N204: 5 months of planning and 45 minutes of execution, all for just one scene. And what do you get: RUBY ROSE!
"I-" Richard was cut off by a hand smacking him across his face. That hand was from Ruby.
"That's for leaving," Ruby explained sternly.
Just as Richard was about to cover his face, he was quickly met with a surprise he definitely wasn't expecting. Ruby had wrapped her arms around his neck, and he was taken back as he felt her soft lips press against his own. Instantly his mind was filled with confusion and yet happiness also. Thoughts were zooming in and out, questions without answers, an internal struggle, and then, he calmed down. He closed his eyes and let the next few seconds pass with ease. His mind became blank as he didn't care about anything else in this moment. When it ended, when Ruby pulled back, it lingered with him, the feeling of it. The two faced each other once more, but this time in a less intense nature, it seemed natural to them. Richard only had one question as reality kicked back in.
"What was that for then?"
"That was for coming back," Ruby said in relief.
Richard gave a smile, "I still have to explain myself don't I?"
"Oh you know it," Ruby said.
"So now here I am," Richard ended his story.
"You've had quiet the trip," Ruby pointed out.
"Well, that's my side what's been going on while I was gone?"
"You want the short or long version?"
"I don't want any details skipped."
Ruby moved back over to the table in the room, she began tapping and swiping on its surface opening various files on it.
"Three years ago Atlas experienced a major earthquake, as you know. It was a few weeks later when the White Fang marched in and basically took over Atlas as easily as taking over a ghost town. No military to fight back, no government to keep the order, and the White Fang showed no mercy."
Ruby pulled up a video file showing a lineup of White Fang members aiming at some of their prisoners standing blind folded in front of a wall. It played for a few seconds, showing them being executed.
"Why was there no one to stop them? This is why." Another video popped up, this one though seemed like it was from a robot's camera as it had a set user interface. The outline of it started green but a red window appeared reading "OBJECTIVE UPDATE…
EXECUTION ORDER, TARGET…
READING…
ALL FAUNUS…
ACQUIRING TARGETS…
TARGETS FOUND"
Ruby fast forwarded to a scene that showed the streets of Vale, it showed a group of Faunus running away while they were being targeted by the machine. It soon began to fire its rifle at the group hitting two of them. After which the camera had appeared to fall over and the screen popped up another red window.
"SYSTEM ERROR…
CONNECTION…
FAIL"
The video ended with that.
"We did the best we could, but many Faunus still fell victim to this incident,"
"How did this happen?" Richard asked.
"We don't know who, but someone had managed to upload a virus into all their command servers at once, how they did it we don't know either. It would have required a transmitter with access to the Schnee dust Co. servers to bypass their fire wall as well.
"Continue…" Richard said moving on.
"After we managed to either destroy them or deactivate them, many Faunus began to feel unsafe, and that's when the White Fang took advantage, promising protection to all Faunus that followed them. They used their occupation of Atlas as an example of their power, and most of the Faunus believed them as they tried to leave Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral."
"That gave them more power then."
"Right, then a year later they showed what they were capable of, Vacuo was a lost cause by the time word got to Vale. The city was sacked, defensive walls destroyed, any resources taken, they didn't kill everyone though. They also left the city alone after that, but Vacuo probably won't be half the kingdom it was even if we managed to deal with the White Fang."
"So what's going down in Mistral then?"
"After Vacuo they set their sights on Mistral, we knew they were coming, but we underestimated their numbers. They almost managed to get to the main city before we pulled a counter attack and pushed them back to the kingdom's boarders. Now they've post in the same position for a year, everyone's questioning why they haven't sent another wave after they were so close."
"And that leaves Vale as the last truly safe place."
"It's no utopia, but it's where we come back to when we need a rest."
"How are you planning on driving them out of Mistral or Atlas for that matter?"
"Our focus is Mistral, but that's all I can tell you…for now. Unless you plan on joining the Combined Remnant Emancipating Effort to Defend."
"Wai-wai-wait, you named your military…creed?"
"Anything wrong with that?"
"Just…who came up with that?"
"I did," Ruby answered, "is there a problem?" She glared at Richard.
"No, no, its fine, I just thought jamr would be a better name,"
"Jamr? What would that stand for?"
"Eh, don't worry about it, it was a stupid idea anyway."
(If you know what JAMR would stand for you get a cookie -N204)
"So if you want me to join then where do you want me to sign up?" Richard asked.
"I think spec ops would be the best place for you."
"Spec ops? What do they do?" Richard asked.
"Oh, recon, stealth force, rescues, and occasionally some valuable target take down."
"So, you want me to join this…Assassin's Creed?"
"Well when you say it like that it sounds stupid."
"Spec op's creed?"
"Just Spec ops are fine."
"Alright then," Richard assured her.
"Speaking of assassins I have something for you," Ruby said rolling up her right sleeve. She revealed the hidden blade that Richard had given to her. She began taking it off.
"Here," she said, "you'll need it more than me."
"Ruby, this is yours to keep" Richard said softly pushing it back.
"You gave it to me so the assassins wouldn't hunt me down…you're not going to do that…are you?"
Richard was silenced from Ruby's remark. He simply took the hidden blade from her and stayed quiet.
He let out a sigh, "So, when do I start?"
"Hold up, you still need to be certified," Ruby informed.
"Certified?" Richard asked. "And where does that happen?"
"You'll see," Ruby smiled devilishly, "follow me." Ruby lead Richard back outside of the building, some time had passed from when Richard arrived in Vale. The sun was somewhat close to setting as Ruby and Richard walked across the base to another larger building, one with the Beacon Academy symbols on it.
"You still haven't told me what I have to do to be certified," Richard stated as they walked in.
"It's a surprise," Ruby stated.
They came into a room that was overlooking a much larger arena below it.
"Take a look at who you're going up against," Ruby pointed below.
Richard took a look and saw a figure surrounded by ten others. Once he focused he recognized the one standing in the center, it was Weiss. Her outfit had changed, she was wearing a short cape on her right shoulder that was armored. Her combat skirt seemed to hold some upgrades, and she seemed taller from a distance.
The recruits formed a circle around Weiss attempting to overwhelm her with their numbers. The commander, though, wasn't worried at all with the odds at hand; in fact they were practically in favor. The recruits waited, no one was willing to make the first move. That was until a battle cry could be heard from one of the recruits behind Weiss. He charged with all his strength, holding his sword high. As he grew closer he pulled it down with all his might, only to be deflected by Weiss's rapier. The kid stumbled back, not expecting to be parried. Just as he recuperated himself he was instantly sent soaring across the arena by a heavy kick from Weiss. All the other recruits watched in awe as their fellow trainee was just defeated in the first ten seconds of actual combat.
Three other recruits took their shot at the commander. Each sprinted toward her from a different angle attempting to receive the upper hand.
The one currently in front of Weiss was the first to engage in combat as he clenched his mace and swung horizontally. Weiss however ducked under easily and swung Myrtenaster to cut down his shins. This forced him onto his knees and as soon as he hit the ground a strong force sent him flying up as Weiss kneed him in the chin.
The other trainee charged as the second stopped hesitant of his attack. The one still charging Weiss came from behind and lunged his sword towards her back only to miss. Weiss had done a quick turn around and then made a short jump in the air as she then kicked the recruit's head to the side sending him sliding into the ground. The recruit that hesitated in the beginning motioned to the others to assist him. Two others stood behind him and the group began a three man frontal assault. Weiss turned the dust chamber of Myrtenaster and pointing its edge down slamming it into the ground causing large icicle shards to shoot their way towards the three knocking them all back.
The remaining four recruits began an organized attack as two leaped into the air and used their weapons to speed toward her as the other two charged on the ground. Weiss pulled out her rapier and turned the dust cartridge once more. She held Myrtenaster vertically as a clock appeared on the ground and began turning faster and faster until it disappeared. After that, several glyphs surrounded her and the other trainees. In a matter of seconds Weiss jumped between the recruits off of each glyph returning to her original spot as the four fell down defeated.
As soon as the last recruit hit the floor Ruby turned to a CREED member sitting at a nearby desk.
"Time?" She asked.
"42.0 seconds ma'am," He answered.
"Huh, new record," She stated.
"What was her old record?" Richard asked.
"42.374 seconds, so how would you feel training under Weiss?"
"Ecstatic," Richard sarcastically answered.
Clion818: Note to self: never post an update chapter, ever.