Story Untold
The next day Alex was up bright and early.
When he returned home the previous night, he managed to mess around with the scroll he acquired with the help of Pan. She gave Alex a lot of passive-aggressive smack talk for not using the Riot armor in a while.
He could now proudly say he had a fully functioning scroll that came with all its normal functions. Alex browsed through the CCT looking for security work and found a few job offerings.
One was an opening for a new security guard at the mall, the same mall where he shot up Polar Bear.
He passed on it for obvious reasons.
Another was an offering as a groundskeeper at Beacon, it paid good, abnormally so. Besides doing all the regular duties of a groundskeeper you had to patrol the grounds and make sure no students were engaged in 'inappropriate activities' or causing damage to school property.
Alex passed on that as well.
'Rather not be caught up in a school with a bunch of superpowered and hormonal teenagers. Plus, I don't know shit about yardwork let alone groundskeeping, they won't let just any incompetent buffoon onto the campus' thought Alex.
The one that showed the most promise was a security job at a Dust shop. From what he read it's a 24-hour Dust shop and the owner is worried since there's been a string of Dust shop robberies occurring during the weekends as of late.
The information was scant for the most part, only that he was looking for someone mean looking and as soon as possible. Pay's negotiable and he would have to work from 8 P.M. to 5 A.M.
That morning he got a reply from the owner, he said he'd like to interview Alex at 9 A.M.
After getting ready and leaving the apartment he pondered on last night's events.
'Shouldn't have got involved with those two, especially with that bum,' thought Alex, but he remembered the charm.
Pulling it out he observed it as he walked the run-down streets of the Sewers.
He didn't know the kid for long, but she was bright and cheery, had a knack for wood carving much to the dismay of the inhabitants of Oasis.
He only visited Oasis every now and again because he felt bad for them, he did, after all, kill their god.
'Not my fault they weren't paying attention to Harold's suicidal ramblings,' thought Alex.
It was a hard decision for Alex at the time, it was either he kills Harold along with the Wastelands chances of green future or spares him, allowing the Wasteland to be green once more at the cost of the suffering of another.
He killed Harold because he was idealistic and figured the Wasteland would find its own way of prospering as communities had already done.
After his time in Vault 22 killing Harold in hindsight was a pretty good idea, Oasis would continue to grow for a little time afterward, but last he heard it was beginning to slow down still covering a good chunk of the surrounding areas.
Harold was a good guy if a little senile.
He lived a hell of life, encountering two wasteland legends of the west coast. One when NCR was just a small village always on the brink of being swept up by raider tribes and the other during the rise of NCR and San Francisco.
Most of it was vague ramblings, he didn't remember a whole lot of it, it was only when he traveled to the west coast that Alex got the full story. Even saw the statue of the Vault Dweller.
There was one question that was eating up at him though.
'Where the hell did Joey get the charm? And why did he show it to me?'
Joey must have had a reason for showing him the charm figuring it would provoke a reaction out of Alex and how did it end up on Remnant in the first place?
'This shit's getting weirder and weirder,'
It also brought up another concern in Alex's mind.
'Were those fucking dorks doing experiments behind my back?'
While it would explain a lot of things it was still a bit of a stretch, as far as Alex knew he did a pretty good job of keeping the Think Tank on a leash.
In the possibility that the Think Tank tried to pull a fast one on him, he told Boone to come in with some guys, if he was gone for longer than seven days, and give the eggheads a wedgie.
By the time those seven days were up, he'd have a team trying to retrieve him if the Think Tank wasn't already. In the best-case-scenario, he'd wait a few more days and then have a team come rescue him, but the more he thought about it the more it sounded like a pipe dream.
The reality is that this was a freak accident and since he was the only one with the original MK II his chances of being retrieved looked pretty slim. If they tried teleporting it was likely they end up dead, in D.C., on the other side of Remnant, or in a completely different reality.
Alex wasn't one to sit on his ass anyways, so he'd have to get home on his own.
His plan was to make enough money to obtain a permit to operate outside the city and in villages and towns across Vale. It didn't come with the same prestige or even the same pay as a Huntsman, but it would let him get out the city for long periods of time and make more money than working security.
The only problem was that it cost 6,500 Lien to get a permit, besides that there was no real test the government just wants to see if you have the gear and the money to start working.
Alex would have to save up and balance his bills.
'Being an adult sucks,'
Alex entered the nice part of town, it's where most of the Dust shops were located.
It was strange that the robberies were getting out of hand considering that there were more cops on the beat along with patrol cars in the area than say the Sewers.
Yet they're never able to stop the robberies.
That either meant that Vale's police force is incredibly incompetent or incredibly corrupt.
Huntsman didn't seem to be doing jack shit either.
As he approached the store, he could see it's sign
'From Dust till Dawn'
Alex walked into the store a jingling of bells as he entered. The store looked like a Pre-war candy store but instead of candy, they were packing extremely volatile substances.
He saw an old man with white hair, slightly hunched. He was talking to a young cashier; she had a bored expression in contrast to the old men worried one.
"Hi, I'm here to see Daniel for an interview," said Alex
"Oh yes that'd be me," said the old man "let's head to my office,"
Alex followed Daniel to his office
"Take a seat, take a seat," said Daniel
"So, I only have two questions," Daniel grabbed a paper and pen to take notes "Do you have experience? And do you have your own gear?"
"I have some experience working as a contractor out in Vacuo and yes I have a full set of gear," said Alex.
"Alright well that's good…to be frank I was just looking for someone who looked tough and you fit the bill but if you could bring your whole set up, I'll throw in a bonus," said Daniel.
They went back and forth on the matter of pay, Alex managed to convince Daniel to fork over 50 lien an hour, he would only be working from Friday to Monday so after taxes and district tax he would be making 1,227 in total plus 150 lien under the table if he wore his kit for the full time he was there.
It seemed kind of high for someone just to stand there, but Alex assured Daniel if those thugs did try to rob his store, he would get his money's worth and fend off the hooligans.
Alex doubted it was hooligans though, hooligans don't just steal Dust, it must be some type of black-market operation or something big, but he didn't voice his hypothesis to Daniel.
His first night would be that night.
Alex walked home to start loading up his gear into the duffel bag he procured not too long ago. As he approached his door, he noticed that there was a note taped onto it. It was mostly chicken scratching's but once he managed to decipher it, he read that it was from Joey.
Great to have a beer with, didn't mean he liked the fact he knew where he lived.
'I gotta keep an eye on him, he has this fatherly bum act, but he's getting a little too curious about me,' thought Alex.
The note was basically Joey thanking him profusely and saying that Iris and her family were grateful as well. When the police showed Reggie and Bonny didn't provide a description of Alex claiming they couldn't get a good look at him.
Alex started de-materializing his gear, he'd bring his Hoplon operator gear and use his BCM Recce again, he unscrewed the suppressor and took off the AN/PEG, he didn't have to use night vision this time around. Alex loaded up on extra medical packs and flex cuffs in case he had to secure and treat any bad guys since police were lagging it in response time, he'd rather not have the criminals take dirt-naps at the Dust shop.
The first night was quiet if boring
'Suppose it's not that bad, the alternative would be me getting shot at,' thought Alex
Then some blonde boy walked in
Had a sword strapped to his hip, strutting in like he just won it big at the casino
'Probably a Huntsman in training,' thought Alex 'something about people here having a hard-on for melee weapons, it's like a legionnaire's wet dream. I don't even think that the sword takes Dust,'
"I would like three canisters of fire Dust please," said the boy
As Daniel went to fill up the canisters the kid kept yapping about how they're looking at a future Huntsman, that he just got accepted into Beacon, and that he was going to be a big shot Huntsman.
Then Daniel came back and gave him the bill.
His face went pale
"Uh…Uh, um…I-I think I'll come back later," and ran out the store.
Alex and Daniel looked at each other and shrugged.
Afterwork Alex would go home, get some rest, then go about his day.
Vale is a lively city with its ups and downs
Saw a lot of folks happy and smiling totally oblivious to the dangers that lurk outside the walls of Vale, not like Wasteland folk who live in that danger every single day of their lives.
He saw a crowd gathered along with paramedics and police closing off the area, there was a body splat on the ground. Alex asked around, he got curious as to what happened. Apparently, that body was a Faunus man he committed suicide by falling to his death. Lost his house a few years back when the economy crashed, wife divorced him, and he just lost his daughter to some vigilante on Thursday.
Alex quickly left the scene, he felt uncomfortable being there.
It was another quiet night, occasionally some drunk would stumble in and either Alex would kick him out or they would pass out on the floor.
Some girl with a black ribbon walked into the store and ordered a few things, she tried to look impassive, but her ribbon would twitch, and she kept shooting glances at Alex and his gun.
'Either she just saw some shit or she's tripping balls and thinks I'm a narc with a whole squad outside ready to bust her,' thought Alex.
She paid for her Dust and hauled ass out the store.
"Think she was on one Dan," said Alex
"Who knows, kids these days," grumbled Daniel
Before work Daniel would take walks in the park, usually they were infested with bums and it smelled like piss, but nobody bothered him for the most part. There weren't many parks in Vale as they already had Forever Fall, which is relatively safe if you stick to the designated hiking paths, but Alex more than anything wanted to see the what the city of Vale is like.
He could read all the books and records on the city of Vale, but it's better to see the city for himself, from his perspective.
Usually he could pick out the Huntsman from the crowds, they had flashy clothing, something to separate themselves from the rest of the commoners. It also came from the fact that they're never expected to stay hunkered down in one village or spot for too long, usually they fuck shit up then leave.
He'd also see them plastered over fashion magazines and cereal boxes.
Before heading into work the Courier six, The Lone Wanderer, Wasteland legend, killer of thousands, Vanquisher of the Legion, Monster of the West, someone that's witnessed countless horrors of man and nature again and again
Walked into a bakery.
He never had chocolate chip cookies.
Alex saw some pipsqueak with black and red-tipped hair in the store eating an ungodly number of cookies and at an ungodly speed, it was making him sweat a little.
'I need to order my shit and leave, I don't wanna be here when she implodes,' thought Alex.
That night was turning out to be another boring one
Were it not at the insistence of Daniel as well as the extra pay that was hovering over his eyes, Alex wouldn't have brought his gear in this night.
Around 9:30 he saw the same pipsqueak from earlier in the day.
Daniel was greeting her all excited to see her, guess she was a regular.
Alex took notice of the boxy object on her lower back.
'Probably a Huntress or Huntsman in training or whatever the fuck it is,' thought Alex
Daniel went to the back of the store to grab a shipment for the girl, she meandered around looking at the Dust or the various gun magazines listening to music as she did so.
Then she took notice of Alex and by extension his BCM, there was a sparkle in her eyes, she wanted to approach Alex but didn't really know how to. She fiddled around with some more magazines before working up the courage to walk up to Alex.
"Oh um… Hi! I noticed your weapon and I wanted to ask you about it since it looks kinda strange and I'm something of a gun nut and I like seeing new guns because it's like meeting new people and I'm pretty familiar with a lot of weapon types I even made my own gun and did you make your own gun? Because it looks different from what I'm used to seeing, it looks kinda like…"
Alex put his hands up, motioning for her to calm down
"Woah, Woah settle down kid one thing at a time," Said Alex
"Sorry…" she sheepishly said
"No worries but we should start with introductions I'm Alex,"
"I'm Ruby,"
Alex stuck his hand out for a handshake, it startled Ruby a little, she was still eyeing his rifle.
'What's up with this damn kid and my gun, sure it looks out of place, but there's also all those shape-shifting fucking swiss knife guns going around,' thought Alex
"But to answer your question it's a BCM Recce 16 and it looks kind of strange because it's an AR platform gun,"
A lot of guns on Remnant were usually blocky, there were exceptions to this but for the most part it's usually companies outside of Atlas copying Atlesian designs then selling dirt cheap on the market
"It's chambered for 5.56," continued Alex
"What kind of Dust is it using," said Ruby
"Uh…"
'Fuck, she had to jump straight to the propellants didn't she,' thought Alex
He was planning on using Dust later, he didn't necessarily have the funds currently to start swapping out the propellants in his rounds or even start buying the ammo itself.
Alex also didn't know how it would wear on his guns; it was something that required extensive testing.
He decided to be forthright, it wasn't like smokeless powder was entirely non-existent
"Um… I'm not using Dust, it's smokeless powder," said Alex
Ruby had a puzzled expression on her face
"It's for a friend's company, he wants me to do a few test runs on the gun and the propellant," said Alex
"Oh, what's the company called?" asked Ruby
"Unfortunately, that's something I can't disclose right now, I had to sign some paperwork, but the most I can say is that the Company is new," said Alex
Ruby seem to accept that answer for now
'Well that was easy,' thought Alex
He could see that sparkle in her eyes again, Alex could already tell she was about to ask something ludicrous.
"What's your guns name," she said with this dopey look on her face
'Oh brother, she's one of those gun nuts,'
"Usually I just call it a gun," said Alex
Ruby was appalled.
"How could you not! Weapons are so cool! They're like extensions of ourselves!" said Ruby bubbling excitement and indignation
"Look kid I get it you love guns, but my philosophy is that guns are just that, guns. They're a tool for my work and when I'm not working, I only keep my pistol on me for personal defense and that's it," said Alex
Ruby looked a little more than disappointed but still resolute in her beliefs and that Alex is nothing more than a filthy heathen.
Daniel came out from the back with Ruby's shipment
'Took you long enough you old geezer,' thought Alex
Ruby decided to stick around for a little bit to look at the magazines and listen to music.
Alex moseyed on up Daniel
"Hey, doesn't this kid have a curfew or something, shouldn't you be calling her parents or something," said Alex
"Nah, she can handle herself, plus her parents would probably say the same. You know how these Huntsman are, they party hard when their young then forget the rubber one night and next thing you know they're trying really hard not to abandon their fucking kids," said Daniel chuckling
Alex found out that Daniel was a sewer boy himself but managed to climb himself out of that 'shithole', it certainly explains his crude humor.
"Alright, well you're the boss," said Alex returning to his post
Just when Alex thought it'd be another quiet night in walks that spiffy suit, orange-haired, doofus with at least six of Junior's men.
Guess that's what the envelope was for
Alex was in a bit of a pickle; he had no cover whatsoever. He was left in a Mexican standoff without the guns raised just yet, one of the goons went to his right trying to flank him, thankfully only two of them had pistols, the rest had machetes and axes while orange hair had nothing but his cane.
Flicking off his safety, Alex snapped up his rifle getting into his stance and started engaging.
Their auras were a little tougher, it took 5 shots to penetrate the two goons' auras that were approaching him, once he did, however, their legs were shot to hell. They went down screaming in pain as bullets penetrated their aura and flesh bringing a white-hot pain. The ones with the pistols started firing back, another one of their buddies that was trying to flank Alex was sent flying out the store window.
"My window!" yelled out Daniel
Orange hair dude decided to cut his losses and ran out the store, his mooks panicked as their boss ran and Alex was still pressing the attack putting another one down to the ground. They ran out stumbling and in a hurry.
Not before they got a few good shots on Alex
"Gah Fuck!" yelled out Alex as he got shot twice in the gut, it wasn't too bad with his subdermal armor, but it still hurt like a bitch.
Ruby launched herself out from the streets and quickly dispatched the goons, Alex watched from the concealed position of the store.
'A little unsettling how she's using that scythe may as well be an oversized stripper pole, way too fucking young for that' thought Alex
Orange hair was climbing up some ladders on the side of the building from across the street.
"You okay if I go after him," said Ruby
"Go ahead kid," said Alex
As Ruby leaped away, a common occurrence with these Huntsman, he quickly dragged the goons that were on the street back into the store. Alex grabbed his duffel bag with his extra medical supplies and flex cuffs.
Alex could already hear the blaring sounds of paramedics and police sirens; they'd be here soon.
Securing the would-be robbers and treating them is his number one concern now, the ones Ruby dealt with weren't so banged up, just some bruises. On the other hand, the ones Alex dealt with had their Auras caved in and their legs were shot to hell, he treated them first.
If they bled out and died at the store than his paycheck would be a fleeting dream.
Daniel was specific that Alex didn't kill anyone, it'd be bad for business.
The sounds of fighting continued, he even heard the roaring engines of an aircraft
Police? Orange Hairs getaway?
Whatever it was the fighting soon ended and the police were on the scene.
Alex got pulled aside and asked a few questions from the police and then let go.
He meandered around as the police started loading up the goons, Daniel was writing up his check then he'd head home. There wasn't much to do now, Alex did his job with some help and Daniel would have the close the shop for repairs. He owned a few other shops around Vale, so it wasn't like he'd go hungry.
The police officer that interviewed him mentioned that that orange-haired guy's name was Roman Torchwick and that if he had any more information regarding his whereabouts would be appreciated.
"You,"
Alex turned around, greeted with the sight of a blonde woman dressed up as a risqué librarian.
'I don't remember checking out any books from that library, maybe she saw me and is offering a library card,'
"Huh? Me?" said Alex pointing to himself
"Yes, you, you're coming with us to the police station," said the lady
"Lady look, whatever it is I was just doing my job, I'll tell you the same thing I told the cops," said Alex
"This is not a matter up for debate," the lady said doubling down
Alex looked around; the cops weren't going to tell her to take a hike anytime soon.
"Fine, fine I'll go," said Alex
"As if you had a choice in the matter," she said
'Oh this fucking bitch'
Alex could already tell she was going to be a major pain in the ass.
The police disarmed and cuffed Alex throwing him in the back of one of the patrol cars, alongside pipsqueak.
"Hi!... Again…"
As they rode in the police car Alex tried to make small talk with Ruby, but she was terrible at it. So was Alex but he at least made the effort.
The rest of the car ride was silent.
Once they were at the police station Ruby was whisked away somewhere else with the risqué librarian, Alex, on the other hand, was searched again and they confiscated all his gear, he was put through the usual motions.
After he was put in a jail cell with some sports hooligans, they were painted up like the Celtic warriors of old, but as of right now they were passed out like a bunch of big babies.
30 minutes passed and finally, a guard came to escort him to an interrogation room.
Alex waited another 5 minutes before the risqué librarian walked in along with some grey-haired dude with a coffee mug.
"Alex Guerrero is it?" the man asked
"Yeah that's right," said Alex
"I am Headmaster Ozpin of Beacon Academy and this," Ozpin said pointing to the blonde "is my lovely assistant Glynda Goodwitch,"
"Um…Nice meeting you," said Alex
It wasn't that nice; he was kind of pissed. He'd rather be at home drinking his hooch and listening to Ray Price in his underwear.
"From what I gather you performed well against Torchwick, admirable if foolish for someone without Aura," said Ozpin
"Yeah, well this isn't my first rodeo, I also had some help," said Alex
"So I've heard,"
Alex got this weird feeling from Ozpin, like he was fondling him with his eyes. It was weird as all hell, but he guessed he was just sizing up Alex.
"Regardless, you have shown yourself to possess selflessness and compassion all admirable qualities," said Ozpin
"You gather all that from me guarding a store?" said Alex
"We have something of a mutual friend, he told me of the time you saved a family from White Fang, with exceptional lethality," said Ozpin taking another sip of his coffee
'Joey that fuck,' thought Alex
He guessed Joey was some type of informant for Ozpin or the most likely answer was that he ran into Ozpin and started yapping away about Alex.
"And that is why I have a proposition," said Ozpin interrupting Alex's internal hissy fit.
"I've read your files Alex and they are somewhat…Vague,"
Alex felt a shiver along his spine, the bio he cooked up wasn't the most bulletproof, if someone smart enough looked through it they'd be suspicious of Alex. He just never expected anyone to be looking into him this soon.
"And that is none of my concern, as of late I have been placed in a peculiar position," said Ozpin once more sipping on his coffee
"I will be honest I am looking for someone who has skill but is ultimately expendable, someone who will not be missed,"
"You got a hell of a way giving out job offerings I'll tell you that much," said Alex as he rubbed his neck "how much are we talking?"
Glynda visibly bristled at those words, narrowing her eyes and scrunched up her nose like he just passed some foul air. She kept her opinions to herself for now. Ozpin remained impassive as ever.
"While the risk will be great, you will be protecting the people of Remnant from a far greater threat than petty crime. If nothing else, then take comfort that you will be paid handsomely. Should you accept I will contact you tomorrow with more details if not then we will part ways and this discussion never happened," said Ozpin
As far as Alex knew he could either be paid jack shit or he could be swimming in money soon, Ozpin was vague about exact figures but if he did enough errands for him than he could make enough funds for the tools he needed to get back home.
Alex pondered on it for a little while before he made his decision.
"I'll take you up on your offer Ozpin," said Alex
"Good, I will contact you tomorrow morning," said Ozpin
They shook hands.
'Don't know how they got my number already but whatever,'
As Alex was collecting his gear, he got a tap on his shoulder
"Hey pal, the chief wants to have a talk with you," said some cop
Oh great, another sit-down
'Well I don't have much going on, might as well go see what the good chief wants,' thought Alex
Alex walked through some corridors of the station before finding the chiefs office, it read Chief Sangria
He gave the door a knock
He heard a woman's voice call out "Come in,"
Alex walked in, there he saw the chief of police, a woman around her late 40's, graying bun of hair with a cigarette in her hand looking over reports with a permanent scowl on her face.
"Take a seat," she said without looking up from her report
Alex did as a she told
"So, why'd you want to see me," asked Alex
The chief took a drag from her cigarette
"I got some work for you, one of my boys already told me you accepted a deal from Ozpin, but if you want work that won't end up with your ass as Nevermore dinner then take a listen,"
Alex simply nodded for her to continue
"Now keep in mind once you take a job from Ozpin it's something of a permanent thing, he never leaves loose ends," said Chief Sangria
'Gee, really wished Ozpin mentioned that along with asking for someone who's expendable,' though Alex
"How do you know," asked Alex
"Once you've been chief of police as long as I've been then you see a lot and are often get mixed in with all the shady shit those Huntsman academies are up too. I've been around Ozpin and his associates long enough to know that whenever one of them wants out they disappear without a trace," said Chief Sangria
She took another drag of her cigarette, longer this time around
"You won't believe the shit I've had to cover up because Ozpin wants to keep this spotless image of Huntsman. I've seen Huntsman trafficking drugs, domestic violence, trash stores for no reason other than because they got their feelings hurt, assault people, take advantage of men and woman, and all this other shit," said the Chief
"And may the lady of Vale forgive us if they ever get into a prolonged fight out on the streets, all that fucking collateral damage,"
"All this bullshit seeped down into the force itself. Oh sure you'd get the bad cop every now and again but in the past decades one too many have been taking envelopes, it's why that cocksucker Torchwick manages to split every time before we can catch him," said Sangria
"So why exactly are you telling me all this exactly, what am I gonna do with the fact that your entire force is going into shambles," said Alex
Sangria's scowl deepened just a little bit, didn't argue with him because she knew he was right.
"Because it's not like you're gonna go running crying to Ozpin, plus you should probably be in the know, lot of Ozpins lackey's get into the big boy arena then get swallowed up because that asshole wants to play riddles," said Chief Sangria
"Right…So about that job you wanted to offer me," said Alex
"Yeah sorry, got a little carried away," she said putting out her cigarette "what I want you to do is this, keep me updated on things that's all I'm asking for. Because a lot of the time Ozpin keeps me out of the loop but you on the other, he's gonna put you through the wringer first whenever something comes up, if you end up making it through then I need you to come to me and give me your perspective of what's going on. Last time that fuck kept me out the loop I was neck-deep in shit with a hostage crisis, lost a lot of my boys and some of the hostages to faulty intelligence as well, I don't want a repeat of that,"
"And you just trust me with all this formation?" said Alex
"I don't," Sangria said lighting up another cigarette "but I know you're just a merc looking for a quick buck, it won't pay as good as Ozpin but it's a good side hustle,"
'Jesus Christ, I'm getting dragged into all this bullshit and week hasn't even passed yet, I either reject the Chief and risk pissing her off, putting me in a shitty position with the police or risk Ozpin finding out and having the most influential man on the world pissed off at me. Now that I think about it why am I talking to this hag in the first place?'
The money
'Ah fuck that's right' thought Alex
After some consideration for the second time that night Alex decided to cast his die. He'd needed the money, just one good score and he can vamoose from this bullshit world, sure some of the technology was amazing but he was putting himself into too much hot water too soon.
"Fine, you got yourself a deal," said Alex
"Great, just let me know when you have something for me," said Sangria
Alex departed the station that night, heading home
Daniel told him to meet him at this coffee shop tomorrow to pick up his check.
Now Alex was beginning to get deep into it, he felt a pang of regret for taking up the offer from both Ozpin and the Chief, he was in for one hell of a ride.
He just hoped it wouldn't come to bite him in the ass later.
AN: Not much to say for this one except don't worry Alex is still not going to Beacon or anything like that he'll mostly be taking jobs from Ozpin and occasionally stopping by Beacon. If you have any critiques or questions, go ahead and leave a review or PM me. Anyways hope you have a good one.