To my beloved readers:
I am so sorry this has taken a back seat to the rest of my life. I never intended for it to. I could offer a thousand excuses: I lost everything on my computer's hard drive twice in one year, I took on a more labor intensive job, I wanted to focus on my actual novel, I moved, I totaled my car, Volume 9 almost had me leave the fandom altogether, I almost lost my love of writing over this past year, but none of it matters. I have some content for you now, and I hope you enjoy it.
I had a situation where I couldn't write on my book manuscript, but I still wanted to write and this came up and I wrote and wrote. If anything, this huge gap was worth it because it really helped settle in my mind what to do with Ironwood to make him an obstacle without making him a villain.
As far as my theory/super opinionated insight: I rewatched the fight between Ironwood and Watts and there is no way in Remnant, the Ever After, Wonderland, the Enchanted Forest and the Upside Down that their encounter was an even fight. Watts had no business doing as well as he did and they nerfed Ironwood so hard in that fight to make it interesting.
Anywho, enjoy some more political intrigue. I'll try to pick up the pacing and give you some more action next chapter.
The color white.
A long recognized symbol of purity, clarity and strength, but also conveying both the softness of snow and the harshness of light. It was the color chosen by the Atlesean military to convey their commitment to demonstrating their ice-cold precision and flawless execution of their missions.
The Schnee name meant 'snow', hailing back to their origins from the north and the snowflake design of the family glyphs. The family even doubled down on the winter motif when a Gele married into the family and they named their eldest daughter Winter.
Her very name meant White, and between her hair, her skin, and her choice of color palate, it seemed like Weiss was the physical manifestation of the color white itself. She liked it, she liked all the things it stood for and had integrated it into her identity as much as her public image.
But standing here, in an observation deck looking in on the woman clad in white in an all white room filled with shiny chrome appliances and artificial white lighting, the color looked harsh and cold. She liked white when it looked innocent, but hated it when it looked clinical.
"And you're the only person she talks to?" she asked Winter without facing her.
"I've been the only person whose face she has seen in the past year, yes," Winter affirmed, also facing forward and looking in on the decrepit maiden.
"And if this doesn't work? If her last thought is of some daughter or niece or some little girl she saved in a village somewhere?"
"It seems unlikely," Winter said flatly, "She never married, had no children and her mind is not what it used to be in her youth. She has sacrificed much, and we are going to make sure that it doesn't go to waste."
"So…you'll do the same? You won't ever marry, you'll live a life in seclusion for a people who will never know or thank you, and end up spending your last days in a bunker hooked up to a bunch of machines so your special gift can keep feeding their machine?"
Winter let out a long exhale before answering. "I'm willing to do it, yes. It's what Ironwood needs me to do. Keeping the maiden powers secure is the only way to keep them from Salem." "And you saw how that worked for Pyrrha…and Pyrrha's predecessor."
Winter clenched her jaw. She'd chosen to show Weiss all this hoping she would understand, but it seemed she only had cynical barbs to offer her older sister and her choices. "What happened with Amber is only proof that we have to work harder to protect this power. If Salem gets ahold of the other three there is nothing we can do to stop her. Someone has to do this, and I'm willing and I fit the criteria."
Weiss softened seeing her sister becoming tense. "But is that what you want? Be honest. Do you want to live the rest of your life as a glorified superweapon and die in obscurity with no husband or family or legacy? I'm not asking if it needs to be done, Winter, I'm asking if you want to do this or if you just feel like you need to do it because we need heroes?"
"Weiss, I left home the day I turned eighteen to join the military," she turned to her sister. "I knew if I stayed, I'd be daddy's little puppet to show off at all the galas and corporate events and then be used as a pawn in some merger, arranged to marry some rich prig who only wanted me for my pedigree. I thought the military would let me become something more than my last name. But then I realized it followed me here, too. Any time I was promoted, any time I was chosen to fall on Ironwood's sword for him, I never knew if it was because of my last name or because I was the right woman for the task. You know what it's like, always feeling scrutinized and every action being the wrong one."
The younger sister let out a half laugh. "I know. If you date a rich guy you're perpetuating the class war, if you date a poor guy you're virtue signaling. They put me on a stage to sing and play the piano to show off the Schnees and then called me privileged when one of my songs made it on the radio. We can't win."
"But I can. I can make a real difference if I do this here. Even if it means dying young, this power is immense and I can use it to fight against real evil and even if no one knows my name, I'll be able to leave a legacy of peace so that…I don't know when you get married and have kids, I'll have had a part in
creating a world where my nieces and or nephews don't have to live in fear of a looming evil and the destruction of the world. There was never any hope for me, Weiss, but you? You have a real future and I'm going to fight for it. I just wanted someone to know in case I went missing or if I ever was listed as some wanted criminal that I'm out here doing Ozpin and Ironwood's work. I wanted at least one person to know the truth and what I was doing."
Weiss pulled her sister into a hug. "As long as you're choosing this. I support you. I just don't want you to feel like you have to because Ironwood is pressuring you into it because you feel like you owe him your loyalty." She released Winter when she felt her scroll vibrate. She fished it out of her pocket to read the text.
"They're releasing Adam," Weiss said.
"I know, they want to meet us in Ironwood's war room," Winter held up her scroll, having gotten a notification as well.
Adam was seated at the conference table, still collared and with his hands bound with dust cuffs he rested on his elbows under the table. Weiss took her seat next to Adam, vaguely acknowledging his presence so as not to give too much away to Ironwood or her sister. Winter sat across from Weiss while Ironwood seated himself across from Adam. The attendants were dismissed and for a few moments, the four of them were completely silent. The whole thing felt more like a hostile company take over rather than a negotiation between allies.
Ironwood finally broke the silence. "Your father will be here first thing in the morning for you, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at midnight to get you as early in the day as possible, but the both of you will need to be prepared to leave as soon as he arrives. Adam will be released at that time and not before, though we will maintain your ruse as you are permitted to leave the base."
"We understand," Weiss said. "My assumption is that he'll be here as soon as the sun is up so it's visible and he can still seem reasonable to the council and the public. If you give me access to his things, I'll pack him overnight bag. We won't be staying long, and if I can avoid it, we won't be spending the night in the manor at all."
"Be prepared for the worst, but as we discussed earlier, if you're not back in 48 hours, we will release a medical request to have your psychological evaluation admitted to the board to rescind your conservatorship. The threat of that alone should keep him in line."
The thought occurred to Weiss that this was going too amicably for this to warrant a meeting in the general's private office with Winter present. "But there's something more?" she asked skeptically. Ironwood took a deep breath. Sometimes he hated how sharp the Schnee women were. It was impossible to outmaneuver them. "We understand the need to keep up appearances for everyone's safety and to establish a believable narrative but you also have to acknowledge our need to protect ourselves, and you. The military has an image of confidence to maintain."
"So there are conditions?" Weiss looked incredulously at Adam's collar and cuffs.
"You have caveats, Weiss. So do we." He gestured at Adam as if negotiating for an alliance with the White Fang was some charitable act and the Atlesean military was getting nothing out of it. Ironwood pulled up a document on his holopad. "First, Adam Taurus will not be returned his weapon and will not be permitted access to a weapon or dust while in Schnee Manor. His sword will only be returned once he returns to the military base."
Adam and Weiss said nothing, not even looking at each other, but both clearly displeased. Ironwood continued. "Second, for the duration of his time off the base, Adam will wear a dust collar designed to dampen his aura and render him unable to use his semblance. His location, aura consumption and any dust use will be monitored and at any point he attempts to surge his aura or tamper with the collar, we will be alerted and will dispatch the AceOps to your location. He will immediately be removed without question and returned to the holding facility here."
"That is both unenforceable and ridiculous, but do go on," Weiss said, her face becoming darker and angrier with every word the general spoke.
Adam remained quiet for the entire proceedings, keeping a blank look on face. Winter was unable to tell if he was as displeased with the demands Ironwood had come up with, did not care, or was just a bit disconnected from fatigue.
"It's just a precaution," Winter offered, trying to cut the tension between her boss and her sister. "You don't think it will look weird that my bodyguard is unarmed and wearing an Atlesean military prisoner's dust collar?" Weiss asked her.
"The collar will be discreet under his clothing. We do not wish to make a spectacle of him any more than the two of you already have."
"Ozpin would have trusted us." The accusation sucked all the air out of the room leaving an eerie silence. Winter shot her sister a look of shock and almost fear, but Weiss kept going. "We were only first years, and he let us explore Mountain Glenn which was crawling with grimm and White Fang."
To Winter's surprise, Ironwood remained calm, though was clearly irritated. "Ozpin also thought Pyrrha Nikos was ready to be the Fall Maiden and we all know what a disaster that turned out to be."
Having her words turned back on her made her temper flare. "How dare you bring Pyrrha into this!" she seethed as her face contorted in anger. "She made the ultimate sacrifice. She was a hero…"
"She was sixteen!" Ironwood boomed, cutting her off. The abruptness and loudness of his voice sent her immediately recoiling. "Qrow and Raven were still children when he gave them powers and sent them to spy on the enemy!"
"They may have been children, but we aren't! I'm 19, Yang is 20 and we've earned our right to call ourselves huntresses and be respected as a contributing force in this war. We've sacrificed, we've shed blood and we have the scars to prove it."
"That's the point. You shouldn't be doing any of those things." The harshness in his voice was marked by regret. "You should be in your third year at the academy, taking summer apprenticeships and dating, discovering who you are; you should be agonizing about finals, not the fate of Remnant. But Ozpin has a nasty habit of roping in young people to join him in his 'noble crusade' , especially young girls. So yes, if you want to criticize my methods, go ahead. I'm not getting more teenage girls or young mothers killed while he hides in the mind of a farm boy. If you want to follow his methods, you can do so once you're off my base and out of my purview. However, as long as you are receiving my protection from my officers, you'll do the mission my way. The weapon and the collar stay. End of discussion. Do I make myself clear?"
It was sobering. When he put it that way, Ozpin did look like an exploitative coward who routinely weaponized impressionable young adults to fight his war for him.
"We understand," Weiss said with an air of defeat.
"What else?" Adam asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"Upon your return to the base, Adam will return to the prison compound until such time as we can verify the information provided by the data drive we found in his possession. You will both also be expected to cooperate fully in the decryption and verification of the information you have provided. After an assessment on whether or not the intel provided is sufficient, we will negotiate Adam's release, upon which both of you will be sworn in as recruits for the Atlesean military: Adam will be put in a peace-keeper division in the crater in Mantle and Weiss will be put as a liaison for White Fang activity."
This demand even surprised Winter who only showed the faintest expression of shock or displeasure before regaining her composure.
"With all due respect, sir, I'm a huntress and I've finally been reunited with my team, who I understand are all licensed now. My training and my experience would be better suited to resuming my place within my team and fighting grimm. I am sure you probably don't take feelings into account, but that is also where I would prefer to be placed."
Ironwood surprisingly furrowed his brow, thinking seriously about what Weiss had said. "I understand and will consider it. I'd almost forgotten that Ruby's team was yours once. Not many of the students can say their full team is still intact after the Fall of Beacon. If that is the route we decide to go, we'll get your license."
"Thank you, sir."
"Your father will probably be here to collect you first thing in the morning so I wanted to give you the evening to collaborate and pack anything if you want. I'll have quarters set aside for the two of you."
"That won't be necessary." Her voice was firm with authority. "I have gotten to spend a total of one night with my team, I'm going to stay the evening with them for the evening, though I'm sure Adam would appreciate nicer accommodations than the holding cells."
"I would."
The general nodded. "Winter can escort you to the guest quarters we've prepared. You'll have privacy from the students and other military personnel, but you'll still be monitored."
"Isn't everyone here?" Weiss asked.
"Weiss!" Winter chided.
"You father and possibly the rest of the news media has done a fantastic job of making me out to be the paranoid veteran who never left the battlefield, but I won't ever apologize for taking steps to keep my military and my people safe, Miss Schnee. I won't be shamed into becoming lax enough to let Salem win." He stood, the gravity of his statement sinking in as he towered over them. With the press of a button on his pad, the cuffs on Adam's wrists deactivated, loosening enough to free them and leave the metal rings on the table. He turned to Winter. "Show them to the overnight quarters and see to it his effects are returned to him."
Winter saluted, giving a sharp nod to the two of them. They followed her to the elevator, but said nothing until the elevator doors had closed.
"I understand that you disapprove of General Ironwood's choices, and I do as well on occasion, but hearing verbal jabs from a nineteen-year-old spoiled rich girl who hasn't even been in Atlas for the past year is not the way to go about winning him over. You'll do better to at least feign respect for him until you've built up enough trust with him to challenge his ideas."
Weiss opened her mouth to retort. It was clear no one was brave enough to challenge his ideas and some of them were ridiculous to the point of madness. The look her sister gave her silenced her for the rest of the elevator ride. The two of them could have had a heated argument that would have lasted the rest of the elevator ride, but the look she gave her sister was similar to the one she'd had while they were talking in the Maiden's observation room. 'I've already chosen this. I can't question him now.' her eyes said. 'What other choice do any of us have?'
Adam caught on, staying out of their discussion until they remained on his floor. The elevator ride was long and awkwardly quiet.
After four hours of surveillance, Harriet Bree was starting to get bored. At first, she thought being assigned to the overnight quarters of Adam Taurus would at least be interesting. As she sat in the dark room observing the pair from three different angles, she secretly willed them to do something of import. He was a terrorist embroiled in a forbidden romance with Winter's younger sister and the two were conspiring to commit corporate espionage. Surely, there'd be some juicy detail to glean, some scandalous act or conversation, anything they could use for later on. But so far, all the pair had done was chit-chat and take showers.
Guest chambers lacked any amenities of long term stays such as a kitchen or laundry machines like the dormitories. The small, tidy quarters were furnished more like a hotel room without an entertainment center. A bed, bathroom and desk all decked in Atlesean white, blue and red modesty occupied the small space. There wasn't much room for them to go: every angle was covered by the three cameras in the main room.
She hadn't picked up on them talking in code or passing notes of any kind either. It's like they knew they were being observed and were careful to guard every word and action.
The door opened behind her, flooding the room with light as Clover entered the room, followed by Marrow.
"Anything?"
"Nope." Harriet quipped, the disappointment in her voice apparent. "They haven't so much as asked how the other was doing. I think they know the room is bugged."
"Did you listen to the bathroom audio?"
"Not yet. Neither of them were really in there long enough for there to be anything."
Marrow looked visibly uncomfortable by the question and answer.
"There aren't cameras in the bathrooms, are there?" he asked.
"No cameras, just voice activated mics," Harriet said as she pushed away from the console. "not that it would do any good." She stood, clapped Marrow on the shoulder and wished him luck before exiting.
As Marrow settled into the chair, Clover ran back the footage to see if he could spot anything the others had missed. The whole ordeal left him uncomfortable. Surveillance was necessary, yes, but this didn't feel like monitoring, it felt like spying. These were two people actively helping them, but the general insisted they be trailed and eyes on them at all times. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" he asked aloud, more to just voice his uncertainty than ask his superior.
"We don't have to worry about doing the right thing. Marrow. All we have to do is follow orders. And before you ask is Ironwood is doing the right thing, the moral high ground is a luxury we can't afford. You think Salem or the White Fang care about "going too far" to get what they want?"
"Yeah, but... they're the bad guys. If we are willing to go to extremes and not care who it affects, how does it make us any better than them. It's just them using their power to get what they want and us using our power to get what we want."
Clover removed his headset and faced Marrow head on. "The difference is: Salem wants to destroy humanity and we want to save it. We might be doing things now that the future will view as barbaric and cruel and unethical, but at least there will be a future. And if you look at the big picture, violating the toilet privacy of a known terrorist and the daughter of Jacques Schnee to make sure they don't have the opportunity to betray us seems like a small moral qualm to give up, don't you think?"
"I guess. "he mumbled, but in his mind he wasn't so sure. Half of his mind wondered if a future was built on the altar of sacrificed integrity would be a future worth having at all. If such a future were obtained that way, wouldn't it have to be maintained that way? If peace were achieved, would Ironwood ever loosen his Iron grip? Where did it end? Where was the line?
The other half of him wondered if the general kept this close of an eye on everyone so as not to give anyone the opportunity to betray him.