"Call us the moment you arrive, if Amity is up and running!"
Weiss watched her friends run for the hangar, her heartfelt wave having gone unseen. As her arm lowered to her side and she turned to face the fighters assembled around her, she was hit with a wave of clarity and presence of mind she hadn't felt in years.
It was the same sort of clarity she felt when she had first come to the decision to leave Atlas and attend Beacon Academy. It was a sense of purpose, and a feeling that she was, for once, right where she needed to be. The warriors both familiar and new to her were exhausted, scared, injured, and preoccupied with their own thoughts and worries. Though the situation was a tense and ambiguous one, Weiss knew just what to do in service of her home and in the absence of Sun and Winter. Watching the faunus for months, growing closer to him and the others who had come to Atlas, and seeing how he handled situations emboldened her with newfound purpose.
In Winter's absence, the time had come for Weiss to lead.
"Alright everyone, listen up," Weiss began with a clap loud and sudden enough to startle even Marrow as he stood next to her. "We need to refocus, play our roles carefully, and move quickly. Aces in their places… in some cases literally."
As Elm opened her mouth to say something, she was interrupted by a gravelly voice that was familiar… yet one of the last that Weiss expected to back her up so quickly.
"You all heard the lady," Qrow said with a sense of finality. "What are you thinking? We're all ears."
Weiss blinked twice, momentarily freezing up as she tried to come to grips with Qrow's support of her. Upon feeling Marrow's arm slip around her waist, her spark of initiative rekindled and she cleared her throat in order to speak at a higher volume.
"Qrow- I'm sorry to cut your time here so short, but I believe our best tactical move would be for you to head to Beacon immediately. Use the ongoing invasion as a distraction to slip away unseen."
Qrow gave the woman a quick nod and two-fingered salute before turning toward Raven and giving her an unreadable facial expression. The professional huntsman extended a hand to Taiyang, who took it and returned the gesture with a firm shake.
"Well… it was… not at all fun while it lasted, but one day soon, we'll fight together again," Qrow declared. "Raven… stick with us. Please. We need you."
"Believe me, I'm well aware," Raven acknowledged as she used her remaining hand to brush her hair out of her face. "Half of you would be dead if I wasn't here…"
"I'm not talking about your Semblance or Maiden status," Qrow replied before giving his brother-in-arms an upward nod. "Take care of my sister for me."
"Will do," Taiyang reassured as Qrow polymorphed into a bird and took flight, blending quickly into the early morning sky as he gained distance. With a look of apology toward Weiss, Taiyang moved to once again support Raven with his shoulder and an arm. "We should really get back down to the infirmary…"
"You should," Weiss agreed. "Coco and Cardin- you should both go as well. There is… little you'll be able to do without the context of the past few months in Atlas, and neither of you are in great condition at the moment. No offense."
"None taken," Cardin said with a shrug. "Come on, Coco."
Coco made an uncomfortable expression before finally letting out a weary sigh.
"…fine… but I'll be back on my feet and helping out soon. Give 'em hell, kid."
Weiss waited only a moment to watch the quartet head toward the main building of Atlas before turning her attention to the remaining group of Marrow, Elm, Neptune, Ilia, Cinnamon, Daisuke, and Hope.
"Ilia- you should get moving, too," Weiss suggested. "Can you fly a plane?"
"…ish," Ilia answered. "Use the invasion as a distraction to get down there, just like Qrow. On it."
The faunus took off at a run, and Weiss nodded her approval.
"Hope- you're linked with Pax, are you not? Could you check in on the crew headed to Vacuo?"
The android's eyes shifted slightly in focus as her pupils disappeared entirely.
"I can see as she sees. I will keep you updated on anything of import that occurs within the ships."
"Brilliant," Weiss praised. "Okay… we're making progress…."
"In the big picture? We are," Cinnamon agreed. "While your attempt at taking charge is appreciated, we need to begin focusing on the here and now. Daisuke and I will assist with mapping out temporary shelter for the citizens of Mantle. We're leaders of the downtrodden and used to organizing masses in a crisis. Aces- can either of you point us in the direction of those currently working on those efforts?"
"Just follow the procession around the Academy, and you'll find the assigned Atlesian Military Captains," Elm suggested. "Keep in contact with us, and… oh shit…"
"What?" Marrow asked before following his partner's line of sight toward the steps of the Academy. "Yeah, she's right. Shit."
Two figures in suits, one older man with glasses in a gray three-piece and a dark-skinned woman in a cranberry pantsuit were rapidly descending toward the landing zone. The woman in particular looked furious, though neither was amused.
"Who…?" Weiss began.
"Councilman Sleet and Councilwoman Camilla," Elm answered icily. "The two other seats on the Atlesian council… who were not consulted in this evacuation. Leave this to Marrow and I. We've played politics before."
"Right!" Marrow called before ducking in to give Weiss a quick kiss. "We'll rendezvous soon! Follow your instincts and you'll do great!"
"And then there were three…" Neptune said awkwardly as Cinnamon and Daisuke began to walk while the Aces ran off toward the Academy. "I don't like this…"
A quick surge of panic shot through Weiss like a jolt of electricity, and before she fully knew what she was doing, she ran after and around the pair of faunus revolutionaries.
"Wait!"
Cinnamon and Daisuke did stop in their tracks as Weiss appeared before them, the former putting her hands on her hips with an annoyed look while the masked male swished his heavy tail upon the concrete while tilting his head.
"What?"
"Just… I don't think this is the right call," Weiss improvised. "There's currently a system in place as per Ironwood, and while you are skilled at working with those in crisis… Atlas is unfamiliar to you, and you're equally skilled in negotiation and cutting deals. I do want to take a more active role and lead, but talking Ironwood into remaining on a sensible path and quelling panic is going to be extremely difficult for me to accomplish, especially with my father being who he is. I think the two of you have a better shot at it."
Daisuke let out an amused chuckle behind his mask and nodded toward Cinnamon.
"…she isn't wrong. We represent the plight of the people, and we can speak for them to Ironwood."
"And doing that would risk our necks," Cinnamon pointed out. "He pulled a gun on Sun for standing up to him. Why would I remain here, endanger us both, and listen to you?"
"Because you owe me," Weiss reminded. "I told you about everything back at the hospital out of a feeling of guilt, you almost got me killed by Adam in return, and yet here I am, choosing to work alongside you in spite of all that for the greater good. I've listened to Sun talk about you, Blake seems to trust Daisuke, and you both helped us with the evacuation. I feel like I can trust the two of you… and that deep down, you want to be good people and do the right thing. As much as you want to be out of the fire… the sidelines aren't the place for you. You're wasting your talents taking the easy path."
"…we're safe up here," Daisuke reminded softly as he pulled Cinnamon into a side hug. "But we can't play it too safe, right? You would just get bored."
Cinnamon heaved a dramatic sigh and brought a hand to her forehead.
"Fine. But if things go south, we're leaving…"
"We won't let them," Daisuke offered. "Even if this seems risky… we're not in this alone anymore, Cin. Seems to me like you've got friends other than me… if you'll let them in and let them help. It doesn't have to be just us. You've been rolling the dice for years, now. Do it again, one more time. For me."
"I… suppose you're right," Cinnamon resigned as she shook her head. "Regardless, I d-"
"Weiss!"
The former heiress spun around to see Neptune trying to hold Hope up as the android slumped to the ground, her hands held tightly to the sides of her head. Neptune eventually let Hope slump down to her knees, unable to support the sheer weight of the girl as her pupils flickered back into existence. Even having robotic features, Weiss knew immediately that something was very wrong from the look of anguish on Hope's face.
"The ship…" Hope began, her tone carrying emotion that had been previously absent. "T-the ship carrying Ruby, Oscar, and Pax… it's…"
"What the hell was that!?"
Sun shielded his eyes as a bright explosion occupied a large swath of the sky outside of his transport ship. Blake went pale as she looked out the side window before turning back toward her partner.
"The other ship… Ruby's ship…!"
"No…" Sun said in a near whisper. "What do you mean Ruby's sh-"
"Mother fucker!" Harriet yelled as the plane swerved in a sudden roll. Sun and Blake were sent tumbling at the unexpected maneuver, and Sun barely managed to catch his partner as they slammed hard into the wall of the hold. "It's Salem! Salem just took down their ship!"
"A-are you okay?" Sun asked shakily as he helped Blake to her feet, but the other faunus was paying him no attention.
"What do you mean she… Ruby's…" Blake began, unable to finish the sentence.
"She's gone!" Harriet roared, the corners of her eyes blazing with icy flames as she unbuckled her safety harness and got out of the seat. "Tell me you know how to fly a plane, Blake!"
"I-I know the basics!" Blake answered with tears in her eyes as she broke free from Sun's hold and ran for the cockpit. "What are you doing!?"
"Saving our lives!" Harriet answered as she threw open the side hatch and Sun ran past her to follow Blake. "Get clear of Atlesian airspace, I'll catch up later!"
Sun's heart was pounding as he helped strap Blake into the pilot's seat. Unsure of what else to do after clasping the final buckle, he threw his arms around her and rested his chin upon Blake's shoulder.
"What can I do…?"
"I-I don't know…" Blake replied, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't know…"
"I'll fucking kill you!"
Yang threw punch after punch into the air out the hatch of the plane, punctuating each gesture with a gunshot from her gauntlet as she screamed herself hoarse. Not a single round managed to hit the speeding black mass in the sky, and all of her attempts to throw herself out of the plane were stifled by Jaune's iron grip around her waist.
"Corsac!" Jaune called toward the cockpit, his own pallor sickly and face tear streaked. The boy kept one hand clasped to Neopolitan's as his other arm was around Yang, but he was quickly losing his grip on both. "Get us out of here and lock the bay doors! I don't know how much longer I can hold her back!"
"Doing all I can, but I can't find a remote lock!" Corsac yelled back as the black streak of grimm sped directly past the cockpit window. "She's gaining on us! The illusions aren't going to hold her attention much longer!"
As if to answer, Neopolitan broke her grip upon Jaune's fingers and ran for the cockpit. With a few quick taps on the shoulder, she began undoing Corsac's straps and gestured toward the struggling teens.
"You can fly?" Corsac questioned as he rose from the seat.
Neopolitan nodded as a flickering streak of blue energy passed in front of the window, giving chase to Salem.
"I trust you!" Corsac declared. "Full speed ahead!"
The faunus turned and ran from the cockpit toward Jaune, who had wrapped both hands around Yang's waist in an effort to stop her. Just as Corsac reached the pair and extended his hand, Jaune's head snapped backward and collided into his own. The man was bleeding badly from the nose, and some of the thick liquid had ended up on the back of Yang's fist as she lowered it. Without bothering to look back, the blonde huntress threw herself out of the plane and began a rapid descent, firing wildly as she went and propelling herself out of view.
"Oh my gods…" Jaune said, breathing hard as he clutched his face. "What do we do? What do we even do!?"
Author's Note:
Next week… get ready for a midair fight that makes the others in this story and Arboretum seem plain by comparison.
-RD