AN: Here it is! ANother Bastion chapter! Filled with death, love and awkward contract negotiations! I got the next few arcs of the story worked out so fear not! Don't worry about the pacing because I finally paved out the path from here till the inevitable return to Beacon as the story kicks into gear. Expect more death and pain as Bastion takes it a toll of those who live in its depths. And as always enjoy...
"It's a raid!" The voice of Kage yelled as the harsh acrid smell of gunpowder entered Jaune's nostrils. Blood fell from his mouth in harsh rough gasps as he coughed up bright red blood on the floor, spilling brightly onto the dead body of the man he had bashed to death with his shield.
His broken skull was splattered over the ground in a pink-grey mess as Jaune turned up to the smoky haze filled view as the harsh sound of Crescent Rose followed by the loud, brutal reports of Kage bol pistol entered his pain filled vision as another shadow fell over him.
"Gah!" Jaune gasped as sword clashed with his sending a shower of spark in the air as his muscles tensed and rippled as another unknown figure attacked him. The figure bored down onto him attempting to overpower him with the sheer force of strength as Jaune hissed at him. His leg bur with pain as white-hot agony lanced through his body as his twisted leg screams for release as Jaune glared at the man in the back combat webbing.
"Why are you doing this!?" Jaune asked as he gripped his sword in backward grip taking the man's sword down to the ground before flicking it backward slicing him across the throat slitting it making him gugel in death as Jaune kicked him back.
As soon as he fell backward, another figure jumped forward as he slashed down at Jaune with a downward thrust as Jaune met him with a horizontal slash meeting him and gritting his teeth as the man tired of striking him down.
"Why are you in my room!?" Jaune shouted before dropping his sword punching the man in the face, with an aura infused punch.
The man as Jaune could now tell as his pain filled gasped as he took the punch stagger backward before Jaune lunged for sticking him in the chest taking them both to the floor.
In a squabbling pile of limbs, as the man hissed at Jaune who was still obfuscated by the thick clouds of smoke in the room as Jaune twisted his sword making the man cry out in pain as he cut his spine and sliced his heart before being smashed in the face backward sending him flying back. Buying him a seconds respite to hiss in agony and wonder what the hell was going on!? As another shadow fell over him.
As once again another man has taken his place and locke sword with Jaune. This time the man was smarter and kicked at Jaune's already broken leg creating a sickening breaking sound as white-hot agony lanced in his body, as Jaune's leg twisted in a decisively unhealthy manner making him cry out in agony as he fell to a knee. As his sword dropped as the man lunged forward weapon outreach to strike into Jaune's neck before his own head exploded in a red mist.
CRACK!
The man's head turned into an pulpy mist as he fell forward to his knees as his body barreled into Jaune sending them both crashing along the cold mountain floor before Jaune threw him to the floor as the sound of whooshing flame filled the air as Mika finally got her former workings the horrible sound of human screaming fall by the stench of cooking meat filled the air as the sounds of the attack finally stopped as the sound of clanking boots filled the air as the towering form of Kage walked into view.
"Jaune! Are you ok?!" Kage asked as his hard brown eye glaring at Jaune as his already crimson armor was soaked in blood, and he was coated with gore as he stalked forward bolt pistols drawn.
"Yeah! I'm fine what the hell was that?!" Jaune asked as he kept a hard steely haze toward the Jaune as he looked to the blow open door that was now filled with an raging white fire as Mika had absolutely choked the team ARKM dorm entrance before stopping the attackers.
"Ruby! Mika! Where are-
"I'm here Jaune!" Ruby said as she walked forward from the hazy mist, her slight boy bruises and covered in blood as she looked like someone had put her into a whirlpool as she looked she had been shaken but not seriously harmed as a loud chirping voice came in as swung her hatchet in a wide arc as she leaped into the center of the room.
"We are fine Jaune! We just had a bit of incident on the front! In case you didn't notice!"
Mike cried as Ruby coked her head at her.
"Mika the door flew off the handles. I mean it smacked into Jaune-
"Jaune!?"
Ruby shouted nearly teleporting to Jaune as she saw he broke down face smashed nose twin black eyes broken jaw above a clearly damaged upper body and one leg that was entirely twisted the other way around as she had a panic attacker her best friend in the world was looking like he was near death as Jaune really did like he was about to die.
"What the hell was that?"
Jaune asked as Kage sighed heavily as he put his pistols to his head before sighing.
"That, was a raid," Kage said as he turned to the burning doorway as Jaune felt a cold hand grip his chest as he had a profound feeling that whatever the hell happened it was just the beginning, and that team ARKM was in for one hell of a wake-up call…
"So you were attacked in your beds?" Miss Heil said as she eyed Jaune with her bleeding crimson eyes as Jaune gulped at the dean.
The room was a broken bloody mess, scorched in an over a dozen places as a darkened blacked marble lined the floor as team ARKm' door had been cleanly blown out and the floor was colored the color of Ruby's cloak as Miss Heil eyed him dismissively.
"Yes. We were attacked in our room. We fended them off and we all area live."
"Jaune needs medical attention!" Ruby shouted as Mis Heil silence her with a glare
"After his report. Mister Arc. Did you know these attackers?"
"No."
"Did you attack anyone else before his?"
"No."
"Fine. Thank you for reporting this to me, now go to the doctor. It would be highly problematic if you died as you are." The dean said as she sighed once and walked out of the room.
"Good news!" Felicia said as Jaune sat on the metal gurney as he stole the spotlight of injured ARKM member and not Ruby who was fretting next to him as Felicia still clad in her robes read out his report.
"Good news as?" Jaune asked as the woman cracked a crooked smile to him.
"You are going to live!"
Felicia said laughing as Jaune gulped.
"The bad news?"
"Well. Your face was broken literally. Your nose was smashed in such a way that I needed to do minor corrective surgery to fix it. Your jaw was completely broken, and the temporary fix I have packed on it will only last so long."
Felica said checking off several items off a clip bard as her face was hidden in the plain mild robe she always wore adorned with a metal skull on a cog as iconography on is as checked off her list.
"You will need to come back here on my word for the final surgery. Also, your legs were nearly torn in half by the door, a few tons of solid rock going over forty miles and hours tend to do that to you. Be lucky your aura was there to save your life, otherwise, you would have been smashed to paste!"
Felicia said with a grin showing Jaune a picture of a horribly deformed leg as the woman checked his box with his name on it.
"That will take up to two weeks to heal completely but don't worry! Bastion has advanced surgical techniques to get you back on your feet in no time!"
"Advanced?" Jaune said already grimace as he looked at his leg still in the cast as the nurse grinned at him.
"We'll have you up and on your feet before you leave this room! I just need you to stay still for a bit." Felicia said as she picked up a large syringe with a bright orange liquid inside as Jaune gulped…
Hotfix. As Felicia called it was one the most painful and disconcerting procedures Jaune had done to him in his life, as he stumbled back to his dorm under the guard of the team, ARKM as they all walked back to their dorm. Apparently, whenever Bastion students got injured to the point that they did not need constant care, they were given a hotfix. So to speak.
It was basically a highly experimental surgical procedure that could temporarily fix nearly any type of broken bones, limb displacement or really any injury that did not leave your body destroyed and had have you sorted out and on your feet in an hours time.
While the surgery did have its advantages, it came with more than a few disadvantages. One the hotfix as it was called was not an instant thing. It would get you up and walking in an hour, but Jaune would need to go back to Felicia for some time for his injury to fully heal.
It put him on his feet but he was weaker than usual, and any further injury to his legs or jaw would severely impact his healing as his aura worked overtime to keep him alive.
A wave of guilt fell of Jaune as he felt Ruby's iron grip on his hand. The girl had refused to let go of his hand since the attack as she blamed herself for his injuries, and despite his insistence that was not she was adamant at preventing any further harm from coming to her leader. She really is my best friend. Jaune thought as he looked up to the dull Beacon hallways, Kage and Mike were falling them guns out an-
"Kage."
"Yes, boss?"
"The hell happened back in our room?"
"A raid."
"You said the before what the hell is a raid?"
"It's the downside to our popularity."
Kage said as Jaune cocked an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Rumors boss. Bastion is despite everything a school first, and prison second. And just like every other school people are worried about reputations."
"Reputations? Like what?"
"Remember how in Bastion as long as you do not interfere with the school's curriculum anything is legal?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Well as in most cases begin like is good and being hated is bad, to this rule Bastion is no exception, It is better to be popular then to not but popularity is a double-edged sword. After the last Death Korps mission, our reputation skyrocketed. People think we are some kind of heroes that went through hell and back and came out unscathed for all of it."
"But that's not true! We got hurt! Ruby got hurt! And how does being a hero mark us?!"
"Because boss, while being popular is good it also paints a target on our backs."
"A target? How so?"
"It's like I said Bastion is a school and like in most schools reputation is king. The strong survive the weak don't. And while us looking strong might deter others from attacking it also brings the attention of glory seekers and bigger predators."
"We've marked ourselves as the big boys in the first years. That means that every aspiring first-year team wanting to make a name for themselves and who have either the balls or the brains to do so might be gunning for us. Along with any lower ranked second years unhappy with rising stars and determined to keep their place secure."
"People are going to try to kill us because we did a mission?! That doesn't make sense!"
Ruby squeak as Kage rubbed his head.
"It doesn't have to Red, yet it does. We are strong that is a fact. Everyone wants to be strong, and if they kill us, they are making a point, that in even the best can die. And if they succeed in killing us it buffers their reputation and the cycle continues ever forward."
"On the bright side, only the first and second years will most likely target us. Third and fourth years won't take their time to."
Kage said as a cold hand ran over team ARKM as the four students entered their freshly repaired dorm with a brand new stone door as Jaune opened the door as team ARKM went back to bed…
"I can't sleep," Ruby said as she sat next to Jaune on his bed, really their bed as they spent each night together. It had been the second night since the original raid, and team ARKM had an unusually tense atmosphere about hem.
They were on edge and shook and not rested; they had decided to spent the days training outside of combat class though even without mandatory Death Korps training they still went on runs. Old habits die hard and all, and now they were trying to go to sleep.
"Don't worry Ruby. Nothing's going to happen to you. Not while I'm here ok?" Jaune asked as the girl nodded her head yawning adorably as her fake her shut closed.
"Thanks, Jaune I could kiss you, you know?" Ruby asked as her breathing caught in her chest as Jaune gave her an unreadable face before breaking into a laugh.
"I love you too Ruby. Now get some sleep ok?" Jaune said entirely missing the girls face go as red as her cape as she turned into her pillow blushing so hard she thought she would burst as she turned into her palms.
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Ruby cursed internally feeling like she could burst at any moment as her eye spoke.
"I told you it would work. Keep up the act, and he's as good as yours."
"I know! I know! It's just embarrassing!" Ruby said turning into he palms as she closed her eyes and went to sleep...
BANG!
Jaune woke with a start as the door to team ARKM"s room was blown in three as yellow lighting shot into the room as the door was blown in three as three small black metallic canisters fired into the room.
"It-
Jaune never finished that sentence as his eyes were instantly blinded by a searing, blinding white light as he screamed in pain as his eyes went numb as an awful ringing noise entered his ears. It was terrible, Jaune was entirely blinded by white light and ting noise as he screamed in pain as he rolled over on the bed as his world went white. Followed by him holding his ears as he rolled back into his bed as he creamed.
The ringing was beyond deafening as the harsh sound of bolt pistols filled his air, followed by the insanely soft body of ruby pressed into him as he felt sniper cartridges hitting his face as Ruby was forced back into his body as Crescent Rose fired repeatedly.
Jaune knew what was happening; they were being attacked, his friends were in danger. Fighting for their lives as the fired into an unseen enemy. As he felt Ruby firing into the enemy the presence of her was suddenly gone as she vanished followed by a terrifying WHUMP CRACK!
As Jaune felt a massive fist hit his back as he was tossed to the dorm floor as something slammed into the end of the wall sending him to the floor and skirting across it as the sound of weapons fire filled the room.
Jaune tired to get up but the harsh WUMP CRACK! Of heavy weapons fire filled the room as Jaune felt the urge to leap up and joining the fight. Luckily weeks of Death Korps training kicked in, and he forced his head down as he began crawling across the floor.
A sound decision as he felt several telltale whips of bullets passing over his head, as the heat from solid slugs whizzed by his head as he kept his head as far to the floor as humanly possible.
The deafening sound of gunfire filled his ears his vision was still painstakingly white. As whatever blinding devices the attackers had used had blinded him in what he hoped was temporary as he crawled on his stomach.
Before he could even get halfway across the room, he felt rather than saw the shadow that fell over him as he pivoted on his side turn his sword and feeling body impaled itself on it. Instantly Jaune was wheezing as he felt a body impaled on his sword.
Jaune grimaced as the full weight of a body slammed into him fowled by the iron taste of blood as Jaune felt the rich crimson liquid fall freely on his face followed by the horrible sensation of intestines as he ripped Crocea Mors out of the man's stomach gutting him in the process.
BANG! Jaune cried out in pain as several white-hot pieces of metal impacted him before he felt the temperature in the room shoot to inhumane levels of degree as screams fill his ears as the room went oddly silent.
Instantly strong hands gripped his collar forcing him before he once fights they shook him yelling into his ears as the blind white began to fade before another force tackle him this one small and light as it shook his head viciously as Jaune sighed. The fight was over, but this wasn't the end. Nowhere near.
"We can't let this happen!" Jaune yelled as team ARKM sat in their dorm. I was the day after the second raid as it was called as they began to discuss their options.
Team ARKM had so far been assaulted twice in the span of less than a week, and now they were on edge. Ruby was a tittering mess. Refusing to rest in any form as she kept Crescent Rose in sniper from as she held her weapon in the rifle from the biological eye was giving an unhealthy tick as it was a bright bloodshot red, with dark bags under it and her mechanical one was continually scanning the room for threats.
Mika's typically flawlessly straight white hair was frazzled and frayed as she had not had her beauty sleep. As the girl carried her ax in a tense fashion.
Kage actually looked harder than usual. And his eyes refused to leave his guns as Jaune sighed.
"Does anybody have any ideas how we can defend ourselves?" Jaune asked as Mika looked at Kage green eyes alight with curiosity.
"Kage…
"Don't even suggest it," Kage said as Jaune raised his eyebrows.
"What is she talking about Kage?"
"~Boss man!~ Kage knows a way that can stop us from getting raided!" Mika chirped in a cherry tone as Kage glowered at her.
"You do!? Kage, can you help us?" Ruby asked fluttering over to him staring him in his eyes as his usual steely glare faltered for a moment before returning to a somewhat hash level.
"It's not that simple. I have an acquaintance that might be able to help us. Might."
"Kage any help would be useful. Please, we are desperate.' Jaune said s the boy sighed into the palms of his hands.
"Why do I get myself involved?" Kage said alone in his usual monotone voice as he stood up."Come on boss man If I'm doing this I'm not going to see her alone.""Her? Who are we going to see?"
"Somebody who will make it damned impossible for us to be raided again," Kage said as he and Jaune walked out of the new door.
"Listen to me Jaune when we get there let me do talking ok?"
"Got it. You can count on me."
"Can I? Jaune this is serious when we get there you do not talk. You are not to say a word or speak at all!"
Kage hissed as Jaune blinked at him.
"Just where are we going? And how can she help us not getting attacked?"
"You are about to find out," Kage said as the two boys walked down the early cold and empty Bastion hallway.
"Venke Kage?! Is that you!?"
An ecstatic voice yelled in shock as Jaune blinked in surprise. Kage had taken him halfway across Bastion. Up and down spiraling staircases and they had made so many turns down the barren hallways that Jaune had no idea where the hell they were going as the finally ended up here.
If Jaune had to honest here was not what he had been expecting not at all. He had been led to a small door that was covered in red beads with some type of strange symbol on it.
Jaune felt himself desperately wishing for Ren's insight on all things strange. The boy may have been quiet as a church mouse but he was insanely smart as Kage proceed to knock on the door behind the beads, or he at least tried to before two boys in strange flowing white robes opened it before he could touch it.
"She's expecting
"You Kage
"Go inside
"Please make yourself at home.
Twin albino boys said finishing each other's sentences in perfect harmony as Jaune felt a series of disquiet enter his body as Kage hissed into his ear.
"Remember not a word. Once we step through that door only I talk. You stay silent even if she asked you a direct question ok?"
Kage hissed as they walked past the line of beads and into a shockingly warm room.
"Sure?" Jaune said nervously as the two entered the room which defied all expectations.
Unlike the normal brutally efficient and sparse Bastion rooms Jaune had entered into a room that could only be described as the lap of decadence. There was a large plush red carpet covering the floor of the room that was so soft and comfortable followed by flowing tapestries depicting art of every type and from, from fierce battles against the Grimm to epic enchanting rune scapes.
The air was thick with the heavy smell of incense as heavy scented clouds of smoke hung at eye level making Jaune's eyes water as they passed through the smoke that smelled like fruit along with thick perfumes as Jaune looked to see in the center of the room instead of being a bare spot was instead occupied by a large wooden stage!?
Of all thing where a girl sat on top of it looked down enigmatically at the two strangers in her room. She was seemingly ghost skinned like almost everybody in Bastion, apparently, have a personal grudge against all thing melanin as she eyed the newcomer into her room.
She was covered in a deluge of flowing red robes all covered in intricate patterns masterfully woven into tier fabric depicting coins, symbols, and dragons. Her hair was dark purple and her eyes to match. As her hair flowed down well past her ankles as her purple eyes caught Jaune's wide smile split her face.
"Kage! So glad to see you! Did you come to say hi?" The girl said as Jaune had to fight the urge to moan. As the girl took out a long ornate wooden pipe and put it to her mouth and took a long drag out of it putting out a large amount of the scented smoked into the air as she did. That voice! It was like some type of goddess had opened her mouth, as he felt his knees turn to jelly as he was overcome by the overwhelming urge to sink down to his knees and cry tears of joy at the beauty in front of him.
"You could say that," Kage said as he shot Jaune a withering glare that he completely ignored as his eyes looked ready to break.
"It's so good to see you again! Please! Tell me what brings you here today!"
The girl said as Jaune felt his mouth break, he needed to speak! To yell to shout! To scream at the top of his lung to praise the divine beauty in front of him that-
"Sonya. I need a favor." Kage growled shooting Jaune a terrifying glare that the boy was entirely unaware of as he was being entranced.
Sonya! That was the goddesses name! The name of this divine creature that Jaune need to sing his praise-
"I am here to ask you a favor," Kage said through gritted teeth as he sank to his knees forcing Jaune to take a knee as the idiot was about to speak and damn them both to a life of slavery.
"Oh? The great Venke Kage has a favor to ask of me? What would the mighty Kage need from a thing like me?"
The girl said cocking her head and taking another long drag from her pipe as Kage pinched Jaune as he felt a slap across his face.
The hell? Jaune thought as he felt like someone had just tossed a bucket of ice water on him. As he blinked rapidly as he finally saw the girl in front of him. She was an anomaly in the best sense. Besides her flowing purple hair, beautiful silken robes and her skin! She unlike the rest of Bastion students who had ghostly pale skin almost to a fault! Her's was a healthy tanned color that was rich and lively.
It was radiant in health and warmth as her face was fit with a perfect smile. Looking at her Jaune could tell that her skin was not a natural tanned color but more like his own white skin but was just heavily sun-filled.
As Jaune looked at the girls whose flowing red robes flowed down as she flashed him a wide smile making him almost fall to his hands and knees as she shifted her lag and Jaune almost coughed.
"I need to ask you for a favor. It's important to me."
Kage said as he saw Jaune gakking as his face flushed to a bright crimson as Kage sighed. Kids. Kage thought irritably as Sonya smiled beautifully at them.
"Oh? What do you need from me? So that you know that I will grant you anything that you require. After all, it would be poor form to deny my fiance a favor correct?" The girl said keeping her impassible smile as Kage balled his fists.
"Sonya, I am not your fiance. You know this." Kage said gritting his teeth as she shuffled her legs spreading them out over her robes and recrossing them leading Jaune to nearly gag as he began to stutter violently.
"Oh? Last time I checked we were still set to be married."
The girl said as Kage sighed. Why the hell is she doing this? I know she likes me but Oum dammit. The kid is going to die.
"I don't remember agreeing to that," Kage said as Sonya smile shuffling her leg nearly making Jaune cry out as Kage sighed in irritation. As kage glared at him, I need to keep the fool's mouth shut. Kage thought as Jaune was about to break.
"Sonya. Why aren't you wearing underwear?"
Kage said with a tired sigh as Jaune was furiously staring at the ground as the boy was nearing his tipping point.
"Oh? Did I forget to put some on? I must have slipped my mind when I heard you coming over. You know I don't need them, especially if you would-
"Sonya. I need your help. Either help me or not."
Kage said with a firm voice as the girl sighed.
"Fine. You are still no fun. I assume you are here because of your little raiding problem?"
"You know I am."
"And that means you want my semblance to help you?"
Sony asked leaning to her side and taking another drag from her pipe and blowing out the smoke in a lazy haze.
"I do."
"So you know what I want in return correct?"
"Yes….
"And are you willing to do it?"
Sony asked leaning her body on one arm as she inhaled from her pipe as she rapped it across an ashtray as she cocked a Chesire smile at him.
"Yes…
Kage said grinding his teeth as the girl clapped her hand as she shot up robes flowing as Jaune finally felt his will break as he nearly asked why the hell did she keep moving her legs!?
As Jaune had a new permanent vision burned into his brain as Sonya picked up what looked to be an ornate scroll of parchment as walked over to Kage.
"You want to not to be raided I want a new fan. Sign here."
"Fine."
Kage said as she handed him a feathered pen as Jaune saw a scroll with what seemed like it had thousands of names on it written on ink, as Kage added his own to the ledger. As the girl clapped her hands and smiled heavily.
"All right! I have a new fan! And my number one fan at that! If you ever want a backstage tour just call me!" Sonya said as he stood up gripped Jaune shoulder with an iron grip.
"Come on boss we need to go."
Kage said as Jaune nodded before the girl spoke.
"Jaune is it? That's a nice name! Kage, why didn't you introduce us? Jaune Arc I am Sonya Meyers. It is a pleasure to meet you!"
Sonya said as Jaune opened his mouth before a boot slammed on his foot making him cry internally as he gritted his teeth.
"What is this? Not speaking to me? Don't you now that that's considered rude?"
"Sonya we are leaving."
"Before he has a chance to speak? How rude! Kage, you need to work on your manners." Sonya said as he dragged Jaune out of the room past the albino guards and entered Bastion proper…
"Kage? What the hell was that? Why did we go to see her? What did she make you sign and why was she not wearing any underwear!"Jaune yelled as Kage rubbed an armored hand through his coarse dark hair as he turned to his leader.
"Jaune that was Sonya Meyers. She is the reason we won't have a raiding problem anymore." Kage said as Jaune blinked owlishly at him.
"How? You said she has a semblance?"
Jaune asked as Kage nodded.
"Does she."
Kage added sarcastically as Jaune glared at him.
"Does she?"
"Jaune she has one of if not the most dangerous semblances in Bastion."
"What is it?"
"She can see the world with her fans. Through her eyes."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that if she touches you, she can see through your eyes like they were her own. She will be able to see each and every action that you take. And she can do this to many people. She can see through the eyes of others and has amassed a cult following in Bastion."
"She can see through someone's eyes?"
"Yes. And if you so much as talk to her. She can convince you to sign up wither her adding to her cult."
"Wait, I thought she needed you to just make skin contact with her to use you, why did she make you sign a piece of paper? What has that got to do with anything?"
"It's just her way of gaining fans. She uses this unique ability to become near ubiquitous and has as such carved out a nice niche here in Bastion."
"Wait if she has to touch you how does she spread?"
"Well, that's the thing. She's touched a lot of people. In her early days where she and some rather unique Bastion nursing staff with loose morals and way to much free time came up with a way to amplify her semblances power."
"Amplify? How so?"
" Using sketchy technology and several human rights issues, to put her into perspective out of almost everybody in Bastion she has gained sight of nearly all of the student body. She sees and hears everything that they do. And is somehow able to process the information without it breaking her mind in two."
"She's spying on everybody? But why?"
"Saftey. She sells her service as an information broker of sorts. And since she learned practically everyone's secrets she's nigh on invincible. The signing thing is just a memento from her old life before Bastion when she still had fans."
"So she blackmails the entire student body?"
"More or less."
"Wait! Doesn't that mean that she can see through your eyes now? What if she spies on us!"
"Don't worry about that. Me and her have a relationship of sorts. She won't sell us out, I hope."
Kage added under his breath as Jaune gulped.
"So she'll stop attacks from coming our way?"
"No. She simply agreed to tell me if anyone is going to attack us. She will notify us beforehand allowing us to not be surprised again."
"How will she know if we are getting attacked? She's looking at the entire school, right? How the hell does she sort out all the relevant visions from the random ones?"
"Practice. Years and years of practice."
"So she's on our side?"
"No way. She's just helping me, and you benefit from proximity."
"What did she mean by fiance back there? Are you two really getting married?"
"No. She thinks we are and I do admit I am somewhat to blame for that but that's a story for another day."
"You have a harem you know that? You have three girls who like you, Mika, Hino and now Sonya? Why are you so popular?"
Jaune asked giving a rare shot at humor in his dark times as Kage cocked his head.
"Jaune. I'll tell you this once. Relationships built on polyamory are rarely successful and are not what you read about in books or see on tv. It's not worth it and I am not looking for romance. Not yet least." Kage said sighing as he felt his collar around his neck.
"For now we need to spread the word."
"About?"
"The fact that Sonya is looking out for us. Like I said this is a school, and schools gossip. If people learn that we have the All seeing eye looking out for us, they won't even bother to attack us. The good thing about our reputation is the people who want to kill us can't. And the ones who can don't want to. It's a win-win."
'Ruby! What happened!?" Jaune asked as the panicked Reaper's voice came over the scroll. Jaune was in team ARKM's room as the team's forge as they decided to bring in the machine over the churro box much to Mika's dismay as they loaded the large thing into the center of the room before a frantic call from Ruby came in.
Apparently Ruby needed to make new bullets for Crescent Rose her Beacon supply was finally dying out and had asked for someone to come with her to the Bastion forge. Jaune had originally offered to go but was forced to stay behind to oversee the forge's delivery and installation as apparently a team leaders input was required so she and Kage and gone together.
Were they were apparently attacked in a hallway but survived with no injuries as the forge was installed Jaune sighed into his scroll. even if the raids had stopped Bastion was still dangerous and even with the boon of Sonya's sight, there was no safety for team ARKM.
Something was happening with Team ARKM.
"Kage! The left!"
Jaune ordered as he glared ahead of him.
"On it boss!" Kage said kicking down a rickety door in a shower of splinters sashing into the room as the harsh sound of bolt pistols filled the air.
"Mika! Right!""~Yes sir! Mister boss man sir~!" Mika replied skipping to the right part of the decrypt hallway and washing it with flames as the sound of human screaming filled his hearing. As a smile broke his face.
"Ruby! On our six!
"Got it!" Ruby yelled as she ducked backfiring into the enemy as Jaune walked forward.
Everything was working out according to plan as Jaune stalked forward into the abandoned apartment building. The harsh crack of bolt pistols filled his ear as Kage cleared the rooms to the left of them followed by the harsh sharp reports of Crescent Rose as Ruby covered their flanks.
It was all tied up nicely as the whooshing sounds of flames followed by the familiar stink of chemical fire filled the air with ozone as Mika closed off their flanks making it impossible for them to be surrounded, as the harsh acrid smell of fun power and ozone filled his nose as a smile came to his face.
"And I'll take center!" Jaune yelled as the roof of the abandoned apartment building was ripped off its hinges in a shower of wood and screams, as beady red eyes on thick dark wings entered his vision as a howling griffon tore open the roof and landed in front of him screeching at the top of its lungs as Jaune grinned a vicious smirk as he unsheathed his sword twirling it once in mid-air before smiling as he leapt into the chest of the monster, to stab it's chest as Team ARKM finished their mission. As the last enemy fell, a savage grin came to Jaune face as team ARKM was starting to gel.
Jaune had no idea when it had first started to happen. But sometime during the week since the raids stopped team ARKM began to gel." As the team left, the smoking apartment building as the four teens stepped into the chilly snow-filled air.
"Good work Kage! Great shooting!" Jaune said slapping the boy one shoulder as he smiled a toothless grin back at him.
"Thanks boss you too."Kage said slapping a hand on Jaune shoulder as Jaune did the same to him, brown met blue as the boys nodded a look of respect passed between their eyes as Jaune turned to his other team members.
"Mika! Great crowd control! You did amazing!"
Jaune said as the girl twirled her hatchet in mid-air.
"~ Aww! Bossman! You are making me blush~!"
"I mean it! You did outstanding work today! There's a churro waiting for you when we get back home so that you know." Jaune said smiling at the girl who nearly stopped her aze as she slammed both hands to her face before leaping into his arms and hugging him tightly.
"~You're the best boss man~! Did you hear that Kage! Jaune' getting me a churro when we get back isn't he the best?!" Mika asked slinging herself onto Kage who actually held her in his arms as Jaune turned away from the two was he went to the last member of his team.
"Ruby!"
"Yes!"
"You did great. I'm glad to have you on my team. You are the best partner and friend in the world!" Jaune said ruffling her head in an appraising way causing her to blush as she pushed herself into his side as Jaune smiled down at her.
Jaune had no die when it had happened, but team ARKM was finally coming together.
Jaune had finally stepped into his role as a leader and had been acting like one. Giving orders to both Kage and Mika with the sound and confidence of one who was not only used to hearing his common obeyed but getting them done quickly. And his team had taken to his style like fish to water
Jaune had changed as team ARKM stood in the wild frost fog outside the abandoned and now burned building they had been tasked to clear alone. Jaune had settled into the boots of a leader and was a man changed.
Back in Beacon Jaune had been playing a leader. He was underskilled with no confidence and no way to keep himself alive without running behind his friends and praying that they killed whatever monster of the time was coming to kill him. He gave suggestions rather than orders and always crowd surfed ideas. That was no more.
Now he simply ordered his teammates with the easy confidence of a man who had been giving orders his entire life, as his eyes gained a steely glint to their natural blue color, he walked with confidence and a low swagger to his steps.
Gone was her earlier cowardice and intimidation. Now he walked with the smooth and easy steps of one used to a life of command and was not afraid to speak his he said what he meant with an edge to his tone as he commanded his team and they obeyed him without a moment's hesitation or thought.
Ruby was ecstatic to see her team and friends getting along as team ARKM went form a group of forced strangers living together for mutual protection and nothing more to an organized, cohesive unit. That was able to not only utilize each other's skill but cover one another's weakness.
It might have started one day when Ruby was going out to get lunch. Both Kage and Jaune had already eaten and not wanting to eat alone Ruby had asked Mika of all people to eat with her. Saying that she wanted to eat with a friend. The girl leaped at the chance hugging Ruby with all her might and proclaiming their friendship for all to see as Ruby hugged back.
As the two left speaking of Kage. He had actually become Jaune's friend. He had taken Jaune in to become one of the boys. With Zach and Six as the initiation student had yet to reveal his name and Jaune felt a genuine friendship from between them. As Kage, Jaune, Zach and Six hung out together Ruby began branching out.
No longer did she cling to Jaune or Kage as her life depended on it. Now she would venture out in Bastion alone or more likely with Mika as the two had grown from strangers at best to damn near inseparable as they spent almost every spare minute with each Hino and Krix become their own friend circle and making Jaune smile.
Ruby looked happy. She appeared happier then Jaune had ever seen her before. Even in Beacon, the girls did not smile as such. As she laughed and joked openly all traces of her anxiety vanishing overnight as she finally began to grow.
And speaking of growth! Even team ARKM was closer. They talked to each other like friends, and to strangers, they told stories of their past, Jaune learned Mika was the child of a businessman in Vacuo, and Kage was an orphan.
Ruby has two moms and one dad. And had begun training with Kage and Hino by hand to hand combat. Jaune had in her inspiration taking to challenge Mik to sword aze duels to test hi sill, and she proved to be a interesting if not an uncanny opponent slipping and flickering through reality dodging and parrying Jaune's attacks like a snake in the water. And the two had become fast sparring partners and actual friends in the span of a week.
That's why it was with great shock that team ARKM was called into Ludo's office s the man sat with a massive grin as the roaring, but null fire glowed behind him. As his piercing silver eyes glared at team ARKM Jaune returned the glare. Refusing to back down as the familiar cold hand gripped his chest.
Do your worst. Jaune thought as he swore he saw the headmaster nod as if to say I intended to as the man's face broke into a grin.
"Congratulation team ARKM! You have your next mission! And I am sure you will love it! How many of you have ever been flying before and do anyone of you know how to operate a parachute?" They were asked as Jaune gulped as Ludo smiled viciously. As miss Heil shook her head in annoyance as she handed Jaune a letter.
"Because if you don't know now is the perfect time to learn." The man said with a devilish grin as Jaune opened the letter detailing his next mission assignment.
"I Hate the cold."
Kage said as put on layer after layer of thermal coating as team ARMK got ready for their latest assignment. It was a strange assignment, to say the least. As they needed to go to a far-off place in as Kage eloquently put it ass end of nowhere up north called Arcadia and help them kill some white fang and in return they would give Bastion food stockpiles as Bastin was running dangerously low on food supplies and if they did not get a new shipment they would starve.
"Kage, have you been to this place before?" Jaune asked as Kage shook his head. As he stooped to help, Mika, how who was busy slamming her hatchet's base into a hilariously overstuffed suitcase in an attempt to make it close.
"Not personally no. But If I know my fact it's going to be hell. Cold, ancient Grimm and Oum damned singing. This is going to be miserable." Kage said as Ruby came from behind him wrapping her thin arms around his back to give him a hug.
"Don't wary Kage! I'm sure we'll pull through this! Together!" Ruby said smiling brightly as Kage sighed into his self. Before sticking out an armored gloved hand as he ruffled her head affectionately.
"Sure thing Red together," Kage said as team ARKM continued to pack. It was not even a mission they were on but a favor that Ludo told them that the elite of Death Korps was offered to do. And to expect to be away for over a week. As Jaune sighed into his palms as he packed a rough sack.
"What can you do about it?" Jaune asked no one in particular as he continued to pack.
AN: Well there we go! The next arc is starting and the team is coming together! I have the next three or so arcs already planned out for this story so fear not! This tale will continue! Thanks to everyone for reading and as always I hope you enjoyed. Until next time I decided to leave a tease for the next chapter by putting its name at the end of the previous one. So until next time, Jaune Torchwick should be next. Depends on if I decide to toss out a Game on first but until then! Enjoy an omake since you all seem to love it so much.
Next chapter. Gory Gory what a helluva way to die.
Omake. Hero of Remnant! Part two Dead in the water.
"Tell me how long have your two regiments been... in conflict?" Jaune asked as he sat on a semi-comfortable chair as he eyed the commander if you could call her that of the one hundred and eighth. It was already bad enough the Jaune had to be in the freezing RuneScape of Atlas but the damned base didn't have a proper heater!
As the low dim room, they were in was heated by a lone heating coil that was trying and failing to warm up the room. As it glowed orange on the background only succeeding in fogging up the windows and adding an uncomfortable level of humidity to, the room.
"Um! Since we first merged our units together! Ther have been minor altercations! Usually by the men!" Ruby added under her breath in the worst display of subtlety Jaune had seen in his entire life as Yatsuahsi growled at the girl silencing the smaller girl as the mountain of a man glared at her.
"Things were going just fine until some people came along. We have a long history of glorious service and it was unblemished until the massacre in Vacuo." The man growled as Jaune rubbed his head. This was becoming a nightmare and fast. All Jaune wanted was a nice easy life away from all the things in Remnant that where baying for his blood.
Preferably in Mistral where he could spend his days lounging on one of the coral beaches with Ren at his side and a drink in his hand speaking of drinks Jaune could really use a-
"Tea sir?" Ren asked phlegmatically as he appeared at his commander's side steaming cup of tea in hand, Jaune thanked his aide and best friend.
"Thank you, Ren. I would love some tea. Almost as much as I would love to see a fully functioning unit." Jaune said as his aide nodded placing a steaming bowl of brownish liquid in front of him as Ruby and Yatshais turned their noses.
It was a usual thing, most people did not take to Ren's pungent odor. As Ruby had been not so secretly plugging her nose when she thought no one was looking. Which unfortunately was never as Yatsuhasi merely grimaced.
Ren for his part paid them no mind, as usual, being as indifferent to anyone but himself that was not posing an active threat to their lives as Jaune looked over his papers.
It was worse then he feared. This unit was filled with infighting, division and had become a literal powder keg of animosity and spite and Jaune had the glorious job of cleaning it up. As he read over the filed a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he turned to them.
"Ruby."
"Yes!" The girl as Jauen would not call her a woman. Not yet at least eeped out her response Jaune sighed,
"You are the commander of this regiment are you not?"
"Yes! I Ruby Rose am the current acting commander of the one hundred and eight light infantry!"
Ruby said proudly pumping her small chest out with pride as Yatsuhasi growled behind her.
"Then the blame falls on you," Jaune said as the girls pride filled eyes crashed in a second as a worried frown covered her face.
"What do you mean?" Ruby asked fidgeting in her chair as Jaune read over his field reports.
"Infighting, animosity, moral degradation, and outright inter-unit brawls!? This is unacceptable! Ruby Rose! You have entrusted to command this unit under the authority of Monty himself and you have been found wanting!"
Jaune yelled in his loudest command tone making the girl eep! As she shrunk back in her chair silver eyes wide in fear as Jaune slammed his las pistol into the table making the girls face turn the color of the snow as Yatsuhasi stepped in.
"Sir, While I do agree that her command performance is lacking, I do not believe summary execution is necessary." The large man said showing a general concern for the girl in front of him as his small black eyes opened in concern as Jaune sighed.
"She has been found wanting on several occasions, I could execute her for far less. Ruby! You have sown dissent in your command and sat back and allowed division to settle into your unit for over three months tell me what steps have you taken to lessen them?" Jaune asked as Ruby quaked.
"I! I! I baked cookies!"
The girl said as Jaune fixed her a hard stare that made her quake in fear.
"For the females only," Jaune added as Ruby balked.
"I! I knit napkins combining the symbols of both our old units!"
"That's good! Right?!"
Ruby asked as Jaune glared at her.
"And you lost them in a? Fire dust accident? It appears?" Jaune said flicking through the mound of paperwork as Ruby began to panic.
"I! I tried to help the unit! I did everything I could to make them get along! It didn't work!"
"Did you? Did you really do everything? Think carefully before you answer. Your life may depend on your response." Jaune said tapping his pistols barrel menacingly onto the table.
"I! I! I did everything I could! I tried to get the people to get along but it's hard! And it's not just the men! The girls won't do it either! They both don't like each other and I can't make them play nice no matter what I try!" Ruby admitted squealing at the top of her lungs silver eys shacking in fear and gohst white palms gripping the table as Jaune sighed.
"Is this the truth? Have you truly tried your best and still failed at your appointed duty?"
"Yes. That is the truth."
Ruby said with Grimm finality as she nodded her head as Jaune closed his eyes. Contemplating his next decision before opening them with a fierce look.
"Fine then, Ruby Rose I with the power given to me entrusted by the commissariat I sentence you to immediate summary execution!" Jaune said as Ruby quaked her skin losing all of its colors as her mouth opened to scream in defiance as Yatsuhasi moved forward.
"Sir! I must protest! She dose not deserve to be executed like this!" The man growled stalking over to the table eyes wide in concern.
"Why do you care? You yourself told me that she was lacking in command training and you clearly want the job. If you are as good as you say and all indications say that you are, the next in line for command is yourself. You should be happy." Jaune said taking his pistol out from its holster and aiming it at the girl's forehead making her cry.
"Sir, please! I didn't mean to I'm sorry!"
"Ruby Rose! By the power of the commissariat!"
"Sir! Please! I don't want to die!"
You should have thought of that before, you put your own self-interest before your duty to Monty! As such you have not and you have been found wanting!"
"Sir I must protest! Ruby has been doing her best and she has shown on several occasions to be a capable and a talented commander! Killing her would not only be a waste to the unit but to Monty himself and I must protest it with the full level of my seniority!" The man said as Jaune smiled internally.
"Fine. Since you care for her so much, I'll give you a deal. Three weeks. You both have three weeks to end you animosity impeding your unit or I execute you both. Now go." Jaune said as the two terrified commanders nodded their head vehemently before turning tail and sprinting out of the room leaving Jaune and Ren alone with their tea as the heating coils of the room warmed them up. Or at least tried to warm them up.
"That worked out well sir," Ren said his usual phlegmatic tone replaced with a level of snideness as Jaune's plans came together.
"Yes, Ren. Yes, it did." Jaune said as a smile crossed his lips.