Steel & Speed

RWBY / Redline (themes)

Thirteen years ago, while en route to a mission in the wilds of Mistral; the bullhead on which Summer Rose was being transported picked up a distress beacon. Directing the crew to take a detour from the registered flight plan, Summer came upon the crash site. Using her semblance, she decimated the swarming lancers. Amidst the wreckage, she found two survivors. A brother and sister. Abandoning her mission, Summer took the two back to Mistral, and after finding through the resources of Beacon and Haven that the pair's entire family had perished in the crash, she made the only decision a mother could make. At the age of 9 and 4, Saphron and Jaune Arc became members of the Xiao Long/Rose family.

(This is a partial re-imagining of my story "DK Fury")

This is a RE-POST/RE-EDIT or the orginal, taking some advice from some of my readers in hopfully making it more interesting. (Firefly25... I'm looking at you.)

/==/

Summer Rose's leg was bouncing wildly as she watched the news feed. Beside her, with his arm around her, was her husband Tai Xiao Long. He gave her a soft, comforting squeeze.

"He'll be okay." Tai whispered into her ear, trying to reassure his worried wife. "He's been trained, he's armed, and you know as well as I do… nothing will stop that beast of his."

"I can't help it."

"I know you can't, but he's not a little boy anymore…"

"He'll always be my little boy." Summer snapped, giving the love of her life a glare, "just like Yang and Ruby will always be my baby girls."

"I know Summer, but this isn't the ISE… it's five laps around Vale's walls… walls that you know are manned."

"But the sighting…"

"Was a sighting, and there is no way the huntsman on the walls wouldn't act. He'll be fine."

"I still…" she stopped from repeating herself as the feed showed a vehicle she was intimately familiar with. The black matte finished car, with yellow highlights, flew past the stationary camera.

"In fifth, Vale local Sweet JP."

"I hate that nickname." Summer moaned as the announcer continued to announce the drivers of each car as they passed the checkpoint camera.

"It fits him." Tai chuckled.

"It makes him sound like a… gigolo or something, and that's not who he is." Summer moaned.

"Shall we go down and meet him?" Tai asked as he gave Summer another quick one-armed hug. "He's on his last lap, you know the girls are down there already."

"They never left since the rally started." Summer countered. "But yes, we should be there, maybe take them all out for something after… it'll be one of the last…"

"Honey, Ruby will still be at home. Yang is only going to Beacon, and Jaune is just moving to Vale. They are close enough for us to visit every day…"

"But they won't be home, and that's the point! Saphron is already gone" Summer pouted as she rose from her seat. "My babies are all leaving me… soon they'll be married and have families of their own, and, and we'll only get to see them on special occasions!"

"I seriously doubt that is going to happen the instant they move from home." Tai chuckled as he gave the light of his life a kiss to her forehead, "Come on, let's get down there, so you can smother and guilt them."

"I don't smother them!" Summer replied with indignation.

"No, you baby them, and have since the day you came home with Jaune and Saphron." Tai retorted with a chuckle, before adding at the sight of his wife's pout, "which is perfectly fine, considering… what you promised."

"Did I… we do the right thing? I know Ozpin stepped in to make it official, but still we could have…"

"Jaune and Saphron are loving and caring individuals who love their family; and we tried. Ozpin put a lot of resources into trying to locate more of their family… we did the right thing, Summer. We gave them a home, and a loving and supportive family. We made the right choice… the only reasonable choice."

"Sometimes I still…"

"So do I, but then I look at what we have done, and what all four of our children have accomplished." Tai's finger intertwined with Summer's as the pair moved from the viewing area, towards the finish line and pits. "As for them leaving the nest, that's not happening for a few more months, and a couple of years for Ruby. You have plenty of time to make sure they know how much you love them."

"I guess you're right. We should get down there…" the sound of sirens going off downed out what she was going to say. Tai saw the look of dread cross his wife's face, and squeezed her hand tightly.

"Don't jump to…" Tai started to speak in an attempt to comfort and clam Summer's obvious rising panic, only to be drawn to the displays as the words of the commentator's filtered into his mind.

"... emergency service vehicles are one route, and we will inform everyone of JP's condition once the crash site has been secured." Tai nearly crushed Summer's delicate digits as an over head view of the crash was shown, "A caution warning has been issued to the other drivers as they approach turn six. Again, emergency vehicles are on route, and we will update everyone once we have news of Sweet JP's condition."

"Jaune, please…" Both Summer and Tai whispered in unison.

/=/

Jaune crawled out from under this over turned car. Pulling off his helmet, he tossed it aside as he spit and then wiped his mouth with the back of his gloved hand. Slowly, he stood up and turned to look at his cherished ride.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" he stared to swear, before taking a deep breath and calming down. He had made a stupid mistake, but then again, all mistakes while behind the wheel of almost two metric tonnes of carbon steel, and Kevlar impregnated poly ceramic; travelling at 105 kph are stupid. "Sorry baby girl."

Stepping forward, he could hear the sirens of the closing emergency vehicles, and sighed again. He was pissed at himself. The Vale wall run was a qualifier for the Mistrallian Open Rally, and if he didn't finish, he'd completely lose a chance to really test himself and Christine. Closing his eyes for a moment, he centred himself. Remembering the teachings and instruction of his mom and dad, he stepped forward and pushed his aura into his muscles. It would cause him some strain, but he knew he could do it.

Christine groaned and creaked as Jaune grit his teeth and started to lift and push. He only had to get her past the point of balance, and her own weight would take care of the rest. As the emergency crews arrived, Jaune had almost gotten his baby girl tipped. He gritted his teeth and did his best to force even more aura into his straining body. In the back of his mind, he cursed himself for skipping so many gym sessions with Yang. But he powered forward and to the absolute astonishment of the gathered crews, and medical personnel, he tipped Christine over. She bounced on her shocks and springs as she landed back on all four of her tires.

"Hey, you need to be checked out!" shouted one of the EMT's as Jaune grabbed his helmet from the ground, and climbed back into his car.

"No time!" Jaune yelled back, as he mentally prayed that Christine's engine wasn't damaged and would turn over. "I have a race to finish!"

Her V8 roared to life, and Jaune smiled as his feet moved, as his right hand grabbed the gearshift. The emergency crews stepped back as the rear wheels dug into the soft ground on the side of the track. It took a second for Christine to get a solid purchase before she lurched forward, and chewed her way up the short incline and back onto the track. Manipulating the pedals and shifter, Jaune and his baby quickly took off down the track.

He had heard several other racers pass by while he was indisposed, and he knew he was well below his original placing; and while the urge was there, he also knew that he couldn't. He had to baby his girl, and until he got her back into his shop and hooked up to his diagnostic systems, to tell if there was any serious damage to the internals. Keeping her in second, he moved at a decent clip, staying well to the side, to make sure anyone still behind him, could pass without issue. He wasn't going to place well, but he'd be damned if he wasn't going to see the finish line. He felt a little nauseous, as he followed the worn track. Likewise, he would have to get himself checked out as well. You didn't take tumbles like that at speed, and not take some damage; even with aura.

/=/

"I'm going to tan his hide!" Summer exclaimed as she watched her baby boy's ride roll over the finish line. "I don't care how old he is, he knows better than to keep pushing after…"

"Easy now." Tai tried to calm his wife, as he noticed Yang and Ruby taking steps away.

"He's going to give me grey hair with stunts like this." Summer whined as she tried to break Tai's hold on her hand, so she could rush forward. Tai knew Summer was more inclined to scoop the taller boy up and crush him in a hug, over putting him over her knee; but still, Jaune wasn't officially done his race, and having Summer rush into the pits would cause his son issues. Even though he was sorely tempted to let it happen.

However, it was Yang who made the first move, jumping the barricade separating the spectators from the racers. Jaune was barely out of his car when Yang grabbed him. She wrapped her arms around him and lifted him from his feet, before he could even get his helmet off. Tai chuckled at the sight before releasing his hold on Summer's hand. Freed of her restraints, Summer vanished in a burst of rose petals.

"You might as well, too." Tai spoke, giving permission to his youngest as she held back. Like her mother, Ruby vanished into a flurry of rose petals, only to appear next to the rest of her family and latching onto her older brother.

"Are you okay?" all three women asked the squirming young man, in unison.

"Fine." Jaune gasped out.

"What were you thinking?" Summer asked.

"What happened?" Yang asked at the same time.

"I made a mistake." Jaune wheezed, answering Yang, before also addressing the concern of his mom. "I had to finish."

"Let's go." Summer declared, as she and her daughters released the brother that had scared them. "Medical tent, now."

Jaune didn't even get a chance to dispute the command as Yang hooked his arm and started to drag him forward. With his free hand, he was finally able to remove his helmet, which he dropped to the ground, only for Ruby to pick it up. She took a minute to look it over as her mom and older sister escorted her reluctant brother towards the medical station. Her silver eyes narrowed, when she noticed the fine spider web of cracks that decorated the back of it. Easily missed if you weren't really looking. She had spent enough time around Jaune, and racing in general, to know he was hurt. His sudden weaving and stumble, which caused Yang to grab him by the font of his racing suit to keep him from completely falling, confirmed it. She quickly caught up and showed her mom what she found, as her dad closed in, a concerned look in his eyes.

"Tai!" Summer yelled, getting an instant reaction. The tall blonde moved in. With the help of Yang, who also hooked one of Jaune's arms over her shoulders, the pair assisted the young man to the medical tents.

The three ladies waited just outside and to the side of the medical tent's entrance as Tai and Jaune vanished inside. Less than twenty minutes later, Tai emerged.

"He has a concussion." Tai informed his gathered family, "He's resting right now, and they want to transfer him to Vale Memorial for overnight observation."

"So he'll be okay?" Ruby asked.

"He'll be okay, he just needs to take it easy for the next few weeks, which means no more racing, practice runs, or sparring." Tai gave Yang a knowing look. His daughter gave him a nod, showing she understood what he was implying; seeing as her and Jaune were thick as thieves when it came to pushing themselves.

"I'll call Saphron." Summer offered, and when Tai gave her a questioning look, she explained. "She was watching online, and knows he crashed. She called just after you took Jaune into get examined."

"Are they sure?" Ruby asked as her mother stepped away to make her scroll call to Jaune's biological sister.

"He's going to be fine, Ruby." Tai replied, "He's just going to have to take it easy for the next little while."

"Did he say what happened?" Yang asked.

"No he didn't."

/=/

Two months later, after being cleared by doctors, and his mom. Jaune was behind the wheel of Christine once again. He was in the just in the middle of his trip, after making a milk run to a semi nearby settlement. It had been a specialist weapons order for a huntress, that couldn't wait for the next scheduled bullhead. It was a simple job for Jaune, and offered him opportunities to do what he loved, driving Christine; and testing out her tuning. Of course, he had declined to inform his parents or sisters of his new job. The sudden change in weather, drew his attention, spurring him to let up on the gas, dropping his speed until he rolled to a stop. Stepping out of Christine, he looked up into the sky, trying to puzzle out the strangeness of the sudden change, when he heard it. Even over the low idling rumble of his baby.

"Gun shots?" Jaune wasted no time sliding back behind the wheel. Someone was in trouble, and maybe he could help. He might not be a huntsman, but he had always been taught, out in between the settlements; outside the kingdom walls, you helped those in need; to the best of your ability. Putting Christine into gear, he pressed in on the throttle, feeding the modified V8 engine. He had no idea how far away the sounds of those shots came from, or if they were even near the road, but he still felt the need to try.

Christine chewed up the distance and in a very short span of time, he saw a sight that made his teeth grit, and his knuckle go white. Gunning the engine and shifting up, he used the best

Tool he had at his disposal. Two metric tones of steel intimidation. The trio bailed to the side as Jaune ripped past, only to scatter even further as Jaune used the parking brake, and well tune reflexes to pull a 180 and rip back towards them. Jaune could tell, by how they were evading him, that they were trained, possibly rogue huntsmen and huntresses. But he didn't let that deter him. He had to do what he could. This was one of the few times Jaune wished he, like other roadrunners, had equipped Christine with some form of armament.

Jaune was one of the few, who applied to the theory that, speed was better than weighing down your vehicle with weapons. Christine was armoured, to a point. Kevlar impregnated poly-ceramic was touch stuff, and more than capable of tanking some hits from grimm. Add in the fact that Christine was two metric tonnes dry weight, and usually travelling at speed in excess of sixty kph. There were few grimm that could tank a hit from her, if they could even catch her.

Jaune focused on the trio. He gunned his engine, making Christine's V8 beast of an engine roar. They were fast, and he was doubtful if he could do much, but did have Christine. Near 1000 horsepower, mounted on 2 metric tons. Zero to 100 in 3.85 seconds. He knew his baby could do some damage. Reaching over to his shifter, he hit the switch for the electric actuation clutch, allowing Christine's supercharger to spin up. It would erase the delay for the twin turbos to kick in. As he continued to watch the trio's movements, seeing weapons being brought up, he reached from the shifter down to the centre console. With the flick of a toggle switch, he opened Christine's NOS line.

Grabbing the shifter, he worked the gas and clutch as the thumb on his left hand pressed a simple red button on Christine's steering wheel. She jumped forward, her front wheels lifting from the road, as the NOS injected twin charged engine literally screamed. The yellow highlighted black beast of a machine chewed up the packed dirt road as she surged forward. Jaune knew the trio had jumped out of the way, as soon as Christine pulled the wheel-stand. Grabbing the emergency brake, he pulled as he twisted the wheel, causing his baby to spin, further tearing up the road surface as she made a 180. Her rear tires dug in, and once again her engine screamed like an enraged beast. The trio of figures once again scattered as Christine carried Jaune past them.

Ripping past the downed woman the trio had been assaulting, he pulled the same manoeuvre again, only this time he slowed to a stop next to the woman. He kept his eyes on the trio as they regrouped in the distance, while gunning the engine, his thumb hovering over the nitrous release. His mind played out multiple scenarios. Planning his best actions if the trio continued to push forward. Letting Christine jump forward, he pulled her into a drift, and gunned the engine. Her rear tires ripped into the road, throwing a plume of dirt and small rocks at the trio.

Watching through his rearview mirror, she saw them bail once again after get sprayed with road debris hitting them. Seeing them appear to vanish, he let up on the throttle, and rolled Christine forward. Pulling a slow turn, he positioned Christine's body between the hurt woman laying near the side of the road, any possible reprisals. Pulling his SIX12 snub-nosed barrel shotgun from its holster just behind the centre console, he slid out the driver's side door. His PDW up and ready. Slowly, he moved backwards from Christine, keeping her bulk between him and possible chance the trio of rogues was still around.

Noticing no one, and receiving no counter assaults. He dropped his weapon from its ready stance, and turned his attention to the woman, he had just defended. Dropping to his knees, he reached out to check her. He saw the arrow protruding from her back, near her left shoulder. Her skin was clammy to his touch. Getting up, her rushed back to his car. Dumping his weapon back into its holster, her stretched over the centre console and yanked his meagre first aid kit from the driver's side door, and set to work doing what he could to stabilize the woman.

/=/

Qrow was pushing his body as hard as he could. Between the murder of nevermore delaying him, and Amber not arriving at the designated rendezvous point, he was travelling back up the road, desperately searching for a sign of her; and hoping he wasn't too late. From his vantage point, he saw the car, and the helmeted figure pulling and pushing a limp form, that he instantly recognized as Amber, into what he guessed was the backseat. Spreading his wings, he transitioned into a spiralling glide, intent on getting behind the figure.

He was still too high, to just drop, and he cursed his semblance as the figure jumped into the obviously modified vehicle, the door closing behind him. Pulling his wings close to his body, Qrow changed tactics, and dived. His streamlined form cut through the air, but still it was too little too late. In a gout of dirt, stones and dust, the car took off up the road, in the direction of Vale. Snapping out of his dive, he pushed his already tired form hard, attempting to keep the car in sight.

It was no use. Whatever was under the hood of that metal monster so outclassed his ability to keep pace, it was laughable. Still trying, his beady eyes watched as the car, driver, and Amber vanished down the road.

/=/

Jaune worked the pedals and the shift with perfect fluid motion, getting his baby up to top gear, and speed in seconds. Christine's big twin turbos, spinning up, getting the extra boost from the supercharger. Looking in his rearview, he took a glance and a visual estimate on the woman's condition. She didn't look good., so he made a choice, one he hoped wouldn't strain her already weak condition too much more. Taking his right hand off the shifter, he pulled a small golden capsule from the small pocket on the front of his jacket. He made it dance between his fingertips, as he reached down by the front of his seat, next to the centre console. With the large pill sized and shaped object locked between his index and middle fingers, he flipped up the hatch on a plunged like device. With a flick of his wrist, he shoved the capsule into the opening, before snapping the hatch door closed.

"Hold on." Jaune spoke as he gave the woman in his backseat another quick glance. "Gold Nitro has a big kick."

Grabbing the wheel with both hands, he pulled the small embedded trigger with his right index finger. The plunger snapped down, and a few milliseconds later, Christine's engine screamed. The front wheels lifted from the road, as the condensed and mirco-refined seventy-thirty mix of fire dust and air dust, was injected directly into the fuel system.

Her engine instantly jumped to the red line in her rpm gauge. Jaune grunted at the sudden kick of g-forces to his chest, as Christine levelled out, and the speedometer climbed rapidly. Inching past one-fifty kph, and higher. Jaune used all his talent and skill to keep control as the road was devoured.

Using his right thumb, he depressed the comm-button, activating his shortwave system, and engaging the remote mic in his helmet.

"This is Roadrunner three-seven-three-seven-six-niner, requesting immediate medical assistance, I am on route one-three-eight, Vale bound, holding one-seven-four kph. Injured huntress onboard. Repeat injured huntress onboard. Over."

"Copy three-seven-three-seven-six-niner. We'll have emergency waiting your arrival at the gate. What's your ETA, JP? Over."

"ETA three-zero minutes. Over."

"Copy. Punch it JP. Over."

"Already did. Over and out."