The checkup passed without any hitches. With the bandages removed, I saw the insignificant surface punctures across my chest that had scabbed over before I'd woken up. I asked about the bandages covering the left side of my face, but was told the wounds were still healing and not to touch them. When asked, they informed me there would be scarring, but the wounds weren't disfiguring by any means. I was given the green light by the nurse and told to moisturize the soon-to-be scars, but let go to retrieve my belongings afterwards. Of course, there were a few problems with that.
"Your armor has seen better days." Winters voice chimed as I observed myself in the mirror. The chest piece and pauldrons were peppered with puncture marks caused by shrapnel from the explosion, leaving me with hole-filled equipment. I wore it all the same, though. Unfortunately, my clothes didn't all make it. The jeans were still functional, if smattered with holes, and my orange arm sleeves were unscathed. My hoodie… was unfortunately KIA. It was punctured beyond saving in the first place, then later sliced off when I arrived at the emergency area.
I felt sad knowing that another piece of my relationship with Pyrrha was gone.
"Yeah." I agreed, running my fingers over the pitted and punctured surface of my chest piece. I tugged briefly at the collar of the white t-shirt the hospital had in surplus. "Say, Atlas has good smiths, right? Think the General would let me give them some work?"
"Our smiths are only rivaled by those in Anima, particularly near Mistral." She boasted, pride leaking into her strict tone which I smirked at. "Also, I'm near certain he would allow you to make use of them."
"Great. It's a date." I said, turning away from the storage room and grabbing Crocea Mors, noticing no damage upon it beyond a few spots of dirt. I looked to Winter silently, a cue she seemed to pick up on.
"I'll lead, shall I?"
"After you." I affirmed.
We passed through the doors of the hospital quickly after, and I got my first taste of the new Vale. I slid my gaze around the streets while following Winter, noticing every detail. Everything felt more communal than I was used to in Vale, and far more cramped. People walked in the streets, some gathering around the various make-shift fire pits made from barrels or just piles of wreckage. Something nice I noticed was how no one seemed to shy away from another. Average people were walking armed in the streets, some of them were obviously not trained extensively, but still they patrolled.
"Interesting…" I said to myself, getting a curious look from Winter which I ignored in favor of simply following her.
I also noticed the occasional look thrown my way. Many seemed to recognize me, oddly enough. A handful even waved at me, and I greeted them in kind. It was an overall different experience for me.
We arrived shortly to our destination. I looked oddly at the smoke-stained theatre, but held my tongue and followed my guide through the doors. I resisted the urge to gape at what I saw. People of all types rushed around the gutted interior of the main atrium, the only original decorations left were the ticket and concession stands. Crates of all sizes and colors were stacked and organized in the middle, some being picked up and moved down halls by dollys. I watched the scene, eyes taking note of the multitude of armed citizens keeping watch of the activities, some standing guard at entrances and others making rounds through off-shooting rooms.
"Less of a theatre than I thought." I uttered.
"Indeed. After the attack had died down and the Green Zone was firmly established, the newly organized militia and their leader chose this building to be the main distribution point for rations and ammunition." She explained, not pausing her footpath. I followed all the same, taking glances around. "This theatre also serves as the command center."
"I see."
The rest of the walk was silent. We went to one wing of the building, walking past all the viewing rooms towards a pair of double doors in the back. I kept eyes on the militia members as we walked through them, acknowledging them with a nod when one pointed me out. We swung the doors open and entered.
"- they aren't happy with the way things are at the moment. Complaints are calling for a delivery route to be set up whenever possible."
"And I'm telling them that the only deliveries that will be made are rations and ammunitions to the walls. We've got more important things to do than deliver food to the lazy." A stern voice stated, frayed nerves leaking into the dismissal. "The complainers can walk themselves to the distribution points like every other citizen. It isn't our concern currently."
"Ma'am." Winter interjected. "A minute of your time?"
I pretty much ignored the conversation, instead blandly looking across the room. The woman looked at us and cleared her throat, seeming to compose herself.
"Of course. If you would give us a moment?" She requested, turning to the small grouping of men and women that struck me as impromptu leaders. A man in an approximation of old Valean riot gear stood, taking position over the rest.
"Of course, Headmistress. Call for us when you have time again."
They vacated in an orderly method, the featureless man in head-to-toe riot gear patting me on the shoulder as he passed, nodding at me. I eyed them all as they left before turning my attention to the apparent leader before me.
"A pleasure, Winter." She greeted, then looking to me. "I'm relieved to see you up, Mr. Arc."
"Professor Goodwitch." I greeted simply. "So, you're in charge of Vale now."
She sighed, almost wilting in her chair as she sat down from her stiff position. I led us closer to her shoddy desk, Winter following close behind.
"Unfortunately, yes. That's in addition to organizing the Valean Militia, planning distribution points, trying to ration our current food and water supplies for the populace, and trying to keep on top of our defenses." She listed off, caressing her forehead. "Those are only a few of the things I'm responsible for these days."
"Sheesh. What about the council? I thought they were supposed to handle these types of things… or at least delegate them." I trailed, wondering if the council ever actually did anything besides be rich.
"The council disappeared after the attack. The evidence we've found suggest they were either assassinated or they simply escaped to somewhere more promising." She explained, leaning into her seat. "Normally the Headmaster would take charge in this type of situation, but with him no longer with us, that responsibility falls to me."
"Sounds like a lot to handle." I sympathized best I could. "I hate to swerve the conversation, but do you know how everyone's doing? Where they are?"
"You mean your team and team RWBY?"
I nodded, to which she sighed.
"When they were brought in for treatment, I heavily recommended that the first year students be shipped away from Vale for the time being. Ms. Xiao Long lost her arm through a fight with a White Fang leader, and both her and Ms. Rose were delivered back to Patch. Ms. Rose remained unconscious throughout the process. Ms. Schnee was in good health, but escorted back to Atlas by her father's employees. Winter could probably tell you more about that." She said, making me briefly look at the Schnee who nodded in confirmation. "Ms. Belladonna was treated for non-life-threatening bodily impalement, inflicted by the same man as Ms. Xiao Long, but she excused herself from the hospital shortly after waking up. I don't have the time currently to look for her myself, even if I'd prefer to. Ms. Valkyrie and Mr. Ren were put on the same bullhead to Patch as the sisters by me personally. They weren't thrilled to be shipped off, but they were causing too much commotion in the hospital waiting for you to awaken."
She paused for a second before continuing.
"Ms. Nikos-"
"Don't." I interrupted curtly, avoiding her eyes.
"… very well." She nodded, understanding my unspoken pleading.
"Thanks." I started. "Knowing they're at least alive is a huge relief."
"Think nothing of it. It's my job as your Professor to look after your well-being." She said, softer in tone than her usual presence. I watched, confused as she wilted afterwards and muttered. "Now if I can only get some relief myself."
"What do you mean?" I questioned, staring at her with brow raised. She flinched at the question, quickly composing herself once more under my gaze.
"You heard that? Apologies, that was meant for my own ears." I ignored her attempt to wave off my question and motioned for her to continue with a flat expression. Eventually she sighed and gave in. "Complaints are piling up faster than we can solve them. They range from idiotic to well founded, and despite the high spirits tension is growing. I can't blame them either. The entire remaining population of Vale has been squished into a territory less than half the size of the city."
"Seriously? Things don't look too bad on the outside, and the hospital seems fully functioning." I asked, shocked at how opposing the reality of the situation is.
"Like I said, high spirits. We're lucky we managed to retain control of the hospital and the surrounding area, as it's one of the most important areas we could have. Unfortunately, that's where our luck runs dry. We have the hospital and the entertainment district firmly under control, but the rest of the Kingdom is still swarming with Grimm from the attack. The Business district is lost, as well as the water and power plants. We have decent stores of food and clean water right now but the longer we go without change the more dangerous it gets. Simply restocking isn't an option because the areas both are distributed and manufactured from, including the warehouses, are overrun." She ranted, laying her head on the desk in a moment of weakness that I honestly thought didn't suit her. The gears in my mind worked to process all the negatives before finally producing something.
"Doesn't Vale have automated defenses? Like turrets and stuff built under the foundations. If we could flip the switch on those, it would be a lot less work to clear out Vale and reclaim those resources." I thought aloud, idly scratching at the bandages on my cheek. I heard Glynda sigh, and looked to her slumped figure.
"So you actually were paying attention to Bartholomew's only it were so easy, Mr. Arc. We've considered this, but activation of Kingdom-wide defense requires a biometric match from one of the four lead engineering technicians of Vale's Engineer's Guild. They're the only ones that had the clearance to even touch the controls." She groused. I looked at her oddly.
"Then what's the problem?"
"The problem is that those four individuals are presumed dead." Winter spoke up, catching a questioning look from me. "We've gone over the four in a previous meeting. None can be replaced in the systems without the Council, but they are nowhere to be found."
"She's correct." Glynda corroborated, leaning up from her face-down siesta. "One was confirmed KIA during the breach in Vale, and two more were present at the Amity Arena, but never were spotted leaving."
"And the fourth?"
"According to council records he was out on sick leave when the attack started. Though with the chaos, he could have ended up anywhere in Vale." She sighed. I paused, considering her words and situation for a brief second before deciding to push.
"Out of curiosity, where did he live?"
She snapped out of her reverie, glancing at me oddly before swiping through her scroll windows.
"It says here that he lived at the Overstate on Blackburn Street. Room 107." The words were hesitant, I could see on her face that she was curious where I was going with this.
"I see. If I were to get the biometric material you need, would you be willing to help me with something?"
She was floored by the proposition, and I could tell that Winter was as well.
"I couldn't possibly ask that of you, Mr. Arc! The risk you'd undertake, just after being released from the hospital, it would be-" She started, very obviously against the idea. I made the decision to interrupt her while listening, knowing if I didn't she'd talk herself out of it.
"It would be a relief to the citizens, and make expanding the Green Zone easier." I stated, overpowering her complaints with confidence I didn't have a year ago. She paused, calming slightly at my interjection and taking a long breath before composing. She threaded her fingers, studying me seriously.
"If you could, my services would be yours. It would be a large weight off everyone's shoulders."
I nodded, turned and began to leave the room. I heard footsteps behind, indicating Winter was following.
"Send me a picture of the guy, and what I'm looking for. Finger prints, hair sample or eye scan." I spoke as I left. I rested my hand gently on the handle of Crocea Mors. "I'll bring it back."
I exited after that, leading the two of us out of the theatre at a sedate pace.
"You're far more intense than I was led to expect, Jaune." Winter said from behind, starting the conversation by herself. I shrugged in response.
"Am I?" I asked rhetorically.
"You are. I suppose you've come up with an answer to the General's request?"
I stopped and turned to her at that, making full eye contact to ensure my words were understood with no missed meaning.
"Give me 3 days." I said confidently. "Then, I'm all yours."
[AN- Sup. Thanks for helping break the 100 follow mark, hope you continue to enjoy. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone.]