Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shadows of the Force. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own RWBY and Star Wars. Monty Oum, Lucas Films, and Rooster Teeth do.
(Venator Class cruiser Trailblazer, Orbit over Vale, Remnant 3:32 PM November 12th.)
Lerek was awakened by the sound of a soft knock on the door. The Arkanian Jedi slowly rose to his feet, looking around as he grunted and walked across the room, his sleeping robes slowing his gait slightly. They were meant for comfort rather than function unlike his Jedi robes, after all.
Lerek punched in a code and was greeted by Blake. She blinked, forgetting Lerek was a few feet taller than her. The Arkanian's piercing snow-white eyes were full of mirth and amusement towards her as he leaned on the door.
"Ready to go then?" Lerek questioned, a smirk pulling his lips apart as the Jedi turned to look back at the rest of the room.
He watched Blake nod as Lerek closed the door behind him. He quickly pulled on his boots and began to change into his Jedi robes, pausing to pull his lightsaber from the nightstand into his hand. Lerek marched towards the door, opening the door with the code.
"I've noticed that book in your hand every single time we've talked at the end of the day," Lerek stated while Blake hummed as the Faunus and Arkanian stepped into the lift.
"It's a… Good book." Blake stated while watching Lerek stifle a chuckle under his breath. "Shut up, it isn't like you're not weird as well." Blake lamely added to which Lerek clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
The turbo-lift started to descend towards the hanger bay as Lerek was quite curious as to what awaited them in Vale. Blake turned to the general who was busy staring at the rapidly moving doors while clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
"Drifter said he had something to talk about tomorrow." Blake put in as Lerek nodded.
"That's fine, how are you doing, Blake?" Lerek questioned as he let out a small yawn, covering his mouth with a gloved hand and amusement. "Sorry, I haven't gotten a lot of sleep in a few days. Arkanians need sleep just like everyone else." Lerek added while rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"You said something about Arkanians loving technology and knowledge?" Blake questioned as she blinked.
"Yes, we're a very intelligent people from what little I've heard of us," Lerek stated, crossing his arms and putting his lightsaber on his belt. "But they're also pretty arrogant and cocky, not in an amusing way," Lerek added while he nodded and started to think about that.
The turbo-lift reached the hanger and the duo approached a Bullhead. Lerek guessed Professor Ozpin had brought one to the cruiser as a means of showing Beacon and the Republic had an accord. One of the staff for the school stood aboard the craft.
"I'm surprised you didn't want to go with your friends," Lerek said as the craft lifted into the air, the clones giving a thumbs-up as the craft left out the side hanger.
"They're busy doing something and they asked me to do something I need help with," Blake stated to which Lerek raised an eyebrow towards her with amusement. "You noticed me mention the White Fang several times? Well, now you're going to find out what they're like. I need your help dealing with them." Blake said as Lerek blinked, curious as to what she meant.
"This is going to be a long day, isn't it?" Lerek questioned to which Blake nodded. "Ok, but I have one request," Lerek said while Blake nodded to herself.
"We're going to Vale's biggest bookstore when this is over," Lerek said with another smirk before the bullhead descended to Beacon.
He knew Blake was probably dragging him into some super crazy mission…. But to him? That was just part of being a Jedi in his mind, you didn't exactly question the insane parts of life when they came to you.
"You couldn't convince one of your friends to sneak into a rally, could you?" Lerek asked with a playful smirk as they slowly stepped off the craft.
"No. Professor Ozpin doesn't exactly know about this, to begin with." Blake stated as the two began their walk into the city.
"I have a feeling you're doing EXACTLY what I did when I was a padawan," Lerek stated while he looked ahead. "Didn't you say they were extremists though? Also? Wouldn't they only allow Faunus into this event?" Lerek asked, already beginning to strategize as any good military officer would.
"They don't exactly know about what's going on at the moment," Blake stated and then turned to Lerek who crossed his arms. "Second? There's similar Faunus to you, I could claim you're a bat Faunus. It would make sense with the eyes and claws." Blake added as Lerek rolled his eyes.
"Gee, such a well-thought-out plan for someone snarking to me about leaping in," Lerek stated, gaining an elbow from Blake as he chuckled to himself while he looked around a moment later.
"You know, you've never really told me anything about Vale. No culture, no history, no important fact that could explain anything like that." Lerek pointed out and watched Blake nod to herself.
"I haven't lived in Vale a long time," Blake stated before Lerek nodded to himself.
"Then I'm going to take a while guess and say you're from Menagerie?" Lerek questioned, gaining a frown from Blake. "You've been pretty defensive about there. You wouldn't be like that unless it was personal. You don't have to be a super-intelligent Arkanian to know that." Lerek stated, leaning on a building.
"I hate when you learn things like that," Blake said before both heard the sound of movement. "Don't, he's a friend," Blake added, closing her eyes as Lerek rested his hand on his lightsaber.
Lerek was interrupted by what he only guess was another Faunus. Their monkey-like tail told him as much, the opened shirt almost made him raise an eyebrow before the blonde, blue-eyed Faunus approached the duo.
"Who's the fancy guy?" The blonde Faunus put in to which Lerek smirked and chuckled with amusement.
"Her friend, just like I'm going to assume you are," Lerek added before turning to Blake. "Blake, mind introducing me to your friend here? I don't think you've told your friend about your other friend like me." Lerek put in as Blake stepped between the duo.
"Lerek, this is Sun," Blake said before Lerek started to nod. "Sun, this is Lerek. Both of you have a lot in common, like jumping into fights recklessly0 and making stupid jokes at all times." Blake snarked as Lerek smiled.
"Well, anyone who makes Blake here snark about my company is a friend of mine." Lerek joked in return and extended a hand towards Sun while turning to Blake. "You do realize it's kinda HARD to sneak around considering 1. The Republic is high on the news probably, 2. Their probably screening people so nobody sneaks in who can alert the police. I might 'jump into fights randomly', but I'm not stupid, Blake." Lerek added, crossing his arms as a LAAT roared overhead.
Sun turned to look at the craft, Lerek could tell the Faunus was as new to the republic as Blake was. Considering how alien this world was to the republic as the republic was to this world? Lerek felt both scared about the future of their world, and curious enough to want to study this place.
"Then how about you stay outside?" Blake questioned while Lerek shrugged. "Provide backup? There's probably going to be a LOT of fighting if this goes wrong." Blake stated and watched Sun and Lerek share a look.
"So, all of them have weapons like her, right?" Lerek asked and got a nod. "I'll come in anyway. There's no way you are getting out with that many people there if something goes wrong. Plus? Considering how you talked about how bad the White Fang can be? I'd like to see what they're like firsthand, kinda already dealing with violent, misguided revolutionaries if you've forgotten? Don't want people more competent than droids teaming up with them." Lerek snarked to which Blake sighed.
She could already tell that this was going to end with a long flight, but if the White Fang were planning something after the tanker? She had to know; they were still her people.
"The White Fang wouldn't…" Blake started to say as she was forced to cut herself off. "Wouldn't the Separatists attack them for being enemies?" Blake started to say before Lerek shook his head.
"Count Dooku allows anyone who's against the Republic into their ranks," Lerek stated, turning to Blake. "They're very heavy-handed about forcing other planets into the CIS. I can't tell us showing up with an army to liberate them is much better at any rate if the White Fang would help them in their goals? They'd welcome them. Are the White Fang well-armed and organized? You're talking like they've targeted Vale recently." Lerek added to which Sun started to speak up a moment later
"Well, Blake did fight this one guy and a bunch of them on this cargo ship a few days ago," Sun said, gaining a glare from Blake as Lerek smiled.
"And yet I'm the guy 'running into fights recklessly?'" Lerek joked to which Blake sighed. "How exactly are you planning into a rally when the organization probably knows what you look like?" Lerek questioned as Blake tapped her fingers on her arms.
Lerek didn't know about her past in the White Fang, not unless the force or his species could read minds. Still? He had a point, dozens of White Fang soldiers had seen her and Sun, they would know what the duo looked like. Blake could sneak in, but that requires something to distract them.
Blake thought about that before realizing there was a possible way to draw some attention away from them.
"I need a favor," Blake said, watching Lerek raise an eyebrow at her. "I need you to draw some security away from the meeting. Can you and Sun investigate one of the warehouses the police talked about seeing some members at?" Blake questioned and watched Lerek shrug.
"You're going to sneak into the middle of dozens of armed revolutionaries… Without ANY backup." Lerek said, crossing his arms as he turned to Sun. "And you want both of us to give you an opening to do so?" Lerek asked, watching Blake nod.
"And she thinks we're the cocky ones," Lerek said before he shook his head. "Fine, I'll round up a squad and check it out with Sun. I'm coming back when they're distracted enough, don't need my favorite snarky Faunus to get shot playing spy." Lerek said before Blake nodded, leaping up to the rooftops and vanishing.
"So, you're like a military guy, right?" Sun questioned to which Lerek held up his hand and made a 'so so' gesture.
"It's complicated, I'll explain it more when we get done with it," Lerek stated as he paused to think about his next move. "Drifter? Can you send a squad to my location? Blake needs my help with something that might be involved with the separatists." Lerek ordered, pausing only to think about how this would go.
Little did he know the antics this would cause soon enough.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that 'Painting the Town' is going to be done differently here. This story will pass back into Star Wars and back and forth soon. The ending of the story will take place in seasons 7-8 of RWBY and season 7 of Clone Wars. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show Lerek, Sun, and the clones fighting the White Fang and more Blake and Lerek talking to each other. Along with more of the episode. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!