Beacon,
Winter tried not to let the order get to her, but she could feel herself slowly growing more and more worried. And she worried what Weiss would say if she kept this from her. Winter sighed, she had to tell them. As well as Ozpin. They weren't going to like this, and she didn't feel comfortable with keeping it to herself.
A bit Later,
After calling Ozpin to her office and waking up Team RWBY, she told them what the council ordered to do if Ruby was to give in to her Grimm DNA. Yang was understandably upset with an order. Blake had to hold her back, but she was just as upset as her. Weiss shook her head, not believing that Council would order her sister to do such a thing. Ozpin looked calm, but everyone could tell he was just as upset.
"I refuse to allow that." He said.
"I know. I don't think I can bring myself to do it should it happen." Winter said, sighing.
"Even if James orders you to?" Ozpin asked.
Winter shook her head. She remembers all the letters that Weiss sent her about Rudy. She would never take away someone that Weiss called her friend.
"I think we need to change something when Ruby's mission is finished." She said.
"What things?" Blake asked.
"I'm not going to tell you that she needs to leave the school. I know you won't allow that, Ozpin." Winter said.
"Corrected." He said.
"But we need to understand her Grimm DNA more. I was informed that her readings were different at some points. I'm thinking that her Grimm DNA is acting up without her noticing." Winter said.
"Acting up?" Yang asked, confused.
"You mean, the DNA is making her act more like a Grimm?" Blake asked.
"That's what I'm thinking," Winter said.
Ozpin listened, thinking over the facts he was told.
"It's clear that there's more about Grimm we don't know. If Miss Rose is to become a full Grimm, we need to make sure that she's in full control. Sadly, that means we can't keep the fact that Ruby is a human grimm from the others." He said, sighing.
"Well, I don't care what the so-called Council ordered! I almost lost Ruby and I'm not going to lose her again!" Yang shouted, her eyes turning red.
"None of us will, Yang," Weiss said, looking upset.
Winter nods, glad that things went okay. She sighs, hoping that Ruby would...no...she will come back alive.
Main Deck,
Ruby had just left Sector 5 and was on her way back to the main deck when the power suddenly cut off.
"What the?" She asked, turning her night vision on.
She looked around before spotting a weak wall. Using her gantlet, she blew open the wall and crawled into the hole.
"Why does this have to be my least favorite feat? I'm a growling girl!" Ruby sighed as she crawled through the secret area.
She soon found herself in the Dust Area, glad that she was protected by it. She landed on the ground and stood up. When Ruby looked up, she almost screamed and pulled out her Cresent Rose. There, in front of her, was a very strange wolf-like creature. For a second, Ruby thought it was some kind of Beowulf. However, she remembered that Grimms were immune to the Death Soul Parasites, and she hadn't seen any Grimms since coming here.
"What is this thing?" She asked, carefully getting a closer look.
She saw its eyes suddenly glow before it broke apart. Ruby jumped back as a Death Parasite floated away, phasing through the wall. Ruby carefully walked up to the broken husk before picking up a piece.
"Wow, it's like it's skin turned to stone." She said before it crumbled into dust.
"Or, just weak enough to turn into sand." She quickly added.
Ruby decides to move on, having a feeling that she'll run into that parasite at some point. Ruby fell through a weak floor and found herself back at the docks. She wasted no time in heading for her ship, hoping it was still intact.
A bit later,
Ruby enters the ship and the door shuts behind her. She removes her helmet and shakes her head. She then gave her wolf ears a bit of a scratch before sitting down and contacting Beacon.
"Winter, I'm here." She said but was surprised to see Ozpin.
"Proffesser?!"
"Hello, Miss. Rose. I'm afraid that Miss Schnee has stepped out for the moment." He said.
"Okay?" Ruby said, confused.
"I'm fully aware of what's happening. The main silo of the Reactor Core has gone offline. That's why all elevators and station systems are down. Hatches and certain rooms won't work either. This doesn't bode well…" Ozpin said, making Ruby worry.
If the Reactor Core was turned off, she was trapped inside the Facility with the Parasites. Granted, they couldn't kill her anymore, but she did want to stay here.
"Is there anything I can do?" Ruby asked.
Ozpin quickly showed her the map and the location of one of the power sources. Ruby could tell it was a start.
"By the way, Miss Rose, some strange creatures boarded your ship earlier. I confirmed that they were not Death Parasite hosts and gave them a berth. Do you know anything about these strange creatures?" Ozpin asked, showing Ruby the animals she saved.
"Yeah. They were the ones trapped in a room when the Parasites broke free. I'm surprised they avoid them for so long." Ruby said, knowing that she did compete one of her mission objections.
"Very well, then. Their presence amid this disaster is very significant, they can stay on your ship. Now find a way to restore the power. Good Luck, Miss Rose." Ozpin said.
Ruby smiles. She looks at the image of the creatures and sighs. Ruby was one step closer to ending this mission. She slipped her helmet back on and started to leave her ship. Ruby felt something inside her telling her that it was with her all the way. She had no idea what the feeling was, but it was welcoming.
Beacon,
Ozpin turns away from the computer as Winter and the rest of Team RWBY return.
"How is she?" Yang asked.
"Doing fine. The creatures she saved are resting on the ship. Since the Parasites have not gone after it, they should remain there." Ozpin said.
Winter was surprised to hear that. However, she quickly recovered, nodding. Ozpin soon stood, having done what he needed to do.
"I'm heading back to my office. Don't forget to give me updates on Miss Rose." He said, leaving the room.
"I think he's going to see Ironwood first," Blake said as they all sat down.
"If you girls want, you can get some more sleep," Winter said.
"I think it's you that needs sleep, Winter," Weiss said, knowing how tired she was getting.
"Weiss, I'm fine. I'm used to not getting sleep." Winter wave off.
"Oh no! I remember the letters you sent to me about lack of sleep! You're going to take a nap right now!" Weiss said, surprising Winter.
"Weiss..."
"Don't you "Weiss" me, Winter Schnee! You will take a nap right now, or so help me that I will freeze you until you fall asleep!" Weiss scowls.
Winter looked at her young sister in surprise. For a moment, Winter thought she saw her mother in her sister, reminding her of the days before their mother ran away after learning the truth about their father. Sighing, Winter nods, knowing that it would put her mind at ease.
"Fine, but for five minutes." She said, moving to one of the makeshift beds.
"We'll wake you if anything happens," Weiss said, knowing she was going to need more than five minutes.
Winter lays down and closes her eyes. Weiss smiled, knowing she was out the second her eyes closed. She then turns to Blake and Yang, who both want to sleep as well.
"Go ahead, I got the first watch." She said.
Her friends nodded and lay down. Weiss sat at the computer, still upset that the council would order Winter to kill Ruby if she was to become a full Grimm. She didn't want that to happen. She'll do everything she can to ensure that Ruby will remain the girl she was. And if Ruby did become a Grimm, she'll do everything she can to bring her back, Grimm or not!
And it's back! Got really busy with other stories and having new ones pop up. And I used Nexus240's idea for the Death Parasite that Ruby will fight later. Thanks!
So Winter told the others and everyone was clearly upset. However, Winter doesn't want to follow that order and decides they need to help Ruby learn more about her Grimm abilities. However, she wasn't going to be placed in some kind of lab to get those answers. Ozpin would not allow that, since Ruby is one of his students. Weiss, Blake, and Yang are willing to stand by Ruby's side even if she were to become a full Grimm.
As for Ruby, well, nothing too big. Felt like giving her a break and saved the next boss for later. I did look back at my earlier chapters to remind myself what grades were next and the ideas that I have gotten from everyone. I'll try not to take too long, but you all know how it goes. And this is a story I want to finish! Besides, I want to write the squeal too.