AN: Here it is! Another exciting chapter of Bastion! In this one, we get the fallout from the rather unfortunate meat grinder incident. As well as a look into the backstory of Kage and his home life! Also! A new Bastion teacher is coming! So look out! All this and more on his week's Bastion!
Ps... There is a MAJOR hint in this chapter to what Mika really is. I won't give it away but look for it, it's there...
"Pffffttt! Ok, Kage! Right!" Ruby said as she waved down the boy as he gave her a slight frown.
"Ruby. I'm serious." The boy said to his friend as they flew back home. Or well they flew back to Bastion that is. Not thier real home, although recently it was feeling more like it than Jaune's real home, in Beacon. The battle at the wilds had gone about as well as one could hope. Jaune, Hino Kage, and Zach all made it out ok. Well most of them made it out ok. More or less...
Kage and Zach took a pounding from whatever or whoever the hell they fought. Jaune sighed as he took off his gas mask, sighing as he looked into the cold dead glassy, almost insectile eyes of the mask, as he held it into his lap and-
"AHHH! God dammit! Can you be gentle?!"
"Can you just stay still!?"
Hino asked her partner bent over her lap as she worked his back. Zach's back was torn apart by what looked like a chainsaw? So did Kage's back and part of his front know that Jaune thought about it. Kage must have been injured severely for him to have actually taken damage in his center body, his semblance usually kept away any damage he would have taken, as Jaune looked to his right-
"Fuck! Watch where you are touching!"
"I'm trying to fix you!"
"Why are you so caring now!? You usually don't give two shits you damn broad!"
"Well excuse me for being worried when my fucking partners is almost killed! Now, will you sit still shut up and let me heal you, you angry, angsty fuck!" Hino seated as Zach froze as an oddly subdued look came over his face as his black eyes fell to the floor.
"Sorry."
"Finally. Now hold still, you got really hurt." Hino said with a genuine tone of care in her voice as she ran her light brown hands over Zach's broken back as she worked on treating him as the bullhead rocketed away from the Fang base as team ARKM, as well as their friends, came back to Bastion. As the bullhead touched down, and Hino finally got Zach to walk upright, Kage and Ruby still had the most bizarre argument.
"Listen, Kage; it's ok! You made a joke! I like it!"
"Ruby. I'm not joking. I-
"You tossed my mom into a meat grinder? PFF! Yeah right, Kage! You haven't even seen my mom!" Ruby said her fake eye whirring as it seemed to wink? At Kage as it shook while she laughed.
"Ruby. Listen to me. I'm not joking when I say I tossed your mom into a meat grinder."
"Ok, Kage! You tossed her into a meat grinder. Yeah right!" Ruby said laughing in her usually sharp voice that Jaune always, but now he found it downright beautiful just like Ruby herself-
"Don't. She's your friend, your best friend."
Jaune thought mentally slapping himself as he shook his head. Shaking off any lecherous thought about Ruby that seemed to be only growing over the past few days. He found his eyes glued to Rubys' small, lithe form, her apparently slim near stick like form was actually surprisingly curvy and deceptively soft. As she was less like a stick but remarkably soft. She had smooth, pearly skin, that felt like a pillow on his hand, a sweet doughy ass-
"Stop it!"
Jaune thought as-
"Ruby. Look at me. I am not joking. I tossed your mother into a meat grinder." Kage said holding Ruby by the shoulders, staring her silver eye dead on as his brown eyes bore into her. As he spoke in a deadly serious voice as-
"Sure. You tossed my mom into a meat grinder, Kage! My mom is one of the best huntresses ever! I doubt you could even last one second! Against her let alone toss her into a meat grinder."
"It was not easy."
Zach grumbled as the teens stepped foot onto the Bastion grass as the bullhead touched down. As the teens made their way across the cold Bastion grass onto the solid stonework of Bastion.
"Ruby-
"Kage. It was funny at first but come on! How did you even find a meat grinder to toss my mon in?"
"It fell out of the sky."
Kage deadpanned as Ruby's brow raised.
"It fell out of the sky? In a closed roof room?" Ruby asked in a disbelieving one as a wry grin spread across her thin sweet lips as she smiled at Kage.
"It fell from the sky. Yes."
Kage said in his usual monotone voice as Ruby barely suppressed a giggle.
"So a meat grinder that fell from the sky! Saved you from my mom?"
"Well, it really fell from the ceiling, if we are going to get technical," Zach said wincing in pain as Hino helped him up the Bastion steps.
"So a meat grinder that fell from the sky-
"Ceiling." Zach corrected as Ruby snorted.
"From the ceiling! Right... So a meat grinder falls from the ceiling, in the middle! Of your fight and you tossed my mon into it?"
"Yes. It's like I've been saying. I tossed your mother into a meat grinder."
"R~igh~t~."
"I'm being honest. I tossed her into a meat grinder."
"Right. You tossed her into a meat grinder."
"I really did."
"Gotcha! Meat grinder.'
'You are taking this a lot better than I thought. I thought you would be furious." Kage said as an actual look of curiosity appeared in his brown eyes. As they widened to the point of saucers.
"You didn't toss my mom into a meat grinder."
"You keep saying that."
"You didn't! It's ridiculous!"
"Ruby."
Kage said stopped the young girl right before they approached the massive stone entrance of Bastion as he gripped her shoulders with both hands, as he looked at her with a deadly serious look.
"Ruby Rose. I Venk Kage have just tossed your mother into a meat grinder. Do you mind?"
"No, Kage. I don't mind."
"You don't mind that I, Venke Kage tossed your mother into a meat grinder?"
"No. I don't find that offensive at all." Ruby said sarcastically as Kage narrowed his eyes.
"Do you, Ruby Rose agree that I Venke Kage has tossed you mother into a meat grinder, and do you promise! That you will hold no ill will against me for that action?"
kage asked as Ruby rolled her eyes.
"Yes. I Ruby Rose, will hold no ill will for you tossing my mom into a meat grinder."
"Do you swear that you will not launch any retaliation actions against me or Zach?"
"Yes. I! Ruby Rose! Swear to you! Venke Kage! That I will not engage into retaliatory behavior to you or Zach for toss my mom inot a meat grinder."
"As long as you say it...
"She said it! I am clear of all harm and wrongdoing! I have witnesses! You all heard her!"
Kage sid as Jaune blinked owlishly as Ruby rolled her eyes as the teens walked back into Beacon as they went to go have a debrief.
"So you ran into two, enemy huntresses?" Ludo asked the four teens that stood in his office. As he had dismissed the other remaining students in lieu to speak only to the ones that had been assaulted by the huntresses.
"Describe them to me," Ludo said his piercing silver eyes piercing into Jaune's soul as he held his glare giving him nothing.
"We were assaulted by a woman wearing a bright, red suit of armor. She wielded along red katana with dust cylinder add-ons."
"Dust cylinder you say? Go on, describe what her weapon looked like." Miss Heil asked in her first non-threatening voice as Jaune nodded.
"She had several cylinders on the base of her rifle. It was almost like she had a revolver on it."
"Really? Did she shoot you?"
"No. She only used them to enhance her weapon. She didn't seem to be able to make ranged attacks with them, or not at least long ranged attacks that is." "I see, go on."
Miss Heil said even in a calm tone her eyes seemed to be itching to latch onto Jaune's armor, rip it off and flay his flesh. "After that, we engage her taking minor injuries in the process."
Jaune said as Ludo nodded.
"And the Huntress?"
Ludo asked as Hino said as Jaune smiled.
"She was disposed of."
Hino said in a calm one as she cracked her knocked as Ludo gained a gohst of a smile that even if he didn't' show it chilled Jaune to his core, like a bucket of ice water had been dumped onto his back.
"And that means?"
"We fought her to a standstill before gaining the upper hands. At which point we engaged, and defeated her. I even cut off her arm."
Jaune said smiling as Ludo returned his smile with another ghostly one an-
"Did you kill her?"
Miss Heil asked a rare look of genuine curiosity in her eyes as Jaune shook his head.
"Negative she managed to escape."
"Escape? How did she get away? Did you let her flee?" Miss Heil asked a disappointed look in her eyes as Jauen shook his head as he and Hino shared a look. Shrugging thier shoulders as Jaune spoke up.
"No, she cut the air...
"She cut the air?"
"Yes. She used her sword to slice open a portal in the air, and she jumped through it." Jaune said not sure if the headmaster of Bastion would even believe him an-
"Branwen."
"Qrow?"
"Not exactly mister Arc. But I do believe that you met his sibling."
"I met...
"His sister Raven and you bested her. Good work, both of you. You are both a credit to Bastion."
"Thank you, sir."
Hino said as Jaune frowned.
"Sir?"
"Mister Arc? You look surprised, what is the matter?"
"Sir I don't know how to say this but...
"But? Speak your mind Mister Arc. You can talk freely for now." The man added as Jaune glared at him.
"When I fought her I felt like... like she was holding back. Like she was not giving us her best."
"Of course. Mister Arc, Miss Fang. You were engaged with Raven Branwen, if she wanted you dead you would be dead. Be lucky that you are alive."
Miss Heil said ina concerned? Tone as Jaune and Hino gulped as Ludo turned dot Kage and Zach.
"Mister Kage. Zach. Now about your encounter with a huntress. From what I have gleaned it looks like quite the story." The man said grinning as Kage stepped forward.
"Sir. We engaged a powerful huntress, in close quarters combat. We fought her to a standstill before a meat grinder fell from the ceiling and I tossed her inside of it."
Kage said in a dead paned voice as every other jaw, but Ludo's fell off its hinges as his dean took off her glasses and-
"You tossed her into a meat-
" A meat grinder mam. I tossed her into a meat grinder."
"I... how?"
"How what mam?"
"How did you toss her into the grinder mister Kage?"
"With my arms mam."
" I figured that. I mean how... where... why did the meat grinder fall?"
'Simple. It was a miracle mam."
"A miracle?"
"Yes. The Light saw fit to bestow upon me a gift, and I was glad that I could use it."
"Mister Kage. You can not be seriously thinking that-
"There, there Miss Heil. We are not here to question mister Kage's spirituality."
"But sir! He thinks that a meat grinder falling is normal-
"Who are we to question the work of the divine? Anyhow good work all of you. The mission was accomplished, and the Fang were taken into our custody, and all goals accomplished. Mister Arc, Mister Kage. Go back to your dorms along with you two. You two have a mission tomorrow so sleep tight."
"Tomorrow sir? We just got back."
"There is no rest from the work of a hunter Jaune. You two are elites; you do not get to take breaks. Get some food, go to bed and get ready. You will need your strength come the morning. Dismissed."
Ludo said as the four students bowed to him and left the room, leaving the cackle cold fireplace and the enigmatic haunting smile of the man's face as Miss Heil rubbed her face. Her searing blood eyes covered thankfully as they left as one and the door closed.
"Well, at least we are all still alive," Jaune said as he led his friends out of the Bastion headmasters office as the four teens left to either get food or go to be. Hopefully, both, if Jaune was being honest the fight with Raven? Was worse than he thought as he was sure he hand a dislocated rib and a bruised sternum. As he walked forward into the hall his boots stomping on the ground as he sighed.
"Well, at least we all kept our limbs. Unlike the bird chick. What's her face?"
"Raven."
"There we go."
"At least we didn't' toss someone in a meat grinder?" Hino asked looking at Kage as she sighed.
"Kage, why do you keep telling Ruby you tossed her mom into a meat grinder?"
"I mean just what I said. I tossed her mom into a meat grinder."
"You didn't though."
"Kage. You are not telling me that you tossed Ruby's mom into a meat grinder. That's ridiculous."
"Jaune. I tossed her mom into a meat grinder."
"I... how did you know it was her?"
"Tall. Silver eyes good tits-
Whack!
"Ow!"
"You can describe a woman better than that. Try again."
"She was a literal clone of the kid."
"She was Ruby's literal carbon copy, or Ruby hers. And when I mention Ruby, she knew her by name."
Kage said as Jaune paused as he turned to face his friend.
"You...
"I."
"You really tossed her mom into a meat grinder!?" Jaune nearly screamed a Kage nodded.
"That's what I've been saying for the past two hours-
"Kage?! What the fuck!?"
"What the fuck what?"
"Don't' you what the fuck what me! Why the fuck did you toss Rubys' mom into a meat grinder?!"
"Is that a real question?"
"Yes! Yes, it fucking is!"
"What did you expect me to do? Not toss her into a meat grinder." Kage as Jaune's eye began to twitch, as an unhealthy twinge appeared on his face. As a vein bulged out of his skull exasperating his deep trio of red scars on his face. As he ground his teeth.
"Yes! That is exactly what I expected you to do!"
"How was I supposed to know?"
"How were you expected to know to not! Toss your friends and teammates! Mom inot a fucking meat grinder!? Is that what you are asking!?"
"Yes."
"I... I can't do this... don't bring this up with her again. That's an order." Jaune almost snarled not believing what he had jsut hear as Kage shrugged.
"As you say, she already agreed to not get mad at me for it."
"She thinks you are joking!"
"Why? I was being dead honest with her."
"She thinks it's a joke! How the hell would you react if Ruby told you she tossed you mom in a meat grinder!?"
"I'd ask her A the hell she found my mothers grave, and B. Why did she dig her up, drag her to a meat grinder put together her ashes and toss them into one."
Kage deadpanned as Jaune froze as his mouth clenched as a grimace came to his face.
"Your mom is dead?" Jaune asked instantly treading on eggshells. Not wanting to offend his best friend and honestly only stable Bastion insider that he coudl trust. As he cursed himself for talking with emotion. Not goign about it logically with a cool demeanor and-
"Been dead, for a long, long time.'
Kage said without a hint, of emotion as Jaune gulped.
"I'm sorry-
"For what?" Kage asked honestly confused as Jaune gulped.
"For your mother."
"Why? You didn't have anything to do with her death now did you?"
"No, but-
"Then why apologize? Not like you fed her to a Beowful while I watched." Kage said as Jaune sensed something sharp, in his tone as Kage sigh yawing heavily as he began to walk away and-
"Don't. Let this one go. Kage's family life is not for the faint of heart. Even I don't like to hear about it and I'm his best friend."
Zach said as he gripped Jaune's shoulder with a deadly look in his black eyes as Jaune frowned,
"He-
"Jaune. Kage's past if often best left alone. Unless he tells you do not bring it up. You often do not want to know."
Hino said as a frown came over her beautiful light pink lips as Jaune let out a small gasp as he sighed and turned around to go back to his dorm.
"YUM! I'm so glad we can eat before our mission!" Ruby said as she devoured her breakfast as Jaune sat next to his partner while Kage and Mik ate silently or Kage did. Mika prattled on and on into a disturbing Nora like way talking about every topic under the sun as Kage merely nodded, either half listening or completely tuning her out as he ate his usual fried tuber and meat meal. As Jaune bit into his ham and toast, grateful that the quality of meals here in Bastion had not gone down. As it was one of the growing numbers of things that Jaune learned to like about this school better than Beacon as he ate with his team.
"SO! ~Boss man~! What's the play today? We got any missions to do? Any bad guys that need a good charbroil?" Mika asked slamming her flamer onto the table with a heavy thud! As Kage sighed.
"Mika. Not while we are eating."
"Oh come on! You know you like to fry a bad guy or two! So what' the play Jaune~Jaune! We killing bad guys or are we killing bad guys?"
Mika asked her sharp green eyes glittering with an almost animalistic need for carnage that reminded him of Nora but more.. carnal. As Mika looked ready to flay the flesh from her enemies rather than boop them into a good night sleep.
"I don't know. All I know is that after this we see Ludo and we get our assignment." Jaune replied evenly as Mika gasped.
"OH! I know! We get to kill the good guys for a change! Oh, this is going to be f~u~n~!"
Mika said as Jaune froze as Ruby gave her a curious look.
"Killing the good guys? Why would we ever do that?"
Ruby asked a curious look in her eyes as Jaune remembered the Branwen tribe. Killing those Atlas men was a direct example of him killing the good guys, as Jaune realized that ther may be many more times when he is asked to kill the good guys again.
The notion bothered him, shaking him to the core as-
"~Boss man~? You look a bit shook up! What's the matter?"
Mika asked leaning over the table in what looked like an impossible angle as Jaune saw it! There was something wrong about Mika's eyes. As he looked into him some deep, primal instinctual!
Voice that was as much of part of his as his need to breathe air screamed! At Jaune to run away from her! To take his plasma pistol and fire it repeatedly into her face until he ran out of charge.
Ther was something wrong about Mika's eyes...
They were bright! Far, far too bright. They looked sharp but almost... artificial? As Jaune squinted at Mika the more he noticed just how... perfect she looked.
Her face was perfect like it was not even a persons face, it was almost like it had been created to be a perfect replica of a human face. But the creator neglected to look into the fact that no human ever had a truly perfect face like hers.
Her smooth chalk white skin was completely free on any and all blemishes and shone almost like it had been polished? In the sun? Her eyes while fierce and powerful had something cold about them. Like ther was a fire that burned dull deep inside of them as Jaune swore! He felt something in her eyes. He felt a type of intelligence? Something old and horrifying that lurked in her eyes just beyond his sight and was waiting to bound to the surface and-
"~Jaune~ Jaune? You ok? You look a bit shook."
Mika hissed as every instance in Jaune's body screamed run and-
"Mika. Stop. Don't tease Jaune."
Kage said as Mika yanked! Herself back as she smiled.
"Okie Dokie Kage! Whatever you say!"
The girl said as Jaune suppressed a tremor of terror in his spine as they ate breakfast. As breakfast ended Jaune ordered his team to go to Ludo before him. His interaction with Mika had left a bad taste in his mouth, as he sat alone before Zach and Hino joined him.
"Jaune. Good morning, I trust you slept well?" Hino asked in her usual melodic one as Jaune gave her a genuine smile.
"Yes I did, thank you."
"I am glad."
"Well, I slept like shit! Thank's for asking by the way." Zach said as he sat down a plate of eggs bacon and sausage in front of him as-
"The hell happened to you blondie?" The boy asked taking a bit out of his sausage as Jaune shook his head.
"Nothing."
"BS! You look like you just saw a gohst! Or a pair of nipples that you didn't look at through your scroll you damn virgin!"
WHAP!
"Don't mind him Jaune, but you do look off. If you wish to talk about it I am more than willing to help you."
"No, it's fine... it's just...
"Just what? You finally see Red naked? You finally got the balls to put your holy sword into her pure sheath yet?"
"NO! I... I just talked to Mika...
"Oh. Nevermind that would scare even the hardiest of men. My condolences."
"It's not that... I ... I saw something in her eyes. She's not right...
"Oh? You finally noticed that? Took you long enough." Zach said devouring his food as Jaune shook his head again in frustration.
"No! it's not that! She's a mystery to me! I need to know my teammates and I know almost nothing about her! Besides her name, weaponry, unique fashion choice."
"That's the fucking nicest way you can say, she is a serial killer."
"I mean I don't even know her semblance-
"She's a plague."
Zach said without hesitation as Jaune froze.
"A plague?"
"You heard me. She is a literal plague upon our world. You want nothing to do with her."
"Kage said a similar thing, he called her a virus. What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what he said! She's a virus! A plague in human form! Don't let her chipper smile fool you that girls-
"A monster...
Jaune said as Zach nodded.
"Damn right! Glad to see you got something rocking around up ther beside dead air."
"She's not human."
"Whoa! Look at mister smarty pants! Got that in one!" Zachs said as Jaune balked.
"She's not human?!"
"That is a rough! Statment Jaune, but not an inaccurate one. To describe her best... I'd say she is half human."
Hino said with a grimace as Jaune gulped.
"Half human and half what?"
"That is not my place to say. But. To clam you mind take this. Open it when you are alone and read it when you know no one is watching. Use you leader privileges to access some of Bastions data banks and never! Breath a word of what you read aloud."
Hino said reaching into her peace and sliding Jaune a piece of paper, as Jaune nodded putting it itno f of the many pockets of his new armor as she sighed finishing his break bidding his friends goodbye as he went to see Ludo.
"Now that you are all here! Let's get into your next task! It is an important one of this I can assure you!"
Ludo said as jaune winced as the towering form of Uzepi walked in front of him. The team ARKM chaperone towered over all of them over seven feet tall with muscles made out of steel cables as she smirked at Ludo her purple eyes shining in the off light of the fireplace.
"Hit me boss man, we can take anything."
"I like your attitude Uzepi! Now let's go tot he mission, any questions before I begin? Yes! Miss Rose."
"Um sir... we are not going to be killing the good guys for this one, are we? Mike said we might and-
"What?! Killing the good guys!? That's preposterous! Miss Rose, I assure you that I have never through action nor inaction killed one of the good guys in my life!"
The man said as Jaune, Kage, Uzepi even Miss Heil all raised a questioning eyebrow at the man as if he had jsut grown a second head as he kept talking. "For your next mission! You can rest safely knowing that you all have the absolute! And complete moral ground when doing it!"
"Oh god."
Uzepi said as a horrified expression came on her face as Jaune felt an inkling of terror as he had a feeling that this was going to be a hideous mission as-
"For the next mission, you will be tasked with the freeing of a political prisoner!"
The man said as Jaune's mouth dropped as the last thing he ever expected Ludo to say left this mouth as he blinked owlishly at the man.
"Sir? Did you say a political prisoner? " Jaune asked not believing what he heard or that Bastion would even care about stuff like that.
"Of course! You see one of our staff members has been suddenly! And more important wrongly jailed by the corrupt! And disingenuous international community! And you are going to get him out!"
The man said as Jaune's jaw dropped and-
"You mean-
"You heard me! You are all going to go on a jailbreak!"
"OK! You all know the mission, but let me go over this one more time!"
Uzepi said as she stalked back and forth in the well lite shaking cabin on the bullhead, Vesperia as Kiera flew them to their target.
"Our target and apparently a new colleague of mine is a Bastion teacher that has been captured by the international government. specifically Atlas. He is being held here! In a secret Atlas Black site with no name other than Zero two."
Uzepi said as the craft shook and rocked. Ad they flew over a particularly bad part of turbulence making the craft lurch and Jaune's guts churn as his air sickness kicked in as she went on.
"Once we have arrived at the site Zero two we will split into two teams. Ruby, Mika. You will be dropped off at a lower level to infiltrate the enemy sewers."
"I have to go in a sewer?!" Ruby said whining as her eye retched.
"Yes, you do now quit complaining. We need you two to go in a bring this!"
Uzip held out a small satchel with her as she tossed it to Ruby who barley. Caught it in her hands as gasped as she struggled to carry the object.
"It's heavy!"
"I know. It's a com jammer. You need to take it to the map I've marked in your scroll. You will plant it there and the reunite with us once we have secured the prisoner. That jammer will stop Atlas form calling back up if we don't do that we are shot down before we ever get home."
The woman said as Mika and Ruby nodded as she turned to Jaune and Kage.
"Now you two, you are with me. We have acquired three Atlas uniforms from an insider source along with passcodes key cards and a schedule of the guards. We will be dropped off here, at the front of the base where we will infiltrate it, head to the prisoner room. Unlock it and give him this."
Uzepi said drawing out a plain white tube that was over three feet long and half a foot wide, with a carrying strap around it.
"The hell is that?"
Jaune asked as she tossed him the tube as he caught it deftly.
"That is how we get out. Once the prisoner is free give him the tube and we will break our way out of the jail. Any questions?"
Uzepi asked as all four teens shook their heads.
"Good!" Now ready up we got a job to do!"
Uzepi said as the various members of team ARKM went about preparing for the mission at hand. Mika took out her flamethrower Chamberlain? As she began to wipe off its sides polishing it while she hummed.
Kage took apart disassembled and reassembled his guns. Cleaning his massive bolts pistols as he gave a low whistle as he took out a small weapons cleaning kit form the bottom of his seat as he meticulously cleaned this guns.
Ruby took her baby Crescent Rose in her lap and gave it a once over as she inspects each and every part of it. As her augmented eyes poke out and inspected her weapon. No doubt giver her an inhuman level of accuracy when looking into is as Jaune froze.
Jaune did not look at his weapons, no he did not even make the effort to clean his weapons. Even if his Plasma pistol and sword did not need the attention he would normally look them over. His weapons were all brand new, more or less. Or there conditioning was.
Jaune's mind was preoccupied with the note in his pocket. The not Hino told him to read alone. When no one was watching and to never speak of what he read aloud.
"Not human? What does that mean? How can she not be human?!"
Jaune thought as a million thoughts raced into his head.
"A virus? A plague? What does that mean? How can she be all of those things? What do they mean? How can she not be a human? She's sitting right there!"
Jaune thought as he wracked his brains trying to come up with an answer to the questions. Mika was his teammate. Hell! He'd even go so far as to call her a friend! But now? Well, now Jaune was just confused, too many variables, not enough time to think the all out and-
"Something matter ~Boss man~? You look preoccupied."
Mika asked as Jaune flashed her an easy smile.
"Nope! Nothing's the matter! All good." Jaune said as-
"He's lying."
Ruby's eye told her as it picked up on the tell-tale signs of human deception. Ruby's eye said as she nodded.
"Let's not press him."
"But why? He is our friend and your love interest. Why not press to see what is the matter?"
"People need time to think. Let's give him that."
"As you wish."
The eye said as the craft flew through the air as Jaune felt like he had a glowing coal in his pocket. As he wrestled with the weight of whatever the hell was in his pocket versus what the hell this mission was going to be.
"A political prisoner? No a teacher!? How the hell did a Bastion teacher get caught? Why the hell was a Bastion teach anywhere near Atlas? And why did the catch him? Doesn't Bastion work with the government?" Jaune thought as even more questions filled his mind as the ship flew into the night.
"Alright! You two have two hours to get in and get back out here! Remember if you turn and run your collar will kill you ok?"
"Ok!"
"We got it boss lady!"
Ruby and Mika said as Uzpepi nodded.
"Alright! Take us up!"
"Ruby! Be safe!"
"I will Jaune! You too!"
"Bye Kage! I love you!"
"Eh."
"that means he loves me! Right, Kage?!"
Mika asked as Kage shrugged once lazily to her as the ship turned away and flew into the night.
Leaving both Mika and Ruby alone in a minor bog on the outskirts of the base. The tow stood in ankle deep brown muck that filled the dead swamp that led to the open sewer gate that led into a massive sewer tunnel that would apparently lead them to their target. "Ready when you are Ruby!"
"I'm about as ready as I'll ever be," Ruby grumbled as she and Mika made thier way into the tube as their mission began.
"You are the relief squad?"
"Yes! That's us! I'm lieutenant-
"Holiday?"
"Yes, that's me! Lieutenant Holiday at your service!" The woman with purple hair and huge biceps said as the man nodded.
" I see..."
The Atlas guard the real one said as Uzepi introduce her Jaune and Kage under fake names. The later two hiding behind thier Atlas visors as thier chaperone introduced them.
"Well, your papers check out. It's just not usual for a relief team to get where when the team that they are reliving are not done for an hour."
"Well, you know how the filing works! We get told what to do by some pen pusher and here we are. Wating our time when we could be asleep or drinking right?"
She asked as the man a young man in his mid-thirties with tan skin smiled.
"Damn right. Well take your time, you can go along your assigned route and we will just have two patrols going." The man said as he stepped aside to let the three in, as the massive metal door on the face of the mountain they had been dropped of at slid open revealing a pure clean white inside as the three infiltrators walked inside.
"Ok, take your positions."
Uzepi hissed as she walked in front of Jaune and Kage. The two filing into quick lockstep behind her as they marched into the base. The base was oddly liked Jaune expected. Time with Weiss was not what you might call plesant... but it did give him a brief idea of what an Atlas base would look like. Sterile walls, octagonal hallways of pure white with fluorescent lights that hummed! In a way that made his teeth go on edge. As the three walked inside.
"Mam. What's our plan now?"
Jaune asked as the three marched in a somen step. The long bulky assault rifles in their hands gripped close to their chests as they walked past pairs of two to three guards all in similar white uniforms and body armor.
"Simple. Get in, go to the cells. Use our codes and free the prisoner."
"And the guards?" Kage asked looking at all the passing guards grimacing at the fact that they might jsut have to fight their way out an of a fully staffed base as Uzpei chuckled.
"Don't you worry about that. Once we give our asset that tube Jaune's got on his back. No one can stop us." Uzepi said calmly as the three marched on.
"Are you the relief squad?"
A man asked as Uzepi nodded. "Sure am! We got here early so feel free to take a break! You look like you earned it." Uzi said grinning under her mask as her and her charges stood in front of the elevator room as the men sighed.
"Thanks, we really! Needed a break. We'll be going thanks for the shift!"
"You are welcome"!
Uzepi said as the guards walked away as the three spit up. Uzepi went to a control panel across the room they stood in as she checked the map of the base to a terminal. kage used a small device Uzepi gave to him as he looked to see if the Atlas signal where being jammed and Jaune having no real technical skills stood guard.
Or he would have if not for his curiosity finally! Getting the better of him as he took out the slim note in his pocket as he read the three blood black words on it as the paper read. Blacklight. Mercer. Childs. On it with the last word underlined twice? For some reason as Jaune blinked owlishly at it.
"Blacklight? Mercer? Childs? What the hell is all of this?" Jaune thought as aloud ding! Was heard and-
"Signals jammed."
Kage reported as another design!
Filled the air as the elevator hit the top floor as Uzepi smiled.
"Good work boys! Now let's get this show on the road!"
She said as all three of them got on the effort as it closed shut with an ominous hiss! Of air as it began to fall.
"This is going well...
Jaune said dryly as the wide elevator fell into the base as Uzepi smirked.
"Careful blondie. Sounds like you want shit to hit the fan."
"I don't. But is infiltrating a military was really this easy?"
"When you have contacts as good a mine? Yes. Yes, it is." Uzepi said proudly as the elevator after over three minutes of falling finally hit bottom as the doors opened to reveal a strange sight.
There was a pool? In front of Jaune, a massive shallow pool filled with light green water with a medium size white box surrounded by plastic? Chains on it in the middle of it as-
"That's our guy. Let's go."
"In the box!?'
"Yeah, that's him. Follow me Jaune, bout time you learned something. Kage watches our backs."
"On it."
The boy said as he turned around dutifull assault rifle raised as Uzepi led Jaune. The two walked on a thin metal catwalk that led to the white box? As Uzepi knelt by it taking out a slim blue card as she smiled.
"Watch closely Jaune. You are about to see a sight most men have killed to see." The woman said as she slid her card into a narrow port on the box? As it clicked!
Several times before flashing blue as the box slid open. Hissing and popping as it opened itself as-
"GAHHH!"
Coughing came from the box as a figure reared up. The figure was clearly a man, he was tall. Around six three, with a healthy tan to his skin covered in warm water and bound by a white straight jacket as he stumbled out of the pod as Uzepi caught him.
"Whoa, there big fella! I gotcha! Take it easy! Breathe! Breathe! Let's get you out of those clothes k?"
Uzepi asked as she drew a small knife slicing the man's bond apart as-
"You have my thanks human. Now let us escape."
The man now show to be a faunus said as Jaune saw him clearly, he was tall, broadly muscled with blood red hair that had two horns coming out from his head and-
"You. The human with the blonde hair. You have my sword. Give it to me."
The man said in a tone that brokered no argument as Jaune nodded.
Walking up to him handing him the tube as the man popped! It open drawing out a long red katana with a black sheath as he smiled. " I missed you baby." He said lovingly to his sword and-
"Reunite later. We got to get the hell out of here." Uzepi said as the man nodded curtly putting his sword to the side as he nodded.
"Of course, let us go you...
"Oh, my name's Uzepi. And this is Jaune Arc."
"Nice to meet you?"
Jaune asked holding out a hand as the man paused for a moment as Jaune swore! It looked like he was going to cut off his hand before sighing as he reluctantly shook it instead.
"Jaune Arc it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Adam Taurus."
AN: Well! Here we go! Another day another new teacher! That's right! The newest teacher to Bastion loved staff is none other than Adam Taurus! Why is he here? Why is he not leading the White Fang? How did he know Ludo enough for the man to get a job offer!? What is Mika?! All these answers will be answered in the future so stay tuned!
PS. I just finished my first story Endangered species and in a brief ball of post writing energy I wrote this chapter in less than half a day so here it is! The next chapter is pure bloodshed and death so look forward to it! The next story I'm doing is Game on with even more! Bloodshed and death in it than usual! Even for me! So if you like reading this stories sister fic check it out! Until then? Omake...
Omake Hero of Remnant part sixteen. Long way from home.
"You see em?"
"No. My scanners are not picking up on anything. I suggest that we keep moving."
"No arguments here."
Jaune said as he and Sieena moved in the tunnel system. The imperial and the Fang member moving stealthily into the bowels of the city as they lurked in the shadows.
Jaune and Sieena had been separated from thier respective groups for over five hours now and it was not looking like they would have a speedy reunion. Jaune and Sieena had been lurking in the sewers following her map. If you wanted to insult the tech-heresy she posses by comparing it to a map that is. As Sieena led the way, Jaune was forced to follow her almost on blind faith.
For one she was a faunus so she see's at night. Two, her helmet gave her a myriad of sensors to follow as Jaune had one sole lumen orb to light his way with sickly yellow light that revealed cracked metal broken walls crumbling hallways and more byzantine anomalies built eons ago in this labyrinth of a sewer system. As the two made thier way into the ducts and pathways Jaune thought of Ren, wondering if his best friend was getting along well in his absence. Jaune hoped that his second had not tired of the others and was not shooting wildly in the shadows trying to dig Jaune out.
"Sieena, how close are we to the surface?"
Jaune asked as the faunus paused sniffing the air as she looked around in her mask.
"Not far but I am picking up heat signatures further down this tunnel."
"Heat signatures?" Jaune asked already not liking this line of talk. Heat signatures usually meant life. There was not supposed to be living this far down in the city. That meant that whatever life was down her was most likely not friendly or worse. Intelligent enough or strong enough to survive in the sewers and large enough.
In biomass to trip her sensors. None of this equations sounded good to Jaune as the commissar gulped as Sieena led the way.
"Are you sure we should be checking out heat sigs? I mean shouldn't we just make our way to the surface instead?"
"No. We might run into hurt humans or faunus who are in need of our assistance. We can not leave them here. The greater good will not allow it!"
Sieena said as Jaune sighed as he followed the admittedly attractive woman who's swing bodacious backside he was total! Not looking at or saving each and every last detail of its aforementioned swinging into his mind as his barely working lumen gave light to the cramped sewer tunnel they crawled in as-
"Commissar! Look!"
The woman said as she stopped at a perch where an odd amount of blue? Light shone in a massive underground cavern as bioluminescent moss lit up the room as Jaune peered out the top of the tunnel and almost screamed There where Grimm in the city. The fact that Grimm where here and in the dozens was enough for most men to panic and Jaune to call in a damn air strike but this was worse than normal Grimm.
These things walked upright with six long sinewy arms, and glaring hateful yellow eyes and-
"Gene stealers."
Jaune said a tremor of terror in his voice as-
"What are gene stealers?" Sieena asked as she moved her arm knocking ove a rock that fell for several long seconds before-
BANG!
The rock hit the ground as every pair of beady yellow eyes looked up and locked onto them as-
"Run."
Jaune said gripping the woman as a chorus of bestial roars filled the tunnel as they began to run for thier lives.