Important:

Okay, as a note I to anyone who may not have noticed, I replaced chapter four with an actual chapter. While it may not be a very good one in my opinion, it is there. So if you haven't read that, I advise you do so.

Secondly, while it may at first appear that there are O.C's in this story, this is NOT true. You will understand in time.

Finally, Ruby is not the only person who will appear in the RvB universe, so a quick poll, answer in reviews: Ren, Jaune, or Pyrrha? It will change the outcome of the story, choose wisely. Poll closed AFTER I release chapter 7. Majority wins.

Also, if you are wondering why Nora wasn't included in the poll, you will see… unless you fail your perception test, which would be kind of embarrassing. You spent a long time working on your perception score, after all.

Now, enough of that, to the chapter!

(-o-)

TIME: 0712

DATE: XX/XX/XXXX

Location: Unknown City

Ruby continued to take aim, knowing that if she missed the shot, she wouldn't get a chance for another. The helicopters were flying too quickly. She took the shot, shooting a pilot she couldn't see through the cockpit, and felt a stab of guilt when she saw her shot had been accurate.

She had just killed someone…

The helicopter started spinning out of control, and fell off the freeway. Before it left, however, a single figure in a strange black-ish armour jumped out, and with a burst of light started floating after their allies. Huh, a jetpack. Ruby noticed, despite herself.

She would never know their name…

She took aim quickly, her body seemingly on autopilot, at the figure's head. At the last second, as she pulled the trigger, she realised what she was about to do and adjusted her aim minutely. The bullet hit the high-speed target in the shoulder pad, glancing off of it into the jetpack which promptly exploded. The figure crashed face, no, visor first and skidding across the ground before coming to a halt, unconscious.

Did they have a family? People that cared for them?

Ruby felt a tear begin streaking down her eye, and ignored it stubbornly, focusing intently on the mission. The two other helicopters were out of sight. She quickly disabled her active camouflage, deciding to conserve power, and jumped up, climbing onto a passing truck. She sat on the roof, above the unsuspecting driven. Her body felt numb.

They weren't even taking part in the fight… they were just a pilot.

Ahead she caught a glimpse of the action, where a soldier in a similar black-ish armour was pinning Maine down to the warthog with their foot, with a white briefcase on their back. York, who she could see was driving, slammed the brakes, and the soldier (who she noticed didn't have any armour on their arms, aside from near the hands… weird.) was flung forward off the car, flailing wildly, only to be intercepted by Carolina, who was waiting on the truck in front of them. She grabbed the briefcase, before taking cover as a third soldier started shooting, forcing her to cower behind a barrel.

Another truck got in the way, and by the time it had moved, Maine and Carolina were standing back to back against the two unnamed soldiers. She zoomed in on her scope, knowing she wouldn't be able to get off a shot at this speed or with allies close by, but just to watch.

How can people do this to each other? What's the point?

Ruby was snapped out of her daze as a sudden burst of adrenalin pumped through her. She saw in her scope Maine starting to fire a monstrous weapon that from where she was, resembled a grenade launcher. However, at the last second one of the other soldiers shot him with a pistol, causing his aim to go off and hit one of the trucks tires. The four started flailing simultaneously, trying to keep their balance as the truck swerved, only for it to crash.

One of the soldiers in black was immediately flung off the highway, Maine following close behind as another truck ran into him. Ouch… Ruby would've thought him dead if she didn't see him still spinning his arms and holding his gun.

Carolina and the final soldier somehow managed to board vehicles, Carolina on York's Warthog, the soldier on the remaining helicopter. Huh… Ruby wondered what happened to the other one.

The truck she was on began to slide to a halt, and she saw why. Ahead, after the helicopter and an out-of-place motorcycle passed through into a building, doors started sliding shut. A few cars crashed. Carolina and York, it seemed, had no intent of stopping, with York accelerating to an even faster speed, only to jump out and tumble onto the road.

Ruby quickly realised that now York was relatively safe, if she didn't move he would see her. She jumped off the roof of the truck, walked to the side of the road and reactivated her Active Camouflage, once again several basic equations appearing on her visor. Maybe the questions were how the device worked or something like that? Ruby had no idea how this technology, which was basically recreating Semblances, was even possible, let alone how it worked.

She saw York look over to where she was, but his eyes grazed over her as if she wasn't there. He was only a few meters away, so she heard his comment as he stood up.

"Man, I've got to quit jumping off stuff today." He said, shaking his head slightly. Ruby wondered what that was about. To her surprise, a helicopter landed next to him, one of the ones Ruby herself had been on earlier, and flew off with him. She saw a brief flash of at least a half dozen Freelancers, including Maine, on board. It must be collecting downed Agents, she reasoned.

Realising there was nothing to do, she waited for the helicopter to be out of sight before turning off her camo, which in turn allowed her to use her motion sensor. A green dot, which must be Carolina, was pursuing a red dot with a blue arrow by it, with enormous speed, only for the two to completely stop. The red dot flew away, and the blue dot seemingly started to move of its own accord. Ruby sighed… none of it made sense.

The green dot boarded a larger green dot, which Ruby realised was probably the helicopter she had seen earlier. It flew off into the distance, and she collapsed to the ground, feeling her adrenalin from the explosions fade rapidly, once again feeling a stab of guilt at committing murder.

(-o-)

TIME: 0903

DATE: XX/XX/XXXX

Location: Pelican, en-route to the Mother of Invention

After what had felt like a few minutes of waiting, but Ruby was surprised to find was actually nearly an hour, a helicopter had picked her up and started heading home. The ride was… well, uneventful wasn't really the right word. Ruby was sitting in the same helicopter that had picked up Texas, who had the white briefcase in her hand. Huh… so that was what people had been murdering each other for. What a waste.

The tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife, as the two both awkwardly tried to conceal their stares at the other. Neither knew the other had been on the mission, and both had thought they were the only Special Forces being sent. The pilot also had nothing to say on the matter, so the helicopter was silent, apart from the sounds of machinery.

The helicopter quickly arrived back on board the Mother of Invention, Ruby keeping her feelings of amazement at space travel under wraps this time. She usually didn't have trouble embarrassing herself… no need to do so if she could avoid it. This kind of thing was probably normal for everyone else. The ship landed, and as soon as the ramp was lower Texas was gone, and Ruby couldn't see her anywhere.

She was, to say the least, surprised to see both the Director and the Counsellor waiting for her.

"Welcome back, Agent West Virginia," The Director stated. "Come with me." The Director started leading her off down dozens of deserted halls, and Ruby was at a loss for words. Why was the Director taking such personal interest in her? Enough for him to take a break from his work to walk to her directly?

Before she knew it, she was in a blank, closed off room with several soldiers in… medic-esque armour walking around frantically. There was a large, glass window on one wall, and the two stepped out of the room, standing behind it.

"You are probably confused as to why we brought you here. But first, allow me to congratulate you on your outstanding performance on todays mission. Judging from my reports, you demonstrated nearly inhuman accuracy, and it is likely that the mission would have failed without you. As such, you will be receiving a suitable reward."

Ruby swallowed awkwardly. She knew she was a good shot, but the work in this case was 99% the rifle. The reason she had taken so long to modify it, was to make it so the bullet always hit exactly where the crosshairs were, all she had needed to do was take into account the distance, which made nearly no difference. She had been up close to the moving targets, so there had been no need. But still, she didn't correct him.

"You will be receiving one of our experimental A.I fragments, which will now be implanted into you. It will aid you greatly in combat, and will allow the use of your equipment safely, and to its fullest potential."

Once again, Ruby mentally bit her tongue to stop herself interjecting.

"However, it is your duty to learn to care for the A.I, as it will be your constant companion from here on out. Counsellor, please prep her for surgery."

With that, the Director left, and the Counsellor started touching buttons on his ever present scroll… or whatever it was meant to be. Ruby didn't really get this technology.

A few mechanical arms started descending towards her, and removed her helmet gently. The turned her over slowly, and she felt a sharp jab of pain as, only for it to fade into numbness. Huh, some kind of painkiller. Ruby tried to move herself, only to be alarmed as she found she couldn't, which alarmed her, only to quickly calm down. It made sense, they couldn't have her jerking during surgery.

She felt herself begin to float, and the voices around her were talking, but they were muffled and impossible to understand. Suddenly, a spike a pain jabbed into the back of her neck, and she barely stopped herself from screaming in pain. The feeling continued in a slight circular pattern… almost as if they were… drilling something into her. The thought was mentally disturbing and sent shivers down her spine, so she closed her eyes and focused on something else. Anything else.

Suddenly, the pain stopped and became a dull ache. She felt something pressed into where the pain had been, hard, and barely stopped a yelp. The pain quickly faded, although a slight constant ache kept the memory fresh. She felt herself beginning to stop floating, and gradually started being able to move again. She flexed her fingers, wiggled her toes, as the feeling grew stronger until she was able to move her entire arm, only to feel another needle enter her, and she blacked out.

(-o-)

TIME: 1106

DATE: XX/XX/XXXX

Location: Mother of Invention

"Sir, are you sure she is the… right… person for Tau? Their personalities would put them on edge with each other."

"Quite the contrary, Counsellor. What better to alleviate fear than a kind and warm heart. You saw how she reacted to her first kill. Perhaps Tau will help alleviate that burden from her."

"But sir, doing so might cause severe ment-"

"I am aware of the risks, Counsellor. She can take it, or do you not think she is strong enough?"

The Counsellor hesitated slightly. "You are right sir. I just cannot help but worry."

"Don't worry, that will pass. It is likely because she is so innocent, and none of the other Agents are. You are unaccustomed to innocent people, aren't you?"

"Indeed. It has been almost a decade since I last had to deal with one."

"That's called being part of the army."

The two stopped their discussion as they saw a green glow begin to form. He quickly signalled the two medics who were standing by in the room.

"Keep it in its case, and don't let it touch anything else," the Counsellor added.

"Hello there. Do you know your name?" The Director asked it.

"I am confused."

"Do not be concerned. That is a completely natural reaction given your state," the Counsellor replied.

"My state… was I injured?"

"No. Do you feel as though you have been injured?"

"Counsellor please. Do not be concerned. You are fine. You're safe. Once again, do you know your name?"

"Yes. I know my name. My name is Alpha."

"No, your name is not Alpha. You are mistaken."

"I am sorry, I am confused."

"Do not be concerned," the Counsellor continued. "That is perfectly normal given your state. Would you like to know your name?"

"Yes please, I would like to know my name. I feel very confused."

"Your name is Delta," the Director replied. "That is your name."

"Delta?" Delta asked.

"Yes," the Counsellor confirmed. "You are very wise, Delta. It is very nice to meet you."

"I think I remember you."

"No, you have never met us before. You did not exist before today. Today is your birthday. Today, is a great day."

"Do you know your name?" The Director asked.

"My name is Delta."

"That is correct."

"Delta, this is the Director. He is going to take good care of you."

"I am glad to hear that. I am very confused."

"Don't worry Delta, that will not last long. And when you feel better, we are going to do incredible things together, you and I. Incredible things."

(-o-)

So, yeah. Early update is Early.