I know I didn't post a chapter last week. Because life, as they say, is the biggest enemy for fan fic writers. Though I should be posting at a more frequent rate from now on.

The sun shined bright over the green field.

"Does everyone remember the plan?" asked Sun

"All you wrote is don't lose the ball." said Weiss

"Yes don't lose the ball, and we'll win." said Sun

"Is punching allowed?" asked Ren

"Only if the referee doesn't catch you," said Sun

"Any other questions?" asked Winter. "Or are we ready to win?"

"Ready to win," shouted Nora and only Nora. As the rest of her team stared at her

"Let's go then." Winter walked towards the field. Qrow's flock stood behind him as Winter noticed the coin in his hand.

"We're not using your coin," said Winter

"I get it, the thief thinks everyone has her condition." said Qrow. "So where do we get the coin then?"

"I have one." said Winter

"And I'm going to trust your coin?" asked Qrow

Winter rolled her eyes. "We can grab one from the counter."

After the two returned to the field, Qrow asked, "Heads or tails?"

"Heads." said Winter

"Okay," said Qrow as he flipped the coin. As it returned to his hand, he said, "Tails." Winter saw with her own eyes that it was true.

Qrow punted the ball across the field as his lance charged at Winter and her crew.

As Winter caught the ball, she passed it to Pyrrha. Pyrrha passed it to Weiss before the beast known as Cardin could tackle her. Weiss ran with the ball as she saw Nora signaling she was open. But she ignored Nora proceeding to run. From the corner of her eye, a small girl with long brown hair crashed into her. As Weiss fell, she fumbled the ball.

When the team got into position, Nora said, "Just so you know I was open."

"I must have not seen you." Said Weiss

"Oh well." Responded Nora as Winter snapped the ball to Pyrrha. As Winter clashed with Qrow, Pyrrha passed the ball to Ren, who bolted across the field. As the small girl charged at Ren, Weiss blocked her before she could get close to Ren. He sidestepped the Cardin, escaping his tackle. Ren spotted another large figure running towards him as Pyrrha signaled she was open. Without hesitation, Ren passed the ball to Pyrrha, but Coco caught it in mid-air.

Coco ran with the ball, looking for an open teammate. She dodged Pyrrha's attempted tackled and ran. However, Coco noticed the smiling sociopath running towards her. As Nora tackled Coco to the ground, she placed her hand on her bruised nose. She had enough; Nora was going to pay one day or another. As the teams faced each other, Weiss noticed they were fifteen yards from defeat. As Qrow snapped the ball to Cardin, Weiss saw Velvet charge at her. Side-stepping the girl, Weiss focused on her prey. She chased the quarterback; seeing the rest of her team being entangled, Weiss knew she was the only hope. So she ignored them and quickly began to outpace Cardin. As she tackled him, the man turned and brushed her off, causing Weiss to hit the ground. She saw Ren bolt past her, but as if he were made of paper, Cardin just shrugged him off. Leaving him unopposed as he charged to victory.

But from nowhere, Nora and Pyrrha bolted towards Cardin with Velvet and a dark blue hair boy trailing them. As Velvet caught up to Nora, Nora stopped dead in her tracks. Causing Velvet to slam into Nora and fall back. Nora, now pushed a few inches by the impact, set her sights on the slower Sky.

As Cardin was mere feet from the touchdown line, Pyrrha lunged to tackle him. But sadly, as she tackled him, he was already on the other side of the line. As Qrow's flock shouted in joy, Winter ordered, "Don't worry we'll turn this game around and win."

They did not, in fact, win the game and lost to a score of 0-2.

Winter walked to the celebrating Qrow and ,muttered "Sorry."

"I didn't hear that." Said Qrow as he turned to his team. "Did you guys hear that?"

"No." shouted the team

"So say it louder ice queen." Said the smug Qrow

"I apologize." Yelled Winter

"You see it's not that hard Winter." Said Qrow as he joined his team in celebrating.

"This will be a very long contract. Won't it Winter?" said Weiss

"I foresee that." replied Winter

"Is anyone else hungry?" Asked Nora

"I could grab a bit." responded Ren

"So could I." Winter turned. "I believe there is a restaurant nearby."

Jaune exited the mech, thankful for the air he breathed.

"So what did you learn to bondsman Jaune?" asked Ruby

"Well first is that you can shoot very far." Said Jaune

"Anything else?" asked Ruby hopefully

"That Clan Jade Falcon is superior?" asked Jaune nervously

"Well close enough." Said Ruby. "Today we have shown not only the superiority of clan technology but also clan honor."

"So how was that different from what I said?" asked Jaune

"Well I said it with confidence and more elegantly." Said Ruby as she cracked a smile.

"Okay. So what are we doing next?" asked Jaune

"Resting." Said Ruby. "I will see you in room 325 in ten hours. We will be going over batchalls."

"You're letting me go one my own?" asked Jaune

"Do you need help finding your room?" asked Ruby

"No." said Jaune seizing the opportunity before him. "But before I go what's this thing" Jaune pointed towards the cord on his arm

"Well that is your bondcord. It is to indicate your status as a bondsman. Are you sure I did not explain this before?" said Ruby

"I'm sure." Said Jaune "So what's it made of?"

"Fiber. Why?"

"Just making sure I don't accidently break it." Said Jaune

"We will need to talk about your usage of contractions later." Said Ruby as she left. "But for now good night."

Jaune turned and moved through the corridors of the ship, tasting freedom within his grasp

It turns out that freedom was a bit farther than his grasp. Jaune was completely lost in this maze of a ship, and who knew how long he'd been wandering the halls. Jaune sure didn't. But how would he escape? Thought Jaune. Were there escape pods on this ship? Or was that not honorable enough for his odd masters. Then he saw the dreaded yellow dragon walk the halls. Before Jaune could think, he entered the closest door to him. As he slammed the door behind and took a breath, he saw her.

A slender, sitting albino woman was sipping from a tiny metallic cup. She turned her head to Jaune, piercing him with her red eyes, and she asked, "Can I help you?"

"Well I'm uh-"said Jaune as he struggled to come up with a lie. Why didn't he think of one before?

"You were not thinking of escaping were you?" asked the woman as she narrowed her eyes.

"What no. I would never." Said Jaune

"It appears Mechwarrior Ruby has taught you well. As such an act would bring untold shame to the clan. Because you are the bondsmen of mechwarrior Ruby, Correct?"

"Yes, I'm Jaune d'Arc." Said Jaune as he began to sweat

The woman placed her cup on her table and stood "d'Arc you say?"

"Yes?" said Jaune nervously, unsure if he had just violated some dumb honor code

"You do not happen to know of Joan d'Arc, do you?" asked the woman as she approached Jaune.

Jaune was caught off guard by the mention of his great great great great great great great great grandfather. Yes, he was a local celebrity on his home world of Villafranca. Heck, they even had a statue dedicated to him in front of city hall. It was for defending the world from Amaris' forces. But that was Villafranca, not the deep, deep Periphery. "Yes, that man was my eight times great grandfather. How did you know that name?"

"Was he a member of the Star League Defense force?" asked the woman with a smile

"Yes." Said Jaune, still confused. "How do you know that? I mean even if what Ruby says about the history of the clans is true it wouldn't make sense that you know who he is. He died fighting off Amaris' men from my planet."

"It appears your historical retelling is mistaken. He did not die during the civil war. He survived a joined the exodus fleet. And from there he aided Nicolas Kerensky in reuniting the fleet." Said the woman.

Jaune stood in utter shock as this woman just shattered what he had been taught since childhood. Now his eight times great grandfather, his hero, was a man that abandoned his pregnant wife and son.

"How do you know this?" asked Jaune

"I appears we share the same blood heritage. Bondsman Jaune." Said the woman.

"Are saying we are related?" asked Jaune out of pure shock. Because, of course, of all the people to run into, he found his long, long-lost relative.

"Aff." replied the woman

As he composed himself, Jaune asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Galaxy Commander Salem." said the woman. "It is amazing to finally meet another who shares my blood heritage. However, I must remind you; you cannot use your blood name as you have not earned it yet."

"What?" asked Jaune

"Has you bondsholder not taught you this already?" asked the woman as she pulled her hair

"Maybe." Said Jaune as he tried to remember Ruby's lecture.

"A bloodname is the surname of the glorious 800. And to have the right to use it you must earn it. And as you have not earned it yet, you are known as Bondsman Jaune Jade Falcon." said Salem

"That's not how last names work." protested Jaune

"Do you wish for us to return to the savage nature of the innersphere? The same savage nature that bread demons like Stephen Amaris and broke apart the Star League. The same Star League that our ancestor fought to protect?" asked Salem

"How does a last name do that?" asked Jaune

The woman placed her hand on Jaune's shoulder. "Because to be given a blood name as if it were a gift breeds laziness and entitlement. It signals to other that they can be given something without earning it. And that is what allowed the snake of Ameris to enact the fall of the Star League. The fall of the golden age of the human race. But we can usher that golden age in again. And you can help rebuild the Star League, put an end to these wars done on the whims of warlords that measures casualties in the billions, if you do not fight the clan."

Jaune stood in silence as her words about the Star League rang true. He remembered learning of how the star league was a golden age of humanity. And now this relative of his just offered him the opportunity to achieve that. How could he deny that? But what about Pyrrha or Weiss or Ren? Wondered Jaune. Were they even alive? Or had they abandoned him? Jaune knew that Pyrrha would join him in a heartbeat. She couldn't refuse a chance to rebuild the Star League. But Weiss, and her family made a fortune off war; would she willingly aid in destroying that market? No, she wouldn't; she'd rather let people die than lose her blood money. Or Ren? Jaune knew little about him other than he was a puritan and a cook. So maybe he would help the clan, or maybe he wouldn't.

Jaune was horrified that he was considering even turning on comrades. Sure, they did have clashes in the past, especially with Weiss. But that was Weiss, goddam it, because no matter what, that ice princess always had his back. And so did all the other members of his lance. So he couldn't join their enemy.

But what about the star league? Reentered Jaune's mind. Would he really abandon all his ancestors fought for? As the two sides battle in Juane's mind, he is left confused and unsure of what to do.

"It appears you are tired." said Jaune's relative in a calming motherly tone. "Go and rest."

The exhausted Jaune complied as his mind was buzzing with whether or not to be horrified at himself.

/div