Chapter 14

A/N: Oh it's so good to be back, everyone. I'm so sorry for the long wait. I was delayed because of school, so much is happening, so I thank you guys for being so patient with me, and sorry once again that you had to wait for so long to get another update up for any of my stories.

But I like to say that I am still writing, because it is something I love to do and I love to put smiles on other peoples faces when they read something, hopefully mine, and they feel much better.

And you guys are so awesome in that.

And I'm glad to see that you guys really love Becoming Human still, thank you.

So as a usual thing to say, since I've been gone for a bit, writing maybe a little rusty so please bear with me. But I'll always give it my all whenever I write.

A note, there will be some edits to the other chapters of this story so it can be good with the current plot that has been changed ever so slightly, so thank you for the understanding.

And to go in advanced, this chapter is shorter than usual since I do have limited time, though I wanted to get this out of the way to be keep my inspiration up. I'll make sure other updates will be much longer.

SO without further delay, welcome back to Becoming Human.

Two months later, Beacon Academy...

Some time has passed since the deployment to the village. Much to Riley's chagrin, it was something that had both positive and negative sides to it.

The positive side of things was the villagers were evacuated and taken behind the walls of the kingdom. That and he managed to get more experience in the field on how to fight various types of Grimm when he would have another incursion out into the wilderness again. As well getting on better relations with Ozpin, Ironwood and numerous other staff members of the academy.

A few downsides would be that he had caused a little bit of collateral damage to the faculty, broken windows and a small crater outside near the entrance. And the usual berating the ODST would get from Glynda as she would always "correct" him on certain things.

But needless to say, things were looking up for Riley. He would be called on for Huntsmen assignments from time to time, but they were few and far between. Instructing the First Years were getting a little better, though there was Coco to deal with he still demanded for her shades.

As he would say, "No pain, no gain." A hurtful but good truth.

For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was actually feeling a little bit of peace, and even some hope for himself, the feeling ever growing as the days passed on by.

Today, it was another slow day for Riley all things considered. His class had just recently ended with the students now scurrying to leave the place to get to their next class. As usual, Coco demanded for her shades from the ODST, only to get the same response in return.

Now all alone, Riley now got onto the floor to begin his daily routine of exercise, starting off with fifty push ups before transitioning to twenty one armed push ups on both arms. Soon after that, forty sits ups and

Sweat dripped down his chin as he was completing the final ten of twenty one armed push ups on the left when the door opened to the classroom. Looking over, he saw it was his handler, Glynda. "Miss... huff ... Goodwitch... To what... huff... I owe the pleasure to...?" He asked with each push up.

The Huntress shook her head with her arms crossed before leaning on one of the rows looking at him. "I just came here to see your report on today's lesson."

Reaching ten, Riley stood up from the ground and stretched his arms, the sweat sticking to his body and shining from the light sources within the room. He panted for a moment with nod as he held out his hand to indicated he needed a bit.

"Well, goes to say, the students are getting better at fighting hand to hand combat. Some are better than others because of their styles of fighting, but we're not moving onto their weapons until everyone is at an adept level."

Glynda nodded at this with her Scroll in hand to have his words recorded on. "I see. I do hope you know what you're doing with them since Huntsmen need their weapons to fight."

"All depends on location, Miss Goodwitch. Speaking form experience, you can't bring in a rocket launcher into a building since it's too close and might blow yourself up. So hand to hand combat is needed if they're to ever fight against an insurrection."

Glynda was about to reply before her Scroll beeped a soft tone. Looking at the screen, she sighed before nodding. "It appears you are needed up at Prof. Ozpin's office right now, Mr. O'Neil. General Ironwood wants to have a wood with you."

"... Why can't the damn Brass leave me alone for one day?" Riley muttered under his breath before nodding begrudgingly. "Fine. Just let them know that I need to get somethings together."

"I'll notify them. Just be sure you won't take long. The General isn't the best in waiting at times," Glynda replied back as she was typing on her Scroll.

Later...

The ODST was in Ozpin's office as he had his arms crossed, a small glare on his face. "What is it, James? I was about to have my lunch before you called for me."

Ironwood nodded as he walked over, hands behind his back with a short sigh. "Forgive me for interrupting you, Riley. But I just have a few questions regarding about your encounter with the White Fang back in the Vale Territorial Expansions."

"Didn't we talk about this already a couple weeks ago?" Riley asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We did. But one crucial detail in your report was bothering me for quite sometime." Ironwood then took a seat across from Riley with his hands beneath his chin. "The fact that you said that a human was with them. Because with what we both know is that the White Fang will attack any human on sight, granted not within city limits for reasons unknown. Do you think you could shed some light on the subject?"

Riley sighed before taking a seat himself as he rubbed his hands together. "C'mon, you gotta think a little more, right? Here, I'll say this. The White Fang are a group of insurgents, can you agree with that, James?"

"I can see why. Continue."

"Well, from what I know about insurgents is that they're not just in one location all the time, or are they always grouped up together. Assuming this, they're working in individual cells while they're linked together in communication."

The look on Riley's face was now steeled with another sigh. "I want to safely assume that they were paid off by that woman I encountered."

Ironwood was surprised at this theory that his fellow colleague proposed. It was something that most people wouldn't assume right off the bat. "Paid? That can't be possible."

"Think about it. Each cell is led by it's own leader that reports back to the commanding one, like how officers in an army are leaders over a certain amount of soldiers while they still report to the general. But for cells, some struggle. So the theory is that they must've been desperate, low on funds to conduct their operations."

"So what you're saying is that were hired then to get you?"

"That or kill me if I didn't cooperate. Another piece of evidence is them retreating before I was extracted out of the area. They would've kept fighting from what I've seen and heard. But they fell back. So that narrows things down."

"So this White Fang cell then must be working for this individual up to now?"

"That's what I'd like to say, and I hope they left, otherwise we're dealing with not just fanatics, but a desperate group of fanatics."

"This will prove problematic then to deal with," Ironwood responded before thanking Riley. "Thank you for your opinion, Riley, this will prove useful."

"Yeah, you're welcome. Now, I'd like to-"

The ODST then froze. He heard beeping coming from one of his pant's pockets with widened eyes staring down at it with alarm. "What? No, that's not right, it shouldn't be like this... Unless..." He mumbled to himself before standing up and rushed over to the elevator.

Ironwood saw his distress and stood up himself. "Riley, are you okay? What's troubling you?"

"N-Nothing! I just realized I left the water running back in my room! Sorry!" He stuttered back before the elevator doors closed as he got in.

The Atlas General just had an eyebrow raised before he heard beeping of his own coming from his Scroll. Taking it out, he saw it was from one of his surveillance officers. Answering it, he replied, "Report." A moment passed by before his eyes widened themselves as he almost lost grip on his device. "Get the men ready."

Riley's Room...

The ODST was back in his room as he was at his desk, hands placed on the edge as he stared intently in front of him. His eyes were steeled as he was thinking deeply. His ODST helmet laid on the desk with the area for the head to be in was pointed at him.

Heather was standing on the desk seeing his troubled look and sighed as she placed with her holographic hair nervously. She knew what was going on thanks to protocols, but. "Riley-"

"I know Heather... It... I just couldn't think this was possible... Just... Just play the message, would you?" Riley asked her quickly without batting an eye at her.

"Um... Okay then..."

A moment passed before a voice was heard coming from his helmet, a voice he knew all too well since he grew up with it.

"Trooper, this is the Eighth Fleet, we have found your signal. We require specific coordinates so we can send send in a team to extract you, over. We'll be in orbit around the planet's surface."

Riley sighed deeply before standing up straight. "So... You're here... Just how...?" Being silent for a good moment, he reached for his helmet and placed it on his head with his eyes closed.

With a deep breath, he opened his eyes and nodded. "Heather, activate protocol Delta-Bravo-9... I'm calling it in..."

Heather nodded as she did a couple swipes on her holo keyboard and gave him a thumbs up. "You're ready, Riley. Start whenever."

The ODST sighed as he looked out the window and strode over to it. Looking up at the sky, he knew what he was looking at beyond the clear winter sky. "Now or never..." He closed his eyes again before sighing deeply.

"... UNSC Eighth Fleet... This is Sergeant Riley O'Neil... Here and reporting for duty..."

A few moments went by before he heard a voice respond back, the same one behind the message. "Oh my God... It's good to hear from you, Riley."

A small smile formed on Riley's lips as tears formed behind his eyes. "It's good to hear from you... Patrick..."

Well, didn't expect that huh? Or if you were, then congrats, you deserve to have a cookie then. But, what will happen now that they're here now?

As usual, reviews are welcomed, both good and bad.

And as always, see you in the next update!