Chapter Three
Winter's consciousness came back to her like a flip of a light switch. One moment she was dreaming, about what, now she couldn't remember. And the next moment she realizes she's in some type of infirmary. Quickly remembering the events that lead her to her current location she jumped out of bed only to be stopped by several tubes that were plugged into the veins on her forearms. Pulling them out she made her way to the corner of the room closest to the door to find her neatly folded clothes. It was then that she realized her current state of dress and flushed red and thanked whatever gods that would listen that no one walked in on her at that moment.
As the Atlas Specialist began putting on her clothes she wracked her brain to try and remember all the details from last night. She remembered walking with Lt Arc to make her report to General Ironwood. Then they were stopped by the Valian soldiers who they had recently freed from White Fang captivity. After that she remembers a slight prick on the back of her neck, she then remembered it was a bite from Afeaa Green. The bite was so quick that her aura didn't even recognize it as a threat. Or, had she even had her aura up at that time? Either way it was not a mistake Winter would make again.
Winter then remembers everything getting groggy, with her being unable to use her limbs or even talk. She also faintly recalls being carried off by Afeaa Green.
'Oh Gods.' Winter thought as she searched for her weapon.
If Green was able to take me away without anyone knowing she could be in some serious danger. Winter's mind quickly caught up to her and she realized that line of thinking was highly improbable. For one, the White Fang would never give her even the most mundane of medical treatment. They hated the Schnee name so thoroughly that they would rather see her bleed out on the floor then offer her aid.
'No,' She thought. I have to still be at the FOB. Who else would offer me medical treatment and fold my clothes for me in the middle of a Vacuan desert?
With the threat of capture no longer hanging on her mind she let herself relax, if only slightly.
It was in that moment that the door to her room opened up to reveal a Valian army medic who walked in and stared at her.
"Ah, Ms. Schnee you're awake that's good to see. I would have preferred you stay in bed until we finish running a complete range of tests, but as you have your clothes back on I see that is rather improbable."
The first thing that caught Winters attention was the nurses body. She had a very curvy figure for a soldier if Winter was being honest with herself. In all her years as a specialist she had seen some interesting people. After all she knew people who served came in all shapes and sizes, but this woman looked to be blessed in rather obvious ways. Staring at her chest and hips only briefly, Winter began to feel slightly self-conscious. She quickly tuned out that train of thought and focus on the rest of the voluptuous medic. The woman had azure colored hair that seemed to match the shade of her eyes. The woman had a heart shaped face and freckles that littered her upper nose and cheeks. Her pale white skin seemed to shine slightly off the lamp that hung from the ceiling of the room. It was then that Winter noticed the two extra ears perched atop the woman's head. The medic was some kind of deer faunus, which kind Winter couldn't tell and found that it was better not to ask.
"Ahem. Yes, well as you can see I'm fine so I guess I'll be on my way."
Winter tried to move past the medic but the deer faunus grabbed her elbow as she tried to pass her.
"I said we wouldn't run the complete range of tests. I did not say we wouldn't be running any."
The medic told Winter in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I assure you I am completely fine." Winter tried to tell the medic, but received a look that told she would hear none of it.
"Have you ever been poisoned Ms. Schnee?" The doctor asked in a rhetorical manner.
"Because I know what happens to the body if the toxins in the poison are not properly removed. One minute you think you're fine then BOOM!" The medic slapped her hands together for emphasis.
"Your body goes into cardiac arrest at let me tell you Ms. Schnee if you think aura can protect you from that you are dead wrong."
The look the medic gave Winter told her to swallow her pride and yield to the nurses demands. So, she did.
"That's better." The medic stated in a voice that told her she was very pleased with herself.
"By the way Ms. Schnee it's a pleasure to meet you my name is Voges Sapphire, but everyone at the VATF calls the nurse V, or just V for short."
Winter looked at the now nurse V, and shook her head in understanding.
"I'm sure you already know, but I'm Winter Schnee its nice to meet you Ms. Sapphire." Winter extended her hand and was promptly bopped of the forehead by V.
"I said everyone calls me V. I told you that so you would call me it." The sassy medic said once again rather matter-of-factly.
Winter was taken aback it had been a very long time since she was stuck in such a way as one would disciple a child. She was about to say something until V extended her hand and smiled at Winter.
"Let's try that again. It's a pleasure to meet you my name is Voges Sapphire, but everyone calls me V."
Winter looked at the extended hand and briefly smiled, then extended hers and shook.
"Winter Schnee, likewise it is a pleasure V."
The two looked each other in the eye for what seemed like forever then V began to laugh. And to her surprise Winter followed suit.
After the laughter died down V took Winter back over to the bed she had woken up on and began a quick series of tests. Then she drew some of Winters blood to get it analyzed and called another medic in to take the sample and get it analyzed. As the other medic left the room V turned to Winter and asked her to tell her what she remembered about last night. Winter gave her best description of the nights prior events and ended when she lost consciousness. After that V filled her in on what had happened last night.
"After Ol' Jauney shot that White Fang extremist in the head, he scooped you up in his arms and carried you into my infirmary like a knight in bullet proof armor."
Winter was blushing slightly at the way V had described Lt Arc's actions. Then something hit her.
"Ol' Jauney?" Winter asked more than a little confused.
V just looked at her and smile a Cheshire grin that threatened to split her face.
"Oh yeah that's what I call our hansom and fearless leader." V explained.
"He has always been like that, always jumping in to save everyone, sometimes when they don't want help. I can't even tell you how many times I've patched that man up after Rita brought a whoopin on him for trying to defend her." V said in a tone filled with mirth.
"That's why we love him though, that man might be one of the youngest of us but he looks after everyone like he's their father. Hence the name Ol' Jauney. Why I remember the time when…"
The nurse told Winter about Jaune and the mission the VATF recruits went on to graduate. She explained that underneath that goofy exterior lives a heart of solid gold. About how Jaune would do anything to protect the men and women that were precious to him. And, about the incident that brought about such unwavering trust and respect for their blond leader.
The new recruits for the VATF had just started the last obstacle on their way to becoming official VATF members. The instructors called it the Death March and it was going to test the will and resolve of every single VATF hopeful. The recruits needed to complete a nearly thirty-mile hike with full battle gear on, plus packs. The average weight a person had on their bodies was around one hundred and ten pounds. That included their bullet proof vests, individual rifles and pack. Those unfortunate souls who had special training also had to carry either a machine-gun or a mortar system. Each of those ranging between anywhere from thirty to sixty pounds. And all of this was after four days of excruciating physical conditioning, nonstop tactical scenarios, and barely any sleep.
Now some might think that V was exaggerating when she told Winter this. On the contrary Winter was well aware of what it took to become a member of the VATF she heard the training regiment was akin to torturous, even for hunters.
Jaune was one of the youngest in the class, to make matters worse he was also an officer. And enlisted, more often than not, hate officers. Their type always thought they knew best and would put down anyone who thought otherwise. They also had a habit of being so strict on the rules you would think they had a pole shoved square up their rear ends. So, this imagine of officers got Jaune abused during training, a lot. The only saving grace for Jaune during all this was his friend Rita and his best friend Samuel, but even they couldn't stop all the abuse that came Jaune's way. But, Jaune just took the abuse and continued on like a good soldier would never stopping in his quest to help those around him.
It was at this point V started to laugh, which confused Winter. How could people be so cruel to such a nice, genuine man? It was then that V told her.
"That boy would never come to me for help no matter how banged up he got or how much punishment he took. Always said he was fine and not to worry. The only times he came to see me was when Samuel would drag him kicking and screaming to my office. Or, when Rita put a particularly hard smackdown on the boy."
So, the hike began and after about three miles the VATF recruits came to a stop outside a forest and were told they would be hiking through the forest in order to get to their destination. The recruits were also told not to worry about grimm as huntsman had been hired to clear the forest of the black hell spawn creatures.
Once the break was over everyone picked up their gear and began to hike through the forest. After about two more miles people started to notice that the instructors had disappeared. In one instant a hail of smoke grenades shot forth from the shadows of the forest. The recruits began to panic. They began to wheeze as the gas filled their lungs and burned their eyes. It was this moment that everyone saw Jaune take control. Running throughout the line of recruits forcing them off their knees and making them continue on. Even going so far as to carry some that would collapse to the ground, after handing off their packs to others. Samuel being the titan of a man that he is carried multiple packs at once. Once the men and women were beginning to clear the smoke Jaune would take role of them and make sure everyone was accounted for. Having a few people that were missing Jaune would run back into the gas to retrieve his fellow students.
After everyone was accounted for Jaune continued to march the tired and weary recruits to their destination, never once showing the same exhaustion everyone else felt. As the recruits lumbered on the were harassed with more gas grenades, and like before, Jaune carried everyone through. It remained this way for another five miles until the instructors ran out of gas and rejoined the group.
Tempers flared at their return some of the men wanting revenge for the cruel treatment they had just endured. But, Jaune, Rita, and Samuel held strong and reminded everyone to keep a cool head. Rita and Samuel reminding a little more forcefully than Jaune. After a short break the special forces recruits continued on through the forest. The hiking was relatively calm for the next ten miles until the sun started to descend from the sky. With aching feet, exhausted bodies, and flared tempers the VATF selects continued on until they heard a noise that gave even the instructors pause. A series of howls broke loose into the night and shattering the resolves of a few. It was from this point that the last ten miles became less of a never-ending trial and more of a living nightmare. The creatures of grimm would descend upon them and in their tired state some feared they wouldn't be able to fight them off.
As the howling got closer the pace of the march quickened and the space between each student became nearly nonexistent, as no one wanted to get snatched up by the nightmarish creatures. As the VATF hopefuls continued on they came across a clearing in the forest which helped alleviate the possibility of getting ambushed by the grimm. As everyone made it into the clearing it was then that the monsters decided to make their move. With still enough sun left for only a few more hours of daylight the monsters came flooding from the forest, their bloodlust permeating the air. The instructors dropped their packs and drew their weapons, not expecting for any grimm to harass them they carried knives, and one carried a short sword. As the creatures drew near the men and women in the clearing knew they had to either fight or surely, they would die.
As the instructors bellowed a guttural war cry and charged at the beasts, blades ready, waiting to spill grimm blood. Then an unlikely thing happened. Jaune, the youngest of all the recruits picked up his bullet less gun and charged into the sea of black and white monsters. Dumbstruck everyone stood in awe at what they were witnessing, how could someone so young be ready to fight and die and the rest of them stood there like cowards. Soon Samuel charged after Jaune ready to defend his friend, after that more and more recruits launched themselves at the beasts ready to prove themselves as warriors and defend their young leader.
When the two forces collided, it was nothing like a battle between huntsman and grimm, no. This was a blur of metal and bone striking one another. Claws and bone meeting the aura of the instructors, and the Kevlar of the students, slashing at the young men that dared to stand in the way of their meal. The recruits fought with such ferocity that evening that what happened next defies everything we know about grimm. They retreated, ran from a group of exhausted soldiers with nary a bullet to fire. It was in this moment that hope had begun to fill debilitated troops.
But, in the moment when they began to let their guard down the creatures of grimm tried to collect their pound of flesh. A dark clawed hand reached out from the darkness and caught Samuel by the shoulder dragging him into the darkness of the forest. With a fearful report Jaune cried out for his friend that was abducted by the midnight black creatures. Jaune attempted to run after Samuel but was stopped by the instructors telling Jaune he couldn't go, that it was too dangerous. With a ferocity and show of violence almost greater than the one shown against the grimm, Jaune lashed out against the instructors. Breaking fingers, gouging eyes, and biting flesh, in this moment Jaune was a devil made human.
Jaune freed himself from the instructors grasps and chased after the grimm as they took his friend through the forest. The young man ran like he had never ran before looking for any sign of the beasts that made off with Samuel. After running for nearly ten minutes Jaune finally heard a scream and followed it to what he believed to be Samuel's location. There in another small clearing stood Sam panting heavily and cut all over. The Beowolf that had carried him off upon further inspection was now missing its right eye. Jaune assumed Sam had gotten ahold of the creature's face and removed half of the beast's sight in exchange for his myriad of cuts and bruises.
As the Beowolves began closing the distance on Sam Jaune leaped out of the forest tackling one of the creatures by its bone plated kneecaps. Man, and grimm wrestled on the ground, both fighting for the dominate position. Finally, Jaune caught the wolf in its right leg and shattered the joint effectively maiming the creature. He then brought up is empty gun and rammed the buttstock into the creature's head until it was nothing more than a mess of black fur and gore.
The young officer then rushed to the side of his friend who was trying, and failing to hold off the remaining beowolves. Samuel then bent down and grabbed a rock sitting next to a stump and was prepared to use it in a similar fashion as Jaune used his rifle. The two young men were outnumbered by the beowolves three to one, but they wouldn't go down without a fight. As the two let loose a deafening war cry they charged the animals in front of them, and in turn the animals charged back. The two met once again in a flurry of claws and blunt weapons. This time however the beowolves seemed to be winning. Little cuts here and there were slowly bringing down the two debilitated warriors. With a swing of its bone plated arm a beowolf smacked Samuel in the chest, throwing him off his feet and into a nearby tree. Jaune, worried for his friend, took his eyes off his enemy and in that instant was rewarded the same fate as Samuel. As the two laid there completely exhausted Jaune began to crawled his way over to his heavily wounded friend.
"Stay with me Sam." Jaune pleaded.
"I'm not going anywhere sir." Sam replied in a hoarse voice. Jaune imagined a couple of his ribs had been cracked from either the contact with the tree or the arm of the grimm.
"You with me till the end bud?" Sam asked Jaune as tears began to form in both their eyes.
"Till the end." Jaune said as he laid there, waiting for the nightmarish fiends to take the life of him and his friend.
The Beowolves stalked closer to their prey ever so slowly, enjoying their victory, and the meal that was to come. As the beasts came closer Jaune picked up the rock Samuel was using as a weapon and threw it as hard as his arm could manage. The rock simply bounced off the bone plating of one of the beowolves earning Jaune an angry but almost amused growl. Just when all hope seemed lost however the two men heard a rustling in the tree's. The two battered soldiers assuming it was more beowolves, but silently prayed it was their friends. The two men then closed their eyes and waited for the end. In that moment waves of human and faunus recruits and well as the instructors came pouring into the small clearing, yelling wildly like some kind of blood crazed savage. They descended upon the shocked creatures and proceeded to rip them limb from limb in order to save their comrades.
As the future VATF soldiers continued their onslaught of the six beowolves a small group broke off and ran to Jaune and Samuel. Heading this group was Rita who looked upon her friends with a mixture of relief and total and unbridled rage. As they reached the two bleeding warriors several of the men began to rummage through their packs in search of medical gear and a pair of stretchers. While the others did this however Rita had other plans.
"You stupid, stupid bastard. If you wanna get yourself killed go play in traffic or something. Don't go chasing after a pack of beowolves." Rita snapped at Jaune her anger making its presence know to the young officer.
Beside Jaune, Samuel couldn't help but chuckle at his friend getting berated by the diminutive woman. This was clearly a poor idea on Sam's part as the fiery woman leveled her rage on the bigger man.
"And you. Don't get me started on you, you overgrown guerilla. How does someone your size get carried off by a bunch of animals? They should have tried to pick your fat ass up and dropped you on your head."
It was clear to the two men that this was one of those instances that its better to just nod and accept whatever the woman was going to say. Then something happened that neither of the men saw coming. Rita, tough as nails, and always looking for a fight began to cry. It started off as a few tears at first, but then someone decided to open the flood gates and she threw herself on top of the two bawling her eyes out.
"You two idiots." She said in-between choked sobs. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you guys. Jaune promise me you won't go charging off like that again. Or at least when you do take me with you."
Rita tried her best to slip back into her badass persona and was failing. The two men she was hugging were not about to tell her that however.
"I promise Rita, I promise." Jaune said as he ran his hand atop her short brown hair.
A woman standing behind Rita, that Jaune could place, put a hand on her shoulder and said,
"Rita, you need to move so we can get these two patched up."
The woman had a softness about her voice that put Jaune at ease. The woman moved Rita to the side gently and began triaging the two wounded men.
"You two sure did bang yourselves up pretty good didn't ya." The woman said with a smile on her face. The woman ran her hands across Sam's injured body and stopped when she got to his left side.
"Seems you got a broken rib here Sammy." The medic said to Samuel with a half-smile.
"I could have told you that V. It feels like I'm being stabbed every time I breath."
That's when it struck Jaune. He had met this person before, he was just so tired he didn't recognize her. This was nurse V the woman Samuel had forced him to see for his injuries before.
"It's nice to see you again ma'am." Jaune said, trying his best to look upbeat.
"It's always a pleasure to see you sir." V gave Jaune a seductive smile.
"I just wish it was during better circumstances. Now, both of you hush momma needs to work."
And with that the sexy medic got to work fixing up the cuts on the two labored men.
Once nurse V told the instructors that the two were ready to move the lead instructor ordered the men to carry Jaune and Samuel on the stretchers. Jaune protested saying he was fine and that he could walk the rest of the way. The recruits looked at Jaune in awe at his indominable willpower. The head instructor on the other hand walked up and punched Jaune so hard in the solar plexus it nearly lifted him off the ground. Jaune coughed up a chunk of saliva and dropped down onto his knees.
"I don't need any further heroics from you Lt Arc. You're lucky I don't throw you in the brig for assaulting my instructors, and trying to get yourself killed. You have reached the peak of my tolerance level and one more thing out of your mouth before we get home and I swear to god I'll tie you to a tree and leave you for the grimm, am I understood Lt Arc."
Coughing wildly and trying to regain his composure Jaune said, "Perfectly, sir."
"Good, now you two." The head instructor pointed at two random recruits.
"Pick his sorry ass up, and make sure he doesn't die, that's and order."
The two men hurried and helped Jaune onto the stretcher next to Samuel. After Jaune was situated on the stretcher the two men hoisted Jaune up and began their final leg of the journey.
As the recruits neared their final destination they saw in the distance a make shift stage and VATF members dressed in their dress blues. This gave the recruits a surge of motivation and they all nearly ran to the finish carrying Jaune and Samuel at the front of the formation. When they reached the stage the men in their dress blues came to shake their hands and congratulate them on a job well done. As packs were dropped in neat and organized rows the men and women of the graduating VATF class formed up right in front of the stage. It was at this point that the head instructor took his place behind the podium and began to address the graduating class.
"When you all first arrived here all I saw was a bunch of wasted space. A bunch of worthless recruits who had the audacity to believe they could call themselves VATF operators. But, over the course of these eighteen long months you all have changed my opinion. What stands before me now is the future of the VATF, and I am extremely proud that I was able to guide you along that path. Now, as you all know I am a man of few words. So, it is at this time that I would like to offer up the podium to the honor graduate of your class. Not only has he shown the ability to lead, even when some have pushed him away. But, he has shown all the requirement of an outstanding man, and officer. He also happens to be one crazy son of a bitch. It is at this time that I would ask Lt Jaune Arc to come up and say a few words to his fellow classmates."
All eyes in the formation turned to Jaune with expectant stares. As Jaune removed himself from the formation he hurried, as fast as his wounded body could take him, up the steps and took his position next to the head instructor. As Jaune neared the head instructor he turned and offered his hand to the young man. Which Jaune took and firmly shook. It was then that Jaune took his place behind the podium and began to clear his voice.
"Well." Jaune said in a slightly nervous voice.
"Its been a long road, and we still have a long way to go. Eighteen months ago, I would have never pictured myself standing before all of you as a VATF member, let alone the honor graduate of our class. While I was going through the training I tried to be the best officer that I could. Offering help where I thought it was needed and not expecting thanks in return. What I got instead was abuse by some of my fellow classmates, and had to be dragged to see nurse V several times."
At this the crowd began to shift uncomfortably in formation. Some looking down in shame.
"But, I never lost hope that you would accept me as your leader. Alas, even as I stand here before you, I fear I still haven't earned your respect."
The crowd all looked up to where Jaune was standing with shock. How could a man that charged into a sea of grimm, and plunged head long into what could be called certain death not have their respect?
"But, know this. For the rest of my time in the VATF and maybe for the rest of our lives. I will never stop doing my utmost to earn that respect. Like I said before we still have a long way to go, but I am honored that I get to travel the rest of the way with you fine men and women. Thank you all, and I look forward to leading you into battle."
There was no sound for almost fifteen seconds, but to everyone in attendance it was as long as an eternity. Then, as the silence was beginning to become deafening a clap sounded from inside the formation. It was Samuel, bringing together his monstrously large hands and vanishing the silence with a clap like thunder. Then a woman, Rita, followed suit clapping her smaller hands together and showing a bright smile to her new commanding officer. Next came nurse V whose eyes began to line with tears. Soon the entire formation was clapping along with them, then clapping became cheering, and cheering became a cacophony of yells and whoops from the new members of the VATF. Even some of the instructors began to cheer, although at a much more refined tone. This was the moment that cemented Jaune's place amongst his fellow soldiers. This was the moment that they saw the lieutenant for what he was. A good man with a good heart who would lead them through the gate of hell and back and never falter. And they would follow him without question. This was the moment they became more than brothers and sisters-in-arms, this was when then became family.
As V finished up her story Winter was faced with an overwhelming respect for the young lieutenant. Not only had he risked his life for his friend but he did so for people that almost hated him. He had charged into a grimm infested forest, with no aura, and tried to save his friends life. Upon hearing this story Winters chest became slightly tight at the thought of the younger man. She couldn't place why but she was comfortable with the feeling for now.
"Whelp, I'm finished with my tests Winter if you want you can head out and get some food, but take it easy for the next could of days, alright?"
Nurse V said, snapping Winter out of her internal thoughts.
"What about my blood work?" Winter inquired.
"Don't worry I didn't forget. Got the results right here on my scroll. Says there is some slight residual signatures of the poison but that was to be expected it'll pass out of your body in a few more hours." Nurse V explained.
Nodding Winter picked herself up from the bed she was sitting on and made her way over to the door. As she cleared the threshold she thought of V's words and decided she needed to get something to eat her stomach was beginning to hurt from not eating since yesterday.
As she walked to the chow hall she began to hear a ruckus from inside its walls. As Winter opened the door she found all the VATF members standing around a table, all shouting at what was going on at the table. Sitting there was Samuel arm wrestling two men at once with one arm. Around them people were holding stacks of lien and shouting for the two men to defeat the titan of a man. Next to Samuel cheering him on was Jaune. Seeing Winter entering the chow hall he waved and motioned for her to join him in the festivities.
Winter felt the tightness in her chest again as she looked at the goofy grinning lieutenant, and smiled. She could get used to this feeling. And with that she made her way over to Lt Arc.