:An. Here we go! More Bastion more action! In this part, we see Ruby's reaction to her new body, how her eye reacts to her friends and! We get the induction of a new main character! All this and more int he next chapter of Bastion!
Ps. Welcome to the story.
"What happened to me!?"
Ruby screamed as she saw her new and improved lower half as she balked.
"You have been upgraded, Ruby! Your femurs are known mostly metal and spring! Most of you is now made of prosthetics, and you might just be in the running for most progressed along the path of ascension out of all the students-
"I don't want this! I want my original legs back! I want my body back!'
Ruby yelled refusing to accept the twisted amalgamation under her smock as her body. Her once nice normal knees were gone. Taken and replaced with cold unfeeling metal. While they appeared to be the same on the outs, there were large lumps of metal poking out from the bottom of the flesh.
Giving her skin warped deformed appearance that made the girl queasy as Felica sighed.
"Do not worry about your looks Ruby. The prosthetics will integrate with your body soon enough, so you need not be concerned about physical appearances. Beauty is skin deep after all right?"
Felica said happily as Ruby feel a growing ball of panic in her. Her lips were gone! Replaced with metal and oil! She could feel the wrongness in her body! Like a toxin in her blood that was eating her alive and-
"Ruby. Calm down."
Her eyes said as it began to speak.
"We have suffered major damage in our last mission. We need to recuperate. Our wounds while severe are not impossible to deal with. I am already integrating with your new limbs to speed up the integration process with your remaining biological components."
Her eye said calmly as Ruby blinked.
"You can do that?"
"Do what?'
Felicia asked as Ruby shook her head as her eye spoke.
"Yes. Yes, I can. Fear, not Ruby I will not let this minor inconvenience keep us down." It said as Felicia went over her clipboard. "Well, then your body is healed more or less. You will need to come back to me twice a week for maintenance work for your limbs, but besides that, you are free to go. Just don't overdo it ok? Your body is stronger but it is also in need of rest so take a break k?'
The nurse said as Ruby nodded sighing ance and-
"Mister Arc. Mister Kage. Please come here for a moment. There is something I need to discuss with you."
Felica said as she called Jaune and Kage to the side of the room where she showed them a clipboard and began to whisper under her breath.
As Felicia began speaking to them in a hushed tone as Ruby glared at them.
"Heartbeat is increasing, stress levels rising."
Her eye said as Ruby glared at Jaune and Kage. It was true. Jaune's face was become wracked with sweat, and Kage's usually stone-like face was actually showing a sliver of emotions as the nurse whispers something to them and-
"I can read lips. Shall I see what they are talking about?"
Her eye asked as Ruby nodded.
"Yeah. Tell me what they are saying."
Ruby whispered to her self as her eye blinked.
"Jaune: What do you mean it's going to be permanent!?"
Jaune whispered to the woman his eyes wide with worry as she nodded her head to him.
"Felicia: I'm sorry Mister Arc bit I did my best but she was too far injured for me to stop this."
This what the hell is this?
Ruby thought as she glared at the group.
"Kage: Is there really nothing we can do?"
"Felicia: I am sorry Mister Kage. Miss Rose will have to learn to live-
"Reading lips huh!"
Mika asked appearing out of nowhere sliding down next to Ruby with a serpentine-like grace interrupting her lip reading and making her gag.
"Mika!? What are you-
"Checking up on my best friend! I missed you, Ruby!"
Mika said hugging the girl tightly making Ruby blush as the girl interrupted her spying.
"I can no longer read their lips."
Her eye reported as Mika's silver har blocked out her vision as the girl strange sweet smelling perfume. That reminded her of Mistral food stalls as the girl hugged her tightly as-
"Ruby. It's about time we go back to the dorm. It's been a long day so let's go back to our home K?"
Jaune asked with a nervous look as Ruby frowned.
"He's nervous. Probably lying-
"Jaune doesn't lie!"
Ruby shouted as Jaune blinked owlishly at her.
"Ruby? What are you talking about?"
Jaune asked making Ruby blush before she shook her head.
"Nothing. I was just talking aloud you know?"
She asked playing it cool s Jaune nodded, the long thin scar on his face moving around his right eye as he gave her that same calming smile that warmed her heart.
"It happens to everyone right? Now let's go home."
Jaune said as-
"Ask him about the clipboard."
Her eye said as Ruby paused.
"He's keeping something from us, Ruby. Ask him about the clipboard."
Her eye repeated as Ruby pause once before gulping.
"He-hey Jaune!"
"Yeah, Ruby?"
"What did you and the nurse talk about?"
Ruby asked as she saw Kage and Felicia whispering to one another as Jaune froze as the bean to sweat.
"His preparation is rising. His heartbeat is also increasing; these are all indicators of organics under duress. He displays clear signs of stress and nervousness. I believe that while he may not be lying to us. He is definitely withholding information."
Her eyes said as Ruby narrowed her eyes at her.
"Jaune, what did you and the nurse talk about-
"Oh! We just talked about.. stuff!"
"Stuff? What kind of stuff?"
"Um! You know just some stuff about your injury! Nothing terrible mind you! Nothing life-threatening after all!"
"I'm glad to hear that-
"He is still withholding information. His heartbeat is to fast, and his preparation levels are too high for normalcy. I recommend we press for knowledge and-
"Let me see it."
Ruby said as Jaune's face lost all color as he gulped.
"See what Ruby? What are you-
"The nurse clipboard. I want to see it."
Ruby demeaned hold out her right arm. Still badly scarred as eye scanned it claiming that it was currently operating at eighty percent efficiency, with a five percent increase predicted per day and-
"Right here Red. See for yourself."
Zach said coming from behind her and-
"Oh! Let me see too!"
Mika cried jumping on Ruby's back tossing her long hair over her prosthetic eye covering it entirely and wrapping her in a hug as Zach pressed a clipboard up to her face.
"You see Red? It says you took a nasty hit, lost both of your femurs, and needed extensive organ replacement. You needed some melt in your arms, and your face still looks like you took a balloon full of battery acid you're going to be ok!"
Zach said as he held Ruby' glare as she read the clipboard seeing with her own eyes that what Zach said was true and that despite her organic part replacement her body was more or less ok.
As she nodded once-
"Ruby. I can not see. Please removed her hair."
Her eye said as Ruby raised her hand to wipe Mika' hair away only for the girl's hand to shot out like lighting grabbing it mid-air and prevent her.
"Aw, Ruby! You wanted to hold hands!"
Mika said in her usual sing-song voice making Ruby blink owlishly at her.
"Mika I just wanted to-
"Ok! That's more than enough excitement for one day! Let's go back to our dorm! Team ARKM! Move out!"
Jaune said ina far to forced voice as he snatched the clipboard form Zach to sign it to the nurse as Ruby glared at him before grimacing once before following Jaune and Mika out of ht room as her eye made out the last bit of conversation with nurse and kage.
"Kage: How long until you know for sure?"
"Felicia: I don't know, but she will have to find out soon enough."
"Kage: How the hell am I supposed to explain to her that-
"Kage! Come on!"
Jaune said as he called his and Ruby's friend. Away from the nurse as he noted to her once.
"Kage: We'll talk later."
"Felicia: You must tell her one day Kage."
"Kage: One-day but not today."
Kage replied as the nurse nodded as Ruby grimaced Tell me what? What are you hiding from me?
The young girl thought as Jaune led her out of the room and into the Bastion hallways, as they went back to thier room.
Well, the journey to thier room was cut short as team ARKM was called into their headmaster office for a mission briefing. Well, specifically Ruby and Zach where called din but Jaune, Kage, and Mika insisted on flooding them.
And somewhere along the way, Hino joined them wonder where the hell her partner was and why the hell he did not answer his scroll. As the six students made their way into the large oak doors that led into the den of Ludo.
"AH! Miss Rose! Zach! I'm so glad to see your surgery was a success! And I must say that I am beyond pleased to hear about your mission's success-
"Ludo! You bastard! You told us that the Fang had no more artillery!"
Zach shouted at the top of his lungs not backing down even as Miss Heil took a threats step towards him. Her seeing red yee glowing crimson as her reacher behind her back and-
"No need Miss Heil. He has a point."
"As you say."
The dean said as she stopped a back as Ludo sighed.
"I do apologize for the rather unfortunate events that transpired during your mission, but you of all people should know that these things happen. Intel is bad in war, and something you end up in bad situations."
"Don't I fucking know it! I just came from one so what the hell was our malfunction? Bad intel, coms trouble, did someone just say fuck it and make a guess about the big ass guns that could kill us all in a moments notice!?"
"In short no. What happened here was the result of not properly document information. We knew that the Fang had no active variety in the area. What we left out was the fact that there where some abandon art tiles emplacements that the Fang could and did use to attack you."
"Sounds great."
Zach said sarcastically as Ludo sighed.
"It was unfortunate but rest assured! Your actions today where nor a waste!"
"Not a waste? Sir, what did we really do out there?"
Ruby used speaking up for the first time since she arrived int he office as the man grinned.d
"Why you! Miss Rose, along with Zach have successfully annihilated the Fang presence in this region! From here on out there will be no more mission against them and you have finally stabilized this part of Remnant! Along with the heroic seizing of the Kernel, the Fang are broken! A toast all around!"
The man said rais a hand to emulate drinking from a mug as Jaune grimaced.
"So it was not for nothing?'
Ruby asked as the man nodded.
"No, it was not Miss Rose. Your actions that day had value, and you should feel proud of yourself for doing them!"
Ludo said easily as Jaune coughed.
"Sir, I must ask-
"Ask away Jaune. There is no reason to be shy. I have been nothing but candid with you, and I expect you to do the same."
Ludo declared giving Jaune that same icy smile that chilled him to his core as he nodded.
"Sir I take great care of my team. And when you split us up, and send us away like you just did you put us in grave danger. Sir, you made us a unit, a cohesive fighting force meant to work together, not apart."
"We train together, we eat together, we live together, and we sleep together. We are a unit sir, and we work best when all of us are there as a united force. Not when we are separated and cast about like leaves from a tree left to fall and die."
Jaune said glaring as Ludo give him a full toothy smile revealed the rows upon rows of perfect white teeth, in a wide grin that disturbed him to the core. As he felt like once again just being in the general vicinity of the headmaster was putting his soul at risk.
"Jaune while I do appreciate your protectiveness of your team I must remind you that I am the headmaster of this school. And I govern it with a purpose."
The man said reaching onto his desk and sighing heavily.
"I rule this school because I am the not only the best but the only one for this job. And I will always do what I see as best for the whole of Bastion."
The man sad as Jaune held his icy glare for a moment before Luso smiled seemingly please with his resilience as he went on with his talk.
"I know that you are one of if not the best teams in Bastion, you are still just that. A team, I put you together, and I can rip you apart. I know you work best as a whole, but there are times when I will not need your whole."
"There will be times when you will be divided split up and taken into parts. You are all parts of a greater whole, meant to tackle any task that I may deem fit. You are all tools for me to use, and sometimes certain task requires only one or maybe half but not the whole of the set to complete a task as efferently as possible. And I will use them as I see fit."
The man said with a grim finality as Jaune held his glare before taking a deep breath and letting out a long breath.
"I see sir, I understand."
"Splendid! Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way let's get to the good news!"
"Good news? Sir, what's the good news, besides the Fang's annihilation?"
Jaune asked as the man smiled.
"Jaune! So glad you asked! Now that you are some of my elites! You will need to not only go on Bastion elite missions, which your first one is coming ups on-
"First? Sir if what we just did where not delete mission then what the hell are we doing!?"
Jaune asked as Ludo smiled.
"Simple my boy. What you just did were favors, to me. I asked you to do something that I believe you were the best toll for me. And now I will reward you. After your first real mission of course."
Ludo's smile became a ghoulish grin as Jaune balked.
"Real mission? Sir the things we just did where all-
"Child's play! My dear boy that mission could not even be considered to be a real mission! They where hardly training exercises compared to what's coming next!"
The man said snapping his fingers as the dean sighed heavily as she began walking to the corner of the room.
"Now! Since you, four are my golden geese! So to say, you all need to look the part!"
The man said as Miss Hel returned with an armful of large black circles as Jaune blinked owlishly.
"Sir? What are those?'
Jaune asked as Miss Heil dropped a significant amount of what could only be described as shiny black collars on the desk as he grinned.
"These! Jaune, are your brand new collars! I know you might have gotten used to not wearing them, but that just won't do! You are Bastion students! Punishment students at that, and you need to look the part!"
The man said as Miss Heil stepped forward to Jaune, holding out the long climb collar to Jaune's neck as her glaring red eyes glared at him.
"Step forward Mister Arc. Do not make me walk to you."
The dean said in a fiery tone as her eyes went alight with red flames as Jaune froze with fear for a moment before glaring at her as he walked forward and-
Click!
Jaune grimaced as he lost one chain and gained another, shiner newer one. As the collar attached itself onto his neck, as he felt twin needles poked into his body as he grimaced.
"What was-
"Poison. Mister Arc that was the poison."
Miss Heil said in a neutral voice as Jaune froze.
"Poison!? Why would you poison me?!"
"Simple. Besides the collar's explosive charge that is still active, you are now elite Bastion students. That means that you carry a fair amount of risk to your self, especially given the level of autonomy that we are giving you. So in order to protect not only our interest but the greater interests of the world a whole, you are all being slowly poisoned."
The woman said as Jaune felt his blood run cold.
"Is it-
"Lethal? Yes. The collar was injected a steady stream of poison into your bloodstream. As long as you don't leave the leave the general vicinity of Bastion you are fine. But, if you leave the school ground without your instructor's permission or being in their general proximity, the poison will kill you.'
The dean claimed as Jaune felt his breath hitch and-
"Instructor?"
The blonde asked forcing himself to walk away as she felt the surprisingly light collar on his neck. As the collar despite looking absolutely massive was not very heavy. In fact that it was so lightweight that it seemed like he was not even wearing it.
As he heard a-
Click!
Ruby's collar was put on, as Jaune watched it shrink, changing its shape to fit her smaller neck size as the girl now had a massive black collar with the letter P emboldened on it in bold red lettering as Ozpn grinned.
"Yes, Mister Arc. From this day onward you will have your very own teacher assigned to you! They will act as a leader, or chaperone as such for you missions form this day until you are freed from your service on your hopefully! Inevitable return to Beacon."
Ludo said as Kage took his collar with a grunt as the loud sharp Click!
Filled the air as he walked ad as Mika happily skipped forward taking her new piece of management with a smile and again as one last click!
Filled the air as the alt member of team ARKM had thier new collars attached. As the final collar was attached, Ludo began to smile.
"You will all have one day to rest. Starting tomorrow, you will take you first elite mission and meet you, new instructor. This teacher will be your liaison on your journey's outside of Bastion. Whci will not only be more common they will be for much longer times."
"During your travels with them, it is in your best interest to make sure that they get back here safe and sound. As for every time, you leave a timer is stared on your collars. If you are not back in Bastion with the time frame, the timers will explode killing you on the spot! But fear not!"
The man said stopping the outburst from coming as he waved his hand.
"Only the instructors can delay this charge, and they can only do it once. So if you want to live you keep them live. Your life is in thier hands.
The man with the blanching face of Jaune, Kage, and Ruby. As the three students began to fight panic as his grandaughter simply smile happily putting her nads behind her back and swinging her hips without a care in the world. Like she was in the middle of a friendly chat and had not been giving a new death warrant.
"Anyway go back to your dorm Jaune. Take your team and get some rest. Trust me you are going to need it."
The as s Jaune felt a cold hand gripping his heart as he began to truly feel fear for the first time in a long time steam Arkm left the room, leaving Zach and Hino to Ludo for a talk as they left their friends behind and went back home...
"So... what now?'
Ruby asked in a tired voice as she sat on her dorm bed a forlorn as she shook her legs in the air with a tired frown on her face.
"What do we do? Kage? Jaune? Mika?'
Ruby asked as she looked at her team, no her family. As the people in the room where much closer to Ruby that anyone else in the world, even some members of her own family did not share thier place in Ruby's life as they all sat down on thier individual beds, as they looked down at their feet.
"What do you think Red? We live, we fight and we prepare to die. Same as always."
Kage said laying back in his bed looking at the grey ARKM ceiling frown slightly as he grimaced.
"Elite missions? Did I think we already went on elite missions? If those things were just training missions what the hell are we going to be dong tomorrow!?"
Jaune asked to form his bead looking at his reflection in Crocea Mor's. Holding his reflection in its blade. Grimacing at the long scar that went down his face. Aside effect form the Ursa majors in the wilds.
Levin twin long thin scar on his face, that while not overly obvious on his face would leave a mark for the rest of his life. And for some reason Jaune and the dark inkling that these scars were simply the first of many, as he knew that there were far more scars coming to his body.
The boy thought as he sat on his bed.
"Don't worry Ruby. Me and you are going to get through this ok? We already got rid of one month in this place. We're almost at the halfway point. After that, we just need to hold on and then we are home free. Ok?"
Jaune said to his best friend who blushed slightly as she nodded her head.
"Yeah! Sure!"
Ruby said as she blushed as her eye shot out of her head, the augmetic appendage shattering and squeezing at Jaune as it held his glare.
"Why the long faces!? Why is everyone so sad!? We should be celebrating! Not mopping!"
Mika shouted out loud as the girl stood up on her bed and pouted.
"Mika? What would we be celebrating?"
Jaune asked in slight irritation as the girl glared at them.
"We just got promoted! We are going to go on even more missions! This is a good thing! Not a bad one!" Mika complains as she slammed her foot down, pouting openly as she puffed out her cheeks. In her best puffer fish imitations, Jaune sighed.
"Mika. We are in a bad situation here-
"NO! No, we are not in a bad situation! We are in a great one!"
"A great one? We are in a great situation?"
"Yes! That's what I've been trying to tell you! We are in a great situation in it's irritating as hell to me that despite the amusing situation that we are in it looks like I'm the only one out of my friends that even realizes it!"
"What part of our situation can be considered even to come close to being good?"
Kage asked in slight irritation as he laid on his bed not bothering to look t her as she glared.
"Kage! Look at us! We are in the best situation ever! We have everything!"
"Everything?"
"Yes, everything! Jaune!"
"Yes?"
"Jaune you are the one that should be thanked Ludo for this! He has literally given you everything you ever needed in one simple basket! You really should be thanking him right now and not be pouting in the room with the rest of these sour pusses!"
The girl declared as Jaune raised an eyebrow at her.
"Why would I ever defend Ludo, let alone thank him?"
"Becuase he's giving you a gift!"
"And that would be?"
"The chance to do better! Jaune your entire goal in life is to help people right?!"
"Yes? I did come to Beacon to learn to be a hunter so that I could help people. But why the hell would I be thanking Ludo for putting a new collar on us and telling us that we are as good as dead."
The boy said raising his eyebrow at the girl as she fumed.
"Becuase! Ludo is a good guy! You are a good guy! Bastion is the good guys! And every time we go on missions we fight the bad guys!"
Mika declared as Jaune felt a burst of bone-chilling cold air on him, as Mika's torso disappeared in a shower of blood. As her upper body was ripped in half as he saw the uniform of the Bandit hunters on her, as the corpse of the dead Atlas lieutenant entered his vision and-
"Jaune!"
Mika yelled thinking the boy out of his hallucinations he blinked twice.
"What? What-
"Stop spacing out and listen to me! You are a Bastion student! We are all Bastion students! When we go out, we fight bad guys! The very reason you exist! And the harder the mission, the worse the bad guys!"
"And the worse the bad guys, the better we will make the world when we succeed!"
Mika declared as Ruby raised her head.
"Wait for what?"
"Think about it, Ruby! Bastion is the good guy right?"
"Right."
"Then when we go on missions we fight the bad guys right?"
"Yeah...
"So! By that logic the harder the mission, the worse the bad guys! The worse the bad guys, the more good we can do if we succeed!"
Mika declared as Jaune saw Ruby's silver eye light up in awe.
"Your right! The harder the mission he more good we can accomplish if we win!'
"Exactly! If we do these missions, we can save people! We can come help others!"
The girl said as Kage sat up ready to say something sarcastic as Jaune saw an opportunity.
"Mika."
"Yes, mister ~boss man~? What's up have you seen the light?"
She asked as Kage grinned.
"I doubt it; he's probably going to say-
"That you are absolutely right."
"Not that."
Kage said as his mouth dropped as Jaune declared his support for Mika as Mika gasped as Kage looked concerned.
"Uh... Boss? You hit your head on something on the bullhead?"
Kage asked looking at Jaune like he might have a severe concussion as Jaune grinned.
"Not at all! But Mika is right!"
"See! I told you! Even Jaune thinks' I'm right!"
Mika declared as Kage held his leader's eyes, his light brown one gazing at him with curiosity as Jaune winked at him.
"Mika is right! Bastion is the good guy in this scenario and-
"Now I know that you hit your head."
Kage mumbled as he went on.
'Think about it! Mika is right! Not only are we the good guys! We are the good guys! Ruby, Kage! Think about it! Look at what we do! We do missions, tasks, operations that no one else can do! Even at the being can you think of anyone! And I mean anyone else that could do what we dod? Form the badlands, to the Grimm hive, to the arena battles, to our own missions! No one! And I mean no one we know could do the things that we do!"
Jaune said drawing his sword, as Ruby looked at him with awe and Mika nodder her had rapidly as Kage help him with a suspicious glare.
"Boss? Where are you going with-
"If not us then who? Think about it! This mission, this operation that is without a doubt! For the greater good of the world can be done b no one else! If we do not do this mission than who will? If we don't' step up as heroes then who will?"
"Exactly! ~ Boss Man's~ got it down pat!"
Mika declared happily as Jaune turned to Ruby a bright smile on his face as he did.
"Ruby! Don't you want to be a hero? Just like your mother?"
"Yes! More than anything?'
"Mika, don't you want a good fight?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Kage! Don't you just want a quiet day where you can just read your books without anyone trying to kill you?"
"You know I do. But where are you-
"Then we have to do this! We have to step up today because if not us then no one else will! Team ARKM! We are the worlds last best hope! We are all that stands before Remnant and the forces of darkness! If we do not step up tomorrow then who will? No one! That's who!"
Jaune said pointing his sword to the middle of the room as he grinned.
"Now! Who will stand with me?"
"I will!"
Mika said pulling out her ax and locking it with his sword, as Ruby blushed madly before sprinting up to the center of the room in a trail of roses.
"So will I!"
Ruby said taking out Crescent Rose, and putting int the center of their locked weapons as he turned to the last member of the group.
"Kage? What do you say? Do you stand with team ARKM? Do you stand with your friends before they go out to battle?"
Jaune asked as Kage gave him a long hard look. Wondering what the hell had gotten into his leader as he sighed once as he began to walk forward.
"Sure. Why not?"
The boy asked shrugging once as he took out a bolt pistol and put it together with their weapons as Jaune grinned.
"Alright! Team ARKM! From this day onward we are it! We are the last wall! The guardians in the night! The wardens of the north! We are humanities first and last line of defense! Tomorrow is our first step towards our journey to become legends!"
Jaune yelled in his most charismatic voice as Ruby and Mika ate it up as Kage still looked confused.
"Tomorrow is the beginning of our futures! Tomorrow is the day we become legends and make out marks as the legendary hunters of tomorrow!"
"YEAH! ~Boss Man~ let's kick some ass!"
Mika cried as she pumped a fist into the air.
"I'm ready Jaune! I'll do anything for you."
Ruby said blush as hr eye zoomed in on him in what looked like an inquisitive glare. As if the eye did not trust him and-
"I don't really get a choice, do I? Might as well die together, with a shot at being legends."
Kage said as he began to nod as Jaune grinned.
"Alright! From this day forward we are legends in the makings! Team ARKM today! Team ARKM forevermore!"
"Team ARKM forevermore!"
His teammates yelled as they all cheered and began to smile, as the depressed mood was ripped from the air, and replaced with an electric charge atmosphere as Jaune grimaced internally.
I must keep our morale high. If we do not think we can win we will all die.
"How about some smokes! Kage?"
Jaune asked as the boy shrugged pulling out a small box of Vacuo slims. As he opened the small cartridge as he took out four white lines.
"Sure thing."
He said as he gave each member of the team a light s Jaune smiled.
"Mika, care to do the honors?"
Jaune asked as the girl grinned.
"Sure thing ~boss man~."
The girl said taking out Chamberlain and stoking it's pilot light as she lights their cigarettes as Jaune inhaled relish the flavor of them as he took a long drag.
They need to believe in our cause. I don't care if what we do is right or wrong. Right and wrong are arbitrary concepts that I could care less about. I owe it to Ruby, I owe it to Kage and Mika, I owe to myself to get us all out of this in one piece no matter what. I will survive. My team will survive. And nothing is going to stand in our way. Jaune thought as team ARKM enjoyed their cigarettes as they took a long drag and began to relax.
"Everyone ready?"
Jaune asked as he leads team ARKM down the hallways of Bastion. The now unified team had rallied form their depression last night and now walked head's held up high as the went to their destiny.
The team not only looked happy, all eyes except Kage who still had a hefty level of skepticism to Jaune. As he eyed his leader cautiously as he knew that Jaune was hiding something.
Luckily for him, Kage was keeping whatever doubts he had to himself. As he had ye tot voice any concerns to him openly, trust Jauen to tell him about it later on.
That's why I trust him.
Jaune thought as his official only Bastion friend and unofficial best male friend walked behind him. As the only other friend he had in Bastion was Zach and that did not count. And Ren probably thinks he was dead so he was left with Kage. Who walked behind him hands over his head in a realized way as he kept his eyes straight.
Next came Mika, skipping happily not having a care in the world. Jaune made sure to make the girl a churro himself. As her initial speech of them being the good guys allowed Jaune to speak of the greater good. And rally them.
Ruby was yond happy. Her remaining biological eye liting up with pure happiness, as her augmented one seemed to be glaring? At him, as it did not turn them and-
"~Boss man~ we made it!"
Mika said as they reached the oak door that leads to the headmaster's personal quarters as Jaune sighed.
"Ok! Is everyone ready for this?"
"Yup! Let's get um!"
"I' here for you Jaune!"
"Let's just get this over with."
The various voices of team ARKM replied as Jaune plastered on his best-winning smile on his face.
"All right! Team ARKM Today?"
"Team ARKM forevermore!"
The three others said completing the now official team ARKM chant, a fact Jaune had implemented the other day to boost morale in his team mate's minds as they walked in the door's and into thier fate.
"Ah, Mister Arc! And team ARKM! A pleasure!"
Ludo said as they walked in the door as Jaune walked confidently up to him not caring about the baleful glare of Miss Heil as he strode up to the man's desk.
"What's the mission, sir? Tell me now so I can prep my team."
Jaune ordered as the man raised an eyebrow at him.
"My... My... You gained a back been last night. I like it! And here I thought you're lost your spine!"
The man said laugh that she bone-rattling brittle laugh that mad Jaune's ears hurt as he cackled.
"Sir. I have no time for this, tell me our mission. Now."
"Why yo-
"Easy Miss Heil! The boy's found his voice! No need to take that way form him! This soon...
The man said fixing him with a bale glare that promised untold suffering if Jaune pushed his luck as he stared at his green collar on the button up shirt he was wearings the top of his desk glowed as a blue hologram popped up out of it.
"You will be going here! An abandoned old-world city located some five hours from here by air! You will begin under the escort of a teacher, and you will be charged with investigating strange occurrence in the area. While also on the lookout for old world technologies in the area!"
The man said as Jaune nodded
"Good. I can use this. Now, who is our teacher, or liaison.'
Jaune asked the man grinned
"I'm glad you asked Mister Arc. I was going to give you a random teacher, but in light of your current accomplishments, I have given you a familiar face! You know this teacher quite well!"
Ludo claimed as Jaune blinked owlishly at him.
"A teacher that I know? Who would that-
WHAM!
The doors of the office flew open as Juan turned around to see a familiar face
"Sorry, I'm late boss! I got a bit caught up with some are recruits! But I'm here now!"
A familiar voice so as Jaune saw a pair of bright purple eyes, under a flowing mane of long straight purple hair. Attached to a surprisingly young face, over a massively muscled body. As a familiar woman walked into the room
"Ahh! Uzepi! So glad you could join us!"
Ludo said warmly as Jaune froze. As visions of being in a dark room filled with frightened kids in white outfits stood around a holographic table as plans where explained to him his first mission enter his mind, followed by flames, death, shooting, and despair. As the woman who first led him leaked the dorms, Uzepi caught his look as she grinned.
"Jaune? That you? You still alive?! I knew we mad a good choice with you!"
She said slamming her massively muscled fist on the desk as she locked her bright purple eyes on Jaune a shot him a toothy grin.
"Anyway we never did get properly introduced so here I am! Uzepi Kogorwachi! Reporting for duty!"
She said turning to Ludo saluting him once before pivoting to Jaune as he grinned at him.
"So blondie tell me, did you miss me?"
An: Well there we go! Bet you didn't expect that! Bring back characters from the first chapters! Now the real story being as the first real mission begins let's see what goes down! Jaune's got his mojo back! Even if he is willing to lie he's there for his team no matter what! But will that even matter in the end? Will anyone live? Will they keep their limbs? Will they finally see their friends? Find out next time on Bastion!
Next chapter Walking with a gohst.
Omake Hero of Remnant part 11. His majesty's holy inquisition. Or why I like redheads.
"Why are things always exploding around me?"
"It is our professions, sir. We do tend to be in danger a fair bit more than most others.'
Ren said phlegmatically as he Jaune sat in the back of his common Chimeral as the roared out of the base.
Jaune was already in a bad mood, for one he was still washing off the scent of the damned sewers off of him, as the hours-long slog through the wast of a whole city had proved resilient to have the most reliable detox showers and powers.
As Jaune sat next to Ren, he took stock of his situation and his new found companion as the metal hull of the tracked vehicle jerked and jostled them around as they roared down the city streets.
As Jaune sat in the vehicle he grimaced, it was one thing for a man city to tung into anarchy, which happened with some level of predictableness sin the imperious of OUm but this? For a normally insignificant city to turn into sheer chaos in one night? That was not a good sign.
As the vehicle roared down the path, he took a look at t his brand new command squad. On his right was his best friend and trusted second Lie, Fenrik Ren. As he polishes his melta pistols with a religious-like patient as the man long black hair and malodours aura enter his nose.
Down the vehicle to the left sat the newly instated command squad of the regiment.
The first member of the penal legionary squad was at all man with pale skin and grey hair, with a sniper rifle on his lap. He was called Black. Mercury Black. He was a sniper for the old male unit. One of there best to, who went off the deep end, and if the reports where to believed killed a bunch of civilians in the process.
Unforrutnnely or fortunately depending on how you look at it, Mercury was never charged due to lack of evidence, and the surprise disappearance. Of the region former commissars, the day before his trial was scheduled to commence.
The man has cleared of all charges and was only here for fighting in the damn brawl that injured dozen of soldiers and causes anarchy in a mess. He saw legs crossed with his head behind his head sleeping lightly as the vehicle moved on.
Next to him was a boy, really. Oscar Pine. Prive first class. He was badly injured in the brawl but had stabbed a woman with a bayonet so he was here now. He was a shot boy, not even nineteen with light brown skin, and dark freckles on his face as he st quilt with his las gun over his chest, clutching it to his falk armor like a newborn baby praying to it machine spirt for protection.
Next to him sat the medic for the woman. Penny Pollendidna. She was responsible for saving Oscar's life int he brawls. A life she saves by mercifully murdering her own until member when they came to close to him, killing three members of her own unit as they came to attack the drowned boy.
She was a sort woman, slightly older than Oscar, with bright orange hair shining green eyes and a perpetual cheery demeanor that sent chills down Jaune's spine.
Next to her sat Arslan. The female ringleader for the fighting. She sat arms process. Her massive muscled frame was barely able to contain her in her flak armor. As her brown skin shone in the dim chimera light and-
"Sir! Reporting multiple explosions coming ahead! T minus thirty seconds till we disembark!"
The driver said as Jaune nodded, as he grimaced not happy about the fact that he was going to be shot at so soon, after just getting home.e
"Ok men! You know the plan! We are to fan out investigate the are and secure the perimeter! You are all under the watchful gaze of Oum here! So look sharp and remember he is watching!"
Jaune said in his best commissar voice as he got a mixed response from the men. Oscar saluted him so hard he knocked himself back into Penny's lap. Blushing made as the woman gasped. Before holding him down to check on his head. Completely oblivious as he sung face as he stuttered out his apologies.
Mercury grunted like someone was waking him form a good dream as he mumbled something about being his best and finest. Arslan sneered once picking up her auto gun and loading it, as Ren cocked his hell pistol as the Chimera slammed on its right.
Skidding along the pathway as the hatch flew open as Jaune saw a burning warehouse falling spot as las bolt pinged!
Off the outside hates as unknow figure opened fired on them, as the hull was hit by a plethora of hard rounds and energy bots and-
"Sniper! top of the roof
"Got it!"
Black?! Yelled as the man went from dead sleep t on his knees aim his long-las flooded by a harsh crack!
Of yellow light as he plucked a formely hidden figure of a rooftop as Jaune nodded to him.
"Good shooting Black! Kepp them off us!"
"Got it."
Mercury said before aim and firing as another yellow flash and hard crack! Filled the air as another figure fell as Jaune looked at the brand warehouse and-
"Commissar! There are people coming!"
The medic Penny yelled pointing to a small line of dark figures running out of the warehouse as las bolts flew at them as Jaune nodded.
"I don't know if they are friendly, but they aren't shooting at us yet. Arslan! Put down some covering fire for them!"
"Got it."
She replied as she leveled her auto gun unload a stream of ire onto them as Oscar leaped up next to her. "Covering fire!"
Oscar yelled firing his gun on full auto filling the air with a deadly hail of crimson bolts, making a fantastic light show but not hitting anything. And only succeeding in filling the air with the pungent smell of ozone as Arslan snarled at him.
"Who the hell taugh you to aim!?"
She demaned as BANG!
One of the figures a tall man with brown skin's head exploded as he collapsed to the ground. As a hard round stuck him as the figures paused once before double-timing it to the Chimera. As the ran Jaune say the lead figure brandishing an Imperial Aquila in hand. As Jaube nodded once.
"Cover them! Over here! Run! Run dammit!"
Jaune yelled ducking a las-bolt that pinged! Sharply on the inside of the Chimera. Richceting for a moment before dissipating thankfully fast not hitting anyone. As Peny crept forward las rifle over her shoulder her medicine box in hand as the first of the hooded figures leaped in the APC.
Followed by three more as on figure was carrying another one s the leader shouted at the top of her lungs.
"The door! Close the fetching door damn you!"
The woman yelled ina far to mail voice as Jaune nodded.
"You heard the lady! Drive close up and get us the hell out of here!"
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
The driver yelled swiveling the transport as they burned out of the shots slamming most of them to the floor as the figure being carried was ripped from her handler only to be caught be Ren who did a flying dice to catch her.
"I got you!"
Ren cried catching the woman in his arms. As they both slammed into the dull grey walls with an unhealthy thud! As her hood fell to reveal a pair f fluffy cat ears, identifying her as a faunus, with a large wrap? Over her forehead. As her pale skin began to bristle as she screamed out loud.
"THE VOID! THE VOID COMES! IT IS NEAR!"
The cat faunus yelled screaming in pain? It looked like as Ren held her close trying to calm the woman asPenny lept o her.
"Where is the pain? Tell me so I can treat you."
The medic demanded as she took out her medical box as the fauns screamed "The void comes! The voice comes!"
She yelled as the first figure stood upright taking off her hood and showing off a Maine of blood red hair, and piercing green eyes in the process.
"Interesting most-
"You! The singer! What are you doing here?"
Jaune yelled brandish his pistol as the other figure took of their hood showing them to be a woman with green hair and red eyes on smooth mocha skin as she glared at Jauen.
"You! How dare you talk to her like that! Who do you think you are?!"
She asked drawing a pistol?! At him before the barrel of a sniper rifle was put to the base of her head as Mercury aimed his long-las at her clinking his teeth ruefully.
"Uh, uh, uh! Easy there tall dark and gorgeous. That man's a commissar you know? And he can point that the gun at whoever the hell he wants. Especially people like you."
"Like me?!"
"That's what I said."
"What do you mean people like me?!"
"People who are for some damn reason int he middle of a burning warehouse getting shot at, and worse getting us shot at!"
Mercury shouted to the green hair woman making her growl in anger.
I like him. Jaune thought once before tun to the redhead amazon who held an utterly bemused look in her eyes as Jaune glared at him.
We'll see how bemused you are when you are facing commissariat court!
"Look, I don't know who you are, but the last time I checked singers don't go around getting shot at. Nor do they ignore my orders to say in the room! Now you will tell me who the hell you are! Or so help me I will-
"Pyrrha Nikos. A senior agent of his majesty's holy inquisition, Order Xenos-Grimmacus."
The woman said showing Jaune a badge with a grinning skull and a large I on it's front as Jaune froze.
Why me? Jaune thought as his relatively simple life just got a whole lot more complicated...