[.02] This is a surprise...
With his agreement with Ozpin finalized he was escorted out of the hospital with all his armaments. They walked outside and rounded several streets. Ozpin himself was maintaining distance from the drifter. They arrived at some sort of vehicle, it was black and rather boxy. And it seemed that there was someone inside already. Ozpin opened the back door and gestured The Drifter in. he himself took the front door, inside the gap between Ozpin and The Drifter was walled off by some glass. There were small holes in it. Possibly to let sound pass.
"I must admit, me and a friend of mine are very interested in your equipment. It's something neither of us have seen before." Ozpin broke the ice.
...
"Don't worry, I assure you no one will take your equipment for research purposes."
...
Silence permeated the cabin. The only sound was that of the machine taking us to an unknown destination and the occasional drink of his mug.
"Now, due to your condition. Some level of quarantine is required, I talked with Professor Goodwitch about allocating a small area off campus to be used as your dorm. This also the reason why I'm maintaining distance from you as well." Ozpin explained. Taking a sip of his mug.
The car stopped outside what seemed to be large Telepad, on it there was one of those grey flying machines at the docks, but much smaller. Ozpin walked towards it, ushering The Drifter to come along. The door opened and inside there were rows of grey seats on both sides. And someone else on board. Presumably the controller.
"When we arrive at Beacon Academy, both of us will have a quick medical check-up, courtesy of General Ironwood. And we will meet in my office. There I will explain more." Ozpin continues and sits down, The Drifter doing so as well.
The trip to the academy felt short, but by the time they arrived it was already dusk. Looking out the window showcased the Academy in all its glory. The large spire within the center seemingly glowing with green light. The whole academy was situated near a cliffside. With a landing pad quite a distance off. On that pad were several tents pitched up with people in full body suits seemingly waiting for their arrival.
Setting down and exiting the machine they were asked to step to one side while they performed their check-up. Taking a sample of their blood, their temperature and checking their throats. After several minutes of testing they were finally set free. And walking towards the Academy.
"Luckily for us this Is the weekend, so we can slip through without risk." Ozpin stated
...
It was rather uncomfortable for him to ride one of those machines, The Drifter felt somewhat sick during the ride. But luckily it dissipated when they landed.
"This, is Beacon Academy." Ozpin said. He Stopped and dramatically posed with his arms up and his back to the academy.
The Drifter kept walking ahead, not paying attention initially. He stopped and looked back at him, still in his pose. Before he too turned around and kept walking.
"You will be meeting up with someone in my office, they will help you get settled in." Ozpin said, as they entered the academy.
*ding*
The lift doors opened. And Ozpin and The Drifter stepped in. The first thing that caught The Drifters eye was the overhead cogs.
We're right under that green light… that's how it works?
There was also the statue on one side of the office, seemingly made of cogs as well. In fact, even his chair was made of cogs. And the window behind it was a clock...
There's a theme here, and he's definitely aware…
Awaiting them was a woman, currently focused on her tablet. Not looking up from it she asks Ozpin.
"I presume this is our new 'staff member'?" She asks, her eyes drilling into The Drifter.
"Yes indeed, we'll have to tell Qrow once he finishes his assignment." Ozpin said, moving to his desk.
"Oh! i forgot to ask but what is your name?" he realizes.
The Drifter Shrugged.
"You don't know?" Ozpin asked, propping his head on his outstretched fingers. "Or you won't tell us..."
The tension in the room grew and grew with the woman joining in, her eyes boring into him like a Railgun bolt.
*sigh*"Well... it hardly matters, you wont be interacting with the students. We'll just give you a fake one. Now your first assignment..." Ozpin stated.
The woman stepped forward. "You will be assigned to cull the Grimm population. As initiation of the new students will happen in two days you will be starting work tomorrow morning and will finish once the population is low." She curtly replied.
"Thank you Glynda, now if you'd be so kind as too show him his new home.". Ozpin turned to The Drifter. "And as for you I will ensure to help you and the villagers, and I hope to see you tomorrow."
Glynda escorted The Drifter to the lift. The doors closed, and The Drifter noticed the distance she kept.
"I will arrive at your flat by 8 AM to escort you to the Bullheads. You will be dropped off far into the Emerald Forest at around Noon. And we hope to complete this task by 2.".
Exiting the lift and the academy, it was already approaching night. The Drifter and Glynda both walked towards his new place of residence. Glynda all the while keeping her distance. Both were silent.
...
"..."
After a fair bit of walking they arrived at a moderately sized flat complex. The beige walls were smooth concrete,but its Deep-Red shingles roof made the building feel much older. None of the windows lights were on, and some were covered up by the curtains of varying colours.
"You will be situated on the 2nd floor, 3rd room from the stairwell." Glynda gave The Drifter his keys, by making them float in front of him.
!
The Drifter jumped back in response. Glynda kept her cold eyes on the Drifter. and the drifter kept his wide-eyes so in kind. They stared down each other for a few seconds before Glynda spoke.
*sigh*"My semblance lets me use telekinesis, I'm using this with you in order to avoid contracting the unknown disease." Glynda stated, punctuating her statement by shaking the keys. "Please hurry up and take them, we both have much to do tomorrow."
The Drifter gingerly took the keys out of the air. He looked at the keys and then Glynda, who was already walking back to the academy.
Semblances... Not technology...
The Drifter looked back at the keys and then the silhouette of Glynda one more time before walking inside the building
Is it magic?
*ding*
The doors opened, letting Glynda enter the office.
"So how did it go?" Ozpin asked, not looking up from his paperwork.
"He was surprised when i used my semblance." Glynda curtly replied.
"I know, I was watching you on the cameras." Ozpin stated, drinking from his mug. Goodwitch's eye twitched at that admittance.
"Ozpin, I still hold doubts on you theory that they're not from Remnant." Glynda stated. "Regardless of his reaction to my semblance, or the odd reaction to his illness."
Ozpin took another sip of his mug "I understand Glynda. However I made it my responsibility to ensure they and the villagers survive this illness. As he's patient zero and the only one who can fight." Ozpin Retorted. "I think they'll do fine."
"And more importantly, better here than with her. she'll just get rid of them once she gets what she wants." Ozpin stated.
"And what will you do once they and all the other villagers are safe?"
"I will give him an offer. And speaking of them, how are they? The villagers." Ozpin segued.
"They're obviously not happy about being stuck in an isolation ward."
"Well we're still not sure if infection is only through him."
"And when one coughs, they all cough. The staff are starting to think its some form of Grimm" Glynda added.
"Yes, and I have to see if something like this had existed in the past..." Ozpin muttered.
"Is something the matter Ozpin?" Glynda asked.
"No... It's just this feel somewhat familiar..." Ozpin said, looking up at the cogs.
Goodwitch sighed at his words. Looking at her tablet, she went back to the lift door.
"I must talk with the others about the curriculum." Goodwitch stated."I hope you have a good night Ozpin."
"As do you, Glynda."
This is quite a nice room...
The flat was very simple, its cleanliness disguised by the outer wall of this complex. Simple wood planks for the floor; simple white concrete for the walls, not as smooth as the outsides', but very white.
There wasn't a kitchen in his room, instead it was a shared kitchen on the ground floor. There was also no bath, instead there was a shower with toiletries already there. In the main room there was a white bed on the opposite end of the wall. Right next to it was a simple wooden table and a chair.
The Drifter was tired. He couldn't even put away his sword or cloak, and simply dropped onto the bed.
...
Eventually morning curtains weren't open so the light shot in. The Drifter was sprawled onto the bed; his droid still floating, observing. His eyelids slowing crimping open, assaulted by the bright morning light.
Since when were mornings always so bright...
As she will be coming over to escort them to the 'Bullheads' -presumably the flying machines they came in- The Drifter used his spare time to think, about his new situation, about his possible futures. Looking back on there 'incident' at the docks when he blacked out he didn't dream. Not of 'it' brutalizing them. Not even of climbing a mountain.
'It's' not here... but how again... and that dog...
Slapping himself out of that rabbit hole, he made a note to find information on illnesses and plagues.
Illnesses.
Plagues.
His Illness is now more infectious than before, orders of magnitude more. All those villagers who succumbed to it what did he say? They all started coughing up blood around the same time as me... we're in sync? They say it their concern, that he'll do everything in his power to find a cure. What if it didn't exist? It sounds more like a parasite than anything else...
They could be his fall guy, scapegoat, sacrifice or who knows what else.
This was a bad idea...
The Drifter stayed in their room toiling over all the information for several minutes. He got his droid to write down some reminders to find out about illnesses and possible cures, and to possibly investigate Ozpin if necessary.
*knock* *knock*
"Hello? Mister? I hope you have not slept in on your first day." The muffled voice of Glynda woke him out of his daze. The Drifter propped himself up, dusted their shirt and cloak a bit before walking and opening the door.
Behind it was a rather annoyed Goodwitch, tablet in one hand and a crop in the other.
"I hope your residence was sufficient. You and I must make haste to the Bullhead. Further instructions will be given there." She said, still keeping her distance.
She preemptively started to move towards the site. The Drifter lazily moved along with her as did their droid, Occasionally doing stretches and getting the kinks out of his back. Walking across the academy grounds they find another landing pad. A Bullhead already waiting.
"Do not worry about severe injuries, we will be there to pull you out" She stated as she entered the Bullhead and beckoned them to come.
Even in the bullhead she kept her distance. The engines started, and they slowly flew to their destination
"What do you mean he doesn't have an aura?"
"When the paramedics finally handed over the report, they found quite a lot of inconsistencies between him a your average huntsman."
"And you had those burned as well?"
"I was there pouring the Fire Dust. I think one of the scientists had to be held back as he was screaming-"
"Ozpin."
"They don't have aura, their blood type matches no known types, there are remains of foreign organisms of unknown purpose. and his skin color is perfectly blue."
"And that wasn't because of some colloidal silver remedy?"
"Found no trace of it anywhere, Blood, Stomach, Kidneys, Brain..."
"So your having this person who's not only auraless, but was supposedly riddled with parasites and has some sort of illness that is in sync with a bunch of other innocent villagers go out into the forest and cull the Grimm. Instead of a third-year team."
"..."
"I don't see anything wrong with that, after all they are supposedly a good-"
"Ozpin!"
"It'll be fine... just remember to drop them off at a lower height than usual."
-beep-
*sighs*
On the bullhead the silence continued its reign. Goodwitch looking at her tablet, and The Drifter starting out the window.
"..."
...
"..."
"Approaching the site Professor!" A voice called out.
Goodwitch moved over to the pilot "Understood. Make sure to drop him off at a lower height.". She whispered.
"I know, the Headmaster told me too." The voice responded, just as quiet.
Lower height? They're just going to drop me?
"Alright-" Goodwitch started, using her telekinesis to open one of the doors "-you will be dropped into the forest, and we will circle around and provoke some Grimm."
Provoke?!
"Once the population has been culled sufficiently, we will pick you up, do not worry, we will find you" Goodwitch stated.
Is that a threat-Wait i'm just jumping out of this?
"Please Hurry, we must finish this before initiation tomorrow." She curtly stated. The Drifter slowly inched towards the doorway and looked down...
Isn't this too high up? How high do you drop them off... And there are to grips to stabilize my fall
The Drifter looked at her with a multitude of questions in their eyes. Goodwitch simply pointed out and nodded. Looking back at the fall The Drifter held their breath...
Here goes...
And fell to the floor below, landing on his feet. He held back a yelp of pain as the joints in his legs felt like dislocating. Pushing through that and quickly rubbing his legs to soothe the pain, The Bullhead above simply flew away to 'Provoke' some Grimm.". The Drifter walked in circles for a bit until he heard leaves rustling nearby. Quickly turning to the source, it was a Beowolf...
It snarled at The Drifter, walking slowly towards it...
!
Suddenly it lunged at them, The Drifter quickly dashed out of the way, a Cyan trail marking their new position. Quickly, The Drifter ran up to the Beowolf sword already in hand and swung.
-shwing!-
*roar*
The cut went through from top to bottom. From the base of its neck to its stomach, but not all the way for a clean kill. The Beowolf, now one side rendered useless and dangling attempted to circle The Drifter at a distance... The Drifter simply dashed up to him and swung again, decapitating the monster.
*thump*
The lifeless body dropped to the ground. The ashes of its body flowing away in the wind to nothingness...
Now... Where's the horde...
Behind them, more leaves rustled... The Drifter looked behind and prepared himself. 7, The Drifter counted 7 more beasts. Some were Beowolfs, others were monsters he fought but didn't ask for their name, and one he never saw before. That one was a massive Scorpion with white bone covering its top.
*squawk*
Looking up he saw another monster, a large bird. Steeling his nerves he slowly moved backwards, some of the monsters walking as slowly towards him...
Waiting...
What a cliffhanger...
I'm calling The Drifter they/them since the people in the story don't know his gender, or if he even has one.
He is canonically male last I checked...
I wonder if what I'm writing even makes sense...
Only one way to find out.