-Legend 31-

-Moon over the Castle-

…

"We choose to go to The Moon in this decade

and do the other things.

Not because they are easy

but because they are hard.

Because that goal will serve to organize and measure

the best of our energies and skills.

Because that challenge is one we are willing to accept.

One we are unwilling to postpone

And one which we intend to win."

-John F. Kennedy

…

One call turned into two…

Into four.

Into nine.

Into a number Yang had long lost track of.

She watched the Scroll ring and vibrate in her hands, Blake's urgent and saddened face upon it. "Yeah. That's how it feels..."

Geared up and sat upon the edge of the room's second bed, she simultaneously awaited and dreaded her team leader's return. Their ensuing mission, whatever it was to be, would serve as a welcome distraction to the crisis she faced here at home. And conversely, her absence would of course remove her from any chance of potentially repairing it.

This emotional crossroads fresh in her mind, did Yang then behold her two teammates entering the room.

Hand in hand they were. Their visible and glowing affection apparent through more than just their joined hands.

Yang smiled, the motion only slightly burdened. "Well, looks like the two of you had fun last night."

The two girls blushed in twain, their gazes fleetingly locked.

Ruby, the leader of this team and the one to be setting the example as such, cleared her throat suddenly. "Um, yes," did she say. She straitened her back. "Rest and relaxation is officially over, Rosenkreuz. Today, as you know, is when we officially return to active duty." Ruby clasped her hands behind her back, her chin high. "We need to be in tip-top shape, team. As there is no telling where our mission today will take us. We must- we will be ready for anything."

Yang, her position on the bed unchanged, looked to Weiss. "What have you done to my sister…?" she said, her facetious mirth trailing in the question.

Weiss's shoulders heaved, her giggled barely contained.

"And also," Yang followed, "Where do you intend on taking us, Ruby?"

"Well," the team leader began. "We're not getting our mission from a Vanguard Captain per se; so our mission isn't really directly dictated. We're choosing from the mission board. So whatever is available-according to our rank- we can take."

"Oh, cool." Yang sprung from the bed, her Copperhead shotgun lay across her back; her hand cannon on her hip. "Ready when you girls are."

Ruby nodded, turning on her heel. She made for the door, but stopped halfway; a detail of great importance stopping her progress then.

Her teammates looked to her.

"Hey, Zwei…"

Her Ghost appeared by her side.

"Transmat in that armor concept I gave you."

"I really have to get used to you rolling your R's now... But, alright. Hold still…"

Zwei's blue transmat beam shone over his Guardian then, Ruby remaining motionless during the process. Ans when he was done, Ruby was clad in her new armor.

The overall design was similar to her original; the corset black; the petticoat underneath red. Where the bust stopped, was she sporting a white long-sleeved under garment, secured by black bracers over her forearms. Her steel-toe boots came up to her knees, exposing the rose-patterned stockings underneath; torn in rebelliously strategic places. And her flowing red cloak was artfully tattered at its end; lending the appearance of being battle-worn while being brand-new.

Yang whistled. "Well, look at you, little sis! And I thought our Princess was the best dressed!"

Ruby smirked with lop-sided confidence. Crescent Rose on her back did she beckon her team out the door and into the Tower Plaza.

It was good to be home.

Even if they were (potentially) leaving it shortly.

Heads, of Guardians and Tower personnel both, turned in their wake.

"That's Team Rosenkreuz…"

"Look at that rookie, strutting like she owns the place…"

"Holy shit. That's The Red Death…"

These comments, both did and didn't reach Ruby's ears. She didn't give a damn what they thought about her.

They couldn't be her.

They couldn't beat her.

What did they matter?

"Whoa, Ruby Rose, and the rest of her team!"

"You Girls kick ass. And you're all sexy as hell!"

"Rosenkreuz! Rosenkreuz! Rosenkreuz!"

That's more like it.

"Ruby, are you...feeling alright?"

Ruby shook her head, smiling all the while. "Yea. Why do you ask, Zwei?"

There was silence, other that a contemplative beep from her Ghost. "Uh...nothing…"

Ruby lead her team into the Vanguard hall. Inside, they found a scene of the everyday chaos that permeated the Vanguard headquarters.

While there was no official or mass exodus of the rookie teams or Guardians otherwise, there was of course, many, many a mission and operation to oversee. And the Guardians that were to undertake them.

There were as many comings as there were goings; elevated chatter; last minute advice; words of parting encouragement. And…

"...And after I heard Nikos caught you bullying some rookie Titan, I thought to myself, 'Man, I can't wait to meet this loser in person.' And...VIOLA! Here you are!"

Cayde-6 was currently doling out a very public and condescending vivisection to one of his own Hunters. Russel Thrush was taking the lashing best he could; his back straight despite his shoulders slumping.

Cayde held his hands up before him, in both a 'wait for it' manner, and a way to tick off his following points. "Demoted by two ranks; grounded...and…" he twirled his finger in the air, embellishing his final judgment. His shoulders fell suddenly. "That's about all I got. Can't do much worse to you really…" His fingertips met his horned forehead as he sighed mightily. "Just...go away. Bloody hell, the shit I gotta put up with…"

Team Rosenkreuz giggled among themselves as the scorned Hunter fled the hall.

This sound then attracted Cayde's attention. "Now HERE'S a Hunter that knows how to represent her Vanguard!" He swaggered over to Ruby, his hand raised. "High five!"

Ruby, all giggles, slapped the mechanical man's hand.

"By the way," the Exo said, "what rank are you exactly?"

Ruby actually had to recall the answer. "Uh...I think I'm rank-"

"Doesn't matter. You're rank fifteen now," Cayde said, waving off Ruby's utterance. "My real question is-"

"-Ruby Rose!"

Cayde's inquisitively raised finger then curled in on itself. "Why does she always do this…"

Glynda Goodwitch imposed herself upon the scene now, her appearance eliciting a Warlock Salute from Weiss. "Cayde, if you could give us a moment," the Void Walker said.

Cayde rolled his electric eyes, yielding to the question that was but a command. He then winked at Ruby. "I'll call ya." He made a 'phone' gesture with his thumb and pinky finger.

Ruby stood straight, meeting the Lady Warlock's imposing presence. "Miss Rose. My query is in regards to your...weapon…"

Ruby sighed theatrically, her eyes on the ceiling. "Yeah...yeah…" She called to her Ghost. "Zwei. Fish up my Psi Umbra from storage…"

"That is not what I meant." Glynda pushed her glasses up her nose as she elaborated. "Given both your performance in the tournament, and your recent... promotion…"

Cayde, from across the hall, gave a double thumbs-up.

"...The Vanguard has decided to reward you with special permissions to advance to Level-Gold eligibility."

Ordinarily, Ruby would have hit the ceiling with a 'whoop'. But instead, she only nodded in reverse, her smirk alight. "About damn time."

Three pairs of eyes focused in on her then; two widened in shock; the third narrowed in calculated affront.

"Oh boy…" A blush crept into Ruby's fair skin. "I uh...said the quiet part out loud, didn't I?"

"Quite," said Glynda plainly.

Ruby lifted the corners of her skirt as she dipped into her best Warlock salute. "Apologies, Madame Warlock."

Her lips pursed, Glynda made another adjustment to her glasses. "At any rate," she began, "While I am not here to directly dictate the mission you are undertaking today, I would advise you to accept an assignment fitting your combined rank and skill level."

Weiss and Yang nodded.

Ruby 'hmph'd' through her nose.

Glynda cast her one last look. "Traveler's Light," she said in parting.

Weiss then moved to Ruby, taking her hand. "Libchen, are you...alright?"

Ruby smiled. "Never been better," did she say. "I have Crescent Rose; I have you…" She planted a quick kiss upon Weiss's mouth. "The only thing I don't have...is a mission."

"Well, we can fix that in short order, now can't we?"

The three of them turned to the great mission terminal before them.

Ruby stepped up to the screen and activated it with a tap.

The planetary director came up then, spread over the great screen; it displaying every known and populated world within their system. As well as hot spots for Crucible and high-level Vanguard operations.

"Look at that…" Yang said, her smile spreading ever wider. "The whole system at our fingertips!"

Weiss nodded her agreement. "So, where to, commander?"

Ruby overlooked the director. She raised her hand, her finger-span covering whole planets. She moved over each world with studious slowness, before finally settling on…

Luna.

She tapped the image of Earth's satellite. A detailed map of every patrol beacon and landing zone appeared then. Ruby looked to the available mission headings.

-Guardian assistance requested for Warsat transport to sector "Castle"-

Ruby nodded affirmation as she tapped the screen.

Mission assigned to Fireteam Rosenkreuz. Estimated mission time: 18 hours. Light be with you.

Yang set her hands on her hips. "Well, looks like Imma have to scrape up a rental jumpship."

Ruby and Weiss smiled in knowing unison.

"Shipwright is on the way to the hangar luckily," Yang continued. "Let's get moving."

So Team Rosenkreuz made for the hangar bay, which was made easy by most of the Tower personnel jumping out of the way upon seeing The Red Death on approach.

"Go on, girls, I'll catch up." Yang turned to the ship rental terminal as Ruby and Weiss made their own ship ready.

Her eyes scanned the screen. "Guess Level-Blue is out of the question…" she said, taking in the ships on offer as well as their price tags.

"The Vanguard should cover expenses like this. Why do they expect Guardians to pay out their own pockets!" Celica fumed in her head.

"Is what it is…" Yang scrolled over the Level-Green, and onto the Level-White offerings. "Guess that'll do," she said, settling on a Phaeton Class V2." She sighed. "Probably gonna need a Sparrow too…"

She was perusing the base model Sparrows...when she saw it.

A red dot- a laser sight- dancing across the screen.

Her finger stopped mid-air as her eyes darted about, following the beam.

It at once disappeared.

Yang shrugged and looked over the screen.

And it came back, flitting across her on-screen selection.

Yang whirled around, slightly startling the Hunter waiting in line behind her. "Are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" he said.

The dot now shone upon her belly, dancing in little circles.

"Uh...someone got a hit out on you or something?" Celica said.

"I don't know, but this is really pissing me off!" Her eyes flashed red as she stomped off towards the beam's source. She saw it shining from around a corner, and made towards it.

Her revolver was in her hands as she rounded the corner. "Listen asshole, if you got beef, you can one-v-one me in cruc-" her statement and momentum came to a halt at once.

Blake lowered her Suros JPS-55 pulse rifle, switching off the weapon's laser sight. "We need to talk." And with no invitation, did she lock her hand around Yang's wrist and lead her to an empty and out of the way corner of the hangar.

Yang found herself pinned to the wall, each of Blake's arms on either side of her head. Yang looked deep into the hard-set yet pleading eyes of the Faunus that had cornered her. "Blake," she said as deadpan as her heart rate would allow at the moment.

Blake didn't blink. "You're the most assertive person I know. So I figured this was the best way to get your attention and my point across."

"Well, I'm all ears…" Yang didn't know how long she could keep her voice even…

Or her knees from buckling.

Blake's cat ears flattened against her head, Yang's eyes following the motion. "I know you're soon leaving for a mission, so I don't have time to explain everything…" Her intent eye contact broke for a moment, before fixing on her again. "But I want you to know that Adam and I are not together; and nothing happened that night, I swear."

"Mm-hm…" Yang pursed her lips as she fought the dire urge to wrap her arms around Blake's waist and kiss her into silence.

"He just asked me to accompany him to the party, that was all…"

"Just as arm candy?"

The beautiful Faunus let out a chagrined huff. "Yes...more or less." After a slow blink, were her eyes locked on Yang's again. "When you come back, I promise I will explain everything. Yes, Adam and I were once romantic; and yes, I should have told you that." Blake's hands trailed from the wall and onto Yang's shoulders. "But you are my everything now. And I am so sorry that my secrecy hurt you."

Now Yang broke eye contact, her gaze drifting. "I don't need every little detail…" she said. "I just need your honesty."

Blake nodded furiously. "I swear to you, I'm yours."

Yang turned to her again. "So, you'll make it up to me when I get back?"

"I will. I will…" Her hands now cradled Yang's head as she pulled her face close. There was the brief and soft pressure of an apologetic kiss upon Yang's lips, one that Yang had to resist for all her might not to intensify, before Blake retreated.

"Ti amo…" Blake said. She stepped back and was then whisked away by her Ghost's transmat beam.

Now here in solitude, did Yang allow her knees to melt.

She slid down the wall, her butt planted on the floor.

Celica popped out of her head. "Hehe. Look at you all swoonin' and shit!" he said. He twirled his shell, his optic blinking in mirth. "It takes a pretty powerful woman to melt the mighty Yang Xiao Long into a puddle!"

"Is she ever..." Yang took to breathing through her nose, attempting to reign in her runaway heartbeat.

"I thought Blake's thing was black? Why is she wearing a white long-coat now?"

"Don't know…" Yang sighed mightily. "But those thigh-high boots were killin' me!"

Celica dipped his shell in a nod. "Let's stay focused here, Sunny. We can deal with the pussy when we get back; in both senses of the term."

"Yeah," Yang said, regaining her feet. "Let's go to The Moon, Celica."

…

"Entering Luna's atmosphere in three...two...one…"
Ruby rocked in the seat a bit as their jumpship shuddered into The Moon's sky box. Out the side window she could see the reflective grey-white of the Lunar planes, dotted here and there with various structures, outposts, and even the distant skyscrapers of Luna's capitol city.

"Landing zone acquired," said Weiss from the cockpit. She flipped a few switches above her head. "Windig, take us down."

Ruby rolled her head about her shoulders as she cracked her knuckles.

"Initiating transmat," Weiss said. "Three...two...one…"

The world flashed into blue and Ruby found her boots set upon the surface of The Moon.

The shadow of a second craft hovered over them, and Yang soon joined her teammates.

Ruby did several slow turns on the spot. Her eyes skyward. "It's...beautiful…"

"Stars every night and day…" Yang said, her eyes following Ruby's. She then espied the most dominant feature of Luna's sky. "Have a look at that."

Team Rosenkreuz beheld Earth as they never have before; full and vibrant; it's myriad colors swirling in a slow and captivating strobe.

Yang pointed a finger at their home in the sky. "Remember, girls, she's why we're doing this. So let's do it right!"

Ruby nodded, taking to her scroll. "We're just outside the First Light colony base. About fifteen minutes away by Sparrow."

"Then let us depart," Weiss said.

"Hey Zwei, call in my new toy."

And her Ghost tranmatted into being Ruby's custom Sparrow. It's monocoque slightly longer than factory models, its nose came to a neat point. Its fore an aft shining patent black; its middle reflective rose red. Ruby mounted up, kicking the Arc-Drive into life.

"Nice ride, Rubes!" Yang said.

Ruby used her elbow to buff out a smudge upon her Rose emblem emblazoned above the dash. "That's what Eight-thousand Glimmer will get ya!"

"What did you spend the rest on?"

Ruby called in her second new acquisition, the Saigon-LR5 Sniper Rifle. "It pays to be awesome."

"Don't it though!" Yang laughed, mounting up her own ride.

Weiss, silent during all of this, stopped in mid-motion of summoning her own Sparrow. She tucked away her Ghost as she crossed over to Ruby's mount. She piled in behind her, wrapping her arms snugly around her girlfriend's waist.

"Weiss…" did Ruby giggle. "I gotta...focus on driving…"

Weiss brushed Ruby's hair behind her ear and planted a kiss on her neck. "Then you'd better focus really, really hard."

Ruby flushed her namesake color as Yang hooted beside them. "Zwei, set course for First Light, Mare Cognitum."

"Coordinates locked. Ready when you are!"

….

Ruby had always wondered what life on The Moon was like.

Here at First Light, she had her answer.

Team Rosenkreuz entered the outskirts of the colony base; more colony than base. On either side of them were rows of connected housing. The lot of them were mostly identical, only the bold black numbers on the front of the clusters differentiated any of them.

Ruby and her team presented themselves as Guardians should; weapons laying across their backs; Ghosts hovering just at their shoulders. Ruby held her back straight and her chin high; pride and confidence shining in the posture. No doubt the Moon's people would be in awe.

But the first thing she noticed, were the stares.

And that's all they were.

Stares.

No recognition. No adulation.

Just pointed, empty stares.

"I mean, I wasn't expecting a hero's welcome or anything but…" Yang whispered this to her team. "This is just kinda weird…"

"There is no Vanguard stronghold on Luna," Weiss said. "Maybe they aren't used to seeing Guardians…"

"You think they'd be over the moon, if you'll pardon the expression," Zwei said.

Ruby shook her head. "Let's just go forward with the mission. We should find the command center."

"Which is where...exactly?" Yang shrugged.

Ruby huffed through her nose. She simultaneously felt fairly foolish for not having done the proper research on their mission site, and that maybe The Vanguard should have filled in some of the blanks. "We'll just ask the locals." She espied a man a few paces from them. He was in front of what looked like a large garage, repairing a Sparrow. Ruby and her team approached him. "Hello, sir, excuse me."

The man, without quite stopping his work, looked to her, wrench in hand.

"I'm Guardian Ruby Rose. Can you point us to the command center of this place? We're on a mission for the Vanguard."

The man straightened, tucking his tool into his oil-stained overalls. "Ain't no mission to be done here. Especially not by you lot."

The three Guardians shared a look.

Weiss then produced her Scroll. "But we have the particulars right here."

The man scoffed. "Just like damn Vanguard, imposing themselves where they ain't wanted." He then looked them up and down. "Lemme guess; a Fast-foot; a Meathead; and a Brainiac?"

Weiss reared her head, staring the man down over her nose.

Ruby, biting the inside of her cheek as well as her tongue, did her best to maintain her Guardian's professionalism. "Can you point us or not?"

The man had gone back to work on his Sparrow, his back turned to them. "Over yonder," he said simply, jerking his head east.

"Good as we're gonna get…" Zwei muttered.

The trio set off again, just a tad wary now.

"What the fuck was his problem!?" Yang fumed. "We're here to help! He didn't have to get all high and mighty and shit!"

"It's true that Guardians haven't been here for a goodly time now," This came from Windig, hovering just ahead of the group. "It's more than likely possible that they have grown less than fond of us.."

"That's putting it lightly," Ruby huffed.

"It's not like much has been happening here." Weiss said, chin resting on a contemplative fist. "There have been no distress calls; no missions posted aside from routine patrols…" She frowned. "I just don't get it…"

They traveled on in silence for a number of minutes. Ruby noticed the colony around them beginning to simmer with increasing activity. Dotted here and there among the squat and industrial complexes, were armed guards. Auto rifles in hand, they stood their posts with intense and unchanging faces. The only fluctuation in their countenances occurring when Team Rosenkreuz crossed their paths.

They reached the building now that couldn't be anything other than the command center. It was not only larger than the others, a great four-sided structure topped with a solar dome, it was swarming with uniformed guards.

"Think they'll even let us in?" Yang muttered.

"They will." Ruby said this, her eyes locked with one of the guards in question. Before they could take a step, however, did they find their path barred.

A small girl, no more than nine years of age maybe, stepped in front of them. She was an endearingly roughshod little thing; brown hair in two fraying pigtails, and a simple long-sleeved shirt and jeans.

"Uh...hello…" Ruby said to the little girl.

She puckered her face, her brown eyes squinted. From behind her back she produced a toy Hand Cannon, the thing bright florescent orange. She took aim at Weiss and squeezed the trigger.

"What the!-"

The three girls flinched as a stream of liquid from the toy gun's nozzle splashed all over Weiss and her combat skirt.

"Gah!" Weiss cried. "What is wrong with you!" Weiss shrieked.

The girl stuck her tongue out at her. "Go back home, Tower Toadies!" she trilled.

Ruby grabbed the girl by the scruff of her neck. "Why you little!"

"Lemme go! Lemme go ya Guardian goon!"

Weiss delicately sniffed the tip of her finger. "Is this water?"

"You wish it was Vatter!" the girl said, mocking Weiss's accent. She kicked Ruby in the shin, and from there was she able to make her escape, scampering off behind the building.

"Ugh!" Weiss moaned.

"You alright, babe?" Ruby said, moving to her side.

"Vinegar!" Weiss shrieked. "The little bitch sprayed me with vinegar!"

Yang bared her teeth as she ground them together. "These people are fucking stupid!" she growled. "What the hell is their problem? And moreover, why didn't the Vanguard tell us anything about the situation here?"

Ruby only shook her head, lacking answers too either question.

"My dress is ruined…" Weiss sobbed. She held her arms out to her side. "Windig, alternate combat skirt; casual athletic."

Ruby watched as Windig shone her blue fabrication beam over her Guardian. When she was done, was Weiss sporting a one-piece grayish-blue combat skirt, its color gradation pale blue at the bottom. A long-sleeved bolero shrug complete with her emblem on the back graced her upper body, it fasted by a broach boasting genuine sapphires.

And despite even this, Ruby couldn't quite keep her gaze from drifting downwards.

Oh did Weiss's legs look ever so lovely…

Long and perfectly pale-white; Smooth-shaven and lithely muscular. Finished with adorable wedge-heeled shoes strapping up over her ankles.

"Whew! Much better" the Warlock breathed. She then took cheeky notice of her girlfriend's stare. "Do try to focus, liebchen," she giggled.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry…" Ruby blushed, her shoulders heaving.

"She's right, Rubes," Yang said, all business. "Sexy as Weiss's legs look, we gotta stay on track here." She folded her arms. "Let's just get in there and ask about that Warsat."

Ruby nodded, again assuming the lead of their trek.

As hard as the gazes from the guards were, the Guardians found their entrance unchallenged. They entered the building and found themselves in the midst of a great bustle of activity. Soldiers and guards were organizing units and arms; many screens flashed with activity and chatter.

"They are definitely getting ready for an operation," Zwei commented.

Ruby spied what looked like the central hub of this place, and lead her team toward it. Just on its edge, was there stood a particularly brawny man in Lunar uniform. Ruby approached him. "Hello. We want to speak to who's in charge here."

"And you would be?" the man grunted.

Ruby's Ghost flashed into being at her side in answer.

The man harrumphed. "Don't you lot have some nerve."

Weiss shook her head. "We are here to answer the call for assistance in the Warsat transport operation."

"Are you now?" The man turned to look at her. His gaze then traveled down Weiss's body...and stayed down.

Weiss grimaced. "My eyes are up here, arschloch."

"Yeah, but your legs are down there," the man said, making no effort to avert his stare. "Why show 'em off if you don't want the attention?"

As one, did Ruby and Yang train their weapons on him.

"You will not treat my girlfriend that way, you dipshit!" Ruby cried.

"I'll be having none of that in here, thank you."

Their heads turned to the scene's new entrant. Flocked as he was by a unit of uniformed men, Ruby couldn't quite get a good look at him. They soon parted however, and Luna's commander stood before them.

He was maybe a head taller than Ruby, but solidly built. He stood firm with his hands on his hips, his back straight. His embellished Lunar uniform was equal parts ceremonial and utilitarian. Ruby could only guess as to his facial features as the man wore a fairly high-tech looking helmet, its visor shining black.

"Ain't none of you gonna come in here startin' any trouble. Got enough of it as it is."

Ruby stowed her weapon and held her hands up in disarming apology. "We're not here to cause any trouble,' she said. "We're here to help. We saw a request for help on the Vanguard's-"

"-Figures," the man spat. "Vanguard only sends out their wittle soldiers when it's convenient for 'em."

"Alright, I gotta ask," Yang said through a grimace. "What the hell is your deal, man? We've been getting crap from the moment we got here. We just want to help. Why are you being such an ass?"

"Firstly," the man said, turning to look at her. "The name is Armstrong. And I'll tell ya exactly why your kind ain't appreciated here."

Armstrong began to pace a slow circuit back and forth, using his fingers to tick off his points. "The Tower on Earth. The Citadel on Venus. The Dust Palace on Mars. The Lighthouse on Mercury." He stopped pacing as he turned to face them. "Notice anything missing?"

The girls just stared their answer.

"There ain't no Guardian outpost on Luna. The Vanguard in all their infinite wisdom decided that we ain't important enough for that." Armstrong resumed his rhetorical pacing. "Shit's been goin' down out here like on any other world. The Fallen ain't exactly shy about gettin' their elbows out, and those other Light forsaken monsters have been poppin' up all over."

"Why don't you just call for help?" Weiss said. "We are more than willing to assist. That is our job you know?"

"Hmph!" said Armstrong. "Last time we called for aid was what? About...four months ago? We suffered a particularly nasty Fallen incursion. Servitors made off with some valuable information on the Castle Project. And to hear it told, there was supposed to be a Guardian operation coming through to help. Some 'initiation'," he formed air quotes around the word. "But these Guardians never showed up, so we were on our own."

Ruby saw Yang's shoulders sag, her gaze locked on the floor.

"And even before that incident, The Vanguard was always slow to respond, if they answered at all. Since then. We learned to handle our own problems."

Ruby folded her arms as she digested this. "Pyrrha Nikos and her team were through here not long ago. Did they help with those...monsters?"

Armstrong laughed, the sound reverberating in his helmet. "Oh yeah, little miss Nike made a real grand show of blowin' up one of the holes they dug. So you know what the monsters did?"

Ruby only scowled.

"They dug another one!" Armstrong said. "And another one; and another one; and another after that." He shook his head. "Damn things are turning The Moon into Swiss cheese. The most we can do is swat 'em down as they pop up but…"

"We-can-help-you." Ruby said this with impatient emphasis, dragging out each word. "We want to help you, that's why we're here." She held her scroll out. "Just tell us about the Castle Project, and how we can best assist here."

While she couldn't see his eyes behind his visor, Ruby could nonetheless feel Armstrong's powerful stare upon her. "You really want to help?" he said. "Then stay out of the fucking way."

The three girls shook their heads in exasperated wonder.

"While we can't legally stop you from being here, or physically expel you, we can make our stance on your presence here very clear." Armstrong spread his arms wide. "Welcome to Luna, ladies. Please, don't enjoy your stay."

Just then, one of the great screens on the central terminal lit up. A hard-looking officer woman made her report. "Sir, The Archers are ready to deploy. Three hours until mobilization of the asset."

"Solid copy," Armstrong responded. He turned to his men. "Look alive, people. The Castle ain't gonna build itself! Let's move!"

And Rosenkreuz was left behind in the hustle.

"Let's go, girls…" Ruby lead her team out of the command center, the three of them now brooding upon its threshold.

"I'm starting to think we're on the wrong planet, Ruby," Yang muttered.

Ruby frowned at the starry dome of Luna's sky, beholding the distant Earth now half in shadow. "I just don't get it…" she mused. "Did The Vanguard just...forget about Luna? There are whole cities up here; colonies and bases...people!" Ruby's gaze leveled out on the horizon. "This is the first place they should have built a Guardian stronghold…"

Weiss moved to her girlfriend's side, taking her hand. "It's not as bad as it seems," she said.

"And how's that?" Ruby said blankly.

Weiss smiled knowingly. "Windig, did you get everything?"

"Jawohl!" did the Ghost say.

Ruby and Yang looked to Weiss as she elaborated. "During that conversation in there, I had Windig dig around in their network. And she pulled just about everything relevant to this Castle Project of theirs!"

Ruby took Weiss's face in her hands and planted an exuberant kiss on her mouth. "You are brilliant!"

Weiss blushed pridefully. "Windig, what did you get?"

"Well, for starters; the Warsat they're moving contains a litany of logistical codes, schematics, and other information in regards to 'The Castle'. They also plan to use it as a power source to get everything up and running."

"Okay, cool," Yang said. "But what is 'The Castle' exactly?"

"It's their version of a Guardian stronghold!" did Windig beep with enthusiam. "Since The Vanguard overlooked building one here, the Lunarians are going to build their own!"

"A Guardian stronghold...with no Guardians," Ruby muttered.

"Not exactly…" Windig said.

The three Guardians looked to her.

Windig spun her shell a few times. "This you have to see to believe…"

In the air in front of her, Windig shone a projection. It was a video file showing the Lunarian soldiers facing off against a unit of Fallen marauders. Bullets and shrapnel and blood of those stricken littered the battlefield. But there was something more as well...

A soldier cloaked himself in Solar Light, sending off firebolts at his foes.

Another conducted lighting through her fists, hammering Dregs into submission.

A third erected a dome of Void Light around her and a wounded comrade, moving it and themselves to safety.

"No fucking way…" Yang gasped.

"They are called, 'The Archers'," Windig elaborated. "Incredibly talented and powerful soldiers here on Luna. And its for them that The Castle is being built, to centralize their command and operations."

"Are they...Guardians?" Weiss breathed.

"Definitely not," did Windig say. "They have no Ghosts and no Vanguard jurisdiction. Though they are blessed with great amounts of Light-at least three times that of a normal human- they don't come close to matching even a garden variety Guardian's Light level."

"Looks like they can hold their own plenty though…" Yang said, watching a Lunarian soldier unleash his Void Light bow on his enemies.

The group was silent a moment.

"So, how do we proceed, commander?" was Weiss's question then.

Ruby paced a contemplative circle, her chin resting on her fist. "I want to see this 'Castle'," she said. "Even if the Lunarians aren't keen on our help, that doesn't mean we can't hang around and watch it all go down."

"Right, but I imagine we must first find The Archers. That woman on the comms said they move in three hours time."

"Alright. Windig, where do we find The Archers?"

"They make their home in a sector known as 'The Archer's Line'."

"Seems appropriate," Yang said with a sideways nod. "How far is it from here?"

"By Sparrow, too far. We'll have to head back to our ships; it's on the other side of Luna."

The girls nodded.

Ruby then turned to her team. "So girls, who wants to meet The Archers at their Castle?"

Team Rosenkreuz transmatted into their jumpships then, soaring over the face of The Moon.

….

A/N:

Wow...easily the longest chapter I've written yet. Not much in the action department, I know, but things are gonna kick off big in the next outing, believe me. It just feels good to have Team Rosenkreuz get their boots on the ground again. And with that:

If you liked what you read, a follow or favorite or review would be greatly appreciated. If you didn't like what you read, I thank you for reading this long. So long and take care.

-B. D. Skunkworks

…..

P.P.S-

User Twisted Fate MK 2 just updated their fic, Stand as Titan. If you liked this, I think you'll really get a kick outta their story, I know I am. I'd put in a link, but I can never seem to get it right…. Just go look up Stand as Titan. You won't be disappointed!