Two

Bohemian Rhapsody

"Where am I!?" "Who are you?!" Jaune asked desperately trying to put two and two together. The last thing he remembered was being led out into the chamber then the firing squad- "am I dead!?" He shouted dramatically before patting down his body. "You're not dead," said the boy as he shot out a hand to him "but you'll wish you were soon enough now come on!"

The boy in front of him proclaimed before extending a hand to him. "Who are you?" Jaune asked as he took the stranger's hand. He was a boy about his age around similar height, with light brown skin unruly black hair that looked akin to a bedraggled mop and brown eyes. Kage, Venke. The boy said as Jaune got his first good look at him he wore a light white shirt and fitting black pants as he helped him up.

He replied hoisting Him up by the arm "Jaune Arc." Jaune said reaffirming the greeting as good manners dictated he do. Even in the worst situation manners are imperative! Or so he was taught.

"Where is'- "come on kid." Kage interrupted shaking his head at his questions "we'll get all our answers over there." He said gesturing at the end of a long dark hallway as he shook his head into that direction 'let's get going."

As the two young men made their way in awkward silence down the hallway. Kage had been unceremoniously shooting down each and every attempt Juane made at communication. Where are we- you'll see when we get there. Kage replied as they neared what appeared to be a giant metal bulkhead. "Why are we even still alive?" "Once again." The boy said as they reach the door. "We are alive because someone hasn't told us to die."

Kage said before putting a hand on the bulkhead and "trust me that may sound good now but just wait you'll be wishing you bleed out in the desert by the end of this trust me."

As he grabbed the bulkhead one thought enter Jaunes mind "Ruby!" He yelled suddenly causing Kage to glower at him.

A thousand emotions came to his mind as he struggled to come to terms with them. At the tip of this emotional landslide was his concern for his friend. "Where is Rub-" "she's over here."

Kage said calmly as he spun the bulkhead open it jolted free with a loud creaking sound revealing another dank chamber with two familiar figures in it.

"Jaune!?" Ruby yelled as she immediately shot up from her talk with the other girl from the firing squad and tackled him in a fierce hug. "Jaune!" She yelled as he launched straight into a death grip on the boy "I'm so glad you're alive!" "They told me you'd be ok but i didn't believe them!" She said her silver eyes burned bright with tears and sadness. "I'm ok Ruby," he said returning thug with just as much enthusiasm I'm- "who's your new friend?!"

Nora? Jaune thought before he struck the thought from his mind. Nora was probably shuffled into her bed crying her eyes out right now... Although that voice sounded eerily like her own. As Jaune reluctantly turned his head to the direction that the bright bubbly voice called out from her life. As Jaune looked to see the other girl from the firing line. She was tall with paper white skin and long silver hair that went down to her ankles. She was clad in an assortment of what appeared to be furs and hides? All of them perfectly over riding each other in a lavish display of fashion.

"Oh"! Ruby said nervously as she looked at the strange girl with light green eyes and paper white skin. "Jaune this is my new…" Ruby paused for minute as she struggled to find a word. "Acquaintance," she said carefully enunciating each syllable "Mika Smith." Subtlety this is Ruby Rose clearly the two of you have never met. Jaune thought as he sighed inwardly at his friend's behavior. "Oh, you don't have to be so shy!"

Mika said cheerfully as she dropped arm across Ruby's shoulder in a friendly manner "were friends already aren't we?" "Well, I Mean we just met an…" Ruby drawled on not noticing how Mika's eyes suddenly grew large and lost all color. "Ruby…" Miks said as her voice lost all forms of cheeriness and joy. "We are friends…" "right?"

She said in an odd toneless voice as her head cocked at an unnatural angle causing Ruby to stutter, as she did Jaune noticed Kage who was until then hanging back in the conversation was now tense as his hands went to his waist. His eyes narrowed on the girls as he held his breath

Seeing the Tension Jaune went for his sword which was gracefully still at his side at the time slightly withdrawing it before returning his attention to the girls.

"I mean yes?" Ruby answered hesitantly as Mika stared at her for a couple of the longest second of his life before her eyes regain their color. "OK!" She said suddenly as her bubbly personality reasserts itself as he gave a small jump before clapping her hands. "We're friends!" "We're friends!" "Did you see that Kage!? I made a new friend!"

She asked happily jumping to the man "I made a new friend!" "Yeah, I saw…" Kage said calmly as he scratched the back of his head with one hand as she continued to jump sang happily while Ruby laughed nervously at her side.

"That was close…" Kage said as he visibly relaxed his hands coming up from his sides. Jaune said as he finally took note of the things hanging from his belt on the side of his pants holstered two absolutely massive pistols that dwarfed most assault weapons in size.

As he looked up he finally notices of the elephant in the room. He saw Mika jumping while her furs shifted to reveal a large metal collar around her neck. What the hell? He thought as he turned his face to see a similar one on Kage's neck and even on Ruby's! The hell? He thought as he lifted a tenuous hand to his neck upon reaching he felt a familiar bulk on his own how did I not notice this?!

Jaune thought as he gripped the collar tightly. What are theses things?! He yelled as he attempted to rip them off. "Their insurance policies." Kage said as he put a hand on Jaune's arm 'I Wouldn't do that if I were you." He said trying to stop the blonde from making a costly mistake, "they don't like it when you mess with their toys."

"I don't care if-" "All right you miserable bastards!' A booming voice yelled as the entire room tuned to the form revealing a tall woman standing in an open bulkhead "line up!" She said as she stalked to the center of the corridor.

As she walked Jaune noticed that despite his earlier observations they were not alone in the room, in fact, there were about twelve other people in the corridor all in similar milky colored outfits as they had at their execution ceremony as them as they all huddled around the loud woman.

As the group all gather round the woman Jaune got his first good look at her. She was tall. Well over a foot taller than him with long flowing purple hair and matching eyes. Her skin was lightly tanned and her glare could easily cut bones. As she eyed the room her entire body was like a solid muscle her biceps alone were already larger than his head and her entire body resembles a coiled spring ready to snap.

"Alright, you little shits listen up!" She said in an authoritarian tone. "I'm only going to say this once, none of you want to be here and I don't want you here!" "On that, we can agree on something", she paused taking a deep breath before speaking "you do not belong here!"

Hearing this Jaune's heart soared maybe had found an ally? Someone who could help him out of his situation and- 'if it was up to me you would all be six feet under!" She said crushing any hope of a new found ally. "You are only here because the higher ups have decided that you all possess talent and that I quote." " Too valuable to waste".

"Basically you all have something that others see as important or valuable." "They think you are special." She said emphasizing how special she thought they really were as she walked past the sitting form of ruby as her purple eyes stared at her silver ones. "Well, most of you anyway." She said eyeing the young girl down making her shiver under her calculating gaze. Jaune instinctively rose to protect her but a firm hand Form Kage held him down. "Some of you are just a packaged deal." She said glaring at Kage making him simply shrug as if to say it happens…

"Listen up!" She said her tone cutting clean through the room you have all been given one shot at redemption! As she spoke a white holographic sign appeared behind her. "Despite your egregious crime against the state those above have offered you one last chance to atone for those sins!" "You will all be partaking in a mission to rescue a certain individual in this city." She said as she spoke a large gray icon displayed the hologram.

Several members of the group stirred but none dared speak, "in case any of you are incredibly dull or severely visually impaired you might have noticed the large metal collars on your neck." She said gesturing to her own naked throat. Jaune tensed as he felt his hands over the collar on his own neck. "They are there to make sure you don't do anything incredibly stupid." As she pointed to the screen and display showed up with the collar on it. "Each color s approximately two pounds in weight water proof, rust proof pressure slash heat resistant and incredibly durable."

As she pointed to the screen "they are there to ensure your continued loyalty and obedience in this coming operation.' How are these things going to make us obedient? Jaune thought as he felt his own collar as if reading his mind the woman spoke, "they all have a miniature explosive charge in them if you disobey me I will kill you."

She said with deep finality. Jaune froze hands gripping his jeans for his life while Ruby paled her eyes growing wider than saucers and the entire group felt like it was deaf.

"If you disobey me you will die." "If you question my leadership for any reason you will die." "If you speak without permission…" she let the question hang in the air 'we die? Said a pale faced youth next to Jaune.

He was skinny with pale skin messy hair and white teeth, "that's right" the lady said as she eyed him with a glint of curiosity "what's your name?" "Sammy," he replied staring her down with his black eyes "thanks, Sammy!" She said as she pressed a button on her scroll a mechanical Click! Splat the room was followed by a SPLAT! A loud splatting filled the air as the boy's head vanished in a terrifying display of blood and flesh as his body dropped like a sack of bricks "but I wasn't asking you…"

Jaune froze in horror as his face was splattered with blood and viscera as the headless body dropped with a heavy thud! To the ground bright red blood spraying freely from the hole in his neck. Blood flowed freely from the body as it plastered the entire first row with offal.

As He tasted the horrible iron taste of iron in his he attempted to wipe some of the viscera from his lips. She killed him?! Jaune was nearing a manic level of fear as he shook violently his hand gripped into his jeans as a piece of skull fell onto his lap. Out of the corner of his vision, he saw Kage grab Ruby from the side and put a hand over her mouth preventing her from screaming along as he grimaced externally.

"Now any more interruptions before I go on?" The woman asked as the kids sat in shocked silence at the sudden and brutal l death of their fellow "none?" "Good!"

'Now here's the plan…"

"You are going to embark on a mission that many myself included deem to be suicide." "You See there's an abandoned old world city here!" She said pointing to the map showing a brown icon representing a large circle showing a metropolitan area an old world city. "This here is a lost city above abandoned over millennia ago."

"The city itself aside from crawling with Grim is of no importance but!" What is important is the research being conducted there." Research that was critical to our origination's success!" Organizations? Jaune thought as the woman spoke isn't she an operative for Vacuo?

"Now you see there was always Grimm in this area but they recently took on a whole nother level of activity in recent days." She said pointing to the screen as a graph showed up as it displayed the rise in Grimm activity the amount of Grimm was increased ten fold the normal and we have since lost contact with our research team as they were presumably overwhelmed contact was lost three days ago.

"Now normally the loss of a single research team is no consequence research like this carry implied risks." "Death by Grimm is one of the said risks." "But! This research team was special so to say." Special how? Jaune thought as the woman spoke.

"You see usually when we lose a base like this it is of little matter." There she goes saying we again! Jaune thought as she continued to speak if she worked for Vacuo why not just say that she works for Vacuo?

"This research was… Valuable." "It was incredibly specific to our goals as an organization and such while the loss of it is not critical it would still be unfortunate. And the increase of Grimm has made it so that it is too risky to send in any normal personnel."

"This is where you come in." she said eyed the group with a wolf like a grin that sent a cold shiver down Jaunes spine, 'you are not normal personnel." "You are a unique opportunity in how you are expendable to the extreme and especially talented you will be used tonight."

"We will infiltrate this city and find the researchers last know location."

"Our goal is to extract our coordinator alive. If that can not be achieved or the mission becomes unachievable we will extract ourselves here! "She said pointing to a spot on the map, should you all follow my instructions and heed my word all of your previous crimes will be pardoned forever and you will go back to the academy."

"Do I make myself clear?" She asked making it abundantly clear that she was asking this time around. "Mam yes, Mam! "The group replied causing her to grin wickedly "excellent…."

Bullhead

Unknown location.

High altitude approach…

"You alright?" Jaune asked the quaking Ruby she did not look well. Her eyes were wider than he had ever seen before as her body violently trembled as her knuckles were pure white as she gripped the hem of her skirt in a death grip. She looked purely catatonic.

Her body was a mess shaking and shiver as if someone had put a live circuit inside of her and let in run free. "Why…" she finally spoke her voice was barely above a whisper "why did she kill him?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as she clung to Juane he doesn't deserve to die… he didn't deserve to die!"

"Keep your voice down"! Kage harshly hissed from the side his immaculately crafted gargantuan pistols resting on his lap one in each hand as he performed maintenance on them he had changed from his previous shirt and black pants into brilliant red combat Armour, a plate mail style of violent crimson, "do you wanna be heard?" He asked as he cleaned the barrels

Jaune felt his blood boil at the dismissal and instinctively wanted to tell him off instantly but the memory of him covering Ruby's mouth held his tongue. He had tried to help ruby back matter what he was a friend…

"Are you guys as excited as I am!?" The bubbly voice of Mika sang from the left as she cradled her own weapon. A Small tube like weapon that seemed to be a cone connected to a nozzle of some sorts as she shook back energetically. "I can't believe we get to go on a mission!"

Her voice was full of happiness and excitement in a complete contrast to the situation. Just like in the firing chamber. She was happy and lackadaisical to the extreme as she rested her weapon on her furs Jaune took notice of the elongated hatched that now hung loosely from her waist.

"Jaune?" Ruby asked speaking to him directly for the first time since the meeting are we going to be ok? Her voice trembles like a mouse trying to speak of course we are. He said putting on his best fearless leader as Nora called it pose. As he gently patted her head his gloved hand running through her black and red hair gently feeling the softness of her head in slow reverse clockwise motions and eventually getting able to calm the girl.

Her fingertips dug into his side seeking what little protection he could provide Jaune. "I'm scared.." Her voice was now quaking and threatened to break into tears. Shh.. he said running his hand through her head, she was so soft..

He thought as he firmly pressed his hands into her hair were going to be ok."How do you know that?!" She half squeaked half yelled at him as her eyes close to the point of tears.

Were convicted murderers, that half the world thinks we were executed and now were being sent on some type of suicide mission in the middle of nowhere! How can you say we're going to be ok?!

"Because it's all we have. Jaune said firmly never once stopping the petting of her head. We have each other to look out for an I for one am not going to let nothing happen to you this I give my word."

"And an Arc never goes back on his word I know." Ruby said tiredly as she dug into his body her small fingers imprinting themselves on his sides I know… she said as she forced herself into him. Let's talk, Ruby said tun up to him about what? Jaune replied as the ship was buffeted by the wind about anything. Just to get my mind off of this.

"What about your team? My team was awesome!" Ruby said instantly flipping to cheerful mode. We are doing awesome! We finally got our team dynamic down! Blake and Yang are going tit for tat. And even Wess was giving me a chance to be a leader!"

At the mention of her friends, her face dropped suddenly. And with me go now I guess she is our new leader.

As she spoke a depreciating smile came to Ruby's face. I guess she got to be leader after all huh? It's probably for the best..." "Don't think like that." He said as he rubbed his hand on her head no one is taking your spot. But what about, no buts. He said firmly we are going to go back to Beacon alive." "What about your team?" Ruby asked suddenly how are they going?

"Well, Jaune blushed as he cupped a hand to his face I started dating Phyrra... What?! Ruby said excitedly Finally! She said knocking a hand to his face for how long? Two Weeks he said fighting a small blush but we want to keep it private you know?" "Yeah, I know Ruby said happily the bull head buffeted back and forth."

"I hope she still wants to be with me when we get back." "Why wouldn't she?:! Ruby scoffed in an adorable fashion, I bet she's waiting for you in your dorm with open arms and a bowl of cereal!"

And just like that fhe tense atmosphere was gone as the two friends talked and reminisced about their Beacon life. They learned about each other in those brief minutes, Ruby learned to her horror about his seven older sisters which made her thank her stars she only had one.

And sometimes that was too much! In return, he learned about Ruby's… unique home life. Apparently, she not only had one father but Ruby also had two moms. "It's complicated…" Ruby said giving her best don't worry grin, "but since they both love me and treat me as their own it's ok."

"I'm sure they are worried about me... "Ruy said as her face paled again. Seeing his chance Jaune took it. "I'm sure they're searching for us even as we speak!" Jaune said in his best confident voice. Causing Ruby's eyes or shine "you meant it?" "Of course I- don't count on it."

The gruff voice of the commander spoke from the back of the bull head where she was strapped in alone in a tan combat attire, "your execution was broadcasted live on all televisions, scroll sets. Everyone you know thinks you're dead so don't count on a rescue ok?"

She said bluntly before closing her eyes her long purple hair swayed over her head as she returned to rest. "They think I'm dead." Ruby nearly began to shake again harder as Jaune steadied her quaking body, "hush Ruby."

He whispered quietly in her ear as he gently petted her head. "We're going to make it out of her alive and you're going to see our family against this I swear." As he talked his voice was steady and steadfast, gone were the days on Jaune the incompetent now he was a true leader who had set his mind on a goal. That he would either see completed or die in the process. "Thanks, Jaune. You really are a good leader."

Thanks, Rubes he said as they relaxed in each other's arms no problem Jaune she replied as the ship swayed…

"Thank's Jaune I- "Fit! Fit! Fit! Several tearing noises filled the cabin as the sound of shattered glass filled it followed quickly by the sound of whooshing air. As the gale force noises rose something wet and sticky hit Jaune dead in the face.

As he raised his arms to see a red a pink piece of goop on his head as he looked forwards to the sound of the whooshing air he saw the front of the bullheads glass was shattered and one pilot had their head blown out and apart of his skull was missing as grey matter hung loosely outside of the cavernous hole.

"Hold on!" The other pilot yelled as she struggled to regain control of the falling craft. The sound of whooshing air filled the cabin. As alarm bells and sirens began to wail a loud ringing BEOW! BEOW! Filled his ears. "This is going to get rough!"

The pilot yelled as she fought to keep them up right as the ground rushed to meet them. "Jaune?!" Ruby yelled as she held on to him. As the wind howled and roared deafened her cry's. "Hold on Ruby!" He yelled as a sudden wave of inertia forced itself on him it was so extreme it made him long for basic motion sickness.

As the craft began to spin in an awkward angle Jaune! Ruby yelled as the ship lurched and dipped. This is it! Kage yelled as he grabbed a guard rail. As he latched himself onto hanging on for dear life.

"Brace yourselves!" The commander yelled from the back of the craft as she strapped herself into her seat. "YEE HAWWWW!" Mika yelled ecstatically before turning to her friend kage. "Kage what are you going to do when we go home? I want to get dinner with you! In fact, I want to eat cereal when we get back! How about we- " Mika if you don't calm down and hold on to something! We are all about to die!. Kage yelled as the ship neared the ground as the downing sirens and desperate crying of the passengers were suddenly deafened by the wailing sound of screaming metal….

Later on…

When Jaune woke up his vision was blurry and foggy, and there was a loud ringing sound in his ear. As he opened his eyes the soft sound of flames came into his ears. it was a vision ripped straight from a nightmare, there was fire every where surrounding him and a broken sky line loomed down on him. As he looked left and right his head hurt something fierce and his vision swam. Muddied by the concussive force of the crash landing.

As he struggled the next thing to hit him was nothing… silence the entire area was deadly quiet only the soft sound of licking flames reached his ears as they continued to burn freely of his will. The silence was good but it was also very, very bad for its own reasons.

Silence meant that no one was audibly in pain. And did not mean that people were not injured. Best case scenario people had escaped the crash unscathed unlikely he thought the entire bullhead had been ripped to pieces coming out of a crash like that unscathed was.. Rare as he tried to sit up big mistake.

"AHH!" He gasped as he felt agony stake his entire body. A mind numbing wave of suffering envelope him and threatened to take him out of consciousness.

Only by sheer determination did he hold on to the last vestiges of his consciousness as he forced his way up. His legs felt like stacks of jello and he was sure something internally was bleeding. Thank Oum for Aura he said through gritted teeth as he limped through the crash site.

Broken metal was everywhere. Twisted beyond recognition and warped beyond repair. Bright fires illuminated the night sky empathizing the ruined skyscrapers as he made his way through the crash site. "Ruby!" He yelled as he struggled to stay upright.

Brilliant flashes of agony flooded his vision he screamed aloud. The pain in his leg threatening to force him down for good. "Ruby where are you!?" He yelled as he walked through the rubble "Ruby!"

No answer "Kage!?" He shouted to the flames only to be greeted with silence. Kage!? Mika!? He shouted once again only the cool lapping of fire was his answer." Rub-" "Jaune!"

A familiar voice yelled as a red blur bored into him nearly taking them both down to the fires, as she hugged him making him cough a wad of violent spit "you're alive!" Ruby Yelled as she buried her face into his chest.

She's safe. Thank Oum. He thought grateful thank said as he looked up to see two figures behind her. "So you made it huh kid?" The familiar form of Kage said as his two pistols hung loosely at his side as he stared at the two Mika waved eagerly at them "Hey Ya Jaune!"

Mika said happily waving to him, "you didn't get pancaked by the crash!" She said with all the happiness of a certain sugar loving ginger, as she spoke though her happiness was the same as Nora something was off.

He had no idea what it was but something about the way she spoke just put him at the edge. Even though her personality seemed friendly enough to him it looked more like a shark that had just put its fin above the water… he didn't trust that one…

As he stared at her, "Are you ok!?" Ruby asked demandingly as he sliver eye glared into him as she inspected him for the slightest case of injury as she looked at him he saw himself or the first time in a split pool of engine oil. Ah damn, it... he thought as he saw his own reflection. He Looked like hell.

His Aura was nearly completely gone his scroll confirmed as much reading aura levels in the deep red, his armor was dented and cracked in several places and he had bruises that stretched the entirety of his face. Oum- "He'll live."

A gruff feminine voice called out as the commanding officer stepped out behind them "Boss!" Kage said as the woman stared at him "Kage." She replied gruffly before calling out "all alive say I!"

A chorus of groans was her answer "one, two, three..." She counted "that's six of us!" She yelled as she sat down on a twisted piece of metal in the crash site, as she ignored the red hotness of it either through massive amounts of aura or pure not giving a shit. "Ok maggots listen up! In case you haven't noticed things just got complicated!"

You think!? Jaune thoughts he looked to her since when did grim use anti air guns?! "It turns out we may have found out the reason for the grim's numbers increasing in the city!" She spoke clearly with the tone of one accustomed to giving orders and them being obeyed without question or hesitation.

What do you- Jaune thought as he was suddenly silenced. She pulled out a large white mask from behind her "White Fang…"

Ruby said quietly as he looked at the bloodied effigy of hatred and anger. "They must have been to ones to shoot us down!" "Good going Red!' The boss said ironically "gold star!"

"Remind me to pay them my respect when we meet them." The boss said as she stared at the idol before carelessly tossing it aside. However! We need to-AWWHOO! A blood chilling howl broke the night as the boss swore loudly." Alright, then maggots we got a fight on our hands!" She said as she gripped a small pistol "it's time to earn your keep ladies!"

She said as the howls of Grimm closed in. "Jaune stay close to me!" Ruby yelled as she took out Crescent Rose. "I'll protect you!" She said calmly her voice steely an indomitable what!? He glared at her as she tried to move but his injured legs wouldn't allow him the luxury.

Here they come! Ruby yelled as dark shapes began to appear on the outside of the crash before crashing through the flames looking fittingly like demons from hell as the fight was on...

BANG! BANG! BANG! Ruby shot three times and killed three Grimm each with one round alone. One shot one kill, as each round shot sent a roaring beast hurtling back into the flames every time as she aimed and fired, again and again without pause or rest.

As she fired into them she killed again and again but there were simply to many and some of the monsters got under her kill zone and closed in for melee.

Seeing his friend endangered and furious at his lack of ability Juane did the next best thing as to help her and shouted a warning. "Look out-" his warning was cut short as she ducked the Beowulf's outstretched claws before shifting her weapon into scythe mode as she began to hack and slash her way through the horde, with outlandish efficiency there was no wasted energy every motion was perfectly calculated and executed she was a scarlet blur of shining metal and rose petals and limbs. As she fought her way through the melee, why am I so useless?!

Jaune thought as he suddenly saw Kage run into the fight as an Ursa Major charged him. The Beast Bellowed a hideous roar as it began its charge. Kage simply stood there standing directly in it;s path looking almost bored? Jaune did not think it was possible to have a bored expression in combat but there he was. Venke looked at the charging abomination like it was a passing irritant as he simply lowered his pistol aimed before firing. There was a sound that broke the air as he pulled the trigger. CRACK!

The sound of thing discharging shook the valley as the pistol fired as a wave of fire erupted from it as an absolutely massive projectile was ejected from it.

The air seemed to lag around the gun as the projectile hung in mid flight for an obscenely long time in midair before suddenly igniting in a blinding display of heat before hurtling its way toward the Ursa Major.

The beast roared in defiance as it ran to meet the round head on. Two indomitable forces charged at one another one fueled by years, of endless physics and the best engineering Vacuo could buy the other by sheer hate and rage. It was a clash of the titans, An epic game of chicken between science and nature and only one side could prove the champion.

SPLAT! Jaune was dumbstruck as the round hit the bone armored head of the Ursa major straight on and rather than breaking the bone simply caved under the monstrosity that was the shot as the head of the Ursa's head was actually forced inward as the bone shuddered and snapped in such a brilliantly brutal manner, as its head was visibly forced inward into its body.

The force was so powerful that Ursa's charge was interrupted in mid air as the things neck was forced back into its' body before another long light filled the sky as a secondary explosion came from within the Grimm ripping the monster in two. The brutality of the force was so strong and so quick that the monster was torn clear in half as two rapidly disintegrating hunks of flesh flew to opposite sides of the battle.

Jaune looked dumbfounded as Kage merely turned his sights on another grim before firing again. Crack! WHOOSH!

Jaune never saw it coming and had zero time to prepare as the temperature suddenly roared into the unfathomably high degrees, A massive heat wave struck him sending his body instantly drenching it in sweat, it felt like he was in hell. As the temperature suddenly soared as an impossible amount of heat appeared behind him. The strong scent of ozone was all he got as a heads up.

As he turned he was shocked as a literal tower of white hot flames was enveloping the charging line of Grimm. As he looked on in horror as the Grimm give a cry of pain so powerful and so vivid that it would surely haunt his dreams. He watched in morbid fascination as the front line met the flames, as the poured into it everything from light lithe Beowulf's too massive and rumbling Ursa's.

As the smaller Grimm hit the flame wall they shook and shuddered as their skin popped and boiled as the flames ate them. Their bodies natural lightness proved to be no resistance to the flames as they were quickly and mercifully disintegrated in the inferno. They barely had a chance to howl before poof! they were gone, disintegrated as if they were never born. Or created or how ever the hell Grimm came into being.

While the lesser Grimm died quickly the larger ones held no such luck. As towering Ursa's roared into the flame their bone armor took the brunt of the fire but that proved to be a temporary relief. As they charged somehow the flames stuck into their fur fussing with it and becoming as much a part of them as their flesh itself. Eating and tearing into the soft vulnerable flesh underneath.

As their charge flattered the Ursa cried in roars of pain and anguish as their bodies shuddered and buckled in violent spasms as their weakened limbs began to snap under their bodies weight. Their muscles sloughed and drooled as the flame sank into them as their bodies were liquefied under the chemical fire.

Turning his head he was greeted by the grinning visage of Mika firing a large stream of flame from her weapon as she fired it indiscriminately into the Grimm line a manic grin split her face as her light green eyes became alight with what could only be described as pure happiness and joy…

As the battle progressed it became a flowing dance of death. Jaune watched in fascination as the outline Grim were easily and mercilessly cut down as Ruby slashed and hacked her way through them. He never saw her actual body just a blur of red and the scattering of limbs and the falling of rose petals were all that remained of her presence.

Following up Kage seemingly danced into the fight looking as bored and uninterested as ever, as he carefully placed his shots. His massive weapon reports still deafened the battlefield and even over half the fight away the sound still hurt his ears...as he fired each shot gained one kill as he vaulted over the fight seemingly ignoring the Beowulf's that hounded his tail, as he hunted for the largest enemies purposefully taking note to kill the larger Grimm first.

Meanwhile, Mika was seeming to have the time of her life from Jaune's point of view having the time of her she was able to vent her frustrations on wave after wave of Grimm.

As she set up towing walls of white hot infernos seemingly hell bent on burning any Grimm foolish enough or unlucky enough to get caught within them to smoldering ash.

Any that braved the inferno never made it far as the towering wall of flames served to effectively funnel the attackers into narrow choke points where the others could effectively pick them off.

It was a thing to watch as the three worked together seamlessly and efficiently, Jaune felt a sense of awe over take him as they fought like a well-oiled machine, first Mika would send out large gouts of flame securing their perimeter and making sure no Grimm could surround them forcing them into narrow choke points and funneling the beasts together.

Then Kage would step in his massive pistols sounding into the night as he hunted the larger grim one after another he casually ignored the lesser grim the Beowulf's as they charged in, then before they could reach him Ruby would come in like the crimson herald of death itself, slicing and dicing any that hadn't been dealt with filtering out the remaining Grimm in nearly seamless display of efficiency and talent.

As Jaune watched the fight a pit open in his stomach why am I so worthless?! He cursed himself as he watched them battle like a well-oiled machine despite them being total strangers they fought like they had known each other for years.

"Rally to me!" The commander yelled as she shot bright irradiated energy into the horde from her pistol. As she fired the energy matched her hair as an Ursa major thrice as big as the one Kage killed appeared behind her. It mass bone armor was thicker than a small car as it lunged to decapitate her as it's jaw hung open in blind hate.

She ducked the thrust before rallying and simply punching the monster in the face bare handily as she gripped its jaw she then yanked down with no discernible effort she then ripped the jaw from its head in a bloody display of skill and brutality.

The thing appeared to somewhat comprehend it's danger before she put a bolt of energy through its eye killing it instantly Rally to me! She let the thing fall unceremoniously to the ground her tanned out fit now marred in bright red blood. Keep firing! She yelled as fired into the charging monsters.

GROAH! Jaune nearly yelped as a Beowulf lunged at him damn it!

He swore loudly as the creature bounded in front of him beady red eyes glaring pure hate at him. Remember your training! This is why Phyrra trained you! He thought as he ducked the first strike of claws before turning slightly letting the thing over reach its arms before decapitating the monster.

As the things, red blood sprayed wildly from its neck before it began disintegrating. As he looked up to his horror three more of the creatures had arrived ignoring the raging conflict around them to encircle him.

"Damn it!" He cursed as he attempted to pivot a striking burning feeling in his legs made him swear loudly as he remembered their damage.

As if sensing weakness the one in front leaped to attack bright black fur reflecting dimly in the fire silencing the pain on him as it eyes mirrored his own. "Damn you!" He yelled as he struck upward in a wide cleaving arc splitting the thing head to pelvis.

Not deterred in the slightest, the other Grimm continued their attack, they were like that after all, and the two others persisted despite their comrades' death and the others both attacked at the same time taking two different vectors of attack. One leaped from his right while the other charged from his left.

Think quick! He cursed loudly as he raised his shield to the one in mid air shuddering as the monster bore into him threatening to take him to the ground. Luckily all his late nights paid off in full as he flipped the thing off before seeing the one on the left leap at him only to be skewered in a knee jerk reaction by his sword mid lunge.

GAH! Jaune swore as the Beowulf impaled itself on his sword the end of the blade coming from behind the thing's tail as it skewered itself mouth first onto Crocea Mor's tip.

As he planted, one foot on its snout ignoring the searing pain in his legs before reaching the thing off him.

"Damn it!" He swore loudly look up the fight had lost no tempo as the battle raged, a dark looking figure appeared in front of him as an Ursa major had somehow either through pure luck or sheer force of will had avoided the deadly trap of his comrades and began to charge at him….

Be calm Jaune said to himself as the monster charged him, bright red eyes full of hatred glared balefully at him. This isn't the emerald forest. He breathed quietly as he readied his stance. There's no Phyrra no teachers to help you. As he raised his shield the monster began to leap at him the legs were so wide that they thicker than most cars. You have one shot at this.. he thought as he ducked inwardly and brought up his sword arm ready to swing...

Jaune roared as he decapitated the Ursa Major in one smooth motion as the creature finally collapsed his body finally quit the ghost as he slumped to the hard dirt floor. As the sounds of combat faded dimly his eyesight blurred and bent as he struggled to stay conscious suddenly a loud and harsh voice broke him out of his delirium.

'All alive say I! As a chorus of I's rang out "I!" Jaune yelled before abruptly standing up. 'Jaune!" Ruby yelled as a bright crimson blur bored into him "you're alive!" "So it seems." Said the boss "as she looked at the remaining members of the team she quickly took note of their forces there were five of them including herself out of the sixteen that had been sent out. As she stared at the remnants of her squad. Over all ambush not included? Things were going better than expected….

As they gathered together in the charred remains of the bullhead. "We got a live one!"

Mika suddenly and far too happy in Jaune's opinion yelled as she pointed to her left. A body had suddenly jumped up from the ground before throwing a white mask into the dirt "I surrender!" The man yelled as he looked wide eyed at Jaune I- Crack!

A hatchet lodged its way into his skull as Mika slammed her hatchet home before removing it as it gave a wet plop! Sound as a shower of offal spewed into the air. The boss sighed heavily at this "Mika next time we have a prisoner at least try to interrogate him first ok?"

"OK boss lady! "Mika said happily apparently having taken no qualms with ending a human life. As Jaune stared at her his first quaked in anger at her callous disregard for life and decency, even the white fang were people too! they had rights and dignity they deserved to be- "Ok!" The boss said as she pulled out a piece of papers "let's get business now shall we?"