Been a full year and some change I know. I have no excuse considering I've been updating other stories somewhat consistently. I haven't given up on this story and I hate myself for not updating it but better late than never. For everyone who's been waiting I am so so sorry. Here we go. If you've read Arc's across dimensions there is a slight in this story error pertaining to Jaune's only human limb it's supposed to be his left not his right so I messed that up in this story. I'm going to fix that in this chapter and change the error from the previous chapter.

Doors bursted open to the operating room as Geppeto Polendina gave out rapid instructions to his assistants.

"We need the operating table completely clear and prepped to stabilize him! The boy is hanging by a thread, let's pick up the pace people!" The old man let out a shaky breath, taking out a needle and filling it with pain killers inserting it into Jaune's arm hoping he would not feel any more pain than he's already suffered.

"Father! What is the plan to save my friend's life?"

"We're going to stabilize him first then prepare him for cybernetic surgery. He'll be unconscious for a few days but we must focus currently on keeping him alive. One thing at a time my dear daughter! Wait outside with his companions and try to keep them as calm as possible." He ordered before slamming the doors shut giving all his attention to the task at hand. Penny gave out a sigh rejoining her friends who were all giving the girl hopeful stares.

"Father is going to ensure Jaune will survive then he'll move onto the cybernetic surgery. He'll be here multiple days to undergo the procedure. You all are more than welcomed to stay, there is plenty of space for everyone to sleep and eat." Penny gave them a hopeful smile but it did nothing to raise their spirits. Pyrrha's eyes were bloodshot from crying, cheeks red and puffy from the tears. Nora had her wrapped in a hug, refusing to let her teammate feel alone squeezing Pyrrha tight.

"He'll be ok Pyrrha...Penny's dad has him...we're not gonna lose our fearless leader." Nora's voice lacking her usual cheerfulness.

"We just have to have faith in Dr. Polendina and Oum that he'll be fine after all of this." Ren gave his best effort in trying to remain calm but the slight shaking of his hands told a different story, a friend who was filled with rage at the state his teammate was in.

RWBY left NPR to themselves setting in the cafeteria area hoping for the best.

(Hours later)

Geppeto exited the operating room utterly deflated from the agonizing hours knowing all too well that he was about to be swarmed by the two teams which is what exactly happened when both teams came upon him in an instant.

"Please don't say a word until I am finished." He ordered before they could speak ensuring that there would be silence for a few moments.

"Your friend is stable but we're keeping him unconscious in preparation for the cybernetics implementation process. You can go in ONE at a time to see him. I need some sleep and after that, a gallon of coffee. Remember, one person to visit him. No groups. Penny dear, ensure they follow these orders."

"Of course father!"

Penny saluted with a smile as her father left leaving them all to stew in what was ordered.

"I'd like to go last. RWBY go first." Pyrrha said few words, her sister team nodding with Ruby going through sitting in front of Jaune's motionless body, hooked up to a myriad of different machines each one giving off a different distinct sound. He was covered in bandages, legs and left arm now stumps his left arm being the only limb still intact but heavily bandaged.

"Hey Jaune. I know you can't hear me but I'm...I'm so happy that you're alive..." Ruby was barely able to get anything out. The tears were already streaming down her face, falling onto her hands making Ruby hitch even more. She wiped her eyes giving a tiny smile.

"We're not gonna leave you Jaune. We'll...we'll help you readjust...I promise." Ruby couldn't get anything else out and leaned over to his face gently giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Weiss was waiting to go next giving ruby a brief hug as her leader walked out of the room. Ruby nodded in thanks not saying a word walking away from her partner still wiping at her eyes as the tears refused to let up. Weiss took a breath steeling herself before walking into the OR. Her hands immediately found their way to her mouth, stifling a gasp before finally getting the nerve to sit next to him.

"Hello Jaune. I...I know I haven't been kind to you while we've been attending Beacon and I...I can't apologize enough for it. You may have been annoying. a pest sometimes but...you meant well and I learned from Yang that you were...genuine in your feelings for me. I perceived you as a bafoon who only was after my name and that was a massive error not only in my judgment but also a mistake...A mistake I hope I can rectify in the future. Please stay strong, we all need you." She stood up brushing a hand over his cleaned hair and half-bandaged face pulling away. She shuffled past Blake and Yang in a rush covering her face to block her eyes from view. The two partners could see the trail of tears hitting the floor following her looking at one another in worry for their friend.

"I'll go in with you Blake. He said groups, not duos." Yang reassured Blake while the faunus only nodded standing up and heading toward Jaune.

"Friends Yang and Blake my father explicitly said no groups." Penny ordered blocking their path with a determined glare.

"He said groups, not duos Penny."

Penny gave her a rare knowing stare, silently telling Yang she knew what they were pulling finally giving a small smile before retracting her blades motioning them in.

The two sat down next to Jaune staring at their unconscious friend without a word. Blake refusing to look at him making Yang shake her head and sigh.

"Hey vomit-boy. Weiss and Ruby already came in. They were pretty torn up about you but I know you're tough so you'll come back swinging bud." Yang tried to sound upbeat but it came out as hollow, letting out a shaky breath nudging Blake.

"Jaune...we don't talk much if not at all. I'm pretty sure I mistook you for Sun one day and I'm sorry about that. I...I can't keep this up. It's all my fault Jaune. It's my fault you ended up like this...I don't think I can look you in the eye ever again...I'm sorry Jaune...I'm so sorry.." Blake rose out of her chair storming away with Yang hot on her heels trying to calm her partner down.

"Blake it's not-"

"NO!" Blake cried out eyes already puffy and filled with tears.

"YOU DONT GET TO TELL ME THAT ITS NOT MY FAULT! Jaune is in that room without his legs, without an arm and whatever else that sick twisted bitch did to him! He's going to become a cyborg...he's going to end up being more machine than human because of ME! The White Fang mutilated and tortured him because they wanted to get to ME! Do you think that they'll stop?! Do you think that they're just going to forget that I'm still in Vale? No...no the only thing I can do is leave...I need to leave so they won't come after any of yo-"

*SLAP!*

Blake's cheek turned an angry red, the handprint starting to form as she processed what just happened looking at Yang with shock seeing that her partner's eyes were red with anger and wet with tears.

"YOU THINK RUNNING AWAY IS GOING TO HELP?! They already know that we're all your friends! They know that to get to you they'll attack us! The only thing we can do is train so that this never happens again! WORK with the teachers, stop going out on crusades against the White Fang, stop working yourself into sleep deprivation! Were students Blake, not fully-fledged huntresses!" Yang took in a deep breath finally done with her tirade slumping against the wall behind her.

"Just...talk with us Blake, be there with us. Help Jaune. Don't run please for the love of Oum." Yang ended completely emotionally spent. Blake struggled to say something swallowing finally finding the words.

"I...I swear on my life that I won't run, I won't go and I'll be there for everyone."

"Thank you Blake."

While Blake and Yang argued, Ren and Nora had already sat down talking to their unconscious leader.

"Jauney...please be ok..." Nora couldn't get anything else out burying her face into Ren's chest.

"Jaune, I remember when you said I was like your brother. You didn't know at the time but those words meant more to me than you'd ever know. And you will know when you finally recover. You're one of the strongest people I've ever met Jaune and you're stronger than you think. Fight brother. Fight and come back to us." Ren ended guiding Nora out and nodding to Pyrrha to go in. She nodded back walking inside and standing over her partner. She ran her hand over his hair taking solace that he was alive, not well but alive.

"Jaune...I will do everything and I mean everything in my power to help you. You...I'm just going to say it, I love you Jaune Arc and I've fallen for you since when we first met. The first thing I'm going to do when we get back to Beacon is to tell you how I feel and I swear to Oum, I'll be there for you no matter what. You won't be alone and I'll love you with all my heart." Pyrrha swallowed leaning in to catch his lips with hers. She hovered not an inch away from him stopping staring at his sleeping form and pulling away.

"This isn't the right time. I want to kiss you when you know how I feel. I'll be here when you wake up." Pyrrha settled for kissing his cheek unknowingly in the same spot Ruby had.

(After)

'Oh look at you! You're cute when your bleeding human. Those whimpers of pain...Oh how I love them! It'd be a waste to just let you lie there, I'm going to have some fun. ' A sadistic voice repeated over and over sending shivers down Jaune's spine.

'You can't be a Huntsman Jaune. That life...it's not what you think. It's a path of pain, death and misery. I'm one of the few that got lucky and didn't perish a brutal death. I can't I won't let my only son'

'For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee.'

Voices echoed throughout Jaune's psyche sturring the young Arc awake for what seemed like ages. The light blinding him making Jaune close them trying to readjust them.

"Wha-what's happening? Where am I? Why do my legs and arm feel so cold?" Jaune sputtered out immediately sitting up seeing that people in surgical garb surrounded him and that his head was covered in what looked like a helmet that was streaming information across his eyes. He tore himself out of the straps around his wrists not feeling them bite into his skin assuming his aura prevented the pain. The Arc heard the clink of metal follow him with every step as he made for the door, Penny appeared in front of him reaching out to slow him down but he pushed her out of his way sending the poor girl into the wall.

"Oh my Oum Penny I'm so sorry!" Jaune reached down to help her up stopping at the sight of his hands, covered in what looked to be metal and lit up with blue lights.

"My hands...what happened to my hands?!" Jaune's voice rose as he looked down at his body, breathing growing more rapid with each passing second.

"Jaune!" He turned around to see Pyrrha and the rest of his friends looking on at him with so many mixed emotions he ran toward them then suddenly, found himself crashing through a steel door and stumbling from the speed.

'What the fuck was that? I ran towards everyone and now I'm past them?' He looked to his right, peering into the glass to see his reflection.

"No...no what the...what is this?" Jaune walked closer putting his hand to the glass shaking his head feeling nothing but pain starting to swell in his chest.

What looked back wasn't Jaune Arc, it wasn't a huntsman, hell it wasn't even a man. It was a machine.

This is what I got churned out. Doesn't warrant how long it took me to write this but I want to say that I'll do my damndest to write this at least once a month. I've been going some mental gymnastics recently during this quarantine crap and I'm just not all here. Read and review