"What did they steal from us?" Ayre asks while sitting in her office, looking over the security camera recordings they were able to salvage. Whoever it was, they were no fool, it took her a bit more effort than usual to pull useful data from their destroyed hard drives.
"According to the inventory, it was mostly infantry-scale weaponry, thirty-six Ironworks MG-28 LMGs, ten M-13 Mortars, twenty M90A Bazookas, a hundred and twenty MK-13 Carbines and Redgun Model IV Pistols, thirty Viper Sub-machine guns." Pardus Sable, the former pilot Nightwatch, reads off the list of items stolen.
Ayre senses him tense up as he reads the last part of this list, "And?"
"...There is another crate we couldn't account for." he says, "Project: APOLLO/ARTEMIS."
Ayre's eyes widened, recognising the name of the project. Twin ACs built with experimental neuralinks, using wiring with a design inspired by the artificial Coral used by ALLMIND's modified SOL-644.
"Progress was halted for a reason." Ayre looks at the former pilot slightly unnerved, "It was meant to be shipped back to Atlas to be shelved. Are you saying that two of our most advanced and dangerous ACs were stolen?"
"Yes, but thanks to the intervention of Ruby Rose and Penny Polendina, they didn't manage to steal everything." Sergeant Pardus explains, "Only the cores of Project: APOLLO/ARTEMIS were stolen, the rest including Weapon Units still remain in the warehouse. Without arms, legs or heads, they wouldn't be able to make much use of it."
"They still possess the neuralink systems built into each core. If our thieves were able to have a stealth ship, I have no doubt they could easily procure quality components to complete their own ACs." Ayre reminds, "What of the robots that were recovered?"
"From our investigation, we discerned that they're of a similar make to the old Grimm Security models sold by Merlot Industries, but updated with more advanced technology." Pardus flips through the files again, "Nobody sells them anymore, so we're having trouble tracking down a potential supplier. We think some black market technician upgraded these old models and sold them as muscle for criminals like Torchwick. I'll have my boys be on the lookout for any suppliers of old Merlot tech."
"...That will be unnecessary, Sergeant," Ayre says after a moment of thought while looking through the same files detailing the mechanism of the robots. They were too advanced to be put together or modified by some black market technician. Like it was brand new in fact, fresh off the factory line, "I doubt we will be able to make progress through that method. Our traitor, it's likely he leaked information about the transport of the prototype. Has he spoken anything about his employers?"
"Nothing useful, ma'am." Pradus shakes his head, "The Raven reports he was reached out personally by Roman Torchwick. The Lien offered was enough for him to consider and go along with it."
"A shame." Ayre sighs upon learning one of their officers turned against them out of pure greed, "And what about our little saboteur? The one that caused the crash of the initial response teams sent to investigate?"
"We're still trying to decipher how they interfered." Pardus explains, "The officers reported hallucinating debris on the road, speeding cars, or people suddenly appearing out of nowhere, causing them to swerve to avoid and crash into obstacles they didn't previously notice. "
"Hm, an illusion?" Ayre hums in thought.
"Yes ma'am, that's what we suspect. Our officers are already combing through security cameras-" he was interrupted by Ayre,
"Normally I would leave matters like this in your capable hands, Sergeant." she says as her eyes flicker red, "But this is quite an urgent matter. An incursion on this level in our city hasn't been heard of in the two years of its existence."
She raises both hands and materialises red holographic screens with views from security cameras through the city. She isolated the ones that caught the crashes of the interceptors, seeing the cars randomly swerve and crash into nearby buildings or poles. A total of three crashes from different locations.
"Since no one is seen nearby, this Semblance likely works from long range, line of sight." Ayre rationalises, "This all happened within the same time frame, so they likely had a vantage point where they have a full view."
With a swipe of her hand, the screens were replaced with views from security cameras over locations that would overlook such vantage points. She rewinds them all back to the beginning of the day before speeding them all up until she finds what she was looking for, deleting all tabs save for one.
"There." she points at a screen displaying a black hooded figure with binoculars looking from a water tower. After glancing in three separate locations, the person holds something to their ear before leaping down onto the streets.
Ayre summons more screens to follow the person's path towards the metro station that would lead her out of the city. To her disappointment the cameras had problems trying to catch her face the few times they could be seen, appearing as some sort of glitch.
"Our suspect is a 5'8" Aura User, a right-handed, female judging from her build, heels and the way she walks." Ayre deduces before forwarding the data towards Pardus' Scroll, "She was able to disrupt the cameras as well, likely through an electronic device and not her Semblance. Bought a ticket using cash she pickpocketed off a few civilians in the station. She would have had enough from the first person, but she continued pickpocketing other passengers anyway. Possible kleptomaniac? Contact the Vale Police Department and see if they can track her movement."
"...So, should we just let you handle all our investigations from now on?" Pardus asks, impressed at how quick she figured that out.
She gives a slight smirk at him, "Please, I'll leave that in your and Raven's capable hands. Although it was fun to play detective. I'll forward this data to Professor Ozpin as well, hopefully, he can shed light on this matter."
"Ozpin… do you think something's up with him?" Pardus asks concerned, "I brought it up with Raven as well. I just can't get it out of my head, he shows up during the biggest incursion we've had to date, and came to recruit some Combat School kid for his Academy? We barely began processing her before we got a call he was coming, all mysterious and shit. That means at least he had eyes on her for a while."
"...Do you suspect something, Sergeant?" Ayre asks and the officer shrugs,
"I don't know, just a gut feeling something's off. A Huntsman's instinct maybe." he sighs exhaustedly, "I'm sorry, that's unrelated, but it's just bugging me, ma'am."
"... I do find it rather odd," Ayre confesses. Curiosity got the best of her as she swiped the screens away to pull up Ruby Rose's record, "First-year student of Signal Combat School. Combat scores are in the upper echelon of the school's records, similar to her older sister's. Talented I'll grant her that, but it can't be just talent that caught Ozpin's eye. Father is Taiyang Xiao Long, retired Huntsman and teacher of Signal. Mother was Summer Rose, Huntsman as well. Killed in action only a few years after she was born. Both are a part of Team STRQ consisting of…"
Ayre trails off as she reads the names of the last two members of Team STRQ. Two very familiar names. Raven and Qrow Branwen.
The same Raven Branwen responsible for the destruction of Lumina Hill, and the Qrow Branwen whose help she enlisted during Glenn's Reclamation. In fact, it was Ozpin and Qrow who brought her information regarding the tribe to help Raven track and eliminate them. She had been busy with Project PROMETHEUS during this and left it in the capable hands of her Raven, so she wasn't aware of this knowledge.
Two recent cases linked together like this, and the fact it all leads back to Vale… it smells like a mystery to her. It might be quite a leap, but she felt like something was happening in that kingdom.
"In any case, I'll send officers to Vale for investigation once we secure their cooperation." Pardus continues, "I'll get a team ready."
"I don't think that'll be needed." Ayre gives him a knowing smile, "We'll have boots on the ground in Vale the very next day actually. Capable operatives that you're already familiar with."
"We will?" Pradus raised a brow confused before realising who she was talking about.
"Well, well, well." Adam Taurus sits in one of the passenger seats of the Bullhead, dressed in a black and white trench coat with the NEST Inc. emblem on his chest, wearing a worn-out pair of sunglasses even in the dark.
He smirks as a familiar figure boards the Bullhead at the Vale International Airport, a woman with white hair in a ponytail wearing a uniform of blue and black with a red and white stripe on her shoulder signifying her as an ace pilot belonging to the Atlas Vanguard, "Captain Winter Schnee. I must say the new uniform does nothing for your-"
Winter interrupts him with a quick whack to the head, although she wears a smirk, "Mind out of the gutter, Watchdog-2."
"Heh, in all seriousness, miss you plenty Winter." he smiled at her as she sat down, the two Atlesian Knights with Vanguard paint schemes entering the Bullhead to drop off her luggage. At the sight of them, Adam loses his smile, "Do we really need these SDC toys with us?"
Winter sighs, "I don't like my father's toys any more than you do. But Knights are a necessary part of the Atlas Armed Forces, this is just protocol. And you can't deny they're useful at the very least."
"Wouldn't be surprised if the SDC had cameras in every one of these." Adam flips one off, "Sledge's latest conspiracy theory is that they all spy on everyone for those corporate dickbags. Probably how Jacques Schnee gets his rocks off."
"Oh? And here I was thinking of celebrating our reunion… passionately. What a shame we could be spied on then." she teases and Adam's cheek goes a slight bit red as he chokes on air.
"Damn, in a Bullhead with the pilot right there?" he teases back pointing at the door separating them from the cockpit, "I keep forgetting how freaky you can be."
Before they can continue this, a voice speaks up over the intercom,
"All passengers, this is your pilot speaking." says an exhausted shuttle pilot, "Please be aware the walls are thin. You would be very audible."
Both of them immediately shut up, looking flustered as they'd been overheard by a stranger. Immediately Adam leans back trying to look casual while Winter sits straight and clears her throat.
An awkward silence ensues before Adam decides to change the topic, "Anyways! Seriously, it's been months since I last saw you. How've you been?"
"Good, good." Winter nods, her attitude changing to that of a professional military officer, "The 6th Vanguard Special Operations Group has shown remarkable improvement in their latest training exercise. I estimate their combat ability has risen by 10%."
"No doubt since a capable officer took charge." Adam smirks at her, "Heard you turned down another promotion. Why aren't I looking at Major Winter Schnee? Or maybe even Lieutenant Colonel Winter Schnee?"
"Please, you overestimate me." she chuckles, "Besides, the higher I go the further away from the field I am. Perhaps once I get older, I'll consider permanent desk work. But enough about me, what have you been doing recently?"
"Oh the usual merc stuff." he shrugs casually, "Guarded a couple supply convoys in the Vacuo Frontier, did a couple extermination missions in Vale, took down a rogue Sentinel in Mistral and met the White Fang, the usual."
"Never a boring day for Watchdog-2, Ravager, isn't it?" she smirks, "How far's your next promotion?"
"I mean, not to toot my own horn, but not far. Not far at all." he grins, "Watchdog-1's getting older every day. He does most of the management stuff, and I'm taking leads on most missions nowadays. You could say it's basically unofficial. I'd say give or take two more years and you're looking at the new Watchdog-1."
"That's great to hear." Winter smiles proudly at him, "Who knows, maybe this mission's what you need to get promoted?"
"Heh, what do you think the boss got for us?" Adam asks, "Supposed to be a security gig, protecting him while he's teaching at Beacon. But why would he drag you here then?"
Winter shrugs, "You got a point. I was surprised when General Ironwood encouraged me to do this. Something about building relations with NEST and Vale, but when I asked why a Vanguard Officer would be needed, he mentioned it'll be 'explained once I get to Beacon'."
"Something tells me it's gotta be something big." Adam smirks confidently and eagerly, "Why else would he get his two best students here? The last time he did that, it was in Glenn. He's even arranged for our ACs to be transported to Beacon."
"I doubt he called us in to declare war on Vale." Winter chuckles before turning serious, "But you're right. Something tells me it's more than just being bodyguards. It has to be something big."
"I hope so." Adam grins with his hand resting on the hilt of Wilt and Blush placed on the seat next to him, "It's been getting too quiet lately."
He could feel the Bullhead begin to descend as the pilot spoke over the intercom again,
"All passengers, please be aware we're arriving at Beacon Academy. For your safety please keep yourself strapped to your seats."
The doors to the shuttle were slid open a while later by the Knights as they carried Winter's luggage out of the Bullhead. One of them tried reaching for Adam's duffle bag but he shoves it lightly before carrying it himself, along with his weapons.
"My lady." Adam bows jokingly as he offers a hand for Winter as she steps out of the Bullhead.
"What a gentleman." she jokes as they looked around the landing pad located on the grounds just outside of Beacon Academy, where several airships were docking, "Busy day?"
"Initiation Day's tomorrow…" a familiar gruff voice was heard as they spun to see Raven in his signature black coat and cap, bandages wrapped around his face like always, stepping towards them with a wooden cane in hand, "Ravager… Blizzard…"
He greets them with a nod as the two immediately stand to attention and shout, "Sir!"
"You're Vanguard now, Blizzard…" Raven scoffs, "And Captain at that… No need to call me 'sir' anymore…"
"I'll keep that in mind… sir," Winter adds the last part out of habit. The respect she has for the veteran pilot does not allow for anything less.
Raven rolled his eyes and turned his back to them, gesturing for them to follow him.
"I'll direct you to your offices, get some rest… We have a lot of work to do…" Raven says as they walk through the bridge leading from the docks to Beacon.
"Right, and what's the job?" Adam asks with his hands in his pockets, "Come on, you didn't bring us here just to be bodyguards, did you?"
"Not exactly…" Raven nods, "Need people trustworthy and capable… Both of you fit the criteria so here you are…"
Reaching into his coat, he brings out a folder and hands it to Winter to read, "Armed robbery last night in New Glenn… A whole company's worth of weapons was stolen… plus two experimental AC cores from Project: APOLLO/ARTEMIS…"
"APOLLO/ARTEMIS?" Winter asks as she opens the file and finds a page dedicated to it, feeling concerned at what she is reading, "Neuralink technology? That sounds dangerously like AEGIS, sir."
"Unlike AEGIS, it isn't plugged into an AI…" Raven insists, "Or dampen emotions… Just to link thoughts of pilots to increase effectiveness… Initial test trials were positive…"
"Until the test pilots began remembering each other's memories, and mixing up each other's names." Adam shudders at the thought, "I thought it was shut down?"
"Only shelved… until we could figure out what was wrong…" Raven explains, "Which brings us to why we're here… The thieves are one Roman Torchwick and one Neopolitan… Criminal geniuses that operate mostly in Vale… These two declared war on NEST with a stealth airship and robotic soldiers…"
"But this technology, a stealth airship as the reports describe, should be unfeasible." Winter protests, "The Atlas Navy has stealth ships but they only work by being invisible to scanners and radar, not literally turning invisible. And the smallest they could install it on was a Frigate, not a Corvette. I doubt a couple criminals, no matter how intelligent, could get their hands on tech like this."
"And that's why you called for us?" Adam smirks as he adjusts his trenchcoat's collar, "Need a couple boots on the ground to dig up the 'why', 'how', and 'who'?"
"Correct." Raven nods, "Officially you're here to protect me… and be teaching assistants… But when you have the time, I need you two to look into this…"
"Does Professor Ozpin know about this?" Winter asked, wondering what the principal of Beacon Academy would think of such an operation using his school as a headquarters.
"Talk it through with him… He approved it…" Raven nods as they arrive at the entrance to Beacon where two people are waiting for them, "And speak of the devil…"
"Adam Taurus. Winter Schnee. It is a pleasure to meet two distinct pilots such as yourselves.." Professor Ozpin nods towards them with Glynda at his side, "And Raven, good to see you again."
"Ozpin." Raven nods impatiently, "Gonna let us in or what…?"
"Of course. Although I see that we appear to be missing another…" Ozpin notices as he scans the area, "Will your partner be joining us, Raven?"
"Ayre will be here soon…" Raven explains, surprising the two pilots beside him, "Held up by another PROMETHEUS meeting…"
The two pilots look at each other concerned now. Three of them in the same mission was a cause for concern, but all four of them felt overkill. Just what was truly needed of them?
"Then in any case," Ozpin steps aside to allow them entry, "It is my pleasure to welcome you all then, to Beacon Academy. I look forward to working with you all."
"Ruby… Ruby!" Yang shook the shoulders of her nervous sister as she was holding her application papers, startling her to the extent she almost dropped them.
"Gah! Sorry!" she snaps back to reality, "It's just… it's not too late to send in my application for the Pilot Course, is it? I mean, Professor Ozpin invited me to Beacon yesterday, and who would ever think I'd skip two years to get to an Academy! So I didn't have a chance to apply beforehand. You think they're still accepting?"
"Well, you can always apply next year can't you?" Yang asks.
"You need three years in a Piloting Course to be a Pilot nowadays! I'll have to take an extra year or something!" Ruby grumbles, "I'll have to be studying another year while you and everyone go on awesome adventures. And who knows if he'll still be teaching!"
"Who?" Yang raises a brow as Ruby stares at her gobsmacked,
"Him! The Raven!" Ruby explains, "Liberator of Glenn? He's flown hundreds of sorties in the past decade! Maybe thousands! He killed enough Grimm to make an entire city out of their bones! He's destroyed dozens of bandit tribes and rogue mechs! He is the greatest Pilot the world has ever seen!"
"Ah…" Yang trails off upon hearing that name, Ruby not sure what kind of face she was making, "Is it really that big of a deal to be taught by that guy?"
Ruby groans, "Haven't you been listening?! Every Pilot he's ever trained became aces! Some living legends! If he gave me lessons, I could be the next top-ranking Pilot or something! An A Rank at least!"
"You sound like a fan," Yang notes her enthusiasm, only having heard this level of excitement when she was talking about weapons.
"I am! I literally have posters in my room!" Ruby reminds, sounding annoyed before sighing in disappointment, "But I guess it doesn't matter… Since I'll miss the first year of the Piloting Course. Odds are he'll be too busy flying around and wiping Grimm Hordes off the map by the second or third year."
"Well, on the bright side, you're still the youngest student to be attending one of the four Huntsman Academies on Remnant." Yang reminds, trying to cheer her up, "Ozpin let you skip two years to get here, didn't he? He could probably squeeze you in somehow."
"You really think so?" Ruby asked hopefully before trying to drag her sister along "Then we gotta go find him!"
"Er, how about you get on that yourself?" Yang suggests backing up, "I saw a couple of classmates from Signal, gonna go say hi! Seeya!"
She dashes off towards a crowd before Ruby can react, reaching out helplessly,
"W-wait! I don't even know my way around!" Ruby yells at her sister before sighing in defeat. Just as she thought things couldn't get worse, a huge gust of wind hits her and scatters her application forms through the air.
"Ah! No, no, no!" she yelps before rushing to grab them one by one as the wind carries them further and further away from her, before resorting to using her Semblance to give her a big enough boost to grab the furthest one,
"Got it!" she yells before realising the momentum carried her through the air and towards a girl with white hair in a ponytail, blue eyes widening in confusion at what she was seeing, "Oh no…"
Before she can adjust her trajectory with her Semblance, she crashes. But fortunately, the white-haired girl reacts with nearly inhuman speed, grabbing her luggage and moving out of the way. Ruby could have sworn he didn't see a flicker of Aura through this, just as her head smacks the concrete.
"Ugh…sorry, didn't see where I was going." she groans while rubbing her head, fortunately, her Aura was activated in time to tank the blow.
"..." the white-haired girl stares at her in confusion with blue eyes, with surgical scars on her face that Ruby instantly recognised.
"Oh my gosh, are those Sentinel augmentations?!" Ruby exclaims with excitement, instantly swooping towards her to get a closer look and surprising the girl, "They are! Are you a Pilot? No wait, you're too young. Are you studying for the Piloting Course then? How did you get those augments, I thought only Sentinel Pilots could-?"
"Are you lost?" the white-haired girl asks, genuinely confused, cutting off Ruby's stream of questions, "This is not a playground, I suggest you exit the academy grounds and return to the docks. I'm sure your parents must be looking for you."
Ruby sputters out a response, "Wha- No I'm not lost! And I'm not a kid, I'm fifteen. And a student."
She crosses her arms proudly at this but then the girl deflated her confidence with another piercing remark,
"That is highly unlikely." The white-haired girl says bluntly, crossing her arms and staring at Ruby with piercing blue eyes, "The requirement for joining Beacon Academy is to be a graduate of a Combat School after three years of training, or the recommendation of three Huntsmen. The standard age of Combat School graduates is seventeen years old. By that logic, you would be at most a first year."
"W-well it shows what you know. Professor Ozpin himself invited me to Beacon." Ruby hoped that would be enough to convince the somewhat mean girl and maybe eat her own words, but it wasn't.
"...Lying is a terrible habit to have if one is to be a Huntsman." the girl looks at her with even more disdain, "The odds of meeting the Headmaster of Beacon is low, let alone being invited to a Huntsman Academy at just fifteen years old. You should leave at once before you get into any trouble, little girl."
Ruby looks at her, flabbergasted on how someone can be this stubborn that they were in the right. As she was struggling to think how to convince this girl she wasn't some kind of lost kid, a soft and almost melodic voice interrupted them.
"I apologise for interrupting, but I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." they turn to face the person who interrupted them, eyes widening at the sight of a young woman with white and red hair, dressed in a white suit and tie with a black shirt. Both of them knew who this was at first glance, no one on Remnant wouldn't recognise her.
"There appears to be a misunderstanding, but this girl truly is a student here." She looks down at Ruby with a warm smile on her face, offering a hand to shake, "A pleasure to meet you in person, Miss Rose. I heard how you tried to stop the robbery last night in my city."
"You- you're-?!" Ruby's mind reboots itself as she tries to form a complete sentence. The white-haired girl however had no problems.
"You are Ayre, the CEO of NEST Inc. and the founder of New Glenn City." she recognises and nods towards her, "What brings someone like you to Beacon?"
"Company affairs." Ayre responds politely but does not clarify, "And you must be Weiss Schnee. Your sister spoke very highly of you. I'm surprised to find you studying in Beacon, I would have thought Atlas would be better suited considering the location and your family's influence in your home Kingdom."
"My father is not fond of the influence the military has over Atlas Academy." Weiss explains, "And I was told of a certain course being taught by a certain Pilot of yours. I don't suppose there will be any issues considering the fact our companies are rivals."
, "...On these grounds, you are a student first, the daughter of a corporate rival last and least. Business between our corporations should stay where they are, outside this institution. Don't you agree?"
"...I suppose so." Weiss turns her back and grabs her luggage, planning to continue her way into Beacon before stopping to look back at Ruby, "Some advice first, since it's apparent that somehow you really are a student. Quit while you still can. A child like you doesn't belong on a battlefield."
"I keep telling you I'm not a kid!" Ruby shouts back at Weiss as she leaves, "Dang it."
She mutters before turning towards Ayre whose eyes were following the girl, a strange look in her eyes. It almost looked like sadness and disappointment. Swallowing her nervousness, Ruby speaks up.
"Uh, it's- it's nice to meet you, Miss Ayre." she lets out a nervous chuckle as the woman turns to her, "It's a huge honour! I'm a fan! Big fan! Can I get an autograph?"
"Of course, but first…" Ayre raises a small stack of familiar papers, "I think you dropped this."
"My application forms!" Ruby realises, having remembered dropping them again when she landed headfirst.
"Yes, for the Piloting Course if I'm not mistaken." Ayre looks through the forms with her red eyes, "I must admit, we haven't received an application from someone as young as you are."
"Well, yeah, Professor Ozpin let me skip a few years." Ruby says kinda embarrassed, "You know, for last night… Penny didn't get into too much trouble, did she? It was my fault, I dragged her-"
She asks worriedly, starting to go on a ramble before Ayre stops her, putting a hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"She had a stern talk with her father about risking herself, but no she was not in trouble." She assures with a smile, "In fact, she spoke quite highly about you."
"Really?" Ruby brightens up at that.
"Yes, during the entire trip to the airport, she never stopped talking about the new friend she made." Ayre smiles at the memory of Penny talking about Ruby in the back of the limousine, "You made her very happy in the brief time she's known you."
"It's no big deal." Ruby blushes at that, "I'm sure she's got plenty of friends back home at Atlas."
"Actually it's the contrary." Ayre frowns a bit, "She has none. Penny has always found it difficult to interact with others and can be quite lonely back home. This was why I offered her a chance to visit New Glenn, I figured the change in environment could help her. And with the sheer number of visitors at the expo, she would have been bound to make a friend or two. I'm very glad I was correct, even if I was surprised that it ended with getting involved in an armed robbery and weapon smuggling incident."
Ruby awkwardly chuckles and rubs the back of her head, "Heh, yeah, sorry again about the mess. I- huh?"
Ruby blinks confusedly as Ayre hands her the last page of her application, which has boxes to be signed for her approval to take the Piloting Course. Her silver eyes widened in surprise as she spotted Ayre's name signed on it.
"I read your application during your little 'chat' with Weiss Schnee." she explains as Ruby stares at the page with an amusingly shocked expression, "Never in my lifetime would I expect to read such a reason for becoming a Pilot. Becoming a 'hero' as you wrote?"
Ruby flushes in embarrassment, trying to hide her face with the papers, "I- I know it sounds dumb."
"Perhaps." Ayre doesn't disagree, "But I have seen many become Pilots for many reasons. Some for money. Some for the prestige. Some out of desperation. Some saw it as a simple evolution of the business of killing Grimm. Even for revenge, or other personal reasons such as pride. I don't think I have ever heard of one wanting to be a pilot simply for saving people."
"But… aren't killing Grimm and saving people the same reasons?" Ruby asks confused and Ayre gives her a wry smile.
"To some. But in my opinion, there is a world of difference." she insists, "Whatever the reason, I would like to see how far you can fly. And it does help that Penny vouched for you. The girl wouldn't stop insisting that once you get into Beacon, you should get a spot in the Piloting Course."
"She did?" Ruby exclaims in surprise, "I really need to thank her the next time we meet… Shoot, but she's in Atlas."
Ruby mutters disappointed before Ayre pulls out her Scroll, swiping and tapping it before Ruby's Scroll rings from a notification. Checking it, she found that a message had been sent from an unknown number.
"Her contact information." Ayre explains to a confused Ruby, "Consider it a personal request from me, but I hope you remain friends with her."
"Wait, how did you get my number?" Ruby asks, not sure how that happened, and definitely not remembering having given it to Ayre at any moment. The woman simply smirked, and for a moment Ruby thought she saw her eyes flicker red,
"Trade secret." she says before moving onward, "I suggest you get to the auditorium as soon as possible. I'm sure you don't want to miss the introductory speech. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Rose. I hope to see you in class."
"T-thank you, Miss Ayre!" Ruby yells back as Ayre enters the building. Once she was gone Ruby stared back at her signed application forms in silence before letting out a high-pitched squeal that was high enough that any dog nearby could have picked it up.
"I made it!" she screeches at the top of her lungs, laughing celebratorily and freaking out any nearby onlookers, "This is going to be the best school year ever!!"