Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
Chapter 21: Downtime
Jaune paced up and down the airship worriedly, they'd crossed the Mistrali border a while back but it'd be some time before Argus came into sight. This time, to avoid getting shot down again, they were following an established route that had been confirmed to not be a no fly zone prior to take off. So far so good, and there was nothing to do but sit tight and get some rest, but Jaune's restless mind wouldn't let him relax that easily. "How long until we get ther-"
"Five hours and thirty-two minutes at our current pace." Pyrrha replied before he even finished the question. "We have a nice tailwind now so we're a little ahead of schedule, but no we haven't magically crossed half the continent since the last time you asked twenty minutes ago."
"Heheheh…" Jaune chuckled nervously. "Right, sorry."
"Can't rest?" Pyrrha asked.
"No, too worried." Jaune closed his eyes and shook his head. "You? Autopilot should be good to go. You're the one that's been running around Vacuo, sure you don't need the break?"
"You know I prefer to keep my eye on things, plus the view's not bad from here." Pyrrha shrugged and gestured for Jaune to take the co-pilot's seat. "…We're going to Argus."
"…Yeah." Jaune agreed after a moment's silence. "How many years has it been?"
"Five? I've lost track of time." Pyrrha's grip on the controls grew tighter. "Do we… do we have time to visit?"
"I think… no, we do. Unloading, processing and getting transit to Atlas is going to take time. We can go see them… I wonder how big Adrian is now. Gotta be in school by now right?" Jaune muttered softly.
"Yeah, probably been for a while already." Pyrrha agreed. "Can we-"
"Yes, we'll stop this. Whatever they're planning, we'll stop them. We won't let them get dragged into it, I promise," Jaune said.
"And an Arc always keeps his promises, right?"
"Yep, even disowned ones." Jaune turned his gaze from the controls to the azure skies beyond. Nothing but dark blue skies and fluffy white clouds as far as the eye could see. It was… oddly calming, almost enough to pretend their current troubles didn't exist. "I see why you like it up here."
"It's peaceful," Pyrrha said with a small smile.
"Yes, hey Pyr?" Jaune began hesitantly. "I've… been thinking."
"Okay," Pyrrha said. "You're not breaking up with me I hope."
"Heheahaahahaha!" Jaune couldn't help but burst out laughing at that statement, feeling some of the tension wash away while Pyrrha cracked a smile of her own. "Of course not Pyr. Nah, I've just… I think… Orcus Contingency."
"The Orcus Contingency?" Pyrrha echoed her partner's words and stiffened up. "Jaune are you sure about this? You think it's time? If we set it in motion, it can't be undone."
"Yeah, if this is going how I think it is, there might not be a choice. But you know," Jaune said and looked up wistfully. "Somehow, I don't think I'd mind that, I'm tired Pyr, I'm so very tired. Forever is a really long time as it turns out."
"Yes, it is," Pyrrha agreed. "Will it work? We only have one shot at it."
"This is personal enough that I don't see why it wouldn't," Jaune rubbed his chin in thought. "If… it is who I think it is, his ego will never let him not take the bait. Never mind the distant past, we've been screwing with Replicant operations ever since the train and Vacuo's been nothing short of a catastrophe with Schale dead and the depot blown. I'm an annoying fly that he must swat."
"Okay, and if we succeed, what happens after that?"
"After that we build something new, something better. What that'll be, I don't know yet, but anything's an improvement over the current situation."
"I see, whatever it is, I've got your back, as always."
"What's in it for you?" Emerald asked. "How much did Jaune promise you this time?"
"What, you want more pay? Just go take it up with him, I'm sure he'll be willing to negotiate, but… that's not what you're asking about," Mercury said. "What you really want to know is why I'm still here, flying into another shit storm."
"Mmhmm."
"Maybe I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart?" Mercury chuckled when Emerald snorted in disbelief. "Is it that hard to believe?"
"Sure I believe you, what's next? The White Fang joining hands with the SDC to enslave faunus everywhere?" Emerald rolled her eyes and huffed. "Come on, when have you ever been known to do something this big out of the goodness of your heart?"
"Hey, I can be charitable! I sometimes kill bad guys for free," Mercury shot back with mock offense. "I'm doing my part to make the world a better place!"
"Haaah, you must be one of the only people in this world to consider murder an act of generosity," Emerald sighed.
"I'm not wrong though," Mercury insisted.
"…I guess so, there are people the world would be better off without." Emerald smiled wryly and shrugged. "But you know, we're probably counted among them."
"True, but we ice enough bad guys and we'll be back as a net positive to society. Therefore, murder is the best form of self-improvement." Mercury cracked a smile of his own when Emerald did laugh at his joke this time. "But seriously, I… do actually have people I'd rather not see get caught up in whatever the hell is going on in the world now."
"Hoh?" Emerald raised an eyebrow at that. This was a first, she'd never heard of Mercury looking out for anyone other than himself before… wait no, he had helped her out a few times before. Come to think of it, he'd been surprisingly guarded about his own personal life ever since their reunion, how curious. "You start a family or something? Got a Mrs Black I should know about?"
"Ha! Look Em, I'm screwed up but not nearly screwed up enough to get married. I just, ah I've met a bunch of people over the years, okay? As it turns out, not everyone's a bastard and I happen to like a few people." Mercury hunched over the airship's controls and hunched over them, a wistful smile on his face as he stared of into the distance. "Maybe a little jealous, but I still like em overall."
"Jealous? You?"
"Is it that hard to believe?" Mercury looked over at Emerald. "Most people have two normal legs and normal families."
"…Right, sorry," Emerald apologised, wincing at the faux pas. Mercury held together well enough most of the time that it often slipped her mind that his past was more screwed up than hers, and that was saying something.
"Ah it's fine, everyone responsible is probably already dead. Marcus Black died at my hands long ago and ma… probably dead in a ditch somewhere." Mercury shrugged good-naturedly, not holding it against Emerald. "So life dealt me a shitty starting hand, but I've got new cards now and hopefully another seventy plus years to play it all out."
"You're doing well enough so far. By the way, how the hell did you meet Jaune anyways? He said he owed you favours, what the hell was all that about?" Emerald asked, changing the uncomfortable subject before it could depress the mood any further.
"Owed me? Is that how he put it?" Mercury blinked in surprise. "That's… not how I remember it. I mean I did do the job, but that doesn't… it's more the other way around really. I'm the one that owes him, but uh, don't tell him that yeah? Debt or not, he's still an asshole."
"Like you have any room to talk about someone else being a dick," Emerald fired back. "And I don't see how being hired has anything to do with a debt. It's just business, isn't it?"
"Uhg, I wasn't in the best of places after Vale, okay? We all split, Cinder went kaboom, Jaune stayed in Vale, you… I uh, don't actually know where you went since I thought you died and all, as for me? I just drifted across the world, doing hits for anyone and everyone who could pay, then killing the bastards who tried to stiff me." Mercury sighed heavily at the unwelcome memories. "A real shitty existence of being the weapon my father forged. What. A. Life."
"I… I see." Emerald gave Mercury a sympathetic pat on the back. "So you hit rock bottom, but you dug yourself out, didn't you?
"Eh, not immediately, and not without help. Jaune was the first, found me trying to test aura's healing limit with alcohol poisoning, he offered a job, turned out to be something of a paid vacation really," Mercury replied. "One year. Bodyguard duty. Method of approach, entirely up to me."
"You made examples out of everyone who tried starting shit, didn't you?" Emerald correctly guessed.
"Well yeah? Do you expect me to do anything else?" Mercury chuckled. "It worked, I think. Just seven kills that year, the break was… nice, it was what I needed to 'find myself' weird as that sounds. It turns out, being able to just stay in one place and not have to worry about killing or being killed does wonders for your mental health, whoddathunk."
"I'm guessing the people you were guarding, they're the people you don't want dead now? Theothers who helped you?" Emerald asked.
"Yep. They're… good people." Mercury said after taking time to gather his thoughts. "Oh don't get me wrong, they weren't exactly happy to have me as a bodyguard at first, but they gave me a fair shot. More than anyone else ever had. No hate, no pity, no expectations, but always a warm meal ready whenever I dropped in for the routine check. I… never mentioned the kills, but I think they knew. Never judged me for it, not really. It doesn't sound like much, but that sort of… space, was what I needed. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I think I do," Emerald muttered, thinking of her own experiences after Vale. "It's nice being around people you don't have to be on guard around all the time, isn't it?"
"Damn straight," Mercury agreed. "Ah, it might seem crazy to some that I'm jumping into the frigging fire for some randos I guarded a long time ago, but… I owe them big. If not for them, if not for the job, I'd probably be in some unmarked grave by now. Some basic human decency really does go a long way."
"And because of that, you owe Jaune for setting you down the path of self-improvement." Emerald stated.
"Mmph, that about it, eh, we're headed to Argus, maybe we'll see em there. Jaune though, he was an bastard about it, but it was a kick in the ass I needed," Mercury grimaced in distaste. "Don't, don't tell him that. He'll never let me live it down. And he still weirds me out, I can never tell what all his angles are regarding everything."
"He does run the Vale mob, keeping cards close to his chest is probably second nature by now," Emerald opined. "Is it that surprising that he's keeping everyone else in the dark? If I were him, I'd operate on need to know too, and nobody needs to know."
"I know that, doesn't make it any less creepy. Look Em, I don't know what you've been doing the last seven, eight years, but I've running jobs for all sorts," Mercury began. "And usually, these sorts of 'don't think just do' people tend to try and backstab you after a while. I know Jaune's getting more out of the deal than he lets on, but his money's green and there's never funny business with him. Call it instinct, but I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop."
"Hahahaha..." Emerald chuckled to herself. "When not being betrayed is a red flag to us. We're a right bunch of walking disasters."
"Ehg, when you put it that way, maybe it really is time to retire and find a new job," Mercury grunted. "With how much Jaune is paying for this, I can do nothing for a few years at least. Retirement… no one shooting at me, no sand in my joints, no more putting up with bullshit, now that I think about it…"
"One, that's jinxing us. Two, is there even retirement for people like us?" Emerald asked.
"Well there must be, gotta be more to life than being a hired gun. Heck, maybe go legit as huntsmen, we've been killing more than our fair share of Grimm and dipshits as is, might as well get paid by the kingdoms while we're at it." Mercury suggested with a shrug. "Or start a business and leave all the killing behind completely."
"That would be nice," Emerald agreed. "Yeah, it'd be nice to do something that doesn't involve any more blood once all this is done. Once I get my hands on Agent Orange, I can finally close this accursed chapter and move on."
"I hope it'll be that easy for you," Mercury said. "I really do. Try your best not to end up like me, yeah?"
"Sure, sure, I'll go find Jaune first then he can set me off on a path to recovery or some such." Emerald huffed and rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. It's not like I have issues or anything."
"Mmm," Mercury hummed, electing not to bring up her hemophobia. From personal experience, he knew something as minor as revenge wouldn't be enough to excise those inner demons.
"What, you don't believe me?"
"I was gonna say killing Marcus didn't really help me sleep better at night, but then I remember it's probably due to me still getting to used to not having legs anymore." Mercury lied, hiding his true thoughts behind nonchalance. "As long as you don't get your legs sawed off between now and whenever you get your revenge, I guess you'll be fine."
"Yeah, yeah, once I get Agent Orange, I'll… Oh?" Emerald paused mid-sentence and then smirked so smugly it made Mercury's skin crawl. "Wait a minute. Is that concern I hear? Is the big bad Mercury actually worrying about me?"
"What!? How dare-I am not!" Mercury furiously denied, bitterly noting that it only made Emerald's smirk widen.
"And the lie detector has determined that that was a lie!" Emerald laughed. "Come on, I've been dealing with Jaune, you think you're gonna sneak such amateur lies past me? Dream on Mercury. Admit it!"
"I am not-who the hell's worried about you!? I got better things to do, now shut up and let me focus on flying."
"Well, well, well, so the stone-cold Mercury's got enough of a heart to worry about little old me and feel embarrassed about it eh?" Emerald ribbed.
"Shaddap, I don't know what you're talking about. You're clearly hearing things." Mercury denied, pointedly looking away from the now cackling Emerald.
The lingering tension in the air slowly evaporated as the bickering between the two not quite friends continued. For the moment, worries about an uncertain future could be ignored in favour of just living in the present.
Jaune adjusted his contact lenses, blinking away the discomfort before running a hand through his freshly dyed hair. "Right, I don't think I need to point this out, but we're in Argus. Atlas has a sizeable military presence here, not to mention the usual huntsmen population, so please try not to draw attention to us. This isn't Vacuo, they're not gonna let us slide like Shade will."
"Yeah, yeah, okay mom, we'll be careful and look both ways while crossing the street," Mercury rattled off. "This ain't my first rodeo."
"We'll be fine, what about you, will the disguise cut it?" Emerald asked.
"It should, people see what they want to see, and nobody is expecting Jaune Arc here of all places." Jaune wrapped a scarf around his neck and pulled it up for good measure, obscuring the bottom half of his face. "I need to go arrange our ride to Atlas and offload the loot with my agents. It's gonna take a while, just keep low. As far as the world is concerned, we were never here."
"Mr Pyrite?"
Jaune looked up when he heard his alias called. "Yes? Am I free to go?"
"Yes, you've passed the test and your credentials check out, Special Operative Cordovin is waiting, please follow me." The huntsman on duty nodded and beckoned for Jaune to follow.
"It's about time," Jaune grumbled and rose from his seat, giving a nod to the watchers on the other side of the one-way mirror serving as a wall. "Was a one-hour exam really necessary?"
"My apologies Mr Pyrite, Argus is trialling new enhanced security measures, all outsiders must be subject to the test before they are allowed entry." The huntsman said apologetically, causing Jaune to pinch his brow and sigh explosively.
"I know, I'm up to speed. I'm just questioning the necessity of a one-hour math paper with questions on a TV when a basic reading test would suffice," Jaune sighed.
"That is…" The huntsman began, searching hard for the 'right' answer. "Ahem, while the delay is unfortunate, Commander Cordovin believes it is better to err on the side of caution then compromise security."
"Hah… somehow I knew you were gonna say that," Jaune muttered under his breath.
"Once again I apologise for the hassle, the commander has… been focusing on bumping up security recently since Vytal is almost here. We can't let the people of Argus be hurt during a terrorist attack by criminals like the White Fang after all."
'Or Replicants,' Jaune added mentally.
"We're here, please wait until the commander is ready to see you." The huntsman led Jaune to a nicely furnished waiting room and gestured to a sofa. "Oh, and please note, should the commander approve your flight to Atlas, we will require you and your compatriots to go through security processing before your flight."
"…You cannot be serious." Jaune stared bug eyed at the huntsman.
"I'm sorry, but it is a matter of state security. We need to ensure that everyone who boards a flight to Atlas is exactly who they say they are. We can't run the risk of someone stealing your passes and disguising themselves as you to get to Atlas. It will be another basic math paper, so don't worry about it."
"I… understand. This… ugh, thank you for letting me know," Jaune grumbled and uttered a silent prayer that they wouldn't be flagged as Replicants because someone couldn't math right.
As the huntsmen left, Jaune sank into the sofa and composed himself. Cordovin's extra zealous approach was a pain the ass as usual, but still, he found it amusing that while her measures would definitely weed out Replicants, it wasn't going to do much to stop actual people in disguise, especially not with him providing the fake credentials.
In any case, Cordovin's measures merited a slight change of plans. He'd be dumping their prisoner with her instead of lugging him to Atlas. Last he heard, the Atlesian military still hadn't fully eradicated the cancer in their ranks, having Argus in charge of interrogation was less likely to end with sudden 'accidental' death.
As for the rest of their haul, Chronos, that unknown chemical weapon, data pads and others, they'd all be sent out via express shipping. Much easier to get it all past customs then it was to smuggle himself over.
"Mr Pyrite? You can enter now." Cordovin's PA popped their head out the door and gestured for Jaune to head on in. Jaune smiled and nodded, heading to a familiar worn-out door. Knocking twice before entering, he stood at attention as Cordovin poured over a stack of reports.
"Specialist… Pyrite. Why is it that every time you appear before me, something goes wrong?" Cordovin said with a frown.
"It's my job Ma'am, I'm not needed near Atlas unless there is a pressing issue," Jaune replied.
"Yes, yes, I know, the Replicants. As if we didn't have enough to deal with already. You can relax Specialist, I don't blame you for being the bearer of bad news." Cordovin shook her head and massaged her temples. "But, please tell me you have something positive today."
"Yes Ma'am. Until recently, I was stationed in Vacuo on a long-term recon mission. While there, my unit discovered and destroyed a major processing centre for the Replicants. We've also captured a prisoner who is in need of processing," Jaune said.
"Ah, that is good news." Cordovin blinked, not expecting the surprise, but welcoming it all the same. "Excellent work Specialist. I've seen your request for transport back to Atlas, you'll be escorting the prisoner in then."
"That was the initial plan Ma'am. But Atlas is still crawling with Replicants, we can't guarantee the prisoner won't be silenced before interrogation." Jaune shook his head and continued speaking. "I was hoping the Argus garrison could handle him instead. With the enhanced security measures, the likelihood of Replicant assassination is far lower here than in Atlas."
"Yes, I don't understand how the situation in Atlas deteriorated so quickly." Cordovin's face contorted into an ugly grimace. "We informed them almost a year ago about the issue and the method to detect these imposters. How could things go so wrong?"
"You what?" Jaune started in surprise.
"What do you mean what? Ha, perhaps you weren't informed by the general. Argus noticed the Replicant issue long ago when a huntsmen trainee in Sanctum had an altercation and was proven to not be a faunus," Cordovin explained. "Between Sanctum and us, we identified the issue and the fact that these Replicants can't see what's on a CRT monitor very well. I informed Atlas of that through secure communique myself. So I don't understand what went wrong."
"Ma'am, Atlas never received that warning," Jaune replied, causing Cordovin to drop her pen. "We didn't know about the Replicants until just a few months ago!"
"Impossible," she denied, unable to believe what Jaune was saying. "That message was sent through the most secure CCT channel in existence. A-and I received a return message that the warning had been heeded and measures would be taken. How can… no, no it can't be."
"The CCT is compromised, either they've hacked the system, or whoever's manning Atlas's side is a Replicant," Jaune vocalised the conclusion both of them had come to. "This… this isn't good."
"You have a knack for understatements Pyrite," Cordovin grimaced. "I will do my best to rush the paperwork for your flight clearance. But if Atlas is this compromised, it might take a while to get things through on the other end without tipping the enemy off."
"I understand, I will be on standby in the city with my unit until then," Jaune said.
"Good, as soon as I get the greenlight, I will send for you." Cordovin sighed and motioned for Jaune to leave her office. "This blunder happened on my watch and I will take responsibility for it once this is over. When you get to Atlas Specialist, please do everything you can to protect the Kingdom."
"Of course Ma'am, it's my duty."
"I'm still not to used to this," Pyrrha muttered, gazing up at her own statue.
"What? I think it looks good," Jaune replied. "Whoever made this got your good side, but then which side isn't?"
"Haha, very funny mister." Pyrrha sighed and started dragging Jaune away. "It should be someone else's statue, not a girl who isn't dead yet."
"Hey on the bright side, you're not the one whose effigies get burnt." Jaune shrugged. "Did you ring ahead?"
"No. It's going to be a surprise, if mom finds out early, she'll definitely try to cook us a feast," Pyrrha replied.
"You say that like she won't try to keep us for dinner anyways," Jaune commented. "We've got time for it."
"I know, but I'd rather she not go through so much trouble for us. We've caused enough pain for her as is."
Jaune's face fell slightly but he plastered on a fake smile quickly enough to hide it. "I know, god damnit I know."
"It's not your fault." Pyrrha said quietly.
"We are not having this argument again Grey, you know where I stand on the issue. If I was faster, more observant, more… something, maybe none of this would have been necessary," Jaune sighed.
"No one saw it coming, not you, not me, not Ironwood, not Ozpin and not even Cinder. We are all played like a fiddle." Pyrrha looked around her old home, so much had changed since she could bare her face in public, but so much was still the same Argus it had always been. "This time will be different."
"Yeah, eight years and it's another Vytal festival in Vale. Round two is gonna start soon, you think we've prepared enough?" Jaune asked.
"No, you can never be too prepared. But enough, today we're leaving that behind. Just for today, we can stop being worried about what-ifs," Pyrrha placed a finger to Jaune's lips, forestalling any arguments. "None of us are promised a tomorrow, so let's just make the best of every day."
"Coming!" Athena Nikos, a lively woman pushing her mid-fifties sprung to her feet when she heard the doorbell ring. No deliveries were scheduled for today and she rarely got visitors, it was a mystery who it could be.
"Who is it-oh my!" She pulled the door open and froze in surprise, not expecting to see the two strangers on her doorstep. One with spiky black hair and grey eyes, the other completely covered head to toe and wearing a featureless white mask.
"Ah, good evening Mrs Nikos, may we come inergh!" Jaune gave a strangled cry as Pyrrha's mother didn't wait for him to finish before wrapping both him and her daughter in a massive bear hug, one strong enough to hurt even through aura.
"Ah Jaunaah-James, it's so nice to see you again, you too dear, come in, come in!" Releasing the two of them after a few seconds of crushing, she waved them both into her home with a bright smile on her face. That little hope that blossomed every time she heard the bell ring answered at last. "If you were coming, you should have called first! I'd have cooked your favourites!"
"We were in the area and it was meant to be a surprise." Pyrrha activated her semblance, sweeping the area and wiping out any bugs if there were any. Satisfied her home was secure, she peeled off her mask and held up a bag of food. "Besides, we brought dinner already."
"Thank you sweetie, sit, sit! I'll go get the plates, you two just make yourselves at home," Athena smiled jovially and grabbed the bags from Pyrrha's hands, rushing off into the kitchen to get everything setup.
"Jaune and I will help too mom," Pyrrha called out while Jaune had already started clearing the dining table. It was good, she had to admit, to be home again after so long.
Dinner itself was a relatively quiet affair, mostly Athena bombarding them with questions and the two of them doing their best to answer while leaving the uglier parts out. Chatting as they ate, the hours just slipped away unnoticed.
"You sure you're getting enough sun Pyrrha? You look a little pale," Athena said worriedly. "And to think you were just in Vacuo, are you eating alright? Have some more food."
"I'm fine mother, you're the one who should be eating more," Pyrrha huffed but made to effort to reject the extra helping of fish and chicken her mother dumped on her plate. "And it's Vacuo, I don't need the sunburn."
"Hmm, that would be bad, wouldn't it? Travelling all around the world, are you getting enough sleep? What about the jetlag? And the mask, doh, I wish you didn't have to hide your face all the time, it can't be comfortable."
"I'm fine mom, I've gotten used to it. I'm not a kid anymore, I can look after myself," Pyrrha protested. "You don't need to worry about me anymore."
"Nonsense dear, you're my daughter. I don't care if you're in your seventies and I'm nearly a hundred, as long as I'm alive, I'll always worry about you, that's what parents do." Athena ignored her daughter's protests and continued fussing over Pyrrha. "Are those eyebags? Pyrrha, you're not getting enough rest, do you need me to send over your old teddy bears? I still have them in the attic."
'Help me.' Pyrrha mouthed the words and shot a desperate glance towards Jaune. For his part all he did was smile even brighter and offer two thumbs up. 'Traitor.'
Jaune was content to sit back, relax and enjoy the show. Family reunions didn't come often in their line of work, and now that they had a chance, he wasn't going to deny them their moment of happiness.
"And you Jaune, I hope my daughter hasn't been causing you too much trouble, she can be stubborn once she's set her mind to something," Athena said once her protective instincts had been reined in again. Pyrrha's indignant protest went unheeded.
"Oh no, Mrs Nikos, she's the one keeping me out of trouble. Really I don't know what I'd be doing if she wasn't there to keep me on track," Jaune shook his head with a rueful grin.
"Hmm… you're not covering for her, are you?" Athena narrowed her eyes in suspicion, gaze flicking between the two partners rapidly. "In any case, how long will the two of you be able to stay this time?"
Jaune exchanged a glance with Pyrrha before opening his mouth to speak. "We're not sure, we're waiting on transport to Atlas and we'll be leaving once it's available."
"O-oh, I see. That's a shame then," Athena said, unable to keep the disappointment out of her voice. "And you two just got here too."
"Mother…" Pyrrha began before trailing off, not sure what to say.
"Oh don't you worry about this old lady, you two have more important things to do then keep me company. The world needs saving, doesn't it?" Athena put on a brave smile and clasped her daughter's hands in her own. "I still don't fully understand what you two do, but it's important, isn't it? Otherwise, you wouldn't have given up so much for it. So go, give it your best."
"I… we will do everything we can, but something bad is coming," Jaune said. "Please stay safe, the shelter under this house is fully stocked? If… if the worst happens and we can't stop it, please stay in there and hide for as long as possible or until one of us comes to get you."
"Is it the Grimm?"
"No, maybe… it's going to be a terrorist attack of some kind," Pyrrha replied. "The kingdoms are being targeted, probably during the festival. Argus isn't the capital so maybe it'll be safer here, but we don't know for sure, so please, while we're gone, take care of yourself. We'll come back safe, we promise."
"What about the huntsmen? Atlas? Surely they can protect us?" Athena asked.
"It's… better to be safe than sorry," Pyrrha said, not wanting to bring up the treacherous nature of Replicants here.
"We can't say much, but please, if things go wrong, just stay hidden and stay safe. It won't be long, Cordovin will have things under control in no time." Jaune noted Athena's unconvinced expression and cracked a smile to allay her fears. "Everything will be okay, Arc's promise."
"W-well, once this is done, you think you'll both have time to visit?"
"More than enough," Jaune said with all the confidence he could muster. "Once things have been settled, we'll have all the time in the world."
"How can you stand to eat that filth?" Emerald recoiled in disgust as Mercury held out a skewer loaded for bear with greasy fried chicken. "That's a heart attack on a stick, look at all the oil."
"Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it, it's damn delicious is what it is," Mercury admonished, waving the skewer about in front of Emerald. "But if you don't want it, then more for me."
"Of course I don't-" Emerald tried to deny, but her stomach's rumbling protests quickly shut it down. Breakfast was so long ago and it just smelled so good, the fried goodness called to her and it was too much to resist.
"Gimme that!" Emerald snatched the offered skewer away before Mercury could retract his offer. Ignoring the look of absolute smugness on his face, Emerald's eyes were fixed on the skewer, her mouth already watering. "I didn't say I didn't want it."
"Yes, yes, whatever you say princess. Better eat it before it gets cold, don't keep that heart attack waiting." Mercury snickered and bit into his own skewer, humming in contentment. Even if it was only going to be for a short while, Argus was a nice change of place. Here sand didn't gunk up his legs, didn't get into his food and didn't cover absolutely everything.
No Replicants trying to kill them in broad daylight was also a plus.
"Unca Mercury?"
Mercury paused, looking for the familiar voice that called his name. He didn't find it before someone nearly bowled him over by tackle-hugging his legs. "Gah! Hey, what have I told you about doing that?"
"Um, don't?" Adrian Cotta-Arc looked up with big round eyes and Mercury found himself unable to muster up any of his previous annoyance. That look was right unfair was what it was.
"Ngh, just remember in the future, it's nice to see you again brat." Mercury sighed and ruffled the kid's hair, smiling as he did so.
"Uncle Mercury?" Emerald said in amusement and Mercury could hear the smirk on her face without even looking.
"Shush you, you will keep this to yourself and no one will believe you anyways." Mercury shot Emerald a warning look before turning back to Adrian. "What are you doing here anyways, where are your mothers?"
"Over there!" Adrian helpfully pointed to two women sitting at a café.
"Come on, let's get you back before they start to worry." Mercury grasped Adrian's tiny hand with his own and started leading him back to Saphron and Terra, again giving Emerald a glare when he heard soft snickering. "Not. A. Word."
Emerald mimed zipping her lips, but the look on her face was telling, he was never going to hear the end of this.
"Adrian! What have I told you about running off in public? You could have gotten lost!" Terra scolded as Adrian looked down sheepishly.
"But I found Unca Mercury!"
"You what?" Saphron swivelled about and scanned the crowd, spotting Mercury's distinct mop of grey hair easily. "Mercury? I didn't know you were in town, did something happen?"
"It's just a stopover, I'm waiting for a ride to Atlas. Didn't think it was worth bothering you all, but he found me anyways," Mercury said with a shrug, ruffling Adrian's hair.
"Oh it's no trouble, you're a friend of the family, we're always happy to see you and oh, I see, you're with someone today," Saphron replied and gave Emerald a once over. "So, is she yo-"
"No." Mercury denied instantly.
"Are you sure, you two look lik-" Saphron dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, a teasing smile on her face.
"Absolutely not." Mercury interrupted.
"Hmmm? My denial senses are tingling." Saphron's smile widened as Mercury glowered at her.
"We're colleagues, that's all." Mercury said with an emphatic nod.
"Colleagues, is that what they're calling it these days?" Saphron mused aloud, causing Mercury to facepalm.
"Friends of yours… ah, they're the ones you were a bodyguard for?" Emerald asked once she caught up with Mercury, fortunately missing the conversation between Mercury and Saphron. "Hmm, she looks familiar. Somehow… wait a minute."
"Not so friendly right now, and yeah, can't miss the family resemblance," Mercury sighed, being reminded that yes, the Arcs were indeed related was something he could have done without today.
"But I thought Jaune-" Emerald said before she caught Mercury's warning look to drop it.
"Jaune? Did something happen to him?" Saphron's mirth evaporated to be replaced with worry.
"Nah, he's uh, working again." Mercury struggled to come up with a viable explanation before giving up and giving a very truncated version of the truth. "He's here in Argus, we're just popping down to Atlas to confirm a few things in person. Everything's fine really."
"He's in the neighbourhood and he couldn't be bothered to visit, nice, very nice," Saphron drawled, annoyance dripping from every word.
"You know how it is," Mercury said.
"I know, but I don't like it," She said crossly.
"Unca Mercury, are you coming to visit? Can you show me more of your moves? Like those kicka-" Adrian began, missing his mother's dour mood before Mercury quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Whoa, whoa, no need to finish that," Mercury said in a panic, eyes flicking nervously over to Terra who was now smiling way too sweetly for his wellbeing.
"No, no, what was that word sweetie? Did you pick it up from Unca Mercury?"
"I didn't teach him that, I swear!" Mercury protested his innocence as Emerald watched on in amusement.
"Is that so? But I still think we need to have a chat about what language is appropriate for use around young children." Terra's merciless eyes brooked no compromise.
"Aha… haha… hah… haha…" All Mercury could do was laugh nervously.
"Explain please?" Emerald prodded Mercury with a boot as he lay on the ground staring off into the night sky. The Cotta-Arc family were now safely indoors cleaning up after dinner and getting Adrian ready for bed, which left their two guests enough alone time to have a private conversation.
"What's to say?" He replied. "I already told you, I was a bodyguard for a year, then I sorta became the family friend and that one honorary uncle who's a bad influence on children."
"No I get that, I'm asking what the hell you're doing as a bodyguard at all, didn't… you know, Jaune get disowned and all that?" Emerald asked.
"He did, to keep his family safe from reprisal. Then when one of his sisters went beyond his ability to safeguard, he sent me."
"I see, I thought he didn't care about them anymore, he doesn't talk about them much-at all actually," Emerald muttered.
"Ha! He's the bastard that ripped Vacuo apart for revenge after someone whacked a few random goons of his, you think someone that cares that much for nobodies can throw away his own family that easily?" Mercury chuckled. "He's fucked up, but… for all his faults, his care for those in his life cannot be impugned."
"Careful there, you're gonna make him sound like a saint at this rate," Emerald warned in jest.
"Nah, the trick is, if you're not someone he cares about, he'll steamroll your life without blinking," Mercury replied. "His family is a weakness, he doesn't talk about them much to avoid drawing unwanted attention. But I've seen what he does to people who try anyways, believe me Em, if you for whatever reason decide to try and go after Jaune's family, you better kill him first, because never mind me, he'll hunt you down to the end of the world for even thinking about it. And if he catches you… better save one last bullet for yourself, it's mercy."
"Whoa, relax Merc, I have no quarrel with them. Just curious, that's all," Emerald placated. "It… must be nice though, to have a family that cares like that. Some people have all the luck."
"Tell me about it," Mercury agreed. "I'm not saying I'm jealous, but I'm not saying I'm not either."
"Yeah… that Adrian's a pretty cute kid though, but those eyes are unfair, I still don't understand how he managed to con me out of my weapons," Emerald muttered.
"Heh, little booger's already convinced me to demonstrate basically all my moves now. He probably knows more about my fighting style than anyone else in the worl-halt! Who goes there!" Mercury shot to his feet when he spotted movement out of the corner of his eyes.
Two shadows had detached from the treeline and vaulted the walls of the Cotta-Arc property. Mercury had already deactivated the safeties on his boots and was about to leap into action when he realised he recognised them. "Jaune?"
"Mercury?" Jaune lowered his knuckle dusters encased fists and squinted into the darkness. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Ran into them on the streets earlier, they invited us in for dinner," Mercury replied. "Em's here too."
"Ah hell, fine, fine, it's fine." Jaune threw his hands up in exasperation. "You did follow protocol, right?"
"Of course I did, I'm not an amateur Jaune," Mercury said with a flat tone, then blinked as Jaune's presence finally registered properly. "If you're here now, are you… actually here for a visit?"
"Yeah, I haven't seen any of them in years, and well, given current events, I'd be an idiot to give up the chance," Jaune said, smiling bitterly. "Are they still up?"
"Yep, come on boss, they'll want to see you asap." Mercury jerked a thumb towards the main door, the porch light still brightly lit and warmly beckoning.
Jaune sucked in a deep breath, mustering up what courage he had and strode forwards, Grey right behind him. Knocking on the door and standing at attention, Jaune's eyes stung when it flung open, the bright lights inside searing after spending so much time in the darkness outside.
"The door's unlocked Mercu-Jaune!? You're heraack!" Saprhon's words were cut off by a bearhug from her sibling.
"I've missed you Saph, it's good to see you again," Jaune squeezed tighter before finally letting his sister go.
"Oof, it's nice to see you again toom, you big meathead. Come, come in!" Saphron all but dragged Jaune into the house. "Terra! Adrian! Look who came to visit!"
"More visitors? Now?" Terra's confused reply echoed down the stairs.
"Mmmrgh?" Adrian rubbed his eyes blearily as he emerged wearing pyjamas and a sleeping cap. "Unca… Unca Jaune?"
"Hey there squirt, you've grown so tall now." Jaune moved over to his nephew slowly, kneeling down to eye level. It was hard to believe Adrian had grown up so much, the last time he saw the kid, Adrian had just barely left babyhood behind. Yet another bitter reminder of how much he missed while handling things in Vale.
Adrian glanced unsurely at Jaune, he couldn't remember much of the last time he'd seen his uncle in person, but he'd heard all the stories from his mother and Jaune had sent over plenty of gifts even though he couldn't make it in person. Reaching out with small arms, Adrian gave his uncle a hug, and after a second of surprise and unease, Jaune returned it.
"I don't care what they have to say! Get her the best ward, the best doctors, the best everything!" Weiss roared into her scroll. "This is not up for debate!"
"…"
"No! I am not abusing my authority as councilwoman. I am paying for it all out of my own pocket, the taxpayers won't have to foot anything!" Weiss thundered. "I don't care how much it costs! I am Weiss Fucking Schnee!"
"…"
"To hell with their concerns! If any of the doctors ask, point out who's signing their paycheques! Is it me!? Or those racists!? And so help me god if I find out my friend received any kind of substandard care while in the hospital."
"…"
"Then get the readings to Doctor Polendina or his daughter! They can make sense of it!"
"…"
"Of course get the others checked! What else would they be at the hospital for!?"
"…"
"Get it done." Weiss snarled and hung up, glaring at the scroll hatefully. It took a monumental amount of willpower to not violently hurl the device into the wall.
Things had not been going well recently to say the least. The nightmares still plagued her and the Replicants were refusing to relent, constantly causing more and more trouble for her. Sending team RRBYN to Vacuo had been a mixed bag in the end, the mad doctor was silenced but with her died any leads on the case. To cap it off, Blake had been hit by some kind of chemical weapon and had to be badly electrocuted to be stabilised.
Now she was in the hospital recovering and Weiss once again had to deal with thrice blasted racists who'd prefer to let her friend die just because she was a faunus. Not to mention the other members of the team had been exposed as well, the gods only knew what kind of effects the weapon had on them. But because they weren't Atlesians, even if they were human, they were evidently of lower priority.
Weiss was vexed in the extreme. And her day was about to get even worse.
A knock at the door drew her attention. "Yes?"
"Ma'am, it's Clover. We… have a problem." Came the reply.
"Haaah… when it rains, it pours. Come in!" Weiss sighed.
Clover shuffled in nervously and dutifully recited the poem displayed on the CRT monitor in the corner.
"What's the issue?" Weiss asked curtly.
"We… I'm sorry Ma'am Councilwoman. We'd like you to come in for questioning, please don't make us have to arrest you." Clover bowed his head in shame.
"Arrest!? Excuse me!?" Weiss was taken aback by the sudden declaration. "O-on what grounds!?"
"I'm sorry Ms Schnee, but you've been implicated in two suspected murders."
"What!?" Weiss roared, incredulous at the claims being laid at her feet.
"The evidence speaks for itself, I suspect it's enemy action by the Replicants, but their frame job is too well done, we can't find any holes at the moment," Clover spat out.
"I… this is outrageous. So now on top of everything else I need to do, I have to clear my name too!? Is that what you're saying Specialist?" Weiss asked.
"I'm… afraid so. It's a bastardly plan, but there's nothing we can do. They've done enough to get Article 15 invoked." Clover said and Weiss fought the urge to bury her face in her hands and scream.
Article 15 had been a joke for much of her career as councilwoman. It was a countermeasure against the Schnees, since Winter and herself controlled three of the five votes on the council, it was there to prevent the two of them from running roughshod over the kingdom.
In the name of public interest, it waived their immunity from prosecution and mandated that all probable crimes beyond a certain degree of seriousness and amount of evidence were to be investigated and pursued. There had been a number of attempt to drag one or both sisters down over the years with false accusations, but none of the claims ever stood up to scrutiny.
With Replicants who could easily look like Weiss on the other hand, that was a problem not accounted for when Article 15 was written.
"Alright, if Article 15 is invoked, there's nothing more I can do. I'll come quietly." Weiss sighed, there would be hell to pay for this, but for now, her hands were tied.
"Thank you Ma'am. For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"Don't be, you're just doing your duty," Weiss said. "Whose murders am I being accused off?"
"Henry Marigold and… Jacques Schnee."
Author's notes: Took longer to get out than I thought, but the chapter is done at last.