Jacen had taken the BX-series droid commando head and brought it to one of the laboratories at Beacon.
It had been less than two days after the ordeal he and Rouge had undergone, and he still had lingering questions.
He'd hoped to be able to find something by having Skipper scan it, but nothing came from it.
He'd even tried using psychometry on it, only to find next to nothing.
Whoever provided the Black Citadel's White Fang with droids was no idiot. This was evident from how the hidden Separatist managed to obtain some of the CIS's most advanced and deadly battle droids.
"So, this is one of those droid things you fought during the war?" Rowan asked.
"The horrors of combat automata," Jacen answered.
In addition to his team, Yang was also here to provide her insight.
Gray was documenting the discovery with his scroll.
"I've seen the styles of Atlesian automata," Gray said.
"The older Atlesian Knights have a similar unsettling appearance, not unlike these droids."
Yang had brought a kit with her and used one of the computer terminals.
"I wonder if we can find out whatever it's got in its head," she said, unpacking the kit, a collection of hacker tools.
"I've sliced into a few cameras and other bits of tech that some criminals were using."
Jacen whistled, "Think it's equal to the task of cracking open a BX-series droid commando's memory banks?" He inquired.
Yang winked at him, "There's nothing I can't crack open," she said confidently.
If nothing else, he admired Yang's confidence. However, he doubted that even she could crack open the memory banks of one of the most complex matrices installed into the more elite battle droids.
A tactical droid would have been worth the risk.
Though he and Rouge hadn't exactly shared the whole story.
They admitted that they were out in the mountains doing some training when they came across the Black Citadel and then ran into the droids.
Yang and Rowan expressed both apprehensions, mainly at the mention of the infamous prison.
Oddly, both of them expressed how one would have to be completely insane to even go into the valley leading toward the citadel.
Though they were also miffed at having missed out on the action.
Jacen's instincts were on high alert as soon as Yang prepared her equipment. The Force was warning him of some impending danger or threat, and he knew he had to be ready to protect himself and those around him.
Skipper was screaming and making his way from the droid's head.
"Jacen, Yang, move!" Rouge's voice shouted.
Rowan grabbed Jacen's collar as a sudden noise became audible.
Gray was pulled backward by Rouge, nearly dropping his scroll in the process.
In that split second, Jacen threw up a Force shield just as the commando droid's head exploded.
The force of the blast took considerable concentration, and it took Rowan and Yang to keep him from being blown away.
After the chaos subsided, everything was destroyed, and the equipment was severely damaged. Glynda would be furious about this.
"Dammit, that was my lucky slicing kit," Yang said with dismay.
Jacen stopped her from moving, "No one move," he said with concern in his voice.
He nodded at Skipper, "Do a thorough scan," he said, then watched as Skipper did the job.
The force of this explosion echoed with distant memory.
It reminded him of the hangar bay in the Jedi Temple after one of Barriss Offee's acts of terror, which saw the expulsion of Ashoka Tano from the Jedi Order.
If the one who gave the droids to the White Fang had implanted the same volatile nano-droids as was used during the bombing, he wasn't about to run the risk of anyone present becoming a second bomb.
Skipper signaled an all-clear, and everyone relaxed a bit.
"You might have told us that those droids were rigged to blow if they fell into enemy hands!" Rowan said angrily.
"It's never happened before," Jacen said.
"Even then, the most a droid did in our hands was short itself out."
Occasionally, some droids, namely the Vulture Droid fighters or the Tri-fighters, had such a defense, but it didn't happen often.
Droids were pretty much a walking resource, particularly if a clone trooper ripped off its head and they used it to extract data.
In this case, it was strategic; whoever had procured the droid didn't want him to know who or what they were.
Rouge seemed shaken from the event and said, "That blast could have killed us."
"It's a classic strategy; if you don't want the enemy to know anything, have both the enemy and their associate die simultaneously," Jacen explained.
"I don't suppose you got any more of those?" Rowan asked.
"Unfortunately, that was all I could get," Jacen answered with dismay.
"Um," Gray had a tone suggesting they all might be in serious trouble.
Although the lab wasn't severely affected by the explosion, Jacen had a feeling that they were in trouble and were about to receive a severe reprimand.
"Working on a personal project, Mr. Horne?" The unmistakable voice of Glynda asked from behind.
Jacen was gripped by a sense of apprehension, as if he were a youngling who had just gotten caught misbehaving and was about to face the stern reprimand of Jocasta Nu, the no-nonsense librarian of the Jedi Archives.
"Of a sort, professor," he answered but felt his eyes widen when he looked at Glynda.
As soon as she stepped into the laboratory, her icy stare conveyed her displeasure at the disorganized and cluttered state of the place. However, her physical appearance was even more striking. She hobbled with each step, as if she was in pain, and her arms and neck were wrapped in bandages. It was evident that something terrible had recently happened to her.
"Are you alright, Professor?" Yang asked, hoping to ease the tension, but Glynda wouldn't be so easily deterred.
"Why must this year's students be so difficult?" She asked, then motioned with her weapon and used her semblance to restore the room as best as possible.
Glynda definitely could have been a Jedi herself because of how she telekinetically controlled things.
Once the room was restored, Glynda looked at Jacen, "Professor Ozpin wants to see you in his office," she said.
School matter or the real business, Jacen wondered inwardly.
Everyone else seemed concerned, but a reassuring wink alleviated their concerns.
Skipper was about to follow them when Jacen stopped him, "Sorry buddy, this is a solo mission," he said.
Skipper seemed irritated, but eventually, he got the idea.
At least this way, he wouldn't risk people potentially capturing Skipper and accidentally coming across information regarding the inner workings of Ozpin's circle or discovering the Maidens are real.
Without a word, he followed Glynda through the door.
As soon as Jacen and Rouge came back from their "training," Yang sensed that something was off.
Perhaps there was more going on, and they just didn't want to add that detail.
She couldn't help but notice that Rouge and Jacen were becoming increasingly close, but there may be a cause for concern.
Yang didn't like thinking that way, especially since Rouge had helped nurse her back to health after one of her overnight party binges.
However, she couldn't shake off a sickening feeling that she had.
Had Jacen decided she was too much trouble and wanted to leave her to her own devices?
Was that why Raven had left?
"Do you need to talk?" Rouge asked from behind her.
For a moment, Yang's expression turned into a suspicious scowl, but she soon softened it and put on a different face.
"What exactly happened?" she asked, emphasizing the word "exactly".
Rouge either couldn't say or couldn't decide if she should say anything.
"It's a bit too coincidental that you both happened to be within the vicinity of the Black Citadel and then suddenly happened upon those droids," Rowan said.
Yang was actually happy that Rowan now seemed like a better person, although he still had his flaws. However, he was an improvement over the Ice Queen.
"Somethings are better left unanswered," Rouge said.
Yang was feeling more annoyed than apprehensive. "I can't help but lose sleep over the unanswered questions about how the droids that Jacen fought during the Clone Wars ended up in the Black Citadel in the first place," she said.
Rouge suddenly seemed to make a difficult decision as she looked around the room to ensure it was just the present.
Rouge took a deep breath and said, "The White Fang was there with about 15 members."
Yang felt her eyes widen, but Rowan slammed his fist into the nearby table before she could say something.
"So, it wasn't just droids, you two ran into a damn White Fang cult meeting," Rowan barked.
"How'd they even know that Jacen was a Jedi?" Yang asked, angry but not nearly as angry as Rowan.
"The leader that was there said that the White Fang had a supporter," Rouge explained.
Yang clinched her fists, if that were so, that meant that now one of the worst groups in Remnant knew what Jacen was.
What was worse was, Yang didn't know just how much they actually knew.
If Yang had been there, she'd have ensured one of the White Fang members gave her that information about who gave them the droids.
"What were you two really doing there?" Yang asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"I can't say," Rouge said.
"Why can't you do it? Or is it that you won't even try?" Yang demanded, feeling her anger rise.
"I can't do it. It would be too risky for anyone else to find out," Rouge insisted.
What was more dangerous than the White Fang, who knew Jacen was a Jedi with old battle droids?
After a moment of tense silence, Yang let out an exaggerated sigh, "When you finally work up the courage to tell me, you know where to find me," she said, then left the room.
After turning the lock, she leaned her weight against the door and allowed herself a moment of respite. The coolness of the wood felt relieving on her back, but as she lifted her hand to her face, she realized that something warm and wet was running down her cheeks. She traced the trail of salty tears with her fingertips. They were angry tears, brought on by the feeling of abandonment that seemed to be closing in on her from all sides. Why did it seem like everyone around her was ready to turn their backs on her?
Jacen had done so much for her, and she admired his courage, not to mention he'd trusted her enough to tell his secret.
Now, was it possible Jacen was trying to distance himself from her?
No, she thought, Jacen wasn't like that.
He was helping her find a better solution that didn't involve late nights of partying with excessive alcohol.
Yet, he hadn't said anything about the Black Citadel or that Rouge was there.
She used her scarf to dry her eyes as she tried to think more rationally.
She remembered when Jacen received a call on his scroll regarding something about new book subjects.
That had made no sense at the time, any research material Jacen needed could either be found in the library or even in the CCT tower.
The only other source of books outside of Beacon was that old bookshop she often passed, what was it called, Tukson's Book Trade.
Perhaps there was more to that conversation than just discussing new topics to study.
Jacen didn't even come back with any new books.
It might be dangerous, but then, that was when it got fun.
If they weren't telling her the truth, she'd uncover the facts herself. Starting with finding out who provided the droids to the Fang and what their intentions were.
Rouge felt ashamed that she'd just barefaced to Yang.
Her abandonment from her mother had clearly instilled a fear of being abandoned by anyone.
She was proud of what she'd accomplished when Jacen gave her the motivation she needed while delivering the Briar family's first child.
The reason she couldn't say anything was because of the danger that would be placed upon not just members of Tukson's network but anyone who even knew about them.
"Secrets are nasty," Rowan said, breaking her from her thoughts.
When she looked at Rowan, she saw that he was unusually somber.
"I'm sure you have your reasons for keeping it hidden," he said.
"I have mine, as does everyone else whether they admit it or not."
Sometimes, Rowan could demonstrate moments of wisdom, likely from his own experiences while training in the way of the Cú Warriors.
She returned her thoughts to Jacen being called to Ozpin's office.
It seemed like Ozpin was frequently calling for Jacen to his office.
Indeed it wasn't because he was in trouble, but Jacen never really spoke much about it.
Whatever they spoke about in Ozpin's office was likely to be kept between him and Jacen.
It wasn't very polite to go digging into things that were a sworn secret.
Though given that she and Jacen had a shared secret about what really happened or even her own involvement with Tukson's network as Nightingale, she hoped eventually that Jacen would tell her when he was ready.
Furthermore, she wanted to at least clear things up with Yang, if only to prevent her from coming to a very wrong conclusion or, worse yet, becoming hostile toward her for her friendship with Jacen.
One of the things he'd always detested during the Clone Wars was the awkward silence that clung in the air so thick you couldn't move.
It often came whenever a top-secret briefing was about to take place.
It was the same as Glynda led Jacen to the lift going up to Ozpin's office.
The whole time, he was afraid that Glynda would collapse from whatever her leg injury was.
He had an acute awareness of her suffering, yet she was endeavoring to keep it from consuming her thoughts.
She could at least have said how she'd gotten those injuries.
When they finally got into the elevator, Glynda placed an arm over Jacen's neck, her leg injury finally overcoming her willpower.
"Professor, where in the name of Chaos did you get such injuries?" Jacen asked.
"I'm sure you'll find out when we get to Professor Ozpin's office," she said through deep breathing.
They'd finally reached the office, and Jacen felt his eyes widen.
After the explosion of the droid head, the laboratory suffered significant damage. However, the impact it had on Ozpin's office was even more devastating. The room appeared as if it had been struck directly by a powerful turbo-laser blast, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Glynda did her best to restore some order to the chaos that had ensued. Despite her efforts, the remnants of the explosion were still visible throughout the office. Scattered papers, broken furniture, and shattered glass littered the room, serving as a stark reminder of the catastrophic event that had taken place.
Even if it seemed as good as new, Jacen would have felt the echo of the explosion.
Jacen helped Glynda to a nearby chair and then sat her down comfortably.
"I apologize that you had been kept waiting regarding the nature of Professor Goodwitch's injuries," Ozpin said, sitting at his desk.
Compared to Glynda, Ozpin had minor injuries and hardly appeared injured.
As Jacen shifted his gaze towards Ozpin, his attention was immediately diverted by the realization of a subtle presence in the room. Upon further observation, he noticed that apart from himself, Ozpin, and Glynda, there was an additional individual present in the room, whose presence had gone unnoticed until that moment.
He jokingly thought to himself that it would be a curious event if it turned out Glynda was carrying a child herself.
He dismissed it as being somewhat disrespectful, not to mention wrong.
The reason he could sense Vermilion within her mother had more to do with how developed she was.
The sensation he was experiencing at the moment was not the usual feeling he had encountered before. It was different, yet it seemed somehow familiar, as if he had experienced this before. Despite the absence of any hostility, he could sense an air of caution in this feeling, as if it was waiting for something to happen. It was almost as if it was waiting for the right opportunity to reveal itself.
He kept his thoughts on that even as he pretended not to notice.
"Can this be the part where my question regarding how Glynda received her injuries and why this office looks like a barely put-back-together site of a turbo-laser blast?" Jacen asked instead sharply.
Either Ozpin didn't notice his tone or was simply taking it in stride, "The results of a rather unfortunate incident," Ozpin replied, though Jacen felt Ozpin was emphasizing the word "unfortunate".
"Was She so bold as to send you a bomb and nearly getting Glynda Class-D'ed?" Jacen asked; he didn't need to specifically use Her name since they were all in the same secret circle.
He usually wouldn't use such a phrase, but the timing of this and the explosion that occurred in the lab.
Anyone else would have chalked it up as coincidence, but as a Jedi, he didn't believe in coincidences.
If it wasn't a bomb, "You had one of those droids brought here, didn't you?" He asked.
Ozpin adjusted his glasses, then pressed a button on his desk and pulled up a photo of the upper torso of a Magnaguard.
Ozpin must have intended to have it looked at when it too self-destructed.
Though the fact he had it meant one thing, "You've been watching me," it was a statement rather than a question, but Ozpin quirked a slight grin of confirmation.
Perhaps Ozpin was, albeit indirectly. Did Ozpin have other people in his group that he'd neglected to mention?
An echo of memory swam through his thoughts.
He remembered a crow perched on a limb outside the house he and Rouge used to help Akane Briar deliver her daughter Vermilion.
Jacen still wasn't familiar with how Ozpin's power worked, perhaps he could temporarily take possession of animals to act as an extension of himself to keep eyes on his associates.
Though he didn't sense anything to indicate that the crow was possessed at all.
The presence he sensed now was similar to what he'd sensed then.
Jacen didn't turn to regard this presence, which he sensed was behind him.
"One thing I don't know is, how did you bring that thing here from the Black Citadel?" He asked, testing to see how much Ozpin actually knew.
Rather than speaking to it, Ozpin's eyes seemed to be focused on the thing behind him.
From the sound of feathers fluttering, the presence was undoubtedly the same one he'd sensed before.
As he stood there, his ears perked up in anticipation of hearing the familiar sound of his feathered friend's claws tapping against the wooden floor. But to his surprise, another sound caught his attention - one that seemed out of place. He felt a jolt of confusion and bewilderment as he heard the distinct sound of shoes hitting the floor behind him.
"It wasn't exactly easy, kid," a voice said.
Jacen felt his heart lurch a bit.
The way he, for such as it had to be, used that word was similar to how Daro had called him during his training, even afterward during the Clone Wars.
He immediately recomposed himself; now wasn't the time to dwell on that subject.
When Jacen turned, he was surprised to see the figure of Qrow Branwen.
A bit older than he'd seen in the picture at Yang and Ruby's house.
He remembered Ruby telling him in great detail just how skilled Qrow was.
Although Qrow appeared disheveled, Jacen believed it was part of a tactic to catch his opponents off guard. Qrow also seemed to be somewhat intoxicated, although Jacen suspected that part wasn't an act.
"Qrow Branwen," he finally said, trying to be genuinely sincere in his first impression.
"It's a pleasure to meet you at last."
Qrow seemed to scowl at him for some reason.
"So, you're Jacen Horne, our newest member," he said, reaching for a metal flask similar to Rouge's own.
"Um, yes," Jacen said, though Qrow did get a bit closer to him as though studying him.
"Well, I'd almost think you were some lost nephew of mine, if only because you're hair looks like Ruby's with that black-to-red color," he said.
"I assume Ruby and Yang have mentioned me?" Jacen inquired.
"Oh, Ruby's told me quite a bit, kid," Qrow said.
"Though, I do want to know where she picked up such a colorful new vocabulary."
Dank Farrik, Jacen had almost forgotten that she'd used the words kriff and schutta in front of her.
Yang said Qrow would kill him if he found out, and from the look on Qrow's face, he could see it probably wasn't an exaggeration.
"Do I get any last requests?" Jacen asked.
"Perhaps, though, that depends on how you answer my next question," Qrow's voice had taken on a dangerous tambour.
"What exactly is your relationship with Yang?"
Qrow seemed to have taken up the angry dad part instead of Taiyang.
He wasn't easily intimidated due to prior life-threatening experiences, including narrowly escaping Order 66. So, what made this situation unsettling?
Oh no, Jacen thought. That had to be exactly what Qrow had in his head regarding his and Yang's relationship.
"We're friends," Jacen said.
A noise from Qrow suggested that he didn't believe that.
For a moment, Qrow held a threatening gaze into Jacen's eyes, and Jacen looked straight back, holding the gaze.
Suddenly, Qrow laughed and placed a hand on Jacen's shoulder, "Relax kid," he said, then drank from his flask.
"I have to say I admire how you were able to hold your ground, even while being under a withering glance."
Jacen hid his relief, though Qrow leaned into his ear and whispered, "If you break her heart in any way, well... not a soul on Remnant will be able to find what's left of you."
Jacen was used to grizzly death threats, whether it was from a common criminal or General Grievous himself, but this particular threat might well be the first time he felt it wasn't just an idle threat.
Qrow eventually backed away, and Jacen turned toward Ozpin, who seemed amused by Qrow and Jacen's first meeting.
"So, you got that droid up here somehow, but how come you seem to know about the Black Citadel other than it's an infamous moment in Vale's history?" He asked.
"I didn't exactly sense Qrow nearby if that's how you knew."
Qrow let out a short laugh, "Oh, I was there, kid," he paused before drinking from his flask.
"In one form or another."
Sudden inspiration struck Jacen.
He remembered Galen Magnus, a former Admiral who'd been as much a mentor as Daro himself, taught him to make conclusions based upon small clues.
The clues that spoke to him now, combined with his insight from the Force, made things connect.
Jacen remembered seeing a large crow on the limb of a tree outside the old building he and Rouge helped to deliver Vermilion; his thoughts followed it up with Ozpin's usage of dusty old crow when referring to Qrow himself. Finally, the flutter of feathers followed by footfalls made everything connect.
Jacen turned to regard Qrow, "You can turn into a crow," he said.
Qrow seemed impressed, "Well done, kid," he said, holding up his flask in a toast.
"As you know, Mr. Horne," Ozpin said, making Jacen turn to regard him.
"My abilities transcend what semblances can do, as I presume the Force helps you transcend things."
Jacen felt it was wiser to hear Ozpin's explanation.
"However, I can't see what is transpiring from afar, and so, as I've been building my circle, I needed eyes that could travel great distances and be my own eyes."
Jacen glanced at Qrow, "I suppose you saw what happened?" He asked.
"The White Fang is definitely off the beaten path if they took a place with such a dark past as the Black Citadel and then used it to hold prisoners and potential deserters," Qrow said.
"I would have helped myself, especially when I saw that one of the prisoners was a mother-to-be."
"But you were there to observe," Jacen said with some understanding.
"Mind you, I have something of a respect for ya, kid," Qrow said.
"From what Ruby said, you risked your life to defend her when she and Yang were practicing unarmed combat, and you also saved Firecracker's neck when she got into that scrap at Junior's club."
That was a modicum of relief, though Jacen suspected that Qrow knew more than just those few times Jacen protected his nieces.
"Hell, it actually increased when I realized there was more to you than being just a good fighter," Qrow added.
Ah, naturally, he presumed that Qrow likely witnessed how he and Rouge managed to help Akane with her labor.
"It definitely showed that you have the leadership talent," Ozpin said.
"I understand; Ms. Nightshade owes as much of what she accomplished to you since she has an aptitude for the medical profession."
"With that question answered, I'm assuming you were trying to have the droid Qrow brought in examined when it exploded?" Jacen inquired.
Ozpin looked worried at Glynda, who still seemed to be in pain.
"We hadn't anticipated that it would," Ozpin said gravely.
"Even I can't be right all the time."
"Glynda tried to throw the damn thing out, then she used her semblance to shield us from the worse of it, but that's how she got her injuries," Qrow put in.
Jacen had to commend Glynda for her quick reflexes; otherwise, she'd be a barely recognized charred mess.
Even aura could only protect one for so long before it gave out.
"Thank the Force it wasn't a seismic charge or that none of you had ingested explosive nano-droids," Jacen said.
"Had I known the damn thing was gonna blow, I'd have never brought the thing here," Qrow said with noticeable regret.
"Just my luck."
"Which brings me to my own question," Ozpin said.
"Do you have an idea about who gave these relics of the Clone Wars into the hands of the White Fang?"
This was the part where he gave Ozpin his findings, though he didn't have much except a slight hunch.
"I think whoever it was, was likely the same one who sabotaged the field towers around the Emerald Forest," Jacen said.
"Unfortunately, anything I might have learned from either the White Fang Commander at the Citadel or the droid I had was lost."
"During your war, did you ever have such an incident?" Ozpin asked.
Jacen shook his head, "Though it would have been a strategic maneuver to prevent intelligence from coming into our hands, not to mention many of our analysis centers would be damaged, including our men working the equipment would have lost their lives," he said.
"Mind you, as I said, the entire war was the biggest trap any Jedi could fall into."
Ozpin nodded sympathetically, "I'm aware that the White Fang has been steered in the wrong direction ever since Kin Onyurio assumed power," his tone suggested that Ozpin was as upset about how the White Fang had changed just as Tukson, Dusky, and Blake undoubtedly were.
"Do you have an arrangement with Blake's father, the former leader?" Jacen asked.
"We have many students that attend Beacon, both humans and faunus," Ozpin answered.
"In Vale, we have special programs in place to give the faunus as many opportunities as humans as per the former king of Vale's insistence."
Ozpin sighed deeply, "Sadly, that has done little in dissuading people who have grievances against the faunus," he said.
Something about the situation revolving around the White Fang suddenly struck Jacen as too similar to what happened before the war, "You think, She is manipulating this Kin Onyurio into placing division between the humans and faunus?" He asked.
"That seems the most likely possibility," Ozpin answered.
"She wants to see us tear each other apart, especially after we've worked so hard to maintain the peace ever since the end of our war."
"If it succeeds, She'll throw Remnant into another war; worse yet, She could get her hands on weapons Remnant has never seen before," Jacen said.
"I've been out there, kid," Qrow said.
"What She has created, they were made of fear."
"That'll be worse if this person who gave the White Fang the droids happens to be a surviving remnant of the Confederacy of Independent Systems," Jacen said.
"Some joined Count Dooku cause they believed the Republic was utterly corrupt and they wanted change, but there were others that weren't so noble, namely the heads of the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, the Commerce Guild, the Corporate Alliance, and the Geonosian Creation Nests."
"You mean to say that Separatist elements of that stripe are operating here?" Ozpin asked.
"The war was as bad for the Separatists that scattered after the leadership collapsed as it was for the Jedi," Jacen said.
"I imagine several holdouts have leaders that are embittered over the result enough to try filling the role Dooku held."
Ozpin seemed to be contemplating before he asked, "I take it you intend on finding out who they are?"
Jacen nodded, "If there is a Separatist holdout here, it presents a great danger and even more so if the Empire comes across it," Jacen said.
Jacen wasn't sure why, but he felt that Ozpin had another question on his mind.
"During the war, you mentioned that the individuals who could use the Force such as Dooku and his former assassin Asajj Ventress are now dead, and the end of the war saw the Jedi scattered across the galaxy being hunted by the Empire," Ozpin said, recounting what Jacen had said regarding the aftermath of the Clone Wars.
"Is it possible that there might be one who fell through the cracks due to the war?"
That particular thought had occurred to Jacen before. Whatever Jacen had suffered, thousands of Jedi with clone troopers under their command suffered a similar situation if they managed to escape the initial execution of the order. Some Jedi who survived and learned of what really happened might have gone insane or fallen to the Dark Side in their moment of despair.
Jacen's mind seemed to reflect back to the initiation in the Emerald Forest. Ozpin said that there was a shield fence around the area of the forest, yet how had the Grimm managed to get in.
"The generators used to power the shield around the Emerald Forest, were they inside the shield or outside?" Jacen asked.
Ozpin pulled up security footage of the generators, which showed that they were on the inside. The one Ozpin was focused on looked like it was still undergoing reconstruction.
Jacen dismissed the possibility that it was some fallen Jedi as he'd have sensed their presence in the Force. He wondered if the shield fence worked similarly to a Droideka's energy shield, where only an object gently pushed toward the shield could actually go through.
Given the other droid models Jacen had encountered during the ordeal at the Black Citadel, he'd decided that there was potentially one culprit.
"I'm not sure this was a rogue Jedi; I think someone found a weak point on the base of the generator where the shield meets the ground and then sent in a Pistoeka sabotage droid or, as we call them, buzz droids," Jacen said.
Ozpin looked surprised, "The Separatists had such models for sabotaging the enemy's technology?" He asked.
"I've seen how quickly a cluster of them can rip a fighter apart," Jacen said.
"They could easily rip one of those generators apart."
Jacen contemplated something for a moment, "Who designed the shield fence generators?" He asked.
Ozpin paused momentarily, "Atlas has been instrumental in providing Beacon Academy with its defenses," he finally said.
That meant one thing, the Separatist leader who'd given the White Fang the droids had set up residence in Atlas and was familiar with their technology enough to disrupt it.
"Did that camera catch anyone in that area?" Jacen asked.
"Unfortunately, we only saw the end result," Ozpin said with dismay.
Ah, another thing for Jacen to uncover, "I'll do what I can to find out how deep this goes and if there's a way to stop it before things get worse," he said.
"Well, if that's settled, I'd like to take the kid out now," Qrow said.
All eyes seemed to turn in Qrow's direction, and he raised his hands.
"I meant out for a drink, Oz," Qrow clarified.
Jacen felt a hint of relief, but then again, the last time he was in a bar when he came here, granted that was the first time he met Yang.
However, the entire bar got trashed, not to mention the times he'd had to be Yang's chaperone to prevent her from going too far.
"Try not to go too far," Ozpin said with some exaggeration.
Jacen felt a sickening feeling that for all of Yang's drinking, Qrow was probably even worse.
Jacen rather hoped that Qrow was the type to pretend to be drunk or even have a very high tolerance to alcohol and pretend to be drunk to lower someone's guard.
However, insight from the Force told him that there was more to Qrow's drinking problem.
If nothing else, it meant he'd be able to get to know Qrow in a better setting.
"Let's move, kid," Qrow said with his arm thrown over Jacen's neck.
Before he left, he gave Glynda a concerned look, "At least take time to rest until your injuries heal," he said.
Glynda managed to look at him, "I appreciate your concern," she said.
"Professor Ozpin gave me a few weeks to rest while I recover."
Inwardly, Jacen wished he was versed in Force healing, though most information regarding that was scant, not to mention it was an innate gift.
Jedi healers were even rarer than those with the gift of psychometry.
Supposedly, Yoda had such a gift, but even Daro couldn't master it.
The most Jacen could do in this situation is wish Glynda a speedy recovery.
Without an additional word, Jacen and Qrow entered the elevator.
Once Qrow was in the elevator with Jacen, he couldn't help but study him further.
To look at him, he could easily pass for Ruby's brother, though there was a lot of mystery still surrounding the kid.
Yang's message was quite detailed and provided a complete picture of Jacen's history. It included information on the Jedi Order, their use of lightsabers as an external expression of their identity, and how they derived power from the mystical field of energy created from all forms of life known as the Force.
At first, Qrow believed that Yang was playing a prank on him after one of her late-night partying binges. However, as he read through the information and gathered more details from Ruby, he began to grow increasingly curious about this new topic.
During his time as a huntsman, even before that as a member of the Branwen Tribe, he'd seen many strange things that might have come from people's wildest nightmares.
The weirdness only continued when he was inducted into Ozpin's inner circle alongside Raven.
However, Jacen's situation was stranger than anything he'd ever seen throughout Remnant.
For starters, there'd never been any mention of Jedi who fought to defend the peace, and there was nothing about any lightsabers being wielded during the Great War.
However, that part made Qrow really pay attention to Jacen's history.
Yang's message indicated that Jacen had stated that prior to the outbreak of a war even greater in scale than the Great War, the Jedi were guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.
The term galaxy evoked an awed feeling as neither Ozpin nor anyone on Remnant could fathom anything larger.
"Why exactly was it called the Clone Wars?" Qrow asked.
Jacen turned to regard him, "The army that the Jedi and, by extension, the Republic commanded were clones," he answered.
"In that, they all shared the same face and voice."
That part still perplexed Qrow, "So you're telling me that you have the technology to make a living copy of someone?" he asked.
Jacen nodded, "Simply acquire a genetic sample such as blood or tissue, and you can grow a clone of whoever the samples came from," he answered.
"The template used for the clones we commanded was the legendary Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett."
Being able to clone an entire army from a collection of tissue samples?
That struck Qrow as practically being a wet dream for Atlesian scientists.
"Are Mandalorians a kind of warrior too?" Qrow asked.
Jacen nodded, "They're among the greatest warriors that have developed methods for even fighting Jedi," he answered.
Suddenly, Qrow felt like an enthusiastic student eager to learn something new.
However, Qrow noticed that Jacen's spirit seemed to dwindle.
The Clone Wars was perhaps the most captivating read in Yang's message.
Qrow had a feeling that the Republic would win the war despite the Separatists' victories led by the former Jedi Master Count Dooku, who had turned into a Sith Lord. However, what he learned about what happened after the Separatist Commander General Grievous was killed made Qrow feel uneasy.
The way Yang had mentioned Jacen's near-death experience when Executive Order 66 was issued, resulting in the death of his master, it was no wonder why the kid had such a haunted look.
The Clone Wars didn't end in victory but in darkness and blood.
The Jedi were portrayed as traitors after attempting to assassinate Palpatine, the Chancellor and leader of the Republic. The Sith, who were the ancient enemy of the Jedi, manipulated the situation. Jacen suspected that Palpatine was actually the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who the Jedi were searching for.
Worse yet, the evidence presented painted the Jedi as being the ones to engineer the war to weaken the Republic until they could attempt a coup.
The Republic was now no more, in its place was now the Galactic Empire.
"Do you think any other Jedi survived?" Qrow asked.
"I'm not sure," Jacen answered.
"I'm sure some probably managed to survive, but they're probably even more broken than I am."
Jacen was about Yang's age, yet he had fought in a war that was never intended to be won.
"From your own account, you say the Jedi selected children whenever they were shown to have this Force sensitivity," Qrow inquired.
"Where exactly are you from? Surely you have to have some idea about your own parents."
Jacen shook his head. "I was brought to the temple as a baby. I don't know if I was the voluntary choice or if they didn't want to raise a Jedi," he said.
Qrow felt a sense of disapproval at the idea of someone giving away their own child to a religious order. He didn't believe that the Jedi didn't just take these children by force.
"Is it true that they actually train you to distance yourself from emotions and forsake attachments like family, friends, or even love?" Qrow asked.
"We're taught to have a selfless love, but individual attachments such as friends, family, or even love could cloud the mind," Jacen said somewhat begrudgingly.
"That was the fault of the Jedi in being so set in their old ways that they never even considered the possibility that the old way isn't the only one."
"I assume this master of yours, Daro Kilaeon, tried teaching you differently?" Qrow asked.
"He instilled in me the belief that we shouldn't be forbidden to form bonds with those we worked alongside, that such bonds were encouraged by the will of the Force," Jacen answered.
"However, he also taught that eventually, even those we form those bonds with will eventually die, but that doesn't mean that they are gone as they dwell within the Force," he added.
"In a way, when we draw strength from the Force, it's as though those we formed bonds with are lending us that strength."
This talk about the Force was perhaps the most perplexing mystery that the Jedi had.
Jacen himself was describing it as though it was actually alive; perhaps it was if it was made up of all forms of life.
Still, to be raised in a setting where one was forbidden to form attachments or separate themselves from their emotions sounded like something a cult would do, especially if they took children.
Somehow, Qrow was getting a sickening feeling whenever the word children came into the subject.
"I'm assuming children were being trained at your temple when this order was given," Qrow said.
The color seemed to drain from Jacen's face, and Qrow knew this was going to be the topic that was going to be painful to hear.
"The one who appeared on Murkhana at the end of the war, Darth Vader, led an assault upon the temple," Jacen could barely get out the next few words.
"He slaughtered everyone inside, the masters, the young knights, and Padawans, even the younglings."
Vader had to be even more monstrous than the Grimm if he could slaughter children, whether they were Jedi or not.
It sounded like something She would do, albeit indirectly through her associates.
Suddenly, Jacen went onto a different subject, "When Ozpin mentioned that he needed eyes and gave you the gift to turn into a bird, was your sister Raven also given that?" He asked.
Another unpleasant topic, Qrow thought, still a question like that deserved an answer.
"Yep, I and Raven used our gifts to help Oz keep updates on the going's on throughout Remnant," Qrow answered.
"So, Raven is part of Ozpin's group too?" Jacen asked.
That part was even more challenging to explain.
"She was," Qrow said, placing emphasis on "was."
A shocked expression formed on Jacen's face, "Is she dead?" He asked.
Qrow took that to mean that Yang likely said she was looking for Raven, and now Jacen was concerned about what would happen if it was found out that she was dead.
"Trust me, kid, the only reason Raven would die is if she wanted to," Qrow said.
"She's very much alive and not to mention very dangerous."
He smiled slightly at him, "If it were Raven you met instead of me, you wouldn't be standing here right now," he said, then drank from his flask.
"You mean she broke away from Ozpin's circle," Jacen inquired.
"Yep, now she's the current leader of the Branwen Tribe," Qrow said.
Most people tended to freeze whenever the Branwen Tribe is ever even mentioned, but Jacen took it in stride.
"Is it true that they lead Grimm into villages after their raids?" Jacen asked.
"Ah, right, the terrible stories about tribes of cutthroat demons that take what they want before setting the Grimm on them to finish things," Qrow said sarcastically.
"That's the thing about stories, kid, people keep telling them, and then they start to change over the generations."
"In ancient times, I imagine there was a time where the Branwen Tribe wasn't reviled as villains but regarded as heroes," Jacen said.
That part Qrow hadn't expected from Jacen.
"I assume you're familiar with some of Remnant's geography," Qrow inquired.
"I know Vale has its mountains as a natural barrier, then Atlas has its weather," Jacen seemed to add a bit of humor with that last one.
"You notice anything about Mistral or, rather, the continent of Anima?" Qrow asked.
"There's a lot of flat planes with steppes but nothing in the way of natural defenses," Jacen started, then concluded.
"The Tribe is something of a deterrent keeping the Grimm out of larger packed areas."
"You learn quickly, kid," Qrow complimented.
"Mind you, the Tribes aren't your typical rogue bandits; they haven't survived out in the wilds of Anima by being weak," Qrow said.
"Whenever the names Branwen, Hierwynn, and Anwyl are mentioned, people quake in their boots with good reason; even huntsmen give them a wide berth if they could help it."
"What exactly would I expect from Raven?" Jacen asked.
"She threaten to kill me like you did?"
Qrow laughed, "Oh no, she'd just eat you raw, then give what's left to the Tribe," he said.
A stunned expression crossed Jacen's face, and Qrow laughed again.
"The Tribe might be brutal raiders that have to do what they can to survive, but they aren't cannibals," Qrow said.
"Though if Raven wanted you dead, she wouldn't tell you, you'd already be dead."
"Was it because she was part of Ozpin's circle that she wasn't there for Yang or some other reason?" Jacen asked.
"My sister is a complicated woman," Qrow said.
"She believes in the survival of the fittest and strength, but I don't know why she left."
Inwardly, Qrow was uneasy.
Raven wasn't exactly what one would consider motherly, and she hadn't exactly gone to check up on Yang even when she was still part of Ozpin's circle.
Then came a day Qrow still felt he was responsible for.
Taiyang had practically accused Qrow of why Summer ended up dying, and he technically wasn't wrong.
Qrow was by her side when she died, but it was common for him to have bad luck whenever he fought alongside others. His Semblance would activate whenever he engaged in combat and it proved to be helpful in defeating enemies. However, it could also be harmful to his allies, especially if they were in close proximity to him.
The closer anyone got to him when his semblance was active, the worse their luck got.
It typically ended badly whenever they were close enough to look him in the eye.
"Are you alright?" Jacen asked.
Qrow shook his head to clear his mind, "Yeah, kid," he answered.
"Let me ask something," he said.
Jacen nodded for Qrow to pose his question.
"If the Empire is out there hunting any Jedi that survived, how long will it be before they come here if not because of you then because of that Separatist with those metal clankers?" He asked.
Jacen paused for a long moment, "I can't say; I'm hoping they never will, with them being busy building up their structure or bringing systems into line," he said.
"What if this Vader monster senses you here?" Qrow asked.
"I didn't want to involve either of them in my issue," Jacen said.
"I will give my life if it means I can prevent the Empire from ever coming here, especially when it comes to keeping Yang and Ruby safe."
Qrow still didn't feel confident about Jacen's answer.
Yet, Jacen had saved both Yang and Ruby; even Ruby mentioned how Jacen had helped her escape a fog of doubt regarding her goal of becoming a huntress like Summer.
"Don't get me wrong, kid, I appreciate what you've been doing for both Yang and Ruby," Qrow said.
"However, as their uncle, it's part of my job to ensure they're not in any more danger than they typically would when they become huntresses."
"I could erase their memories," Jacen said.
"It would be as though they never met me."
Now Qrow looked him in the eye, "I don't want them to get hurt because of me," Jacen said.
Suddenly, Qrow didn't see him so much like a kid, but almost as though Jacen was actually Qrow's equal to a degree.
"That would be cruel for both of them to go through that without knowing who helped them," Qrow said.
"I just want to hear you say that you'll do what it takes to keep them both safe."
"Till death closes my eyes, and I become one with the Force," Jacen said, touching his heart.
It was as strong a vow as Qrow was likely to get, so he patted Jacen on the shoulder, "With that done, let's go for that drink," he said.
"I thought you already were," Jacen said.
Qrow couldn't hold back a laugh, "Oh, that's just occasional medication compared with what we're gonna do," he showed Jacen a grin.
"Hope Firecracker's partying has prepared you."
As they finally left the elevator, Jacen said, "I've got a bad feeling about this," then they departed.
END