Good news – one of the stray cats I've been feeding since last year slept on my bed with me and the dog last night. The domestication has begun! Of course she woke me up at 4am demanding to be let out because she realised she was stuck inside, but it's progress. She also comes into the house to be fed now, though she lives in the nearby hay barn most of the time.
Cover Art: Mysterywhiteflame
Chapter 26
No plan survived contact with the enemy.
Knowing that intellectually didn't prepare him one iota for the reality.
Jaune's plans didn't so much collapse as implode, all rational thought leaving his mind other than an intense need to get out. They could regroup later, plan later, but when it came to salvaging this he had nothing. They were up against advanced military hardware, a large team of armed faunus and an unknown huntress who was if nothing else supremely confident in her chances. Given they were students, and she might be fully qualified and experienced, he didn't have any reason to doubt it.
"Run!" he shouted. "Go! Scatter!"
Was it a good idea-? He had no idea. There was no time to think of anything better. If even one of them could escape then they could call for help, assuming Warden didn't know already, and that was about the best he could hope for. Neon practically shucked off her smoke and flashbangs, detonating them all at once and sending faunus screeching to the ground. The mech's visors and targeting systems were bound to be shielded against that however, and the huntress had the reactions to cover her face with her arm.
Flynt's trumpet blared, Neon's skates rattled and a minigun spooled. One of Penny's knives jammed into the arm holding that and yanked it aside, causing the first shots to tear through the ground between them instead of at them. Flynt and Neon were already making their escape, but more White Fang came around the compound walls and forced them to engage there. Penny had silently tasked herself to keep the mech off their backs, so Jaune gulped and threw himself at the huntress.
I don't have to win. I just have to buy time and escape.
His aura being the highest among their team would help with that. He hoped. The woman might have been better than he, but he fancied his chances in melee against an archer more than at range. Crocea Mors lashed out and was caught on the curve of her bow. His eyes traced it, noting the lack of any mecha-shift or melee option. A normal bow? No, it was odd. Not wood, not metal either, but something with a glossier sheen and – was it cracking?
The clash of shattering glass made him stumble through her now-broken weapon. He was so surprised he couldn't capitalise, and she didn't give him time anyway. A foot slammed up into his jaw and she twisted under his sword, the very shards from her bow moving in the air and forming a paid of black glass swords in her hands. They stabbed at him together and he could only topple aside. One missed but the other scored his chest and shoulder, bouncing off his aura. Landing hard on one side, he swept his legs at hers only to watch her hop over and backwards. Her left hand flew forward and launched one of the blades at him. He swung his own into the path to deflect it, but the force caused it to shatter instead and spray shards of glass at him as fragmentation.
Teeth gritted through it, he saw her switch back to the bow, essentially summoning it out of thin air by making her swords vanish. It's not summoning – it's glass manipulation. He could see it now in the brief swirl of what he'd thought was smoke, but which was much more likely tiny glass molecules. That didn't make it any less dangerous and he imagined the long glass arrow she made appear wouldn't shatter on someone's unprotected chest. It'd be as hard as steel. Semblances weren't afraid to break the laws of physics like that.
His SMG was more mundane in comparison but that was its biggest advantage; 650rpm didn't much care for the wielder's skill, and he sprayed the whole clip of 36 rounds at her in a single pull and hold of the trigger. The huntress likely had plenty of aura, but also the experience not to waste it tanking something she didn't have to, and she aborted her shot to race to the left and test his fire control. Jaune followed her while standing and moving the other way. Escape was still the goal, not a protracted fight. He grabbed another magazine and flipped the first out with the end of it, slotting the other in and ducking the glass arrow that whizzed by where his head had been a second before.
She's good. Better than me. I can't win here.
Cowardice maybe, but he rather thought the Specialists had beaten into his head the importance of the mission, and the mission was to sabotage the mech or avoid letting it cause casualties, all while not being caught by Vale. Neither of those was going to be fulfilled by getting into a fight here. Spraying at the huntress again, and this time clicking his tongue as she deflected several shots with her twin swords, he glanced Penny's way. She had raced back into the warehouse of all places and drawn the mech with her.
She must have had a plan. Penny wasn't stupid and the mech would have been on her tail whichever way she ran, so she must have been hoping to lose it in the building. Maybe get it to bring the roof down on its head. It was as good a plan as any in the moment, and it wasn't like she could bring it to a populated area. Flynt and Neon were too far to see, engaged in a firefight with the White Fang. He was most confident of them escaping right now, as long as they didn't do something asinine like come back to try and save him. They'd better not. If he was going to get a rescue then he wanted it to be several squads of Atlas agents led by Winter Schnee herself. He figured they'd prefer the same well if the situation was reversed.
Explosions sounded within the warehouse and windows shattered. Green light flooded out blindingly, bathing Jaune and his opponent's sides and making them both shield their eyes. The sound of missiles firing after told him the mech wasn't down, however. He was then forced to bring his SMG up to block an arrow that drove him back a few feet, and then the huntress was racing into melee.
Her first kick sent his gun high, but he managed to keep hold of it. The second caught him on the left side of the neck, sweeping down onto his shoulder with so much force that his vision dimmed. He bull-rushed her, hoping to substitute weight and strength for skill. His body hit hers, his arms wrapping around her. He heard her grunt of annoyance, then felt sharp pain in his side where she'd created a sword and driven it right into his kidney.
Pain was relative. Jaune picked her up and carried her forward, away from the fight, then threw her down and tried to get on top of her. The moment her back hit the floor however, she kicked up with both legs, warding him away, and acrobatically flipped onto her feet. He was halfway through reloading his weapon when bright yellow lines flashed across her skin-tight suit and suddenly there was a great ball of fire rushing in toward him.
A second Semblance!?
No, it had to be her outfit. Technology, maybe? There was no time to dodge so he covered his face and closed his eyes, pumped his aura forward and weathered the storm. Heat washed over him and around his frame, buffeted his hair and drained at his aura. Fortunately there was nothing keeping it in place to suffocate him and the fire parted around him like water, rushing on by into the air and letting him draw breath.
Less fortunately, that same breath was driven from his lungs when the huntress followed behind the fire and drove a heeled foot into his sternum. Jaune was forced to duck the follow-up thrust, but his unsteady footing sent him stumbling onto one knee and rolling aside. He brought his gun up only for an arrow to land directly down the barrel! His finger was already pulling the trigger, causing the dust to ignite and fire down the barrel but have nowhere to go. The end warped, and while it didn't explode and the dust just fired out at an odd angle, the weapon was useless now. Jaune tossed it at the woman and scrambled away, drawing his sword as another arrow impacted his back and shattered on his aura.
His scroll beeped the warning for entering yellow – not good. He hadn't so much as landed a hit on her. Another explosion from the warehouse sounded as the roof finally gave up under all the punishment and began to crash down. He hoped Penny had a way out planned. I should be focusing on my own way out of this.
"Hey. So…" Jaune faced the woman. "I don't suppose we can call this quits. Call it a case of us being in the wrong place at the wrong time, eh?" The huntress didn't respond. Two swords formed, and she began walking slowly toward him. He couldn't even convince himself she'd capture him alive. She was working with terrorists, so there was a good chance he was going to die here. "Just my luck. Damn it, Warden. Where are-"
KRACK!
The sound pierced the night, and something struck the huntress' chest. She pirouetted like a dancer, spinning up and off her feet in a corkscrew before catching herself and landing several feet away. Her swords came up as another piercing gunshot sounded out. The swords, crossed before her face, exploded into clouds of dust. Or glass. The masked huntress hurled herself back as a third shot smashed into the ground and pinged off in a sharp yellow line of dust.
That was his cue to run.
Jaune didn't question the sniper – there was no time to. It was Warden, or it was someone else, but if it was the latter then he didn't much care. Hell, maybe it was Team RWBY. Ruby used a sniper rifle and he'd take whatever help he could get. Head low, gun abandoned, Jaune sprinted for the compound wall as two more shots rang out between him and the huntress, preventing her from giving chase.
He was out the compound within seconds but he didn't stop running for a minute, until he was well and truly away, and even then he only slowed to a jog. His lungs were burning, his body protesting at him, but he didn't dare stop. His fingers were shaking as he sheathed his sword and fumbled out his scroll.
"Warden. Arc here, my team-"
"Coal and Katt have reported in. We have visual on Polendina slipping away in the confusion. The White Fang are digging the mech out the building and will undoubtedly be retreating."
Relief poured through him, and he choked just a little. He was grateful for Warden not wasting time and giving it to him straight. "I'm sorry, sir, the mission-"
"You were compromised from the start – though we're not sure how. Our current theory is that the White Fang may have had loyalists in the school who could have recognised Neon Katt after her infiltration of the rally. You may have been observed leaving Beacon and this fact reported to Torchwick."
It was possible. They hadn't exactly snuck out of Beacon because that would have caused even more suspicion. Plenty of people had seen them leave. "Sir, was that sniper ours?"
"I'm afraid that's classified information."
That was a yes, then. Jaune let it go – he was more relieved than not, and it didn't surprise him that Atlas might have others here working on the same task as them. He was just glad they'd been close enough to intervene. "Noted, sir. Should we return to Beacon?"
"No. They'll expect that and may have laid an ambush, and we don't yet know if your little foray has been noticed. Plus, you'll return looking like you just came out of a fight."
That was true. He was a mess. He was armed, too, with torn trousers and dirt and burns all over his uniform. "I don't think the clubbing excuse will work this time either. I don't think a club would let me in looking like this."
"I'm forwarding each of you coordinates for a safehouse of sorts. Rendezvous there. Winter Schnee is being dispatched to meet with you to debrief. Lock the doors and do not allow entry to anyone. Specialist Schnee has her own way in. Warden out."
/-/
Cinder scoffed and let Arc go. It was well within her capability to hunt him down, but this new sniper made it clear Atlas had dedicated a few extra resources to their operation, and she wouldn't put it past them to set up an ambush if she followed. It was no great loss anyway since she knew exactly where he and his team would be. They couldn't exactly hide from her in Beacon after all. With the boy gone, the sniper had also decided to cut their losses and evacuate before she could hunt them down. Wise. At this point, not even knowing which rooftop they'd fired from, she knew it would be a lost cause to pursue them.
Dismissing her weapons, she strolled over to the factory building instead. Roman having brought it down was a clear sign of his incompetence, but also not entirely unexpected, nor unforgivable. It was his first time using the mech in a combat role and a few mistakes were to be expected. A proper Atlas pilot would have never driven it into an enclosed building because they knew any vehicle was most vulnerable there. The same as a tank driving down a street between tall buildings. Roman was just a simple thief at the end of the day.
That didn't mean he was beyond scorn.
"Truly impressive, Roman. Truly. You managed to destroy everything but your targets. I am impressed."
Cinder clapped her hands sarcastically, though he probably didn't hear that over the rubble being shifted off his form. The mech had taken a beating, and yet aside from being coated with dust and scratches it pushed itself out the rubble with ease. That, Cinder was impressed by. Atlas certainly knew their technology. It was just a shame that Watts did too, and had been able to track down the communications for when this thing was being shipped from its testing facility back to Atlas.
"I don't hold out hope the White Fang managed to stop the others either," said Cinder. "But as far as test runs go, this wasn't too unsuccessful. And you were right. Atlas is hunting you. For once, it wasn't just your paranoia playing games with you."
A few more bits of rubble fell off the vehicle, and then the speakers on it crackled to life.
"I know the difference between meddling do-gooders and professional stings. And I'm paying a few friends in the police to make sure they don't look our way." The mech rumbled forward, then deactivated. The cockpit opened and Roman hopped out. A White Fang member hurried up to climb in and take care of transport.
They'd have it out of here long before Atlas or the authorities could arrive proper.
"Besides," said Roman. "They left a little souvenir the last time." He held up an empty cannister. A smoke grenade. It was stamped with the emblem of Atlas. "You don't normally see vigilantes equipped with Atlas military equipment. A good thing Neo found it." He tossed it aside. "So, now what? We've proven they're after me, which means Atlas is after me. And they've proven themselves rather good at locating me."
"Something or someone has been tagged. It won't matter. We'll be transporting the Paladin to Mountain Glenn soon enough. Keep to the schedule. I shall deal with our friends. Their cover at Beacon isn't nearly as secure as they think it is."
/-/
Jaune was the last person to reach the safehouse, and for that he was spared having to worry about the others as they had him. His body was about ready to give up and Flynt had to half-carry him to the table Neon and Penny were sat at. The safehouse was an apartment in the city, presumably one rented out or owned by Atlas, but left uninhabited. At least that was the only explanation Jaune could find for it. He accepted a drink with shaking hands and tipped it back, letting the hot coffee wash through him and the caffeine soothe his burning tension.
"That was a shitshow and no mistake," said Flynt, accurately summing up the last hour.
"They knew we were coming," said Neon. "We went from completely in control to completely lost in two seconds flat. I guess that's the difference between preparation and not, isn't it? This must be how Team RWBY felt when they faced us."
Team RWBY had done a better job than he had, then. At least they'd fought back. He'd sounded the immediate retreat and even then, he almost failed to get out. He knew it had been the right decision to make at the time, but it showed a weakness in their team. "We need more effective retreat strategies. This was a mess."
The three of them looked his way. Flynt laughed. "Trust you to be thinking up ways to improve already."
"That is why he is our team leader," said Penny, for some reason sounding proud. "And Jaune is correct. We were disorganised in our withdrawal. We have prioritised all our planning and preparation to making sure our missions go well – which is good – but we must dedicate a little time to how to handle when they go bad. Tonight has shown us that."
"Any lesson we live to learn from is a good one as far as I'm concerned," said Neon. "Ahhh- I'm so beat! I want to sleep the whole weekend away." The faunus slumped back in her seat, arms over the back and head tilted up to the ceiling. "My heart is still racing. Heh. I can't wait to crash."
He wasn't much looking forward to it himself. "How did you and Neon get out?" he asked Flynt.
"Brute force. The White Fang weren't exactly the most challenging enemies. Course, we could have taken them all but then what? It's not like we can arrest them when we're not supposed to be here, and we were a little more focused on getting out so we could call Warden and get you two some help. They said they had someone en route…?" He asked it as a question, and Jaune nodded.
"Sniper saved my life against the huntress. Apparently, it's classified." No one looked surprised. "That huntress, though. She was good. I mean, we're just students but she was very good. Clover levels of good from when I've sparred with him. I get the feeling she was trying to take me alive too, or she could have killed me twice over."
The White Fang would have interrogated him to find out who he was and why he'd been there, and then he could only imagine that they would kill him. They were terrorists at the end of the day, and they wouldn't want to release him to come back and cause trouble later. Jaune leaned forward and placed his face in his hands.
He'd lost spars before, failed training mission, faced defeat…
But this was the first time he'd stared death in the eye.
He felt sick.
"Jaune…" Penny was worried. For him.
"I'm… I'm okay," he lied. "I just… It's the adrenaline. I think I've found Neon's crash."
"If you're sure…" Penny didn't sound convinced. "You did as well as you could tonight. We all did. There's no reason to feel otherwise."
He tried to smile for her, he really did, but he wanted… honestly, he wasn't sure what he wanted. Part of him wanted to curl up into a ball and cry, but there weren't any tears coming so that might have just been dramatics. He was tense, muscles wound tight, and he thought he might snap in two if someone tugged on him. The skin on his face was prickling where his sweat was beginning to evaporate, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to be alone or not. The door opened before he could decide and Winter Schnee marched in. The others made to rise and salute but she waved them down. Jaune hadn't trusted his own legs enough to even try.
"I've received the news," said Winter. "I'm sorry to hear what you went through. You're alive, though. That's good. We need to discuss what happens next."
"With the mission?" asked Neon.
"With your involvement in Warden."
"What?"
"Let me be clear, we are in no way dissatisfied with your work. Tonight was more our failure than yours. However, your identities are almost certainly known to the White Fang at this point, and they've brought in reinforcements to counter you. It's SOP in undercover operations like this to think carefully about replacing the team involved the moment their cover is blown."
"So, we're out?" Flynt sounded annoyed. "That's it? One strike and we're done?"
"That is yet to be determined and that is why I am here." Winter crossed her arms. "As I said, you've done well. Very well. This decision – if it is made – will be for your safety, not because of any punishment. You'll obviously still be in the specialist programme as well. Our main concern is your ability to operate without the mission being compromised through no fault of your own."
"Because they know who we are and they'll be watching us," said Neon.
"Exactly. Any time you leave Beacon now, the White Fang will be notified. We can use that to our advantage if you make a point of staying in Beacon and then we send out another team. It may catch them completely by surprise. That said, the biggest concern we have is you being targeted within or without Beacon and hurt, or potentially even killed. The White Fang weren't playing games tonight, and they were almost certainly hoping to remove you all permanently. The last thing we want is to lose one of our teams."
If he was being honest with himself, he was glad to hear it. This felt like the escape he needed right now. They'd failed, nearly died, and were being removed from the mission. That… That was a good thing, right? It was what he wanted.
Wasn't it?
"The decision is ultimately yours as well as ours," said Winter. "Think about it – and do not hesitate to come and speak to me privately if you have any concerns. Despite how it may seem, I have been in your shoes. I was a rookie once, too. And I'm not so far beyond those days that I can't remember how I felt after my first life or death situation."
She knew. There was no way that statement wasn't aimed at him. Neon was crashing and Flynt was annoyed, but they and Penny were all fine. They were bothered in one way or another but not afraid. They wanted to keep going. Winter had recognise that he didn't, and he wondered if all this wasn't an excuse so he could back their team out without losing face.
"What for tonight?" asked Jaune. "What do we do?"
"You'll be returning to Beacon with me. Whomsoever targeted you won't dare do so with me here, and if anyone asks then tell them you got into a scuffle with some drunken locals in Vale, and that I came to collect and discipline you before you could tarnish Atlas' reputation."
Penny, Flynt, and Neon agreed and got up to leave. He did as well, but he wobbled on his feet and Winter caught him by his shoulder. Her voice dipped as she leaned in and whispered, "Are you good to walk? I can have an aircraft pick us up."
Jaune swallowed. "No. I'm good. It's just nerves."
The hand on his shoulder squeezed tightly. "I meant what I said, Arc. You're not the only one to find yourself questioning everything when a mission goes wrong. Squad leaders face it most of all. You're asking yourself if your team can really rely on you, and whether you might have cost them all their lives tonight."
His mouth was dry.
"You need to remember that this was our failure. We were the ones who promised you that you wouldn't be facing active combat situations. Atlas failed you tonight, not the other way around, and you and your team made the best of a bad situation." She steered him to the door, walking behind to be there in case he fell. "You did as well as anyone could have asked of you, but if you don't feel you can continue then that is also fine."
"I… I…" Jaune scrunched his eyes shut. "I think I need to sleep on it, ma'am. I can't think straight right now."
"That's fine. Come and talk to me tomorrow around noon – privately. I'll have some tea and some light snacks brought to my quarters and we can talk on this more. Until then, try not to lose yourself. A hot shower will help. I guarantee it."
The jitters be real.
Next Chapter: 8th April
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