A/N: My bad, life went into full chaos mode. Back in action!

Chapter 13: Ghost

The police drove Jaune and Ruby straight to Vale's Central Police Station, a sprawling building of gray stone and towering arches that exuded an air of authority and intimidation.

Before that though, Jaune had been held at gunpoint, surrounded by the burning wreckage that had once been a tidy Dust store. The officer who'd taken Jaune's Aura reading choked on his early morning coffee when he saw the shockingly low levels of Aura, as well as the fact that Jaune wasn't registered as an Aura user on any official database or watchlist.

That had been enough to accelerate events, prompting the arrival of several detectives, a team of forensic experts, emergency firefighters, and even a bomb squad. The lack of a proper Huntsman response was odd, but Jaune knew it had something to do with current politics, specifically the strained relationship Beacon Academy had with the Vale Council. A Memory Recall confirmed it, producing with almost perfect detail an article from The Vale Gazette, dated several months prior, with the headline: "Beacon Academy Faces Increase in Controversy and Criticism." Jaune could easily connect the dots from there, as this eventually led to a new law that restricted Huntsmen's involvement in civilian matters, which left the police to handle the escalating crime rates on their own.

It was a surreal experience, standing there with his hands pointedly visible above his head, fenced by nervous officers and the bodies -possibly body parts- of the men he'd just fought off. Yet all he could do at that moment was reflect on Vale's political landscape and how it intertwined with the current state of law enforcement.

But keeping a straight face as the prime suspect of a violent crime, while still at the crime scene itself, was not helping Jaune maintain his innocence or ease the tense officers.

STEM confirmed that his calm behavior was creeping them out more than anything else. It did not use that exact choice of words, but Jaune caught one of the officers muttering the word "creep" under her breath and it painted a clear enough picture.

It also did not help matters that Ruby was demonstrating a unique brand of her own quirkiness, her eyes wide as she recounted the events of the fight with animated gestures, mirroring the flames that still flickered in the background. Next to Jaune's silent figure, there was no doubt as to who of the two would be the more suspicious suspect. Fortunately, she did not reveal anything that could further incriminate him.

For now, at least.

It took a while before armed escorts shackled Jaune and Ruby and ushered them into an armored vehicle, driving them to Vale's Central Police Station. Upon entering the building, the escorts led them through a labyrinthine maze of corridors and tried to separate them into different interrogation rooms.

Tried Because Ruby refused to leave Jaune's side, her small frame standing out among the towering officers as she held to his arm with a determination that surprised even the most hardened detectives.

Determination, as well as an iron grip. Clearly, Ruby didn't understand her own strength, or maybe she did and was intentionally using it to make a statement.

'I won't leave you,' she'd told him. Jaune didn't think much of it at the time, but now he realized she might have meant it quite literally. It annoyed him at first, the physical closeness with a stranger, the same stranger who had gotten him into this mess in the first place, but the feeling faded when he saw the worry etched on her face, replaced by embarrassment.

What followed was a long negotiation between Ruby and the detectives, with Ruby citing her position as a Huntress-in-training, which apparently included the right to remain with a teammate until the charges against them were formalized. Jaune saw no need to correct her on the technicalities of her argument.

"I know what you've been trying to do to me," he said, covering his mouth with one handcuffed hand as he shifted tensely in the dimly lit corridor. He was trapped between Ruby's petite frame, several imposing detectives, and the heavy metal door of one of the interrogation rooms. "It's not going to work."

Those were the first words Jaune uttered since being brought into the police station. Speaking with anyone else without a lawyer present would only dig him into a deeper hole. He had an advantage, in the form of an alien intelligence that was no doubt smarter than any savvy detective, but recent events made it clear that relying on that alone was dangerous, especially when there were so many unknown variables at play.

I don't understand. Please clarify.

"Allow me to make it perfectly clear to you," Jaune said, mouthing the words with a faint whisper he hoped only he could hear. "I don't trust you. I don't think you have my best interests at- " Jaune was going to say 'heart,' but stopped himself, realizing that STEM very likely lacked the understanding of human idioms and emotions. Not to mention, a physical heart.

It had been a mistake to treat it like a person, a mistake that Jaune would not make again.

He waited for a response that didn't come, and then the possibility that STEM was unable to respond became apparent. Had STEM ever interrupted him during a conversation before? he couldn't recall a single instance.

But… maybe there was one such occasion. When they'd first met? In the clearing? A dim veil began to shroud his peripheral vision and Jaune quickly blocked the rise of a new Memory Recall. STEM did mention it had access to special permissions during emergency situations, didn't it? Either case, STEM must have had constraints built into its programming, and it would be extremely important to keep track of every possible limitation.

Before Jaune could continue this train of thought, a stern voice called out from down the corridor, freezing Ruby in the process of pushing Jaune back behind her with one hand while holding off a detective with the other.

The voice belonged to a middle-aged woman with light blonde hair tied back in a precise bun. Jaune easily identified her as a Huntress from the flashy, clean outfit, a style he'd come to associate with the profession ever since visiting Signal Academy. The Huntsmen and Huntresses he'd known all his life in Ansel were…rugged, in comparison, their clothing reflecting the wear and tear of their dangerous trade. His father himself had favored a simple black leather jacket, worn and faded from years of use. He'd never let Juniper patch the holes or replace the missing buttons, insisting that it added character, that every tear and stain was a reminder of the battles he had fought and the lives he had saved.

This woman, though, wouldn't look out of place at a fancy gala or an upscale dinner party. High-heeled boots clicked against the floor as she stepped forward. Her pleated white blouse tucked into a high-waisted black pencil skirt, fabric pulling taut. She adjusted the flare of her gauntlet cuffs, eyes taking in the chaotic scene with a cool gaze.

Ruby immediately jerked back after the initial shock, releasing Jaune from her protective grip as if he had suddenly become an infectious disease. "Sorry Miss Goodwitch!" She blurted.

One of the detectives turned to the woman, a mixture of relief and apprehension evident on his face. He clearly recognized her, judging by the way he adjusted his tie nervously. "Ma'am, I didn't expect you to come down here personally. We were just about to start the individual interrogations and- "

"Thank you," the woman said. "That will be all"

Don't speak before I can clarify her intentions.

The detective stared at her, but apparently that was all she needed to say, because without another word, he and his colleagues began slowly backing away. The woman waited patiently until the detectives had disappeared around the corner, then stepped closer to Jaune and Ruby, her eyes narrowing as she assessed them.

"You disappoint me, Ruby," she said, her voice sharp and filled with controlled disapproval. "Your sister left quite an impression. I expected nothing less from you, but it seems I overestimated your abilities."

Ruby cowered, her eyes squeezed shut and shoulders hunched.

The woman turned to face Jaune, seemingly blind to the bloody stains on his torn shirt and the dirt smudged across his face. The officers had only allowed him to clean himself up partially, but burnt smell of smoke and the acrid tang of adrenaline still clung to his skin.

"My name is Glynda Goodwitch, vice principal of Beacon Academy." The customary allotted time to offer his name in return passed without a word spoken. She blinked slowly, maybe in surprise at his silence, before continuing. "It is under my authority to investigate incidents involving Aura and the misuse of Dust within the city limits of Vale."

Jaune kept his expression perfectly neutral. It wasn't a mere act; his calm ran deep. Even if an array of machines were to be attached to him, monitoring every physiological sign - a heart rate monitor, blood pressure cuff, and electrodes on his temples - they would fail to betray even a sliver of his true emotions. And yet, he felt an echo of those emotions. Somehow, his body failed to register them, failed to translate the chemical reactions into palpable physical responses.

Jaune didn't miss the way Glynda looked at him when she specifically mentioned the misuse of Dust.

STEM assured him that they'd left no traces behind. It had guided Jaune's every motion, every single thing that he touched. Even the path he took around the Dust store to lay down all the explosives was calculated down to the exact angle of his footsteps.

They'd used a mixture of highly volatile Dust compounds, along with a carefully orchestrated detonation sequence, improvised from the store's inventory, to create a devastating but controlled explosion. This served two goals, the first being the destruction of evidence - any remnants of their presence that could be used to trace the incident back to Jaune. The second goal was getting rid of the gravely wounded thugs. STEM claimed that those men were as good as dead, listing with painstaking detail the different injuries they had sustained in the skirmish. It urged Jaune to save the ones who could still be saved, while, conveniently, getting rid of the most incriminating evidence.

It was only after Jaune had already lit the fuse that one of the men suddenly gasped for breath, startling him. The man knew. He knew what Jaune was about to do. He begged for his life while Jaune stood there and listened. And he kept on listening, his hearing suddenly enhanced to an acute degree, until the pleas were cut off by the deafening roar of the explosion.

Glynda sidestepped him, moving uncomfortably close as he stood in the way of the interrogation room. She sent him an annoyed look that suggested he hadn't been paying sufficient attention to her or his surroundings. With a sharp turn of the handle, the door creaked open, revealing a sparse concrete box of a room. A lone bulb hung from the ceiling by a fraying wire, casting yellow light over the lone piece of furniture, a cold metal table bolted to the floor with two pairs of chairs facing each other.

Ruby gave him a quick look before following Glynda inside and taking a seat.

"At your time, Jaune," Glynda said briskly, "we don't have much of it." She adjusted the dimmer switch on the wall, casting a softer glow. "And close the door behind you, will you?"

Jaune's hands, cuffed together, made that simple request a cumbersome task. He managed to comply, but his hand lingered on the doorknob longer than necessary. She knew his name. What else did she know?

Beacon wielded considerable power over Huntsman's operations in Vale, and their influence extended far beyond simply training students. His father complained about it on more than one occasion, grumbling about the bureaucracy that came with being even remotely affiliated with Beacon. As the vice principal, she must have been informed about everything that had happened to him from the moment he was brought to the ICU.

Was she… was she responsible for his week of missing memories? Did she participate in or order his interrogational torture? Anger rippled through Jaune at the mere thought, for a second threatening to consume him.

Your behavior is inconsistent with the desired outcome. Exhibiting volatile emotions could jeopardize your chances of release.

Realizing that he was still holding to the doorknob, Jaune forced his fingers to unclench. STEM claimed that he'd been tortured, that his memories of that week were deliberately tampered with.

Why had he accepted that as the truth without asking for any sort of proof? Jaune considered several possibilities, in the process suppressing two separate Memory Recalls, before his mind came up with a solution.

He had proof. STEM had presumably recorded the proceedings.

"I need to perform a medical examination," Glynda stated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed Jaune's state of clothing, or more accurately, the shredded state of it. "Do I have your consent?"

She's not referring to a normal physical examination. Stay silent.

Jaune hesitated. STEM had already advised him to remain silent until it could gather enough information, and it clearly wasn't done analyzing the situation yet. But… following its advice so far had only resulted in Jaune being arrested and suspected of crimes that could potentially ruin his life.

"I am uninjured," Jaune said cautiously, squeezing the words through a bone-dry throat and triggering a short coughing fit. "And I've been searched for weapons already," he added once he had regained control of his voice.

Glynda's lips pressed together in a tight line. "It may not appear so now, but my sole objective here is to ensure your safety and well-being." Opening a small leather case he hadn't noticed, she retrieved a package of latex gloves and a silver scalpel. It glinted ominously, even under the dim lighting of the room. "We're aware of everything you've been through since Ansel's evacuation." Ruby gasped at the mention of Ansel, her eyes widening in recognition. Ignoring her, Glynda snapped the gloves into place. "But your behavior right now is not making it easy for me to advocate on your behalf."

Jaune kept his eyes fixed on the scalpel. "What's this for?"

"There's no need to be alarmed," Glynda reassured him, her voice firm. "This is just standard procedure. You've lost a lot of blood and your pale complexion suggests severe Aura depletion. I need to make sure I'm not putting you at risk by continuing the interview without first addressing any immediate medical concerns."

She's being deliberately vague. I'm unable to assess her true intentions. Do not consent to examination.

"I- I can hold your hand if that's what you need," Ruby interjected.

Both Jaune and Glynda turned to stare at her, each with their own version of a bewildered expression.

"Excuse me?" Jaune finally managed to stammer out. His mind seemed to have short-circuited.

Ruby blushed so deeply that Jaune thought her face might catch fire. "I mean- " She tapped her fingers against her thigh nervously, not meeting his eyes. "It's OK if you need a little extra support…"

"Support with what?" Jaune frowned. "Standing up?"

Ruby opened, then closed her mouth, settling on an uncertain half-smile. "I just meant...you know, if you're feeling anxious or need reassurance, I could...be there for you."

"I don't understand," Jaune repeated, a touch of frustration entering his voice. Why was Ruby being so persistent about keeping physical contact with him? She'd been glued to his arm since they'd arrived at the police station, and now she was offering to help him… stay upright? Did she have some kind of ulterior motive? Perhaps some aspect of her Semblance he was unaware of?

"I think," Glynda spoke over Ruby's stammering, "that Ruby is simply trying to offer you emotional support during a potentially distressing situation."

"Oh." Jaune relaxed. That seemed obvious in retrospect. Hold his hand as a gesture of comfort, of course. Maybe he'd really lost too much blood and was still feeling a bit lightheaded. The next words that came out of his mouth better conveyed his gratitude and acceptance of her kind offer. He looked Ruby straight in the eye as he spoke, his voice filled with sincerity. "No. I don't want to touch you."

Ruby flinched as if Jaune had just slapped her across the face.

"Alright, that's quite enough," Glynda said with a firm tone. "I need an answer from you. You either consent to the examination or I will have to call in additional measures to ensure your compliance. "

Jaune didn't know what 'additional measures' Glynda was referring to, but whatever they were, he realized he didn't want to find out. He'd been practically sprinting non-stop since… well, since he'd run into Derek in that diner, really. It felt like an eternity ago.

He was tired. So tired.

"…ok," Jaune let out with a sigh, his shoulders slumping.

He thought Glynda's stern expression softened just a fraction as she approached him slowly, scalpel still in hand. She removed the cuffs from his wrists and Jaune instinctively rubbed at the red marks left behind.

"Raise your arms," she instructed. Cold sensation enveloped the base of his neck, then spread through his body like tendrils of ice. He suppressed a shiver as Glynda's gloved fingers traced along his spine, her touch clinical. Pressure built up around his arms, gently guiding his movements into the desired position. The force steered him as if it were handling a fragile object. "You might feel a stinging sensation," she warned, before the remains of his shirt, along with dried blood, dirt, and sweat, began to peel away from his skin, collecting into a brown mush that hovered in the air. When he was sufficiently clean, Glynda flicked her wrist and the ball of filth disintegrated into nothingness.

Jaune stared at the spot of empty air. "I'm sorry, but… where did it all go?"

Two voices answered at the same time and Jaune only managed to catch snippets.

…unknown to what extent-

" …dimensional transference…"

...force to induce remote manipulation of objects without direct physical contact-

" …transmutation of matter that causes the rearrangement of its molecular structure," Glynda finished.

"Aha," Jaune nodded as if he understood every word. "Interesting. Can you clarify that last part?"

Stop her. She's taking a blo

A surge of electricity coursed through his veins.

The world around Jaune seemed to sharpen, every detail becoming more vibrant and alive. He suddenly noticed tiny spots of rust on the scalpel's blade, caught a faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air, and felt the exact positioning of every object in the room.

Then a ghostly echo of himself appeared.

It was less of a reflection and more of a translucent figure, overlapping his own body. He'd experienced something similar to this before, during his fight in the Dust store, but this felt a lot more vivid. So tangible.

The figure…nodded at him? Even if it did, Jaune shouldn't have been able to see it, as it was overlayed over him, the syncing almost seamless.

Then they went out of sync.

The figure spun, its outstretched arm knocking the scalpel from Glynda's hand and sending it clattering to the floor, before the other landed in an open-hand strike on her nose. Everything paused, with the scalpel lying innocently on the floor and Glynda frozen in mid-recoil, a spray of blood suspended in the air around her face. A few seconds passed like that, as though reality was holding its breath, before the figure's head turned like a mechanical puppet on a swivel, fixing its gaze directly on Jaune.

Bright lines came alive all over its translucent form, and Jaune instantly understood what he was looking at. He was witnessing the manifestation of his own Aura, pulsating, shimmering lines that resembled a complex web. The lines branched like roots reaching out from a tree trunk, splitting from the spinal column into smaller, intricate pathways. Those were the leaks and imperfections of his Aura, the fractures in the main branch that wreaked havoc on his control.

Slowly, lines dimmed in color until only one pathway remained lit, leading from just under the neck, where the main reserve of Aura resided, down to the figure's palm, the same palm that hovered over Glynda's frozen face. Aura flowed through this pathway. It wasn't just a direct current; there was a clear, calculated rhythm to the way the energy moved.

The figure was faceless, but the way it looked at Jaune was familiar. From the tilt of its head to the slight curve of its shoulders.

The figure demanded Jaune's complete attention. It wanted him to understand.

But there wasn't enough time. The technique was too complicated, and Jaune wasn't nearly clever enough to grasp all of it in a fleeting moment. So when time turned back, and Jaune found himself back in the present moment, the mere thought of trying to imitate the fluid movements of the figure was laughable.

od sample.

He felt a prick on his arm as Glynda made a small incision with the scalpel. "Your theoretical knowledge doesn't seem to match your practical skills," she noted. Jaune tried to ground himself in the present moment, the vision still burning into his memory. His body twitched reflexively, an urge to follow through, but he resisted.

Retrieving the blood sample is now impossible. She has already utilized multiple methods to profile your Aura, and I'm unable to determine whether it is possible for her to identify the presence of my nanobots without specialized equipment.

Either Jaune had just experienced the birth of his Semblance, or STEM had done something to him. Nevertheless, its speech had been cut off mid-word and then resumed seamlessly, as if there had been a momentary loss of connection. This suggested that STEM wasn't involved, but Jaune couldn't be sure of anything.

"That's not uncommon for students like you who've had informal training," Glynda continued. "The hands-on experience doesn't always translate to understanding the concepts."

She is making unvalidated assertions to confirm truths or background information by observing your reactions. Their current prevailing theory speculates that your father might have provided you with basic combat training prior to his death, and that you continued your training independently after his passing.

Juggling so many possibilities and uncertainties wasn't easy, especially as STEM sped up its normal voice so that it could communicate enough information during the brief pauses in the conversation. Jaune couldn't keep up, so he tried to distill the key points and ignore everything else.

The mysterious vision wasn't important right now, so he discarded it.

Glynda was… interviewing him. Testing him. Jaune had never excelled at reading people, but he could tell that she genuinely wanted to help him, and that his responses here would have a significant impact on her inclination to do so.

I recommend that you remain silent until I have gathered enough information.

And maybe that was the smart choice. Maybe following the directions of an artificial intelligence infinitely more advanced than anything he'd ever encountered would have been the safest path. But something in Jaune screamed to the contrary. Intuition? defiance? Perhaps a deep-rooted sense of self-preservation. Whatever it was, Jaune decided to follow the familiar tug of his gut instinct. He imagined the figure from the vision would have approved, but that very thought didn't make sense to him.

If Glynda was trying to verify his background, he would play along, but on his own terms.

"Dad never was one for formalities," Jaune said carefully, with a hint of melancholy in his voice. From the corner of his eye he caught Ruby cocking her head to the side, a small frown etched on her face. "He taught me the basics, but theory wasn't something we focused on."

I don't understand this strategy. Please clarify.

Glynda probed under his chin and tilted his head up slightly, her eyes boring into his. "It must have been difficult," she said, "training without peers your age."

"Sometimes," Jaune replied, his gaze shifting to a distant point on the wall. "But Dad made sure I had plenty of challenges to overcome. He always said that true strength came from one's own inner resolve, not from the approval of others."

Lying was an art, and balancing lies with half-truths was a skill Jaune had developed over time. The stakes had never been this high before, but the same principles still applied.

"I suppose Ansel would be a prime location for independent training," Glynda mused, "being a frontier town near Grimm -infested territories. Many incidents, I presume?"

Jaune didn't fall for her trap. "No. Ansel is well-protected, we don't- I mean, we didn't use to have many issues with the Grimm, until- you know."

Glynda nodded thoughtfully. "I'm terribly sorry about the loss of your town," she said. "The trauma must have been unimaginable. How are you holding up?"

"I came out fine," Jaune responded robotically, and it was only after a brief pause that he realized he'd made a mistake.

"…I see," Glynda said. "And how is your family coping with the aftermath? You have seven sisters, correct? Your file indicates that you were all separated during the attack."

"I don't see how this question is relevant to the investigation."

"Does it make you angry?" Glynda asked curiously, "Talking about your family?"

"No. I am not angry."

"Good to know." Glynda motioned for him to take the seat adjacent to Ruby's. He wanted to tear it from its bolts and throw it across the room. Instead, Jaune mustered a polite nod and obliged. "What happened to your right hand?"

Jaune instinctively flexed his fingers, the question catching him off-guard. Revealing the incident with Derek wouldn't serve his goals, so he kept his response short and vague. "Training accident."

"Are you sure that's all it was?" Glynda asked. "Because the scar in your Aura pathway around the metacarpal region doesn't match the typical pattern of a training mishap."

Jaune shrugged. "I've had it for years, not sure about the exact cause."

She knows you're lying.

"That's understandable," she said. "But knowing the origin of such a serious injury is critical for the investigation. If you sustained this during the robbery it could help with your case."

She is well aware that a scar wouldn't have appeared so soon.

Another bait. He had to give her something. "Dad and I used to spar," Jaune said. "I remember one time when he… pushed his Aura into my body. It's a common tactic… " Jaune closed his eyes, recalling Yang's exact words. "…usually used by the smaller fighters to gain an advantage during hand-to-hand combat."

Ruby inhaled sharply, her palms clenched tightly in her lap. She didn't look at him, but Jaune suddenly felt completely exposed. He was practically down to his underwear, yet it wasn't just the lack of clothing. He felt stripped bare, an open book for Glynda to scrutinize at her leisure.

But he must have done something right because Glynda gave him a brief sympathetic smile. "And he trained you with a locked Aura, is that right? It wasn't unlocked until ten days ago, during Ansel's evacuation."

"Yes," Jaune nodded. "Dad wanted me to be prepared for… anything, I guess. But he refused to unlock my Aura until he thought I was ready."

I now see a path toward release. Please keep in mind that I'm unable to improve your performance if you do not notify me of your plans ahead of time.

"Your Aura came dangerously close to being depleted in that fight," Glynda said, her expression turning serious. "Do you know what happens when your Aura is completely drained?

Failure of several vital organ systems, impairment of neurological functions in the brain, and ultimately, the irreversible cessation of all life-sustaining processes.

Jaune took a moment to digest the information, then realized that Glynda expected an answer. "…Multiorgan failure, and uh, brain damage, and ultimately… death. "

"Correct." Glynda nodded approvingly, surprise flitting across her features. "So why are you blocking your Aure regeneration right now?"

Ruby gasped again. The sound had become almost a background hum at this point. Jaune ignored it as he hyper-focused on Glynda's words. The question seemed innocent enough, but he could sense the underlying challenge in her tone. It was extremely important that he gave the correct answer here.

She's mistaking your constant Aura expenditure for a rare technique capable of blocking normal regeneration. They already know that you have some way to maintain your Aura at near-zero levels, but they don't understand the full extent of it.

Jaune was currently only able to control his body because of STEM's nanobot technology, constantly destroying his cells to maintain his Aura at a low level. When he blocked a blow from Torchwick to save Ruby, they temporarily got around this by triggering a heart attack, which caused his Aura levels to spike. They'd had to time the spike perfectly to avoid killing him, and Jaune had to take control of his Aura for the first time in his life. Thankfully he only had to guide it to the point of impact, but even that took an immense amount of concentration. Without STEM predicting the exact moment and location of the impact, as well as speeding up his thoughts and reactions, there was no way he could have pulled it off.

None of that helped Jaune come up with a convincing answer, though. He thought about shrouding and Aura signatures, two terms STEM had used before, which Jaune supposed he understood the gist of. He considered explaining his low Aura levels by claiming that he was using a unique shrouding technique, but the warning rise of a Memory Recall stopped him.

"I'm just- used to it," Jaune said, again following his instincts. "Dad made me get used to facing the Grimm without Aura, because… well. Because he…"

Because Aura protects the mind from mental influences, and it can become a crutch if relied on too heavily.

"…Because Aura protects the mind from the Grimm's mental influences, and it can become a crutch."

"He forced you to fight Grimm without Aura?!" Ruby burst out, her eyes widening with horror. "But that's insane! How could he do that to you?"

"Silence!" Glynda raised her voice suddenly, causing Ruby to jump in her seat.

"But…But that's- "

"I said silence." Glynda turned a steely gaze towards Jaune, her lips pursed in a thin line as she scrutinized him. "We don't have a lot of time, but I need you to tell me about your training."

"…Sure."

The questioning steered towards more technical details after that, with Jaune providing explanations of Aura manipulation techniques and his training regimen. It couldn't be proper Aura manipulation, since in this fake version of events Jaune still had his Aura locked when his father "trained" him. This was potentially disastrous, given that he barely knew how normal Aura training worked, let alone training that involved a civilian with a locked Aura. His lies would have immediately crumbled had Glynda decided to test his abilities right then and there. Not to mention, lying effectively about a topic he had little knowledge of would have been impossible without STEM.

The alien system guided him through the questions, at critical points providing him with the necessary jargon to sound at least semi-knowledgeable. They used a mix of incorrect terms and partially true statements to paint the picture of a bright, but inexperienced student. Someone who had a general understanding of the practical applications, but lacked a consistent foundation in the theory.

At least, that was what STEM claimed he came across as, and Jaune had to take its word for it because he didn't understand half of what came out of his own mouth. Too much of his attention was focused on processing information and modulating his voice. He couldn't just parrot what STEM was whispering in his ears, because that would have made him sound insincere, like he was reading from a script. So he had to multitask, speaking smoothly while also rephrasing and adapting the information STEM was feeding him to make it sound more natural. He hoped the result was convincing enough for Glynda, who seemed to be absorbing everything he said with a critical eye and no small amount of skepticism.

When she finally seemed satisfied with his answers, she dismissed him with a nod and turned her attention to the other suspect in the room.

The questions for Ruby were more straightforward, focusing on her experience during the robbery. Jaune tried to add his input where he could, but Glynda seemed a lot more interested in Ruby's perspective.

She didn't need to scrutinize Ruby as much as she did Jaune, or even use the same trick to clean her body. Somehow, Ruby's outfit had survived the robbery in perfect condition, the only sign of damage being a small rip on her sleeve. She'd dislocated her right knee, but the lump disappeared before the police even arrived on the scene. Apparently, her Aura was that incredibly potent.

Glynda finished the quick check-up and took a seat across from them, flipping open a file. "You can't train for two days until your knee is fully healed," she said. "And I need to see you both for a follow-up interview in three days."

Jaune held no illusions that it could be that simple. "That's it? We are free to go?"

"Well, yes and no," Glynda said, scribbling something down. "You were involved in a violent robbery where significant public property damage occurred. And that's putting it mildly." She gave Ruby a sharp look. "But you acted in self-defense, and your actions during the robbery, while reckless and dangerous, were ultimately in service of stopping a criminal gang." Jaune frowned. Her words felt almost…rehearsed, as if she was making a formal statement. "We can't, of course, ignore the fact that you injured multiple suspects where they could have been easily apprehended instead. The owner suffered a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalized, and the entire neighborhood is now being evacuated due to potential Dust leaks." Ruby nodded somberly, her eyes downcast. "I do have one more question," Glynda said, fixing her gaze on Jaune. "How many suspects were there in total?"

They didn't find any dead bodies. The explosion triggered a shockwave reaching hypersonic speeds and temperatures surpassing thousands of degrees Celsius. Only the calculated inclusion of Gravity Dust kept the force contained to the pile of bodies and prevented the destruction of half the city. Identifiable human remains are improbable. Only traces of ultra-resilient materials like dental enamel might persist, scattered across the blast site, but it's unlikely that even those would be found.

STEM could have easily destroyed half of Vale city if it chose to do so, and Jaune had been a willing participant, following its instructions without question. He could have killed his entire family. Tens of thousands of innocent people could have died.

"Jaune?" Ruby's concerned voice was like a lifeline.

Jaune blinked rapidly, feeling as if he was being pulled out of a dark haze. His chest hurt so bad that he thought it might rupture.

"Sorry," he croaked, using every bit of his willpower to keep from falling apart. "I counted, I think…" His eyeballs were going to pop out of their sockets at this rate. "Sorry, ugh. There were-"

I am unable to discern the source of your distress. There is currently no significant activation detected among your pain receptors.

"14 men, including Torchwick," he finally managed to say.

"Ruby counted 18," Glynda countered, studying Jaune's expression carefully.

"Could be." Jaune shrugged, the ache in his chest becoming slightly more manageable. "It's a blur, honestly."

"So no one, as far as you remember, got caught in the explosion?" Glynda pressed. "It's not your fault if there were casualties. But if you lie to me now about the facts and later they find biological remains in the wreckage, it will be far worse for everyone involved." Ruby shifted uncomfortably beside Jaune. Glynda didn't miss the gesture. "Ruby? Do you have anything to add?"

I estimate a 50% chance of success.

Ruby's account had left out several key details, including the fact that they'd both witnessed at least one death. Torchwick may have delivered the final blow, but clearly Jaune played a substantial role in the man's vicious demise.

Why would she help him?

Ruby's expression changed several times in quick succession. She bit her lip, closed her eyes, and wrinkled her nose, her fingers sliding into her hair and clutching it briefly.

Jaune found himself praying. He had never been a particularly religious person. He'd always reason that the Gods, if they even existed, had more important things to do than to concern themselves with the petty affairs of mortals. Still, he couldn't help but hope for some kind of divine intervention.

Even if she sides with your version of events, we may still need to take care of any remaining witnesses.

Of course. The store's owner had obviously seen a lot, and the police would be sure to talk to him. The grunts were possible witnesses too, but Jaune had the feeling that they wouldn't be too cooperative with the authorities.

But that was a problem for later. Jaune just wanted it to be over. His sisters were probably worried sick by now and he needed to let them know that he was okay.

" N-no," Ruby finally spoke up. "That's all I can remember."

"I see." Jaune wasn't sure whether Glynda was more disappointed or relieved. She let out a small sigh and leaned forward in her chair, her fingers steepled in front of her. "This is what's going to happen now. We'll need you both to make written statements, and you'll get a chance to review them before they're submitted as evidence. You should consider yourselves fortunate that the headmaster of Beacon is aware of your situation and has agreed to offer you both temporary protection."

"Excuse me, protection from what, exactly?" Jaune frowned.

"Well- the law, for one, Mr. Arc." Glynda's demeanor changed, becoming more formal and businesslike. Jaune supposed that since the interrogation had ended she no longer needed to play the approachable counselor. "But you are correct that there's also a possibility of retaliation from Roman Torchwick or his associates. Which is why the headmaster requested that you remain within a hundred feet of each other for the next seventy-two hours, at minimum."

"…a hundred feet of- Each other?" Ruby repeated, her confusion quickly turning to horror." You can't be serious!"

This will significantly limit your objectives.

"I'm sorry, but I need to be with my family, perhaps- "

"This is not open for discussion," Glynda said bluntly. "I suggest you work out a fair arrangement between yourselves, because the alternative is keeping you both in separate locations under constant surveillance, which I believe you'll find to be much less desirable."

"But…But- "

"What exactly do you mean by temporary protection?" Jaune interjected.

"Beacon Academy may offer you special privileges and resources that are not available to the general public," Glynda explained. "That is, if you are a registered student or staff member of the academy."

Surely it couldn't be that easy. Jaune exchanged a quick look with Ruby, who appeared just as mystified.

"It is not unusual for these types of arrangements to be made," Glynda continued. "Unconventional candidates often get in trouble with the law. The academy has recruitment programs that cater to those who possess truly unique talents."

"So…" Jaune didn't dare finish the sentence, but Glynda seemed to understand his unspoken question.

"You are not automatically granted admission, of course," she clarified. "We have a lot of information about Miss Rose, but we know very little about you, Mr. Arc. Headmaster Ozpin personally vouching for you is the only reason you are being considered at all. "

"He… vouched for me?"

This tactic is likely intended to keep you under control and monitored. They are pairing you with a Huntress in possession of a speed-related Semblance to limit your movements and ensure your compliance. It is unclear if we benefit from this development.

"I believe Ozpin and your father were close acquaintances," Glynda said. "But that's not important right now..." She seemed like she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. "You will both undergo extensive testing and evaluation before any final decisions are made."

"What kind of tests?" Jaune asked immediately.

"The testing will be rigorous and thorough," Glynda said. "That's all I can disclose for now."

"How long do we have to prepare?"

"You will report to the academy together, in three days, but I assure you that nothing you do in those three days will have any effect on the outcome. If you are not ready now, even a year of training won't make a difference."

Jaune politely disagreed.

"I just need your signatures on a few forms," Glynda said, sliding a binder toward them.

The first page listed multiple clauses about the academy's liability in case of injury or wrongful death. There was a paragraph about forfeiting legal rights and agreeing to internal arbitration in case of disputes, and another about the confidentiality of their training and the consequences of breaking it. Strangely enough, the document also seemed to include a section about the use of their personal information for marketing and promotional purposes.

Show me all the pages.

Jaune complied, flipping through fifty-one pages in just as many seconds. Glynda raised an eyebrow at him, probably skeptical of how much attention he actually paid to the legal jargon. In reality, none, but STEM undoubtedly captured all of it.

When he finished with the scan, without waiting for STEM's approval, Jaune quickly signed his name on the designated line, feeling a sense of finality wash over him as he did so. His family came first, always, but if Beacon could provide him with the tools he needed to protect them he would do whatever it takes to get in.

As Jaune glanced back at the binder, he realized that there was a second line to sign. He looked at Ruby, and then back at Glynda. "Are we signing the terms together?" He supposed joint signatures were not uncommon when the parties involved were entering into a partnership or agreement, but he and Ruby were not in a partnership; they were just two individuals selected to attend the academy… right?

"Unconventional candidates often require unconventional measures," Glynda said. "Headmaster Ozpin requires that the two of you attend Beacon together. If you both pass all the requirements you will be assigned to the same team, so your acceptance into the academy is contingent upon both of your signatures on this document."

Ruby seemed to be in deep thought, absorbing everything with a furrowed brow. She returned Jaune's pleading look with a thoughtful expression.

Please say yes.

Jaune noticed her silver eyes for the first time. They were so striking, almost otherworldly.

She tapped the pen against her chin before finally nodding. Jaune relaxed.

"Nope," she said, throwing the pen on the table and crossing her arms. "I can't go to Beacon."

Fuck.