"left. Right-your other right!"

"you're not helping!" Ruby shouted, jumping over the Beowulf, quickly reading over the data church was sending her.

"sorry! First fight I've been in, kinda freaked out beyond belief." Church said quickly, "five more hostiles closing in on the right!"

Ruby quickly darted to the left as four more beowolves charged through the underbrush, an alpha Beowulf slowly stalking out.

"what are my options church?" she asked quickly, looking around.

"two of the beowolves are younger, those would be the best to go after first," Church said, sending the vitals and readouts on the beowolves to the military grade goggles she was wearing as she jumped from tree to tree, dodging swiping claws, "the alpha's old, means it'll be stronger, quicker, and smarter then the others, might need to wait for the others to catch up to take it on." He shook his head, "shit, we got another six coming in from the east, they'll be here in five minutes.'

Ruby let out an irritated huff, these beowolves were a tougher then the ones she had faced almost two years ago in the woods outside of patch, their bone plating was thicker and they were much smarter then they had been all those years ago, she looked to the edge of the clearing, where a large tree was, "hey Church, do you think Crescent rose can cut through that?"

"yeah, if you use your semblance and the rifle to increase your velocity, you should be able to cut straight through, but it won't topple towards them unless…think Yang is close by?"

Ruby grinned, "Call her." She dodged into the fray once more, slashing through one Beowulf and jumping away as the others charged at her once more.

"got her on the line!"

"Yang! I need your help! Where are you!?"

"I'm close, I can hear Crescent Rose!" Yang said through her earpiece, sounding out of breath, "what do ya need?"

"Church will tell you the plan." Ruby said,firing her rifle at the five remaining beowulves, grimacing as the bullets simply bounced off the bone armor.

"those other beowolves are about to arrive Red, better get ready."

"how far off is yang."

"she's almost here, but it'll be close," church said, making a Heads Up Display appear in the left corner of her lenses, showing several red blips closing in, with a green one coming in quickly, "at least ten more seconds, you're gonna have to time this perfectly.

"coordinate us," Ruby said, going to the far edge of the clearing, "ready?"

"yeah, we're both ready.' Church said.

"Ready when you are Rubes!" Yang said through their comms.

"three," church started countin down as the beowolves closed in, "two, one-go!"

Ruby took off across the clearing, shooting off a couple of shots to quicken her pace, she changed her scythe into it's glaive form, swinging it as she passed the fifteen foot tree, cutting straight through the trunk, it started to fall sideways until Yang suddenly blasted into the clearing, punching the trunk and sending it flying into the beowolves, killing four of them in the initial contact and disorienting another six, only the alpha stayed standing, shaking it's head in irritation.

"the Alpha's still up." church said as Yang and Ruby took care of the disoriented beowolves, "this thing is stronger then the average alpha…but it's got some weak points, it's got a bad left leg and has a hitch in it's right shoulder, delay time on it's swipe is four seconds, think you can exploit it red?"

"Definitely," Ruby said, looking at Yang, "hit it's left leg!" Ruby shouted to her sister, taking off while Yang aimed a shot at it's hind leg, the Beowulf let out a pained howl as the shot connected and it's leg twisted with a sickening snap, it swung at Ruby, who ducked underneath it's attack and slashed it in half from shoulder to hip, as it disintegrated, Ruby turned around and smiled at her sister, "thanks" she panted out.

"anytime sis," yang said, high-fiving her sister, "nice plan by the way."

"it wasn't mine, it was church's." she said, smiling when church appeared as a hologram on her shoulder.

"almost didn't think of it, things were going so fast…are fights usually this…heptic?"

yang chuckled, "yeah, usually," she said, sitting down on the trunk, "better start getting used to it."

"well, time for me is a lot slower then it is for you," church said, "but the variables kept changing by the micro second, beowulves aren't as methodical as the hologram fights we went through make them out."

"nope, they're impulsive creatures," Yang said with a smile, "c'mon, we should go find Weiss and Blake, they said their part of the forest was clear so we can head back to Beacon."

they started walking side by side, church sat on Ruby's shoulder, "you have a couple of scratches on your arm and leg," he said, "so does Yang, she also has a broken rib and bruising on her shoulder."

"our Aura we'll heal it." Ruby said dismissively.

"you're Aura's at fifteen percent, it's not going to heal it for another two days at least."

Ruby looked surprised as she looked at her aura levels through her goggles, "i…wow.' She whispered.

"I recommend getting some armor," Church said, "preferably something that isn't bulky like Winchesters armor."

Ruby grimaced, "but…I've never had to use armor before, not even Uncle Qrow uses armor."

"and how many life threatening injuries has he gotten?"

"…that's not the point."

"right, because serious injury and wearing no armor have no correlation."

"yeah, yeah, I'll think about it."

"great, I'll start making some schematics for a design I was thinking about, we'll have to get rid of your combat skirt though.

"w-what!?"

"it's impractical, I mean, come on, fighting monsters in the woods…in a skirt."

"he's got a point Rubes." Yang put in. "the skirts not very practical for a fight."

Ruby pouted as they walked into another clearing, where Weiss and Blake were waiting by a bullhead.

"how'd everything go?" Blake asked Ruby.

"good, Church is really helpful," she said with a smile, pushing the goggles up into her hair, "got a little banged up though.

"so the trial run went alright?" Weiss asked, "everythings…running normal."

"as normal as they could be," Church said, "but I'm a little disappointed that I couldn't stop you from getting those injuries.'

"I only got hit twice," Ruby dismissed, "I'm fine."

"you got hit three times," Church said, "and that brought your aura down to dangerous levels, if I had been a little faster-"

"Church, I'm fine." Ruby said with a smile, "don't worry.'

Church hesitated, then sighed, "alright, but I'm gonna be rerunning that scenario again in my head, see what we could've done better."

Ruby rolled her eyes, "whatever you think will help Church." She said, stepping onto the bullhead.

"man, the little guy really beats himself up, doesn't he?" Yang whispered to blake.

"AI learn from any discrepancies," Blake whispered back, "but he's not just an ordinary AI, he's a Smart AI, which means he's even more critical of any mistakes he makes, incidental or otherwise."

"still, he doesn't have to be so hard on himself for a couple of injuries."

"he's a computer," Weiss muttered to them, "don't act like he can feel emotions."

"you know I can hear all you right?" Church asked, making all three girls freeze up, "sheesh, you guys need to work on your whispering."

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three days later.

Ruby sat in combat class, watching Cardin fight against a faunus boy, Church sat on her shoulder, recording the entire fight, "why do they always put smaller opponents against him?" Church asked, "if it were me, I'd match him up with someone like Yang, make it a real fight."

"Professor goodwitch makes matches like this so students can get out of their comfort zone," Weiss muttered from her seat, "make the smaller student learn how to go up against larger opponents, fight with brains instead of brawn."

"but this is the fourth match where Cardin just wails on them and then they get counseled by goodwitch, someone needs to…hmm…"

"Church, what are you thinking?" Ruby asked.

"Nothing! Just…working on something."

"and that's match!" goodwitch called, "that makes it 4-0 cardin." She walked up to the small fox faunus that had just been beaten, "you focus too much on head on confrontation, you need to learn that the best solution isn't always to attack from the front."

"yes ma'am." He mumbled. Limping to the front.

"Hmph, learn your place." Cardin muttered as the faunus limped past.

"oh this guys going down." Church said.

"how do you know that."

"the next fight is…Cardin Winchester Vs Ruby Rose?" goodwitch said in confusion, "I didn't…" she shook her head, "need to quit staying up so late," she muttered, "ms. Rose, may you please come down."

Ruby slowly stood up, "church what did you do?" Ruby whispered fiercely as they walked down to the combat floor.

"I'm teaching him a lesson," Church said, "good luck kid." He winked out of existence.

"good luck pipsqueak." Cardin grunted as Ruby walked past, "my aura hasn't even fell from 90% all day, and that little light bulb won't do anything to help you."

Ruby bristled slightly, "you're right Church, lets teach him a lesson." She said, stopping a couple yards away from Cardin.

Glad you see it my way Red, Church said, orders?

"scan his vitals, find a weakness as soon as the time starts, I'll try and whittle him down while you do."

got it, anything else?

"just give me as many early warnings as you can." Ruby said, getting into a fighting stance.

"the match will begin in three…two…one…"

shoot left now! Church shouted in the earpiece, making Ruby take off to the left as Cardin opened up with a blast from his fire dust crystal, Ruby changed her scythe into rifle form and started firing off shots at the hulking knight, who blocked each one with his mace head.

Vitals scan complete, he's solid fucking muscle, doesn't seem like there's any previous injury that we can exploit.

"old fashioned way then?" Ruby asked.

Yeah, his armor's weakest at the chinks, aim for those spots.

Ruby stopped and fired off a few more shots, cardin deflected each one back at her, forcing her to dodge, "that mace is getting in the way!" ruby growled, dodging away as yet another blast flew at her.

That's it! Get the flail away from him! Aim for his hand!

"I already tried that, he's blocking each one.

Then lets turn this into a melee.

"finally," Ruby said, dashing in close and slashing at him with Crescent Rose, Cardin jumped back in surprise, completely taken unawares by the sudden change in tactics, but quickly rallying and swinging his mace with a destructive force, Ruby ducked and dodged as much as she can, swinging and spinning her scythe, whittling away at Cardins Aura as she did.

Hook his mace! Now!

Ruby quickly did as she was told, pulling the mace out of Cardins grip and sending it flying across the arena.

Capitalize on it! Church shouted, but Ruby was already in motion, hitting Cardin with a series of combos while he attempted to protect himself with his arms, until he suddenly struck out and sent Ruby flying back.

"I don't need my mace to fight," Cardin said cockily, getting into a fighting stance.

Ruby glared at him as she stood up.

No need to go back in close Red, church said, whittle him down with-watch out!

Ruby jumped back, eyes wide as she watched cardin suddenly dart in close, slamming his fist into the spot she was just at, cracking the concrete with his gauntlet covered hand, she darted to the side once more as he lunged for her again.

Shit I forgot to account for his semblance, church grouched, it gives him spurts of inhumane strength for short lengths of time.

"what do I do?" Ruby asked, slightly panicky as she jumped away from Cardin once more.

Get him off balance!

"how!?"

shoot woman! Shoot!

Ruby jumped one last time and started firing at Cardin, taking him by surprise and sending him back a couple steps, she started darting around, firing at the chinks in his armor as he attempted to block with his bracers, wincing as they tinged off, "you got to try a lot harder if you want-" he stopped as Ruby flew past him, pulling his legs out from under him, she rebounded off the wall and shot into the air, emptying her clip at Cardin before landing full force on his groin.

that shut him up, Church mused as the buzzer sounded, indicating the end of the fight, Cardin groaned as he slowly rolled over, clutching his groin in pain.

"and that's how you put someone in their place." Church said, appearing on Ruby's shoulder once more.

"congratulations Ms. Rose on your victory," Professor Goodwitch said, "though you may want to start watching your Aura, it was almost a defeat for you."

"what? No it wasn't! she's barely in the yellow." Church said, looking at the board.

"so was Cardin before that last attack," Goodwitch said, 'If he had gotten two good hits on her, she would've lost."

"un-fucking-believable." Church said as goodwitch walked over to Cardin to give him his evaluation.

"maybe your'e right about that Armor.' Ruby said as she pushed her goggles up, "if I had some, I wouldn't of even been in the yellow."

"glad you said that, because I got the schematics done, just need you to look them over." Church said, "incoming bear hug."

"wha-" Ruby stopped as Yang practically tackled her to the ground, leaving Church suspended in the air.

"tried to warn ya." Church said with a shrug.

"that was a great fight sis!" Yang gushed, hugging her sister strongly between her arms.

"yang…Crushing…Me…" Ruby gasped.

"whoops, sorry!" Yang said quickly, letting her sister go. Ruby took a gasp of fresh air and collapsed on the ground.

"oh don't over exaggerate," Church said, "your vitals are fine."

"doesn't mean it didn't hurt." She muttered, slowly sitting up as Weiss and Blake walked up.

"good job Ruby." Blake said with a smile, "never thought I'd see Cardin get his ass kicked by someone other than Yang or Jaune."

"well, I wasn't the only one who was out there," she said, "right Church?"

'uh…well, I mean…I only constructed Data and gave ruby options…" Church said, scratching the back of his head, "not like I was fighting or anything…"

'but you got me through that fight, if you hadn't of been there, Cardin might have gotten those last two hits in."

Church looked down, "yeah…I guess you're right…man we are awesome!"

Ruby giggled as she stood up and walked back to the stands with her team.

"a couple of announcements students," goodwitch called, pushing her glasses up, "this years Vytal festival will be held in Mistral, those of you who would like to go and compete in the tournament must put in the necessary paperwork by the end of this week."

"we still going to that Rubes?" Yang asked as the bell rang and they all stood up, walking out of the room.

"as soon as I figure out how to fill the forms out…" Ruby said with a nervous chuckle.

"it's actually really easy red," Church said, "just a lot of pages."

"do you need help filling it out?" Weiss asked, raising an eyebrow.

"no, I can get it Weiss." Ruby said with a smile.

"sheesh, you guys act like it's a fucking mortgage contract." Church muttered.

"has about the same commitment," Weiss said, "going to compete in the vytal tournament is a big deal, we'll be representing Vale."

"get off the soap box ice queen, it can't be that important." Church said dismissively.

"it actually is," Blake said, walking up to Ruby, narrowing her eyes at church, "the last Vytal tournament was disrupted by terrorists who tried to throw the world into chaos, this one will show just how far the world has come since then."

"hmm…then lets get this paperwork started."

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Ruby sat at her desk, slowly filling out the four pages she had to for the vytal festival, with Church sitting cross-legged across from her on a pencil holder, offering his services.

"that's wrong."

'I know…"

"that has two T's."

"I know."

"blake's birthday isn't in November."

"Church!" ruby whined.

"Sorry, sorry, just trying to help." He said, holding his hands up.

'can you two please be quiet!" Yang groaned, sitting up, "I can't sleep with you two talking!"

"same." Weiss and Blake chorused.

Ruby sighed and gathered up the papers, "I'll be right back," she said, "''everything's almost done, I just need to get Professor Goodwitch signature, she's usually up this late.' She started to walk out, Church disappearing from the desk and appearing on her shoulder.

"Ruby." Weiss called, "are you sure you don't need my help?"

"I'm sure Weiss! Me and church got it." She said, blushing slightly, "but…if you want to come along…?"

"why would I want that? I just want to make sure those papers get where they need to go!" Weiss huffed, lying back down, making Ruby deflate slightly before walking out.

"sheesh, what a bitch." Church muttered as Ruby made her way down the hall.

"she's just messing around Church," Ruby said.

"you sure? Because it seems like all she cares about is herself."

"Church." Ruby said warningly.

"I'm serious! Every time you suggest something, or ask her something, she gets all snooty and mean, and then you just sit there and take it, with your…dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels high…'

"w-what?" Ruby asked in confusion.

"those three monoamines rise when you feel attraction.' Church said, crossing his arms, "there anything you want to say red?"

Ruby blushed, "w-what!? Me and Weiss? No way, there's just…you're…no…"

"Try that again without blushing or stuttering, and I'll believe you." Church challenged.

Ruby looked around, then whispered, "okay, so I like her, so what?"

"so what? She's the queen bitch of the school! All she does is belittle you and pretend like you're a nuisance, do you really want to be with that?"

"you don't really know how she is Church, she's actually very caring and kind….just…not in front of people."

"it sounds more like you're trying to convince yourself." Church muttered, 'Honestly red, why her? You could've chosen Blake, or that cute little bunny Velvet, but instead you chose her to fall in love with, why?"

"because…she's the first friend I've ever had okay?" Ruby mumbled, stopping in the middle of the hall, "and she's cute and…" she sighed, "I'm not lying when I say that she's nice, she does everything she can for this team, she even gave up her position as heiress so she could stay and she helps me with my homework, and she tries to spend time with me sometimes…"

church hummed, 'then why don't you actually try asking her out?" he asked, "I mean, see if she feels the same way?"

"because I'm a chicken." Ruby said, starting to walk once more.

"Come on, that can't be it."

"I'm serious! I've tried before, and I chicken out at the last second."

"then don't chicken out next time." Church said, "Just blurt it out, 'hey ice queen, wanna go on a date and suck face?' it shouldn't be that hard."

"it is hard! Have you met Weiss!?"

Church sighed, "humans, I'm never going to understand them."

Ruby just groaned and walked into Professor Goodwitches office, where she found the professor working on paperwork, dressed in a turtleneck sweater and black tights, "good evening Ms. Rose," she said without looking up, "do you have your teams paperwork?"

"yes ma'am!" she said, putting the paperwork in front of her, "everything should be in order."

"thank you Ms. Rose, you're actually the first team leader to bring me the paperwork on time, Mr. Arc came by to try but had forgotten several documents that he needed."

"well everything should be there," Church said, "made sure she had everything."

Goodwitch narrowed her eyes, "Ms. Rose, may I please talk to you…without Church here."

"uh….what? come on, it's not like I can just walk outside," church said, "I'm kinda ingrained in her head you know."

"true, but you can transport most of your consciousness to another machine, which I suggest you do."

"but-"

"Now.'

"sorry kid, but she's terrifying even to an artificial intelligence construct who can't die…so…later."

Church winked out of existence, leaving Ruby alone with Goodwitch.

"Ms. Rose." She said, leaning forward.

"Yes ma'am?" Ruby asked, slightly wary.

"how are you feeling?"

"uh…what?" she asked in complete confusion.

"how are you feeling?" she asked again, "you've been partnered with the Alpha AI for almost a month, has it had any effect on your health."

'um…no, if anything he's kept me in better health than usual." Ruby mumbled, "and its Church…he prefers church."

"I'm aware," Goodwitch said, "has he done anything…unusual?"

"other than hack netflix to watch movies? No." Ruby said, then thought about it, "but…when I got him, I thought he would be more…serious, you know? Like a computer program…but…it's like he's his own person."

"that's because he was working with project freelancer for quite some time before being paired with you." goodwitch said, "at least three years, which means he's been able to start developing his own personality based on those he worked with. Is this a problem?"

"No! not at all…I was just…kinda surprised." Ruby said, "I mean, he doesn't hesitate to speak his mind at all."

"that is a gift from his creator." Goodwitch muttered, "well, if your'e sure there's nothing to be worried about, I guess things are fine, I'll make sure your paperwork gets to Ozpin, you may leave Ms. Rose."

"yes ma'am," Ruby said, walking out of the office.

"so how'd it go?" Church asked, appearing on Ruby's shoulder as she walked out.

"good, she just asked if I was feeling alright." Ruby said as she walked.

"huh…weird...guess she thinks an AI messes up your mind or something."

"yeah, something." Ruby hummed, pulling her goggles down, "can you send me the design that you made for the armor?"

"sure thing red."