Chapter 12
A/N: Guys, I just to tell you how blessed I am to have this much love and support coming from you with this story. This means soo much to me that I consider you guys as my second family, people who love to see my work and give it either good or bad comments.
Again, it truly blesses me that you people support me.
And some of you maybe confused at what happened at the end of the last chapter. Regarding about Patrick and Riley. They are brothers, with Patrick being the older of the two. But if some of you are wondering about a brother named Jackie/Jackson, that's another story. Just wanted to clarify.
Well, let us start off on the next chapter, shall we?
Location: Beacon Academy, Library
Time: 2149, Two weeks after the 79th Remnant Color War Anniversary
Riley
Heather had her head tilted at her host seeing him continuously pacing around a round table he hijacked over two hours ago from a group of students that used it for studying. How he managed to convince them was taking out his knife and stabbed it through the table making them flee for their lives.
Able to gain the trust of the academy's A.I, Heather managed to get into the archives in the library to give Riley some reading material that he asked to obtain. Mostly history books about each kingdom that dotted Remnant. Blue holographic screens floated above the table that spun around slowly. She did know that he was a bit of a booknut, but she never witnessed it. Now that she was, Heather merely saw him walk to another side of the table looking at a certain article.
"Mantle... A rather defunked kingdom... Changed it's name multiple times... Academy and government work together... Specialist Division... Some speculate the kingdom spurred the war... Interesting... Just like the Insurrection..." Riley muttered quietly to himself. His knife was in his grasp being twirled around between fingers of his right hand.
"Ummmm... Riley?" Heather spoke up at him playing around with her holohair.
The ODST brought his gaze over to her with an eyebrow raised. "Yeah? Got something to say, Heather?"
"Well, you've been here for over two hours... Not to mention having to terrorize a group of First Years to acquire this table," The A.I pointed out with a mixture of annoyance and confusion on her face.
"Just wanting to learn more about Remnant, Heather. I need a better understanding of it. Also about Huntsmen as well. It was like that in training learning about all those damn Covies and their races... Well, what we know. And tell me, what's the time again?" Riley asked her finally rubbing his eyes from what felt like forever to him.
"It's 9:53 now."
"Huh, guess I got carried away in this," Riley chuckled back returning his attention back to the articles, chapters and notes he made about the kingdoms and how they differ.
Riley soon lost himself once again into the words that seemed to have taken him into another realm of existence, lore and history swimming through his head. Images flashed through his head of all the different cultures, life and politics of each kingdom.
A hum soon came from him as he read. Longer, it turned into incoherent words, soon soft mumbles of legible words. "Gafflwn Dihenydd O'r fuddugol yn wiriol sydd, Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu, Falch ydy ni I drochu, Traed o flaen I'r Annwn, mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni," He sang softly to himself from instinct. A song that many ODSTs knew so well, always sung when a fellow trooper dies in battle and buried with the same men from the battalion. Plus, he is of Welsh descent making the song much easier to memorize.
He was deeply engrossed into the holographic screens that he didn't notice the familiar grey haired man walking up towards him with a small smile upon his face. "Mr. O'Neil, I see you're still up at this hour."
Riley looked away from the holoscreens to see Ozpin walking towards him. He always thought why the man usually brought a mug around him everywhere, perhaps one day he'll find out why. "Not feeling that tired. 'sides, just wanted to brush up more of my history with Remnant since I heard about the exchange student program," The ODST replied to him, gesturing to all the floating screens.
The smile on Ozpin's face grew ever more slightly at this. "Never took you to read this type of information, in no offence to you."
Heather threw her arms up in amazement that someone shared her opinion. "I know! It weirded me out to see him do this sorta stuff!" She exclaimed.
Both men merely laughed at the small rant Heather gave them as they faced each other. Ozpin took a sip from what seemed to be an endless amount of coffee from his mug looking at Riley. "Tell me, as I approached you, you were singing something. Does it represent any meaning?"
Riley sighed in embarrassment which was visible with him rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, must've came out when I got pretty deep into the info here." Pushing against the table standing up straight, Riley clapped his hands together with a nod. "You know the nickname of the ODSTs if you recall from one of our many meetings?" He asked to clarify.
Ozpin chuckled remembering the infamous name. "The Helljumpers, how could I forget? It's a name that'll stick out."
"I know, whoever came up with that name is completely brilliant and also an asshole. That's besides the point." Riley then pursed his lips out, bitting the lower one. "How did it go again... It goes something like this." The ODST cleared his throat to speak it clearly. "We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us we are glad to plunge feet first into Annwn in the knowledge that we will rise."
"Well, I'll say that is quite something I can agree from all your documents about them. You certainly do cheat death. But tell clarify, what is the Annwn?"
"Well, back when swords and arrows were still being used back in my universe, some group known as the vikings have an entire belief that if they die in battle with honor, they get to be taken to some grand place for feasts and celebration for their bravery. Annwn is basically something like that, or hell." The ODST then sighed deeply closing his eyes. "I cheated death many times already, Professor, when many of my men didn't. I even survived a nuclear explosion out of all the things that have been thrown at me."
Ozpin stood beside him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't let the past drag you down, Mr. O'Neil. Learn from your mistakes and grow from them."
The ODST nodded in return before recalling the recent article he read a few minutes. "I'm just surprised you let me teach the students how I do. Atlas seems to be an academy that really likes it's military doctrine."
"Ah, yes. I don't blame them. But that doesn't mean I don't agree with their course of action, forcing their students to serve their kingdom instead of Remnant." Ozpin casually took another sip looking Riley directly into the eye. "But, if there's one thing I know, it's good to expose the new generations of Huntsmen to new techniques. A good reason I let you teach the way you do is because Huntsmen don't only just hunt Grimm-"
"They protect the people," Riley finished for the Headmaster. "They need to know better teamwork and how to handle with civil unrest. That's also how the Faunus Rights Revolution began, just like the Insurrection back from where I'm from. So I can vouch."
"I'm glad you do. Now, I suggest you do get some sleep. It'll be a pretty busy day tomorrow. Word has gotten out about your exploits here and in the field."
Riley raised an eyebrow hearing this. "And who has heard this if I could ask?" A funny feeling started pooling up in the ODST's gut. Something just felt off as soon Ozpin told him that.
"He's a very busy man I'll say. He is also a close friend of mine, even if he is stubborn," Ozpin told Riley with a long sigh coming right after. "Although he can be quite an eyesore at times when visiting other kingdoms."
Riley merely shrugged at this. "I don't think that's really that bad. I could already tell this is a military officer coming into play."
Ozpin was surprised to hear this. How could he have figured it out already? But he took a deep breathe and continued to face the ODST. "Could be. How did you know though?"
"Your eyes said it all. Body language, even the subtlest ones always point it out. I've trained many Marines and seen their own body language saying about an officer coming on deck. A squad leader must always have eyes on their men to see how they feel."
The Headmaster nodded back. "Well, you are right, it is military. But a general. He'll be arriving by tomorrow, somewhere close to nine in the morning. Gladly, it's a non-instructional day tomorrow for the student body. Arrive in my office before nine."
Riley gave a salute in agreement. He then snapped his fingers with Heather nodding in affirmation. She waved her hand at the holoscreens causing them to fade away. The A.I disappeared before showing up again in Riley's right shoulder. "Don't worry, Prof. Ozpin, I'll make sure he wakes up in time."
Ozpin nodded back at the A.I. with a smile. "Alright. Good to know. I'll see you in the morning then."
The Headmaster took his leaving with the other two being left behind. Riley glanced at Heather with a snort. "I'm not going to wake up that late."
"Ha, ha. Two days ago, you refused to get up from bed until one in the afternoon."
"It was the weekend for Gods sake, Heather. Let it go already."
The Following Day...
Riley was jogging quickly towards Ozpin's office chugging coffee down at the same time from his thermos. Dressed in his outfit back from the first day of teaching his class, he took a small glance up into the sky and shook his head with a small grin. "Reminds me of Reach," He uttered out seeing the war vessels that flew in the limitless sky.
"That must be the general Prof. Ozpin was talking about," Heather chirped in his ear.
"Yeah. But you only need a small security detail. This guy brought at least almost an entire battalion here," Riley responded back. "At least Patrick didn't need an entire army to escort him from Reach to Earth for meetings."
"It's still noteworthy though about your brother. Same size as this fleet. Just one ship short of this fleet of six."
Quickening his pace, Riley passed by a few students who were in awe looking at the ships that were floating above them. Some took out their Scrolls to even take pictures of the fleet.
Reaching the elevator that would whisk him up to the Headmaster's office, Riley quickly looked himself over to see if he was decent. He did rush a bit back in the room when he was getting his shirt on while knocking some things over. "Relax, you look fine," Heather quipped.
"Says you, gotta at least look the part," The ODST replied back.
The ding of the elevator brought his attention forward with the doors sliding apart. And much to his chagrin, he widened his eyes. Ozpin and Glynda were in the office with a third person that he hasn't seen before. But one quick look at the clothing choice of the individual, he assumed it was the person he would be meeting.
"Mr. O'Neil, you're here. Come in," Ozpin greeted him as the ODST walked right in.
Riley nodded in return at Ozpin taking a sip of his own coffee. "Mornin' to all of you people too." He took another glance at the other person. Smacking his lips together, he placed his thermos in the left hand and stood at attention before the man. Snapping his right hand up into a salute, Riley addressed, "Good to see you here, Sir."
The man was taken aback hearing this from him before turning to look at Ozpin himself. "Oz, this is the soldier you have in your employment?"
"Indeed, James." Ozpin them motioned his hand towards Riley before motioning once again to the man. "Mr. O'Neil, I'd like you to meet General James Ironwood, Headmaster and General of Atlas Academy."
Riley subtly raised an eyebrow at this revelation. "Atlas huh?" He cleared his own throat before relaxing his posture prior to standing at attention. "Pleasure, General Ironwood."
Ironwood smiled a bit and shook his head. "Please, we're all friends here. No need for formalities. And it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Riley. I heard you're quite unique to Remnant."
Riley tensed up a bit hearing the last part. But he took his thermos back in the right hand and took a large gulp for a good does of caffeine. "You could say that. So, what brings you here, Ironwood?"
"Well, I heard the White Fang constantly attacking the railroads connecting Vale and Vacuo. I came to give support and protection with some of my men," Ironwood replied back. "Besides, winters in Vale aren't as harsh than the winters in Mantle."
"You think winters in Matle are harsh? The winters from the place I'm from are much more brutal," Riley replied back with a sigh. "Poor Quinn was almost frozen solid back in boot camp."
Ironwood chuckled at this and nodded. "Well, I'll take your word then."
"So, how is Atlas fairing, James?" Ozpin asked leaning forward onto his desk.
"It is doing fine, Oz. I suspect yours is doing well as I imagine?"
"Well, with the addition of Riley into our staff, I imagine that the new generation of Huntsmen will learn something new from him thanks to his own military training."
Ironwood then took a glance for himself at Riley and nodded. "Well, adding a bit of military training does go a long way. Although it is surprising to see you have it in Beacon, Oz."
"As much as I don't agree with it, I'm lenient enough to allow it. Riley here is teaching how to deal with civil unrest and if it does happen once again, insurrection. Glynda herself observed him for a week assessing his methods."
Ironwood looked at Glynda and smiled at her fondly. "So what do you think of him, Glynda?"
Glynda scoffed looking at Riley. After a long moment with a sigh at the end, she spoke. "I was shocked at first. Seeing him how he trained students. But I soon learned why he teaches the way he does after seeing video documents of what he does."
The General nodded before snapping his fingers. "That reminds me, Riley, what kind of soldier are you?" Ironwood asked with curiosity.
Riley bit his lip in thought looking at Ozpin for his opinion. All he got was a nod in return with a smile for the Headmaster. "Well, I'm a-"
He was then interrupted when Heather appeared on his shoulder with worry on her face. "Riley! Bad news! Villagers on the southern outskirts of Vale need assistance! Grimm are converging on the position!"
Riley quickly steeled his face and nodded. "Copy." He took a quick look at the three before him and sighed. "Sorry if I have to leave on such circumstances."
Ozpin nodded in return. "Do what you must, Riley."
"I will arrange a Bulkhead to take you to your location," Ironwood told the ODST. But much to his surprise, Riley shook his head as he walked towards the elevator.
"To slow. By the time I make it there, the villagers will be wiped out. Prof. Ozpin, tell Team CVFY to get over there. Heather will give you the coordinates of the place. I'll hold the fort down there," Riley responded.
"But how will you get there?" Ironwood asked in confusion.
All he got in return was a smirk from Riley as he stood in the elevator. "The best way I know how." The doors then shut before the elevator made it's way down.
Glynda shook her head hearing this crossing her arms. "He's going to get himself killed doing this. But I should let Team CVFY know of the situation. Evie?"
"It has already been done. Miss Goodwitch. Team CVFY has been notified and are now gearing up. Shall I get a locker ready for Mr. O'Neil?" Evie asked through a small terminal on Ozpin's desk.
"Please, he'll be arriving there shortly," Ozpin replied back.
All the while, Ironwood was just confused at what was going on. "Oz, what is going on? Why does he need a locker?"
To answer his question, they heard a small boom and glass breaking. A shadow passed over them causing the three to look up. To his shock, Ironwood saw a rocket powered locker flying southwards as fast as possible. "Don't tell me he's in that?" He questioned.
"Well, it shocked me at first too. But he has done it before," Ozpin replied back calmly with a smile. "He has proved in his line of work that it is effective."
"And what is his line of work?"
"Being an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper."
Location: Planet Reach
Time: 0421
Patrick
Patrick was busy getting some information embedded into his head looking at the available information that was provided to him from Zoey. Skimming over the articles over and over again. It was the same article that she showed him not so long ago about a tear between dimensions. And it sparked his hope back up from it's bottom end.
"This seems rather strange to me. There's no such thing as this ever happening," Gloria told her host sitting on the edge of the holotable.
"Well, you know the Spooks, Gloria. They usually have something so far up their own damn ass that it hurts to show it to the rest of the UNSC," Patrick replied back looking closely at it.
"Still, strange. But your wife is usually right about the things she shares with you," The Construct answered.
"She's the brains of the fleet." Patrick then felt something tugging on the fabric of his pants and looked down before smiling. "Carlyn, what are you doing up at this time? Shouldn't you be asleep with Mommy?" He asked scooping a little girl up into his arms.
Carlyn yawned tiredly while rubbing her eyes. She had dark brown red hair that stuck up thanks to cowlicks with droopy hazel eyes. "Mommy wants you back in bed, Daddy."
Patrick smiled and placed a quick peck on her forehead. "Okay. Daddy was just looking at some things since he couldn't sleep."
Gloria smiled as well seeing the daughter of her commander. "C'mon, Admiral. You gotta be a daddy now," She teased with a grin at Patrick.
"Oh shush it, Gloria. Just needed some exposition before consulting with Zoe."
"Well, see ya in a few hours, Pat," Gloria said before disappearing.
Patrick then felt his daughter nuzzle her face into his neck and sighed happily before hearing her breathe softly. "Already knocked out, huh?" He then began to walk towards his quarters occasionally bouncing his daughter. As he walked down the hallway, he began to think a bit.
"If you're alive, Riley, you better not be doing anything stupid. Mom will kill me in heaven if you did something stupid."
That is the end of another chapter of Becoming Human. Hope you guys liked it.
So, the UNSC are preparing to mobilize some of their forces to where Riley is. Tell me how you think the reunion between the brothers will be like?
Heds up, as of December 8, 2015, I'll be on a month long vacation. I'll be returning on January 8, 2016. I can be able to write to where I'm heading, just sporadic. So don't expect another update for quite awhile.
I also have a poll on my bio regarding about Renewed, my Dishonored and RWBY crossover.
PLus, I have another story coming out. Hope you guys will like it when it comes out. It is called Blood Vampire.