10
The Battle For Beacon
Destiny=Bungie
RWBY=Rooster Teeth
I thank you for all the support. Let's finish this.
/
"Harmony within, Hurricane without"-An old Stormcaller adage.
Beacon Academy was a battlefield. The White Fang had launched an assault on the academy a few hours ago, leading hordes of Grimm and their own operatives into the fight against students and staff. The battle ground down into a war of attrition.
With the arrival of Guardian Fireteams, it turned into pandemonium.
John loaded a new cylinder of ammunition into his Hawkmoon as he hunted for targets alongside his Fireteam. Kevin put a burst of rifle rounds into the next insurgent he saw. The man's finger tightened on the trigger of his weapon and he sent an arc of bullets into the wall. The Stormcaller kept his Monte Carlo shouldered as Hestia did the same thing with her Fabian Strategy rifle. Following them was Ruby and Yang. Jaune had gone after Pyrrha who had gotten a message from Ozpin. They didn't say a word.
Judging from the gunfire over the COM link, Xia's team and the others had made it onto the other landing pad but were encountering resistance. That didn't matter now, their first order of business was to re-establish contact with Weiss and Blake who had encountered White Fang troopers.
That was bad. Because early on before most of the communications network in Vale went down, there were reports of Adam Taurus being sighted in the vicinity.
"Contact." Kevin said as he kept his rifle up. Instead of Grimm or White Fang they were attacked by Atlesian robots.
"Take them down!" John snapped as they returned fire. Ruby sped up, her first strike decapitating one of the droids. He could hear Yang's gauntlets go off but the enemy fire wasn't petering out. There were a ton of the robot bastards in front of them.
"I thought these things were supposed to be friendly!" Yang cried out.
"Who cares!?" John retorted. "Kill them before they kill us!" He charged forward, firing his Hawkmoon at the enemy. Kevin and Hestia fired their rifles in unison, Kevin crouched and Hestia standing tall.
The droids were taken out in a moment's time and the small group of fighters moved on, killing anything in their path.
Kevin loaded a fresh magazine into his rifle as they took a pause at the Beacon grounds. "Sparky, get me an ammo synth." He said.
Popping out of invisibility, Sparky materialized said ammo synth in Kevin's palm. "Here you go."
"Whoa, what is that?" Ruby asked in wonder. Yang kept silent.
"Who." Kevin corrected her. "This is my Ghost, Sparky."
The Ghost bobbed in the air as it looked at Ruby with his photoreceptor. "Hi..." He said. "Sorry about not introducing myself when we first met you but uh we felt it prudent to keep all this secret."
"Why?" Yang asked. The tone would have made Kevin flinch.
"It wasn't meant to hurt any of you." Sparky answered before Kevin could get a word in. "Besides, would you have believed us if we told you that we came from space?"
It was a good point. Yang didn't concede to it though. "We would have..." She muttered.
"You would or you wouldn't." Sparky told her. "Look, Kevin's a bit stubborn sometimes. You guys noticed that right?"
At that Ruby giggled and Kevin grumbled.
"He actually thought you guys would be in danger if we told all if we told all of you." Sparky continued. "So...please, forgive him. He didn't mean to cause you guys any offense. I didn't either, so sorry about this. Really we are sorry about this."
Yang looked down. "So John and Hestia..."
"Yep, they have Ghosts too." Sparky affirmed cheerfully. "Even if Martellus is a bit of a jerk."
"That's not nice to say, Sparks." Martellus popped up next to Hestia's head.
"Enough with the chatter." John admonished both Ghosts. "Jingles, anything?"
"...No, other than our own connection with the Task Force." Jingles said. "The entire CCT system is overloaded with a Virus. It's going to take time that we do not have to fix the communications."
"Wonderful." Hestia commented. She then gestured with her rifle to the sounds of gunfire. "I guess we're headed that way then?"
"Right into the middle of a gunfight?" Ruby looked unsure. "I don't want to end up like Swiss cheese."
"There's an unspoken rule that you can find your buddies in a firefight." John spoke cheerfully. "Maybe we'll meet up with the others there."
"Oh, and Ruby?" John said grinning. "You won't end up like cheese. Just stand behind Hestia if you're scared."
"Ha. Ha." Hestia grumbled sarcastically.
Kevin shook his head. "I'll take point."
/
Xia Zhang's knife sliced through the insurgent's throat. The Hunter immediately pushed the corpse into the second insurgent, tripping her up. Xia took up her sidearm and shot the woman in the chest twice before finishing her off with a headshot.
She shook her head as she bent down to pick up her weapon, the Jade Rabbit Scout Rifle. Xia looked to see that Ivan had already dispatched his foe with a headshot from his Hung Jury. The tiny but powerful explosive bullet detonated immediately after.
Nils took out the last two with a blast from his shotgun. "Clear!" He called out. "The poor fucks never stood a chance!"
Ivan fired another shot at a fleeing White Fang, killing him with several body shots after the first one hit. "Clear." He announced coldly. "What's our destination, ma'am?"
Xia gestured to the sound of gunfire, the sound originating deeper into the academy's sprawling grounds. "We got where the action is." CFVY had gone on ahead to find survivors and to try to link up with them. Xia admired Coco Adel for her fortitude in this situation, but her objective was to link up with Fireteam Jackknife to hunt down a White Fang High Value Target that was reported in the area.
Some bastard named Adam Taurus, the big shot. Assuming they were successful in the air game, this would be a victory, a costly one. Xia wasn't going to spin this one positively. The battle was still a shitstorm in the making, even if there were marines on the ground alongside the Guardian fireteams that Edgar assigned to the duty of defending the City of Vale.
"That's the Cross Continental Transmit Tower isn't it?" Ivan asked. "Their main hub of communications."
"Yep." Xia nodded. "Sasha, advise the commander that the White Fang is trying to take out communications."
"Affirmative." Sasha did as she told and updated the commander on the situation. Xia knew Edgar would be busy with the hijacked ship. They had encountered many of the rogue Atlesian robots. If anything they were no match for Emeici.
Xia hoped Jackknife didn't have too much trouble. It would look embarrassing in the paperwork if any of them were down.
The Hunter shook her head of such things. Now was not the time to wonder, she was here to kill and judging from the sounds of battle there would be much more death to be dispensed.
"We move, children. Now!" She barked out as more rogue Atlesian Knights approached from the forest. She fired at them without hesitation as Ivan and Nils guarded her flanks.
/
Atlesian Command Airship, Hangar Bay...
If there was one thing that James Ironwood was sure about, it was that his newfound allies were completely insane. Edgar Gein, as the man in the Jackal Mask had introduced himself, had personally piloted and crashed their transport shuttle in the hangar bay of his personal flagship.
He had fully intended to storm the ship with a bodyguard, but thinking about it now he was glad for the backup. The moment the transport craft ground to a halt, Edgar readied his weapon and his two subordinates. One of them, a hulking giant in thick armor plating by the name of Loki, kicked the landing ramp down and opened fire on the combined force of Atlesian Knights and White Fang insurgents in the hangar bay. His machine gun roared in defiance as bullets pinged uselessly off his armor. Loki kept up the fire as Keina Duvall took the left and Edgar took right.
James watched as Keina fired a glowing, purple arrow into the midst of the androids trapping them with tethers from the point of impact. With an almost lazy flick of his wrist Edgar threw a ball of energy that wiped them out in a loud bang that echoed in the hangar.
The fight lasted mere moments. James Ironwood exhaled as he loaded new shells into his revolver.
"General." Edgar said calmly. "Our destination is the bridge, I suppose you have a route planned out?"
"I did, but it's probably going to be full of rogue androids." Ironwood answered, still unsure as to why he was answering this person. Edgar and his ilk were unknowns, claiming to be 'warriors from another world'. It sounded preposterous but the way they fought...
They were powerful men and women. Powerful, but merciless. The fact that Kevin Holden was under Edgar's command shocked him to the core. It still rankled him that there was another faction on Remnant right under his nose and he had not known about it until now.
Ozpin probably didn't know either. But he was beginning to doubt that. The only good thing that could come from this was that Edgar Gein was on his side...even if he seemingly had his own agenda in the process. Either that or Edgar Gein answered to a higher calling. One that had spent a significant amount of resources to put him here.
Ironwood was about to ask when a door on the right side of the Hangar opened and a squad of rogue mechs walked out, weapons raised followed by several White Fang insurgents. Ironwood fired on them even as Fireteam Knight spread out, their weapons blazing. Edgar dove into cover behind a crate, holding a weapon with a jagged frame.
/
The Thorn was a weapon that once belonged to Dredgen Yor, whose name was now scorned and reviled for his betrayal. His weapon was once thought lost but Edgar had reclaimed the ancient hand cannon. It now served him in combat as it once did Yor. Those who saw it in action shuddered.
Edgar took aim at the first insurgent he saw and pulled the trigger. The insurgent's head snapped back brutally as a foot long spike punched into his skull. His friends all looked in shock and horror as the man seemed to burn with green flame. Edgar fired again and again, the Thorn taking its toll on the White Fang.
Beside him Keina's own weapon was brought to bear. Nirwen's Mercy was forged in honor of the Iron Lords. It was a precision weapon, the Hunter walked each burst from torso to head. Keina grinned as she kept up the fire, preferring quick reloads. She was a blur on the battlefield, disappearing with plumes of Void energy.
Loki loaded a new ammo box into his weapon. "Commander. Targets have been annihilated."
"We go for the bridge." Edgar said pedantically pointing with the Thorn at the new arrivals.
More droids.
"Great." Ironwood muttered. "I can't even imagine the paperwork I'm going to look forward to."
"Hmm..." Edgar sounded amused.
/
Beacon Academy
"So we have a completely horrific situation." John spoke cheerfully to the gathered group consisting of RWBY, SSSN, CFVY and Emeici plus students from several other schools. "The City of Vale is under attack by the Grimm, Beacon is nearly overrun by the Grimm AND the White Fang and I've got a hunch that we are being pulled along by someone in the background. Oh, right. And Adam Taurus is apparently here..."
The Sunsinger smiled under his helmet as almost everyone scowled at him. "Now, the good news is a lot of us are still alive." He said magnanimously with his arms spread. "And the White Fang won't like that. So I bet that Taurus is gonna want to solve that."
"So what's your idea?" Coco Adel asked.
"Easy, we ambush him." John grinned.
"Ambush him?" Blake asked. "John, he's stronger than you think he is."
"We're not engaging him up close." Kevin said. "Snipers and rockets should do the trick."
"Whoa, whoa hang on." Coco spoke up. "You're going to use a rocket launcher on a person?"
"You use a purse that turns into a minigun." Hestia deadpanned. "And you shredded a Deathstalker with it."
"Well..." Coco scratched her head, seeing that the female Titan had a point. Beside her Velvet giggled.
"So, how exactly are we going to plan this ambush?" Ivan spoke up. "Do we lure him here?"
"Preferably no..." John looked around. "We're still too exposed. I'd like to end Adam Taurus somewhere in the forest or inside the academy but..." He shook his head. "Damn, you're right Ivan. We'll have to go towards him then."
"Heh." Xia said grinning. "So who's gonna tango with the bull to draw him into a false sense of security?"
"Draw straws?" Sun Wukong suggested nervously.
"Hah." Nils chuckled and the Titan leaned his shotgun on his shoulder. "I like the idea kid, but from what my gut is telling me this isn't gonna be that simple."
"He's...He's right." Blake said hesitantly. "Adam is one of the strongest swordsmen I've ever met. He...well, he taught me everything I know."
She looked down at her feet before looking at John firmly. "I'll face him." She said.
"You sure?" John asked. "You don't look too sure of yourself there, Blake."
"Blake, I can come with-" Yang started.
"No." Blake shook her head. "He might know something's up. I'll have to go in alone."
"Technically we'll be there." John told her grinning. "He just won't see us, but Blake..." His smile faded behind his helmet and his usual cheerful nature was gone. He was quite serious right now. "Anything happens, you bolt and let us deal with the bastard. I know he used to be your buddy, but right now I'm pretty sure the guy wants to kill you."
"Yes. I know that." Blake nodded her head. "But..."
"We will not spare him." Kevin spoke quietly. "He was one of the people who fired the first shots in this war."
"War? You really think it'll come to that?" Ruby asked. Kevin looked at her, unsurprised.
"Yes." Kevin said. "Look around you, Vale is basically being destroyed as we speak. Your way of life is being threatened by a man who believes that subjugation and destruction is the only way to save his people. He has chosen death."
Blake looked extremely uncomfortable. But Kevin was right, in a draconian sort of way. Adam had turned into a monster, he may have had good intentions before but all this...this 'Revolution' he kept spewing about.
It made the fact that she had looked up to the man as a mentor even more sickening.
She exhaled. "I'm...I'm ready." Blake said, knowing full well how dangerous Adam was. "Let's do this."
"Okay then." John said. "Emeici I want you guys to shadow us from the left flank. The rest of you guys are on the right, we'll move when Blake has a thirty second start. Jingles get me a timer."
He then turned to Blake. "Go when you're ready."
"Good luck, Blake." Kevin told her.
/
There was so much rubble and smoke, Blake found it hard to see but her Faunus heritage gave her the advantage. There were still scattered remnants of Atlesian soldiers holding their ground and trying to fight off the Grimm and the White Fang.
As she turned the corner she gasped as a spray of blood painted the wall red. Adam stood up from the corpse he had just bisected in half and looked at Blake. He smiled at her. Blake backed up.
"It's been a while, my Blake." Adam's voice was cold, maniacal as he stepped over another mangled corpse.
"Why are you doing this?" Blake asked, her voice afraid.
"This?" Adam waved his hand back at all the destruction. "This was supposed to be our hour Blake, the start of our great revolution! And you ran away from it like the coward you are now."
Blake's fists clenched. "A coward?" She said softly. "I'm not the one murdering innocents!"
"Innocents! This again!" Adam shouted her down furiously. "How innocent are the humans!? First, they try to force us into Menagerie like we are some sort of animal pest that they don't want! All they know is subjugation and slavery. But not today..." He raised his sword.
"I won't run away this time." Blake drew Gambol Shroud.
"Oh, you will." Adam readied his red sword. "You can trust me on that."
Blake felt something whistle through the air. Adam was suddenly weaving into motion as he cleaved an incoming Grimm in half and went at Blake who flipped backwards out of the way. Good. She had his attention.
Now-
A familiar battle cry made Blake look as Yang rushed in and launched a punch at Adam's head. Adam simply dodged the blow and let Yang crash into an overturned table. That was when two full squadrons of White Fang entered the fray, weapons raised.
What faced off against them were the Guardians of Fireteams Emeici and Jackknife.
/
"Goddamnit!" Kevin snarled as he unloaded a full magazine of ammo at the White Fang firing at them. The rounds stitched a bloody line of holes into the first insurgent's chest. "This clearly wasn't in the plan!"
"Keep shooting Kevin!" John called back, watching with satisfaction as his Hawkmoon managed to score a few hits on Adam Taurus who fired back with his own weapon. "Hah, he looks pissed!"
Xia gave Nils a few hand signals and the Titan swept up his machine gun and opened fire. The Hunter then moved, her rifle barking. The Jade Rabbit was a powerful marksman's weapon, the White Fang's cheap looking vests did nothing to protect the insurgents from its high powered rounds.
One White Fang insurgent pitched forward onto his face, grey matter splattering over the ground. Another danced to the impact of Nils's heavy machine gun as he foolishly thought his Aura would protect him from weapons meant to deal heavy punishment to a myriad of horrifying foes.
Blake and Yang engaged Adam Taurus but even then it was still not enough. The man laughed, taunting Blake as he dodged every punch and slash sent his way. He kicked Yang to the side and went at Blake.
"I'm going to destroy everything you cherish." He told Blake as their blades locked. "And I am going to start with your friends." He forced Blake's sword out of the way and cut her in the side deep.
Blake screamed as a deep wound opened in her side. Yang went for another punch. Adam caught her wrist then hit Yang in the face with a head butt that sent her scrambling backwards. The brawler gave a loud cry of pain as a hit from Adam's sword took out her Aura.
And her left arm.
Yang's scream of terror and pain echoed through the battlefield. She looked horrified as she held what was left of her arm. Blood poured out of the clean cut, staining the grass red. Yang kept screaming even as Blake dragged her into cover before gunfire erupted from their allies, suddenly forcing Adam Taurus back.
"Close in! Close in!" John roared, firing his Hawkmoon at the White Fang as he charged aggressively into the fray. "Shoot the fuckers! Kill them! Kill them all!"
"Kevin, get to Yang and Blake!" Hestia called out calmly as she poured fire into the enemy.
The fire from the Guardian Fireteams picked up as they broke cover to attack the enemy in close quarters. Blake pulled Yang into cover weakly as she held her bleeding side. Kevin leaped over cover towards them, firing his rifle. Blake watched in some kind of combination of awe and shock, barely registering the fact that Yang was screaming in terror about her severed arm.
The Stormcaller seemed to have no fear as he moved into fire, bullets from the White Fang guns peppering his robes which flashed. Did he have some kind of force field? She wanted to ask but Kevin had already slid into cover beside her and looked at their wounds grimly before firing back at the enemy.
She saw John smash aside another insurgent with a flaming fist, setting him aflame as his Hand Cannon punched a hole the size of a dinner plate into another enemy's chest. John kept firing, his weapon spoke and men died.
She saw Hestia, untouchable, as she rushed into the left flank. Her shotgun boomed and sent an insurgent into the floor. Pumping the slide, the Titan brought the stock up and crushed another's skull with a brutal smash.
"Damn, that needs to get patched up." He told Blake calmly. Blake almost laughed. Kevin had the most humorous ability to understate things.
Blake exhaled as she nudged her head at a screaming Yang. Kevin moved over and tore Yang's scarf off of her neck and wrapped up the stump of her arm. There was so much blood...
"Damnit!" Kevin muttered as Yang began to struggle. "Yang! You're going to be okay, just stay calm alright?!"
"It's gone, it's gone..." She kept repeating in complete shock. "He cut my arm off...Why did he do that, why did he...he cut my...Oh please...Please...Please..."
"I know..." Blake whispered as she and Kevin held her close to try and bandage her arm up, Blake with less effort due to her own wounds. "It's going to be okay, Yang."
Ruby had run over with Weiss in tow, worried. "Is Yang going to be okay!?" She started babbling. "Is Yang going to be okay!?"
Beside her Weiss suddenly burst out into sobbing but Blake held her hand even as she covered up her wound with the other.
Kevin nodded. "I need your help Ruby," He told her his voice steel. "I need to bandage her arm up before she bleeds out. You need to keep her calm before she-"
A clang of steel alerted them as the duel between Adam Taurus, the Bloody Beast of the White Fang and John Holden the Ifrit began.
/
Raze Lighter crashed against Wilt with the force of a hurricane.
John ducked Adam's swing for his head and stepped out of range briefly before bringing his sword up in a wide sweeping blow that Adam blocked with Blush.
"Did it hurt seeing me do that!?" Adam taunted John. "I'll do the same to each and every one of you freaks of nature!"
John didn't reply with words, he instead punched Adam in the head sending the Bloody Beast backward. The Sunsinger's sword blazed as he brought it down on Adam who barely dodged the vertical strike that set the grass he occupied a few seconds ago ablaze.
Adam readied his weapon. "Too angry to speak then!?" He crowed.
Adam's grin melted of his face as wings of fire sprouted from John's back. The Sunsinger burned with Solar Light, augmented by a relentless fury. John swung his sword to the side as he stared Adam Taurus down. Behind the faceplate of his Infinite Lines Hood, John's face was a mask of barely restrained fury.
"Don't bother bragging." John told the Bloody Beast. "You will die here just like the monsters that have stood in my way." Bringing Raze Lighter close, the Sunsinger brandished his burning blade threateningly as he advanced on Adam.
The Bloody Beast tensed, and then charged in return.
/
Atlesian Command Ship, Bridge
The Thorn made short work of Mercury Black's Aura.
Edgar stepped over the unconscious young man not caring about the fact that Mercury was probably dying from the foot long spike embedded in his stomach. He had made his choice. Emerald and another one of Roman's subordinates were exchanging blows with Loki and Keina. Now was the icky part, Ironwood and Edgar had to deal with Roman Torchwick who was standing in front of a console.
He raised his cane. "One more step and I send this ship crashing into Vale." He told Edgar grinning.
"You won't do that." Edgar said waving his Thorn around.
"You think I won't?" Roman asked his tone petulant.
"Tell me, assuming you did crash this ship into Vale what will happen if we both survive?" Edgar asked mildly in turn. "Or more specifically what am I going to do to you if we both survive the crash?"
"Uh..." Ironwood wanted to speak up but the fact that Edgar Gein was mad enough to allow Roman to crash the ship into the City of Vale was...humbling to say the least. Seriously, he mused to himself, was the guy insane? Or did he truly not care about the consequences? James Ironwood felt a chill go up his spine. The kind of thinking Edgar Gein displayed was common back in the old wars of Remnant. The thoughts of a madman who did not care about collateral damage, only the destruction of his enemies.
Edgar Gein was dangerous. And he was fighting on Ironwood's side. Somehow that did not make the current situation feel any better.
Roman flinched. "Jeez man I thought you were a good guy." He snarked.
"A bad man would have been gloating at this moment," Edgar lowered his Thorn. "What I should have done is shoot you...which reminds me." He quickly took aim and shot Roman in the side.
Roman Torchwick hit the console and held his side where the spike was embedded. "Fuck..."
"Enough of this." Edgar kicked Roman's cane away from him. "General, the ship if you please."
Ironwood stepped gingerly around Roman as the criminal tried to stifle the bleeding. He then started working on the ship. "Damn, the entire ship is infected with the virus."
"Sucks to be you..." Roman muttered then winced as Edgar raised Thorn again.
"Who are you working for?" Edgar asked.
"Screw you buddy." Roman insulted the Warlock by spitting on his shoes.
Edgar rolled his eyes underneath his helmet and sighed. He shot Roman in the shin which got a reaction out of the criminal. Roman Torchwick was currently screaming as the foot long spike punched into his shinbone.
"Tell me what you know." Edgar glared down at Roman Torchwick. "Or I will shoot your other leg. Continue playing this farce and I will rip the information out of your head and flay you alive."
"My leg!" Roman screamed as he looked at the spike embedded in his shin horrified. "You shot me in the leg!"
Edgar holstered his weapon in disgust. "General?" He asked.
"I need a few minutes." General Ironwood spoke tapping keys. "Damnit! This is going to be tough, I'm locked out of my own ship!"
Edgar sighed. "Santiago, see what you can do."
As the Ghost went to go help Ironwood with his infected ship Edgar looked for his two companions.
Loki and Keina dropped their opponents on the ground. "Sir, we have more prisoners." Loki spoke, hefting his shotgun. Edgar raised a brow as he noted the ding on Loki's chest plate.
The Titan shrugged. "My opponent was rather persistent."
"And you Keina?" Edgar asked.
Keina raised her foot and stomped on Emerald Sustrai's back. Emerald gave a grunt of pain and glared hatefully at Edgar.
"You killed Mercury." She growled at him.
Edgar looked at Mercury Black's unmoving form. He then turned back to Emerald. "So it would seem." The Voidwalker said solemnly. He then loomed over Emerald. "Haul her up Keina."
The Hunter forced Emerald to her knees. Struggling the insurgent started yelling. "What are you doing!?"
"Mister Black is dead." Edgar said as purple energy wrapped around his hands. "Mister Torchwick is incapacitated. I cannot fight a war without information." The Jackal Mask turned ominously to Emerald as unseen eyes pierced her own.
Emerald struggled harder then began screaming as Edgar's hands wrapped around her head.
"Oh, don't bother struggling. This will be most painful for you." The Voidwalker stated coldly.
/
Beacon Academy
"Kevin..." Yang whispered as she looked blankly at the stump of her left arm. Kevin, who was carrying her in his arms, kept silent. "Kevin...My arm...where's my arm...?"
Running beside him was Ruby. Blake was being supported by Weiss. Emeici covered them from attacking Grimm and White Fang. Hestia and John were fighting Adam Taurus and his White Fang troops in the meantime. Kevin wasn't worried. John was tough as nails and so was Hestia.
"Contact!" Ivan, being on point, crouched and raised Hung Jury. A two legged Grimm charged forward only to end up dying as Ivan put several rounds through its body.
"They keep coming." Nils stated over the radio, his voice punctuated by static and gunfire.
"Shut up and shoot!" Xia snarled back.
Kevin held Yang tightly as she whimpered in pain. He did what he could but she needed real medical attention.
Stomping alerted him to the sight of two stolen Atlesian Paladins headed their way. The Storm caller sped up, alerting the rest of the group to the imminent danger. The Paladins opened fire with Autocannons. Emeici did what they could but they needed heavier weaponry, judging from their rounds just bouncing off the Paladins' armor.
"Into the trees, damnit!" Xia crowed. "Nils, Ivan switch to rockets! Let's see how these bastards like it!"
Doing as they were told Ivan and Nils hefted their launchers and fired back at the White Fang Paladins, taking one out and severely damaging the other. Two more lumbered forward, their pilots seemingly undeterred by the rockets.
Kevin leaned Yang against the tree. "Shit." He muttered as a large pack of Beowolves was in the way.
"What do we do?" Ruby muttered as Weiss drew Myrtenaster.
"I'll keep Yang safe." Blake panted as she readied Gambol Shroud. "We need to get moving."
"Kevin, problems?" Xia asked, her voice static laced over the radio.
"Grimm..." Kevin chambered a round into his Monte Carlo. "How are you guys doing?"
"Fucking mechs are dead as shit, we just got infantry to deal with. The shitheads are persistent. Do what you can to hold the Grimm off. We'll be there soon."
There was no contact from John. But that wasn't important. Kevin had four lives he was responsible for. It was the same feeling he had when he had to defend Carla's convoy from being overrun by the Fallen.
He wouldn't fail them this time.
"It was always going to be like this wasn't it, Carla?" Kevin said to no one in particular. Yang and Blake glanced at Kevin.
Carla? Blake thought to herself.
Kevin took a deep breath and then bolted out of cover his rifle barking at the Beowolves. The Stormcaller didn't give a battle cry. He didn't need to. A killer did not speak. A killer did not cry out in grief or anger.
The Beowolves whooped and cried.
The Stormcaller was silent as he killed the pack leader, the Monte Carlo's bullets slamming into its body. Kevin shouldered the corpse aside as he went after the second in his sights. He bayoneted the bastard and sent it flying forward with a kick. The Beowolf behind him lunged but was taken out by a fireball. Weiss brandished her blade as Ruby sped up, her scythe taking out trees and Grimm with impunity. She was angry. Kevin stepped back from an angry claw swipe, drawing his sidearm and putting down the Beowolf with almost contemptuous ease. He threw a Storm Grenade into the last batch, killing them in a fusillade of lightning bolts.
"Clear!" Kevin called out.
"I'm done over here!" Weiss replied.
"Me too!" Ruby chirped. "Okay, let's..."
Ruby's Scroll rang. When she answered a desperate Jaune Arc asked her to stop Pyrrha Nikos from going somewhere. Kevin knew something was wrong as Ruby hung up. She looked at him pleadingly. The Stormcaller removed his helmet and looked her in the eye.
"Weiss, stay with Yang and Blake. Alert Xia that something has come up." Kevin said plainly.
"What but-" Weiss sputtered.
"Weiss, please." Ruby said as she checked Crescent Rose. "We need to help Jaune out."
Kevin switched out the Monte Carlo for his Suros ARI-41. Checking the automatic weapon, he also switched his sniper rifle for the Susanoo Fusion Rifle, his Bolt Caster hung off his back. "Sparky, load up on ammunition. We're gonna need a lot of it."
"Roger." Sparky replied as he did what he could for Kevin's ammo. "Oh, right. Blake, here you go."
Blake watched as several grey boxes appeared near her left leg. "Just in case you need ammo."
"Where are you both going?" Blake asked sounding worried.
Kevin and Ruby looked at each other. "Pyrrha and Jaune need our help." Ruby said seriously. "Weiss, Blake. Keep Yang safe."
"Kevin, let's go."
Before they could even start heading towards the Beacon tower, everything shook as a loud roar came over the mountains.
/
"What the fuck is that!?" Nils roared.
Ivan loaded his weapon, beside him Xia glared at the sky as something massive flew in from the south east. A dragon. A massive Grimm Dragon clamped onto the top of Beacon's tower where it settled on its perch and gave another earth shaking roar.
"We're going. Now!" Xia snapped. "Commander, we have a problem-"
"I know."
/
Atlesian Command Ship
"Damnit." Ironwood muttered. "Any hits on that thing will take out the tower and cause casualties."
"Do nothing and there will be even more casualties." Edgar calmly stated. "We need to get in range to do anything anyway."
Ironwood looked at the readout. "Fine, but we do this my way." He nudged his head at several control stations. "I need someone at Navigations and at Weapons."
"Yay!" Keina cheered. "I've always wanted to be the captain of a ship."
Edgar sighed as Loki simply shook his head.
"Loki, keep an eye on our guests." Edgar said, holstering his hand cannon as he took his place at the weapons station. Loki pumped the slide on his shotgun and stood watch over the prisoners.
A drooling Emerald Sustrai said nothing of import.
Slowly but surely, they were moving to engage the dragon that was perched on Beacon's tower.
/
Kevin and Ruby reached the base of the tower where the dragon was perched. Pyrrha was up there somewhere. Kevin loaded a full magazine of ammunition into his Suros rifle. Ruby did the same with her Crescent Rose. They nodded at each other as they entered the building.
The place was ruined. Kevin wordlessly sent Sparky to check on the elevator.
"Crap." The Ghost said, finishing his scans. "No go, someone screwed the elevator up."
"How bad is it?" Ruby asked worriedly.
"It's broken." Sparky replied.
"Anything you can do on your end?" Kevin asked sounding irritated. "We don't have much time."
"The rocket lockers!" Ruby exclaimed suddenly. "We can hitch a ride on those to the roof!"
"Oh boy." Kevin muttered as he took out his Scroll. This was going to be a rather horrible experience. Two rocket propelled lockers crashed into the ground near them. Ruby climbed into hers as Kevin did the same.
"Ready?" Ruby asked him.
Kevin held his weapon tight as he did the best he could with his own improvised vehicle. "As I ever will be." He said.
"Hey, come on this is do or die time!" Ruby told him urgently.
"The fact that there is a huge chance that I'll be spattered across the wall of this darn tower is making me rather snarky right now Ruby." Kevin replied as he held up his Scroll. "Together then?"
Ruby nodded. She tapped on her Scroll and her locker launched into the air. Kevin did the same and took a deep breath as his locker flew into the night sky.
/
"Ugh!"
Cinder Fall lowered her bow as she watched Pyrrha Nikos struggle with the arrow pinning her leg into the concrete and smiled.
Power. All the planning and preparations lead up to this moment. Ozpin laid low, all of Vale in the palm of her hand. The destruction of this Kingdom would lead to the rise of a new one. Her master would grant her this wish as the first step to the plan.
The great dark was coming. And Cinder would be one of the first to welcome it.
Cinder circled her new victim.
"I really am sorry for this." She cooed. "Stealing a power that should have been yours." She smiled as her glowing orange eyes pierced Pyrrha's own green ones. "Oh wait, it's not."
She raised her bow and put an arrow to the string. "You did your best though. I'll commend you for that."
Cinder took aim then jumped back as a rocket propelled launcher slammed into the ground. A battle cry sounded from above her and she lazily blocked an overhead strike from Ruby Rose. She threw the young girl to the side as she saw another locker heading straight towards her.
Cinder sidestepped quickly out of the way. She smiled as she saw Kevin Holden land neatly beside Pyrrha Nikos, rifle raised.
"Well, this is surprising." Cinder beamed letting her bow and arrows fade into ashes. She held her arms out magnanimously. "The view is quite good up here isn't it?"
"I'm going to stop you." Ruby said as she chambered a round into Crescent Rose.
"How amusing." Cinder tittered. "Everything you've thwarted was all part of the plan." She gestured to the burning academy grounds. "Look around you, your academy is in ruins. Your city is dying as we speak. Ruby Rose, you have done nothing to-"
A burst of rifle fire interrupted her. Cinder raised her palms and the bullets were stopped by a burning shield. Kevin kept up the fire, his Suros speaking for him.
"Ruby, get to Pyrrha!" The Stormcaller yelled as he rolled under a fireball that had every right to incinerate him. He kept firing before letting his weapon dissipate into motes of light. He switched to his sword and swung at Cinder's head.
A deafening clang. Blades locked in mutual hatred.
"So good to finally meet you..." Cinder told Kevin with a condescending smile.
"Killers don't need to speak." Kevin answered back coldly.
"True." Cinder's smile grew wider. "Let's dance, shall we?"
Cinder's blades pushed the Bolt Caster aside and she kicked the Stormcaller away from her. Ruby charged back in brandishing her Crescent Rose.
Scythe and Dust blades clashed with a flurry of sparks.
/
"Why is this so slow!" Keina whined.
"The ship is still fifty percent infected with the virus. We don't have full control over it!" Santiago replied. "I'm doing all that I can."
"Weapons!?" Ironwood called.
"Charging." Edgar replied. "Good. We can start by causing some havoc. Where should I shoot these things?"
"Hit the dragon. Let's see how it likes energy weapons."
/
Kevin parried an underhanded blow from Cinder and went in for a rapid series of strikes meant to gain him some distance.
Cinder danced away as Ruby started firing her weapon at her.
"You really should be doing better than this!" Cinder commented as she fired an explosive arrow at the pair. Kevin and Ruby jumped out of the way. The Stormcaller countered by throwing a storm grenade at her.
Cinder laughed as she raised her hand over her head, blocking the lightning bolts raining down. Kevin drew his handgun and fired it at her in one hand. This was not good, they couldn't fight off this bitch and keep Pyrrha alive if pressed. Ruby was skilled, better than last year. Kevin was no slouch but whatever malevolent power Cinder had, it was making this battle one of the toughest.
He wished John and Hestia were here. Kevin kept up the fire as Cinder blocked his rounds with a wall of flame.
Which she sent straight at them.
Kevin threw a pulse grenade this time, dissipating most of the flame wall with an explosion of Arc energy. Cinder returned fire with several exploding arrows. Kevin took advantage of his cover, loading a new magazine into his Auto Rifle and fired back at her.
The rooftop of the Beacon Tower was a rubble strewn mess. A hazardous ground but Kevin did what he could with the terrain. At least it would shelter him from the masses of fireballs and shit Cinder was sending his way.
There was a flash of silver.
Kevin saw Headmaster Ozpin appear in a sudden violent movement. Cinder turned to him, eyes blazing as she readied herself for another go at her most hated enemy.
"You again." Cinder commented.
"Indeed." Ozpin replied, cane in hand as he regarded Kevin, Ruby and Pyrrha with a single glance. "It was quite rude of you to attempt to kick me off this tower while our battle was ongoing." His eyes flared behind his spectacles. "Now, I see that you have not only laid waste to my academy you have also hurt one of my students."
The Headmaster drew a slim blade from the cane. "I will not allow you to accomplish anything further." He said. "Regretfully that also means you will not be leaving Vale alive."
"Oh?" Cinder smirked. "Well, then...I assume we must approach Phase Three."
She raised her hand and let off a flare. The dragon next to the tower heeded its master's call as it took flight. Cinder hopped onto its head, smiling all the while as the Grimm Dragon let out a roar.
Ozpin brandished his blade as Kevin switched out his sword for Truth. He just hoped that the rockets were enough to deal some damage.
"I would ask you to leave Mister Holden." The Headmaster commented. "But I suppose I could use the help."
"We'd be dead if we tried to take flight anyway." Kevin said hefting his rocket on his shoulder.
The sound of a locker being launched alerted the both of them to Ruby. "I sent Pyrrha to John's location, Jaune's team is with him." She said, her eyes widening as she saw the dragon. "How are we gonna stop that!?"
Ozpin readied himself as the dragon roared again, Kevin fired a rocket at it and battle was joined.
/
"What the..." Ironwood looked at the read out. "Santiago, get me a close up."
The Ghost's photoreceptor blinked twice, the camera zoomed in on the roof. It was difficult to be certain but Ironwood could recognize Ozpin's white hair any day. The general also saw the unmistakable red cloak of Ruby Rose and the flaring white robes of Kevin Holden. They were currently embattled with the Grimm dragon.
"Damnit, they won't survive up there without support." Ironwood growled. "Mister Gein, I want those weapons charged and ready to fire."
Edgar tapped a button. "On your command."
"Fire."
/
Kevin ducked his head as a blinding fusillade of light slammed into the dragon's side. The screech of pain was horrendously loud and his helmet's systems tried to compensate. He saw Ruby covering her ears, her screaming laced with static from his helmet's feedback.
"The hell?" Kevin muttered. "Sparky-"
"There's an Atlas ship." Sparky said in awe. "I think Commander Gein managed to complete his objective."
The Ghost had a point. When Edgar Gein said he was going to get shit done, he got shit done.
The Stormcaller watched as another barrage of lasers hit the Grimm Dragon in the side only for it to give another earth shattering roar and faced off against the ship. Cinder turned to throw a barrage of fire at Ozpin who had sped up to try and knock her off the damn thing. The Headmaster dodged and leaped onto the dragon, his sword clashing with Cinder's dust blades.
"What do we do?" Ruby asked Kevin as she took aim.
Kevin switched to his Eirene RR-4. "We wait for an opportunity." He said to Ruby. "The moment you have a clear shot on that witch, hose her with bullets."
Ruby steadied herself as she chambered a round. Kevin crouched and shouldered the Eirene. He let the barrel drift, settling his crosshairs on Cinder's face.
/
Academy Grounds
Blake Belladonna winced as she was looked over by an Atlas medic. She looked over beside her to see Yang still looking at her arm. It hurt to see the other girl like this...It made her feel guilty because Yang had lost her arm fighting against Adam Taurus, her former friend and mentor.
She then turned to look at John Holden speaking to several Atlas soldiers, Hestia beside him. The Warlock pointed to the west, the lead soldier nodding and taking two more men with him. John then turned to Hestia who followed him. The grounds were silent now, with the Atlesian military rallying behind Fireteam Emeici and Jackknife.
That wasn't going to last soon though...If no one stopped the giant dragon perched on Beacon Tower. Last she saw, there was an Atlesian Ship heading that way.
"Just heard that the Commander managed to help General Ironwood take the ship." Sun Wukong sat down next to Blake.
"Where's the rest of your team?" Blake asked.
"Neptune and the others are helping out." Sun answered. He glanced at John who was checking on everyone, his helmet was clipped onto his belt and he had a serious look on his face. "He...uh, he's changed hasn't he?"
Blake didn't know what to say. She had always known that John's cheerful demeanor was a mask. He didn't move around like normal either, his steps held purpose and his posture was different. A warrior without peer, that was what Blake would have said he looked like.
Seeing as he was the one who personally wounded Adam Taurus, the comparison was true. Adam had retreated off the battlefield when John Holden struck him down with a terrible blow of his sword.
"Run then cowards!" Blake remembered John shouting at the White Fang's retreating backs. "Go back to the shadows like the rats you are! I will pluck you out one by one if I have to!"
"I don't think he's changed at all." Blake murmured. She sighed, wincing as she looked down at her wounds. She was leaning against a tree. Yang was asleep, her exhaustion clear. What was left of her arm was bandaged up. The medics had done what they could with John's help, she was going to be okay. "I think he was always like that."
"Is Kevin alright?" Sun asked.
"...Yeah, he went with Ruby to do what they can." Blake's eyes rested on the Grimm Dragon.
"How are they going to kill that?" Sun asked.
"I don't know." Blake said. "But they'll be alright."
Sun smirked as he shook his head. "Yeah..."
/
Ozpin felt the bullets pass by him and hit Cinder's fire walls. The Headmaster smiled slightly seeing that his students were still in this fight. Cinder was weakening but she still was a formidable opponent to face.
The Headmaster's cane sword danced in the air as he put Cinder on the defensive. "You seem to be getting slower." He commented, sidestepping Cinder's fireballs.
"Oh? Perhaps you should be more careful." Cinder smirked.
The Dragon bucked under Ozpin making him stumble, he was now forced to fall back to the Tower. As he landed Kevin and Ruby ran over to his side, Kevin switched to his other rifle and started firing at Cinder again even as she glared at all three of them before the dragon turned around and flew away.
Kevin finally lowered his rifle and exhaled. Ruby flopped down onto her bottom and sighed. Ozpin looked ruefully at his tower and then at the horizon where fires still burned and the academy grounds were devastated. The Headmaster sighed dejectedly, tiredly. This, he was supposed to prevent all of this pain from happening.
He didn't even know if his staff had survived the assault. Or how many students would never make it back to their homes...
He looked up as James's ship floated over towards them.
The battle was over.
It didn't feel like victory in the slightest.
/
Weeks pass.
Vale had been devastated in the breach of its walls by the Grimm. The city was now a ruined charnel house where Grimm stalked the streets. Faunus and Human citizens fought for their lives as the Grimm hunted them down like prey.
During the first incursions, the Vale Police Department struggled to keep casualties low. Heroic actions during the chaos allowed the VPD to move most of the panicking civilians in the direction of the docks. Supported by the sudden appearance of the Dead Orbit Marine companies commanded by Lieutenant Chambers and Guardian Fireteams lead by Wallachia, the evacuation efforts were successful. Task Force Endeavor spent most of its time defending new checkpoints into the docks from the Grimm alongside members of the Vale Police Department and the Huntsmen and Huntresses of Beacon.
As the fighting drew to a close, stranded elements of the VPD and civilians began to stream into the docks, straining resources. The nearby island of Patch began taking in whatever refugees they could.
All in all, the people of Vale were in shock at the devastation that had been wrought in its greatest city.
As for their new interplanetary guests, it was a pyrrhic victory. But they would endure. The Guardians would hold the line against the Darkness that was coming.
/
Residence of Taiyang Xiao Long, Island of Patch
"Coming!" Ruby called out looking a bit glum. She opened the front door and found herself surprised. "Jaune!"
JNPR stood in the doorway, Jaune was in the center and Pyrrha leaned on him a crutch in hand. "Hey Ruby, we just came to check on you." Jaune said. "And...Yang, of course. Nora brought some cookies."
"That's great guys!" Ruby said cheerfully and called back. "Dad! My classmates came over!"
Taiyang Xiao Long walked into view. Tall and strong, the melancholy expression on his face turned warm as he regarded Jaune and the others. "Hello, Mister Arc."
"Uh...Hello Mister Xiao Long." Jaune said nervously smiling. "We just stopped by to see how Ruby and Yang are doing."
"That's alright with me." Taiyang nodded smiling. "It's good to see that you're all okay."
"Well, some of us are a bit worse for wear." Pyrrha said, shaking her leg which was wrapped up in a cast. Her wound from Cinder was still healing but it was healing fast.
Taiyang chuckled. "Ah...right." He looked over at Ruby. "How about your other friend?"
Ruby knew what he was talking about. Kevin Holden...He had been called in back into the fold of his organization. The Guardians of Task Force Endeavor were the subject of everyone's gossip since they had chosen to help the people of Vale.
People were divided but no one wanted to catch their ire. Even the politicians were very wary about them, even if the Task Force had supposedly benevolent intentions.
As for Kevin, she contacted him several times but he and John were busy with patrols in the now abandoned City of Vale. He was fine...as he always said he was.
She looked at the direction of Yang's room where her big sister was staying in. She only went out to eat but other than that she stayed mostly there. It hurt to see her like this. Ruby knew she had a huge crush on Kevin. A really huge crush. It was not hard to miss that she was hurting. Ruby did what she could but...
Ruby turned back to Jaune, putting a smile on her face. "So what were you guys up to?"
"Just settling in I suppose." Jaune shrugged. "My family managed to secure a spot in the refugee camps that wasn't too horrible."
"So many tents." Lie Ren agreed as he sat on the couch.
"We really can't do much about the situation, but at least it's better than being at the docks." Pyrrha said.
"Ah, well..." Ruby started to say when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it!" As she stood up to open the door Taiyang walked down the hallway towards Yang's room. He sighed as he steeled himself.
"Yang?" He called out knocking on the door. "Yang, your classmates are here to check on you."
Inside Yang only turned over in bed, sniffing as she tried to ignore her Dad's call.
/
Ruby crossed her arms as she regarded Kevin with a neutral look. The Warlock had changed, his robes no longer white, they were a dark black. They glowed slightly with a red tinge. So did his armored gauntlets. A Scout Rifle was mag-locked to his back. His cold green eyes were the most disconcerting. Before Kevin looked like an average, if sleepy, young man who was quiet but sociable.
Now he seemed sharper, and far more dangerous than he ever was before. Kevin looked to the side. "Sorry." He told her. "I had things to do..."
"Yang missed you." Ruby said and she let him inside. Kevin hesitated slightly, as though the house would set him on fire if he dared to take another step.
"Hey guys." Kevin waved at Jaune.
"Kevin." Jaune nodded smiling slightly. He looked hesitant to say anything further. Kevin wouldn't blame the boy. He couldn't, not when he had kept his status as a Guardian secret from all of them.
Kevin turned to see an older man observing him. He greatly resembled Yang. The man smiled and walked over. "Hi."
"Hello sir." Kevin spoke politely. "I'm...Kevin Holden, I was Ruby's classmate."
"I know." Taiyang grinned slightly. "The girls never stop talking about you in their letters. I'm Taiyang Xiao Long, it's nice to meet you Kevin."
"Likewise." Kevin shook his hand.
"So, you're with the group from outer space right?" Taiyang asked. "What's it like?"
Kevin didn't hesitate in his answer. "We're at war." He told Taiyang blithely. "Like Remnant, our civilization is at the brink of extinction. My brother and I, people like us, we're the ones fighting to stop it."
"Extinction?" Ruby piped up looking shocked. Everyone else in the living room echoed her sentiments exactly. Their pity was..refreshing to say the least.
Kevin sighed. "I...I know I did all of you wrong by keeping this secret from you." He said after a long awkward pause. "I never meant to cause offense."
He bowed, which surprised Ruby and everyone else. "For that I am sorry."
"It's okay, Kev."
Kevin looked to see Yang, still wrapped up in a blanket. She seemed paler than usual. She kept awkwardly holding her arm and it hurt to see her maimed like this and he cursed the name of Adam Taurus.
"Why don't you start with why you had to play cover up, young man?" Taiyang suggested. "And please, don't think that we're putting you under pressure."
Kevin sighed. "I'd rather keep standing if it's okay with you guys."
Ruby and Yang sat down next to each other. Ren and Nora took the floor alongside Jaune and Pyrrha. Taiyang leaned against the wall as Kevin took a deep breath.
"Well, the first thing you need to know was that my being here is a complete accident." Kevin began. "My ship got shot up by Fallen raiders." When they all gave him a questioning look he explained that they were hostile aliens who had laid claim to all that humanity held dear.
"So you crash landed on Remnant and then what?" Jaune asked. "You tried out Vale's local cuisine or something?"
Kevin shrugged. "Wasn't the only idea I had in mind." He said. It was at that moment that Sparky chose to appear. The Ghost bobbed in the air.
"You realize how hard it is to find a Warp Drive for an advanced Jumpship right?" The Ghost answered Jaune, who yelped as he tried to swat the Ghost out of the air. Kevin shoved him backwards.
"Please. Don't hit the light bulb." Kevin told Jaune a bit irritated.
"The heck is that!?" Jaune yelled pointed at Sparky.
"My ever dependable partner." Kevin muttered.
"Oh, shut it." Sparky replied good naturedly. "You wouldn't have gotten anywhere without me." The Ghost's plates shifted around slightly as he regarded the group with his single photoreceptor. "Hello everyone!"
"Hi! Floating alien space object!" Nora replied just as eager. She was practically bouncing in her seat.
"Um...hello, Sparky right?" Ruby asked.
"Yep!" Sparky replied. "Just checking in on all of you." The Ghost then turned back to Kevin. "So, where were you at?"
Kevin sighed. "I was about to explain everything. Figured that you could help out at least."
"Right." The Ghost bobbed in the air. "So who's first?"
In the background, Lie Ren stopped Nora from raising her hand. It was Taiyang who spoke up. "So a Guardian, what exactly are you guys about?"
Kevin blinked. "The protection of humanity." He said. "I should probably start from the very beginning."
He cleared his throat.
"We called it the Traveler." Kevin said as Sparky projected a holograph of the Traveler floating serenely above the Last City on Earth. "And its arrival changed humanity." His eyes seemed to soften slightly. "You couldn't imagine it. I couldn't when I first became a Guardian...Human lifespan tripled. Magnificent cities all of them built on Mars and Venus. Mercury, the fairest of Gardens. It was a time of miracles."
He smiled fondly.
"So what happened to the Traveler?" Ruby asked after a long pause.
"It had an enemy." Kevin replied. "A great Darkness. Our fall came just as quickly as our rise did. The Collapse was...sudden. Brutally so. The discoveries we made were lost seemingly quickly. So many were lost...So much wondrous knowledge to remain undiscovered."
Kevin's tone turned somber. "Our worlds were devastated, untold trillions died as the fires of calamity overtook the cities we built. But, there was some hope in those dark times."
"The Traveler sacrificed much of its power to fend off the Darkness." Sparky took over from there. "It's sacrifice allowed the remnants of humanity to survive. This is our home." Sparky projected the Last City. "The last bastion of the human race."
Ruby looked in wonder at the great walls and towers that surrounded Kevin's home. The tale he told about what humanity suffered on Earth...it was unimaginable. She watched Kevin close his eyes as though trying to remember.
"A Guardian is someone chosen by the Traveler to wield its Light." Kevin answered Taiyang's question. "I am Kevin Holden, Warlock of the Last City. I wield my power in the defense of all those who fall beneath my shadow."
The room seemed to ring as Kevin straightened his posture. "If there is any doubt, I will say this: We are not here to harm you. There is a darkness on this world that needs to be purged. Stand with us, we will not let the night overtake you."
Taiyang smiled as he shook his head.
"Dad?" Yang asked.
"Well, kid. You told us some crazy stuff." Taiyang said. "I believe you then."
Kevin seemed relieved as Ruby stood up to give him a hug. "I know that was pretty hard, Kevin. But me and Yang don't blame you for keeping secrets. Just...Just tell Blake and Weiss alright? They're not here right now but we'll visit them when we can."
"Right." Kevin said.
/
The Xiao Long residence was small but it was a warm, homely place. Kevin felt better even if he didn't believe that he was welcome here. He was itching to get back into the fight.
He was currently helping Yang do the dishes. The blonde had insisted since all she did was 'mope around the entire time she was here'. Kevin would wipe them dry after Yang would rinse off the plates they used for dinner.
When Kevin tried his hand at cooking, Taiyang had been most impressed and had welcomed the boy to the house at any time, as long as he was staying on Remnant in fact. Kevin was at a loss for words but he did thank the man for his kindness.
He heard sniffling. Yang looked at her arm. "I...I'm sorry." She said. "It's just...Blake just left and Weiss is going back to Atlas. Everything...everything just fell apart."
Kevin put an arm around her shoulder and held her close. He didn't know what else to do. But he did promise just one thing. This was never going to happen again to Yang or Ruby or anyone else. His eyes narrowed.
"Never again." Kevin muttered.
"Huh?" Yang blinked.
Kevin took both her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I'm not going to let anything hurt you again. I should have been there but I wasn't." He said softly. "I...I care a lot about you."
Yang looked down. "What about Blake?"
Kevin didn't answer. "I'll tell you when I figure it out." He told her.
His tone was so...bland it made Yang laugh for a little bit. He could be so brutally honest sometimes. She guessed that was why she liked Kevin so much. She pulled Kevin closer for a hug, which he returned.
Yang smiled. This. This was nice.
/
Temporary Earth Embassy, Island of Patch
"Thus I propose that the Kingdom of Vale accept the terms of the Earth-Remnant Alliance pact. In doing so I believe that..."
John blinked as he looked over at Commander Gein as he listened to the spokesman for the Vale Council. Hestia and Kevin were lucky. They didn't have to sit through all this politicking. The Sunsinger closed his eyes and stifled a yawn. He felt the glum look of irritation Xia sent his way. As Edgar Gein commanded, all Fireteam leaders were present during this meeting. Why, John didn't know.
But when the commander called, you had to answer. Hestia was busy on her patrol and Kevin went to go check on his girl. The thought put a smile on his face.
He just wished this goddamned meeting was over with already. He looked at the time and realized that only an hour had passed.
Three more to go...
/
"Agh, finally!" Xia Zhang groused as the meeting adjourned three hours later. "I was getting sick and tired of their bickering."
"The look on Nelson's face was worth it." Karl Whittaker of Grendel said. "I've never seen the old man get so angry."
"We're in disunity." Rainelle Kurova of Furor was all business as usual. "Remnant doesn't trust us to do our jobs and we think they're retarded because they let the shit hit the fan. If anything, we shouldn't even be bothering helping them out if that's their attitude."
"That's our job isn't it?" Karl returned sarcastically. "Cleaning up other people's messes?"
"Now, now..." John said cheerfully. "We shouldn't be fighting like this. We got Grimm to kill remember?"
"Ugh..." Xia looked frustrated. "What about our chums the White Fang?"
"They've got the Vale Capitol Building in their paws." Karl said. "When are we going to take the fight to them Ifrit?"
John's grin made Karl regret calling him by that name. "When the Commander decides they are to be put down."
"The Faunus community won't like that." Xia pointed out. "Remember? They were yelling about us executing several of their lieutenants by firing squad."
"It's a war ain't it?" John asked.
"Still doesn't mean we'll step on people's toes..." Xia muttered. "Politics. Fuck 'em!" The Hunter snarled as she kicked loose gravel to the side.
Patch was overcrowded with refugees but as the docks were steadily being reconstructed things were looking better. Not good but not bad either. It was a bit like the Last City, where everyone had to struggle but they were alive at least. There were some petty thefts, mostly people stealing food and essential supplies but the Vale Police Department and the Patch Militia were putting a stop to it.
The situation right now was hectic but slowly, Vale's people were recovering.
John looked up at the cloudy sky as a cold breeze blew in. The Commander had said he would resume combat operations soon.
John wondered what was going to happen now.
/
Ozpin sat down in front of the Commander's desk flanked by Sun Wukong and the rest of his team.
Edgar Gein pushed the cup of tea towards Ozpin, looking impassively into the man's eyes. The Commander of Task Force Endeavor looked younger than Ozpin, save for his well trimmed beard. The man's grey, stormy eyes were devoid of anything resembling mercy. As he usually did, he emanated an aura of lethality few could match.
"Headmaster." Edgar regarded Ozpin politely. "You say that you needed something from me?"
"I must thank you for helping my students." Ozpin said nodding in thanks for the tea. The man looked a little worse for wear, having escaped the battlefield that was Beacon Academy. "I just wish that more of them were unscathed."
"Wars are never clean." Edgar took a sip of tea calmly. "But you must be proud. Your students fought bravely." He then set his teacup down. "Now, to the point then. I assume this is not a social call?"
"Yes. I would have asked Ironwood for help if he wasn't so busy." Ozpin said.
"Politics as usual." Edgar leaned forward, putting his fingers into a steeple. "And what would this group of young men have to do with you seeking me out?"
"She's gone!" Sun Wukong blurted out.
"Who is?" Edgar asked raising a brow.
"Blake! She just left the refugee camp at Beacon Docks, please you gotta find her!" Sun begged Edgar.
Ozpin sighed. "Blake Belladonna is a member of Team RWBY." He told Edgar. "When Mister Wukong told me what had just transpired I feared the worst."
"Ah, so you come to me." Edgar said. He took another sip of tea. "Unfortunately I do not have the authority to send out soldiers on a hunt."
When Sun looked to protest, Edgar raised a hand to silence the young man. Enraged, Sun looked ready to leap over the desk. Neptune held his friend's shoulder and shook his head.
"Sun, I know you're really upset but this is the guy who helped put Roman Torchwick in a hospital." Neptune nudged his head in Edgar's direction. "You really gonna attack the guy in his own office?"
Sun looked at his feet frustrated as he calmed down.
Edgar smirked. "Such loyalty." He commented. His tone was neutral. He then spoke again. "Santiago?"
"Yes commander?" The Ghost popped up beside his head.
"Send out a message to Fireteam Emeici and Jackknife, and Ruby Rose of Beacon." Edgar ordered. "Please tell them that I wish to speak to them."
"As you wish." Santiago disappeared in a flash of light to relay the message.
"What are you doing commander?"Ozpin asked.
"Guardian John Holden reported to me that Blake Belladonna was a former member of the White Fang." Edgar commented as he looked Ozpin in the eye. "One with ties to the Bloody Beast, Adam Taurus who is still alive. Mister Wukong commented that she has left the refugee camps for a destination unknown."
"Tell me." He continued as the implication sank in. "Do you think she left the camp willingly or was she kidnapped?"
"Damnit!" Sun yelled.
"I can't send my marines out." Edgar said calmly. "But Emeici and Jackknife are some of the most skilled Guardians at my disposal. If Blake Belladonna is indeed in need of rescuing they will find her. With the aid of your students of course."
Ozpin sighed and nodded. "Do what you need to."
"I already am. Rest assured, they will find Miss Belladonna and they will retrieve Adam Taurus' head." Edgar smiled a cruel smile.
"I guarantee it."
/
I'd like to thank everyone for their support. Volume Four is going to be AU from this point onward.
Tune in to the next installment, Nightfall.