Team MGHT returned to Beacon hailed as heroes. There was a small press conference that was had, arranged by the Council of Vale. Reporters filled much of the space that there was little in the way of other students around. None of the four were called up, Ozpin had reasoned that they were exhausted from their mission and needed to rest. He also put himself on the spotlight as the man behind this curtain. None of them complained, they really were exhausted.
Instead, team MGHT can be found in their respective dorm rooms, dirtied from the fact that none of them even took a shower. It had taken a while before the hint scent of smoke to leave the room. Luckily for them, the semester break is currently ongoing which meant that there were no classes other than the supplementary ones. Most of their classes didn't really have much in the way grades, namely Mulberry. Greene and Peach had substitutes in the form of Port and Oobleck respectively who gave their respective students a final exam. Jekyll wasn't a professor to begin with so he had no class to teach though that didn't stop the students from addressing him as such. It most certainly didn't stop any of them from going to him for consultation purposes either.
Jekyll never saw team RWBY during his return. From what he had heard, there was another issue going on and it turns out one of their members had been afflicted by some kind of Nightmare Grimm. Earlier on, there was Jaune Arc, accordingly. After that, there was Weiss Schnee. They had enlisted the help of one Shion Zaiden. By the time he did manage to leave his room, the duty had already been done.
He did still manage to meet the individual in the library. "You must be the new staff of Beacon Academy," they said. With a voice that made it difficult to tell if they were masculine or feminine, Jekyll wasn't sure how he should address the man or was it supposed to be woman? Broad shoulders that would normally have been masculine but effeminate hair and nails that had been cared for said otherwise.
"I am," Jekyll confirmed, preferring not to broach it unless explicitly told. "You have the blueprints with you?" Jekyll had been asked to procure a copy of the special device that Shion had used. Apparently, there were some modifications that it could be made that would accommodate other Grimm of similar nature. It was for the upcoming missions for the students, one that he himself won't be involved with. None of team MGHT were on the account of having just finished their own. He couldn't hold his own curiosity "Uhm…"
"Just Shion, thank you," Shion had already gone ahead and photocopied the blueprints for Jekyll to keep. They also laughed when Jekyll struggled a bit. "I certainly won't be offended either way but if you care so much, it is best to stick to just my name. Never been much for formalities myself."
"Thank you." Jekyll took the folder in his hand. He was also thankful for that preference. His memories may have been hazy, but he had been had his fair share of mistaken identities before. Memories of a different manifestation but that is a trip that he couldn't quite remember entirely anyway. Shion Zaiden then bade him goodbye as they made their way out of Beacon Academy and to whatever other location that may need their help.
Bringing the file to the headmaster's office, Jekyll had unsurprisingly met up with Glynda. At this point, who really is the headmaster of Beacon Academy? He had seen Glynda in this office more times than the headmaster himself. Placing it down on the table, Jekyll stretched himself and proceeded back out.
There were still days to go before school starts again. For Henry Jekyll, that meant he could actually lounge a little if he wanted to. However, there was only one place that he would go during times like these: another visit on Amber.
She still hasn't showed any signs of returning to consciousness. Part of him had begun to worry that he might be running out of time. Her vitals were still within normal range but they had been lowering to a point that even the layman would see that she is doing poorly. Not even the slightest disturbance could stir her awake. He would see the occasional shifts of her eyelids but it was never more than that.
"Nothing in Merlot's research could help here," Jekyll said to himself. "Not unless I'm thinking of turning Amber into some kind of human-Grimm hybrid."
He began to ponder. Merlot's research would not be helpful for Amber but team MGHT did manage to get the formula of that doctor when he had made his attempts on those hybrids. There had been no testing on that yet and the goal of Merlot had been some kind of superhuman that would have the physicality of the Grimm while still possessing the intellect of humans. It was a risk given the rather sparse understanding of the human soul. Impossible? Not necessarily; Jekyll would consider himself the proof that something like this would have been possible with the only question being if it could be recreated here. He thought that he had been of the Assassin-Class before he realized that he was much closer to being a human by Remnant's standards. He had been Berserker before that.
"Not yet." He said, shaking his head. "I still have a promise to keep." Taking out his scroll, Jekyll then began to make a list of the different materials and ingredients that he would need for his elixir. He had promised Peach that and he intends to keep it.
While everyone else had been busy during the lunch hour, Jekyll and Peach were in the school laboratories. There weren't that many students passing by which meant that there was little chance in the way of witnesses. It had taken a few more days before Jekyll had retrieved the ingredients and now that he received them, he was rather uncertain as to how he should proceed. The special salt was there though it most certainly wasn't refined. With the current technologies however, he didn't need to worry too much about that. The machines that they used for refining Dust was so fine that he actually mistook one of the Dust that was in the school laboratory as the special salt. It had never been given a name, both in his time nor in the time after. But it was compared to a salt for a reason.
"You ready?" he asked Peach who prepared her notebook. "I'll prepare a guide if you want to see it again."
"Thank you," she replied. "I'll still have these notes though. I want to make sure that I am getting this right, myself."
Jekyll nodded and took a deep breath. Putting upon a face mask, gloves, and a lab coat, he had begun to separate the materials and began the refining process. Liquids were heated and utensils were double-checked for any damage and dirt. When everything had been settled, Jekyll began to recreate the same formula that led to the creation of Edward Hyde.
The powders and the materials were all lined up. They have been arranged neatly as is proper for any good researcher. Though, in the latter portions of his escapades, that arrangement certainly went downhill. Jekyll had begun to create the first part which resulted in the phial having a red coloring; the scent had hint of phosphorus to it along with some volatile ether. The other ingredients were crushed, stirred and mixed. Each of his motions were mechanical. Jekyll didn't even need to think too hard for everything that he was doing was one that had been deeply ingrained into his memory.
Peach was watching closely. She had motioned him to slow down at points which had brought him back to the world of the living. "Sorry." He apologized. "While I haven't done this in a long time, I still remember much of what I have to do."
"I can tell," she replied. "I've also noticed that you have included the formula that Merlot had made."
"Diluted," he answered. "The level of concentration that he went for was far too much for any human to handle. He probably would have argued that humanity must be pushed to its limits or something. An attempt at a super soldier program of sorts."
"Like the ones they engage in movies and comic books?"
"The same."
"Merlot didn't strike me as someone who would be a geek."
"It is the closest example and my guess as to the goals of such research. For someone who would be interested in Grimm only, to include humans among them would be rather suspicious, no?"
"Fair enough." Peach agreed to that and continued to observe Jekyll's actions.
For every step closer that Jekyll had made towards the recreation of that same elixir that doomed him, that sense of dread grew stronger and part of him, himself really, wanted to stop there. Peach had the notes. If she wanted to, she can create it herself. He shook his head, this will be his burden, his responsibility.
Finally, the time came to put them all together. The resulting reaction had caused them some fumes of vapor to appear, not enough to trigger the fire alarm, thankfully. The amount was much larger than what he had made but that had been deliberate for Jekyll intended to create two versions of the same elixir: one as it had been made while the other would contain Merlot's additions. The colors danced and sparkled until they settled into the watery green that he had been familiar with.
Putting down the original, Jekyll then took the other and put drops of Merlot's own into it. More fumes appeared and even he had to take a step back as the color of those fumes were black with a hint of crimson red.
Eventually in settled but the colors had changed again, this time to that of blood-red.
"Now then," Jekyll began in a tone of dread. "It is done." He almost didn't want to touch it. Why would he? It was the same formula that he had made in hubris the same one that had led to his fall.
Peach took that as her signal to take one of the glasses. She investigated it. From top to bottom and even took a scent in. There wasn't any that she would find. Not even the Merlot variation had that though it did possess the new color. Peach brought hers closer to her. Jekyll had worried that she would drink it then but his worries were misplaced when she took out a plug and placed it on the opening, closing it off. She shook it a little to see if there was any leakage, there wasn't.
"We'll store this away," Peach said. "I still have the notes and I would rather that we would not use this unless we absolutely have to. Thank you, Jekyll."
"Just know that if you do drink it," he cautioned her. "There will be no turning back from that. I'm not so certain how it would affect the people on Remnant but I would rather that we stay ignorant of that." He laughed bitterly. "Never thought I would actually think that."
Peach placed a hand on his shoulder. "We're partners now, Jekyll. We stick together. If you have Mr. Hyde, I guess I'll have Ms. Seek?"
They both laughed. The name choice was terrible. Still, he understood the sentiment. "I really don't deserve to be a huntsman. I'm more fit to be in research facility than this."
"Neither do I," Peach replied. "We're both meant for the academics but here we are. I still haven't pushed through with my Master's degree and I'm thinking about going for it now that you're here. Maybe even go as far as earning a doctorate degree myself."
"Really? Never thought of you as someone that competitive."
"Hey, Oobleck has been a doctor for too long and with you around? I need to step up my game. Especially if you earn yours in Remnant."
The two shared a moment of joy. Jekyll needed that after recreating his formula. He placed a plug on his own and the two stored it away from everyone. Both he and Peach were the only ones with access to this safe and if they had their way, neither of them would need it. Jekyll personally hoped that it would expire though he never checked if his formula had an expiration date.
"Is there any difference with the Merlot formula? Or is that more heroic spirit business?"
"I could turn into a werewolf had I been a Berserker instead."
"Seriously? Like the Grimm-Man?"
"Grimm-Man?"
"It's a classic. About a guy who turns into a Grimm when there is a full moon—shattered parts included."
The two then cleaned up after themselves. Having finished their own little experiment, the two made sure that nothing else had been broken. With the two graduated glasses that were used, they had to take note of that once there was an inventory check. With any luck, they would just have to dispose of the formulas, diluted heavily of course before that; it would be problematic if it ended up in the sewers and some rat drank it.
"You think this would work on plants?" Peach asked suddenly.
"And why would want to know that?" Jekyll narrowed his eyes.
"Would be nice to know if plants have a good and evil."
Jekyll would have opened his mouth but no words had come out initially. Finally, he said, "you know what? Maybe when the school year ends."
Outside, Jekyll managed to get sight of teams RWBY and JNPR being made to carry some cleaning supplies. They were, all of them, covered in food and drinks. They all bore expressions of happiness and joy though. The same cannot be said for Glynda Goodwitch who was following them from behind.
"We have more toilets to clean, team RWBY," she said. "Afterwards, it's team JNPR on the other floor."
"Mr. Jekyll!" Ruby waved. She wasn't even paying attention. Glynda sighed and shook her head. Jekyll waved back, unsure of what to make of the situation.
"Food fight?" he asked.
"Food fight." Glynda confirmed.
The group continued onward with the next set of toilets that they needed to clean. "Ready for the second semester?" Peach asked him. "With the Vytal Festival building up momentum, we will be busy for sure."
"No rest for the weary, huh?" Jekyll was honestly looking forward for more vacation time. Maybe he'll consider filing for leave after Amber's recovery.
She shook her head. "Nope. Back to work, we go. You also need to rent a suit for the upcoming Vytal dance."
/-/
Cinder Fall is fuming. It was bad enough that their operation in Mountain Glenn had been compromised, it was made worse that all of the Dust that they have collected went up in flames. The White Fang had been significantly been reduced in their number and Roman Torchwick, though still present, was no longer as willing to assist her no matter the threat.
Then, there was Adam Taurus, "you used my men, my people, my comrades, and you sent them to their deaths." Oh please. They were nothing more than mere animals meant to her. In the face of such great powers, though halved, was one that could not be easily bested. "For all your talk of power, you were bested by some huntsman."
"That Hyde was no ordinary huntsman," Cinder retorted.
"Oh, I know," Adam agreed. "I've seen how much of an effect he had on the Grimm. He had no control of them but with the sheer negativity that surrounds him, he might as well be a flame to their being a moth."
A fire was conjured on her hand. "Would you like to know what happens to moths when they approach fire, Adam Taurus? Or would rather be roast beef?"
Adam Taurus did not back down. "I doubt that you would even hurt me in your condition. The White Fang will withdraw their support. We've lost too much and you will have to find help elsewhere." He drew his sword.
Mercury and Emerald moved to defend her but the sounds of footsteps had stopped them both. From the rhythm of those steps, there was no denying that it was Arthur Watts.
"Now that would be unnecessary, Mr. Taurus," Watts said. "While I can personally vouch that your people will be away from the upcoming operations, your people will still be necessary."
"And why should I listen to you?" Adam grind his teeth.
"Because I have something to offer," he replied. "Information of various members and significant figures of the Schnee Family. While the one in Beacon is a known quantity, I have managed to obtain information relating to the older one who is soon to make an appearance in out Vytal Festival."
Adam Taurus sheathed his blade. "The Specialist."
Watts smiled. "Indeed. Work for us a little while longer and I shall personally see to it that you will know even the breakfast she would have. Of course, for safety reasons, her place of residence will be secured but if you would like, I would help you with that as well, free of charge. In fact, why not an advance payment? Both Schnees will be at Beacon."
"I'll consult with my men." Adam Taurus then left. "I shall inform you of our answer."
"Excellent," Watts replied. "I shall wait for your favorable response." He then turned to face Roman Torchwick. "Now then, Mr. Torchwick, Ms. Vanille—" Neo threw a rock at him. "Apologies, Ms. Neopolitan, for your incredible service, I have been informed that you shall have a vacation."
"Vacation huh?" Roman replied. "Sounds like something I've been long overdue."
"Exactly. Ah, but first, it is only right for the employees to get to know the head of the company that they are working under, as such, you shall be escorted to have a meeting with her, afterwards, you will be free to make your choice if you wish to continue working with us."
"Well that certainly sounds better. What do you say, Neo? A little sightseeing?"
Neo had never been more excited. Cinder, on the other hand, had a disdainful expression.
"What's the meaning of this Watts?" she demanded.
"Our mistress," he emphasized. "Has been rather upset with the current string of events. Your follies have cost us dear, my dear. Your plans and machinations, while still useful, couldn't be executed as it is and is in severe need for refinement. That is where I, and some help, come in."
"Hey now." Emerald moved to her defense. "If none of those professors had interfered, we would have."
"Such is the nature of plans, Ms. Sustrai." Watts waved her off. "They do not stay intact for long. It is why we should always prepare contingencies in the event that they do. Not to worry. For now, we will lay low and stick to more covert methods while the main event shall be during the Vytal Tournament just as you have planned."
"And what will we be doing until then?" Cinder asked.
"For you? Nothing yet. You are to rest and refine your abilities. You were lucky that you had the chaos of the fight that saved you but it won't be of use the next time you two will meet. As for the others well…"
Cinder tilted her head. She was uncertain as to why Watts had stopped, only to have her eyes widened at the sound of laughter. It wasn't the same kind of laughter that Hyde had possessed but something similar, less intense but similar.
From the shadows emerged Tyrian Callows. With him was Hazel Rainhart. When Watts had said that he had come with help, he had meant them. Tyrian was certainly overjoyed at the prospect of being used here. Either that, or he was enjoying her suffering.
"She's been really disappointed, Cindy," he said. "Very disappointed. But she is a forgiving goddess. She has mercy in abundance. Ah, if only she would give me the same mercies as she does someone as unworthy as yourself."
Hazel made no comment. He only grunted. The giant here only cared about avenging his sister's death.
Cinder's fist tightened. None of this was supposed to happen. She never planned for this. How had she supposed to know that Amber would have used her magic to survive? She knew that it would happen but how was she supposed to predict that said magic with result in the appearance of Hyde? Though he calls himself Jekyll, Cinder is certain that it was nothing more than a persona. She had him, too.
Her fist loosened. She had failed. There was no denying that. She made that mistake. "Alright." She conceded. "Make use of Emerald and Mercury as you see fit."
"Cinder!" Emerald made to protest.
"No," she replied quickly. "What's more important is that we get what we came for." She would have to swallow her pride. She nearly died in Mountain Glenn and while the prospect of putting Hyde beneath her heel was still something she wants; she will let that go for now.
"Excellent," Watts said. He was surprised for a moment but quickly recovered. "Now then, let us rest up for now. Our next move will be the planting of the virus in CCT. While Beacon will still be hosting the security, making use of Atlas' machines a rather difficult position, they still will be bringing them in but in smaller numbers. All we need is enough of them to wreak havoc and that should be enough. Perhaps some thievery is in demand."
"Fine." Cinder's tone was low, not defeated but certainly not prideful. Watts would not get a rise out of her. "We can steal some Atlas uniforms to make it look convincing."
"Perfect," Watts said, sounding a little disappointed at her actually cooperating. "Without your guise as students, there is no need to balance anything anymore and this should prove itself much easier. Now then, let us all review and revise our plans to accommodate this new development!"
"Oh goodie!" Tyrian actually sounded excited. "I personally can't wait to meet with this Hyde person! He sounds like an interesting fellow."
"Focus, Tyrian," Hazel replied. "That man is of little consequence in the long run. We'll deal with him as he comes."
Emerald turned to face Cinder. "Don't worry, Cinder. We won't leave you just yet."
"Thank you, Emerald. I really did make the right choice in picking you." Cinder then turned to the boy. "Mercury."
"Hey, it's a job and you were looking for my dad. Besides, burned the house down. Where else am I going to go?" He appeared apathetic.
"No. You're better than your father ever was."
At that compliment, Mercury was unsure how to act. When he managed to regain composure, he said. "Thanks." His voice lost its confidence.
Cinder Fall gave her sincerest smile. She still had these two. No matter what, she will hold on to them. Not out of any genuine kindness or fondness. No. She needed their loyalty. They needed to be loyal to her first before anyone else. Cinder Fall will play along with Watts' schemes for now, he did make a point but he still had ways to go before he had any chance at stuffing out her fire.
"Just you watch, Hyde," she declared. "You will burn."
AN: And thus, enter the rest of the circle. Technically Watts had entered earlier but you know.