Chapter 43 Well That's Great!
Character Weiss
She was really going to do it, Weiss was about to freeze Roman into a corner when Jayne's comment about how her skill could be worth a fortune registered. This gave her pause which was enough time for Roman to get out of way. She really hated it when people talked about her like she was some oddity.
"Now I ain't no expert but I'd say you could probably rent your ability out to a lot of people in the Verse for hundreds of platinum," Jayne continued seemingly unphased by the danger that Roman was just in, "That is if the Reavers weren't eating them all. Still don't know why we are going back to help the gorrham Alliance. Roman what you looking like you seen a ghost for?" Roman just threw his hands in the air and walked out. Weiss realized she could probably have frozen Roman right in front of Jayne and he would not have cared. "What was it something I said?"
"I just about froze him into a corner and you didn't notice," Weiss exclaimed.
"Really," Jayne said, "Glad you didn't then I would want to see that. Man you could make a great deal of money if you could flash freeze goods."
"No thank you," Weiss said, "I've got plenty of money and now that I am back in the Schnee network will be overseeing the company with Father and Mother."
"Yeah Roman told me bout that to," Jayne said, "Your like a princess or something."
"Uh why am I even talking to you," Weiss said as she went towards the stairs.
"Cause all your friends wandered off," Jayne replied, "Mine do that to, I'm pretty sure it just cause they are hyperactive idiots with short attention spans. You talk about money or weapons for more than five minutes and they seem to run off."
Weiss stopped with her foot on the first step and turned around, "Money and weapons," she asked.
"Well what else is there to talk about," Jayne said.
Weiss took a set on the stairs and waved Jayne over, "Okay money or weapons, which one do you want first?"
"Weapons then you can get the money," Jayne said.
"Subterfuge or straight up fight," Weiss continued.
"Neither, I like fights where I win," Jayne replied, "Hey you ain't one of them brain people, physico what they calleds?"
"Physiologists," Weiss said, "No just trying to see if your worth talking to, so far it seems so." Jayne got a lopsided grin and nodded his head at that.
"Never really get to talk much, not one for it but I'll talk about weapons or money," Jayne said.
"Favorite weapon," Weiss said.
"Vera," Jayne replied as he tapped the stock of his rifle, "What's yours?"
"Myrtenaster," Weiss said as she drew it.
"It's like a sword revolver," Jayne said, "With that shiny dust from your place in it."
"That is Dust," Weiss said, "Fire, Ice, Lightening, Energy, stored in the chambers ready for me to direct it."
"Vera has fifty charges a mag," Jayne said, "one of which can take out three men with a good distance between them. Say what is the most money you've made in one transaction?"
"Forty three million Lien," Weiss replied, "The Schnee Corporation contracts with several governments in Remnant."
"I have no idea what a Lien is worth but that sounds like a really big number," Jayne said, "I'd have to say our largest pull was forty five hundred when we had to hack into the Alliance command comm transmitters. That was a fun day."
"Really," Weiss said, "What went wrong?"
"More like what didn't," Jayne replied. That started a conversation that the two carried until Mal called for everyone to head to the hangar and get ready to exit, they were going to drop in for the first line of defense on Persephany.
"Reavers," Jayne said, "I ain't no coward but fighting them is crazy."
"Sounds to me like they are human shaped Grimm," Weiss remarked as the crew trickled in, "I am very good at killing Grimm."
"Fighter, technician and conversationalist," Jayne remarked as the rest of Weiss' team joined her, "I like you."
"There you are," Blake said, "You're the last person that I thought would spend an hour sitting in the cargo bay of ship."
"What did you do for an hour," Yang asked, "Talked with Jayne?"
"I doubt that," Simon said, "He isn't one for talking."
"Well someone has to make up for your big words there Doctor," Jayne said.
"Most he's said to me today," Simon added as he went to stand next to his sister.
"You don't like him very much do you," Weiss asked.
"Don't rightly know any more," Jayne said, "He and River are trouble but they seem to keep us out of trouble as much as they get us into it."
"Wait you two were talking for an hour weren't you," Ruby said.
"No," Weiss and Jayne said, "Well maybe."
"Really," Blake asked, "Seems like you two would be polar opposites, would make a good book though 'The Merc and the Heiress' catchy title."
"Seems to me that would work, she has money, I like money, she likes weapons, I like weapons," Jayne said, "she kills people, I kill people."
"I kill Grimm," Weiss corrected, "most of the time."
"Yeah I'm pretty sure if Jayne hadn't of caught your attention I would be frozen to the ship somewhere," Roman said as he passed them.
"Well you probably deserve it," Lao said as he and Summer walked up with the Doctor and River.
"River and River," Weiss remarked as she looked between the two.
"Indeed," River said, "It seems the name marks great people."
"Or crazy people," the Doctor said.
"And they each have a doctor," Summer said, "Odd isn't it?"
"Expected around this crew," Imhotep said.
"Good point baldy," Jayne said, "Wonder if I would look that good bald?"
"I doubt it your head is far to square and masculine to look as good as his," Weiss said, "no the stubble and short hair look good on you." Ruby, Blake, Yang and Sun just stared at her. "What," Weiss asked.
"Sorry," Sun said, "It's just the first time any of us have heard you compliment a guy on how he looks... or anyone for that matter."
"Really," Jayne remarked, "Hey you think I got a chance at seeing her in something skimpier than that get up?"
"You pig," Weiss said as she slapped him and stormed over to Pyrrha and Nora. The thought did cross her mind however that she would like to see him in less too.
Character Jayne Cobb
His face stung where Weiss had hit him, but not as much as it did with most women who hit him. "I think she likes me," he said to Lao, "Face don't sting like it normally does."
"That could just be due to the ice," Lao said as he and Summer sat down next to Jayne. Jayne reached up and brushed the ice off his cheek.
"Maybe she really likes me," he said as Mal entered the hold.
"Okay people listen up we are going in to secure the port we can work out from there. Reavers just landed so keep an eye out for survivors houses that ain't broken into things of that nature," Mal said, "Serenity is going to be our transport for most deployments since she has no guns, leaving the ships that do the freedom to blow up the Reavers before more can land. These Reavers ain't people so don't give 'em any quarter, they are feral animals and need to be put down like them, like those Grimm, like the demons. They may look human to us, if they haven't mutilated themselves to badly, but they embody the same enemy that we've been fighting since joining with DC so let's go save a planet and be the heroes for once."
"And stick one to the gorrham Alliance," Jayne added.
"That is implied," Zoe said.
"Oh right," Jayne stated as the bay doors lowered to let them out. The Reavers were waiting for them. The scarred mangled bodies of what used to be humans, now filled with all sorts of fragments of metal and clothed in skins of their victims, screamed at them as they rushed towards the doors. Jayne had a moment where his brain was telling him to just get the hell out of there but then he saw Roman and RAIM barrel into the monstrosities, leaving a wake of death in their path. The Hunter flew over head and dropped down a few rounds before heading to their drop site, RWBY, JNPR and friends had joined the battle as Mal and Zoe lined up next to Jayne.
"Quite the site," Mal said as he brought his pistol to bear against the Reavers.
"Sure is," Zoe remarked as her shotgun rang out and Jayne added Vera's voice to the conversation.
"Sure is," Jayne said as he saw Weiss spring into the air and dive through five Reavers that she had also launched off the ground. "Hell the lady even knows how to dance."
"Who," Mal asked confused as he shot another Reaver.
"Weiss of course," River Tam said as flowed by them in a flurry of strikes that even the Reavers ferocity couldn't outmatch.
"Seriously," Zoe said, "She is probably only half your age... how old are you anyway?"
"Don't see how that is any of your business," Jayne replied as he blasted through six Reavers that were beating on a door.
"Anyone inside," Mal yelled.
"Y-yes," answered a squeaky voice, "What is going on out there?"
"Don't you worry about it," Mal replied, "Just stay inside and don't let anyone in, if you have a weapon best go get it and watch the doors."
There was silence for a minute before an, "O-okay," and the shuffling of feet.
"Think he will listen," Jayne asked.
"Seems scared enough not to do something stupid," Mal replied.
"Like what we are doing right now," Jayne said.
"Yeah like what we are doing right now," Zoe agreed, "Can't complain that it isn't exciting though."
"Reavers," Jayne said, "I hate Reavers, hate 'em!"
"What the pay ain't good enough for you," Mal asked.
"What is the pay on these guys anyway," Jayne asked.
"Credit a head," Zoe replied.
Jayne got a real big grin at that and started employing his full range of skills to hunt down these Reavers. Over the years he had developed a keen tracking ability along with a dogged determination. These two traits served him well over the next half hour as he racked up a bag full of thumbs to prove to Harken that he really did kill that many Reavers, well mostly. Some he looted from kills that no one else had claimed. As the Reavers got thinner he, Mal and Zoe split up to investigate various houses and side streets. The whole team was keeping in radio contact still and were close enough to each other to help if things went south. He came up to a corner that broke into three directions, his and two others.
"Mal got a couple of blind corners here," Jayne radioed, "going to check 'em out."
"Careful," Mal cautioned.
"Quite," Jayne said, "I'm trying to hear if anything is around me."
He did hear several noises but one caught his attention, the sound of someone in some sort of clunking shoe trying to be sneaky. He was about to round the corner and face whoever, or whatever was making the noise when he picked up the sound of another pair of feet coming from the other corner. He backed down the street he was on so the two from the other streets would meet each other first. If they were Reavers he'd just shoot them if not he would just keep moving. What he didn't expect to see was Weiss round the corner and run right into Badger, of all people, who had just rounded the other corner. Badger was a contact that Mal would get work from on occasion, not the most likable of persons but his coin was good. The short man with the bowler hat and smooth, rounded face was also very dangerous so Jayne moved up behind him real quite like and chambered Vera to get his attention once he saw that Badger had a pistol pressed to Weiss' gut.
"I'd rethink that if I were you," Jayne said, "Else I might be adding your thumb to my collection to turn into Credits."
Badger turned around real slowly, the shock on his face was funny but it was even better as Weiss' sword suddenly exploded out of his chest then disappeared before slicing open Badger's throat. Weiss seemed shocked at her reaction as she just stood there breathing real heavy and covered in blood and gore.
"I never liked him that much anyway," Jayne remarked.
"You knew him," Weiss squeaked.
"Badger there," Jayne said poking the body with his foot, "Yeah we would get jobs from him occasionally. Not saying we are going to be sad to hear he is dead, held us hostage a couple of times and I don't like it when people keep me and Vera apart."
"It's his own fault," Weiss muttered as she looked away from the corpse and over to Jayne, "What idiot puts a gun to a potential ally's gut in the middle of an invasion?"
"That is odd," Jayne said, "From what I remember Badger never aimed the guns himself, always had some merc to do that... wonder if his place got raided, would explain why he was out here in this mess."
"Would there be any survivors there," Weiss asked as she shook off the shock of the unexpected kill.
"Maybe," Jayne said, "Depends on where he was keeping the slaves, if he was transporting any of them. If they were being prepped for flying no way. If they were being kept secrete then maybe."
"It's worth checking into," Weiss said as she leaned down and closed Badger's eyes, "Sorry Badger, you picked the wrong woman to hold a gun to."
"Then it is a good thing that wasn't me," Badger said as he moved out into the street from a house, "Very touching the whole last words thing. Jayne always good to see an honest man looking to make a little coin. I've got coin for you if you help me clear the Reavers out of my place before they find those slaves you mentioned, though I would rather you keep it a secrete."
"So there are survivors," Weiss remarked, "but if you are Badger then who was that?"
"Don't know," Badger replied, "Some merc I paid to hold up and bring into me anyone who walked down the street."
"He looked just like you," Jayne said.
"Digital face mask," Badger said as he clicked a button and the dead man's face flickered and became visible as the scarred face of a bald man.
"You better have coin a plenty," Jayne said, "These Reavers out here are a Credit a head."
"Looks like you two already have quite the count on those," Badger said as he waved at the bags that were strapped to both Jayne and Weiss's belts. Jayne raised an eyebrow, he was also not expecting the Heiress to a massive company to stoop to collecting bounties on Reavers, but here she was. Weiss just rolled her eyes mentioning something about not passing up an opportunity. "So why not take the guaranteed cash?"
"I'm in," Jayne said, "How bout it gory girl?"
Weiss looked like she was going to slap him again but then she looked down at her blood stained appearance and sighed, "Well already ruined this outfit might as well save a few people while I'm at it." Jayne smirked at her flippant attitude towards an outfit that was probably worth a weeks pay at least and the ridiculousness of her wearing a dress to fight in, it showed off her legs though so he wasn't going to say anything.
"Follow me then," Badger said as he went back into the house. Badger led them through several houses and allies to the back door of his business' warehouse. "Okay the slaves are underground but the Reavers have taken the ground floor and above, won't be long until they smell their way to the pens so lets get in there and kill them," Badger said as he drew a pistol.
Jayne moved in with Badger and Weiss was behind them. The warehouse looked clear as far as the boxes and crates would let them see. The sounds of Reavers did catch Jayne's ears and he jerked his head in the direction the sound came from.
"You got some sharp ears," Badger remarked quietly as they moved around the boxes to engage the Reavers. "They are right above the slaves, we need to hurry." Hurry they did, straight backwards as ten Reavers charged out of the path ahead of them and came at them. Jayne and Badger fired as they backed up but bullets didn't really stop Reavers like they would normal people. Reavers would fall to a head or heart shot sure, but it is hard to aim when running backwards. Weiss zipped past the two and sent out a wave of ice that impaled the Reavers on spikes, leaving them open to her finishing stokes from Myrtenaster.
"And that is why the woman with the sword should go first," Weiss said as she glanced back over her shoulder at Jayne and Badger. "I take it that iron door there opens up to the pens?"
"Right let me just put in the code," Badger said as he walked up to the digital lock on the door. After a few attempts he punched the wall, "Gorrham Reavers damaged the lock it doesn't recognize my password."
"I could call Kaylee," Jayne suggested, "she can get through any door."
"It looks like a simple lock let me have a look," Weiss said as she pushed Badger out of her way. She got to the lock and popped the case off to get at the wiring. Jayne watched as she chose some purple Dust from a pouch and then stripped one of the wires to apply the Dust. The door made an audible clicking sound as she looked back to them. "I can unlock it but you two will have to pull it open."
Jayne and Badger looked at the door then glanced at each other before sighing and moving to pull the door open. Jayne got right up against the door and the wall while Badger grabbed a hand hold on the middle and started to push. The door opened slowly but they only had to make enough space to get through. His heart skipped a beat when he heard a familiar voice ask, "Jayne?" Looking up he saw among a crowd of almost a hundred people his mother and sister.
"Mom, Mattie," Jayne exclaimed as he left the door and ran over to them, "How did you end up here." He cut the ropes around their feet but needed a key for the cuffs around their hands.
"Slavers hit back home pretty hard," his mother, Radiant, replied. "We hadn't got any money from you in a while so had nowhere to go, they just pulled us right off the streets."
"Hey no talking to the inventory," Badger said as he made his way through the door. Jayne turned on him faster than the little man could blink. With Vera pressed against Badger's chest he was ready for negotiating.
"That is my mother and sister they are not 'inventory'," Jayne hissed, "You're going to let them go and give them any money that you would have given me."
"It would have to be less their worth," Badger replied.
"Why," Jayne asked, "I could just shoot you now and be done with it."
"Oh," Weiss breathed as she entered the dim, smelly room.
"You could shoot me but would it be fast enough to stop me from shooting her," Badger said. Jayne looked down to see that the pistol was trained on Weiss.
"And you could shoot either of us but still be dead," Jayne replied as he pressed Vera farther into Badger's ribs, "Drop the gun and the key." Badger thought about it for a second before the gun clanked to the floor and he handed Jayne a key.
"We're freeing them all," Weiss announced as she walked over and cut the cuffs right off Radiant's hands. Then Mattie's cuffs were off and Weiss started in on the rest.
"What no that is my sell for this month," Badger said as authoritatively as he could with Vera ready to shoot him at any second.
"Find a more honest line of work," Weiss replied as Jayne kept Badger pinned and away from the pistol. After a few moments and a groan from Badger the slaves were freed. "Badger you have weapons in here right," Weiss said.
"Come on at least leave me the weapons," Badger said.
"You arm these people and you might make it out of here before the Reavers eat you," Jayne said as he moved to Radiant, Mattie and Weiss' side, "Mom, Mattie, lets get out of here."
"Hold it a minute," Badger said as the cocking of gun sounded, "You see I don't make this delivery I'm out of work so I can't let you leave with anyone." Badger had a second pistol trained on Mattie as he pick up his first one that was still on the ground. "Any of you make a move and the girl.." Badger's sentence was cut off as Myrtenaster lodged itself in his face.
"Okay this time I'm not sorry," Weiss stated hotly. "Jayne where would he keep weapons we need to get these people armed so they can protect themselves from the Reavers."
"It wouldn't do 'em any good," Jayne said after looking over the group, "Only one among them knows how to fight is Mattie."
"Well you taught me," Mattie remarked, "even so having guns would be better than not."
"Check his body probably a key and schematics to this place on him somewhere," Jayne said. "I guess I'm going to be a hero here too."
"Where are you a hero," Weiss asked.
"Higgins' Moon, little town called Canton," Jayne replied, "I didn't actually do anything there just dropped a bunch of money so I could escape. Actually we had just left there when we ran into you all, well DC anyways." The next hour and a half was spent getting the people from Badger's warehouse to the spaceport. His mother and Mattie decided to take a ride to Canton and make a home there despite his warnings about the place. Jayne gave 'em the Credits he earned from the Reaver bounties before he sent them off. "That is probably the last time I'm going to see them," Jayne said.
"I doubt that," Weiss remarked, "If there is a city that has you as its hero I've got to see that." She then returned to her omni-tool and her call with Ruby. Jayne noticed that Weiss had given her considerable pouch of Credits to Mattie before she and Radiant had gotten on the ship.
"Jayne," Mal called on the radio, "You done with that slave rescue yet we are heading back to Serenity so hurry it up."
"Yeah okay," Jayne replied, "Come on lets get out of here."
"Right," Weiss replied with a nod, "Besides I need to change out of these cloths... take a shower too."
"You wouldn't get so bloody if you didn't charge through your enemies," Jayne remarked.
"Yet you haven't been able to keep your eyes off me since I got bloody," Weiss said as a white glyph appeared under her and she shot off towards the Serenity.
"Yeah she likes me," Jayne thought. Then another thought hit him, "I like her too. Maybe she can help me spruce up Canton for Mom and Mattie."
"Jayne hurry up," Mal reminded him via the radio, "Reavers are pulling out of the space port but we still got the Verse to clean up."
"That's great," Jayne replied as he started jogging back, "I'll bet K is having a much better day than we are. Weiss wait up I need to ask you something!"
Character Spyro
"Well," Cynder asked as she walked up to Spyro.
"Seems like Ozpin isn't happy about two of his teams vanishing," Spyro replied. He had been listening to Ozpin and K in the next room for an hour now and neither seemed to be any happier than when they went in. "K is just as upset at Cinder and her gang's disappearance. He worries that the criminal element will form another ring and get out from his command. Ozpin is more concerned about the Grimm, RWBY and JNPR were the main teams to cull the Grimm around here, CRDL and CFVY keep the Grimm out from the city and the docks so the civilians are okay for now but if the Grimm attack from the Emerald Forest through Beacon..."
"Well we will just have to be here to stop them," Cynder said, "And Cinder's little group shouldn't be much of an issue either, you've got me, Malafor could help and Jinx, Jensen and Star, DC is more than capable of running a black market operation."
"True," Spyro said, "You know I'm thinking that we take up residence in the Forever Fall and Emerald forests the Grimm would be pushed out pretty quickly."
"What all of the dragons from DC," Cynder mused, "That could work, I've heard Jaune tell stories of many caves in the forests."
Their conversation was interrupted as Ozpin and K walked out past them.
"What the word," Spyro asked.
"Well no one is happy but we think we can cover for the missing parties," Ozpin remarked, "I'll bet Diablo is having a better day than we are."
Character Blood-Raven
"Look I'm sorry alright," she said to Diablo as she pulled her arrows out of his hide... again.
"Why the blarg don't you just try not shooting me," Diablo growled, "I'll bet Shepard is having a better day than I am."
Character Tali
"Come on no need to be so gloomy," Tali said to Harold as they sat on the bed in the captain's quarters of Normandy.
"They just took off didn't even invite us to go with them," Shepard said, "They took Harbinger with them even, but us, no leave us out, that's fine. I'll bet they are having a great time off vacationing while we get stuck having to cover for them. Just you watch, I'll bet we get called to cover for one of the missing teams."
"Better than Reapers," Tali remarked as she pulled him close to her and rubbed noses with him. Just then the comm crackled on and Joker said there was a call from K for Shepard.
"See," Harold sighed, "I'll bet Mal is having a much better day."
Character Jayne
"Well I was having a good day until right about now," Mal remarked, "Why would you let them go to Canton?"
"It's not like I could stop them," Jayne replied.
"Look we need to go there to check for Reavers anyways," Weiss said, "We stop there, settle accounts with the people, Griffen is on the Invention he can make residential structures for the people, Jayne's family included and some guns to take care of any Reavers that might come that way."
"Yeah looks like he is doing that here right now," Kaylee said, "It amazing how it just sprays structures into existence."
"Okay, fine," Mal said, "And only because I owe you."
"Right great," Jayne said as they walked up the ramp into the hold of Serenity.
"You've got a goofy smile," Weiss said as she walked past him to go get cleaned up. Jayne's smile got bigger at that.
"I'm actually going to do something to earn the hero position," Jayne thought as he headed to his quarters to get more ammo for Vera. Griffen finished up with the turrets and in an hour they had rode beside the Invention to Higgins' Moon. Griffen used his jet pack to land beside the Serenity as they landed out in front of the mud flats where the inhabitants of Canton worked. Radiant and Mattie wouldn't get there for another week at least on the transport ship so Jayne was hopping to get everything fixed up before they got there. Inara had sent a message to a contact she had inside the Magistrate's place so that Serenity's landing would go unnoticed for a bit. "Okay just let me do the talking when we get out here," Jayne said as the cargo doors opened to let the crew out. Griffen's landing next to them drew the people's attention.
"Jayne," Griffen said through the loud speaker, "Where should I start building the housing?"
"Clear out the dead forest over there," Jayne said, "Just keep the construction away from the mud, it is actually worth a good bit and these people can make a good living off of it once we settle things with Higgs."
"Jayne," one of the workers exclaimed as the people started to get up from their work, "Did it say Jayne?"
"It sure did," another added, "Jayne's come back again!"
"They still think I'm a hero," Jayne muttered, "They know that I dumped the money to save myself but still love me for it."
"Maybe why doesn't matter to them," Weiss said as she and Ruby came up beside him.
"It could be simply that you did it," Ruby said, "Maybe that was enough for them."
"Yeah well this time I am actually going to do something for them," Jayne said as he led everyone to the center of town. The workers followed him and the foremen scattered as the heavily armed group passed through the camp. Jayne stopped in the center of town. The old statue of him was still lying on its side but a new one was standing where it had been. Last time one of the Mudders had jumped in front of a shotgun shell to save Jayne. This new statue had him kneeling over the dead boy. The confusion on his face was etched into the stone with a care that disturbed him. He turned around to face the crowd of people, both from DC and the town. "Mudders of Canton," Jayne started, "last time I was here I told you that there ain't no people who would look out for you, just people like me. I guess I'm about to prove myself wrong. That big metal man he is building you all the best housing money can buy and he is doing it for free. You'll be living in conditions that even the Magistrate would envy!" This met with cheers from the crowd. "My friends are going to work out a deal with the Magistrate so you are all fairly compensated for your work. I ain't going to stand to see you as slaves, not anymore." He caught Weiss' smile at that and his grin returned. "I ain't going to be able to be here all the time, but my Mother and Sister are going to be here within a week. Radiant and Mattie, they were almost sold into slavery just like you were, but Weiss there and me we freed them and everyone with them. So now it's time that Canton became Jayne's town not Higgs' town!"
The gathered people roared with approval loud enough to over power the sound of Griffen's construction. They made their way up the hill to the Magistrate's house at the top. As they went the aura that followed them was so powerful that even the foremen joined in the progression. Jayne was about to kick the door in when it was opened from the inside. A tall man with black hair combed to one side, glasses and a slim face and body stood in the doorway.
"Out of the way kid," Jayne said, "I'm here to talk to Higgs."
"Father is not the Magistrate here anymore," the man replied, "I'm Fess his son. It seems your return has caused quite the stir, Father is stepping down and I am the new Magistrate. If I may say Inara said you would be a sight to see but I never thought I would get the pleasure of meeting you myself."
Jayne stood there a little confused at first so Weiss broke the silence. "So you don't mind actually paying these people then?"
"Only if they don't mind using their new guns to protect my grounds," Fess said, "Inara filled me in, it sounds like quite the set up you're giving to the Mudders."
"Huh, well what do you all say, get paid to shoot gorrham Reavers out of the sky sound good," Jayne asked the crowd behind him. All manner of replies came back the the gist of it was an overwhelming yes. "It sounds like you have yourself a deal," Jayne said, "We'll be sticking around here until the building gets done, don't want to let the Reavers in while the guns ain't working."
"I believe father and I will remain in the estate until things have settled," Fess said as he closed the door.
"Well if you weren't a hero before you will be now," the Doctor said.
"I think this calls for a celebration," Jayne said, "How bout it everyone who wants to celebrate?" In a few moments a cheering crowd had brought Jayne and everyone with him back to the town square and were setting up tables and bringing out drinks and food, somewhere one of the Mudders started singing The Hero of Canton and Jayne joined in slowly bringing everyone to sing the simple folk song about him.
Jayne woke up the next morning inside a nice house of warm lights and flowing metal. He was on a couch, a bottle of wine was on the floor and Weiss was sleeping soundly on top of him. "Okay Jayne think," he thought to himself, "What did you do last night? First Griffen finished enough houses for the Mudders, I remember that. We moved the partying inside. The guns were brought online and that Fess lived up to his end of the deal, gave the Mudders enough cash for them to retire on if they wanted to... hey wait a minute I wasn't drunk. Then who drank the wine... uh-oh."
The pieces fell together for him. Weiss had brought in a bottle of her favorite wine, he wasn't a fan of wine but, not wanting to turn her down, drank some of it. He preferred beer or whiskey but the wine was decent enough. He crashed out on the couch as most people started to head out of the building to see their own places. Weiss must have stayed behind with her friends and she probably finished the bottle off over the rest of the night.
"Weiss," he hissed in her ear, "Weiss get up."
"Hmmm just a few more minutes Ruby I'll be down in a bit," Weiss auto replied. She was apparently a heavy sleeper and her spastic friend usually had to wake her up.
"I ain't Ruby," Jayne said, "Now get off me before someone sees us."
"Oh it is far to late for that," Yang said as she, Blake, Sun and Ruby came down the stairs, "I even have pictures."
"Oh shit," Jayne thought as the four broke out laughing. "Not funny you all."
"Actually it is very funny," Miltia said as she, Melanie and Junior came in with Scooter, Lao and Summer.
"Weiss sleeps so heavily that we brought her down here and laid her on you," Ruby said with a snicker. "Weiss get up!"
"Ah," Weiss exclaimed as she fell off of the couch, "What, how did..." She looked at Jayne, "Oh you've got to be kidding me, Ruby!" Weiss took off after Ruby as she headed up the stairs.
"Ain't no way Ruby was able to get Weiss down here and set on me by herself," Jayne said as he sat up and pulled his vest on.
"She may have had a little help," Junior said, "Sister-in-law after all."
"You'd better hope that Weiss didn't hear you say that," Sun remarked.
"Good point I should make myself scarce for a bit," Junior said, "I'll be on the Hunter if anyone needs me." He left just as Weiss came back down the stairs. She had changed from her white night gown back into her white-blue skirt, top, and coat.
"One of these days I'm going to think of a really good prank to pull on that red brat," Weiss huffed, "And who drank the rest of my wine?" Miltia and Melanie shared a look before leaving to follow Junior. "Yang."
"I don't drink wine," Yang said.
"You know two who do," Weiss remarked, "And since they just left..."
"Uh actually I think I should go see what Junior is doing," Yang said as she too headed out.
"Hey don't look so sour bout it," Jayne said, "You made a great blanket. I didn't even know you were on me until I woke up." She shot him a glare but the beginnings of a smile warmed the usually harsh look.
"Seeing as she didn't wake up I guess that means you make a good bed," Blake said as she and Sun walked out with grins on their faces.
"What and I don't," Sun asked.
"No you're far too," Blake's sentence was cut off from them as the door slid closed again.
"Where did Ruby go," Summer asked.
"She jumped out the window upstairs and fired herself over to one of the gun turrets," Weiss said.
"I guess we should go get her," Lao said, "Or she might try to fire the turret."
"Not without us she ain't," Scooter said.
"Exactly," Lao replied as Summer released an exasperated sigh. The three left the room bickering about if they would shoot the gun or not.
"So," Jayne said after a few minutes of silence.
"Don't worry I'm not mad at you," Weiss said, "You were pranked just as good as I was. I can't even imagine what you thought when you woke up... well actually I can but you obviously moved past that thought fairly quickly. For the record though, you were nice and soft."
"What... no way this is all muscle here," Jayne countered as he flexed his arms.
"Sure it is," Weiss said, "Now lets go get those pictures from Yang before she sends them to our friends." Jayne's face deadpanned at that, he had forgot Yang had pictures of them on the couch. He and Weiss rushed out of the house to find their quarry.
"Man I'll bet everyone is having a better day than we are," he remarked as they ran along.
"That's great," Weiss replied, "Ours will get immensely better as soon as we find Yang."
Character Redford
"Yeah," Haggard yelled from Spyro's back as Bad Co. rode their draconic friends above the Emerald forest.
"It has been a while since you four got a lift," Cynder said, "I can imagine you missed it."
"One of us did," Red said as he clung tightly to Spyro's armor, "I am just fine on the ground!"
Character Weiss
"Besides I'm sure one of our DC friends is in an unpleasant situation," Weiss continued as she and Jayne skidded around a corner and ran into Cinder. The three fell into a heap on the ground.
"Watch where you are going..." Cinder started, "Oh you're looking for Yang aren't you."
"She didn't show no one those pictures has she," Jayne asked. Cinder just smiled and walked off.
"Oh crap," Weiss sighed, "We're to late it seems."
"Okay now I'll bet our day is the worst," Jayne said.
Character Cortana
"John, John," Cortana said as she walked out of their room at Beacon, "Oh... wow."
"You like it," John asked as he showed her the new paint job on her ACU. It was pink and orange, "I get too much energy from time to time now and they were the only two colors around."
"Well that's... just great," Cortana remarked as she put her head in her hands, "I'm not taking that anywhere with those colors on it." John sighed and started walking into town to get more paint. "Make it purple and blue," Cortana said. "He is sweet when he isn't thinking about being nice," Tana though to herself as she looked over the ACU she shuddered at the color combination and went back inside.
Character Weiss
"Why do I get the feeling that every time we say that someone actually is having a worse day than we are," Jayne asked.
"Probably because ours hasn't been that bad," Weiss replied, "Your a hero, Canton is looking like a civilized place, the Mudders are free, the guns are online, our worst enemies are working with us, the only aggressor is a disorganized bunch of savages and I got to sleep on you." They both froze for a moment as Weiss realized how that sounded. "Poor choice of words," she said, "with you... uh no that doesn't sound any better..."
"Am I really that soft," Jayne asked concerned for his musculature.
"I honestly thought I was back in my bed at Beacon when you first tried to wake me up," Weiss said.
"So that's why you thought it was Ruby," Jayne said, "Crap I got to start working out more."
Weiss laughed at that, a clear ringing sound that was very similar to chimes. "First time I saw you, you were busy doing pull ups from the ceiling of Serenity," Weiss said, "I doubt you could work out more."
"I haven't worked out today," Jayne said.
"Right because running around this mud pit all morning trying to keep Yang from spreading rumors about us isn't exercise," Weiss countered. "I'll bet your nice and soft when your asleep because you can't be worried about a surprise attack, or the source of your next meal, or if Serenity's going to be able to keep flying, all that anxiety makes a person tense... trust me I know."
"Okay fair point but your Father respects you now that your the big Huntress right," Jayne said, proving that he had actually listened to her ranting on the Serenity as they flew.
"Yes and having the Schnee Corporation at my command has its perks," Weiss said, "But look at what it has cost me. I've got ten real friends, Ruby, Yang, Blake, Sun, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, Ren, Penny and you. You're the only people I talk to about anything other than business and of those Penny is... well Penny, Yang has secretly been Junior's wife for years, Blake and Sun are together, Nora and Ren have been together forever, Jaune and Pyrrha are closer than Myrtenaster and me, and even Ruby has Scooter."
"Vera and me are close," Jayne commented as he pulled Vera off his back.
"Yeah I guess we just get to have the best weapons," Weiss said as she placed a hand on Myrtenaster's pommel.
"Well that's something," Jayne said as she stroked Vera, "But believe in me baby and I'll take you away from out of this darkness and into the day."
"That sounded pretty good," Weiss commented on the rhyme.
"It's not mine," Jayne replied, "Old band from Earth came up with that one, Dire Straits. I like their songs."
"Legion 141 probably knows some of those," Weiss said, "Earth songs seems to be their main stay."
"Yeah," Jayne said, "I'll have to ask 'em about it when we get back."
"For what it's worth," Weiss said as she moved her hand from Myrtenaster to Jayne's shoulder, "I believe in you. You know the whole song that that line comes from?"
"Hell yeah," Jayne replied, "A long time ago came a man on a track, walking thirty miles with a sack on his back." Weiss was surprised at how well the rough hewn Jayne could sing the song. It wasn't polished like Jaune's voice would have made it but something about the purity of Jayne's singing struck her. Jayne sung like he meant every word that was in the song. When it was done they had given up on tracking Yang down and had found themselves back at the house they started at.
"That was..." Weiss started.
"I know I am a terrible singer," Jayne commented.
"No, that was pure," Weiss said, "It's what makes Ruby's songs so powerful, she sings from her heart, so did you. I can't think that you meant Vera though on those last few lines."
"Vera may be a cold killing machine but she is also a fine lady with the touch of persuasion that all good women have," Jayne said in defense of his prized gun.
"And I am a persuasive woman who can be a cold killing machine," Weiss added, "We've only really been working together for a few days and here we are getting pranked by my friends and talking about our favorite music and weapons... I've never warmed up to anyone that fast."
"You sure kept me warm last night," Jayne remarked with a smirk, "Now that you mention it I never hang out with anyone like this either... you thinking you and me might be friends?"
"Seems evident enough to me," Weiss said as she leaned over and gave him a light kiss, "We still need to think up a way to return the favor to Ruby and Yang though."
"Junior helped and Miltia and Melanie drank the wine," Jayne said.
"Figures," Weiss said, "Okay that might make it easy. We can use Club RWBY against them. Let the scheming begin."
"Can we plot instead," Jayne said, "Scheming sounds like to much thinking." Weiss smiled at the remarked and nodded as she opened her scroll to start brainstorming.