Chapter 3
Kagutsuchi- Upper Sector- Army Dorms- Late Evening
Both team RWBY and team JPNR have gathered in front of a three-story building. When they entered, they saw a huge dining hall to the left, and a living room with a large monitor to the right. The four boys from team SSSN can be seen sitting in the living room and looking at Makoto and chatting with each other.
"A hottie and more importantly, a Faunus! She's prefect!" Said Sun, looking at Makoto. "And that fluffy tail…"
"I thought you like that cat Faunus girl." Said Neptune.
"Well yeah, but I can still appreciate a hottie right?"
They were actually really quiet, but Blake still heard it. She wasn't too pleased.
Ruby looked all over but couldn't find Penny.
'I wonder where penny is…' Wondered Ruby.
"The other students from the other academies are already here. Yours and the students from Atlas academy was the last to arrived." Said Noel.
"Remember, we're on a mountain. The air here is thinner than normal. Well, your normal. So if you feel sick, let us know immediately." Said Makoto to the huntsmen.
Ruby raised her hand.
"Yes?" Ased Makoto.
"Uhh.. Where's Penny?"
"Penny?" Noel looked through her file. "Oh! Penny Polendina, the girl I bumped into. She's not staying here. She's staying on the Atlesian airship."
"Oh." Responded Ruby. 'I guess she might need a special room, doesn't she…'
And then Jaune raised his hand.
"Yes?" Asked Makoto happily. It's clear that she's enjoying playing the part of the teacher character.
"Umm, where exactly are we?" Asked Jaune
"A spare army dorm. Used to house outside troops. Don't worry about it. The only people here, aside from a few civilian caretakers, are all people from Remnant, and yours truly." Answered Makoto. "Oh, if you guys are worried about cameras, we already removed them."
Jaune: "I… wasn't… until now…"
"The kitchen is over to the left. There are enough ingredients in the refrigerator to last a week. You have to decide with the others students here on cooking duty." Said Makoto.
"What!?" Said Yang, surprised. "We have to cook for ourselves!?"
"That's how we've always operated in the NOL military." Explained Noel.
"Don't worry. Noel isn't cooking." Said Makoto, reassuring the huntsmen, which confused them.
Noel: "My cooking isn't that bad! Mai loved it."
"Yeah. And she's the only one…" Said Makoto, looking away, slightly.
The huntsmen didn't understand, But Makoto just saved them from a traumatic experience, and the NOL from an international scandal.
'Exposed! NOL poisoned Remnant's combatants just so they could win the tournament! Imperator and Invictus resign in shame while insisting they were innocent!'
'I'm innocent! I was just following orders.' Cried the perpetrator Second Lieutenant Noel Vermilion, in handcuffs.
'I stand by Noel. She didn't do it, she didn't poison them… on purpose…" Commented Lieutenant Tsubaki Yayoi, a friend of the perpetrator.
'I always knew she was trash. I just never thought she would go that far.' Commented Major Jin Kisaragi, former superior of the perpetrator.
Just Imaging it was enough to give Makotoshivers down to her furry tail.
"Alright, the keys are on the wall. Guys on the second floor, girls on the third floor. These are four-person rooms. Decide for yourself who gets which room. Makoto and I will stay on the first floor. So if you need anything, let us know." Said Noel as she gestured to the keys on the wall in front of the stairs.
"Wait, you're separating us by gender? What if we have a mixed gender team?" Asked Pyrrha. Asked Pyrrha.
"Guys on the second floor, girls on the third floor." Makoto repeated. "Other than that, make up your own mind. No funny business. Now, any more questions?"
"Wait. Uhh… can you tell me more about the country of NOL?" Asked Ruby.
"Of course. First off, NOL isn't a country. The Novus Orbis Librarium is an organization that makes and controls Grimoires, collects information, and provides communication and security. Only the Hierarchical Cites are directly under our control, the other towns and villages are only our clients that required our services." Explained Noel.
"Yeah. An organization that has the military might to rival Atlas and also controls information, what could go wrong?" Said Blake cynically.
"Well, as long as Remnant can act as a counter balancing force, we're be fine." Said Makoto.
"Uhh, should a NOL officer be saying that?" Asked Jaune.
Makoto: "It's the truth. So I don't see the problem."
"But you've got an emperor, how could there be an emperor without a country?" Asked Ruby.
"The title is Imperator. And it is just a title. It doesn't mean anything." Answered Makoto.
"Doesn't mean anything?" Said Weiss in shock.
"Yeah, like Remnant countries are call kingdoms right, does it mean you got a king?" Said Noel.
"Yeah, just like in Remnant countries are called 'kingdoms'. Does that mean you've got a king?" Said Noel.
"Yeah… I've always wondered about that…" Said Jaune.
Makoto: "In fact, we don't even know who the Imperator is or what they look like."
"Now that you mention it, the last time the Imperator appeared in public was… I think over fifteen years ago." Commented Noel.
Weiss: "What! Do you even know if your leader is still alive?"
Makoto: "Does it really matter?"
Weiss: "What?"
Makoto: "Imperator or no, we still have our superiors. And as long as they don't order us to harm innocent civilians, we're all good."
"How is the Imperator chosen?" Asked Weiss.
Noel and Makoto looked at each other.
"Don't know." Answered Makoto.
They can't believed what they are hearing.
"Tsubaki might though." Said Noel.
Weiss: "Tsubaki?"
"Another friend of ours that is coming here. She's from an important family, like really important. The Duodecim. The twelve spears." Said Makoto proudly.
"You know a member from the Duodecim?" Said Weiss, surprised.
"What's the heck is a duo date-?" Asked Yang.
"Duodecim. They are like… the nobility for the NOL." Replied Makoto.
"And Tsubaki isn't just a member, she's an heir! Tsubaki is the heir to the Yayoi family!" Said Noel happily.
"Another scion?" Said Blake, looking at Weiss, and which she looked away with a "Humph!"
"Come on guys…" Said Ruby, trying to smooth out the situation before it got messy.
"No… No, Tsubaki isn't who you thinks she is. Tsubaki is the kindest, smartest, most beautiful person I know." Said Noel in awe.
"That sounded… too good to be true…" Said Blake.
"Anyway…" Interrupted Jaune. "It's getting late, maybe it's time we turn in…"
"Ah yes." Said Noel as she handed over a piece of paper to each of them. "Here are the rules. Where you can't go, what you should be careful of and the schedules for the week. Remember, The first match is the day after tomorrow, so you only got one day to get used to the mountain air here."
"What? More rules…" Said Yang, unhappy.
"Don't worry. Really the only things you need to look out for is the military base, and the lower levels. I don't think I need to tell you why." Said Noel.
Ruby raised her hand again.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me why we can't go to the lower levels?"
"Because of the Seithr! God! Don't you know anything?" Said Weiss.
Noel: "Oh right… The Seithr levels isn't very high in Remnant."
"Except in the Land of Darkness…" Said Pyrrha.
Noel: "Seithr is dangerous, at a higher level, it will affect you, both physically and mentally. Symptoms include fever, coughing, vomiting, addiction, mutations, hallucination, memory lost…"
"Alright, okay, we get it, Seithr bad." Said Nora.
"And yet you use Seithr weapons. Doesn't sound too safe…" Commented Jaune.
Makoto: "Yes, but we had training that increased our resistance to Seithr. To some degree anyway…"
"Well… more like tolerance…" Said Noel.
"Hey! Seithr is everywhere, why not use it, right? And that is that. Go get something to eat. I already made sure that the other students left you something to eat in the kitchen. Good night boys and girls, and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Said Makoto with a wink, and the boys blushed, Nora responded with an elbowed to Ren's side.
Outside of the Army Dorms, in front of the main door- Midnight
"Yes. I definitely saw them moving two large capsules to the R&D Section." Said Makoto to a small communication device.
"What? Professor-" Makoto suddenly felt a chill ran down her spine, she immediately pull the device away and sniffed the air, and caught a scent of a cat.
"You scared me a little." Said Makoto to the cat.
"Sorry." Said Blake, walking out of the dark.
"No, it's not your fault. It's just some left over squirrel gene in me."
"What? I don't understand."
"Cats are squirrels' natural enemies," '… Well… one of squirrels' natural enemies… squirrels have so many of them.' Thought Makoto. "Even though now we are about the same size, sometimes our instincts still affect us. You understand, right?"
"Wh… what? I.. I have no idea what you're talking about…"
'Huh?' Thought Makoto, and then she noticed Blake's fake human ears in her hair. 'Oh well. I guess we all have our own difficult situation.'
"There's no curfew, but you really should go to bed." Said Makoto.
I just… needed some fresh air." Replied Blake.
Blake stood beside Makoto nervously, stealing quick glances of Mokoto's ears and tail.
"So… Faunus can join the NOL military here?" Asked Blake suddenly.
"I heard about the racism problem in Remnant. If you're asking if things are better here, then maybe, in some cases. But then again, I've never been to Remnant. But I think racism exists everywhere. I think it's slightly better here mostly because we don't need manual labor to mine for Dust. We get our energy form Seithr, the air itself."
"Did you… how were you treated in the military?"
"Okay I guess. I mean there are some jackasses."
"Like that Major."
"Jin? Oh no. Major Jin treated me just fine. In fact, back when me and him were in the academy, the Major was well liked by everyone. He's only a jackass when it comes to Noel."
"What!? Why?"
"I don't really know. My other besties Tsubaki asked Jin about it, but he just dodged the question."
"What kind of "besties" does nothing while their friend gets belittled by a bully?" Said Blake.
"NO! It's not her fault! We are soldiers! There are rule and regulation to file a complaint! And I asked her not to intervene!" Said Noel, suddenly appearing behind them, defending Makoto.
"And? Did you file a complaint?" Asked Blake.
"Well… things are complicated. You'll understand when you enter society." Replied Noel.
'You'll understand when you enter society?' Shemight not have meant it, but Blake felt like she was just talked down to. She was speechless, and left to return to her room. She didn't really like to blame the victim, but if she had stayed and argued some more, she might not be able to help herself. She looked back at Makoto, with her squirrel ears and tail out, so proud and cheerful, so unlike herself.
Makoto noticed Blake looking back at her, and she waved and smiled back. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always free! Wait! No… maybe just during after hours… no, I'm on a mission… there are no after hours… I'll try my best to be free for you! Alright?"
So… that's what an officer in the NOL is like? Thought Blake.
Kagutsuchi - An Opening in the Underground Sewers (just one level above Kaka Village)
"Ouch!" Cried Roman Torchwick, dropping his spoon and dinner, holding his jaw in pain.
It has been almost a week, but his jaw still hasn't fully healed, and it hurts every time he eats something even slightly hard.
"That Bastard! I'll kill HI- Ouch!" Cried Torchwick Again.
"Wow, do you have a dead wish or just stupid? And you keep calling yourself a survivor." Said Mercury Black.
Torchwick: "What did you say?!"
"That guy knocked you out with one punch. Do you really want to fight him again?"
"He caught me off guard, it was a sucker punch!"
"And you're the sucker."
"Come here and say it to my face, boy!"
"Enough! I'm not here to listen to your human problem! I'm here to start a revolution!" Said Adam Taurus, interrupting them.
Mercury: "Ptff…"
"What is so funny?"
"What? I thought you were telling a joke."
In a flash, Adam drew his sword, Mercury jumped back and when he landed, he fired a shot from the bottom of his foot at Adam. Adam smirked, and drew his sword to block it. Mercury then rushed in front of Adam, and delivered a series of kicks, only to be all blocked. Adam smirked again, and goes into a drawing formation as Mercury took a step back to catch his breath…
"STOP!"
A giant fire ball landed in between them, Mercury almost didn't dodge it in time. Cinder had returned, behind her stand Emerald, and another green haired man with a smile on his face.
"This is not our turf. What if someone heard you? Do you really want to jeopardize our plan?" Said Cinder, unhappy.
"Humph!" Adam turned and pointed his finger at Cinder and said "Don't think for a second you can order me around, human." Then he left, with his Withe Fang underlings following behind him.
"Don't think for a second you can order me around, human." Mercury imitated Adam with a mocking tone.
"Always have to have the last word, doesn't he?" Said Emerald.
Cinder: "If that is all it takes to control him, let him have it. It's a cheap price to pay."
She then turned to Mercury, and blasted a fire ball at him, sending him flying, until he hits the wall.
"Stop provoking them. Understand?"
"Fine." Said Mercury, getting up and putting the fire on his shirt out.
"My, my, you people never fail to amuse." Said the green haired man. "How's life treating you?"
"We are in a Sewer! Why are we in a sewer!?" Said Torchwick. Ever since Ragna broke his jaw, he developed a temper.
"Complaints complaints." Said green hair man with his hands up.
Torchwick: "The Seithr here is almost on the danger level. Just five percent higher and we're mutants!"
"Remnants are so intolerant to Seithr." The green hair man shook his head. "You're lucky I can even get you this much space for you to park your robots."
The four Atlesian battlesuits- The Paladin. Yes, it's quite impressive how this Kazuma Kval could not only provide such a huge hideout, but also helped smuggle the four massive battlesuits into the hideout.
'Too impressive.' thought Cinder Fall.
"And they can't even combine, or even do a rocket punch. Talk about a disappointment." Said Kval as he sighed.
"They're weapons, not toys." Said Emerald.
"Oh, just a friendly warning, a dangerous creature has been spotted around in the sewers." Warned Kval.
"What kind of creature?" Asked Emerald.
"From what witnesses said, it's the disgusting and slimy kind. So be careful where you step. Ta-ta." Said the green hair man as he left.
"What a creeper." Commented Mercury, after Hazama left.
"That creeper just gave us the location of the Maiden. He even gave us the key card to the place." Said Emerald. "But yeah, that smile of he does remind me of a reptile."
Mercury: "And in return, we just need to give him the four Paladins after this is over. A prefect deal, we don't need the battlesuits after this anyway."
Torchwick: "And the Paladins might not even survive the battle. If I were him, I would demand us to hand over two of them right now. That guy is so stupid."
'Is he though? Everything about this feels wrong.'Thought Cinder.
Outside of Kagutsuchi
"What the…" Said Ragna, looking at the two fleets of airships facing each other in the sky.
'Those airships in the western sky do not look like Library airships.'
"What's going on?" Said Ragna, thinking out loud.
?: "Those are Remnant's ships."
"Master." Greeted Ragna, without turning around. "Why are you here?"
"I have some business with the Kaka clan in Kagutsuchi." Said Jubei, the master swordscat. "So how long did you know I was following you?"
"For about three hours. Yeah. And I knew you were only trying to test me again."
"Not bad Ragna. Or maybe I'm just getting old. But then again, I followed you for five hours."
Ragna rolled his eyes. "So, Remnant's ships. Why are they here?"
"It seems there's a tournament between the kingdoms of Remnant and the Library."
"Why?"
"Why not? A tournament is better than a war."
"This complicate things."
"You are welcome to come with me. The Kaka may have ways to enter the city without detection." Advised Jubei.
"No. That would make things even more complicated."
"Oh, so you don't want to cause the Kakas any trouble. I understand." Said Jubei.
"No! I just don't like those Kaka kids. They always swarm me."
He especially remembered the last time he was here, a Kaka kid tried to eat him.
"Fine, whatever. Just be careful, and I do mean careful. This has Terumi's fingerprints all over it."
Terumi! As soon as Ragna heard that name, the air around him turned violent, insects around him begin fleeing, birds took to the skies as if they spotted a predator.
"Easy there. You want to alert everyone to our location?" Said Jubei, calmly.
Ragna took a few deep breaths, and calmed down.
"Sorry."
"Ragna, I already told you this, but I'm going to warn you again. You can't beat Terumi, not now."
"I know." Replied Ragna, unhappy.
"Security will be tighter than usual. Like at least five times tighter. Use the Kaka Village as a base. Form a real plan this time, instead of just charging it."
"Fine."
To be continued