Chapter Seven: Olive Branch
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Repairing the wound in Luna's shoulder was a trivial task. The lack of knowledge about what had happened during her sparring match? That was near impossible to mend, or at least it was at the moment. She had taken to wandering the corridors of Beacon Academy in her free moments. This had given a sizeable repertoire of hiding spots to go to when the flashbacks hit. One moment she would be treading the carpeted halls of the dormitory, the next she would be assaulted by an amalgamation of all her time in the Militia. Then she would find herself hidden away in a disused dorm, or behind a pipe in the floor's utility closet.
The cobbled stone of Beacon's pathways suddenly gave way to dirt and grass. Without even thinking, she had been walking to the warehouse in which her faithful Titan companion, Connor, was situated. After a moment of hesitation, she held her forearm up to the small door that humans were meant to go through. She had stationed a robot by the door that scanned anyone on the other side. If they didn't have the proper credentials on their Scroll (or equivalent), the door could not be opened. However, if they did, the door functioned as normal. The Pilot turned the handle and pushed the metal door opened. She was bowed inside by the scanning robot, which Luna had programmed to act like a doorman. She smiled as she looked at the odd robot, which she had dressed in a tuxedo, complete with monocle. It was one of her more amusing projects, of which she was very happy of the result.
As the door swung shut and locked, she looked up at the Titan. "How's the sword coming along?" She asked.
"It is going well. I estimate it will be complete in three weeks." The robot replied.
"And what of that... other project?" She questioned further, removing her helmet and shaking out her mane of purple-white hair.
"This planet's global database was easy to compromise. We now have access to all of this civilisation's knowledge."
"Excellent. Anything interesting?" Luna walked over to a workbench which held the sword gifted by her mother.
"The Atlesian Military is working on a manned mechanical combat unit named the Paladin. It is remarkably similar in function to an Atlas-class Titan, though with lower operational time and more focus on armaments."
"Can we make our own...?" Hope was in her voice.
"Certainly. What edits would you like to make?"
"Hmm..." Luna thought for a moment. "Extend the operational time as long as reasonably possible. Give it more functions besides armaments. Oh, and be sure to add in the Atlas' weak point."
"Done. Why do you wish to install that weakness?"
"So I know how to take them down, C. What's the harm in it?"
The Titan didn't say anything in response, nodding its... head? If that is what the section which held the SERE kit could be called. Luna looked over the sword for a bit before she was summoned to Ozpin's office.
Upon arrival, she was greeted with one other person, dressed in what Luna assumed to be military dress uniform. She rolled her eyes, thankful for the mask.
"Rapture, please take a seat. This is General Ironwood, leader of Atlas' military and Huntsman Academy." Ozpin announced. The man extended a hand, but Luna didn't shake it. "Forgive me if I seem distrustful of you. I spent the last few years walking a razor's edge between survival and being murdered by a militaristic corporation."
The General nodded. "Well, that's... certainly interesting. Now, I am here because-"
"Ozpin told you a weird soldier fell from the sky with a ship that can teleport and a giant robot built to kill. That right?" Luna cut across him.
He nodded.
"So, what is it you want? To recruit me? Leech advanced technology from me? Kill me so I don't threaten your would? Let me tell you, none of that's going to work. This planet's database security is abysmal, Connor broke it in seconds. Alas, I come bearing an olive branch. You know that Paladin design, General? Yeah... I kinda made it better. Observe." She tapped the screen on her arm before using Ozpin's table to project the schematic. It looked remarkably similar to the Tone Titan, with a few key differences. First, the outcrop on the back of the cockpit section which doubled as communications and the weakpoint that the Pilot conveniently neglected to tell Ironwood. Most of Tone's systems and abilities were added, as well as two miniaturized Predator Cannons with reduced functionality mounted to the wrists. Lastly, this new design used the old Sid AI.
"Any questions, General?"
"This is..." He wondered out loud. "Incredible... This will be an incredible asset in our war on the creatures of Grimm."
"Is that all, Professor?" Luna questioned.
"For now. You may go." Ozpin answered, to which the girl turned and left the office.
She inexplicably found herself hidden behind a warm pipe again after being assaulted by flashbacks of one of her most critical failures, midway through the hall to her dorm. After extricating herself, she thought it a good idea to try to go to bed. However, this obviously bore no fruit. Accepting that it would be another sleepless night, she decided to head down to Team RWBY's dorm to see if any of her sisters were awake. She needed someone to talk to.
After a light knock on the door, she stood back and was greeted with the scarred face of none other than Weiss Schnee. "Why are you here?" She hissed quietly, indicating the others were asleep.
"Why are you awake? Tell me and I'll tell you." Luna offered, to which the Ice Queen sighed. "I can't sleep. You?"
"People often don't think about the aftereffects of what a soldier goes through on the battlefield. I can't remember the last time I had a good night's sleep."
Weiss hesitated before speaking. "You and I... we might be alike in more ways than you think. I have an assignment to finish. Goodnight." After that she shut the door. The exchange wasn't quite cold, but not overflowing with friendship. Luna walked back to her dorm, thinking about this. Before she knew it, she hand flopped onto her bed and fallen asleep, but this never turned out well...