Chapter 9: The Calm Before the Storm

One Week later, Atlas Academy, 16th March 16 BBY, 12:30 pm…

Nathan barely ducked and rolled past the charging Boarbatusk summon, hurling his lightsaber towards it before drawing Phoenix's Breath and snapping several shots off at Weiss.

The SDC Heiress used her glyphs as a shield, blocking all of Nathan's oncoming shots, waiting for him to stop and reload before charging Nathan.

Swearing under his breath, Nathan used the Force to call his lightsaber to his hand, holstering Phoenix's Breath and raising his lightsaber just in time to block Weiss' blow, only for his legs to be swept out from underneath him as the Boarbatusk summon from earlier made its presence known. Using the Force, Nathan hurled Weiss away from him, grabbing the Boarbatusk summon and pulling it to him, impaling it on his lightsaber before advancing on Weiss.

Who surprised him by dashing forward, Myrtenaster raised and ready.

Nathan found himself flung back by Weiss before seeing glyphs all around him. Knowing what Weiss was about to do, Nathan reached out with the Force and began pulling all the Force energy he could into himself, as if he were pulling back the bowstring of a bow.

Just as Weiss began her attack, he unleashed a Force Repulse, sending Weiss flying away whilst he landed on his feet.

Rushing forwards, Nathan closed with Weiss quickly, jumping over an attempted glyph attack to slash at her head.

Parrying, Weiss blocked the next attack from her right, attempting to counter with a thrust.

Blocking and pushing her blade up and away, Nathan spun around and slashed Weiss across the abdomen, spinning around and following up with a hard thrust that would have run Weiss through if not for aura, knocking the SDC Heiress back a few more paces. Standing up, Nathan brought his lightsaber up and around, again aiming for Weiss' neck.

Blocking the blow, Weiss was suddenly surprised when Nathan violently drove his lightsaber hilt into her face, stunning her.

Pressing his attack, Nathan scored further hits with a crosscut to Weiss' throat, and once she tried to lunge at him again, parried the blow, spun around and slashed Weiss hard across the back, followed by a stab of his own, knocking Weiss down and breaking her aura, ending the fight.

Switching off his lightsaber, Nathan attached it to his belt before walking up to Weiss, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You okay, Ice Queen?"

"Yeah. Only thing that's not is my pride." Weiss replied as she got to her feet.

"Not gonna lie, you did nearly have me there." Nathan commented. "You've definitely gotten better, Weiss. Even better than you already were at Beacon."

Weiss smiled. "Thanks, Nathan."

"Know who else is better than they were at Beacon?" A voice called out as Jason joined them. "The man who will absolutely ace Ironwood's test tomorrow; Nathan fucking Phoenix!" Slapping Nathan hard on the back.

"Thanks, Jason." Nathan replied. "You know; been meaning to ask; is Winter alright? She's not been in the past few days."

"She'll be fine. Just been really sick the past few days for whatever reason. She'll be in tomorrow for your test though; so don't worry too much." Jason said.

Nathan nodded. "I hope so." He said. "I want to thank her for all she's done for me recently."

"And what about my thanks?" Jason asked.

"Sorry Jason; Winter's the one getting flowers and a cake." Nathan joked. "You… you can celebrate with the Ace Ops and have to deal with Harriet trying to sleep with you."

Weiss snorted with laughter as Jason chuckled.

"Wow…" Jason mused.

"Hey; at least you can shut Harriet down again and again until she pitches a fit, gets drunk and starts whining about why nobody wants to fuck her." Nathan remarked.

Jason rolled his eyes. Weiss giggled.

"But enough about that." Nathan said. "So… is that it for training, or do you wanna take a break?"

"Personally… I think we've trained you all we can." Jason said. "So… enjoy your last day in Atlas, Nathan."

"Last full day in Atlas, you mean." Nathan responded with a confident smile. Turning to Weiss; Nathan asked: "Anything you need, Ice Queen?"

"No thank you. Perhaps a workout would be in order." Weiss suggested.

"That could work." Nathan accepted, looking to Jason. "If anything comes up; I'll be working out with Weiss in the gym, Jason. Be seeing you." At that, he and Weiss set off, headed for the gym. Training might be over, but working out would always be a good alternative. Especially with someone to work out with as opposed to working out alone.

In Menagerie, at the same time…

"Me and General Ironwood have reached an agreement."

That statement immediately caught Blake and Kanan's attention as both looked to her.

"Really?!" Blake asked.

"Indeed." Sienna replied. "We finally reached an agreement as of late last night. Hence why I look like I've just given birth to Kanan again."

Kanan fought the urge to snort with laughter, whilst Blake simply smiled.

"However; any treaties need to be signed." Sienna added, standing up and walking over to Blake and Kanan. "Which is why I am sending Kanan with Ghira to Atlas tomorrow in order to sign it on my behalf."

"What about me?" Blake asked.

"I figured Nathan will be brought back here immediately should he be ready for battle." Sienna replied. "Ironwood has been so kind as to inform me that tomorrow, there will be a test to determine whether Nathan is ready or not. So the timing really could not be more perfect."

Blake nodded. "Understood."

"Besides, I can only assume Nathan will want your reunion to be somewhere other than Atlas." Sienna added. "I can't say I blame him. Atlas is so inhospitable that it's no wonder the Atlesians are miserable all the time."

Kanan snorted with laughter then said: "Well; better get packing then. Thanks, Mom." At that, Kanan and Blake turned and took their leave.

"Forgive me…"

The whisper from his mother caught Kanan's attention, and he stopped, but decided not to ask, and continued to follow Blake, who had the biggest smile on her face possible.

"One more day…" Blake said happily. "One more day until I finally get to see Nathan again."

"Depends on what Nathan plans on doing afterwards." Kanan replied. "He might want to make sure everyone else is okay first, then reuniting with you."

Blake nodded. "Seems about right." She said, before sighing.

"Hey… at least you'll know Nathan is on his way." Kanan said, pulling Blake into a warm hug.

"I guess…" Blake mused. "It's just… I want him back, Kanan. I want him in my arms… I want to be in his arms…"

"You'll have that chance, Blake. You just got to wait a little longer." Kanan said softly, holding his sister close.

Back in Atlas…

"Enjoy your workout?" Jason asked as a freshly showered and dressed Nathan joined him from inside his quarters.

"Very much, thanks." Nathan replied. "Me and Weiss spent most of our workout talking and… just bonding further. Makes me all the more set on getting her out of Atlas and preventing this wedding from happening at all."

"Even if that means storming the Schnee Manor?" Jason asked.

"I'm beginning to think that'll be the only way." Nathan said. "If just to distract the guards so that Weiss can slip out unseen."

"Clever idea." Jason said. "Spoke with Winter; she's confirmed she'll be there tomorrow. Ironwood wants her to meet the guests."

"Guests?" Nathan asked.

Jason smirked. "Ghira and Kanan. Ironwood recently told me he reached an agreement with Sienna Khan last night. She's sending Ghira and Kanan in order to sign it tomorrow."

The smile that crossed Nathan's face in that moment caused a smile to cross Jason's face as well; at which Nathan said:

"You're fucking kidding! When the fuck are they coming?!"

"I have it on good intelligence that Kanan and Ghira will be arriving in Atlas at about eleven o'clock." Jason replied. "Your test is at one, meaning you'll have plenty of time with them before the test."

"Fuck yes!" Nathan said, pumping his fist enthusiastically.

Jason smiled. "Where's Weiss now?" Jason asked.

"Had to go home." Nathan replied. "Apparently Jacques needs to once more assert why Weiss needs to obey him or else he will stomp his feet, throw a toddler-esque tantrum, threaten to disown her in favour of her little dickweed of a brother, and then probably dress up in his wife's clothes and jerk off to pictures of his daughters when they were preteens whilst crying uncontrollably for hours."

Jason snorted with laughter. "I would pay serious money to see you go up to Jacques and say all that to him in person."

"You think that's bad? Weiss has been giving me so much dirt on Jacques it's a wonder I'm not filthy on a more regular basis." Nathan replied. "The amount of shit she's talked about her father would astound even Winter. Makes me wonder if it was Jaune or Weiss that had the shittier childhood."

"Probably Jaune." Jason said. "Anyway… come with me… got a little something for you."

"O-kay…" Nathan responded nervously as he followed Jason.

The Armoury, shortly thereafter…

"Nathan Phoenix… welcome to the armoury." Jason said, smiling as he led Nathan out of the elevator and into a small corridor.

"If this is the armoury, then where the fuck are the weapons?" Nathan asked.

"Oh, this is just the administrative part." Jason replied. "The actual armoury's in a completely different room. Now come on. There's somebody I want you to meet."

Shrugging, Nathan followed Jason, who led him to an office, knocking on the door.

"Come in!" A voice called out from behind the desk.

Stepping inside, Nathan heard the sound of something being eaten, before a man looked up from behind his desk.

The man was elderly, with dark skin and short, balding white hair, wearing a green cap with oval-shaped glasses that covered his brown eyes. Additionally, he wore a red vest over a cream shirt with a pink bowtie. His dark mustard pants and leather boots matched with his cap and red-brown belt.

"Ah, yes; Nathan Phoenix. I've been hoping to meet you for quite some time." The old man said as Nathan approached him.

"I'm flattered." Nathan replied. "With all due respect, who are you, anyway? Jason just brought me here without a single explanation."

"You can call me Pietro." The man said, smiling jovially. "Pietro Polendina."

"Well met, Mr Polendina." Nathan said, shaking Pietro's hand. "I was informed you had something for me?"

"Indeed I did." Pietro replied. "Follow me." With that, he moved from behind his desk, revealing that he was sitting on a chair with four moveable legs, white and green in colour, with yellow accents.

"Whoa, what the fu-" Nathan made to say.

"Surprised?" Pietro asked. "Well; I can't say I wouldn't be. No often you get chairs like this."

Following Pietro out of the office, Nathan met the gaze of Jason, who smirked. "Not often you meet one of Atlas' finest minds, either." Jason said.

Nathan rolled his eyes as Pietro led them to a room, looking to Nathan.

"After your defeat at Beacon; General Ironwood tasked me with finding a way to improve your combat gear." Pietro explained. "And it's taken me some time… but I think I've managed to do so whilst allowing you to still fight like you normally do." At this, he opened a locker, handing a package to Nathan. "Open it." He suggested, smiling.

Nathan shrugged, and set the package down, opening it and immediately gasping.

Pietro had not been lying when he had said he'd improved Nathan's combat attire.

Most of Nathan's normal attire was present; the black tank top, the black combat trousers and black boots.

The difference was that Pietro had now added a red metal breastplate with black highlights that covered both Nathan's back and chest, bearing an engraved version of Nathan's symbol on the back. Underneath that would be a black leather vest jacket similar to Nathan's old attire; but in black.

Taking it out, Nathan looked it over and nodded. "I like the look of this." He said, looking to Pietro. "Would it be okay if I had this delivered to my room ahead of tomorrow?" He asked.

"Absolutely. I'll make the arrangements now." Pietro replied, a small grin on his face as he turned and left.

Nathan then looked to Jason, who had a smug grin on his face as Nathan stood up. "Not gonna lie… this was pretty fucking cool."

"Told you you'd like it." Jason responded.

"That you did." Nathan replied. "Gonna miss the simple look I had; but hey, it's war. Gotta slap on some armour every once in a while."

"Also, think just how much Blake is gonna love seeing you rocking that armour." Jason added.

"Don't need to convince me." Nathan replied.

Jason smiled before asking: "So… what's the plan now?"

"Nothing much I can do now." Nathan mused. "Unless I feel like somehow sneaking into the Schnee Manor right now and pissing in Jacques Schnee's tea."

"That's an oddly specific thing to want to do to Jacques." Jason commented.

"Yeah; but think of how much it'd suck to be Jacques in that moment." Nathan elaborated. "Tough day at work; you just wanna sit with a nice cup of tea; drink it; and wind up realising someone has taken a good long piss in your tea. That would fucking suck."

"Now that you mention it; yeah… that would suck." Jason mused. "But what if we both did it?"

"Oh, now you're talking!" Nathan remarked with a laugh. "But switch it out for Winter instead."

"Dude; do you want me sleeping on the couch?" Jason asked.

"Hey; might make me sleep better knowing that you're not getting any either." Nathan replied.

Jason rolled his eyes as he and Nathan kept walking.

Later that day, the forests of Anima…

"Alright… let's see here."

Ghost, Rex, Ahsoka, and the others gathered around Qrow as he set out a map in front of the campfire.

"So… the way we've been going the past week; we'll never make it to Mistral in time to help against the Empire." Qrow declared. "The path we're using right now will take us all around Mistral and land us right outside their port area. Which will take weeks."

"We're welcome for alternative suggestions." Jaune said.

"I've been through Mistral a good few times in my life, kid." Qrow replied. "I know a few shortcuts that'll cut our journey down by half and get us to Mistral in a week or two tops."

"Will that leave us enough time to prepare for the Imperial assault?" Ruby asked.

"We had better hope so." Qrow replied.

Meanwhile, in Menagerie, 20:30 pm…

Kanan stepped out of his father's office to find Blake sat on the balcony, staring out across the horizon.

The sun had long since set, and the sky was clear as day, revealing many of the stars in the sky.

Kanan looked at Blake, seeing a warm, happy smile crossing her face, a sight that had him smiling as well. "Enjoying the view?" He asked.

Blake looked, and nodded. "Yeah… just… can't stop thinking about tomorrow."

Kanan smiled. "Kinda wish you were coming along?"

"Yeah." Blake replied. "I'm… admittedly very jealous that you're meeting Nathan before me."

"Don't be." Kanan said. "I gotta be the guy that tells him what my mother said to you. I do not want to be in the same room as anybody when they hear that. Much less my possible future brother-in-law who has a tongue so acidic it melted two Ice Queens, got a narcissist arrested, and pissed off an abusive patriarchal asshole off to the degree that said abusive patriarchal asshole sold out to the one faction capable of fucking up said possible future brother in law." Looking to Blake, Kanan asked: "Was that everyone? Or did I miss any of his victims out?"

Blake giggled. "Only his more minor victims." She replied. "Other than that; you pretty much nailed why your mom needs to be worried."

"And why I need to be worried as well." Kanan stated. "For my mother, that is. I'd hate to be anybody in the middle of that confrontation."

Blake laughed, then sighed. "Can… can you do something for me, Kanan?" She asked.

"Sure thing; what're you thinking?" Kanan asked.

"When… when you meet up with Nathan… could you call me?" Blake asked. "I… I just need to hear his voice. It doesn't even need to be talking to me; I… I just…"

"No need to ask, Blake." Kanan said. "If it's what you want; then you've got it. As soon as I get the chance once I've met him… I'll call you. Without fail."

Blake smiled warmly before pulling Kanan into a warm hug. "Thank you, Kanan. I knew I could count on you." She said.

"Something I pray you always will be able to do." Kanan replied, hugging Blake. He then quietly promised himself he would do as Blake asked, and quite possibly do more. Just so he could make her happy.

Back in Atlas; 20:45 pm…

Nathan took a deep breath, feeling the cool air caressing his cheeks. It was one of the few things Nathan enjoyed about Atlas; the cold air.

As much as he preferred warmer climates; he didn't mind spending some time in colder climates. And the feeling of cool air had always helped cool him after particularly sweaty workout sessions.

He wore neither workout gear or his combat gear; just a set of jeans, a T-Shirt and a hoodie.

Footsteps behind him drew his attention, and Nathan smiled when he saw Jason joining him. "Finally going home to Winter for the evening?" He asked.

"Being the only person capable of doing Winter's job when she's not around means working until her job is done for the day, too." Jason replied. "Which sucks, especially when she sends me steamy photos of what she's wearing tonight. Or rather; lack thereof."

Nathan chuckled. "Blake doesn't need to send me nudes. I already know I'm the luckiest man in the galaxy whenever I see her face." He sighed. "All I need to do is ace tomorrow and then I've finally won the chance to see her again… to feel the warmth of her skin… the taste of her lips… to see her in person and not hidden somewhere, wishing I was with her… I can do all of that and more."

Jason smiled. "Nathan… you know that you will ace tomorrow. Ironwood's test is gonna push you… but it's nothing you're not used to. Tomorrow; whatever happens… you are acing Ironwood's test."

"I'm done waiting, Jason." Nathan said. "One way or another… we both leave Atlas tomorrow. With Weiss. Whether General Ironwood likes it or not."

Jason nodded. "Yeah." He said. Patting Nathan on the shoulder, Jason added: "You'd better get some rest, Nathan. You've got a long day tomorrow." With that, Jason stepped away from Nathan, and descended the steps of the academy, until he was no longer visible from Nathan's point of view.

Nathan took a deep breath and checked the time: nearly nine p.m.

Nodding, he turned and headed back inside. Tomorrow… it was all or nothing. Do or die. Freedom or death.

All or nothing indeed.

Not gonna lie; nearly forgot to upload this chapter. Blame the Resident Evil 4 Remake for that. Been playing that whenever I have a free moment of time.

But enough of that. Let's answer some reviews!

Guest 1: Not sure how best to respond to that.

Guest 2: I am really enjoying it thus far. As for the possibility of Nathan, Jason, and the like winding up there; it all hinges on how Volume 9 ends.

keybladelight: Maybe they will... maybe they won't. You'll have to wait and see.

Sharnorasian Empire: That'd help a ton. As for what fresh hell awaits the heroes... you'll just have to wait.

That said; thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you liked it; y'all know what to do.

I shall see you tomorrow with Chapter 10; which sees Nathan finally undertake Ironwood's test.

T-Rock14