in her eyes. "Just look at him Neo."

Neo shook her head and cried.

"Look!" Jaune gritted his teeth as he gave her that order.

Neo slowly looked to Roman who laid still but she saw the hint. Just barely. His breath was slow but so shallow and came out in uneven bursts. She looked back to him in surprise. "Go. You can still save him!" Jaune let his hands go off her wrists and she disappeared to teleport in front of Roman. She gently lifted him up and was gone.

Jaune let himself slump to the ground and rolled on his back. His breathing was heavy and he tried to remember which pocket in his belt had tape. On the small pocket near his spine, Jaune pulled out a small squeeze tube and a roll of tape. The cut in the side of his face was deep. And he was already dizzy. He blindly squeezed the tube into his wound. He gritted his teeth and groaned a loud pained grunt. He had not realized how long the cut was until he found he kept going back further past his cheek and cheek bone and into his hair. Jaune taped the wound as far as he could. Fuck it hurt to talk!

Jaune stood up and wobbled on his feet before he looked around and remembered where he was. Who he was still after. Jaune inhaled and gave a long steady exhale. He had work to do.

Just outside the door several people stood unsure what to do. They seemed ready to defend the house, but they looked unconcerned with him. Jaune stood on guard. "Where is Fargesii?"

"He's probably going to the landing. He had called for a bullhead." A guard pointed in the general direction outside.

Jaune was about to walk past them to run, "Is it true?"

Jaune stopped and looked at the guard. "What?"

"That Lilium is a traitor."

Jaune's eyes hardened. "He gave access to his tower to the people who coordinated the attack on Vale. He is a traitor."

That quieted the lot and they parted for him. Each person looked disturbed. "Careful out there. The city is in lock down. The sirens blared a few minutes ago and we're cut off. We don't actually know what's going on in the city."

Jaune nodded and began to run past them outside. He pulled out a supplement bar to help combat the blood loss. It tasted like garbage and blood. And it agitated the hell out of his cheek. It was like gnawing on salt until he swallowed it. Still, it was better than orange juice to get him to recover.

Still dizzy, Jaune found five armed guards with a man in his mid forties at the landing pad. The guards raised their weapons. Jaune simply walked to them. No sense in forcing them to fight. Not when Jaune felt he could fall over any minute.

Jaune called out to them. "The city is preparing for a grim attack. I'm afraid if you hadn't called for a bullhead about forty minutes ago, you are not getting one. Since the sirens, no scrolls work but for patrolmen's." Fargesii swore and squared his shoulders to face him. Jaune thought of the Warrant Officers. The scrolls were all in thanks to the hard work of those two. The idea was completely theirs when they discovered what Penny found in the towers. It took them all night but the boosters that were just planned for telemetry and navigation had now been effectively jammers as well.

The jammed signals were a bout of inspiration; the warrant officers had an all-nighter last night and had only left the note saying it could be done to Penny that morning.

"Lilium Fargesii, you are charged with five accounts of treason." Jaune walked past the guards. His eyes were only focused on the bearded man in the back. The family head was about to say something when Jaune interrupted. "Any resistance will be met with deadly force."

The guards lowered their weapons. They had seen what happened to the people inside. Jaune pulled a pair of handcuffs and cuffed Fargesii.

Jaune guided the group back inside. He licked his lips nervously as he realized what he had to do. Jaune opened his scroll and stared at the Patrolman logo on the scroll. He lifted it to his ear and called Penny.

"Jaune! Did you get him?"

Jaune actually smiled. It sounded like they were done. "Yeah. I have him in custody. I will be questioning him soon. But I need you to lift the scroll jamming so I can make a few calls."

Penny was quiet for a moment. "Jaune I am not sure if it will make a difference with what you are doing over there, but Watts had been using the towers for something else."

Jaune frowned and immediately winced. "What had he been doing?"

"Scanning a specific wavelength. I've tracked the logs and they only popped up twice since he started. And that was during June."

Jaune instantly remembered a date. "If you have time, was one of those days June seventeenth?" Silently in his head Jaune begged that it wasn't.

"Yeah! It was near four in the morning, and the only other one recorded was from almost two weeks before during the evening. No telemetry data. Watts did not have the ability to track it at the time like he had now."

Jaune swallowed. He looked over to Fargesii. "Penny about the scroll jammer?"

"Done! Good luck Jaune."

"Thanks." Jaune ended the call and walked over to Fargesii. He knelt next to the man and whispered a few words to him. The man seemed to nod eager to give an answer if it meant he could buy some more time. After a few minutes Jaune stood back up and walked away from the family head. His face was blank as he opened his scroll and called Councilwoman Soek. "Good morning Councilwoman Soek. This is Jaune Arc." Jaune greeted her.

The woman actually started to spew questions out as fast as she could. "I am sorry Councilwoman. Priority request."

That stopped her. "What is it Patrolman Arc?"

"Aristocracy Trial."

The councilwoman was dead silent. "You have my vote. Do you know who you will call next?"

Jaune bit his lip and he realized he never learned the council's names completely. "The sea captain and the gaunt guy in the north."

Jaune listened as she tried to regain some kind of control at the descriptions. "The 'Sea Captain is Granech Cran. The other is Blencan Ardus. Are you sure about Ardus?" Jaune could tell she wished she could take back those words.

"I need approval from all sides." All factions was more like it. Jaune thought to himself.

Jaune said his goodbye after Coral sent him the contact numbers. Jaune called the sea captain first. "Councilman Cran?"

"Yes this is Councilman Cran, to whom am I speaking?"

"Patrolman Jaune Arc. Priority request."

There was a silence. It took Jaune a moment to realize that Cran had moved to a more private location. "What is the request?"

"Aristocracy Trial."

"Permission granted. Do you need a contact for another councilman?"

"You are the second. I have a final one."

"I wish you luck Patrolman." The line went dead and Jaune felt Fargesii's eyes on him as he literally called in the man's fate.

Jaune gently rubbed along the cut on his cheek. It went deep and with all the talking he could taste the blood inside his mouth. He found a trash bin and spit a few mouthfuls of blood out. He had not realized so much had been entering his mouth since he had been swallowing it to talk. Just before he was about to make the last call, a maid offered him a white towel. Jaune thanked her and stuffed his mouth with the towel for a moment to press against the inside of his cheek. When he pulled it out his mouth was dry and a little chalky from the lack of moisture but the bleeding seemed to have finally stopped.

Jaune dialed the last number. "Councilman Blencan Ardus?"

The deep wyry tone responded, "Speaking. Who is this?"

"Patrolman Jaune Arc with a priority request."

The man had little patience. "Out with it."

"Aristocracy Trial."

The older man hissed. "Are you insane? Give me one good reason why I should give you that kind of power?"

Jaune glared at the blank screen on his scroll. "Within minutes of the Council being informed I was in town, Patrolmen apprehended Vale police officers informing Families where they got their source."

Ardus was dead silent. "Granted. I want transcripts personally sent to me when this is done Patrolman."

Jaune muttered a muted thank you as the gravity of what he just asked hit him. "Thank you Councilman Ardus."

Jaune closed the scroll and rubbed his eyes. He looked over to the scared family head. Jaune blinked a few times and refocused. Standing still and resting seemed to have done him some good. He no longer felt woozy. Jaune moved and addressed the guards who had taken to hold Fargesii prisoner. They all looked confused and reluctant.

"I need five volunteers to be present for his questioning and trial. They will be required to appear in court at the Council's request to bare testimony to the proceedings." Jaune waited as people stepped back unwilling to be witnesses. Eventually two man servants, a maid and two guards stayed in the room. Everyone else left. Jaune had been meaning to ask, "Does that security camera have audio?"

"All of our rooms have video and audio."

Jaune blinked. "Before we start, can you confirm that there is footage recorded and saved of the entire estate for the last week?"

It took less than four minutes for the head of security to come in and speak to him directly about the security footage. Jaune was briefly able to review the days footage of Watts and Taurus in the room with Fargesii when the man was on the phone. Apparently Watts was the one that volunteered to have them go handle it.

Jaune directed that all recorded data available have a secondary copy and sent to Beacon. With video evidence secured Jaune asked everyone who was not a volunteer to leave the room.

Jaune felt nauseous as he walked in front Fargesii. His shoulders were slump and defeated. Jaune waited a moment. Fargesii exhaled and looked up towards the patrolman.

"Please state your whole name for the record."

"Lilium Fargesii."

Jaune droned out question after question about the man's life and what he did. What groups he belonged to.

"Do you have any living next of kin?"

Lilium seemed to regain some of his spirit. "I have an estranged daughter. She lives in Menagerie."

As soon as he said that, he shook his head. "No! She is not part of the White Fang and was never a part of any of this. She just… She fell in love with a servant that was a faunus. They had eloped. I haven't spoken to her in years. It was just…" Fargesii shook his head.

Jaune let the man live his regrets with his daughter. Being in Menagerie, she was out of Jaune's jurisdiction to investigate anyway.

Jaune recorded the conversation with his scroll and learned Watts had been an old business partner who had visited him a few years ago. No huge plots, just reconnecting. It was only this last year that Watts started to ask for favors.

Finally Jaune asked the question he wanted to know the answer to. "When it became clear what Watts had attempted to do, why did you not come forward?"

"Who would protect me Patrolman? You? You had been a non-entity at the time. The families? There are plenty of them who would attempt to take my place when I am gone. Vale police want nothing to do with us, and the Council is a joke."

Fargesii began to realize his time was almost up. "Just get on with it already. I told you everything I know." Fargesii looked at the five witnesses. "For what it was worth. I am sorry. I am sorry I brought you all into this mess."

Jaune waited to see if Fargesii said anymore before he stayed silent. "Very well. We will start the Aristocracy Trial." Jaune walked in front of the man. The law he invoked was an old one when there was still nobility in Vale. When crimes were committed that there was no shadow of a doubt of a knight's right to protect the crown. There were no longer knights in Vale and there were no aristocracy anymore either. But the Families could have been the modern day equivalent. The law now was used exclusively by patrolmen when they have arrested a subject in such a high position that a proper trial would be deemed a mistrial due to the target's influence.

Jaune felt the bile in his throat. He knew he set himself on this route the moment he made that call. He was just not sure how he would live with himself later.

Jaune exhaled and knew the cut on his cheek was beginning to open again. Blood seemed to have seeped past the tape and ran down his chin. "Lilium Fargesii. You stand accused of five accounts of Treason.

Conspiracy to invoke sedition.

Conspiracy to invade Vale.

Conspiracy to irreparably damage the economy of Vale.

Coordinate operations with terrorist cells within Vale.

First Order Treason upon the Order of the Crown.

Lilium Fargesii, How do you plead?"

Fargesii to his credit swallowed and simply lowered his head. "Would anything change if I said innocent?"

Jaune simply said, "You would only be able to ask for witnesses within the property. Due to the nature of this trial, you may call witnesses over the scroll or have an independent party retrieve files that may be used to defend you. Do you wish to exercise this right?"

Fargesii looked around to the five witnesses and shook his head. "No one else needs to come down with me. No. I plead guilty."

Jaune pulled out a small black bar from a corner of his belt he only ever touched once when he was thirteen and explained what it did and how to use it. "Due to the overwhelming evidence of recorded footage of you harboring Arthur Watts and Adam Taurus in this very mansion, proof of premeditation of conspiracy to attack Vale with the contract to the Torchwick Mercenaries as protection, attempt of liquidation of asset prior to the grim attack, as well as giving personal secondary CCT operations rights to Arthur Watts, you are found guilty of treason in the highest degree. You are sentenced to death by spinal break. Do you wish to stand or lay down for this?" Jaune asked quietly.

Fargesii stared straight forward from his chair. "I wish to die standing on my feet."

Jaune took a step back and allowed the man to stand. Jaune felt numb as he walked behind the shorter man. He stared at the small black metal bar in his hand. Jaune whispered to himself as he gripped the black wedge shaped bar. "For Vale." The bile at those words nearly did him in.

Jaune turned Fargesii around so his back was to the patrolman. With careful deliberate movements, Jaune moved the wedge towards the man's skull. Jaune ran a finger from the man's earlobe to the junction of his neck and skull. Jaune moved the black bar into position. Memories of learning this technique flooded back to him. So too, the long conversations about taking a life with Andrew over a fire in the Patrolman's office in those cold winter nights when he was too young to run home on his own. They all washed over him now. Jaune's voice barely quivered out, "Any last words?"

Fargessi seemed to look up to think of something before he looked forward again and leaned slightly against the black instrument at the base of his skull. "Why… Why couldn't you have come sooner?"

Jaune nearly didn't go through with it. He held the bar with his left and took a half step back and punched the black bar into the man's skull.

-o-

Jaune didn't remember what happened afterwards. Two hours after the execution, ambulances started to arrive to help the injured. Jaune remembered enough to tell the ambulance staff that picked up Fargesii to label the man John Doe. It was better to keep the name out of any reports that may be leaked to the public. As it was, the Fargesii estate was property of a private citizen. In an awkward moment the manager of the estate gestured to Jaune to take something. Jaune had an idea what it was. It was control of Fargasii's assets. Jaune walked away from the manager. Putting the blinders on communication allowed him the chance to fight a family without others coming to their aid. The manager of the estate could take care of the rest of it.

Jaune's part of the whole operation was complete. He only learned that evening that Koben had lost an arm. That Adam was dead and that Arthur Watts was to be transferred to Atlas the very next morning to stand trial.

That made Jaune alert. He still had one more job to do. He found the schedule for the ships that would escort Athur Watts. Penny had been very helpful and informative of the planned transfer of the prisoner. Again like with the execution, Jaune stared at his scroll and whispered. "For Vale."

Jaune sat in his room and waited for the other line to pick up.

"Yes?"

"Priscilla, it's Jaune."

The woman gave a surprised, "Oh! You're alive! That is good to haven't been mentioned at all. But that is fair after what I heard you did."

Jaune didn't have the strength to think about the families at the moment. "Sorry Priscilla I need to make this short. The elder gentlemen we spoke to back at the resort. With the tea set?"

Priscilla hastily urged him, "Go on?"

"Can you send him a message?"

"What is it Jaune? I can send it to him."

Jaune swallowed and looked out the window of his apartment. "Arthur Watts will be transferred from Vale to Atlas tomorrow morning on a flight at nine thirty five in the morning. The battleship is scheduled to arrive at four in the afternoon in Atlas. I hope he is able to have the words he wanted with Arthur."

Priscilla quietly thanked him and hung up.

Jaune was not even sure what the tone of her voice was. Understanding? Fear? Anger? Disappointment?

He was too tired to care. The stitches in his mouth ached, his mouth tasted like blood, and it was not even evening yet. Jaune just felt like he wanted to go to sleep.

-o-

Coco stared at Jaune's apartment door. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned the door knob and found it unlocked. That relieved her slightly. He was home. The broadcast said how the patrolmen had captured the ones responsible for the grim invasion. But not once did they ever mention Jaune. The two men and the girl that were identified were not Jaune and his absence from what she would have thought was his case made her uneasy.

Inside, Coco found his blonde head sitting on the couch. She could hear he was sleeping again. With that reassurance she closed the door behind her and walked towards the couch. She almost sighed aloud in relief. There were no huge bandages on his body. He was not in torn clothes or have the heavy smell of dust on him. Just a thick bandage over his left cheek.

Coco walked around to stand in front of him. He looks so exhausted. She thought to herself. She considered for a moment to sit and lean next to him but thought of a better idea. Very carefully, Coco lifted Jaune off the couch and carried her exhausted boyfriend to his room. She watched him while she navigated around the door frames. He nuzzled closer to her breast and seemed to pause.

"Are you carrying me?" He asked with unopened eyes.

Coco smiled and she wove the pair of them through the bedroom door. "Yeah. How do you feel?"

Jaune laughed and let his tired forehead rest against her. Strangely he did not feel the slightest bit emasculated being carried. Instead he muttered with still closed eyes. "I knew there was a reason I was attracted to taller women."

Coco giggled and set him gently down on the bed. It was only now that Jaune opened his eyes and looked at her. Jaune offered a contrite, "Thank you."

Coco rolled next to him and the two embraced each other and enjoyed the warmth. When they parted Coco looked at him again. With his eyes open Coco knew something horrible happened. His whole… everything, screamed that he was something else. Someone else. Those same loving eyes centered on her. And the look had an indescribable taint to it. It was a hardness he never showed her before.

All of the other times Jaune came back to her. He had been him. Just a little different. Coco thought the worst was behind them with the grim invasion. He had just looked tired and upset then. As if he was done fighting against something.

But now…

Jaune just looked resigned. Like he gave in. Coco closed her eyes and rubbed into his shoulder. "I am glad you are here."

It's just... you are not O.K.

Coco admitted that to herself. It felt odd to know that there was no shock to that fact. He didn't change overnight. Coco did not know what Yatsu meant when he said Patrolmen were worn. Not until now. Jaune was worn. He looked back to her as if he was a man saying this was his life. She leaned in to kiss him and she flinched when she tested blood on his lips.

Jaune understood. "I'm sorry. I forgot. I had been tasting it all day."

Coco gently moved her hand to the bandage. She gently asked with her eyes if she could lift it. Jaune reached up and pulled it off himself. Underneath it was rows of stitches that started at the edge of his mouth and ran all the way back across his jaw line to just under his ear. Parts of his head were shaved so the stitches could be placed. "I can't talk too much or it will cause some bleeding on the inside of my cheek." He added helpfully. Coco ran her hand across his jaw line and bit her lip and leaned against him. He almost died today. That cold pit seemed to pull her deeper. It would never get better. And it scared her. Like a crevice, the feeling opened up beneath her. It felt as if nothing she could do would make this better.

Coco simply hugged him tighter and inhaled his smell. "I-" Coco stuttered. Even if she understood it all. It seemed she couldn't voice it. Not yet.

Jaune seemed to understand and pulled her closer. "I know. Just today? Can you be with me?"

Coco numbly nodded and leaned in to a gentle kiss before they just laid there to be close. She did not understand how to explain to him that she didn't feel ready for all this. It was too much. Even after a year. It was too fast to see him as someone else. She fell for the guy that told stories around a tavern table and sang her songs with a guitar. The guy who would smile and joke about taking her to places she could only imagine.

This man in her arms was hopefully still those things. But he was more or maybe less of those now. She knew him well enough to tell he was different. But how different? Coco did not have the courage to find out.

Worn.

Yatsuhashi warned her. Lectured her. She shuddered.

Coco felt Jaune's warm calloused hand stroke her cheek. She looked towards it and saw the grizzly scar in the shape of a circle in his palm. It was slowly healing but it was not the permanent pale skin she had seen in older scars. She followed his palm until it directed her to see his face again. The exhaustion had left him a little but it was replaced with understanding. With that same heavy resignation.

"It's okay Coco. I know."

Coco swallowed and pulled closer to him. It was her turn. Her turn to desperately cling to him. She cried on his shoulder and felt the bottom of her stomach disappear. She wallowed in the feeling until she fell sleep.

Jaune gently stroked her hair into the late evening. Tears never quite enough to leave his eyes, but his eyes stung through it all. This had been a long time coming. Jaune just being himself had taken a toll on them both. Coco had been a godsend for being there for him. But he could tell with a look. The slight reluctance to keep a distance about what he did. The lies he had to create and the truths he had to omit to her whenever they shared time. So many things had to come first before her. Jaune realized a few weeks ago the only time they seemed to work was when they laid in bed and held each other. That was when he knew they were coming to an end.

Jaune stayed up late into the night just looking at her face as she slept.

The next morning's conversation was easier than either of them admitted. Coco tried her best to bring it up. But she seemed to stare at his cheek. Jaune offered an olive branch. "I think we need to take a break Coco. My job is not allowing me to give you any time. And you deserve more than being with someone who would place you second."

Coco nodded helplessly. "Yeah… A break." Her voice almost cracked at the word. "I'll see you around…" Coco stopped and exhaled slightly. She almost said stable boy. She leaned forward and gently kissed Jaune's non-bandaged cheek. "I'll see you around Jaune."

Jaune didn't look when she went to the door. When he heard her hand turn the door handle, Jaune said, "Goodbye Coco." He thought he said it too quietly as she left but she paused to close the door long enough to let him know she heard it.

Jaune exhaled. God he wished he could just call it the day with that. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. It was too easy and so hard at the same time. Jaune rubbed his eyes and stood up and looked at the clock. He still had so much work to do.

-o-

Jaune stood next to the other patrolmen in the council chambers. He kept his bandage off so the council could see the new scar on his face. It took over twenty four hours, but he finally stopped tasting blood in his mouth. Annoyingly, like a tongue piercing, Jaune started to tongue the part of the wound that went all the way through his cheek as he waited for his turn to speak. Thankfully the review had been held off an entire day so the council could assess the damage for the false grim alarm and the injuries of the Patrolmen.

Jaune did not want to think about the dead bodies he left behind. Jaune watched four leave the Estate the day before and that included Fargesii. He had been reluctant to read the report he received that morning on the injuries of the guards.

Eventually Andrew finished their report. Their operation was completely separate from his own. Penny omitted the information about the anomalous wavelengths. That was an order from Ozpin and echoed by General Ironwood. But everything else was kept above water. Security cameras from another tower even got the fight between Adam and Andrew and Koben on the street. News was hailing the patrolmen as heroes.

The news regarding Watts was completely suppressed and he should already be on a flight out to Atlas stand trial. Jaune ignored the small voice that said, should.

"Why was the council not informed about this operation?"

Penny blinked at them for a moment and answered candidly. "The council has proven they did not want to involve themselves further into the invasion investigation when they removed their patrolman from active duty. The case still needed to be investigated whether the Council participated or not."

The answer came so quickly that several members seemed to have forgotten their line of questioning. Two councilmen flipped pages to move on to new questions. And so it went. Another hour seemed to pass by. Jaune was not sure if Koben was in pain from the arm and broken ankle he had to stand on through all this, or just pissed off at the council. Probably both.

Koben simply looked to his own councilman. Councilman Nickels nodded. "Council of the Crown. With all due respect we don't serve you. We serve Councilman Nickels. This line of questioning is uncalled for and frankly insulting. Andrew and I are here as a courtesy both to help Patrolman Polendina and answer your questions. You have no rights to demand consequences for your own willful negligence."

Jaune and Penny somehow caught each other's eyes and looked down to stop smiling.

"Negligence." Someone hissed, "What about the people you terrorized when you fired off the sirens?"

Penny answered first. "We never would have needed to if the council did not attempt to impede our investigation for national security. I am here as a trainee Councilmen. My mentor was informed he would be effectively arrested on sight when he returned to Vale. The council has done everything it could to make sure that Arthur Watts and Adam Taurus could continue to run their operations in Vale."

There was a palpable ripple of tension. A few of the members looked to Jaune, grimly aware he had his own operation he still needed to report.

Jaune stared forward at the back wall as the talks continued. Maybe it was time. I would not miss any of this. Jaune thought to himself. It almost felt right. Jaune was finally called forward.

"Jaune Arc, we have had reports you were on your own operation and were injured in the line of duty. However. You have not submitted any information to the council of your whereabouts or your goals on that mission.

Jaune walked forward. "Councilmen. The mission included an Aristocracy Trial. I am unable to answer any further questions. The informed parties have already received their initial reports and been requested to reach out to each other to corroborate the evidence along with the video footage of the trial and my personal audio record."

Jaune was indifferent to their attitude as they requested he explain himself. "The council is not involved with the trail and as such have no ability or authority to question me. If the Councilmen who had given me the approval wish it, they may release information at their discretion."

Jaune paused and thought about it. "Although, I am sure the families and their agents in the council already know what the trial entailed." Jaune knew he let a tone in his voice. A threat.

Jaune waited for the council to say something. Anything to him. Nothing came. No more questions. No more threats. Nothing. Jaune felt the fatigue hit him again. He was tired, Koben must be dead on his feet. It was time to wrap this up. "If it would please the Council, I will step down from my position as Patrolman at Beacon Academy." Jaune looked at each member of the council.

Koben and Andrew snapped their heads to him.

Jaune crossed his arms. "It is clear my age is an issue. It was something that nearly doomed Vale twice. If the Council can not work with me. Beacon will need to find someone else."

The council stayed silent. In that small moment they understood the severity of that statement. Jaune Arc had become one of the most well known Patrolmen in a generation. If he left, there would be no other Patrolman and no guarantee that the Beacon Headmaster would send his huntsmen as he had done before. They could always hire their own, but what Patrolman would want the position after the previous one left?

Jaune stared at the wall. "As it is. I am currently considering other options for employment."

The council had little else to say. The meeting ended shortly afterwards.

-o-

Jaune spent some time with the other patrolmen. They shared stories and Penny simply sat back and listened with stars in her eyes.

It was in the lull in the conversation that Andrew finally asked, "Are you actually done Jaune?"

Jaune sighed and looked at Penny. "Not yet. Penny still needs training before she goes back to Atlas. After that? I am not sure. I think I need a break. I'll decide afterwards."

Koben smiled. "There will be a spot open in Anvil if you're interested. I can't continue like this. Besides, early retirement does sound good. I can't have my little junior retire before me."

Jaune laughed. "I'm your junior by three years Koben. Sorry Andrew."

The olderman laughed. Andrew was as old as a patrolman comes. At just over forty. He was in the range to retire. But if there were ever any hold outs, it would be Andrew. Jaune imagined he would be a patrolman until he was kicked out of the office.

Jaune gave the two Anvil Patrolmen a considerate look. Patrolmen must be in perfect condition to do the job. Any kind of injury that prevents a list of criteria to qualify would force a patrolman to retire. Koben physically could still patrol and do most jobs with no problems. But any permanent injury invalidated one's eligibility to continue to work.

Jaune watched as Koben moved his stumped arm and thought of Neo's lost voice.

-o-

It was late evening when Jaune exited the now familiar elevator into Ozpin's office. "Good evening Headmaster."

Ozpin gestured for him to sit. "I was informed you may have something to tell me after the council meeting."

Jaune gave an exasperated laugh. Secrecy was a joke in Vale it seems. "I think I may need time off."

Ozpin immediately replied, "You shall have it. When would you like to start and when do you think you will return?"

Jaune blinked and looked up to his boss. "I- am not sure. The sooner the better. Watts was looking for the maiden here in Vale. That was because I didn't go looking for her. Let them think I am doing it now."

Ozpin sighed. "That is not much of a vacation Jaune."

Jaune exhaled. "I just need some time to myself. What do I do about Penny? I promised to train her."

"Barty and Peter still needed to have her participate in a few classes. She will learn Valian protocol for patrolmen during your time away. It was never her physical training that was in question. Just her education. A friend of yours offered to talk to her over the scroll to help supplement her training."

Jaune smiled. "Koben?"

"Yes. And he will be paid for his services. Just let me know when you want to go."

Jaune looked at the floor and nodded. "Thank you headmaster."

-o-

It felt like a blow to Jaune how easily he could be replaced. But at the same time he felt relieved. Beacon was stifling. Vale was suffocating. Jaune just wanted to be away from it all.

In his own room he could finally admit it to himself. He wanted to be away from being a patrolman.

Jaune fell face first into his bed. The silence of the room was a comfort. In his own mind he was reminded, A patrolman lies.

Jaune closed his eyes. Even to themselves.

Jaune was supposed to order a new jersey that day. The catalogue sat on the kitchen table. He almost threw up thinking of it. He does not deserve to be a patrolman. Secretly he wished Ozpin knew what he did and would just fire him. Arrest him? Something. Anything to take away this guilt.

But even after all of that. He knew he made the right choice. And he would make it again and again regardless of the situation. Whether it was right or wrong. And he hated himself for it.

Jaune was unsure how to handle Fargesii. He had been reluctant to do anything but turn him in to the council with the silent hope that they would not let him go. That they would not just prove that there were no consequences for the families.

What about the consequences for my actions?

That all changed the moment Penny mentioned Watts had been searching for an energy signature. And the final night Amber was in Vale, weakened as she was. She still triggered that radar.

Before he decided to choose what he was going to do, Jaune had quietly asked Fargesii if he knew what Watts was doing. Fargesii only knew the basics that the older man was searching for someone. But the name. Fargesii had the name of the only female student who had reportedly been on the campus over the school break. It was a name he freely gave. If Fargesii was handed to anyone else, they would gain that name too. Coco Adel.

Salem may have a name already. But the council… the families...they would want to know what was so special about her. They would drag Coco into their world to find out.

And Arthur… Arthur Watts would eventually find better ways to use that technology if he escaped. If he found a way to find Amber and kill her. It would still come back to Coco.

In that horrifying moment. Jaune knew what he needed to do.

They both had to die.

Regardless of any wrongdoing, they had to die.

A patrolman lies. He lies to protect others. He sometimes has to lie to protect himself. He did that during the trial. He lied to himself to make sure he could go through with it. And it ate at him now.

But never once did Jaune think it was alright to lie for his own personal gain. But he did so. It worked out this time. Fargesii was guilty. He helped Watts and Taurus.

Then again, Fargesii asked him that question.

Why didn't you come sooner?

If Jaune found Fargesii weeks, months ago. If he had Coco's name even then? Jaune was not sure he could do the right thing. With no crimes to the man's name other than harboring a criminal. Could he have let Fargesii walk away?

And what about the next time? What if the next time he had to choose... Jaune knew in his heart she would always come first. He chose to execute Fargesii not for his crimes but because he knew of Coco. And now that he has done it once, he already knew the next time was easier. That was why he had to leave. He had to let Coco go. Why he needed to stop being a patrolman.

Silently in his room, Jaune cried. Not because he killed several men. Executed another. Not because he sent information to ensure Watts would be dead before they arrived in Atlas. Not even for losing Coco as that had been a forgone conclusion. He cried because he mourned what he had become.

In that dark room Jaune knew he lied.

He lied to himself. Betrayed himself. If Coco couldn't stand being in his world. The one where a patrolman would be injured day in and day out. Where he could die at any time without notice. She would never survive the darker one of immortals and magic with no hope of escape.

The memory of him standing behind Fargesii with that black wedge against his neck haunted Jaune. The memory of him pulling back his fist seemed to blacken his vision.

And the lie to convince himself he was doing the right thing made him loath himself more than anything else.

Jaune laid in his bed and as if to convince himself of the lie one more time, he whispered, "For Vale."

A/N: Whew. I was not expecting it would take this long to finish this chapter. Ever since covid, my house has been so full it's impossible to even find a quiet spot to think much less write for the so many hours it takes to write a chapter for me. I had the house all to my lonesome for the first time in maybe five months and was able to make real progress on this chapter. I think I ironed out roughly 14k words in the three days. It doesn't help that a few of these scenes were rough to write.

Thanks to everyone who came back to this story after such a long break when it was so close to the end. This chapter changed so much I actually changed the title when the theme of it changed too. Originally it was titled Zealot.

Well, just the epilogue is left that should be up tomorrow. It will be just a short one.