Chapter 7: The Breach
The darkness enveloped Jaune like a shroud as he found himself in an unfamiliar underground area. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he quickly assessed his situation. His Calico M950 was damaged beyond repair, its barrel twisted and the sights misaligned. To make matters worse, his aura was shattered entirely due to his injuries, and he felt blood soaking through his clothing where the Grimm had struck him.
The distant snarls and growls of oncoming Grimm pierced the silence. Realizing he had little choice, Jaune activated his Command Seals as he summoned his servants. "Field director of Chaldea Jaune Arc assuming direct command of combat operations," he murmured, his voice tinged with resolve. In a flicker of ethereal light, Ushiwakamaru, the Count of Monte Cristo, Bazett, and Kiritsugu Emiya materialized before him.
They advanced cautiously through the dark subway tunnels, none were aware that a silent observer was trailing them—a news camera drone that had accidentally fallen into the breach. Its lens focused intently, capturing every move they made.
The group quickly reached a large, dimly lit chamber and came to a sudden halt. Across from them stood several White Fang members, survivors of the breach, their eyes filled with hostility at the appearance of Jaune and his servants.
"Drop your weapons, and you'll be spared," Jaune offered, his voice calm but authoritative.
A White Fang member sneered. "We'd rather die than surrender to humans. Besides we have you outnumbered."
"That may be true but you are outclassed. You will not surrender?" Jaune replied coolly.
"No all we have to do to get out of here is kill all of you." A white fang member growled out as he readied his rifle.
The tension in the dimly lit chamber reached a boiling point as Jaune's words hung in the air.
"Very well," Jaune's voice dropped to a grave register, his eyes meeting those of his Servants. "I've given you a chance to surrender. Servants, lethal force is authorized."
Kiritsugu's eyes narrowed. "As you wish, Master."
"Prepare to face your judgment," the Count of Monte Cristo declared, his hands igniting with ethereal hellfire.
Ushiwakamaru brandished her blade, her eyes sharpening. "They have sealed their fate, Master. We shall carve ours."
Bazett grinned fiercely, stretching her fingers. "Close combat is where I excel. They won't know what hit them."
The room exploded into chaos. White Fang members lunged at the group, weapons raised, cries of battle in their throats. They were met with unparalleled violence.
Ushiwakamaru's blade became a whirlwind, each swing severing limbs and spattering blood across the walls. She moved with a dancer's grace, but each step was a death sentence for her opponents.
The Count's eyes glowed with malevolence, his hands wreathed in flames of hellfire. With a swift motion, tendrils of fire snaked out, wrapping around several White Fang members. Their screams filled the air as they were consumed from the inside out, collapsing into smoldering heaps.
Bazett lunged into the fray, each punch and kick backed by magical force that shattered bones and ruptured organs. Blood splashed onto her face, but she was relentless, her every move brutal and decisive.
Kiritsugu picked off stragglers with cold, calculated shots. Each bullet found a vital organ, causing White Fang members to stumble and fall, choking on their own blood.
In mere minutes, the floor was littered with bodies, the air thick with the smell of blood and charred flesh. The remaining White Fang members found themselves disarmed, on their knees, and bound by ethereal chains summoned by the Count.
"You are now our prisoners," Jaune said, his voice tinged with sorrow. "You'll be treated fairly under our custody. I regret that it came to this but I don't apologize for our actions. We're just trying to survive."
Back above ground, the atmosphere was palpable, weighted with concern and anticipation. Glynda Goodwitch stood beside James Ironwood, their eyes fixed on the summoned Servants who remained.
Lancer Artoria and Jeanne Alter were being questioned by Ironwood, who had a stern but puzzled look on his face. "You say you're here under orders to protect the director of Chaldea and evacuate civilians from the danger zone?"
Artoria met his gaze unflinchingly, "Correct. Our Master, Jaune Arc, commanded us to protect the civilians and maintain order in his absence."
Jeanne Alter snorted. "And while you're busy interrogating us, he's stuck down there, probably fighting for his life."
It was at this moment that the footage began streaming through a large display screen nearby. People gasped as they saw the fierce battle Jaune and his Servants had just gone through, culminating in the capture of the White Fang members.
Glynda turned to Ironwood, a conflicted expression on her face. "That may be so, but there will be questions about the use of lethal force."
Ironwood sighed, watching as Bazett shattered an opponent's skull with a brutal punch. "He gave them a chance to surrender; that's more than some would offer. That boy has seen the face of battle before, it's evident."
Across the room, Blake's eyes were filled with tears as she watched the White Fang members fall, one by one. Her fists clenched, and her emotions were a swirling mix of anger, sorrow, and confusion.
"He didn't have to kill them. He could have found another way to resolve things."
Yang put a reassuring arm around Blake. "Jaune did what he had to do, Blake. He gave them a chance."
"Indeed," Ren added, his voice soft but firm. "He had a right to protect himself. It's a brutal reality that they had to die, but a reality nonetheless."
Cardin, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up. His voice carried a heavy burden, tinged with regret. "I tried to save him. I was just a second too late. But seeing this, I know he can handle himself. Jauny boy is made of tougher stuff than any of us realized."
The room fell silent, each grappling with their own emotions, but united in the hope that Jaune would find his way back to them. Meanwhile, miles below in the abandoned village of Mount Glen, Jaune and his servants were preparing for whatever lay ahead, unaware of the divided opinions that their actions had sparked.
"Master, it seems we've been followed," Ushiwakamaru suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Jaune looked up from tending to the bound prisoners. "Is it a threat?"
"No, just a news drone. It appears to have captured everything."
Jaune sighed, "Then we better be prepared for some serious questions when we get out of here."
In the dimly lit expanse of the abandoned subterranean village, Jaune and his Servants sat around a makeshift campfire, taking a momentary reprieve from their arduous journey. The White Fang prisoners watched from their restrained positions, visibly bewildered by the strange sense of unity and camaraderie among their captors. As if this was not their first time in this kind of situation.
Taking a deep breath, Jaune began strumming an old tune on a makeshift instrument he'd found. Recognizing the song, his Servants joined in with varying degrees of musical ability.
"We passed upon the stairs,
We spoke of was and when..."
As the song progressed, their voices blending seamlessly, the prisoners seemed to become entranced, as if the music were a spell pulling them in.
The last line resonated in the hollow space, sung solely by Jaune.
"I never lost control,
You're face to face,
With the man who sold the world."
The atmosphere was thick with the weight of the lyrics, the silence echoing louder than any battle cry.
Finally, Bazett broke the silence. "Master, if you don't mind me asking, what did you sell?"
"I sold the world two things: a lie and my innocence. Alas, I didn't get a good price for either," Jaune responded, his eyes meeting hers.
For a second there was silence, then Bazett burst into laughter, "I didn't know you were that type of person, Master."
Jaune's eyes widened in realization, "No, no! Not in that way Bazett! Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Too late, Master," Bazett said, her laughter tapering off into a contented smile. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she gestured to her lap. "You look tired. Would you like to rest your head here?"
Jaune took her offer, grateful for a moment's reprieve, and laid his head on her lap, staring up at the unseen sky above, contemplating what lay ahead for them.
Meanwhile, back on the surface, the live footage of Jaune and his Servants singing was displayed, still playing on the large screen. The room fell silent as they listened to the haunting melody, each person absorbing the lyrics in their own way.
"Music at a time like this? He really is full of surprises," Cardin mumbled, shaking his head but smiling nonetheless.
Yang turned to Blake, who seemed lost in thought. "Kinda poetic, don't you think?"
Blake nodded, her eyes distant. "Yes, but it also feels like he's trying to tell us something more, something deeper."
Glynda looked at Ironwood, "The song is melancholic but reveals a certain depth in him. It's another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation."
Ironwood sighed, "Well, whatever he's trying to convey, I hope he's also focusing on getting himself out of there."
As the screen flickered off, they were once again left to contemplate the fate of their friend and comrade, the man who continued to surprise and confound them: Jaune Arc.
The tranquil scene was disrupted when Ushiwakamaru returned from her scouting, followed by a group of White Fang members. Unlike the earlier captives, these individuals appeared unarmed and displayed white flags as tokens of surrender.
As Jaune prepared to get up and address the situation, he felt Bazett's hand pause in its gentle stroking of his hair. He looked up to see her watching him with a warm smile.
"Do I have to?" he half-joked, reluctance evident in his voice as he contemplated leaving the comfort of her lap.
Bazett chuckled softly. "Duty calls, Master."
With a sigh, Jaune reluctantly pulled himself up and turned to the newly arrived White Fang members.
"It seems word has spread," he mused, glancing briefly at the Count of Monte Cristo, who stood vigilantly beside the previously captured prisoners.
"Yes," one of the surrendering White Fang members spoke. "Our comrades told us what happened. We don't want to fight you."
Jaune nodded. "Wise choice. But understand that I still have to consider you prisoners. You'll be treated fairly but remain restrained until this situation is resolved."
The White Fang member nodded solemnly, a mixture of relief and resignation crossing his features.
"Now are there any other survivors?" Jaune asked
" We haven't encountered other survivors during our search.." replied the white fang member.
Kiritsugu, standing a bit to the side, chimed in, "I'll prepare an area for them."
Jaune nodded his approval, then returned to his makeshift seat, eyeing Bazett with a smile. "You may continue where you left off."
"As you wish, Master," Bazett replied, resuming her gentle touch. Her fingertips lightly grazed his scalp, and as Jaune reclined once more into the peaceful lap pillow, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of strength and hope.
Despite their grim surroundings and the uncertainty of the path ahead, this moment provided a small but significant sanctuary. It was a temporary reprieve, and they all knew it. Yet, for the time being, it was enough.
As the dust settled and the tension in the air began to dissipate, Jaune stood alone in the clearing. The sun had started its descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape.
His eyes caught the sight of a transport ship descending from the sky, its engines humming softly as it neared the ground. Within moments, the hatch opened, revealing General Ironwood and Professor Ozpin.
The two men disembarked, their expressions serious yet tinged with relief at finding Jaune relatively unharmed. They approached him, the metallic clank of Ironwood's boots contrasting with Ozpin's softer footfalls.
"Jaune Arc," Ironwood began, his voice stern but not unkind. "You have been summoned to present yourself before the Vale Council. They have... questions for you. About you and this 'Chaldea' you've apparently been involved with."
Ozpin adjusted his glasses, offering a more sympathetic look. "They're concerned, Jaune. The appearance of your...allies, your use of lethal force, and your connection to an organization that is unknown to them have all raised red flags. You'll need to provide some answers."
Jaune felt a surge of both relief and apprehension. Relief that he was no longer isolated in hostile territory, and apprehension for the questioning that lay ahead.
"Understood," he finally said, nodding slightly. "I suppose it's time to face the music."
"Indeed, it is," Ozpin replied, gesturing for Jaune to board the transport.
As he took his seat in the vessel, leaving the rugged terrain of Mount Glen behind, Jaune felt a sense of foreboding anticipation. Whatever awaited him, he knew he would face it head-on, just as he had faced the dangers below ground.