AN: I'm back and I have an outline for the next few chapters. Totally not hiding from the people who want me to put Ranamon in my Digmon story how could you think that lol.
Chapter 22
The auditorium was packed the next day as students prepared for their missions. Those who had team members trying out for and/or taking the extra class were all added to a list and like Ruby thought Blake was added to Pyrrha's team to round out their roster. Team CFVY was tasked with assisting out one of the other teams since Coco was part of the class. No one had seen the rest of Team CRDL but they heard through the grapevine that they had their mission already and had left. Yang was excited to be on a full team that meant they could take on any mission in their year range without an older team watching them. They made their way to the mission board and started their search.
"We need the check for missions in the southeast quadrant," Blake told them.
"Let's check search and destroy." Yang offered. After a quarter of an hour, they see one that fits.
"Here we go! Quadrant 5 needs Grimm cleared out!" Yang points out a mission.
"Well, it's in the southeast!" Blake agrees.
"Sounds perfect!" Yang selects it and types in her team name. However, the screen says that first-years are not allowed to take this mission.
"Wonderful!" Weiss sighs.
"Any other ideas?" Pyrrha asks.
"I have a suggestion." They turn to see Ozpin standing there. "Unfortunately, we determined that the concentration of Grimm was too extreme for first-year students. It seems that particular region is rather popular. In fact, I have the sneaking suspicion that you four will make your way there no matter which job you choose."
"What makes you think that?" Yang nervously chuckles and Ozpin cocked an eyebrow.
"I'm still curious how you all found yourself at the docks last semester. I'm interested to know how you really learned about a hideout in the southeast. And I certainly wonder why witnesses reported seeing robots and rose petals near a dance club some time ago. I doubt I'll ever find the exact answers I'm looking for. So how about this: instead of waiting for you all to break the rules, why don't we just bend them?" Ozpin pulls out his scroll and taps it and the board says mission approved. "Don't let me down now."
"Why did he do that?" Weiss asked.
"Who knows. At least we don't have to sneak off now so that's something." Yang shrugged.
"Remember to take him for a walk three times a day, his you know what is in the bag he still hates taking them," Tai told Ruby handing her Zwei and a few bags. "I'll only be gone for two weeks boy make sure to watch over Ruby for me will ya." Zewi barked happily.
"We're going to have so much fun Zwei!" Ruby hugged him. "You're going to love it here. There are so many areas to explore."
"Well I must be off that Village wants me there by the afternoon. Stay safe ya hear?" Tai hugs Ruby and exits the room with his suitcase.
"PUPPY!" Nora enters the room and zooms over to Zwei. "You're so adorable, yes you are."
"Nora meet Zwei, Zwei meet Nora." Ruby introduced her teammate to her dog.
"That's such a cute name!" Nora squealed. "If we didn't have to get to class I'd play with you all day."
"Oh, right those classes start today!" Ruby remembered.
"Good thing we have those classes huh? You probably would have snuck Zwei with us on our mission." Jaune joked.
"I would not…" Jaune cocked an eyebrow. "Ok maybe."
"Was that so hard?" He chuckled. "You ready for your test?"
"Yup, your tutoring helped! But how do you know so much about these suits?" Ruby asked.
"That'd be telling." Jaune gave Ruby a quick peck on the lips. "Tell you what if you pass I might tell you." Ruby still had her eyes closed from the surprise kiss and a dusting of pink covered her face as she looked around. She quickly poured a bowl of water and filled Zwei's food bowl hiding a small pill inside of the cooked plane chicken and hiding it in the bowl. She gave her dog a few scratches and got her school bag.
"We'll be back Zwei, remember Blake's bed is off-limits," Ruby told the puppy pointing at the bed and then leaving the room.
"You know he's going to hop on that bed the moment he's sure we are gone," Nora said.
"Zwei is a good boy, he'd never do something like that." Ruby snickered. She knew full well Zwei would do exactly that. It was revenge for telling Yang that she liked cuddling with Jaune.
"You've got everything?" Ren asked. "Emergency flares, spare scroll, med-kit, maps of the location, what about the cleaning-kit for Miló and Akoúo̱?"
"Jeez, mom we'll be fine." Yang sighed.
"I've got everything Ren, we'll be fine. You have my word none of us are going to get hurt, ok?" Pyrrha asked her partner. Sure Ren was being a worrier but after that team-building exercise, they knew why.
"That's all I ask. Have a fun time and remember if you need anything Jaune, Ruby, Nora, and I will drop everything to help." Ren said. "You all are my family now. Ren whispered the last bit.
"And speaking of those three they're waiting for you so go sho, have fun in those tin cans we'll find those criminals and bring them to justice." Yang bragged. Ruby, Jaune, and Nora came up from Beacon.
"Come on Ren time for class. Good luck on your mission girls. Yang, Blake doesn't do anything…Ren and Nora wouldn't do." Jaune smirked at a blushing Blake.
"Wha…" Yang looked at a grinning Nora and a blushing Ren and Blake. "What does that mean?" Jaune starts dragging Ren away. "WHAT DO THOSE TWO DO?!"
The cold sterile white room unnerved Ruby. She sat at the desk assigned her and waited for the test proctor. All those who wanted to join the mobile suit class had to take a written test and a practical test. There were a handful of students she didn't know taking it as well as she looked around the door opened and a man with salt and pepper hair came through. He had some oil stains on his hands and on his left arm was a tattoo of the Atlesian air force logo.
"Hello, prospective pilots I am William Uaine and I will be watching over your tests today. Any questions?" William asked. "You, the girl with the red-tipped hair."
"Sir? If I may ask? Why are you covered in oil and grease stains?" Ruby asked.
"Ah yes I guess I do look a bit unprofessional. You see I'm a mechanic of Arcineering." William answered.
"I thought a member of Atlas Military was doing the testing?" Someone asked.
"Former Staff Sergeant kid so don't you worry." William pointed to the badge he wore. "Any more questions, no? Good here is your written tests you will have one hour to answer all questions once you are done I will dismiss you and you are to make your way to dock 3T."
"Ok students we are your teachers for the rest of our time here. We have been dubbed the Court Squadron but we prefer our own names. I am Sterling Jonk the commander of this Squadron." A large bearded man said.
"Well now that Jonk has your attention all those looking to train on the GM's follow me. Names Noah Ango but it's Sir to you until I'm sure you know what you are doing." A thin man in a grey jumpsuit and green beanie said. Ren, Nora, Cardin, Coco, and a few others followed him.
"Guess the rest of you are our Zaku trainees. Names Roybn Grace dears and by the time this year is over you will be competent pilots." A woman with tied-up brown hair said. Jaune, Neptune, and two others followed her to the Zaku dock.
"Our first order of business will be understanding the structure of the machine, how to repair on the field, and what parts if broken will spell doom for you if you are without aid. Any questions? Robyn asked.
"Why are you guys called the suit squadron?" Neptune asked.
"About the Zaku boy." Robyn sighed. "But if you must know someone in top brass has a thing for playing cards." Neptune nodded and apologized.
"Is the mono eye sensor the only camera on the machine? If so how is it protected?" Jaune asked.
"It's the main camera but there are a handful of sub cameras. The glass protecting the Mono eye sensor is rated for large caliber fire but should it be blinded you will still have backups." Robyn explained. Over with Noah things weren't as smooth.
"Why even bother with two designs?" Cardin asked.
"I don't know I'm not a mechanic probably aesthetics for when they are shipped out to private companies for defense." Noah shrugged.
"Are there any differences in the armaments?" Coco asked.
"The Zaku uses more traditional dust rounds while the GM uses a compressor field in the gun to fire a condensed form of dust. Unfortunately, the melee weapon of the GM is not done so you will be stuck with Heat rods basically think of a long baton that heats up with fire dust they are great against Grimm but compared to the Zaku's Ax they fall short. The spray gun of a GM is a pain to repair so don't break them understood?" Noah looked at his charges.
"Understood Sir!" The students said.
"Here's your work pamphlet and GM service manual I'm expecting you all to actually read it." Noah handed out sheets and books. The students started their work and after forty minutes Sterling came over.
"Come on Noah lighten up on the kids a bit. I'm sure they will do just fine." Sterling said walking over.
"I'm not a kid person sir, but I guess I'll try. Is that William over there?" Noah asked.
"Yes, the practices are about to start." Sterling looked to the GM students. "Want to watch?" The students nodded. "Well then come on you might notice a few things."
Jaune watched as Ruby used the environment to conceal her GM until the Grim was right under her. In a swift motion, she dropped on an Ursa Major and drove her heat rod through its head. From there she used the short-range function of the spray gun to clear herself a path. Using the confusion of the Grimm she hid in between the houses. He knew she missed her scythe but the training Tai made her do was showing, he had crow train her in the basics of combat so if she was stuck with an unknown weapon she wouldn't be helpless. She used up the first charge pack taking out smaller Grimm with the spray guns long-range function. Once it was empty and the Grimm found her she took a two-handed pose with the heat rod and used the ally as a funnel to slow down the Grimm but she was overrun. After the class, he found her on a bench by the Hunter&Huntress statue.
"You did good in there Rubes." He sat beside her.
"But what if I failed?" Ruby mumbled.
"Don't think like that. You passed I know it." Jaune took her hand.
"And how do you know that?" Ruby looked up at him.
"Because you are the smartest and most resourcefully huntress I know. None of the others took out as many as you." Jaune pulled her closer. "You didn't have crescent rose so you improvised, you used the surroundings to your advantage. That Ursa Major stood no chance against you."
"Can we get cookies?" Ruby looked at him.
"Sure. Do you want to go to the foundry today and work on Crescent Rose?" Jaune asked. Ruby nodded. "Well, let's go get some cookies and your tools."
