Battle Recovery
Everyday is the same. Training, training, and more training. The ten test subjects had no lives outside the base, yet plenty of questions. At the age of six, they all wore a similar outfit, a black sleeveless jumpsuit with their respective color on the sides. Around their waist was a black utility belt and strapped to the thigh opposite of their dominant hand was a thigh belt to holster their weapon. They also wore knee high boots with matt armor in their respective colors covering their shins and knees. Those colors being crimson for Rider, midnight blue for Night, purple for Shadow, yellow for Night, light grey for Silicon, brown for Brass, flame orange for Flame, white for Aero, forest green for Camo, and volt for Volt.
The most common training was a battle royale. Last man standing. It would always come down to Rider vs. Night, and Night would always win. The test subjects have all have the same weapon, it were granted to them by the Umbra Agency. The weapon was a multitool, with a handle that can extend and collapse along with a blade on each side that can also extend and collapse. The training room was completely empty, besides those in it. The room had an observation deck, inside the scientists would observe the test subjects. As always, it is Rider vs. Night.
Rider knows close range was Night's specialty. Rider, however, tries to be equally skilled in all ranges. That's where the two are different. Night is trained in controlling his opponents by bringing them into his element, giving Night the advantage. Rider is trained to never be at a disadvantage and force the enemy out of their element, giving Rider the advantage.
Rider stabs at Night with his spear. Night blocks with his arm blades.
"You've improved. Have you been practicing?" Night says.
"I don't need to improve to beat you, Night." Rider responds.
"Looks like you do." Night states as he kicks Rider into the floor.
Night walks to help Rider up. Night stretches his hand, but Rider doesn't take it.
"Best you can do?" Night taunts.
"I'm just warming up." Rider states.
"That's what I like about you, Rider, you don't give up." Night says.
The two brothers laugh. All the test subjects considered each other brothers. They had no memory of their lives before the Umbra Agency.
Present Day
The Rider wakes up shortly after the impact. He can't open his eyes, so he focuses his other senses. Mainly, his hearing. Team RWBY had found him, lured to the site by the explosion. The factory had formerly belonged to the Schnee's in an attempt to branch out throughout all of Remnant. The girls watch his limp body he lays on his stomach, head looking towards the cliff. Weiss takes out her scroll.
"What are you doing?" Ruby asks.
"Calling the police." Weiss states.
"Why?!" Ruby asks.
Ruby is unsure why she's defending the Rider after what Onyx did. She only knows that the Rider needs help.
"He's a vigilante, a murder... a criminal!" Weiss declares.
"He also needs help." Blake states.
"You too?" Weiss reacts.
"Don't you remember the news?" Ruby asks, "The missing criminals were handed over to the police an hour ago."
"You think he's changed!?" Weiss asks.
"He's not using the Chaos Zone, his weapon, or even his name." Blake states, "A huntsman helping the police isn't unheard of. But he's specifically avoiding being Onyx, only the Rider."
Blake walks up to the Rider and rolls him over, he had passed out midway through the conversation.
"As huntresses it is our duty to help all in need, even him." Ruby states.
A young Onyx sat on a beach, staring at the waves forming in the ocean. This was before the Umbra Agency.
"Onyx!" His mother called as two airships fly overhead.
Onyx ignored his mother, distracted by the airships.
"Onyx!" She called again.
Onyx turned to see her waving, signaling for him to come.
Onyx
Onyx
Onyx
Onyx
Onyx
ONYX
Onyx eyes shoot open and he sit up in a hospital bed. He recognizes his location as Beacon's infirmary. Most of his clothes are resting on the table to his right, leaving only his black sleeveless jumpsuit with the attached plates removed. Onyx closes his eyes and tries to get his much needed rest.
Onyx stood in a line, the other 29 test subjects candidates of the Umbra Agency were in the line with him. By this point, they were six. Night, the one in front of Onyx, glances back at him. The door to the room opened and the first person in the line stepped through it.
Onyx wakes up, but doesn't open his eyes. He placed his left hand on his face, but can't feel his left arm. Onyx opens his eyes to see a mechanical left arm. Onyx then moves the arm in unnatural position to comfirm whether it's a robotic arm or part of some sort of exoskeleton.
"You seem to be taking it well." Ozpin states.
Onyx looks at Ozpin, who is standing at the doorway.
"How long?" Onyx asks.
"Two days." Ozpin states.
Ozpin walks to the foot of Onyx's bed.
"It's surprising how you managed to survive an explosion with almost no aura and that fall without any." Ozpin states.
"The Umbra Agency got one thing right." Onyx comments.
Onyx looks at his mechanical arm.
"A gift from the general." Ozpin says.
"What happened to my actual arm?" Onyx asks.
"Unclear." Ozpin answers, "The girls told me it was cut off during your fight with Night."
"But it regenerated." Onyx interrupts.
"A feat that no other huntsman or huntress has ever achieved." Ozpin says, "But after you were found, the girls said it was gone."
"Gone?" The Rider repeats.
"No wound, as if it just disappeared. No doubt due to your lack of aura maintenance." Ozpin states, "I thought I'd never see a day where your aura would be depleted. You have more aura than any person I have ever seen. Your teammates were the only one's with aura levels even coming close to your own." Ozpin states.
"Like I said, 'one thing right.'" Onyx repeats, "The Umbra Agemcy made me nearly unstoppable."
"We can discuss the details later, preferably in private." Ozpin says as he looks to Onyx's left.
Onyx turns to see what he's looking at. He sees Ruby on her knees, asleep with her head and arms resting on the edge of the bed.
"She refused to leave your side." Ozpin states.
"Why?" Onyx asks.
"I think she'll be willing to tell you." Ozpin says.
Ozpin leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Onyx then turns towards Ruby. He strokes the back of Ruby's head while gently shaking her.
"Huh...?" Ruby asks as she opens her eyes.
She looks at Onyx and then slowly backs away until her back hits the wall.
"Your awake!' Ruby says, sounding relieved.
"I don't die very easily." Onyx states.
Ruby rises from her knees.
"Why are you here?" Onyx asks as he lays back down.
Onyx doesn't even look at Ruby when he speaks.
"I have..." Ruby begins.
"Questions." Onyx interrupts.
"I thought we talked about this?" Ruby says.
"No, you and Onyx had that conversation. I'm the Rider." Onyx declares.
"Ummm... Okay." Ruby says confused.
"Well?" Onyx asks.
"What?" Ruby responds.
"Your questions." Onyx explains.
"Oh... Right." Ruby laughs.
Onyx turns to her, out of patience. Ruby quickly jumps up and then relaxes.
"What have you been doing?" Ruby asks.
"That's none of your concern." Onyx states.
"Can you at least tell me what you were doing at that factory?" Ruby asks.
"Investigating a lead." Onyx answers.
"Did you find anything?" Ruby asks.
"I learned who I can trust." Onyx states.
"Why have you been avoiding your old self?" Ruby asks.
"Onyx died when he... I killed Night." Onyx states.
Ruby places her hand on Onyx's robotic arm. Onyx flinches, but then relaxes.
"I can still see him... When I dream. Night was right, I'll never be finished with him." Onyx says.
"That's why you're avoiding sleep?" Ruby asks.
Onyx's silence tells her yes. The door opens and the rest of Team RWBY enter the room.
"You can't seriously be trusting him after what he's done?" Weiss asks.
"I'm not the only one with a questionable past." Onyx states as he looks at Blake.
"You know about that?" Blake asks.
"I know all your secrets." Onyx states, "Why are you here?"
"To check and see if you did anything to Ruby." Weiss states.
"Weiss..." Yang calls.
"It's true!" Weiss says.
Onyx sits up and looks at his clothes resting on the nearby.
"I have a job to do." Onyx states.
"No!" Ruby yells.
Onyx turns towards her.
"You need rest." Ruby states.
"This is my first time sleeping in a week, I can manage." Onyx states.
Onyx walks to the table and puts on his boots.
"For how long?!" Ruby yells, "You were lucky we found you before the police! What if this happens again?!"
"It won't!" Onyx claims as he puts on his overcoat.
"How can you...!" Ruby starts.
"Ruby, I can handle myself." Onyx states as he puts on his gauntlets.
This is the second time Onyx has ever said Ruby's name. The first was the day he met her.
"I don't want to watch you destroy yourself." Ruby states.
"Then don't watch." The Rider suggests as he puts on his mask.
The Rider looks at Ruby as he puts his hood on. As the Rider walks to the door, Team RWBY blocks his way.
"You're not leaving!" Ruby says.
"You can't stop me!" The Rider states.
"We could still call the police!" Weiss says
"Weiss, we aren't calling the police!" Blake states.
"Can everyone calm down!" Yang yells.
Onyx turns around and sits on his bed.
"I don't have time for this." The Rider says, "I'll stay for the night. Then... I'm gone."
"Tomorrow night." Ruby says.
The Rider nods as he lays back down.
At midnight the Rider gets out of his bed. He begins to sneak towards the exit. Once in the courtyard, Blake whistles to him.
"Are you leaving?" Blake asks.
"Yes." The Rider answers.
"I know I can't stop you," Blake says, "but if Ruby asks, I won't lie to her."
"And you shouldn't have to." The Rider begins, "Tell Ruby..."
I went Riding