AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sometimes a story takes you somewhere you didn't expect when you started. Originally, most of this chapter was going to be in Ozpin's office, as we build up to the Battle of Beacon. However, then a depressed Pyrrha decided to visit Amber, so Ozpin's office will have to wait until next time.

I hope folks are still reading this story, but I'm gonna keep writing it.

Building 91213 (Female Officers' Quarters)

Joint Base Beacon, Wisconsin, United States of Canada

13 April 2001

Yang stared at the door for awhile after Ironwood and Ozpin left. "Do you guys believe me?" she asked, finally.

"Of course," Ruby said instantly. "Somebody set you up."

"As odd as it sounds, Ruby's right," Weiss told her, "I believe you as well, Yang."

Blake did not answer, and Yang looked at her wingmate. "Blake?"

"Yang," Blake said, not meeting her eyes, "we all know you'd do anything for any of us. Especially your sister."

"Yeah, but…you think I did this?" Yang's voice was hurt, heartbroken.

Blake stood, started to pace, but then just leaned against the dresser, staring at the setting sun. "I watched someone I cared about very much slowly go bad. It started with 'accidents.' Then it was only in self-defense. Pretty soon I realized that it wasn't any of those things, but not soon enough. I didn't want to see. I forced myself not to, until I no longer had a choice in the matter." She faced Yang. "I don't want to see that happen twice, Yang. Tell me to my face that you were surprised when this happened, and that all you felt was shock when you saw Mercury punch out. That you didn't think 'Good, it's what the bastard deserved.'"

"God, no," Yang said, shocked. "I mean, yeah, Mercury's an asshole, but damn, Blake! I didn't want him dead! I know what I said at the club, but my blood was up. He was nasty to Weiss and Ruby."

Weiss stood as well. "Blake, if you're going to hold Yang to account for what she said at the dance, then you'd better do the same to me. Because I wanted to kill the motherfucker too." They all looked at Weiss. It wasn't just that she rarely cursed, it was that she always cursed in German. "What? I have a grasp of the American idiom too."

Blake went over to Yang, sat down on the bed with her, and hugged her. "Then that's good enough for me, Yang. I believe you. I just don't want to see you go down the same path Ad—my friend did."

Yang's response was interrupted by a knock on the door. It opened, and Qrow Branwen stuck his head through the door. "Hey, can I come in?"

"Sure!" Ruby chirped.

Qrow walked in and closed the door behind him. "Hey there, firecracker." He held up two bags of McDonald's. "Had dinner yet?"

"Not really hungry."

"I call bullshit on that." He inclined his head towards the door for the rest of them. "Would you guys mind if I talked to Yang alone?"

"Sure," Blake said. "Come on, ladies. We should probably get something to eat ourselves." Weiss followed Blake to the door, but as Ruby hesitated, the phone rang. They all stared at it for a moment, remembering Ironwood's warning about the press, but finally Ruby grabbed it. She pitched her voice a little lower. "Ruby Flight, Captain Belladonna speaking." Weiss bit her lip to keep from laughing, Yang covered her mouth with both hands, and Blake mouthed What the hell? "Yes," Ruby continued. "Yes, sir. Right away, sir." She hung up the phone. "That was Ozpin," she said, a little mystified. "Blake, he wants you to report to his office right away."

"Did he actually think you were me?"

"He didn't say anything."

Yang snickered. "Man, Ozpin is distracted if he fell for that bullshit."

"Well, I guess I'd better go see what he wants." Blake waved as she opened the door. "See you later."

"Come on, Weiss," Ruby said, with a sidelong glance at Qrow and Yang. "I'll buy you dinner from Shop."

"That's a first." Weiss threw Yang a salute as she followed Ruby out.

Pyrrha's stomach rumbled as she and Jaune walked towards Ozpin's office. Jaune reached into his pocket, pulled out a candy bar, and broke it in half. "Want some?"

As a rule, Pyrrha ate very healthy. She rarely indulged in sweets, but this time she gratefully took the candy bar and devoured it. He ate his slowly. "You want to go by the O Club after we get done at the CO's?" he asked.

"Let me think about it." She held the packet to her chest, and seemed distracted.

"What's in the envelope?"

Pyrrha thought about telling him, but decided it might be better if she didn't. "I can't tell you. It's, um, classified."

"Really?" She nodded. "Then can you tell me what's been bugging you for the past day or so?" She looked at him, and Jaune shrugged. "Come on, Pyr. You've been moping around a lot lately. You didn't even come to see Yang go up against Mercury." Jaune blew out a breath. "Though maybe that was for the best."

"I'm sorry," she told him. "That's classified too. Really."

Jaune didn't say anything for a few moments. "You know, you're the first person to really believe in me." Once more, she stared at him. He laughed. "It's true. Mom didn't want me to join up. She said the Arcs had already given too much to France. My uncle told me that when I washed out—not if, when—he'd give me a job at his vineyard. And then I got stuck ferrying fighters instead of flying them, and you know the rest. You saw something no one else did." Pyrrha's eyes widened as she felt his fingers touch, and then intertwine with hers. "So let me help you."

She squeezed his hand, grateful for the contact. "Th…thank you, Jaune." She knew she couldn't tell him—Rissa Arashikaze's warning echoing in her ears—but maybe he could help on a general level. "Jaune, do you believe in destiny?"

"You mean like predestination or that sort of thing?"

She laughed. "Not quite so metaphysical. But just that we all have something we are meant to do in this life."

"That sounds pretty metaphysical." Jaune stared at the sky for a moment. "I believe in God. I'm not much of a churchgoer, but I do pray when I can. So…yeah, I guess I believe in that."

"I'm not sure if I still believe in God," Pyrrha admitted. "We've had something of a love-hate relationship, I suppose. But I do think we're meant to do something in our lives."

"What brought this on?" Jaune asked.

Pyrrha looked down. "I can't say. But let's just say something has come up that stands in the way of my destiny—or is my destiny. I don't know." She stopped, let go of his hand, and faced him. "If I do this thing, I will be given an incredible amount of power. I don't know if I'm ready for that, Jaune. It's not what I want, really. I want to just be a fighter pilot. No fame or fortune; just me. I even switched my citizenship to the United States to get away from all that celebrity in Greece. And now…"

"Then say no," Jaune offered. "Whatever offer you've been given, just say no."

"But if I do, I might be betraying everything I stand for!" She saw people's heads turn, so she dropped her voice. "On one hand there's duty. On the other there's what I want. The Pyrrha Nikos I'm supposed to be would choose duty, but the Pyrrha Nikos I want to be doesn't care."

He took her hands again, feeling their warmth. "Pyrrha, you will always choose duty. I know you. You always will."

"Why?" Her eyes shined with tears.

"Because that's who you are. You're already a heroine."

"But I don't want to be, Jaune! I never wanted to be!" She shook her head, tore her hands away from his, and began to walk away. "You don't understand. No one does!"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune called after her.

"Just leave me alone, Jaune!" She began sobbing, and ducked into the hospital, finding a bathroom to dry her eyes and compose herself. She half-hoped Jaune would follow her. He didn't.

Blake, who was walking towards Ozpin's office, heard Pyrrha's shouts—others probably had too, but it was one place where Faunus hearing came in handy—and considered following her into the hospital. She slowed, also seeing the devastated look on Jaune's face. She crossed the street and went up to him. "Jaune?" she asked. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"I don't know," Jaune said, in a shocked voice. "Pyrrha got angry at me, and I don't even know why!"

"She's been acting a little depressed lately."

"Yeah, no kidding," Jaune agreed. "She just bit my head off, after she was rambling about destiny and power and being forced to choose. I don't understand." He looked at Blake. "Think I should go after her?"

Blake considered it, but then shook her head. "No…maybe let her cool off a bit. Pyrrha's a good person, Jaune; she didn't mean anything by it. She'll probably come over and apologize later."

"Yeah…I guess." Jaune sighed. "I don't get girls."

Blake put a hand on his shoulder. "Jaune, girls don't get girls. I have to report to Ozpin. See you later."

"How's Yang?" Jaune asked.

"She's…it's all just a giant clusterfuck, my friend."

"Yeah," he said, sadly. "Tell me about it."

Blake waved at him, then began jogging towards base headquarters. Jaune turned and began walking slowly back to his quarters.

Neither saw Cinder Fall walk casually into the hospital.

Pyrrha leaned over the sink, trying to get herself under control, her mind whirling with indecision. There was no one who could help. Jaune would try, but because she couldn't tell him, he would fail. So would Ren or Nora. Ozpin and Ironwood would tell her to do her duty. She thought about Qrow Branwen, but she didn't know him all that well, and wasn't sure where he was, or even if he was still at Beacon.

And then she thought of Amber.

Pyrrha knew she really wasn't supposed to talk to the dying pilot without permission, but Amber was probably the only person in the world who knew what she was going through. She looked at the packet, but that could wait for now. Ozpin would understand, and if he didn't, then to hell with him. Pyrrha was getting tired of being everyone's pawn.

She dried her eyes, straightened her uniform, and left the women's bathroom. She then walked briskly down the hall to the head doctor's office. On the way back from their meeting in Amber's room, Ozpin had mentioned that only himself, Glynda Goodwitch, and the head doctor had access. If he was gone, Pyrrha would just go to Ozpin's office.

Dr. Christopher Thomas was still there, though he was getting ready to head home. His door was open, and she hesitantly knocked on it. He looked up. "Oh, hello there, Major Nikos."

She walked into his office and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Doctor Thomas, I know this is highly irregular, but…may I see Amber?"

Thomas stared back at her. "That is irregular indeed. Why?"

"Just to talk."

Thomas gave it some thought. He didn't know why exactly access to Amber Tardor was so restricted; it was on a need-to-know basis. But he knew that Pyrrha Nikos had met Amber before, and that the poor girl liked having someone there to talk to. Most of the time, she was alone; even Thomas only saw her when he had to administer medication five times a day. "All right." He stood up and put on his doctor's smock. "She would probably love some company." He shut the office door and locked it, then they headed down the hallway.

Once more, after entering the false room, they went through the cumbersome dressing of gloves, masks and booties, and went down the elevator to the room. The room, as before, was silent except for the machines keeping Amber alive. As they walked in, she stirred. "God…is that you? It's me…Amber."

"I'm afraid it's just us," Thomas said.

"Oh…great. I knew…I was going to hell." She squinted. "Who's that?"

Pyrrha stepped closer. "Pyrrha Nikos."

"Oh yeah…the ginger. What's up?"

"I need to talk to you."

Thomas checked the machines, then his watch. "I can give you an hour. I've got some paperwork to finish. Then I have to come back to get you. Okay?"

"That should be fine," Pyrrha answered. Thomas nodded and left.

He went up the elevator, changed out of the sterile garments and threw them away, then began walking back to his office. Stepping into the hallway, he nearly bumped into a tall brunette. He knew most of the pilots on base, but this one was only vaguely familiar. "Excuse me, Major. This is a restricted wing."

"Oh, terribly sorry," she replied. "I'm Cinder Fall. I saw my friend Pyrrha head this way a few minutes ago. Is she all right?"

Thomas gently took her arm and steered her away. "Just visiting a friend. Unfortunately, the friend has salmonella poisoning, so we have to keep her isolated."

"I see," Cinder said. "Is it Lieutenant Valkyrie?"

"Patient privilege information," Thomas told her. "I can't say. Major Nikos should be out in an hour or so. You can wait in the lounge, if you like, but we have to keep this wing quarantined."

Cinder laughed a little. "If we didn't have enough problems around here."

"Yeah, no kidding."

She shrugged. "It's all right. No big deal. I'll track her down later. Thank you, Doctor." Cinder walked off, hiding her smile.

"Good…to see you," Amber said, putting out a hand. Pyrrha reached through the plastic and took the hand. "Take your mask…off. Easier to understand."

"But what about bacteria?"

Amber tried to laugh, but coughed instead. "Hey, if…if bacteria wants to…kill me…I'm okay…with that." She coughed again, tried to get in more air. "Sorry…can't talk well." She weakly squeezed Pyrrha's hand. "Appreciate you coming…down."

Pyrrha pulled up a seat and took off her mask. "Amber, I don't know what to do. I don't think I can be the custodian of a Maiden."

"Just Maiden," Amber corrected. "Yeah, they call…call us that…too."

"All right. I don't think I can be a Maiden."

"Why not?"

"I'm not good enough."

"Who says?"

Pyrrha smiled sadly. "I do."

"Ha. Bullshit." Amber smiled. "I said the…same damn thing."

"Why did you do it?" Pyrrha wanted to know.

"Because…someone has to." Amber stared at the ceiling. "I'm no one…no one special. Just Amber. But Ozpin…he believed in me. Thought I was…something. He's…good man. Trust him."

"Amber…I did some things."

The other girl shook her head. "You know…what my callsign…is?" Her smile widened. "Crash. Crash Tardor." She rolled her eyes. "I was…really hoping for…Tardis. Tardis Tardor." Seeing Pyrrha's confused expression, she added, "Doctor Who. Ever watch?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Pagan." She sat up as much as she could. "If I'd…crashed a few more…I'd be an ace. Of my own side. But…Ozpin saw something…something more." She gave a tired shrug. "It's not…so bad. You're still…a Huntress. Still a…fighter pilot. Kinda cool."

"Did you ever use it? The Maiden?"

"No. Should have. Wouldn't be here." Amber motioned at the bed. "It's more than…than just love…loving country. It's to…all humans. Prevent another war." She pointed vaguely skyward with her remaining hand. "Always wanted…to be an astronaut. Go to the moon. Figured this was…next best thing."

"What if I don't want any of that?" Pyrrha asked. "What if I just want to be a fighter pilot? Get married? Raise a family?"

"Someone say…you can't?"

"It was sort of implied."

Amber chuckled. "Someone…never told me. Not married, no kids. But…I have…" There was the light of devilment in her eyes. "I have…fucked a lot…of dudes."

"Isn't that a security breach?"

"Not unless…you tell them. Just…told them I was…a fighter chick. Dudes love…fighter chicks!" Amber sighed. "Gonna miss that. Sex. I love it. Not even sure…it's still there." She pulled up the covers and looked down into it. "Oh. Hey. Guess she's…still there. Damn…needs a shave. Still got…my boobs, too."

Pyrrha couldn't help but giggle. "I wish I'd known you sooner."

"Nah. You'd…too wild for you." She reached back, to the plastic, and touched Pyrrha's cheek through it. "If you don't…want to be…Maiden…that's okay. But…someone else will…have to be. Someone…not as good…as you."

"I'm not that good." Pyrrha reached up and touched the hand, wished she could hug her.

"Yeah…you are. You wouldn't…be down here…talking to…me."

Pyrrha sat back in her chair. "It's hard for you to talk, but if you like, I can stay with you for a little while."

"I'd like that. You talk…me listen."

"About what?"

"About sex."

Pyrrha snorted and laughed. "No!"

"When you're…naked…and staring at…the ceiling…what do you…think about?"

"I'm afraid I don't have a lot of experience at that. Sex, I mean."

"You're…missing out. Life…is short." Amber coughed, and leaned back on her pillows. "Then talk about…next best thing. Flying."

"All right." So Pyrrha did.