Chp. 18: The Gathering
Mountain Glenn
Daniel Air Force Base
September 4, 2020
It had been a couple weeks since Professor Ozpin announced the U.H.L. sign up at Beacon Academy. An airship carrying the students of Beacon that signed up for the U.H.L. flies toward Daniel Air Force Base. Soon after the airship then descended down below and landed on a large platform. A moment later, the students, including Teams RWBY, GRMA, JNPR, CFDT, CFVY, OBSA, CRDL, JAAR, and HRRB, and Professor Ozpin, Hazel, Neopolitian, and Roman all boarded off the airship.
As they all walked towards a hanger, the students noticed three airplanes. The first plane had students of Haven Academy boarding off, including Teams SSSN (Sun) and ABRN (Auburn), including Haven's headmistress, Professor Pauline Bellrose. The second plane had students of Shade Academy, including Teams BRNZ (Bronze), and NDGO (Indigo), along with Shade's headmaster, Professor Theodore. And the third plane had students of Atlas Academy, including Team FNKI (Funky), along with General Ironwood, Penny, Winter, and the Ace-Ops.
Team JNPR and CFDT turned their heads towards Hazel, Roman, and Neo.
"I still don't get why they invited Torchwick and his little partner to come along," Jaune said.
"Professor Ozpin said it was under orders of the U.H.L.," Rebecca replied.
"And Hazel wanted to come with us to look out for the Emerald and Mercury," Robert added.
Azumi looks at the airplane with the students of Haven boarding off. Kelly walks over to her cousin.
"Are you looking for Genji?" Kelly asked.
"He said he and his team would be here. They did sign up," Azumi answered.
She continued to watch the Haven students board off the airplane. Azumi then finally spotted her friend boarding off the plane, Genji Sakurai. Azumi then ran straight towards the plane as Kelly followed behind her.
"Genji!" Azumi called out.
Genji hears Azumi call out to him and then sees her and Kelly approaching just as he steps off the step ladder. Azumi finally approaches Genji and wraps her arms around him into a hug.
"I'm so glad you could come," Azumi said as she then broke off her hug.
"It's nice to see you again," Genji said.
"I'm just disappointed you didn't come to Beacon with me," Azumi said.
"Well, my dad said you would have been distracted by me," Genji said.
He turns his head to face Kelly.
"And this must be your cousin, Kelly McFoley?" Genji asked Azumi.
"Nice to meet you," Kelly said with a wave of her hand.
"I take it that you guys are aware of Salem's escape?" Genji asked.
"We all are. Another reason why we are all here today," Kelly answered.
"Hey, Genji!" a new voice called.
Genji, Azumi, and Kelly all turned to see three people stepping off the step ladder and approaching the three. The first two were twin boys. They both have dark skin and blue eyes while wearing glasses, and short black hair. The first twin wore a pair of blue tennis sneakers, a pair of gray pants with light blue stripes on the sides, a cyan t-shirt with a blue short sleeve jacket worn over it, a pair of blue gloves, and a matching cap. The second twin wore a pair of light gray tennis sneakers, a pair of gray pants, a black t-shirt with a light ocean blue short sleeve dress jacket worn over it with a matching tie, a pair of matching wrist bands, and a brown cap.
The third was a young woman with light brown skin and brown eyes. She wears a red scarf that wraps around her head, a pair of brown sandals, a pair of gray pants, and a green tunic with yellow and black diamond patterns on the bottom of it and on the ends of the sleeves.
"Who are you three?" Azumi asked.
"Azumi, this is my team, the twins, Jason and Justin Vines, and Uzra Firouzeh," Genji introduced his team.
"And together we're known as Team GUVV (Guava)," the girl known as Uma said.
"So you're the team leader?" Kelly asked Genji.
"Yep," Genji answered, then turned his head to Azumi. "What about you, Azumi?"
"No, I'm not a team leader. But I'm not complaining," Azumi answered.
"So you're really the guitar heroine, Sonic String?" Justin asked.
"That's right," Azumi answered with a nod.
"Awesome," Jason said.
"Yeah, it is," Kelly said.
Professors Ozpin, Bellrose, Theodore, and General Ironwood were all standing together looking around at their students as they talked and interacted with each other.
"To think so many are willing to join the U.H.L., despite knowing the risks," Bellrose said.
"I cannot help but worry for them," Ozpin said.
"But they are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for the world to be safe. I couldn't be more proud of them all," Ironwood said.
"You said it, James. These kids have got guts. I wonder if they're willing to throw down with me," Theodore said.
"Really?" Bellrose asked with a raised eyebrow.
Ozpin gave out a slight chuckle at Shade's headmaster.
As Team RWBY stood around as the students all around them wandered around and talked, a familiar voice called to the four girls.
"Sup ladies!"
The girls turned to face the members of Team SSSN, Sun Wukong, Scarlet David, Sage Ayana, and Neptune Vasilias all walking up to them.
"Hey, Sun," Ruby greeted.
"Ruby, Yang, Blake... Ice Queen," Sun said.
"Oh, for fuck sake! Seriously?!" Weiss shouted.
"Woah, take it easy there, Weiss!" Neptune said with his hands raised.
"Yeah, she's grown a mouth on her lately," Yang said.
"That we can see," Scarlet said.
"We've heard what had happened with you guys those few months ago," Sage said.
"Yeah, it was pretty crazy," Yang said.
"Crazy? More like nuts!" Sun said.
"After all the trouble we went through when we all faced off against Salem and her followers, they got out again," Blake said.
"And we almost lost too. Because of it, Amber is gone, Cinder is gone, and we don't know who the next Fall maiden is," Ruby said.
"Not to worry. We'll get her again. But this time, there's a lot more of us she'll have to handle," Sun said.
"Yeah, now she has millions of followers backing her now," Weiss said.
"It may be a lot more difficult than it already was, but it won't be easy for her to get the drop on us this time," Neptune said.
"That's true. So there is still a chance," Blake said.
"Will all students please report to the U.H.L. facility in ten minutes. Military personnel will escort you to your intended location," a man on the PA instructed.
"We all better get going," Scarlet said.
"Duty calls," Yang said.
The two teams then started to make their way to the U.H.L. headquarters alongside every other student attending.
U.H.L. Headquarters
Auditorium
Later everyone gathered in the auditorium and all took their seats. Soon after, Keaton walks up onto the stage and up to the podium. Ozpin, Ironwood, Theodore, and Bellrose all walked up on the stage and sat behind the desks behind Keaton. He looks down at the audience down in front of the stage.
"Can I get everyone's attention, please? Everyone quiet down," Keaton ordered.
Everyone grew silent and started to pay their attention to Keaton behind the podium as he began to speak.
"Students, on behalf of the United Hunters League, I bid you all welcome. And to the few of you that are already a part of the organization, we welcome you back. You are all gathered here because you have all signed up to be a part of the United Hunters League, an international organization that is dedicated to serving and protecting the lives of mankind upon our united worlds. Each of you brings something unique to here. But we all share a common goal, the drive and need to protect the lives of the innocent from those that threaten them."
Everyone listened as Keaton continued his speech.
"You will all be working twice as harder then normal. Throughout your time here, you will be undergoing some training both physically and mentally. As for your work from the academies you hailed from, we'll be making a schedule for each of you so that your training and your classwork will be balanced out. And as for what specialties you want to sign up for when your in the U.H.L., whether you want to train to be a detective, pilot, doctor, scientist, or whatever, talk to either me, or your headmasters and we can arrange a schedule for you. And your weapons may end up being upgraded in the future."
The students continued to listen with interest as Keaton continued.
"There will be times where you will have to be pulled to go on a mission we'll assign to you. And those who are freely available are welcome to volunteer to partake in any available missions the U.H.L. has to offer. We are all entering a new age that we must all adapt to. And today, we all serve as the protectors of mankind. In a couple days, your training will begin. And that give you enough time to think on what you want to be trained on. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the United Hunters League."
The audience had burst into applause as Keaton and the headmasters looked on at the students.
Author's Note: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.