Blake seemed... Troubled.
Adam had been noticing this ever since that night after the docks, and it only got worse after Team RWBY failed to catch Torchwick while trying to investigate the happenings in Vale. She was called upon in Goodwitch's class, and Adam thought that she'd had a heart-attack when he saw her exhausted eyes widen.
"Blake." Adam grabbed her shoulder after they'd left the arena - in the wake of a suspicious fight between Pyrrha and Mercury - and she'd rejected Sun's nervous request for her to go to the dance with him, and she looked back at him. "What's going on?"
"What makes you think that something's going on?" Blake asked, looking back at him. Adam raised an eyebrow behind his ribbon, and Blake sighed, rolling her eyes as she seemed to read what could be seen of his face. "I'm fine."
"You look like you're about to fall over." Adam glared down at her. "Keep in mind the fact that we were partners for years, Blake. I know when something is wrong."
"... Torchwick and the White Fang aren't done yet, Adam." Blake announced coldly, turning to him. "Something big is coming, and it needs to be stopped. I'm not going to rest until I figure out what they're doing and how to stop them."
"Blake, you can't do this on your own-"
"Do you know what's going on, Adam?" Blake asked simply. There wasn't any real meaning in the question - Blake didn't expect him to know or have an answer for her -, but it chilled Adam to the bone. However, he was able to maintain a façade of ignorance.
"No... But I know that, even if you did figure out what was happening, you wouldn't be able to stop it." Adam told her, and her golden eyes narrowed. "You're exhausted, and even if you weren't... You're not ready."
"Grr..." Blake punched Adam in the stomach, the man not reacting, then she turned and stormed off. Adam watched her go, then Yang walked past him, patting his shoulder.
"Don't worry." She looked back at him, winking one of her big lilac eyes. "I've got a plan." With that, the blonde kept on walking, leaving Adam alone.
"Well..." Jenna walked up and placed a hand on her hip, looking up at Adam. "That can't be good." Adam looked down at her.
"Are all women as weird as this?"
"This?" Jenna asked, then she crossed her arms. "And I honestly don't know that much about women. I was raised by my dad and my brother, remember? I had to teach myself how to do pretty much everything girl-wise."
"That explains a lot."
"Why, you-!" Jenna punched his arm, glaring up at him. "Jerk!"
"You need to come up with some better insults."
"Hm." Jenna looked away in thought, her ears tilting, then she looked up at him, smirking. "Satan." Adam's jaw dropped, and Jenna laughed as she ran over to catch up with Sam and Dora.
"... I hate her." Adam deadpanned heavily. Someone cleared his throat, and Adam looked to see Team SSSN there. Sage and Scarlet were comforting a dejected Sun, and Neptune was looking up at Adam.
"You're Adam, right?" Neptune asked, and Adam raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, man... That didn't look like hate to me."
"What?" Adam asked, his eyes narrowing. Despite Sun actually breaking out of his dejected-mood to try and warn his partner, Neptune smirked and crossed his arms.
"You, my friend, have not only caught feelings - but you have failed to recognize the subtle art of midnless tomboy flirting." Neptune stated, and Adam blinked. "Your little brunette friend's totally into you, and she herself doesn't even know it. Tragic."
"Neptune, she acts like that towards everyone!" Sun shouted, annoyed, then he looked up at Adam. "Come on, man - tell this idiot that she punches and gives annoying nicknames to everyone. It's the only way to get him off your back."
"... She does it to everyone." Adam replied... Even though he couldn't think of one example. She called Sam Anime-Boy once, but she never did it again. And she was always nudging or hitting him...
"Tomboys do physical damage to show affection!" Neptune shouted back at Adam as he and his team started walking away. He had a smirk on his face. "Think about it!"
/\/\/\/\
On the Friday before the Sunday upon which the school dance would take place, the Team AJCS dorm-room was once again graced by the antics of one Samuel Bidaiari.
"M'lady." Sam bowed down low, Jenna and Adam watching. "I would be most humbled if you would attend the dance with me." Dora raised an eyebrow, seeming irked.
"Okay?"
"YES!" Sam pumped his fist. To this, Jenna laughed and Adam smirked. "Speaking of dance dates..." Sam looked over at Adam, an eyebrow raised. "Adam, bro - that Sun dude totally asked Blake out."
"So?"
"Aren't you two a thing?"
"No." Adam replied simply, and his teammates' eyes widened. "... What?"
"You two are so close." Dora explained somewhat-awkwardly. "I guess we all assumed-"
"It's a mentor-student relationship. We've been friends since we were kids, like I've said before, and I took her under my wing. Blake and I never have been or ever will be (as Nora calls it) together-together." That was a partial lie. Over the years, Blake and Adam had been -err- together a few times. However, that facet of the relationship never became serious - and the 'passion' died as Adam's violent tendencies intensified.
"Alright, then." Jenna spoke up, shrugging. "And speaking of Blake..." Jenna's expression became concerned. "She's in bad shape. Has anyone else noticed the bags under her eyes, how tired and agitated she is? What the Hell's going on?"
"I don't know." Adam shook his head, sighing. "Yang told me that she has it handled."
"On a lighter note..." Sam smirked, looking around at his teammates. "Sun's face when Blake turned him down? Priceless."
"Hey." Dora shook her head, frowning. "That's not-"
"I couldn't stop thinking..." Jenna snickered, then she looked up. "Hello, darkness - my old friend-~!" Sam and Jenna laughed, then Dora rolled her eyes and grabbed Jenna's arm.
"Come on." Dora spoke, and Jenna looked up at her. "You're helping me pick out a dress." Jenna blinked, surprised.
"But, I don't know anything about- WHOA!" Jenna shouted as Dora pulled her out of the dorm. Sam laughed, plopping down on his bed and looking up at Adam.
"Poor Science-Girl..."
"... Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Do tomboys hit people to show affection?"
"True tomboys? Hell, yeah - it's Basic Flirting 101, boss." Sam raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Adam turned away, crossing his arms.
"No reason. Something an idiot said."
"You know who you should talk to about flirting?" Sam asked, and Adam looked back at him. "That Neptune guy! Dude's a master!"
"... Sam?"
"Yeah?"
"Fuck you."
"What? Why?"
"Just... Fuck you."
/\
Later that night, after the girls returned, Adam noticed Jenna sitting on her bed and reading a book. After a minute, he sighed and got up, walking over to her.
"You going to that stupid dance?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow under his ribbon. Jenna blinked and looked up, then she scoffed and shook her head.
"What? No. Gross." Jenna looked back at her book. "I don't do dresses, I don't do dancing, and I'm not gonna go out by punch-drugs." Adam's right eye twitched slightly, then he regained his composure.
"... I've been wondering." Adam began to change the subject, and Jenna looked up at him again. "About what happened in Goodwitch's class, before your fight with Emerald... Why-?"
"Jenna, we forgot shoes!" Dora suddenly grabbed Jenna by the collar and pulled her off of her bed, the wolf-Faunus yelping as she dropped her book while she was being dragged to the door. "Come on!"
"D-don't you have any you can use?!"
"I only have my combat-shoes and my school-shoes!"
"Why..?!" Jenna groaned and resigned herself to be pulled away. Once the girls were gone, Adam crossed her arms, his eyes narrowing. His mind was no longer on the foolish subject of whether or not his partner was developing feelings for him..
His mind was on the secrets that she now appeared to have, and how convenient it was that she would allow any excuse to take her from his questions.
/\/\/\/\
It was the next night when Dora got herself ready for the dance. She spun her hair into a side-braid, applied her usual (subtle) makeup, then changed into a purple dress. It was long, near the floor, with a slit going to knee-height on the left side and long sleeves, a silver belt resting on my hips. Silver heeled-shoes were on her feet.
Dora walked out into the main dorm to see Sam holding out his arm, wearing the Beacon-issued formal tux. He was grinning like an idiot - fitting, since he was my idiot - and he seemed even more exited than usual.
"M'lady?" He grested in an overly-formal manner. Dora simply took Sam's arm, rolling her eyes, then she noticed Jenna sitting on her bed in her armor, reading a book.
"You're not going to the dance?" Dora asked, frowning. Jenna looked up and shook her head.
"I'm not one for social events." She replied, then she looked down. "Adam's not going, either. He went to train with the practice simulator, since we're picking our first mission tomorrow."
"Oh." Dora nodded in understanding. "I guess we'll see you later, then."
"Yeah." Jenna looked up and grinned. Sam and Dora left, leaving her alone as they made their way to the ballroom.
Jenna sat alone in the dorm, staring at her hands, then looked over at the single picture on her bookshelf.
The photo depicted a smiling man and woman, a human and a Faunus, with a toddler Jenna sitting on the man's shoulders and smiling, a beaming little boy with brown hair and blue eyes standing before the woman, his brown ears flopping as he looked up with a small grin.
...
"M-Mommy?!"
"Everything's going to be alright, sweetie. I promise."
...
"Mommy!"
"It's alright, sweetie... It's fine..."
"Mommy, no!"
"SWEETHEART, LOOK AWAY!"
"MOMMY!"
...
"Dad? What's going on? What are you-?"
"Calm down, sweetheart. This won't hurt a bit."
"O-okay..."
"Dad, I got those files you-... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?! Get away from her!"
...
"Ani!"
"G-go!"
"No! I won't, I can't! Ani, just hold on, I'll-!"
"G-g-AHHHHHH!"
"ANI!"
...
The girl sighed, then looked at her shaking hands again. Jenna's scroll buzzed, and she seemed to snap out of a trance, her eyes widening as her wolf-ears perked up. Jenna picked up her scroll and looked at it before frowning and standing up, leaving the room in silence.
Arriving in the training arena, Jenna saw Adam standing there. Wilt and Blush were in his hand, and his eyes were narrowed behind his ribbon.
"We need to talk." The leader of Team AJCS stated, glaring lightly. "You've been hiding something, and since you always find an excuse to avoid talking to me when Dora and Sam are around, I waited until I could be sure that they wouldn't be... What's going on?"
"What?" Jenna asked, blinking in surprise. "Adam, I've told you that I have no parents, that my brother died, that I grew up outside the kingdoms, and you know about the Cardin thing. What else could I possibly have worth hiding?"
"What was going on, in Goodwitch's class?" Adam asked, and Jenna blinked again. "Why didn't she want you to fight? Your leg's just fine." Jenna gazed at him for a moment, then she looked away.
"Adam, I... I can't tell you."
"Why not? What happened to that trusting thing you were talking about?"
"Adam, I can't tell you. I can't... Please, don't ask again."
"Jenna, I'm not dropping this." Adam announced, growing angry. Jenna quickly turned away, hugging herself and taking deep breaths as she walked off. Adam marched over and grabbed her shoulder. "Just tell me what's going on!"
"I can't."
"Why not?!"
"Stop yelling at me."
"Why?! Why can't you just tell me what's going on?!"
"Because it... It's too much!"
"What?!" Adam demanded, livid. "What could be so bad-?!" Jenna suddenly turned around and punched Adam in the chest, sending him falling to the ground. He looked up, his eyes wide, as Jenna glared down at him.
"Bad. Tch... Try terrible." She commented, turning away and cracking her knuckles. "My entire life is one long nightmare. But that's how it is, isn't it? Reality... The world is cruel, and there is no such thing as real justice."
"Why are you talking about?"
As Sam and Dora danced, her hands on his shoulders while his hands were on her waist, Sam grinned down at her in a playfully devious way.
"So, how long before the other two find out?"
"About what?"
"Oh, just the most unlikely couple in existence, m'lady."
"What makes it so unlikely?"
"Well... We're us."
"And?"
"The way we smack-talk each other in front of the others is kind off-putting."
"True."
"And how we're always complaining about being stuck together is really misleading."
"Also true." Dora smiled mischievously. Sam and Dora laughed, and the boy planted a kiss on her forehead. "Idiot."
"Moron."
"Jackass."
"Bitch."
"I wish I could quit you."
"No, you don't."
Jenna looked back at Adam, her expression blank.
"There is no justice." She repeated, and he blinked. "Innocents are killed and their murderers are not punished. Irreplaceable things are taken and can never be returned, and the thief is left smiling."
"Jenna, what are you saying?"
"... Jenna." The girl scoffed, looking away again and crossing her arms. "What a stupid name. Jenna Elurra, it means Paradise of Snow in some translations and Snow's White Shadow in others. That bastard Ozpin, he knows how much I despise snow, but he still made me go by that name."
"Wait... What?"
"My real name isn't Jenna Elurra. That was a lie... A lot of what I've told you has been a series of little white lies. It was for your own good, really."
"What?! Why?!"
"I'm following orders."
Sam and Dora headed back when the dance was over, arriving in their dorm to find both of their teammates A.W.O.L.
"... They probably went sparring." Sam shrugged, and Dora nodded. "Hey, at least we get to hang out."
With that, Sam wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her. She placed her hands on his shoulders, then wrapped her arms around his neck as their kiss deepened.
Dora felt her face grow warm, which it never did. Only Sam could make her blush like that. Finally running out of air, the both of them broke apart and smiled brightly.
"I-I think you and I have very different definitions of hang out."
Adam's eyes narrowed as he stood.
"Whose orders?!"
"Ozpin's. His orders to make sure that you weren't a threat to the students, his orders to stay in this school, his orders to go by this name, his orders to hide who I am... He's a fool."
"... Why?"
"... You once made a comment to me, about how I was afraid to stand up to people who discriminated against me because of my species. You think I'm weak." The girl scoffed, looking at Adam again. "Well... You may know where fear is present, but you fail to see where it is truly coming from. And as for weakness... I'm stronger than you could ever imagine."
"What are you saying?"
"To be quite frank, my anger is far stronger than my fear could ever be. But, my fear is what reminds it to stay in check. And that specific branch of my fear has a particular source... I was scared of showing everyone exactly who and what I was. That's the only reason why I went along with Ozpin's orders." Jenna suddenly gave a crazed laugh, letting her arms drop to her sides before raising them up, lifting her face up to the arena lights as she closed her eyes. "How funny is that?! A Faunus, afraid of what she really is! Must make you wonder what could be THAT bad, to where being a Faunus isn't my biggest issue!"
"Being a Faunus shouldn't be your biggest issue! You should be proud!"
"Oh, yeah?" Jenna turned and looked at him, glaring as her hands fell to her sides and clenched into fists. "Proud... I don't see humans having to worry about Feral." At that, Adam tensed.
Feral - or rather, going feral - was a condition that Faunus could be afflicted with. It was rare, but if it appeared, it was almost-always in a predator-class Faunus. When a Faunus went feral, their humanity was completely lost and they pretty much became an animal in human skin. The predator-class Faunus would attack, hunt, and kill like a predator would kill prey. To go feral, a Faunus typically would have to be isolated from people for several years, being either kept caged and separated from the captor or lost in the wilderness. It was a horrible fate, and mentioning it was taboo... Adam had seen it happen, before.
"... What are you bringing that up for?"
"Tch." Jenna smirked, walking up to him and looking him in the eyes. "I'm in Ozpin's Witness Protection Program for two reasons. I guess that the only one that should concern you is my real identity, oh partner of mine."
"And that is?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes, I would."
Sam and Dora, sitting on Sam's bed, broke apart again. Dora blushed, closing her eyes and giggling as Sam lovingly raised a hand to the side of her face. Slowly, Dora sighed and looked up at Sam.
"We should probably go and find them. It's getting late."
"Yeah... Or, we can hope that they stay out all night, and-"
"Sam!"
"Okay, okay!"
Jenna turned away from Adam again, giving a light chuckle as she shook her head.
"Well... I suppose that I could let you in on the secret. Not like there's any way of going back, now." She crossed her arms, looking up. "I was born in a small village in western Vale called Malbec. My mother's name was Khione, my father's name was Bordeaux, and my older brother's name was Anino." Jenna slowly began walking. "For the first four years of my life, everything was perfect. But then, a wandering Mistralian Huntsman killed off a local, a good guy, and Grimm of all kinds came pouring in with the wave of negative emotion... My mother, a Huntress herself, was killed while she was buying time for the rest of our family to escape. I could go into the details of exactly how that affected me - what with the flashes and such -, but I don't want to."
"Jenna-"
"My father decided that we needed a change of scenery, so he moved us to Mountain Glenn."
"Mountain Glenn? But, that place fell over fourteen years ago. At your age, you would have been younger than four at the time."
"... I'm older than I look, Adam." Jenna spoke quietly, and Adam blinked in surprise. "I'm twenty-two... And I was eight when the Grimm invaded."
"... What?"
Sam and Dora walked down a hallway, and they exchanged glances, frowning.
"I'm not hearing anything from the arena." Dora announced, and Sam nodded. "Let's hurry up. If they're gone, we can head back to the room.
Adam stared at Jenna, absolutely stunned.
"During our first year in Mountain Glenn, my father started a company dedicated to studying Grimm." Jenna continued, closing her eyes again. "He wanted to know what they were, where they came from, how to more-effectively kill them... How to master them."
"What? But, how? That's impossible!"
"My father was always a brilliant scientist in his youth. He left that world for my mother, but when she died, he became... Obsessed." Her eyes opened and narrowed. "He wanted to experiment on those 'beautiful, mindless, instinct-dependent freaks' and enhance them, control them... As my brother and I got older, we came to realize that our father had changed - but by that point, it was too late. He'd begun making strides with the Grimm, and his curiosity got the better of him. He loved the Grimm because of the power they possessed in their mindlessness, ther animalistic tendencies - but he wondered... Could there be something like that in a more-human form." Jenna closed her eyes, sighing. "He stayed out every night. We hardly saw him, but we were expected to complete our daily lessons without fail. He wanted geniuses for children, people to carry on his work when he was gone. Anino was a prodigy, but I was always a bit slower. I didn't know why we needed all of that knowledge, and it left a pit in my gut... I knew it was wrong."
"So... What happened?"
"... My father managed to get my brother and I out of Mountain Glenn after it fell, at the cost of his arm and his eye. He made new ones easily, and we moved to an island off of the coast of Vale and helped him rebuild his laboratory. He started working on his research again, on the Grimm... And on Feral." Jenna's eyes opened and narrowed. "Anino started becoming scarce. I didn't know it at the time, but Father was sending him to the mainland to abduct Faunus and bring them back... Father was trying to find a way to induce Feral."
"That's... That's insane!" Adam was horrified. "What the Hell kind of monster was he?!"
"... He wasn't a monster." Jenna announced quietly, frowning as she walked forward. "After he was successful, he did create an antidote for the induced Feral. He didn't want to hurt any innocent people, he wanted to use his Grimm to destroy the others - to bring peace. And he wanted to use his Feral Faunus to show the world that people become what you try to make them into, and that by accepting the part of them that's animal, you can turn them back into men... He was a genius. His heart was in the right place, he was just misunderstood." She closed her eyes and sighed. "But, as the years passed, he came to realize that his Grimm and the Feral Faunus saw him as a monster and treated him like one. And, slowly, that was what he became. He became even more obsessed with perfecting his processes. But, one day. Anino returned empty-handed. He was so close to a breakthrough, an incurable Feral formula that he intended to use on the White Fang extremists who refused to see reason and agree to work with everyone else to heal the world. He just needed one Faunus to test it." Jenna opened her eyes. "So, when I was sixteen years-old, he brought me down to the labs."
Dora tugged on the doorknob, her eyes narrowing as the door to the locker-rooms rattled but did not open.
"It's locked." She looked up at Sam. "Let's try to get in through the stands." Sam nodded, looking concerned and a little freaked-out.
"Y-yeah!"
Adam couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What happened?"
"... My brother realized what my father was planning and tried to stop him. He told me to hide in a rocket-locker, and I obeyed. He and my father argued, and Father actually sent some Grimm after Anino. My brother defeated them, but he was tired... And my father injected him with the serum." Jenna closed her eyes again. "Before he completely turned, he managed to type in some coordinates and send me to the mainland. The last thing I saw before I was blasted all the way to Forever Fall was the last of his humanity slipping away, and a wolf in my brother's form attacking my father." Jenna opened her eyes. "That was my biggest lie to you... I honestly don't know what became of them, that night." Jenna gave a weak laugh. "But all the same. My father was a monster, and my brother became an animal. They were as good as dead, to me."
"... And, after that?" Adam asked, staring at her. Jenna became serious again.
"I was livid. I attacked any Grimm I saw out of spite, and my methods were evidently too noticeable. Ozpin's man - Qrow - found me a few months after I arrived in Forever Fall and brought me to Beacon." Jenna looked back at Adam. "I told Ozpin who my mother was, and that gave him all the information that he needed to know. I told him all I could about my parents and my brother, and the staff trained me in combat and I used the knowledge that had been forced upon me by my father to design my weapon. I was supposed to go on the run, to travel to prevent my detection and capture - an opportunity which I would have used to hunt my father down and make him pay for what he did to my brother and I - but then, you showed up."
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Jenna's eyes narrowed. "The man playing the part of a child." Adam's eyes widened in disbelief. "Evidently, you were not nearly as convincing as I was... Ozpin saw you for what you were, and he told me that I would no longer be leaving the grounds. He wanted to ensure that his students would be safe, and outside of himself and Goodwitch, he considered me the only person within reach who would be capable enough to bring you down if need be. So, I made sure that I was noticed, and I got close enough to get a good look at your character... I told Ozpin you were fine."
"... Why?"
"A: I wanted out of there, ASAP. B... You were a high-ranking White Fang leader. A guy like you wouldn't be here for training or recon, and Blake is fully capable of handling herself. So, by reason, the only logical reason for you being at Beacon was that you wanted to change." Jenna managed a small smile. "And, well... With all the bad changes in my experience, I thought it'd be nice to know I made one good one possible." Adam blinked, and Jenna looked away. "So, I expected Ozpin to pull me, but he didn't. And I ended up being placed on your team against my will despite the danger."
"What danger?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Jenna looked up at Adam. "I said that my bother tried to stop my father. Before my brother got to him, about a teaspoon of the serum was injected into me. I'm, at the very least, part-Feral."
Dora and Sam ran down the hallway towards the doors to the arena stands, their eyes narrowed. It was all still silent, and they were growing more and more worried by the moment.
"Guys?" A voice asked, and the two paused, turning to see Blake standing there. Behind her were Weiss, Yang, Sun, Neptune, and Team JNPR - all with their weapons drawn even though they were still dressed for the dance. They must have called their lockers. "Have you seen Ruby? She went missing during the dance."
"No, but Jenna and Adam are missing, too." Pandora replied, her eyes narrowed. "We think they're in the arena, but we couldn't get in through the locker-rooms."
"What?" Blake asked, quickly growing concerned. Yang noticed, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Jaune, Pyrrha, Neptune, Weiss, and I will keep looking for Ruby." She decided, and everyone looked at her. "Sun, Blake, Ren, Nora - go to the arena with Sam and Dora. There could be trouble."
Jenna looked down again as Adam stared at her, stunned.
"Part of my training for those six years was training to control my wolf-side, mostly my temper. I was dangerous, but Ozpin wanted me to have as normal of a life as I could under the circumstances, so he tried to make it so that I could keep my instincts in check. I wasn't completely an animal, so it was somewhat possible." She turned away again, her hands falling to her sides. "I managed to get a good hold on myself, but every once in a while, my instincts would take control and I would lash out. Eventually, I was so paranoid that I began convincing myself that I needed to be afraid in order to avoid anger. I was an idiot, thinking I could keep it up forever... At the end of the day, a person can't change what they are in terms of blood. I can't change what I am - a Feral Faunus, a freak amongst freaks - any more than I can change who I am."
"... Who are you?" Adam asked quietly, his eyes slowly narrowing behind his ribbon. Jenna blinked, then bowed her head, closing her eyes as all went completely silent. "Jenna, who are you? With that story, you make it sound like you father was... Was..." Adam's eyes widened in disbelief. "No."
All went silent. Jenna didn't protest, and Adam couldn't speak. The bull-Faunus just stared at her, unable to believe the conclusion he had just come to and the lack of reaction or arguement from his partner. It couldn't be. She couldn't be...
...
Gnarled and mangled,
Warped, deformed...
They see nightmares,
A mutant swarm...
I see beauty
Underneath...
I see promise
In nature's freak...
...
Her father was a scientist - one that worked uh a Mountain Glenn, one that worked with Grimm. He went mad, and committed a series of atrocities in the name of "peace"... It was all clicking.
"... Isn't it obvious, now?" Jenna asked quietly, looking up as her pupils dilated slightly. Adam could see a purple ring around the pupils... Her fists clenched at her sides, her muscles tensing as she prepared to move. "I'm his daughter, and one of his more-successful creations - if I do say so myself. One of his lusus naturae... My name is-"
A gunshot rang out, and the wolf-Faunus barely dodged a Dust-round. She looked up, startled, as Blake lowered her gun, her eyes narrowed as she, Ren, Nora, Sun, Dora, and Sam gazed down at the scene from the stands.
"Stand down, Jenna." Blake ordered, and the brunette took a step back. "Now... I don't want to hurt you." Jenna went to reply, but then her right eye twitched, and Jenna quickly reached up and gripped the sides of her head.
"Rrrrrah... No..."
"Jenna?" Adam asked, expression filling with concern concern. He stepped forward, but Jenna dropped one of her hands from her head and raised it, her body quivering.
"S-stay back..! Ah..!" Jenna placed the hand back on the side of her head, baring gritted teeth as her muscles tensed. "R-run..! All of you..! RUN!" That last cry came out as a snarl, and Adam backed away, his eyes widening.
"Gods..."
"Adam, get out of there!" Blake warned, her eyes widening. "She's a Feral!" Sun looked at Blake, shocked, then looked down into the arena.
"Dude, I'm pretty sure that cows are below wolves on the food-chain! You've gotta run, now!"
"Maybe I can-!"
"Adam, Ferals can't be reasoned with!" Blake snapped, then everyone froze as Jenna looked up, growling. Her pupils had expanded and were now taking up a majority of her eyes to make them look black, a thin ring of purple and a small ring of white on the outside. These were the eyes of an animal. "She's not getting on all fours..?" Jenna slowly reached back and drew her weapon, shifting it into spear mode. "... What?"
"Blake, she's not a full Feral! She's not even a natural Feral!" Adam tried to explain, not noticing Jenna's twitching eyes falling on him. "Her father did this to her! Her father is-!"
"RAH!" Jenna suddenly darted froward, Adam barely dodging a critical hit from her spear. He looked up, his eyes narrowing, as she twirled her spear and held it out in a challenge.
"... Doctor Merlot." Adam finished, glaring. "The man who doomed Mountain Glenn." Jenna's eyes twitched again, then she growled and got ready to attack. "Jenna, don't."
"Adam, she tried to impale you. Jenna isn't that reckless or ruthless." Dora spoke up, and Adam looked at her. "Whatever this strain of Feral is, it doesn't turn people into total animals - you said it yourself. She's hunting you like a wolf hunts prey, but she's still as skilled as she was before!"
"Like an animal who can stand on two legs and fight like a human?" Nora asked, genuinely confused. "That's... Messed-up."
"No kidding!" Adam shouted, blocking a strike from Jenna. "I don't want to hurt her! A little help, here?!"
"On it!" Blake nodded, then she looked over at Sam and Dora. "You have no weapons. Stay here, the rest of us will try to help Adam subdue her."
"O-okay." Sam nodded shakily, his and Pandora's eyes wide, then Blake, Nora, Ren, and Sun leapt into the arena. Jenna noticed, and she shoved Adam back and spun her spear-tipped staff, getting ready to fight.
"This is your last chance, Jenna." Blake announced as Jenna was surrounded. "Snap out of this yourself, or we're going to have to do it for you." Jenna did not move, and Blake's eyes narrowed. "Fine."
...
A mystery of blood and bone -
Soul-less, origin unknown!
Twisted devil villains lost in time..!
...
Blake fired, and Jenna back-flipped, landing in a crouch and looking up before darting to the left and swinging her spear, striking Ren in the stomach with the shaft of the weapon. Ren winced, and that gave Jenna time to spin and strike him again, knocking him to the floor. Ren looked up just in time to get a kick to the face and a spear-shaft to the chest, and he was sent sliding across the floor.
"Ren!" Nora shouted, her eyes widening, then she looked over at Jenna, her eyes narrowing. "That's it! You need a time-out!"
Nora shifted Magnhild into a hammer and yelled, charging and leaping up, getting ready to bring the hammer down on Jenna. Adam was the only one who noticed the glint in her eyes.
...
Mindless, born of bubbling ooze!
Intelligence I will infuse!
A curse upon the world, but now you're mine!
...
Jenna raised her spear and blocked Magnhild with the shaft, cracks forming under her feet as she absorbed the impact. Jenna yelped under the weight, and Nora blinked in surprise before subsiding, fearing that she had hurt the smaller female. The brunette took this chance and shifted her body-weight and pushed up, sending Nora up and away from her.
Nora landed on her feet as Sun drew his staff and ran forward, blocking Jenna's spear with his staff. The blonde looked back at Blake and Adam, his grey eyes narrowing.
"Now!" He shouted, and the two readied to move, but Jenna kicked Sun's right leg out and made him stumble before swinging her spear and striking him with the shaft, knocking him to the ground. Sun looked up, his eyes wide, then he shouted in surprise and barely rolled out of the way in time to avoid being impaled as Jenna drove her spear-tip into the ground.
...
I will raise you up, de-
sign the perfect beast!
Elevate the savage,
Use you to bring peace!
...
Jenna looked up as Blake and Adam charged, her eyes narrowing, then she leapt back, backflipping and landing in a crouch before pushing off from the ground and lunging.
Blake raised her gun and fired, and Jenna took the hit with her aura before slamming her shoulder into the cat-Faunus' chest and knocking her back. The wolf-Faunus turned around as Adam fired Wilt out of Blush, the girl moving her head aside to avoid the attack and grabbing the sword out of the air, throwing it back at the owner.
Adam moved his head aside, his eyes wide as he avoided the blade, only to look back as Nora yelped, having taken the strike of the blade to her right shoulder, her aura protecting her but shattering as a result.
"No." Adam's eyes widened, then his eyes narrowed as he noticed Ren standing and raising his weapons. "Nora, go to Ren - he can protect you! Sun, Blake, and I will handle this!" Nora looked back, her eyes wide, then her eyes narrowed.
"I'll fall back, but I'm still going to do what I can!"
...
They don't know,
They don't understand -
There's a goal!
It's my master plan!
...
Adam darted over and grabbed his blade as Jenna was distracted while deflecting shots fired by Sun and Blake with her spear. Nora arrived at Ren as he began firing StormFlower, and Nora shifted Magnhild into grenade-launcher form.
"Guys, get ready!" Nora warned, and everyone looked over at her. Jenna's eyes narrowed, as did Nora's. "I'm real sorry about this, but... Time for you to take a little nap, Jenna!" Everyone got out of the way as Nora fired, and Jenna dodged the first grenade. Nora fired again, and Jenna dodged, darting towards her with her spear ready. Nora's eyes widened, then they narrowed again. "Lights out, Science-Girl!"
Nora fired when Jenna was just ten feet away, a massive pink explosion going off. All eyes widened, all going silent as everyone stared at the smoke and debris..
...
These simple minded fools just see my plans abstruse,
I'll give the monster's life a use!
...
Slowly, the smoke cleared up a little, and all eyes widened further as they made out a figure standing at the center of it. A hand suddenly lashed out and grabbed Nora by the throat, tossing her aside.
'Just like that night, with Torchwick...' Adam's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Why aren't any explosives harming her?'
Ren's eyes widened before narrowing as he yelled, raising both guns and firing, but the figure darted out of the smoke, dodging the shots. Jenna looked up, growling softly, then she stabbed forward with her spear.
Ren yelped as his aura shattered, then he fell to the ground. Jenna looked down at him for a moment, then she looked back at Sun, Blake, and Adam as she twirled her spear, getting ready.
...
Awaken my brood,
Today you will rise!
I've given you life,
My lusus naturae -
Open your eyes..!
...
Blake looked over at Adam, glaring.
"Adam, we're going to have to hurt her." She announced, and she saw his muscles tense. "Adam, we can't help her unless we can stop her. It's the only way."
"... Fine." Adam nodded, his eyes narrowing. "She's smart, but not nearly as experienced in combat as we are. She has six years of training, but hardly any field-practice. And with the effects of the Feral, she's more reckless... She can't attack the both of us at once if we strike simultaneously from front and back."
"Uh, and what should I do?" Sun asked, and the two looked at him. Slowly, Adam produced a dark smirk.
"Every trap needs bait."
...
Created in a netherworld,
Into this realm you were hurled
But scientifically misunderstood..!
...
Sun stood at the center of the arena, his eyes wide as Jenna made a partial circle around him, her spear ready. Meanwhile, Adam and Blake were getting into position...
"So, um..." Sun gave a nervous grin as the girl's eyes narrowed further. "You, uh... You must get your like of science from your dad, right? That's cool."
"Tch." The girl scoffed, raising her spear. Sun's body tensed, and he raised his hands, smiling awkwardly.
"Look, um - wolves and monkeys don't live in the same areas! Wolves aren't natural predators to monkeys, so you shouldn't have any inclination to hurt me, right?!"
...
I will decode and knowledge gain!
Your mysteries I will explain!
I'll lucubrate and change you for the good..!
...
Adam and Blake suddenly darted out of the shadows, Jenna quickly noticing before she tucked her spear under her armpit and spun, striking Adam in the stomach and Blake in the chest simultaneously. This bought enough time for her to duck under their attacks, roll, and end up in a crouch, her weapon in bow-form as she drew the string back, one eye closed as an arrow formed on the string and she took aim.
"Move!" Sun warned, pushing Blake out of the way and taking the arrow to his shoulder. Sun winced as his aura took the hit, and he looked up as Jenna readied another arrow, this time aiming for him. "Uh... Help?!"
"I'VE GOT YOUR BACK!" A voice shouted, and lightning crackled on the ceiling before condensing into a sphere. Sam held his hands up as he balanced himself on the railing, drawing electricity from the walls, and he gazed down at Jenna, glaring.
...
The fools they've placed in power
Try to halt my dreams!
They will fail to stop me!
Grimm, I will redeem!
...
Jenna looked up, her eyes widening as she saw the attack being prepared. Adam looked up as well, his eyes narrowing, then he looked over at Sam.
"Are you trying to kill her?!" He demanded, glaring. Sam looked over at him, his eyes narrowing as well.
"She's trying to kill you guys! If we can't stop her, we've gotta put her down!" Sam looked back at Jenna, frowning as he saw her shifting her bow back into a spear. "I'm really sorry about this, Jenna - but if you in your right mind could speak to me now, I know you'd agree with this."
Sam brought both of his hands down, pointing at Jenna, and the electricity flew at her. All eyes widened, then Jenna growled lowly and threw her spear up, the lightning striking it before it fell back into her hand. Jenna winced, her aura absorbing the residual electricity, the air now tasting coppery in the wake of the massive surge of electrical power.
...
I'm your god!
I will make you grow!
You're my own
Twisted embryo!
...
"How..?" Sam stared at Jenna, looking woozy. "She's gotta be low on aura, now... She's gotta be..."
"Sam, you've gotta try a-!" Dora paused as Sam looked back at her, his nose bleeding. "Sam?!" Sam's aura suddenly shattered and he fell back, Dora catching him. "SAM!" Dora kneeled, her eyes wide as she pulled Sam into her arms. "Sam, come on! Stay with me! Sam!"
"Tch." Jenna simply looked away, her focus returning to the three Faunus who remained. "Hm."
...
They call me sick, obsessed -
A madman with no proof!
In triumph, I will show the truth..!
...
"That's it!" Sun snapped, and he charged, switching his weapon to gun-chucks form and switching them in his hands, firing a rapid series of shots. Jenna blocked all of them except one, which grazed the right side of her face and left a thin cut. Her aura was wearing low, after all... Jenna looked back at Sun, seeming annoyed as the wound began to bleed. "Uh... Sorry?"
"Hmph." Jenna switched her spear into lasso form and threw it, catching the monkey-Faunus around the neck. His grey eyes widened, then he yelped as Jenna spun and sent him flying into a wall, his weapons falling to the ground as he hit the floor with a thud, his aura shattered.
"Sun!" Blake shouted, her eyes widening. Sun weakly looked up at her, then he passed out, and Jenna tugged her weapon, the lasso leaving his throat and collapsing back into a spear as she turned to Blake and Adam.
...
Awaken my brood,
Today you will rise!
I've given you life,
My lusus naturae -
Open your eyes..!
...
Adam's eyes had narrowed dangerously. She was craftier than she had ever let on during their months at Beacon. Perhaps being the daughter of mad genius and the student of the Beacon staff really did have its perks...
"That's enough, Jenna." He spoke, and she raised an eyebrow. "If you stop this now and calm down, we can still talk this out."
"That isn't Jenna!" Blake shouted, looking over at him. "She's not completely a Feral, but she's still animal enough to have lost her connection to the emotional aspect of humanity! She's going to kill us, and she won't care! Adam-!"
Blake suddenly paused, her golden eyes widening, then she looked down and back to see the sharp tip of a silver spear against her spine. She looked up to see Jenna gazing at her with a raised eyebrow, her expression almost-innocent as she tilted her head to the side, her left ear flopping down.
"... Jenna." Adam warned, and she looked at him. "Don't." Jenna blinked, then she wrapped her arm around Blake's neck, holding her in place with her spear's tip still resting against her back. A meat-shield.
...
When evolution fails,
Science will prevail!
What nature warped,
I will restore!
I will love
What all abhor!
...
"Uh... Adam?" Blake asked, her eyes wide. Adam's eyes narrowed once more, and he slowly drew Wilt, glaring.
"Stay perfectly still, Blake." He ordered quietly, and Jenna raised an eyebrow. Then, she yelped like a wounded dog as Adam shot her right leg, her head bowing and her eyes closing as she winced and flicked her ears back.
Blake used this opportunity to break free and run back over to Adam as Jenna sunk to one knee, gripping her wounded leg. The two let their guard down for a moment, thinking the fight was over, then Jenna looked up, growling like a wild animal as her hair bristled.
...
They call me sick, obsessed -
A madman with no proof!
I'll give the monster's life a use..!
...
'They say an animal is most dangerous when it is wounded, it is backed into a corner, and it has nothing left to lose...' Adam thought as Jenna stood, scowling as she held her spear out. 'But we can end this, and no one has to die as long as we play it right.'
"Blake, go to the stands and get ready to shoot." Adam ordered, and Blake looked at him with wide eyes. "I'll keep her busy, then make sure that she holds still."
"Adam-"
"You're the one who wanted me to learn how to preserve life." Adam looked over at her, glaring. "Do it." Blake gazed at him, her eyes wide, then she slowly nodded and ran off.
...
Awaken my brood,
Today you will rise!
I've given you life,
My lusus naturae -
Open your eyes..!
...
Jenna and Adam faced off. Adam gazed at her, his eyes narrowed, then spoke.
"You're a hypocrite." He announced, and her eyes narrowed. "You say that justice should be upheld and served, then you spin around and say that you don't really believe in it. Make up your mind." He gestured to the fallen around the arena. "Is this right, or is it wrong? Or do you not even know, anymore?"
Jenna remained silent, but Adam saw her right eye twitch, briefly shifting back to its human appearance and filling with panic. It was strange to see on an otherwise calm and collected face, but it quickly righted itself.
'She's... Scared.' Adam realized, his eyes widening slightly. 'She called this her wolf-side. Could the lack of a complete Feral-injection have made the two entities - Jenna and the animal - separate? This isn't a wild Jenna, it's a wolf. And as Jenna's watching now, it was watching all of this time... Can it learn like a human, because it's a part of her?'
...
Open your eyes!
...
Jenna suddenly darted forward and swung her spear, Adam quickly blocking it while his eyes narrowed in thought. Just how was he going to pull this off..?
'That day, with Emerald - she paused. Maybe the only way to get her to hold still long enough for Blake to stop her is to make her think she's won.' He thought, and he noticed Blake getting into position in the stands, loading her gun. He looked back at Jenna as she bared her gritted teeth and growled lowly, her ears flicking back. 'That must be it... It's a risk and a long-shot, but I have to try. I need answers, and I'm not giving up on my partner just yet. After all...' Adam looked over at Blake again. 'She gave me a second chance when it looked as though I had become a monster.'
"Okay, Jenna!" Adam pulled away and stepped back, his eyes narrowed as he let himself be completely exposed. "Hit me with your best shot!"
...
I've given you life,
My lusus naturae!
...
Jenna swept out Adam's legs with her spear and knocked him off his feet, the bull-Faunus grunting slightly but not getting up again, simply looking up at his Feral partner with a glare. The young woman proceeded to kick him in the ribs, the strength behind the hit actually knocking his aura down a few percent and making him wheeze, then she kneeled and readied to bring her spear down on him.
"Hey, wait!" A recovering Sun looked up, his eyes wide. The others were recovering as well, and they looked at the scene with wide eyes. Adam didn't look away from his partner for an instant,
"Jenna!" Adam shouted, and Jenna paused, her eyes narrowed. "This isn't you! You're not a mindless animal!" She raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing further. "You're going to wake up from this, so you need to just calm down before you do something that can't be fixed!" Jenna scoffed, then raised her spear over him once more. "Damn it, Jenna! Wake up!"
"Adam!" Blake shouted, her eyes widening as she reached out. Adam's eyes widened as he saw Jenna's muscles tense, then his eyes narrowed as he watched the spear fall.
...
Open your eyes!
...
"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Adam snarled, and Jenna's spear-tip paused an inch above his heart. The girl blinked, surprised, as her bristled hair returned to normal and her ears perked up. She blinked, and her eyes were normal as well... And purple - a reddish-purple, like wine.
"... Adam?" Jenna asked, seeming surprised. Then, a Dust-round struck the side of her head, shattering her aura and knocking her out cold, and she fell forward onto Adam's chest. Blake lowered her gun and leapt back down into the arena, her eyes narrowed as Adam looked up at her.
"You could have tried that a while ago." The cat-Faunus noted, and Adam deadpanned as he sat up, an arm wrapped around his unconcious partner. Everyone was standing at this point, and they all looked over as Adam stood as well, holding the passed-out wolf-Faunus in his arms.
"Jenna?" Adam tried, but the girl did not respond. Sun sighed, then he blinked as he noticed something on the ground.
"Uh... Hey, guys?" He pointed, and they looked down. A single contact-lense laid on the floor, its partner lost - and from its design, it was obvious that it was meant to make eyes look brown.
"She hid her eyes?" Blake asked, surprised. Silence fell. "... So, what do we do with her?"
"You do nothing, Miss Belladonna." A voice spoke sternly, and everyone turned to see Professor Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch, and General James Ironwood of Atlas standing there. Ozpin stepped forward, his eyes narrowed. "Miss Elurra - or, as you've come to realize, Miss Merlot - has finally proven herself far too unstable to maintain contact with other people. Therefore, I cannot risk her being in a close-enough vicinity to cause harm to my other students... James?" General Ironwood stepped forward to take Jenna, but Adam held her closer, glaring as he took a step back. "Mr. Taurus, may I remind you that your integrity being called into question was the very reason why Miss Merlot was sent into the field."
"Here's my integrity, you bastard." Adam announced, scowling. "I'm not letting you throw her into some cage. That's not going to help her."
"I assure you, she won't be restrained in any way-"
"Then, just what do you plan on doing with her?" Adam asked, and all went silent. Adam gazed at the three teachers, then his eyes widened behind his ribbon before narrowing again as he took another step back.
"That settles it." Blake walked over and standing by Adam. She was glaring, now. "You're not coming anywhere near her."
"Yeah!" Nora walked over and stood by Blake and Adam, her eyes narrowed. "Something's wrong with her head! We need to help her, not put her down like some animal!" Ren walked over, standing by her and nodding at Blake and Adam. Sun rubbed his neck as he walked over as well, then he looked up at Ozpin, Goodwitch, and Ironwood.
"Come on, guys." He gave a nervous grin. "You're not seriously thinking about-" Ironwood looked at him, and Sun blinked before his eyes narrowed and he raised his weapon. "Nope. Not happening!"
"D-damn right." Sam managed, Dora having helped him stand. His skin and clothes were scorched and his hair stood on end, but he looked down at the arena with a glare. "You lay a hand on Science-Girl, and you'll have to deal with us."
"And others." Dora noted, her eyes narrowed. "Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Sun's team wouldn't hesitate to stand against you, even after all of this."
"... Everyone, please: calm down." Ozpin sighed, then he looked up with a smile. "No harm is to come to Miss Merlot." Goodwitch didn't react, but Ironwood immediately went to protest.
"Ozpin-!"
"General." Ozpin looked over at him. "May I remind you of the many, many unprecedented factors in this situation? If we did any harm to the poor girl, the results would be disastrous. The headmasters agreed upon this six years ago."
"Six years ago, she wasn't lashing out and attacking students!" Ironwood protested, gesturing to the group. "They could have died!"
"But they didn't." Ozpin reasoned, looking over at them. "It goes to show that even first-years can detain her if the need presents itself, and what we witnessed..." Ozpin looked at Adam. "To this date, no one has been able to snap her out of one of her... Fits. We cannot ignore the fact that it now appears possible to bring her back to humanity without having to wait it out." Ozpin looked back at Ironwood. "She lives, James. She's one of my students, and her custody was given to me."
"It should have been given to me, with the circumstances."
"Well... When it's a three-to-one decision and you're the one who votes to put her down, it's unlikely that that's to happen." Ozpin actually deadpanned lightly, and Ironwood scowled. Ozpin looked back at the group. "... We need to place her in the infirmary and secure her. There's no knowing what state she'll be in upon awakening."
"... How do we know that this isn't a ploy to get her alone?" Adam asked, glaring. Ozpin blinked, then raised an eyebrow.
"If we intended to kill her, do you really believe that we would let you walk away with that knowledge?" He inquired, and the students blinked before letting their guard down. "Now... Let's get this poor girl, and the rest of you, some medical attention."
/\
Sam, Nora, Ren, and Sun were the ones who needed the most medical attention, and Dora stayed with Sam while Blake stayed with Sun. Adam, on the other hand, watched through his ribbon as doctors used leather restraints to pin an unconcious Jenna Elurra's limbs and torso to her hospital bed.
Her wild brown hair was free from its usual ponytail, and she wore a white t-shirt and white pants. Her right leg was bandaged in the place where Adam had shot it. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted just enough to show a bit of her teeth, and her expression seemed troubled.
"Well?" Ozpin asked as the doctors finished examining her. He had dismissed Goodwitch and Ironwood. "How is she?"
"She's got some bruising, that cut on her face isn't pretty, and she may have a minor concussion - but she'll be fine in a few days or so." The head doctor replied, looking at Ozpin. The headmaster nodded in reply.
"Good... And, her scans?"
"Her brain showed that it experienced a severe increase in activity in the area often associated with Feral, but the levels are at her normal, now."
"Her normal?" Adam asked, his eyes narrowing. Ozpin sighed, then he looked at the bull-Faunus.
"Mr. Taurus, Miss Elurra's condition doesn't come and go." He spoke forlornly. "There's always some part of her that's Feral... She just tends to keep that side of her in check by sedating it through other ways outside of - well - hunting. Or, at least, hunting people. She keeps her diet simple with a strong basis in protein, she takes morning runs, and she goes out at least once a month to - shall we say? - manage the Grimm population in the Forest of Forever Fall." Ozpin looked back at Jenna. "... I knew her mother, Khione. A kind, quiet woman. She would have never wanted this for her daughter, no good mother would... I've done everything in my power to help her."
"... Jenna's father really is Doctor Merlot?" Blake asked, looking back at Ozpin. "He's in the history books. The man who doomed Mountain Glenn... But everything I've ever read said that he died."
"That's what we believed, until Miss Merlot came and told us otherwise." Ozpin said, shaking his head. "I hate to say it, but... I hope that, when Anino Merlot was forced to go Feral, he put an end to his father and his experiments for good."
"That is just... Twisted." Dora admitted, looking over at Jenna. "Adam... You said that her father did this to her. Did he do the same thing to her brother?"
"Yeah." Adam nodded in response. "That's what she said." Adam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I get why she didn't tell us about any of this. She was under orders, and honestly: if any of us knew before we got to know her, it probably wouldn't have ended well. But still..." Adam opened his eyes and looked down at his partner. "I can't help but feel like, if she told us, it wouldn't have come to this." Adam looked back at Ozpin. "... She will be allowed to return to the team once she recovers, right?"
"... That depends." Ozpin looked up at Adam, frowning. "Tell me, Adam Taurus... If Miss Elurra were to lose herself again and go on a rampage, and you weren't able to stop her in any other way, would you take her life?"
Late that night - or rather, morning - in the Team AJCS dorm...
"I can't believe it!" Dora shouted down at Adam as he sat on his bed, his eyes narrowed and on the floor. "What was all of that back in the arena about preserving life?!"
"Yeah, man!" Sam agreed, glaring. "She's your partner! Would you really-?!"
"Of course I wouldn't!" Adam snapped, and Sam and Dora blinked. "... I just said that so he'd let her go." Adam looked down, scowling. "We now know that the teachers at this school - or at least, those three - won't hesitate to kill one of our teammates... I don't think that we're in a position to do anything to provoke them. Her life depends on it."
"... Right." Dora nodded, her and Sam's eyes narrowing. "We're with you, Adam." Sam nodded, glaring.
"No one touches Science-Girl. Not without going through us."
/\/\/\/\
In the morning, Team A(J)CS was called to Professor Ozpin's office so early that they couldn't even go and see Jenna first. Ozpin was hunched over a cup of coffee and looking like a complete wreck, and Goodwitch had more coffee on standby. General Ironwood stood off to the side, his arms crossed.
"Team AJCS... Children, and Mr. Taurus... I..." Ozpin shook his head, covering his eyes with his hand as Adam, Sam, and Dora came to stand before his desk. "I have some rather distressing news." At that, the three blinked.
"Sir?" Dora asked, worried. Ozpin sighed, then he looked up at him.
"... Miss Merlot is gone." The headmaster admitted, and the three blinked. "Last night, someone - or rather, something - broke into the infirmary and took her."
"... What?" Adam asked, his fists clenching at his sides. Dora and Sam actually stepped away from him out of fright due to the sheer amount of rage in his expression. Ozpin lightly gestured to Goodwitch, who held a scroll up.
...
In was all dark in the infirmary, and Jenna was the only one sleeping in there. Suddenly part of the wall and ceiling was destroyed, a Gryphon landing and looking around with narrowed eyes. What was usually red on a Grimm was glowing green, and the creature hissed softly as it noticed Jenna's shifting form.
"Huh..?" The girl looked up weakly, then her eyes fell on the creature. "Ah!" Jenna screamed, recoiling as much as she could in her fright, but then the beast began using its claws to cut the restraints holding her. "H-huh?" Jenna sat up, looking at her wrists with a frown. "What in the world..?" Jenna slowly looked up at the Gryphon, then her eyes widened in disbelief as she noticed its abnormalities. "No!"
The Gryphon screeched and grabbed the girl by the back of her shirt, lifting her into the air as she struggled, then it flicked its head and sent her slamming into a wall. The girl fell back down, held in place by the Gryphon's beak but now unconcious, and the beast turned around and ran at the hole it had made, jumping and spreading its wings before soaring off into the night.
Moments later, Ozpin and several of the teachers arrived and looked around at the wreckage in disbelief, then Ozpin turned and looked up at the camera, his eyes wide. Suddenly, the screen went black, text appearing in white.
I've reclaimed my lost lusus naturae. You lose, Professor.
...
"Lusus naturae?" Adam blinked in surprise as Sam and Dora stared at the screen in disbelief, then his eyes narrowed dangerously as he realized what must have happened. "Doctor Merlot... He's alive."
Well... I know that that's an abrupt change.
Jenna Elurra isn't Jenna Elurra, and Anino isn't some collected but temperamental loner living in the wilderness of Forever Fall and looking for his sister. Now, they are the children of Doctor Merlot - and two of his lusus naturae.
If you don't know who Doctor Merlot is, he's a very mysterious character form the game RWBY: Grimm Eclipse. He likes to experiment on things that REALLY shouldn't be experimented on, claiming that it is for the sake of peace, and I really wanted to use his character in a story. Since this story was so bland and predictable before, I figured "why not?". Ol' Merlot could spice things up.
And spice things up he has. Now, Jenna's been returned to Doctor Merlot's labs, and everyone else faces the choice of whether or not to go after her.
Before you say I threw this in out of nowhere, keep in mind the build-up. Jenna's dropped little hints here and there about Merlot: her father was a scientist who lost his way, he lost his arm, he did some pretty controversial stuff in the name of peace, etc. Then, there's Jenna's aptitude for science and her different standpoints. Science-Girl is her father's daughter.
As for that fight, before you freak out: know that Jenna is not stronger than a good chunk of the main cast - Dora, Sam, Adam, Blake, Ren, and Nora -. They were all holding back in an attempt to not harm her, and through a mix of her ruthless attacks and her fighting-style having not yet been truly witnessed in its fullest form even when she was in complete control, they were running in blind and at a disadvantage. If Jenna were to try and fight them all while in her right mind and while they were all armed and wearing their combat attire, she'd probably be down and out within the first thirty seconds with most of them not having to lift a finger.
Jenna - in her right mind - is far less reckless and instinctual than she is in her Feral-mind. She is a bit more timid and cautious, and that would definitely trip her up in a fight. Plus, she's terrified of going Feral, meaning that she would never intentionally invoke it just to win a fight.
I only own my OCs. Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks! :)