Chapter 8: First Light
"What do you mean you want to help?" Ryu inquired. "Last I check we were enemies."
"I know it sounds weird but I have to stop this before it gets out of hand." Luna stated.
"And you need my help?" Ryu questioned.
"Yes," Luna answered.
"Why I thought you hated the Faunus?" Ryu pointed out.
"I do, I could never forgive them after what they did to me. I'm not sure how my brother can." Luna admitted. "But that's not what's important. I know you know that whatever Versailles and Night are doing the whole kill the Faunus story is just a cover up."
Ryu smiled.
"You're right I do know that there is more to this then they're message suggests." Ryu stated. "So you're willing to turn your back on them even if it would mean helping me?"
"Yes, I don't know what their endgame is or why their following 'HIM' but whatever it is it can't be good." Luna expressed. "So please let me help you I do whatever I can just let me help."
Ryu mulled over Luna's plea.
"Fine but I won't let the others know I'm not sure how they'd take it if two former enemies were now teaming up." Ryu pointed out.
"Agreed and I'm not sure if I could face my brother." Luna expressed.
"I'm sure you can in time. However, on another note you mentioned Versailles and Night were getting orders from someone." Ryu stated.
"Oh yes we'll I'm not sure who he is yet but he's the real leader behind this operation," Luna explained. "I've only heard a few conversations between them so I can't say much."
"Alright we'll at least we know that this isn't just something from Versailles or Night's head." Ryu pointed out.
"Anything else you can tell me?" Ryu asked.
"We'll what do you need to know?" Luna replied.
Ryu pondered over the question a bit. Suddenly his eyes lite up and he took out his scroll.
"What are you doing ?" Luna questioned.
"Taking out a message for Versailles we were able to intercept." Ryu answered.
"A message intercepted how?" Luna inquired. "Peter?"
"Peter," Ryu replied.
"Of course," Luna stated annoyed.
"Ah here it is three moth's wing for to birds to fly," Ryu stated. "That's the message do, do you know what it means?"
"Hmmm…" Luna pondered. "I know what it means, but it's not good. In Six months time the Night Hunters will hijack a train."
"For what purpose?" Ryu questioned.
"I can't say for sure I don't have to full message. Versailles and Night will often split their messages between multiple runners so the full message can't get out." Luna explained.
"I see we'll this is enough to work with." Ryu stated. "Thanks for the help."
"Is there anything else you'd like to know?" Luna asked.
"No," Ryu answered.
"Really like not the location of the secret base?" Luna brought up.
"I would like to know but if I found out too much too soon it may draw unnecessary attention." Ryu pointed out.
"That's a good pointed," Luna admitted. "If that's the case I can let you know in small parts."
"Good plan," Ryu stated. "Thanks for the help, Luna."
"Your welcome, Ryu." She replied before vanishing.
Ryu remained standing by the statutes for a bit before walking towards the cliff.
"Enjoying a late night stroll Ryu?" a voice asked from behind him.
Ryu turned around to see Ozpin standing by the Statutes.
"Professor Ozpin, what are you doing out at this time?" Ryu questioned.
"I could ask you the same thing Ryu. Did you enjoy your little chat?" Ozpin asked.
Ryu's eyes widened.
"How much did you hear?" Ryu questioned.
"Only the last bit before you're little 'friend' left. I however do know of you and your friends little investigation of the Night Hunters." Ozpin stated.
"Are you here to talk me out of this?" Ryu questioned. "Cause if you are forget it I've made up my mind."
"No in fact I'm willing to offer you some help. You see my associates and I have been looking into this group ourselves and the group behind them." Ozpin stated.
"If your associates are already looking into this why help us?" Ryu asked.
"There are many reasons. Your group's motivation, potential, coordination, and most importantly your latent power Ryu." Ozpin pointed out. "You and your friends are part of something unique to this year's incoming students. You see many of the incoming students have above average to exceptionally high amount of skill and ability in combat as compared to other years. This is an outlier as the average skill of incoming students have remained fairly constant except for this year."
"So what does that last part have to do with my friends and I being involved in this?" Ryu asked.
"Just some information I think it'd be good for you too know." Ozpin answered. "I'd keep that fact in mind if I were you."
"Of course sir," Ryu replied.
"Now on to more pressing matters what were you and this Luna girl talking about?" Ozpin inquired.
"Nothing much she did however relay some important info on our enemies upcoming activities." Ryu stated. "In six months time the Night Hunters will hijack a train."
"Is that all?" Ozpin asked.
"That's all I didn't ask for anything else. I don't want to get too much info less the enemy starts getting suspicious." Ryu explained.
"We'll if that's the case the hijack will likely occur near the city of Vale." Ozpin observed.
"I had that the same thought." Ryu replied.
"Hmm… Anyways that's all for tonight I'd like to discuss this matter further after classes tomorrow. I'll call you all to my office" Ozpin stated.
"Alright," Ryu replied.
"Goodnight Ryu," Ozpin stated.
"Goodnight Professor," Ryu replied.
Ozpin went along his way and Ryu was once again standing there alone facing the Statues.
"Best get training," he stated before going to do so.
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After classes had ended team Light and Crimson had been called up to Ozpin office. In there Ozpin was waiting for them.
"Welcome students," Ozpin greeted before rising from his seat. "We have much to discuss."
Everyone but Ryu looked surprised.
"Discuss what?" Caesar asked.
"Our investigation of the Night Hunters," Ryu answered.
"What?" Caesar exclaimed.
"I've know about your little investigation for a few days now." Ozpin explained.
"How did you find out?" Luz questioned.
"I have my ways, my associates and I are doing our own little investigation into this group." Ozpin explained.
"If you're here to ask us to stop forget it we've made up our minds." Sun affirmed.
"Now hold up if Ozpin and his associates are on the case then there's no point in us being involved." Iris pointed out.
"What so you're chickening out?" Sun taunted.
"Hey I'm just saying we shouldn't risk our lives if we don't have to." Iris explained.
"Whatever happened to all that we discussed a week ago what we all decided!" Sun brought up.
"First off I was the least enthusiastic about getting involved. Second, like I said before, if there's no point risking our life we don't have to!" Iris explained.
"Both of you be quiet!" Ryu shouted. "Ozpin didn't call us hear to tell us to get out of this!"
"Ryu's correct I called you here not to force you to stop but to help you any way I can." Ozpin explained.
Everyone was silent for a few moments.
"Huh?" Everyone but Ryu express.
"So you're not going to stop us?" Caesar questioned.
"Correct," Ozpin answered.
"But why?" Caesar asked.
"Because I believe you are the one's capable of stopping this organization." Ozpin stated.
"No disrespect sir but I don't think that's a stupid decision." Mana expressed.
"I think that's disrespectful Mana," Holokai pointed out.
"Shut up you idiot," she stated.
"With all due respect I'm with Mana on this. This doesn't seem like a wise course of action sir." Iris expressed.
"I don't care I'm involved no matter what besides we got this in the bag." Tala expressed.
"Same here life's no fun without a little danger." Holokai stated.
"Are you kidding me last I check you two were hesitant to join this!" Iris expressed. "And we do not have this in the bag. News flash these guys are crazy strong and were just students. Professor Ozpin you can't be serious when you say we can stop these guys were just students!"
"I am well aware of that fact but you Iris as well as those of you who still have doubts fail to see something important." Ozpin stated.
"What's that sir?" Iris asked.
"I've explained this to Ryu but you all need to hear it to. Most of this year's incoming students have had above average to exceptionally high levels of combat skill and ability as compared to other years. You all are no exception. In fact four of you are some of the strongest fighters I've seen come to this Academy."
Everyone but Ryu looked around at each other.
"You have the potential to much greater than you are if anyone can stop this group it's you." Ozpin encouraged.
The room was silent for a few moments.
"Ozpin's right we can do this." Caesar stated.
"You're right we've managed so far we can do this." Luz affirmed.
"We have to do this." Sun expressed.
"I guess you got a point." Iris admitted.
"Like a said we got this in the bag." Tala stated.
"Time to show these Night Hunter guys what we're made of." Holokai stated.
"We can do this." Mana expressed.
"Didn't we already go through a pep talk like this." Ryu whispered under his breath.
"Anyways why don't we discuss what we now know about the Night Hunters so far?" Ozpin brought up. "We'll start with Mana."
"Right," Mana replied. "Sage and I went to investigate a recruitment meeting for the Night Hunters and discovered that they are developing exosuits capable of increasing the user's combat ability. This likely means increased speed in reaction time as well strength and in combat speed."
"I'd like to add on that the suits also likely increases the effectiveness of the user's aura. Those four with exosuits were normal soldiers barring that fact but Holokai and I couldn't kill them with one shot." Ryu added on.
"Ryu's right these guys would have been a walk in the park without those exosuits. With them they could actually put up a fight." Holokai pointed out.
"Alright and Ryu what did you find out?" Ozpin questioned.
"Right well unfortunately the informant Sage sent me to didn't provide much in the form of info. The only real info I got was that there is a base near the city of Vale though I've got no specific location as to where. While that was all he could provide me with I did find out about an informant who could provide more answers I'll have to plan a time to meet with him." Ryu explained.
"Is that all?" Ozpin questioned.
"No later on I met a… friend of mine and she provided me with some very useful info." Ryu replied.
"We'll who was it?" Mana asked.
"Can't tell you she wants her identity kept secret." Ryu answered.
"We'll forget about it what did she tell you?" Caesar inquired.
"She decoded the message we intercepted a week ago. The message states that in six months time the Night Hunters will hijack a train." Ryu explained.
"For what purpose?" Luz questioned.
"Can't say for sure but Ozpin and I came to the same conclusion that it will likely be near Vale given they have a base here." Ryu answered.
"Alright then so we gotta bust up there little operation in six months." Tala brought up. "We got plenty of time to prepare then."
"We best get started right away we then." Caesar stated.
"Do we have toooooo?" Tala groaned.
"Yes," Everyone replied.
"Fiiiiiine," Tala groaned.
"Anyways we got a lot of work to do." Luz brought up.
"Your right," Caesar replied. "Hmmm… Ozpin could I get a map of all rail tracks that lead into the city of Vale I need to pinpoint the likeliest routes they will take."
"Of course I'll transfer it to all your scrolls now." Ozpin stated.
"Thanks," Caesar stated. "Luz can you give me a hand I'll need help planning this out?"
"Did you even need to ask you can count me in." Luz answered.
"Thanks," Caesar replied. "Everyone else focus on gathering as much info as you can."
"Got it," Everyone else replied.
"Actually Caesar I think we should devote some time to training for this as well." Ryu brought up. "Iris was right as it stands now we're outclassed. Given the situation any increase in strength would be good for us."
"Ryu brings up a good point as it stands now maybe all eight of you can take on one of the leaders and that's just a maybe." Ozpin pointed out.
"Your right Ryu I'll leave that to you think you can train everyone?" Caesar inquired.
"Of course I can you all just be ready for some intense training." Ryu stated.
"If that's the case we've nothing left to discuss you all may leave." Ozpin stated.
Everyone nodded their head and made their way out except Ryu.
"Ryu?" Caesar questioned.
"Go on ahead I'll catch up later just one thing I want to discuss with the Professor." Ryu answered.
"Oh… okay," Caesar replied.
Everyone left leaving Ryu and Ozpin alone.
"What is it you wish to discuss?" Ozpin asked.
"Think you could get weighted training clothes for everyone?" Ryu inquired.
Ozpin chuckled.
"Didn't want to ask in front of everyone?" Ozpin questioned.
"I didn't want them chickening out before training began." Ryu replied.
Ozpin chuckled.
"Fair point, I should be able to get you some." Ozpin stated.
"Thanks," Ryu replied. "Later."
Ryu began making his way towards the elevator.
"Goodbye and good luck," Ozpin replied.
"Won't need it," Ryu stated. "In six months time I'll be strong enough."
Ryu then entered the elevator and left leaving Ozpin alone.
"This may work out after all." Ozpin stated.