Winning with Science and Firepower (RWBY SI)
By: Pastah_Farian
I sighed as I closed my laptop down with an audible clunk. My hand went up to message my…
Status: ongoing
Published: 2019-06-02
Updated: 2020-01-17
Words: 123241
Chapters: 53
Original source: https/forums./threads/55374
Exported with the assistance of
Winning with Science and Firepower (RWBY SI)
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 1
I sighed as I closed my laptop down with an audible clunk. My hand went up to message my temples, a vain attempt to ease the throbbing headache going my way. But no matter how hard I tried to relax my muscles, it only tensed in return. Frustrated, I threw my arms out in defeat and instead slumped on my chair.
Today… was not a good day.
I leaned forwards and opened my phone, my eyes scanning the messages sent by my mother. My grandfather was having complications. The tough, up-and-at-them bastard that had been in my life more than my actual father was fighting for his life on his hospital bed. My mother had texted me urging me to get to the hospital in all possible haste 'just in case.'
I growled at that statement. I could not accept that. No way. My emotions told me that the old man would be fine; that he would make it. He had always danced with death in his advanced age and had always turned out fine in the end. 'This time would also be the same.' My heart said. That was the fact that I wanted to believe. But the logical part of me said otherwise. Ever since he suffered a stroke, his health had declined dramatically. He was also older now and his immunity system was also weaker. Worst of all, he refused to eat anything and had to be fed with a tube. His words were few and if he did speak, they were slurred. Then the worst came to past as my mother messaged me minutes ago that his breathing suddenly became abnormal and she was calling the nurses in to assist him.
It was then that my path was decided. I was not going to waste any more time bitching about it. "Act now, bitch later." My grandfather's voice came to me. I smiled at that fond memory. I stood from my seat and pocketed my phone. I retrieved my wallet from my other pants and the keys to my house. I then put on my three-year old Nike shoes (It was still intact!) and went out of my house but not before locking each entrances and shutting close all the windows.
As I was about to leave, my phone vibrated. And as my phone vibrated, I was suddenly struck with an intense and queasy feeling.
I did not like that feeling.
Slowly, I took it from my pockets and read it. It was from my mother. Reluctantly, I unlocked my phone and read the full message. It was then that my world went very still.
Images flashed before me. I could hear a young child crying because of a bicycle accident. Then came a rough voice that scolded the child for being careless in his biking and the bike for not supporting the child well. I heard the same child crying into the arms of a big, rough looking man who whispered words of comfort into his ears and vengeance against a man who had neglected his duties as a father.
Tu abuelo esta muerto.
Your grandfather is dead.
After those words, my mind detached from my body. All other conscious thoughts failed to register for me. All I could decently remember was a pained cry of rage emanating from my mouth; of me rushing from my front yard and into the street, tears streaking through my eyes.
And of a white Nissan truck barreling towards me on the cement road.
I awoke with a gasp. And after a quick look around me, knew immediately that I was no longer in Kansas.
I did not see the busy and sunny street of my hometown nor could I see the crowd that had gathered around my dying body. I was in a canyon of sorts. In front of me was a long-winding path beset by golden leaves. At the end of the path was a large fountain that had an island in the middle of it. On that island was a tree with the same golden leaves that dotted the path.
I looked around and found myself alone in the canyon. The only thing that seemed to accompany me was the song of birds, the rustling of leaves and the bubbling of the fountain. My loneliness however was short-lived as a figure appeared out of nowhere at the end of the path. The figure had a distinct male form and was tall. On his head was a crown of antlers. He would have passed as an okay gent if it wasn't for the fact that his skin was literally made out of golden light.
" Come." The golden man beckoned.
I did as what was asked and strode toward him. Despite the calming atmosphere that surrounded me, I could not help but feel wary. Eventually, I stopped half-way from the golden man. While he did not look overtly-hostile or malevolent, one has to remember that Lucifer Morningstar appeared to mortals not as a scaly forked-tongued creep but as a handsome fellow with a charming smile. Or as a dude made out of golden light.
"So…" I started. "Are you God?"
The golden man said nothing.
"The Devil?"
Again, nothing,
"Allah? Buddha? Vishnu? Bathala? Zeus? Xenu?"
He waved his hand and a chair appeared behind me.
" Sit." He ordered. Not wanting to piss him off, I complied and sat down. Silence fell in the courtyard as the golden man stared at me. I squirmed under his gaze, feeling like a piece of meat being eyed by a man who had broken off a relationship with a vegan for five years. Again, he spoke.
"I am the God of Light. With my brother, the God of Darkness, we both created the world you call Remnant" He declared. He pointed his finger at me. "And we have decided to appoint you as our champion to repair our… mistakes."
"Mistakes?" I mouthed.
"I ndeed. I presume that you are aware of their names?" He asked.
Wait a minute. God of Light? Darkness? Remnant?
Then everything clicked. No wonder this place looked so familiar. And like ice, my respect for the guy in front of me just melted.
"You're the bastards that turned Remnant from a five-star restaurant into a drug den." I concluded. The God of Light nodded, ignoring the fact that I just called him a bastard.
" Yes. My brother and I have, for millennia, pondered on our handling of Salem and her husband Ozma." rumbled the golden clad man. " We have decided that we were… wrong and hasty. And in that decision, countless innocents have suffered not only from their games but also from our… carelessness." he sighed. " And so, we have agreed that a champion would be the best solution to repair the damage that has been dealt on our creations."
"And what would this champion do exactly to fix Ozzie and Sally?" I asked; curios on what they had planned for the two.
The God of Light did not hesitate.
" Kill them."
He waved his hand and there came a bright flash of light and a dagger appeared in front of me. I stood up, my eyes running over it. It was a beautiful looking dagger designed like a naval dirk. It was basic in design, its grip and cross guards were as black as night while the blade glowed with unnatural light. If anything, it was a symbolic expression of the Two Brothers coming to an agreement.
" This is a dagger that my brother and I have specially created to finally give Ozma and Salem their final rest. They have… endured their punishments long enough."
"Would you be kind to tell me why you two had a change of heart?" I asked through a sweet smile, my fingers twirling around the grip.
" As I said earlier, their quarrels have involved countless innocents. Far too many." explained the God of Light. " The justice that I have meted onto Salem for her treachery must only be for her and her only. My brother as well has come to accept my view and has grown to despise her involvement of others."
"What bout Ozzie?"
" Ozma has had his chances in stopping Salem but he has lost hope and has become useless. He is simply delaying his wife long enough in the hopes of having silver-eyed warriors defeat her in his stead. Remnant has endured them both long enough. For the growth and the future of Remnant, they both must die."
My sweet smile never left my face. "I see. Would you two want some fries with that as well? Maybe even some soda floats?"
For the first time, the God of Light looked at me in confusion.
" Speak sense, Champion." The god demanded. What the fuck? Was this golden asshole serious!?
I gripped the dagger, anger swelling in me as I glared at the golden asshole. "So you two fuckers… made me miss saying goodbye to my dying grandfather who was more of a father to me than my real father… JUST SO THAT I COULD LISTEN TO YOU TALK SHIT!?"
With that, I threw the dagger at the God of Light as fast as I could. The dagger sailed in the air and looked as if it was about to enter the golden bastards' chest but the god raised his hand and stopped the dagger in its place. I roared as I charged at him, screaming profanities. But before I could even get near him, shackles of light appeared on my legs that kept me firmly planted on where I stood. I squirmed and screamed, demanding him to release me so that I could give him a good bloody licking but the golden bastard just watched me. So I ranted.
"Amongst the two of you bastards, it is YOUR fault that Remnant is getting an ass-kicking anyway! If you had just granted Salem her wish to bring back Ozzie then she wouldn't have showed up at darker you's place and everyone would have lived a happy life!" I raged. "But noooo! You had to act all hoighty toighty and butthurt that your brother did something nice for someone! You could have just offered an alternative to her like giving her a way to Ozzie for one last time for her to have some closure on his death but you just had to rub it in her face, eh?"
" Her request would have violated the-" I cut him off.
"Fuck that noise! She was a grieving wife who lost her husband at a young age! Death shouldn't even be a thing to occur at that age anyway! They were young! YOUNG! Fucking Ozzie died before his time!" I roared at him. "You know what? You can pretend to be a good and empathetic god as much as you want but the way you handled Salem only proves that you are a detached and cruel asshole! I mean, fuck! The God of literal Darkness, your mopey and edgy brother, is a way better person because he at least listened to a widow's prayer!"
For an hour, I continued my tirade. Then came another hour. Then another. Eventually, I had run out of things to say and was left in the ground huffing and heaving but still gave that golden bastard a right proper glare.
He stole me from my family! He stole me from giving my grandfather a goodbye! And he now wants me to clean up the mistakes that he and his brother did? Fuck him!
The god walked towards me, no doubt to offer some justification for treating Salem and Ozzie like shit. But what he did next shocked me.
" You are right." He said.
I could not believe my ears. "What?"
" My brother and I have't been the best gods for Remnant." admitted the god, shoulders slumped in defeat. "I have ignored the simple wishes of a grieving wife all for the sake of upholding the balance of life and death; not realizing that death would soon overtake life after Salem's treachery. And because of my zealousness, Remnant suffers." But then, his posture became rigid.
" While he and I aren't the best of gods, we are at least not foolish gods. We recognize when we've made mistakes in our judgments and we do our best to correct them if we can." He paused. "Now, I ask you, Champion. Will you assist us in fixing our mistakes?"
I paused to think. The Two Brothers were assholes. Really giant assholes. The type of assholes that would and could create worst assholes either by accident or by design. The things they did to Salem was just… assholish. I was so tempted to tell this bastard to take his deal and shove it where the sun don't shine but I hesitated. If I helped them, and offed Sally, the grimm would most likely be less controlled and be easier to hunt down and kill. Cindy and her gang of misfits wouldn't be able to do that much damage and all that unnecessary shit that happened in Volume 3 would be avoided. And if I offed Ozzy, he would not longer be able to send people to die anymore. People like Ruby's mum…
Ya know what? Fuck it! We're going in!
"Alright you scurrilous bastard. I'll do it…" I sad through grit teeth, still quite hating the golden bastard in front of me. "But after I've spoken with grandpa."
" Very well." With a flick of his wrist, a man appeared right in front of me. He was smiling.
The conversation was short and heartfelt. Grandpa wasn't really a man of words. He was a man of action. After some words of goodbye and a whole twenty-minutes of crying and hugging, I was ready.
"So… how do I start?" I asked, now less angry and a bit more excited.
" My brother and I want Salem and Ozpin to be removed as soon as possible. Do what you can and as much as you can. When they are both released from Remnant, you are free to do as you please."
"So… do I get powers and st-" Before I could finish, darkness overtook me.
I stayed in the dark but it was a nice dark. It was warm and I somehow I could taste really nice food despite having no tastebuds yet. Then something pushed me and eventually, I came to Remnant the same way I exited Earth.
Screaming.
But something was off with those screams. Those were baby screams! Was I being reborn as a baby? With an fully functional adult mind? Nightmare fuel! Night mare fuel I say! I do not consent! I DO NOT CONSENT! Oh god! OH GOD!
"Congratulations Mr. Friedlich! You have a son!" cried aloud a voice.
Then came loud cheers as I felt myself being wrapped around a blanket. When I opened my eyes, I found myself staring into the face of a blue eyed and white haired man who looked like he lifted fifty a day. But despite his intimidating looks, I did not fear him.
"A son…." he whispered. "I have been blessed with a son!" He grinned at me. "Whatever I have and will have… now belong to you. My boy… My heir…" He lifted me up for all to see.
"My little Alexander!"
A peaceful defender of men huh? That's pretty neat.
How little I knew that in a few years, my name would be pretty bloody ironic.
A/N: And here is to something that burrowed its way out of my head. I sure as hell hope to finish this among… other things.
The story of Salem and Ozma is one that is rather tragic. And I could imagine a certain mermaid gal from a certain anime digging that like kids dig Cinnamon toast crunch. Oh and the Two Brothers are useless assholes. And one last note, I tend to write my things half-asleep thanks to work so typos and weird sentencing are inevitable. Do tell me if you some some and I'll try and correct em.
Chapter 2
Growing up again was a humiliating experience. I had the consciousness of an adult but not the will to control my body. I couldn't control my bowel movements. I drooled and slobbered myself. I cried a lot so that I could be fed or be comforted. But my cries were usually muffled for as soon as I made noise, it would be quickly silenced by the teats of either a maid or from Mama Friedlich herself.
Eventually, the humiliation of infancy lost its effect on me and I accepted the fact that I would have to dig up dignity from a deep hole to get it back. Babies are supposed to be cute little disgusting gremlins so there is nothing wrong to crap and drool all over the place.
And as I waited for the moment to be given full control of my body, I was busy bombarding my head for solutions regarding my future.
Namely, how exactly was I going to off Sallie and Ozzie?
The first person controls an army of nightmare fuel creatures who could fuck you up to shit-creek in ways you'd never thought possible and is also a powerful sorcerer on her own right. The second one is a Doctor Who regenerating bastard who runs a school of super-powered teenagers. How the flying fuck could I, a scrub from a tropical country now a drooling dawdling infant, even hope to kill those two?
When I eventually reached childhood and had gotten a good grip of things, a solution presented itself to me.
My family, the Friedlichs, were industrialists that made weapons for the Atlesian military. We made everything from the cannons that were attached to Atlas's battleships to the smallest microchips that made its android forces work. Atlas was Remnant's Prussia. It was only inevitable that someone would have to be their Krupps. And very much like the Krupps, my family worked closely with the state.
I had found all of this when I was five and had wandered around our house, a pleasant Victorian-era styled mansion, and found my father's study. I pushed open the door and explored his office. On his desk I found numerous papers bearing the company's seal and the seal of the Atlesian military. I didn't have to be a genius to understand that they were After Action Reports of experimental weapons that Atlas was testing such as a new rifle that had greater punching power towards the Grimm, a tank that was the bastard lovechild of an Overlord Tank and a Bolo, and a new line of androids that would soon replace the scarier looking androids that Atlas currently fielded.
I had plopped myself on my father's chair and had taken the papers in hand to read them closely. So engrossed was I in reading them that I failed to notice the distinct sound of a scroll taking a picture. I looked up and saw my father standing at the doorway with his scroll up in picture mode. Behind him were two men dressed in the white uniforms of the Atlesian military. The first man was an elderly gentleman who let his white hair grow into a un-military like manner and had eyes that twinkled. The second man was pure military, everything from his hair down to his posture. He also had a permanent looking grimace that I could not help but dislike.
"Oho! It looks like your son can no longer wait to take hold of the family business, Gerard!" exclaimed the old man as he gave my father a pat on the back. My cheeks reddened in embarrassment as my father, Gerard Friedlich, beamed at me and had the look of a dad who was about to do something to embarrass his children.
"My little CEO!" he squealed as he walked around the table and towards me. He held both his hands out to pinch my cheeks and ruffle my hair, all the while gushing about my cuteness.
And there I sat, red in the face while the elderly man laughed at me expense and his younger grim looking follower merely shook his head in disbelief.
After a few minutes of embarrassment, my father set me up on his lap while he and his military associates discussed business. Before they started, the black-haired man eyed me with a mix of suspicion and disdain.
"Mr. Friedlich, I do not mean to be rude but is it alright for a child to be sitting here while we discuss matters of the state?" He pointed out all the while giving me that look of his. But before my father could answer, the older gentleman added his two cents.
"Don't be like that, Ironwood." Wait what? "That child is the future heir of this company. Would it not be best for him to start sooner rather than later? The experience would do him good." He turned to my father. "Is that right, Gerard?" My father nodded.
I looked up at the black haired man and scanned him from up and down. So this was Ironwood before he became a General huh? I wonder if he still had his meaty bits on him. As I scanned him, our eyes met. I smiled and waved at him. He raised his eyebrow at me, looking unsure on how to respond to a precocious five year old. After some moments of deliberation, he settled with an awkward wave and a forced smile, no doubt unused to reply to children.
Our interactions stopped when the elderly man clapped his hands that got both our attention. "Well then. Let's start!"
And thus, the discussion started.
"The new battle rifle we are designing, its name still pending, has achieved satisfactory results." started my father. "The new rounds we have also designed have proved to be quite effective on smaller and medium sized grimm." As proof, he produced his scroll and sent Ironwood short videos of said squads engaging grimm. One of the videos was of a squad of Atlesian soldiers in a forest eliminating a pack of beowolves. The black-haired man received it and leaned forward to show his superior the videos. I watched in fascination as the rifles tore through the grimm like a fist tearing through paper. I looked at them and saw them mumbling amongst themselves, their mumblings I could not hear, as they watched every single video that had been sent. Upon finishing the last one, they turned to my father and urged him to continue.
He cleared his throat. "The soldiers that tested the rifle have been receptive so far. They say that is lighter and could be relied upon to dispatch grimm. The only complaint they have is that it overheats rather easily due to the dust rounds and have proven difficult to maintain." The two military men sent him concerned looks but father simply smiled. "But don't worry gentleman! My researchers will be working night and day to address its problems! I assure you of that!"
The men nodded. My father continued.
"I am also proud to say that our proposed Defender tank is coming on nicely!" declared Gerard. Schematics appeared on Ironwood's scroll that showed an oversized tank that had a large turret that had two massive cannons. It also had four smaller bubble turrets on each side that could protect the vehicle on all flanks. It had a small tower on the middle of the turret and also had openings in which its defenders could open fire "It will be armed with two 125 mm Friedlich cannons and will be complimented with four 50 mm dual-mounted cannons, one at each side of the tank. It will also be a mobile field command vehicle, a transport vehicle, and a support vehicle!" He then pointed at the tower that was on the tank. "It will also have an in-built mini-CCT tower that can command android units independently within at least within a 8 km radius! Perfectly useful and reliable! And the only thing that it really needs is for the Design Committee to approve of it so that my factories can start production!"
"You seem to put much faith in your design, Gerard. Especially in this… tank." the old man noted. Father huffed and crossed his arms.
"Of course! Tanks are big, manly, heavily armored and heavily armed!"
"The Paladin design that is being forwarded by the Schnee Dust Company is also, as you have said; big, manly, heavily armored and heavily armed." said Irownwood. "And unlike your Defender tank, it can easily be transported around."
"If I were the design committee, I would give Gerard's design a chance, Ironwood." remarked the old man. "Speaking from a military point of view and not as his friend, the Defender tank is moderately cheaper than the Paladin. And judging from the schematics, quite simpler to maintain and guzzles on dust less. Let us also not forget that we will be sending these machines against the Grimm. When the time calls for it, every single equipment we will have must be used to its fullest extent." he reasoned. I looked up at Father and noted the uncomfortable look on his face.
"Jacques Schnee is a colleague and a fellow industrial magnate but with all due respect, he knows nothing about weapons design. His little 'Paladin' will just be an ugly, over-engineered, dust-guzzler that will probably be stolen as soon as it leaves the production line!" He crossed his arms. "If I were him, I'd rather stick to dust mining and leave weapons manufacturing to those that know how." grumbled Gerard. I could see a certain look on his face. A look of frustration and of a man who was feeling threatened.
An awkward silence fell in the room as the three men and one boy sat on their seats. There was something amiss here, I could see, judging from the knowing looks Ironwood's superior sent my father. Luckily, Ironwood leaned forward and cleared his throat. "You said you had the last report, Mr. Friedlich?"
That knocked father from his thoughts and he cleared his own throat before continuing. "O-of course." He took the paper featuring the new Atlesian android and read aloud. "The Atlesian Knight-200 design is going smoothly. It is performing remarkably better than its predecessor in terms of dust usage, combat performance, and durability. The test groups we hired to rate the design have been favorable to it, calling it more 'friendly' and less 'scary'. My head scientist, Geppetto Polendina…" My eyebrows raised in recognition. "… has also devised a system that would make dust consumption even more efficient in the long run. His upgrades can be fitted into the final design without further changes. We can begin production as soon as the Design Committee gives us their approval."
So Penny's dad is working for my father? That's rather exciting. So in the far future, I'd be able to meet RWBY's resident android girl far earlier than anyone huh? I unconsciously smiled, the words "I am combat ready!" echoing in my head.
"So far, that is all that I have to report, gentlemen." my father suddenly said, knocking me from my thoughts. The two men nodded and rose from their seats. "It was a productive meeting, Gerard." the older gentleman remarked. "I shall inform the Committee regarding your results." His gaze then turned to me. "And it was also an honor to meet you, young man. I look forward in seeing you outdo your father." I smiled at his compliment. "Thank you, Mr. General!" I exclaimed, my tone high and childish. The man chuckled as he looked at my father.
"He'll grow into a fine recruit when he'll be older, Gerard. He has shown some skill in infiltrating your office. Why don't you send him to Ironwood here." Said man cringed at the attention and had a horrified look on his face. "And have him trained to be a Specialist?" He said half-jokingly, half-serious. My father grimaced as he rubbed the back of his head. "If I agreed to that, general. My wife would have my head."
It was then that a new voice came in. A female one.
"What's this I hear about recruiting?" Our attention turned to the doorway to see a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman standing at the door way with her arms crossed. Father turned white while the general began to laugh nervously. Irownwood simply looked lost as to what was happening.
Alena Friedlich nee Petain was a formidable woman. A huntress turned accountant. She handled the finances of the company while Gerard Friedlich handled the business. She and my father met when she was assigned to protect him back in their youth. Their relationship at first was icy, Alena being a commoner from Vale while Gerard was the son of a rich Atlesian arms manufacturer. But after years of being together and after one night they just referred to as 'The greatest time of our lives.'. They fell in love and eventually married.
She fought off grimm, terrorists, and rogue hunstmen. And when she settled in, she fought Atlesian businessmen, socialites and military officers who thought of her as a high-reaching, Valean gold-digger. She had seen the worst the world had to offer and beat them back.
A formidable lady indeed.
"Ah, Madam Friedlich." greeted the General. "I was merely complimenting your son's infiltration skills for managing to sneak in through his father's office and I thought he would make a fine Atlesian Specialist."
She looked at me, blue eyes flashing. She then smirked as she entered the room, her expression pleased. "Of course. I could not expect anything less from my own son." She looked at me. I gulped. I recognized it as the 'You"ll have a spanking later if you don't do what I say!" look. "Alexander Friedlich, your piano tutor spent 20 minutes walking around our house looking for you. Would you kindly explain why you hid from the poor lady?"
Oh shit. "I forgot?" I offered. Chuckling erupted right around the room as my mother walked over towards me with a sweet smile. "Attend to your lessons, young man." The iron in her voice was motivation enough for me to scamper from my Father's feet and run out of the room. From behind me, I could hear mother yelling. "And give her an apology for misbehaving! If I ask her later and she tells me that you didn't apologize, no chocolate pudding for one month!"
At that, I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me. If there was one thing I feared other than my mother's wrath, it was the withholding of chocolate pudding.
And I loved my chocolate pudding
Alena Friedlich turned her attention to the man who joked about taking away her baby boy from her and gave him a sweet smile. He was still chuckling when sent him said smile. "General. When you said that you wanted to recruit my only son to your army, it was nothing more than a joke, wasn't it?"
The man smiled nervously as he saw her attention on him. "Of course, madam. Nothing more than humour!" he agreed. The ice that formed in the room was quickly thawed when the general glanced at his wristwatch and exclaimed. "Well, would you look at the time! I still have to report your husband's data to the design committee!" He turned back to her husband. "It was a pleasure to hear from you, Gerard! I shall be hearing from you soon!" With that, he turned from him, but not before giving her one last goodbye, and left, his underling Ironwood trailing behind him.
With a sigh, she turned back to her husband and walked over towards him. She leaned over and gave him a rather unchaste kiss. After a few minutes of de-stressing, she pulled back and sighed again. "He needs better jokes." she said. Gerard turned to look at the doorway and squinted. "And I need better doors." He remarked. He clicked his tongue as he stood from his seat and stared at the door. "Looks like I need to stop buying doorknobs from Vacuo now."
"Jokes aside Gerard, I think you need to see this." said Alena as she took an envelope she had hidden and presented it to him. He scanned it briefly then looked up at her, his expression neutral.
"Please tell me that this is a small joke from a prankster who has too much time with his hands." he pleaded. Alena shook her head.
"It is not a joke, I'm afraid. This invitation came from her own personal butler." At that, Gerard deflated as he glanced at his wristwatch.
"Very well. What would Willow Schnee's soon to be five year old daughter want as a present? What was her name again?"
"Weiss Schnee."
A/N: And here's the second update! I'll leave the next few updates as the lighthearted episodes to prep ya'll for A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE OF FUN AND ENJOYMENT!
Chapter 3
What gifts would you give to five year old girls?
It's rather simple. Give that girl a puppy. Girls like puppies.
And judging from the facial expression of one Weiss Schnee, she liked that present very much indeed, amongst all others. She had received various gifts such as pearl necklaces, a velvet hat, a complete Mistrali doll set, and a canvas painting of her. But out of all of them, the white-clad, blue eyed Samoyed puppy was the only gift that struck in her the sort of pure joy that only children could give. And boy was her smile infectious. I myself was smiling uncontrollably. Father had asked what would be an appropriate gift for the girl and it was satisfying to see me efforts appreciated. I felt a nudge in my side and saw my father smiling mischievously at me.
"You've made a girl smile, Alexander. Congratulations." smirked Gerard Friedlich. I looked at him for a minute, face crunched in confusion. What was he on about? Then I saw his shit-eating grin and the twinkle that gleamed in his eyes. I quickly covered my face in embarrassment as my father laughed at my expense. For fucks sake dad! I just thought of a good gift to a girl!
It was then dear old mother chimed in. "You know, Willow Schnee is a dear friend of mine." I looked up at her and saw the calculating look on her face. "If you want to get closer with the girl, I could put in a good word with Willow. I'm sure she'd be delighted for her daughter to have a playmate."
I nodded in agreement. That's a rather marvelous idea to get closer wi-
I groaned as I realized what my mother was playing it. For goodness sake mum and dad! I'm still five years old! Why the bloody hell are you already shipping me with someone?
"I'm going to the bathroom." I announced. Partly to piss. Mostly to get away from my parents embarrassing the crap out of me. Said parents chuckled as they watched their white-haired five year old fumble around to get directions from a servant.
When we first arrived, some guests thought that I was the birthday celebrant. I was blue-eyed and white haired like my father so it was easy to mistake the both of us as Schnee's. My father took it all in good stride and dutifully explained that no, he wasn't Jacques Schnee and that the little 'girl' that was at his side wasn't Weiss Schnee. Both my parents found it funny as hell. I also found it funny, me being a generally relaxed person, but it eventually got grating after the sixth couple loudly gushing how adorable I was. So for most of the party, I was left grumbling, my head trying to comprehend why people would mistake me as a girl despite me wearing noticeably boy's clothing.
I found a nearby faunus servant who directed me to a lavatory and I muttered my thanks, much to his surprise. I wondered why they'd be surprised at being thanked at then I quickly remembered that this was the Schnee manor and said manor was inside Atlas. Remnant's juggernaut and a frozen Prussia.
I stepped inside the lavatory and I quickly spotted a urinal and made my way towards it. I unzipped my pants and relaxed. While I did so, I looked around and muttered. "Why would there be a lavatory with urinal stands inside a house?"
"Because the family that lives inside this house hosts certain events that require a bigger lavatory. We can't have a long line of guests stand outside a lavatory for a full hour now would we?" said a voice from behind me. I turned my head to see a black-haired and blue eyed man stand at the doorway. I immediately noted the sharpness of his gaze and the arrogant air around him. It was then that I decided that he was amongst my list of people that I would not share a cabin with.
"I would greet you, sir." I said as I turned back to my business. "But I'm afraid you caught me at a bad time." The man snorted as he occupied a nearby urinal. "We are both men who are answering a need. There is no reason to stop answering that need all for the sake of politeness."
"I see." I replied neutrally. When I thought that the conversation was over, the man spoke again.
"What are your thoughts on the party so far, boy?"
My right eye twitched at being referred to as boy but then again, I had to body of one. I let his quip slide and answered him. "A magnificent event that comes once a year. A happy time to be sure." The man snorted again. "Of course. And while you spend a day partying, you also spend a day wasting time on frivolities when you could have used it to make a profits." I raised an eyebrow at that statement. Looks like someone's a heartless bastard.
"I disagree, sir." I responded. "A day with family is as profitable to me as a day working."
"To you perhaps. But not to me." sneered the man from his stall. I struggled to not stare at the guy. Jesus Christ mate. What the hell is wrong with you? Were you not loved as a child?
I abruptly finished my business and went to the sink to wash my hands. As I washed my hands, I heard the man speak again. "What are your thoughts on the… puppy that Weiss Schnee received as a gift?"
I thought for a moment. Then my brain lit as I quickly remembered something.
"I think it is a fine gift." I said. "A small slobbering mound of fur is a fine gift to Weiss Schnee?" I could feel his disbelief from the sink. I quickly elaborated. "Oh no. You misunderstand me sir. I think it is a fine gift because it will be good for her."
"Explain." he demanded. I obliged.
"It is a good gift for three reasons. The first reason is that it will instill in Weiss Schnee a sense of responsibility and teach her to value the lives of those under her. A dog's love may be unconditional but it still needs food, shelter, and warmth. If it is not provided with those things, it will perish. As soon as that gift box was opened, that dog has become her responsibility. She has to take care of it or she will risk its life." I winced at the coldness of my statement but that was the only thing that could come to my mind on short notice. "And as for valuing the lives of people under her, you could say that the dog is a metaphor for future employees. If her employees are taken care of properly, then their loyalty to the company is ensured. Happy employees after all are better than miserable ones."
"And the other reasons?" asked the man.
"For the second reason, I suppose it could give Weiss Schnee a friend."
"A… friend?" They way he said it sounded like he never had those before.
"Oh yes. A friend." I nodded. "It is important for children especially around her age to have at least someone they can lean their backs to. Children who grow in a friendless environment tend to be socially-challenged in their adulthood. They would find it difficult to form lasting relationships with the people around them and considering that Weiss will one day own a company in the future, that would be a difficult trait to have. When you are a CEO, your work does not end behind a desk. You also have to deal with people and fellow businessmen. A leader that can connect with his men will be secured in his position for he can rely on his people to protect him when the worst happens." I reasoned as I finished using the sink and was now drying my hands with a nearby towel. The black-haired man I was having a conversation with had finished his business and went over to use the sink next to me.
"And for the last reason?"
"Because she's five years old, sir." I deadpanned. "She will find more value in small adorable animal than the world's biggest jewel." The man was quick to understand.
"I suppose that is correct. I certainly wouldn't gift my youngest son a violin. He would not understand it and would not use it." noted the man as he rubbed his chin. He turned to me, his blue eyes boring into my soul. "So you think the dog would be a good gift not only to make her happy but to also to sharpen Weiss Schnee?"
I shrugged as I returned the towel. "I suppose so." I turned to look at him and found him looking at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"You are perhaps the most cleverest child that I have ever met." commented the man. I smiled deviously. "Or so I've been told by you and a dozen other people." I glanced at my wristwatch and turned back to the man. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir. But I must return to my father and mother."
"And they are?" the man asked. I looked at him then shrugged as I turned for the door.
"Gerard and Alena Friedlich."
Jacques Schnee nee Gele watched the white-haired boy leave the room and pondered on his words.
When he saw the gift that the Friedlichs presented to his daughter, he was furious. Gerard Friedlich was snubbing him and the company by colluding his daughter's worth as that of a dog, his mind reasoned. There was no other possible way to view it. But by ear, he then heard that it was not Gerard that decided to offer a mutt to Weiss but rather, their five-year old boy, Alexander.
When he saw the boy leave his parents table, he decided to find out why the boy chose a dog rather than anything else. Was he doing so because his father influenced him to do so or did he do it out of another reason? He trailed the boy and followed him into the lavatory where he interrogated him.
He expected the incoherent ramblings of a child. What he got of it instead was a well-thought out answer.
Jacques Schnee thought of himself as a man who could not be surprised. And the boy just went ahead and surprised him. He did not know whether he should be angry or be impressed. If only his children showed the same steel, he would perhaps even grow to love them. Good work needed to be rewarded after all.
As the Schnee Patriatch strode his halls to return to his daughter's party, his thoughts returned to the boy. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders and was not intimidated when he interrogated him, almost as if he had no idea who he was. He also was quick to think and showed some steel if Jacques had too look back at his answers. Perhaps he shouldn't be surprised considering he came from a family line that dealt in a trade as ruthless and deadly as dust mining…
An old prestigious family with a net worth of billions and with a clear hand in state affairs…
Jacques Schnee's eyes landed on his daughter who was busying herself with her puppy, ignoring the expensive gifts that were a few feet from her. Beside Weiss was his eldest, Winter, who also seemed pleased at the gift but was more controlled in her display. His eyes wandered and fell to the table where the Friedlich's were sitting but he did not look at his… colleague nor at his Valean goldigger but at their son.
Perhaps this day wasn't wasted at all.
In his mind, a plan formed. And if that plan would be successful, it would ensure SDC domination in Atlas not just for one generation.
But for centuries.
A/N: A puppy is a gleaming and Jacques Schnee is a scheming.
I wonder what it could be? And I find it funny that Jacques is looking down on Alena considering what he had done in canon to become the CEO of the SDC
Chapter 4
A week after Weiss's birthday party, my mother received an invitation from Willow Schnee to join her for a luncheon at the Schnee mansion. It was a pretty normal activity for mother since she and Willow were indeed friends - how they became a thing was beyond me but It wasn't my place to question her clique of friends. The only abnormal thing about it was the Willow also wanted me to join mother for lunch at their place.
Silence fell on the dinner-table as my parents looked at me for an answer.
I adamantly refused.
I refused because I did not like the atmosphere that was in the Schnee manor. I refused because I might run into Jacques fucking Schnee. And I refused because this might be a stupid attempt from the parents to try and set me up with someone.
My parents stopped eating their meal and looked at me as if I grew a second head.
"And why not?" asked mother with a raised eyebrow. I looked at my father and he too sported the same questioning look. I thought deep for an explanation. And found nothing. So I resorted to a neat little trick that only kids can fall back on.
"I don't wanna." I pouted. My parents looked at each other promptly burst into a fit of laughter. I blushed as I stared down into my soup and began counting the mushrooms that were in it. My father rubbed his mouth with a handkerchief as mother looked at me gently.
"Alexander. We have been invited to a formal event and if we refuse, we would look rude. And in our position, we cannot afford to be rude." explained Alena. From his table, father looked on in amusement as he brought a wineglass to his lips. "We must form closer relations with our peers so that our business can thrive. And besides, I believe"
"But do I really have to go?" I whined. Mother sharpened her look.
"Yes. Because she asked for you to come, you also need to go out more, and because I said so." At that, the discussion was over and I spent the rest of my night grumbling before I fell asleep.
The next day, mother and I found ourselves once more in the Schnee mansion. And the most noticeable aspect about the mansion was not its opulence. But in the vast feeling of emptiness that was thick in the air. As if no one ever lived there.
But the coldness was quickly snuffed out when we were welcomed by Willow herself. Upon seeing my mother, the white-haired woman walked over and gave my mother a friendly hug. I was content to stand there and watch as the two women exchanged pleasantries.
"So this is your boy that gave that wonderful gift to my Weiss, hm?"
What?
I turned to see Willow looking at me with amusement. My heart skipped a beat as I saw how… soft she was. My hairs stood on end as she ruffled my hair and began patting me. "Thank you for making my daughter smile." she said softly. I blushed and grinned nervously. Inside of me, I seethed.
Jacques Gele-I ain't calling that prick a Schnee- hurt this woman with his neglect and apathy. And that struck close to me. Why? Because that's what my prick of a father did to my mother back on Earth. Christ, that's giving me a whole new reason to add Jacques Gele to my shitlist. I stifled my anger and promptly adopted the shy little boy act to respond to Willow.
"O-Oh. It was n-n-nothing at a-all!" I stammered. She giggled in a most un-lady like manner. I was left blushing as she pulled back and turned her attention to my mother. "You two must be hungry. Come, join me for lunch." With that, she turned around and walked towards the Schnee dining room.
"That's what we're here for." said mother as she grabbed hold of my hand and trailed after Willow.
After a few minutes of walking, Mother and I were finally seated down for lunch. And it was not just the three of us.
Sitting on their respective seats were the future of the Schnee, namely the Triple Alliance of Winter, Weiss and Whitley. Winter was older than Weiss by five years and it showed both in body and attitude. She sat straight and handled her utensils gracefully. She was also nursing her soon to be signature hairstyle. She simply acknowledged me with a simple look and turned her attention towards the adults. I was rather taken aback by that, having enjoyed how adults looked at me as if I had grown a second head. But then again, I was five and did not warrant much attention other than gushing how cute I was. It was there I made a mental note to befriend Winter and show her that just because I was young didn't mean I was stupid or did not understand adult things!
'Hello my fellow kid! How do you do?' I thought to myself as I turned my attention next to the second Schnee at the table and much to my satisfaction, I found her looking at me. Not in that way of course.
I mentally snickered as I watched the white-haired girl attempting to look prim and proper like older sis Winter but considering the fact that she was five and hadn't fully mastered her lessons yet only ended with her looking rather awkward and adorkable. I snorted. Weiss? Adorkable? She's probably kill me in the future if I told her that.
I smirked as I watched her baby blue features attempt to figure me out. Was I friend? Or was I foe? were probably the thoughts circulating in her head. Her eyes narrowed when she saw that I was smirking and upon seeing that, I resisted the urge to tease her right then and there.
Whitley on the other hand was not much to pay attention to due to the fact that he was literally a baby. The only conversation you could expect from him was "Gugoeugh?". I may be a kid but I lost my ability to speak in babyspeak a long time ago.
Jacques Gele was nowhere to be found and the seat that was supposed to be for him remained unoccupied. Knowing him, he probably ate lunch early and skipped socializing for work. And that bit was fine by me.
"Tell me, Alexander." Willow began. I internally jumped for joy because someone finally talked. "What are your hobbies?" asked Willow as she gracefully cut the trout that was on her plate with her silverware. We were having a fish lunch and what a marvelous fish lunch it was. Baked trout with lemon, garlic, and black pepper accompanied by a bread basket and a glass of cherry wine.
I looked at her then at the people who sat around the table then back at her. "I like to read books and I like to cook." I answered. It was nice, safe, and perfectly un-Jacques like. And considering the people I was eating lunch with, an appropriate answer
"You like to… cook?" Winter turned to me, evidently looking in disbelief and no doubt trying to imagine five-year old me trying to work in a kitchen. I smiled as I began to discuss one of my favorite hobbies. "Oh yes! I like to cook because sometimes, mother wouldn't let me eat the things I wanted to eat so I decided to learn how to cook! It was hard at first but I can cook as good as anyone now!"
"And now he's eating sweets nearly everyday because he learned how to cook. I should have never let him into the kitchen." sighed mother. I pouted at that but my mind was screaming. You never separate a Filipino man from his ensaymada lest you risk certain death!
"What can you cook?" chimed in Weiss. I leaned back and thought of what to say. "I can cook Italian and Indian cuisine with a little bit of Frnech in the mix. But if you really want to feel full, I can cook you a nice Filipino dinner." would definitely not do. A simpler approach then?
"I cook a lot of sweets." I answered truthfully as I held my utensils. "Normal food is too hard."
"I like sweets." declared Weiss. "And so do I." added in Winter. I smiled at them. "I can cook you both some sweets if you'd like?" I offered.
I froze as I heard mother tut at me. "Alexander Friedlich. No dessert until you finish your food." said mother. "The same goes for you two as well." Willow added. Weiss and I nodded glumly, returning to our food while Winter frowned, no doubt displeased at being disciplined again like a toddler. Little Whitely on the other hand, who had done nothing more than sit and be cute, decided that I was amusing and held out his cute little arms at me. I beamed at him.
"You said that you liked to read books." said Winter, turning my attention from Whitley to her. "What books do you like to read?"
"History." I answered without hesitation.
Excitement flashed in her icy blue eyes.
"You like to read about history too? What's your favorite era!?"
I rubbed the back of my head.
"Well I-"
Willow Schnee chuckled as she watched her children and the Friedlich heir interact. They all looked so remarkably similar that they could even be mistaken as siblings. She recalled an incident during Weiss's birthday that the said heir and his father were mistaken by some guests to be Schnee's themselves. Gerard took it all in stride and dutifully informed them that they were not Schnee's and that the little 'girl' at his side was not Weiss. Willow found good humour in that and was amused by it. Her… husband however was not.
When he had heard the servants gossiping about it, he trampled around the house in rage. How dare they think that way? How dare they say that the Gerard was way more of a Schnee than him? It was a well-known fact that her husband was not a Schnee but a Gele who married into her family. And the fact that the Friedlichs were thought to be Schnee's must have stung him. She at first thought it romantic that the man would do anything to make the Schnee name great. But as their marriage became colder, she eventually realized that everything he had done was not for her nor the family they had but for him and the company her father worked hard to build.
She took in some dark satisfaction watching her husband's pride take a hit. It was the least Willow could have after he took the company from her.
Eventually, their plates became empty and the children excused themselves. Winter stood first and promptly invited the Friedlich heir to the house's library and discuss history, looking quite excited that someone younger than her was interested in her favorite subject. Weiss stood second and demanded that the heir make her sweets in the kitchen immediately. Whitley just sat at his seat and looked at the display in amusement.
"Looks like someone's popular." Willow smiled when she turned to look at Alena. Said woman was looking at her son with amusement and if one looked closer into her eyes, pride.
"He seems to be unusually clever for his age, Alena." commented Willow, taking note of the boy's answers and the general way he carried himself. Alena simply beamed. "He does take after his Father and me after all. One cannot expect less!" Willow Schnee simply nodded and continued to watch the boy.
Willow Schnee expected the boy to be either hyperactive as expected of a child or a glassy mess of nerves. She did not expect him to be unusually… mature. She scanned the boy and settled on his eyes.
And there, she found not the eyes of a five year old child.
But that of a man.
She froze at the sharpness of his eyes and the calculating glances he sent to each of her children. Then at her. She shook herself off her thoughts when she realized that she had also finished her wine glass.
"Must have been the wine." she thought as she signaled Klein to refill her glass.
A/N: Oh no Willow. Yer just seeing things. Alexander is most definitely a fellow kid like yer children.
On other matters, the next update will now focus on Alex's future. A future of explosives, lasers, and DAKKA
Chapter 5
With my socializing duties fulfilled, I could return to the filthy Atlesian recluse that I was. It was also quite proper that my parents would also return to their normal routine as well. Father began to see me less and less due to his work both as the leader of a international arms company and as a public figure. Mother as well also busied herself in keeping the books in order. In fact, the only times in which I could even see them were during breakfast and dinner.
For most children growing up, they'd throw a fit in order to get the parents to not work and stay with them due to being children and requiring nurturing and all. It would be extremely stressful for both parties and would even be worse if said family were billionaires that spent their time carefully. Each passing minute was currency after all.
Much to my parent's relief, I was not a normal child - being a grown man inside a kid's body and all - and suitably left them alone and distracted myself with other things.
Like getting into the family business. Luckily or rather, unluckily, daddy dearest breached the topic first.
It was in during one dinner session where we conversed on mundane rich people things that I noticed father and mother sharing a look. I momentarily feared that it might be something embarrassing for me, considering who my parents were, but thankfully, it wasn't.
"Alexander. Your mother and I have been discussing when you'd be introduced into our company. We thought to introduce you when you were older but…" Father paused, collecting his thoughts. "… you attend most of my meetings anyway and have shown potential as the next CEO of our business so we've decided to advance your introduction. If you decide to not accept, we understand. We don't want to force you into doing something you don't want anyway." Memories flashed into my mind of dad making me wear Pumpkin Pete onesies and of mom dressing me in girls clothing. I shivered. "But if you DO accept then we can begin immediately. Your mother and I will personally train you in the art of business and arms dealing." finished father, looking at me expectedly.
I thought for a moment then shrugged as I attended to my dinner.
"When can we begin?"
I looked up at them and saw surprise on their faces.
"You are taking this rather well." commented mother.
"Mother. This was going to happen sooner or later." I explained. "I know my duty as father's heir and I will do what is expected of me." I cringed at how robotic I sounded but these were the type of things Atlesians, especially rich Atlesians liked to hear. My parents may be decent people but in the end, they were still upper-class folks (Mother adapted quite well) and there were certain expectations that must be followed, no questions asked. And judging from the pleased looks my parents had, I think I stroked their upper-class dingdongs quite well.
"Excellent!" roared Father. I winced at his volume. "This calls for a celebration! A bottle of Mistrali spice wine? What do you say?" Mother tutted.
"I don't think so mister." she said as she glared at father. "I need you sober for what we are going to do tonight."
My face crunched in confusion. What? Are they going to go to a party at this hour?
Then I saw the shit eating grin on my father's face and the situation was immediately clear to me.
For fucks sake mom.
In the next day and the days after that, my lessons in the art of business and arms-dealing began in earnest.
My parents had written down a routine for me. Mother would tutor me on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She taught me the more banal side of business like accounting and administration. It was also the hardest to do so considering arithmetic was never my mojo, much to the amusement of my friends. And for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, father would come in and tutor me the age-old art of arms dealing. Sunday was for breaks and my parents were adamant that it would only be used for breaks.
Today was Saturday so I was seated on a nearby desk inside father's study. He would tutor me there both as to get used to working in a room such as that as well as to listen in and observe if he ever had any meetings.
Arms manufacturing and dealing was done like any other normal business. You made things that went pew-pew to people who might use it for good or evil. But then again, that was in my father's words, 'A religious problem." Arms manufacturing came with expectations and said expectations where for the manufacturer to look at life in different shades of grey. There was no such thing as good nor bad. It was a rather fit requirement because a conscientious arms manufacturer would make a terrible arms manufacturer. These points which were finely discussed by daddy dearest and me.
"Father." I quipped. "I have a question."
"What is it?"
"How does our company sell arms to other kingdoms?"
The scratching from his desk ceased as he thought of an answer. A few minutes later, he replied.
"Well. We have to obtain an export license from the Council of Atlas before we can even sell. Then we find buyers."
I looked at him. "How do we find buyers?"
He scratched the back of his head.
"We can sell our weapons immediately to the councils of other kingdoms. Weapons are always needed after all. If we can't do that due to a hypothetical arms embargo or some other legal nonsense, we sell our weapons to a third-party like an arms dealer or other reputable buyers. They can then sell our weapons to other kingdoms for us."
I dropped my pen as I continued to stare.
"So there is no control on where the arms go to in the end?" I said. Father remained nonplussed. "Nonsense. There are standards in place, Alexander. The dealers for example have to provide an end-users certificate which is a signature acceptable to the Council of Atlas that the customer is in fact, an approved buyer."
I pressed on. "Is that really a real guarantee?"
"Of course! It is a system that ensures the safety of buyer and user. The certificate can only be obtained after rigorous scrutiny and intense study." I zeroed in on the discomfort in his voice.
"So it's all a facade?"
There was a glint in my father's eyes as I made my statement. He sat on his chair silently, more than likely figuring his next words carefully.
Gerard Friedlich sighed as he stood from his seat and walked to a nearby window to look outside and gather his thoughts. He cursed silently as he neared and saw his reflection staring at him. His heart sank even further as he was the young angelic face of his only son looking at him.
A lump formed in his throat as he struggled to find a sufficient answer. He shivered as he remembered a similar situation play out in the same room many, many years ago.
"If being in this business means having our weapons end up in the hands of murderers and losing my conscience then I want no part of it!" a younger man yelled.
A slap echoed in the room. The younger man fell on his back, his hand nursing his stinging cheek, his eyes beginning to become wet with tears.
"Oh great! How wonderful!" roared a rougher, elderly voice. "You would want to ruin everything our entire family has worked for centuries! FOR CENTURIES! ALL IN THE NAME OF MORAL SELF-INDULGENCE!" His words stung more than any other slap. "Do you think that you are the only one in this family with a conscience? Do you, Gerard?"
"What we are doing is immoral and criminal!" he spat.
"Oh really!? Ask yourself this then! Is it moral to put thousands of Atlesian citizens out of a job? Is it moral then to deny our Kingdom billions of lien? Look at the agri-domes and the heating stations Atlas depends its survival. Can they run on morality?"
He glared at the old man, his conscience screamed at him to ignore the drivel sent his way. But in his heart of hearts, he could not deny the truth the old man was speaking.
It was unfair.
"No. They won't." he said through grit teeth.
"I didn't hear you! Speak up!"
"THEY WON"T!" he screamed. The old man looked satisfied as he turned to his window.
"Then you understand our position. Get that lesson drilled into your skull, Gerard." Their eyes met. "Get out and come back when you've grown some spine."
He wept all the way to his room.
No. He would not be like him. He would be frank with his son. Frank, but not brutal.
"Alexander. There are certain things that you need to understand as the next in line to inherit our company." He breathed deeply. "It is either you go into the arms business or you don't. We cannot always control where our products end. It's just like the SDC actually. Our products are necessary for the survival of everyone and if we withhold production then we put the world we live in at risk. The very moment a rifle, a grenade or a microchip leaves our factories, it is no longer our responsibility. What we can only do is to hope that the products we produce are used for the betterment and not the detriment of society."
A lump formed in his throat as he began to recall images of blood, tears, and suffering.
"Remember, Alexander. We may deal in a 'bad' business but that doesn't make our character. A man can be a bad man but still be a good person a ma-"
"Father?" said a voice, breaking him from his thoughts. He looked down to see his son hugging his leg, looking up at him with wide, blue eyes. "Are you alright? Your hand was shaking."
It was then Gerard realized that his hands were indeed shaking. Whether it was fear from recalling such a horrible memories or anger, he did not know. He took deep breaths as he purged his body of whatever negativity bubbled, the fact that his son was hugging him helped he process faster. His hand reached out to ruffle his son's head, a smile on his face.
"Oh. I was only recalling something terrible. No need to worry about your old man, Alexander."
His son smirked.
"Ha! You called yourself an old man!"
His face scrounged in mock-anger.
"How dare you!" he yelled as he began to tickle his son, his cries and giggles falling on deaf ears. Their little wrestling activity abruptly stopped however when a distinct female voice cried aloud.
"Gerard and Alexander Friedlich! What on Remnant are you two doing!" The two boys froze as they turned their attention towards the door and saw Alena standing by the doorway with a frown on her face. Gerard struggled for an explanation but his son beat him to it.
"Hello mother! Father and I were just wrestling! Wanna join in?" His wife's hard expression softened immediately as she saw their little boy. She sauntered into the room, fingers massaging her temples.
"I leave you two alone for a few minutes and-eek!" His eyes widened to see his son wrap his arms around his mother. The boy turned at him and yelled.
"Quick father! I got her! Attack her while I got her trapped!"
"What on-oh!" Gerard did not hesitate. He roared a battle cry and lunged at his wife, bringing them all down on the floor. The two boys then assaulted her with tickles, much to her giggles and slowly-dying-out-protests.
As he did so, he understood his wife's unsaid words that it was still study time for Alex and he still had duties to attend to. Time was valuable after all and everything they all did was for the good of the future.
But as he watched his son laugh in childish delight and basked in his wife's giggles, he figured they could all finish their work later.
After all, some things in the world were just too invaluable.
A/N: When I said the fic was going to be advancing and heartwarming shit was going to be lessened, I lied. And I will not apologize.
On other fronts, I wonder how the Schnee family (minus Gerard) would react to something like that. I guess it would go like this.
Willow, Winter, Weiss: Why can't I have a husband/father/family like that.
Baby!Whitley: Gougogugegjh?
Chapter 6
Dust. Good ol' reliable dust.
No one knew who exactly discovered dust nor when. It just sort of appeared right out of nowhere like an unwanted fad. Unfortunately, said fad had actual wholesome properties and and became a trend that entrenched itself hard.
Dust was humanity's greatest discovery. But it was also its worst. For with the advent of dust, Remnant developed an addiction towards it And why not? Dust could amplify the abilities of nearly everything. It is also an easy to use substance to use. So easy in fact that a young child could even be taught in their usage.
Because of those qualities, certain branches of the science were neglected in favour of dust particles.
Nuclear energy for example. Some Remnant scientists still called it a theoretical science and called its advocates delusional. Space science? Virtually non-existent. It DID exist for a short while when there used to be a space craze a few decades ago but it got killed in its crib when the airship that was supposed to be Remnant's ticket to space failed to breach the atmosphere. And why did it fail? Because its dust-powered engines stopped working as soon as it neared the atmosphere. Those who manned the craft were lucky that the airship regained power as soon as it fell back.
Talk about being so close yet so far.
I like progress. I like advancements. It keeps things new, fresh and leaves behind ideas for the next generation to improve and grow. And right now, Remnant wasn't having any of those things. I guess the bastard gods of Remnant had a point when they agreed that stagnancy was hurting Remnant. And to remove the stagnancy, one went for its cause.
For them, it was Sally and Ozzie's messy divorce. For me and some people I knew back on Earth, it was dust.
And so, it was imperative to find ways to wean Remnant off the bright, glowing drug that was dust.
But there was only so much a five-year old can do. I had no idea how to build a nuclear reactor nor anything shiny that SpaceBattles salivated over. My resume was arms manufacturing, not science or engineering.
I needed to find talent. Luckily for me, I didn't have to look far.
Mother and Father weren't my only teachers. A certain Geppetto Polendina was also someone I counted on for my education. I first learned of Geppetto's affiliation with Friedlich Industries, the company I was due to inherit, after seeing his name and signatures in most of father's papers. I also later learned that daddy dearest snagged Geppetto into working for him when he was looking to get into the technology sector. And from that, a fruitful partnership was formed. I had thought of having him teach me long before my parents decided to advance my education but it was unnecessary as father had already listed Geppetto to be one of my teachers.
Speaking of said teacher…
"And here's my daughter learning how to fish!" He boasted as he showed me pictures of a certain oranged haired lass with a rod standing over a dock, an smile and a wave flashed towards the camera.
Since we never saw him in the show, I thought he would be a sophisticated and educated fellow with a contained love for explosions. Then I met him and found him to be a excitable, child-like savant who wouldn't stop talking about his daughter. I nodded neutrally, indulging the old man as he swiped right to show another picture of Penny, this time running away from the docks, a large shadow looming over the water. "And this is her catching her first fish!"
"That fish looks like a grimm." I commented, inwardly groaning at his 24th time of showing off his family, and pointed at the spikes and large teeth the 'fish' sported. He snorted. "Nonsense! It was clearly a fish! See!" He said as he pointed at its fins and tail. He then swiped next to reveal a picture of Penny holding the still-alive grimm fish by its tail. It was kind of comical as she was 5'5 and the fish was almost her height.
I sighed as I then remembered that one should never argue with old people. Especially if they're a white-haired Atlesian scientist with a ton of doctorates. "Alright. It was a fish." I admitted neutrally. "So can we go back to teaching again?" His face twisted in confusion. "Teach? Teach what?" he said.
"My father sent me to you in order to learn weapons design." I answered in the driest tone a five year old could muster.
A smile went over his face as he began to recall my reason for being in his office. "Oh yes! Of course! You shall definitely learn a lot from me! My team and I have long work-" His smile faded as he took into account the words that I said. "Er, why couldn't he teach you that instead? I a specialize in science and technology, not arms design." said Geppetto.
I sighed. "He thinks that I could also learn a thing or two from you since you lead his Research and Development team." And also because you are Atlas's greatest scientist and if I gain your trust then I can use you and your team to build shinies that can make the offing of Sally and Ozzie easier. And to also get humanity out of its self imposed stagnancy.
"What is that?" He suddenly said.
"The what?" I asked, visibly confused. He strode forward and tapped my note book. Oh.
"My notes?" I offered. I looked on in shock as he then confiscated said notebook and promptly deposited it in a trash can. "You won't learn anything from notes, boy. You know what? Come with me and I'll take you to the best way of learning!"
"Studying?" I was too shocked to say nor think anything else.
He snorted. "No, boy! Practical!"
I collapsed on my bed, my hands tired from overwork. I groaned as I massaged them. Meanwhile, my traitor of a brain recalled my time with Geppetto.
"And this is Amir Lin, my most talented engineer! He might be a faunus but he is as talented as the rest of us!"
I held out my hand for a handshake. The dog faunus scientist accepted it, ignoring Geppetto's social faux pas. While Geppetto sounded like a hot-blooded human supremacist, he was rather socially inept and no one bothered to correct him. Now it all made sense on where Penny got her social 'skills' from.
"How do you do, young man?" He asked me in a pleasant tone.
"I wanna know how to build weapons!" I declared. My declaration was met with chuckles by the researchers assembled in the room. We had arrived in a small office that held the label of Research and Development and found a team of three all in the middle of work. I could tell that they were annoyed at Geppetto's interruption but brightened immediately when they saw me.
"He is so cute!" cooed a short Valean scientist I knew as Dana Mercury. Her ID showed her specialty which was Energy and Ballistic Weapons.
"Did you kidnap a Schnee, Geppetto?" asked an Atlesian scientist I identified as Jonathan Black. His ID had the words Robotics. and Electronics, "Have you lost your marbles and decided to have a child of blood and flesh? Have you abandoned Penny?"
A shocked look came upon his face. Then came hurt. "I would never abandon Penny! I love her as much as I love science! How could you say that Jonathan?" The Atlesian remained stoic and cocked his head to the side. "Where is Penny by the way?"
I watched in amusement as Geppetto did a 180 and began to speak as if his feelings weren't attacked. "Oh she is at home waiting for me. She told me she's learning how to cook!"
So that's where Penny was. Anyway, I later found myself seated on a chair whilst nursing a cup of hot chocolate. The scientists seated themselves around me and looked at me with amusement.
"So who's your father, young man?" asked Amir. Before I could answer, Geppetto spilled the entire can of beans. "Oh he's Alexander Friedlich, Gerard's boy. He's here with me because his father wants him to learn how to do the manufacturing side of his business." After Geppetto stole my thunder, I just nodded dumbly and flashed my most innocent smile. The scientists were thrilled and… relieved?
Jonathan was near crossing himself while Dana breathed a sigh of relief. When I looked confused, Amir leaned in close and whispered. "They think Geppetto kidnapped you from the Schnee family. You know, the ones that run the Schnee Dust Company? The Schnee's are white-haired and blue eyed like you except for Jacques Schnee. We all know who he is." I nodded, already familiar with the Schnee's and secretly delighted that Jacques Schnee was universally disliked.
"So I shall leave the boy in your care!" announced Geppetto as he reached for the exit. "Do teach him what you can and have him do practical work!" I'll return shortly!" He promised as he slammed the door shut.
Did he bring me all the way from his office and left me to be babysat by his own team? I looked at their facial expressions and quickly understood Geppetto's laziness. Hey, I was lazy too and he recognized he knew nothing of weapons design so he did the smart thing and deposited me in the company of people who actually did stuff similar to that. Commendable but it was rather… negligent.
"I guess we have to do what he asks?" said Dana, sheepish as she looked at me. "Why don't we start with lase-"
"Nonsense Dana, I'll take him." declared Jonathan. Determination was in his eyes. "Let's build some ro-"
Amir stood up and placed his hands on both of their shoulders. The two turned too look at him, confused.
"Now now children." He snorted. "Geppetto said weapons design, not either of the one the two of you are peddling." He smiled at me. "How about we both build your first weapon?"
My interest grew ten-fold.
I turned to look at the long case that rested next to me. Inside it was the very first weapon that I had every created with the assistance of the scientists who handled the more specialized parts. My weapon was constructed in the workshop of the Research and Development department, its design drawn by Amir who designed it on a nearby computer terminal. Dana was there to suggest on what it could fire while Jonathan handled its electronics.
The weapon may not have been designed by me personally but its concept came from me. Its soul came from me. Me! It was mine and curse be to anyone who said otherwise!
I sat upright on my bed to open the case. I shivered in excitement as my hand reached out open it and car-
"Alexander Friedlich!" yelled mother. I retracted my hand from the case and quickly turned to face her only to find that she hadn't entered the room and was just standing outside the door.
"Yes mother?" I said as I stood from my bed.
"Come on for dinner. Aren't you hungry?" She said from behind the door. On cue, my stomach rumbled.
"I'll join you and father shortly mother!" I announced as I turned to my wardrobe to change.
"Good." huffed mother. "And do be presentable tomorrow, Alexander. Willow Schnee will be our guest tomorrow for dinner and she'll be bringing her daughters."
"Of course mother!" I said I took off my-
What do you mean she's bringing her daughters?
A/N: Huh. Came to learn how to make weapons. Got first weapon made instead. I think that's fair. As for the weapon itself, I'll go on in full detail in future updates. For info's sake, it is a hybrid of Earth and Remnant design. It is also functions more on the Rule of Cool with a little bit of practical side.
Next update will be a from Weiss's perspective and a little be of Winter. We're seeing too much of Alex now. Time for some variety!
Chapter 7
"Klein. Be sure to pick us up by 11:30. In the meantime, go and enjoy your night." echoed the voice of the woman she called mother.
"Very well, madam. I shall be there." replied Klein in his usual cheery drawl. He turned to the younger women and smiled. "Listen to your mother and enjoy your night!"
The butler then drove down the driveway and sped off into the street, leaving the women of the Schnee household standing before the doors of a house designed in the fashion of Mantle. But despite the mansion being designed by a regime of autocrats and plunderers, it did not impress upon her a feeling of dread and disgust. Winter was rather awestruck at the sigh of the historical building and if she were in the complete privacy of her room, she would have been up and about in excitement.
But she was in public. A Schnee must always conduct herself properly and with grace, or so her father said.
There was a stone pathway that lead towards two dark oaken doors. Their heels clicked as they took the path. Mother was first, her hand clasping Weiss.
"It's not as big as our house." sniffed Weiss. Winter frowned as she heard her sisters statement. It was excusable for her to say such things as she was but a child but to say so right before their hosts home? That was not appropriate! She would have to correct her sister's childish comment.
"Size does not matter, Weiss." she scolded. "It is in the manner of its usage that counts." After all, one could have the biggest house in Remnant but if one did not put worth and love into it then that house was meaningless. It lacked what made a house a home, warmth.
Just like their own house lamented Winter. But her meaning was lost on her little sister who childishly huffed and turned towards the door.
"Calm down, the two of you." interrupted mother as they stopped before the doors. "We are guests of my friend and I would not have my children bicker in their own home."
"Apologies mother." said Winter.
"Sorry mother." mumbled Weiss.
A ghost of a smile came upon her lips. "Good." she said as she rang the doorbell of the house. A minute later, the heavy wooden doors creaked to reveal…
"Willow! Welcome!" beamed Alena Friedlich. From her side plopped her son, Alexander who flashed them with a bright smile. Weiss, who had been grumpy so far, brightened immediately upon seeing the Friedlich heir. Unconsciously, Winter twitched.
"You all must be hungry. Come in!" Alena said as she ushered them inside their house.
The first thing that Winter noticed upon stepping in was the atmosphere of the building.
It was warm.
Not warm in the sense of a fire fighting back the chilly winds of Atlas but warmth borne from the knowledge that there were people there who loved you. To her alarm, she felt herself relax as she entered the threshold. Father had taught her to be on her guard when stepping into people's homes especially if they were invited to be there as they might have other motives for their presence. But when she looked around the house and at their hosts, she knew that she could relax.
"I am glad that you could make it." said Alena as she pulled mother into a hug. When the women pulled back, Alena turned her attention to her.
Winter curtsied as the woman came close. The woman's eyes narrowed immediately narrowed, much to Winter's confusion.
"Winter Schnee! What did I say about acting so formal in my house?" chided Alena. "You are like a niece to me, not an employee!" the woman later added. Winter's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, having momentarily forgotten that Alena Friedlich disliked having her 'nieces' act like business partners.
"Apolo-"
"Don't sweat it, girl." interrupted Alena, her Valean accent slipping in. "Now let your auntie Alena give you a hug!" Winter embarassment quickly dissipated as she felt a warm embrace wrap around her. Her breath left her as the woman hugged her deeper. A minute later, she pulled back, a smile tugging her lips.
"Where's Jacques?" asked Alena as she looked at them. She heard her mother sigh.
"Busy again as he?" the blonde woman speculated. Winter looked at her mother who nodded.
"Oh well then. More food for us!" she said jovially as she turned her attention to her younger sister. The girl attempted to curtsy but after seeing she saw Winter being rebuked, settled with an awkward wave. "And how is little Weiss-cream doing?" cooed Alena.
"I'm hungry." complained the little girl. The woman giggled as she ruffled Weiss's hair.
"Well. We've waited long enough! Come then!" declared the blonde.
A servant met them and directed them to follow him. Her mother and Alena walked alongside each other while the Friedlich heir went with her younger sister, leaving Winter all alone.
But that arrangement was not to be permanent.
As she sighed and walked to rejoin the party, she saw the Friedlich heir whisper something into her sister's ear. Her eyes narrowed at the display. Her father was right after all! The boy was-
She felt two warm hands wrap around both her arms. She blinked and found two sets of blue eyes looking at her with childish delight. Weiss was at her right while Alexander was at her left.
"Let's go together." they declared in unison.
Deep inside her heart, Winter felt something skip.
While the house was not as decorated as theirs, it was most definitely happier.
Weiss giggled as she watched Mr. Gerard Friedlich regaling them a story of his son's early childhood, much to her friends' embarrassment.
"And then he looked up at me, raised his arms and said." He cleared his throat and put on a childish voice. " Dada!" The room fell into a fit of laughter while the subject of the story sank deeper into his chair, his arms covering his face in shame. Weiss looked at the white-haired man and smiled dreamily.
" Why couldn't father be like this?" thought the girl as she watched the man laugh jovially as he ruffled his son's hair. Unconsciously, her own hand reached to ruffle her own.
When they came in, Weiss was determined to act prim and proper like Winter. She thought that the man would demand etiquette like father but he would have none of it.
She and her sister curtsied before the white-haired man.
"A pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Friedlich." began Winter. Weiss followed afterwards. "My name is Weiss Schnee. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Friedlich." She greeted. To her shock, the man started to laugh. Alarm and panic surged through her. Had she made a mistake? She had practiced a dozen times in front of a mirror to get the perfect curtsy! She had-
A warm hand reached out to ruffle her hair. She looked up to see twinkling blue eyes looking at her not in judgment but in amusement.
"There's no need to be so formal, young lady. You are here amongst friends, not business partners! And don't call me 'Mr. Friedlich either! Gods I feel old with that?"
"And how would you want us to call you, sir?" mouthed the two girls.
His eyes twinkled.
"I've told you a dozen times already Winter! In public, address me with my last name. In private, call me uncle." smiled the man.
So she relaxed and began to act more naturally. Even more so when she saw Winter doing the same. She still however spoke politely, Winter would be mad at her if she didn't.
The food they were served was delicious, a beef dish from a region in Mistral. To Weiss, she could care less where it came from only as long as it was delicious.
"So, Winter, Weiss. I believe the two of you and my son have are acquaintances now? How is he in his treatment in you?" came the voice of uncle Gerard, his voice dripping with curiosity.
"Daaad!" protested Alexander, a blush on his cheeks.
"Oh, I believe they have become more than that." commented Auntie Alena as she lifted a wine glass to her lips. Willow snickered from her seat. Her friend groaned. Auntie Alena also demanded that she and Winter call her auntie and would not entertain any other title. Auntie was what the woman wanted and auntie was what the woman got.
Winter came first. "Alexander has been accommodating to me, uncle. He had also been gentlemanly in his conduct. At least, as best as his age can do." She said with a smirk.
"And how about you Weiss? Has he been 'gentlemanly' or do I need to give him a spanking?" joked Gerard.
Weiss's eyes opened in alarm. Give her friend a spanking? She would have to save him! He couldn't make sweets if he had been spanked! "Please don't spank him uncle! He has been good to me and Winter! In fact, he made my sister and I sweets!" The adults in the table laughed at her speed to rescue her friend but she didn't care. Her friends' ability to make sweets was in danger after all!
The Friedlich patriarch sent his son a sly glance. "Has he now?" The older man later looked at her mother, a questioning look on his eyes.
"And you don't mind, Willow?"
"Of course not. There is no harm in it." dismissed mother, her eyes twinkling in parental delight. Strangely, Weiss felt happy that mother didn't mind their budding friendship. She glanced at Winter and saw that her sister was also pleased upon hearing mother speak her mind.
"Can he make sweets for us now?" asked Weiss, her mind looking back at the tarts that Alexander made for her sister and her. Her mother turned to their hosts. Auntie Alena shrugged while Uncle Gerard grinned at his son. Then at her.
"After you eat your dinner, Weiss." chided Uncle Gerard.
After hearing those words, Weiss ate her food as fast yet as politely as possible.
"Bye Weiss! Bye Winter!" yelled Alexander. Behind him, his parents waved as well, smiles on their faces.
"Do come again next time!" yelled Alena, her hands placed on her mouth like a microphone.
"I'll have Alex wear a dress if you do!" added in Gerard.
"Don't come back again then!" shrieked the boy as he began to punch his father's legs, causing him to laugh jovially.
The two girls giggled and waved at the boy as they entered into their car. As they sat comfortably, they suddenly launched into an animated discussion.
"His *ringlet cookies are one of the best that I have ever tasted. It is decently sweet and crunchy. I would have it alongside my tea." analyzed Winter as if she were a master chef with years of experience in rating food.
"Nu-uh! His *piya bread would go with tea way better than your ringlet cookies!" argued Weiss. Winter glared at her.
"I am sorry sister but I have no interest in ruining my teeth with that bread of his." she scoffed.
"But when he had them out, you ate more of them than me!" Weiss sniped. Winter blushed.
"No I did not!"
Willow felt her heart lighten as she saw her daughters argue. Seeing them happy and passionate was endearing to her and the pain she felt stabbing her soul slowly eased. She leaned back on her seat, eying the two argue it out.
If she and her children were this happy with Jacques absent for one night…
She wondered how happy they would be if he was gone forever.
A/N: YEAH GO GET EM WILLOW! MOTHER POWER! LET"S GO SHOW THAT SUNNUVA BITCH WHO'S BOSS!
In other news, I'll be doing a timeskip later on. Writing dialogue from a kids point of view isn't really my forte and I'm also anxious to get to the Science and Firepower part of this fic. So we'll have a lil' timeskip!
Glossary:
1. Ringlet cookies or Rosquillos are cookies that are shaped like ringlets. They're really good with coffee or tea. Rosquillo - Wikipedia
2. Piya or Piyaya is a Filipino flatbread stuffed either with muscovado sugar or honey. They're really good to munch on as well if you have the craving to destory your teeth. Piyaya - Ang Sarap
Chapter 8
The next three years of my life were a blur and frankly nothing interesting happened. Things get old real fast anyway. The haze of being in RWBY had long worn off and I began to focus on more wholesome goals. I studied under my parents, learned from Polendina and his team, and became the unofficial cake butler of the Schnee family or to be more appropriate, to the Schnee siblings. And to simplify it even further, to Weiss-cream herself since Winter was off at Atlas Academy. Last time I checked, she hadn't renounced her claim to the SDC yet. I guess it was when she joined Ironwood's wild ride was the moment where she cut off her ties to the SDC.
Moving on, I had advanced significantly in designing shit that could kill people. I wish I could say that my very first project by myself was an awesome new weapons system or a kickass laser cannon but I wasn't that smart. I had instead improved on the design of the new battle rifle Atlas was testing many years ago. I had asked father and Geppetto if I could take the project and they both agreed.
Normally, such a thing would have been a big no-no but considering the fact that it was already well-designed and tested, they felt that they could leave the kinks of the gun to me and it was good starting point for me to build up experience.
The ABR or Atlesian Battle Rifle was a long running series and a staple of the Atlesian military. It was sleek, sick and the ladies loved a man holding one. Then a hunter with his custom made weapon shows up, steals the poor sod's thunder and cucks the poor bastard. I would go on more about the animosity between the Hunters of Remnant and the boys in uniform but that would stray from the current train of thought. Anyway, the design's drawbacks was that it overheated faster than a computer trying to run a game of Skyrim with thousands of mods on. Upon seeing its schematics, I quickly identified the cause of the problem. It was the propellant.
And said propellant was the magic pixie Dust Remnant was so fond of snorting
When I found out that kink, I slapped myself in the face, loudly.
Dana Mercury and Jonathan Black leaned from the workplaces, their eyebrows raised.
"You alright there, champ?" asked Dana. I rolled my eyes as I took up another paper and began drawing.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I was just considering if humanity was worth fighting for." I grumbled.
"Tell us if you have any problems alright?" said Dana, a smile on her face. Jonathan shrugged his shoulders and returned to his work.
"Oh lady, you have no idea…" I growled as I began to draw.
Would you be surprised if you found out that gunpowder was never invented in Remnant? It was pretty surprising considering the fact that gunpowder was one of the things that propelled, pun intended, a species technical forward and before I came to Remnant, I always maintained the belief that if gunpowder was absent, a species would never advance. Not unless of course they had another substance that could fill in that role.
Fortunately, Remnant had that substance.
In place of gunpowder, they had bloody Dust.
From a Remnant point of view, it was even better than gunpowder. Dust was nearly everywhere, easy to use, and its main attractive thing was that it made weapons go pew-pew faster. Hence the overheating of the ABR. Looking back at those episodes where we could see Atlesian soldiers firing their rifles, it would make sense for their guns to overheat like crazy. I mean, look at those rapid fire rifles! Think of the poor sods who would have to hold those damn things!
Geppetto and his team weren't idle with the design before I came in. They developed a type of gel that was built into the weapon and could cool the the health hazards significantly, raising its service life from a few hours to a scant three months. It was a significant development and was deemed 'good enough' by both daddy dearest and the Council of Atlas for production but Geppetto was adamant that the design could still be made better.
"Why don't we replace the propellant from a dust propellant to a gas-powered one?" I said during one lunch I attended with my father and Geppetto in a fancy restaurant that served Valean cuisine. Upon hearing that, my father sighed like a man who was reminded of his debts while Geppetto sat on his seat, glowering with silent rage.
"Son. We cannot do that." stressed Gerard, his face turning to me.
I crossed my arms, a frown on my face "And why not? It would remove the problem entirely and it would be less of a safety hazard for our soldiers."
"Bloody SDC! Bloody Jacqcues Schnee!" seethed Geppetto Polendina, his fingers curling to fists. I narrowed my eyes at this. Yeah, Jacques Schnee might be an asshole but the Schnee family weren't! "Hey! Leave them out of this!" I protested. "I would have you know that Willow, Winter, Weiss and Whitley are honest and respectable citizens of Atlas!"
He looked at me in confusion. "What?" he mouthed. Then I promptly realized what happened and to my horror, turned to see father looking at me with a shit-eating grin. I gulped.
"Oh~? Quick to defend them eh? Winter and Weiss eh? Even Willow too? Alex, you shame your old man at the rate you are growing!" teased the old bastard. I blushed furiously at his insinuation.
"Eh?" said a visibly confused Geppetto. He turned to me, looked at my red cheeks and quickly put two-and-two together. He grinned massively. "Alex, my boy! You've never told me about your affections!"
"Can we go back to discussing about the rifles, please?" I begged, embarrassment coursing through me. Gerard's grin grew even wider. "I don't know. Maybe I could go and call Willow, tell her how you've defended their honor like a brave little Knight?"
"Daaaad!" I whined, red as a tomato and terrified of the amount of shit Winter would give me. Thankfully, he didn't go through with his teasing and allowed us a few minutes to calm down. When our tempers had been tempered, he began to explain his reasoning.
"We cannot do that son because of two reasons. One, the new rifle to enter the ABR series is a shared project handled by our company, the SDC, and the Atlesian Military. Our contract stated that the SDC, would provide the dust for the rifle while we, developed it." He took a sip of wine before continuing. "For insurance purposes, there is a clause in the contact that states that if there is a flaw in the design, it could be changed entirely if two of the three signatories agreed to it. One could consider it to be an excellent move, a checkmate if you will, but in reality, it is more of a formality rather than an actual clause."
He leaned back on his chair, his hand grasping his wine glass. "Jacques Schne-, er, I mean the SDC and our company would never agree on anything other than business and the Atlesian military would never take a decision that would piss off either side. So we can't do anything" I resisted the urge to slap my head on the table. Rather, I sank in my seat.
"And the second reason?" I asked, my voice bitter and defeated.
"The SDC would scream foul and raise a hussy fit!" complained Geppetto. I turned to the scientist and found him making mocking noises. "THuH Cuhn-trakt sTets tHuT you hAvE to yadda yadda yadda!" mocked the elderly scientist. Gerard chuckled while I giggled at his display.
"So we really have to follow it through then?" I asked after a few minutes of silence. The two men nodded.
"Gods damn it!" I swore in frustration. Father looked at me in horror.
"Alexander! Language!"
A solution came up eventually and it came from Earth yet again.
I was reviewing the reports of the weapons performance when I noticed a pattern in the rifles. And that pattern was that the rifles were all firing fully automatic. Like balls on the walls dakka storm. When I discovered that, I had originally thought that everyone on Remnant was an idiot and that I was the smartest guy in the room. But then I remembered that Remnant was a bloody anime world created by the ultimate geek Monty Oum whose literal thing was making awesome, over-the-top action sequences. If Earth was obsessed with torque, then Remnant was obsessed with horsepower.
When I had that epiphany, I retreated into a private room to scream and kick my frustrations away before returning to the designing board.
The new battle rifle still had the same sleek design but with certain deviations. The original design would have been fully automatic, would have a bigger magazine but with smaller cartridges. The deviation that I made was to remove the full automatic ability of the rifle, made the barrel slightly longer and shortened the magazine to hold more powerful rounds, making it a right and proper battle rifle.
With my design finished, I then forwarded it to Geppetto who then reviewed it with his team.
I sat nervously while the team reviewed my schematics. The glances they sent my way increased my nervousness by the minute. I mean, who could blame me? It was still technically my first design and I had grown to learn that all first products tended to be shite. After a few more minutes of reviewing, Geppetto gathered his team in one corner and started to discuss something that I couldn't get, leaving me to twitch on my seat.
Eventually, they looked like they agreed on something and returned to me. I could see they had questions and it was Amir who started it.
"Could you justify your deviations, Mr. Friedlich?" asked the faunus engineer. The tone he spoke with resembled that of a skeptical investor being presented a fresh new idea by a hopeful new businessman. I gulped as I knew this was going to be a hard-sell. I took a deep breath then started.
"The main problem with the original design was that it overheated. We all knew that. So I decided to choose the simpler route by removing the problem entirely." I began. "The previous design would have been manageable if the propellant system was gas and not dust but thanks to legal problems, that option was scrapped. To also keep the previous design would have been a foolish decision. So a slight deviation was necessary."
They nodded and motioned for me to continue and I did, sweat threatening to break out my brow. "It still bears the same design but with the longer barrel and shorter magazine being the only noticeable difference. With those additions, the rifle is can deliver a bigger punch against the Grimm thanks to the new rounds."
"Why .300 mm?" questioned Jonathan. "Wouldn't that be too powerful for a battle rifle?"
"I want the Grimm to be as dead as possible?" I offered. The scientist shrugged and wrote something down on a paper.
"The previous design was lighter, more mobile and was superior in firepower." said Dana, her eyes scanning a copy of my schematic. "This deviation of yours, while powerful, is heavier and bulkier. The soldiers would complain at its weight." I smiled sardonically. "Well. When they see at what it can do, when their hands are no longer burning from melted plastic and electronics, I think their complaints would be the least of our worries."
I stood from my seat and pointed at a nearby hologram that featured my rifle.
"That rifle represents a new generation of guns, with a focus not in drowning the Grimm in bullets, but in making sure that those Grimm are dead." I then pressed a button and the simulation changed to that of an Atlesian soldier battling an Ursa. The Grimm stood on its hind legs and roared a challenge. The soldier simply raised his weapon and discharged a round into the Ursa's skull that shattered it into neat little pieces. "And stay dead." I added as the ursa fell on its back.
"Now, some might say that weapon is overkill but then I say to them: "No weapon is overkill when extinction is on the horizon." I quoted a line that seemed appropriate for the situation. When I saw that they still held skeptical looks, I smiled sheepishly.
"We can spend the entire day talking about how great my gun is but I can prove to you its effectiveness with another method." Geppetto perked up.
"With what? With data?" He asked. My sheepish smiled turned predatory.
"No, old man. Practical!" I said, mirroring the words he had said to me on the first day we had met.
He scowled.
Days after I presented the new design, Geppetto's team had manufactured a prototype and were currently testing it. Their results would arrive within a week. If they favored it, dozens more would be made and would be given to Specialist teams who'd test it in the field. Until the results would arrive, I was able to relax and turned my attention towards another weapon. My own weapon.
Joyeuse, named after the personal sword of Karl the Great, was an elegant weapon. A perfect sword fit for the heir of a multi-billion lien industry. The only kicker was that tt was also a shameless copy of Weiss's Myrtenaster at least in concept but not in design. I still had my pride after all. While Myrtenaster was more rapier-like in appearance, Joyeuse was reminiscent of a saber. Weiss's sword was white, Joyeuse was gold save for the blade itself.
I was in my room, my fingers wrapped around Joyeuse's hilt, my eyes trailing up and down its silver-steel blade. As I did so, I considered my future.
What was I going to do with my life? Was I going to continue living my life as the son of a rich fella that made guns for a living? Was I going to get my aura unlocked and be a Hunstman? I had searched myself for a proper reason to be one and all I got was a desire to not see people getting nommed by Mommy Salami's hordes. I returned Joyeuse to her case and collapsed on my bed, my mind wondering.
I was sent here with a mission from the bastard Gods of Remnant to clean up their mess with nothing more than my wits and that bloody knife they gave me. Speaking of said bloody knife, I haven't found the damn thing. It wasn't with me when I was born and no mysterious friend sent it to me as gift or some shit. The only possible fantasy trope that remained was that I was going to find it in a place that I would least expect like the Beacon of Meridia quest in Skyrim.
Screw that trope and that quest in particular.
Do I even want to do their 'quest'? They did say I could do whatever I want on Remnant. Was it before I offed Sally and Ozzie? Or after? It had been too bloody long that I could barely even remember half the conversation we had. The only things I could even properly remember was that Mommy Salami and Daddy JacOzzie needed to be swimming with the fishes as soon as possible.
But so far, my biggest concern as of the moment was to figure out what to with future events. I had already dipped a pinky toe in that sea and made myself a friend in the eyes of Weiss, Winter, and Willow. I had already interfered enough. Should I continue interfere? Or should I stop and let the world roll?
My mind weighed the consequences and I made a decision after a few minutes or so of tossing and turning on my bed.
I was going to go and continue screwing with canon. Cinder may be a hot smoking babe but she was dangerous with a capital D. I had enough with the armless Yang jokes my friends threw at me and I wanted Jauney boy and P-money to have lots of green eyed and golden haired babies.
The question that was left hanging in the room was how to interfere. Beacon or no Beacon?
I groaned as I stretched my arms on my bed, letting my sore back relax on a sea of fluff and pillows. Seeing that it was time for evening news, I activated my scroll to check, humming a happy tune alone the way.
As long as canon remained constant, I was not going to do paranoid sh-
"This just in! A tragedy at the Schnee Manor! Jacques Schnee, CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, was attacked in his own home! Klein Sieben, the Schnee family butler has reported to Atlas News that Mr. Schnee was pushed down a flight of stairs after he had finished eating dinner with his family. He said the suspect was a faunus who as of now is still unidentified. The suspect had infiltrated the house using unknown means in an attempt to assassinate the Schnee Patriarch. It is also still not known if the attempt was successful as Mr. Schnee was rushed immediately into the hospital! He-"
I tossed my scroll a few paces from me. When the damn thing still continued to broadcast, I threw a pillow at it. The pillow covered it but I could still hear the damn reporter talking.
This was not canon.
THIS WAS NOT FUCKING CANON!
A/N: I only have one thing to say.
Chapter 9
Willow Schnee stared at the black-haired man lying comatose on the hospital bed, his stomach rose and fell as he breathed. He had a bandage wrapped around his head to cover a wound he had gotten when he fell. He also had different machines next to his bed that monitored his health and kept him alive, at least functionally. The comatose man, her husband, was a far cry from the usual image he presented himself. He looked so weak and vulnerable. And if the doctor that monitored him were to be believed, he was also a stone's throw away from death.
It was rather pitiful and she, Willow Schnee, would have pitied him. But she wouldn't. Not after what had happened.
She could not bring herself to pity the man that had ruined her life. She could not pity the man that had stolen her right to control her father's business. She could not pity the man that manipulated her children as if they were not his blood. She could never pity the man that dared strike his own children.
Horror and shock came upon her as she watched Winter take a step back from her father, a hand nursing her stinging cheek, eyes widening in realization that her own father had hit her. Weiss also gasped, a hand covering her mouth.
"You will STAY here and OBEY!" roared Jacques Schnee as he towered over his eldest, fury in his eyes. "I will not have my heir nurse dreams of adventure like a child!" growled the man as he turned from Winter. "Weiss! Come!"
Her daughter, afraid of what her father might do next, quickly scrambled and ran to join his father, leaving Willow alone to comfort a weeping Winter.
When she saw her daughter crying her eyes out in shock, in pain and in hurt, something in her snapped. She had taken the full brunt of Jacque's abuses, letting herself be the shield to protect her sweet children for the worst of Jacques. She had thought that if she were to put up with the abuse then he would leave their children alone. It was taxing. It was degrading, her will slowly whiting away but it was necessary. The only thing thing that kept her up was wine and the desire to see her children protected. But when her bastard of a husband hit Winter, the gloves were off.
She had to do something to protect her family. Even if it meant losing a piece of herself.
So for three years, Willow worked hard. She dug up old board members that still lived and who were loyal to her late father, she contacted journalists and lawyers and secretly fed them sensitive information regarding Jacques policies, most notably his increasingly discriminatory treatment of faunus workers. She had done the leaking as to make all SDC decisions for the past few years look as if they were his personal choices and not the choices of the company. What information she could not give however was then used to secure the loyalty of certain board members close to Jacques. When they laughed at her attempts at intrigue and threatened her life, she promptly reminded them of one single fact.
"I have lost my company. I have lost my marriage. I have even lost my children. I have nothing to lose, sir. But what about you?"
For three years, she spent her time trying to regain her company back all the while playing the defeated drunk Willow as to not get Jacques suspicion. And playing her act also meant that there were certain things that she couldn't do. Fortunately for her, she still had friends willing to back her even if it meant murdering Jacques.
When she first broached this idea to Gerard and Alena during one visit to their home, her children playing with their heir in the background, Gerard simply rubbed his fingers and asked when they would start.
She was surprised at their eagerness to do what was basically an assassination. Seeing her confusion, Alena promptly explained to her.
"Since we are all being criminals here now, my husband and I must be honest with you as well. We saw the way Jacques had been treating you and we have had… considered removing him from his position… permanently so that you could take over until Winter was ready at least." Her eyes widened in shock, unsure how to react to her admission. One hand, she was delighted that she had friends like Alena and Gerard.
On the other, they were considering murder for her sake.
When she looked lost, Alena reached out to grasp her hands and looked deep into her eyes. "Willow. You are a dear friend both to me and Gerard. If we were simply business partners then we would have left you to your fate. But we are not just business partners now. We are family. And family sticks together, in good time and bad." she declared.
At that, Willow reached out and pulled Alena into a deep hug. Jovial laughter soon arose and Gerard came around his chair to join them, yelling "Group hug!" as he did.
Willow thought that it was strangely heartwarming if a little morbid considering they were planning and were going to enjoy the death of the father of her children. But then again, they were planning the death of Jacques Gele.
She stood from her seat and looked out the window of Jacques's room, uncomfortable with her train of thought. She tried to think of something else but all her mind sent her were details that occurred a night ago.
One innocent push down the stairs had been enough to draw blood from Jacques but the bastard had survived the fall. Luckily, the fall had impacted him enough that it had left him in a coma and if the doctor was to be believed, it was a permanent one. It was not the result she expected but she figured she could still work with it. If he had died, it would have made taking control of the company difficult and made her too suspect. If he was merely brain-dead then she could assume control as the heiress until Winter would come of age.
She heard stirring and she momentarily feared that Jacques had woken up somehow. She turned around to see that it was instead Weiss who sat next to her father, her head resting on his legs while her arm was out grasping his.
The visit to the Friedlich household had affected Weiss deeply. Willow could see that her daughter was envious of the warm relationship her friend had with his own father. And so, Weiss decided to do her best to earn her father's affections. She became even more studious, worked to perfect the tasks her father gave her and even badgered Winter to simply follow the man's instructions.
And it had worked, for a time. Jacques had become attentive, affectionate even. He started to be present at meals more and had even taken the time to play with Weiss even for a few minutes. The development shocked Willow. Where had this man been her entire life? She was almost convinced that he had turned a new leaf and would become a rough if not affectionate father.
Then he hit Winter. After that had happened, Willow was promptly reminded that he would never change.
Her heart sank when Weiss stifled and began to her hold her father's hand even harder. Willow turned away from the display, doing her best to not tear up there and then.
Even when he had hit Winter, Weiss still defended her father, even calling Winter's decision to leave for Atlas selfish and childish. They quickly reconciled a few days after their argument but their relationship was never the same. They still acknowledged each other as siblings but they treated one another as if they were strangers.
Then Jacques had his little fall. Going along with a story that a faunus assassin intended to kill him, Weiss began to ask some uncomfortable questions. She and Klein spoke as best as they could without revealing anything too incriminating but their answers did not please her. So she dialed Winter and asked her why anyone would want to kill their father.
"Because he is the worst, most arrogant, most disgusting leech to have ever existed." replied Winter.
Needless to say, their relationship took an even worse turn. Weiss then staunchly defended her father while Winter attacked him. Both then threw accusations at one another. Weiss called her sister an arrogant blowhard. Winter called Weiss a spoiled snowflake that wanted attention. She hadn't caught on the rest of their conversation but Willow knew the end of a friendship if she ever saw one. And in the middle of it all was poor little Whitley, scared and alone while his sisters feuded.
She had called Winter first about what had happened. She expected her to be surprised, to be a little sad even. But instead of any of those, she only found cold-hearted disdain.
"Good riddance." said Winter, her lips parting into a sneer before she closed the scroll call.
Willow stepped back and found a seat, her eyes stabbing daggers onto Jacques unconscious body. It was all his fault. It was because of him she was like this. It was because of him that her children were fighting. It was because of him that the Schnee name was curseword instead of a name that would bring hope.
She grit her teeth and clenched her fists.
When the SDC would finally be returned to its proper owner, she was going to make changes. She was not going to be like the man now comatose on a hospital bed in front of her. She was going to restore the Schnee name and by extension, her family, to its former glory. And she would not do her mission as Willow the Drunkard. No, she would have to be something more.
She was going to be Willow Schnee, firstborn of Nicholas Schnee, and heiress to his kingdom.
And she would protect her family whatever the cost may be.
When Weiss first heard what had happened to her father, she couldn't believe it. It was a situation that one could even call an improbable event. After all, father was smart. He was clever, funny, and quick on his feet. There was no way that he would slip down the stairs like that!
Klein had said that Father was pushed by a faunus assassin. When asked why the faunus would hurt her father, Klein said that father had done very bad things to them. When she pressed what sort of bad things, he would look distant and say that she'd understand when she would be older. Seeing that Klein wouldn't answer her, she then went to the next person that knew more than her.
"Sister. Why would the faunus want to assassinate Father?" she asked her sister. A feeling of foreboding came upon her when she saw her sister's look.
"Because he is the worst, most arrogant, most disgusting leech to have ever existed." explained Winter, her tone dismissive. "He has been cruel to them and to us. It was only a matter of time until his cruelty came back to him."
Weiss could not believe what she was hearing. "How could you say that Winter!? He is our father!" Winter sneered. "The very moment he hit and berated me, that man lost his right to be my father!" Weiss shivered at the sheer venom that laced Winter's voice. But she couldn't back down. After he had finally been more active in her life, the least she felt she could do was to defend his honor.
"He might have hit you, Winter, but that hardly warrants you the right to stop calling him father." commented Weiss. Winter scoffed. "Sister, you really need to stop defending that… that… man. He has been cruel to mother ever since I was born and he has used all of us! Look at how he has wrapped you around his finger, defending whatever pathetic excuse passes for his honor!"
Her eyes narrowed at her sister's accusation. "Maybe he wouldn't have been cruel to mother if she just followed what he said." She argued. Father was kind and loving to her if she did what he said. Maybe mother would have been loved if she followed him!
"Weiss. You are only proving my point. Are you really so starved of love that with one little act of affection, you'd suddenly dance to whatever music he plays?" mocked Winter. Weiss did not know what hurt the most. Her sister mocking her or the truth that was in her words. Her then turned to anger, for pain immediately gives way to it. She was angry that Winter was being uncaring. She was hurt that Winter would hurt her. If that what her older sister wanted, then that is what she would get!
"You're a bitch Winter! A bitch!" seethed Weiss. She had never sworn before since Winter would have scolded her. She did not even know what that word meant, only that it was insulting. If Winter was going to belittle her, then it would only be proper to reply in the same manner. Her sister's face darkened.
"What did you say, Weiss?" she said slowly, and dangerously. Weiss smirked smugly as she crossed her arms.
"When you insult our father like this, when you act like this, then you are being a bitch!" she said haughtily. "A sad, upstanding, arrogant bitch!" she later added, injecting her voice with all the frustration, anger, hurt, and emotion she could muster. She expected her sister to be hurt, to be shocked even. When she looked at her sister, she found none of those.
Instead, she only found ice.
"If this is how you want to play it, Weiss. Then I shall leave you to it. From now on, you are no longer my sister you spoiled and love-starved brat!" glowered Winter. "Goodbye, Weiss." hissed Winter, saying the last word as if it were a curse.
The call was immediately cut, leaving Weiss to sit in her room alone.
For a few minutes, she sat in silence, unmoving and still. Even as Albert nuzzled her side to get her to move.
Father had told her that Schnee's must never cry. It was not graceful and undignified. Only those below them did that.
But with all her words coming back to her and her coming to a epiphany that she would never see her sister in the same light again, Weiss couldn't help it.
She fell back on her bed.
And cried.
She cried and cried until her sobs became nothing more than whimpers in the dark. But in her mind, she knew what to do next. A faunus assassin had hurt father. She was still young and weak. She would have to train. She would train until she would become powerful, even more powerful than her sister and any other in the world.
She was Weiss Schnee, next in line to inherit the Schnee Dust Company. She was going to follow her sister's example and become a huntress. Whatever her original goal was, she was going to forget it. She had a new mission now.
When she was going to become big and strong, she would use her power to hunt down the assassin and the people that were responsible in hurting father.
And she would make them pay
Winter threw her fist into the wall next to her, her mind was racing and her heart sank in her.
First the attack on the man she had to call father. Then she and Weiss had an argument she felt that permanently damage their relationship. When she told Weiss that she would never call her sister again, she did not mean it. Despite her shortcomings, she adored her younger sister more than any other. When she said those words, she was merely frustrated. She was angry… upset… hurt.
Her mind and heart screamed at her to call her sister back and tell her that she hadn't meant the words she said. She didn't mean to mock her and to belittle her. Her entire soul told her to call Weiss immediately and apologize. But she couldn't.
Not after what she did. Not after what she said.
No apology could ever make up the words she had said.
'Coward!' a voice in her head screamed her. When she moved to defend herself, the voices continued to mock her. "First you failed to shield your sister from the manipulations of your father. Now you burn your bridges with her. Excellent showing, Winter Schnee!"
"What was I suppose to do?" she turned and yelled, expecting to find someone in her room but when she turned, she only faced the wall.
'You could have been the older sister you made yourself out to be' the voice whispered. 'You could have been brave, you could have been supportive, you could have been loving. But noooooo~!" drawled the voice, its tone mocking. 'You ran way instead! You left your sister to your father's tender mercies!'
Winter tried to find a reason to justify her actions. But she found nothing.
'What was that Winter? Nothing?' the voice chimed. 'What a very appropriate word to describe what you are!'
"W-what! I'm n-" She moved to protest, but the voice had cut her off, singing.
' Winter's done nothing, she is nothing! Little, pathetic Winter!"
Winter fell on her bed, a pillow wrapping around her head to stop herself from bearing the voice's taunts. Her eyes were wide and manic, tears starting to form. Her breathing was haggard and her heart was heavy. Her mind was tossing and turning. She felt… pathetic.
She was Winter Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company. She was going to join the military and be a Specialist. She was going to be making a name for herself free from the Schnee name and from the expectations of her father.
In a single night, her entire world was turned upside down.
And on her bed, in her room, there was only one thing left for her to do.
She wept.
A/N: Willow's inner mama bear was unleashed, Alex's dad is being a dork, and Alena is the perfect friend to have if you are a disturbed person.
Anyway, there will be some deviations from canon but those deviations are still manageable enough to fit what had happened in the show. To list the deviations I've made, Jacques is a vegetable, Willow is taking over and will turn the SDC into a kinder and gentler company, Weiss's new reason for coming to Beacon is to learn how to kick the ass of a non-existent faunus assassin and her new parent figure to not like is going to be her mother instead of Joq the cock. And finally, Winter won't be having a pleasant relationship with Weiss.
So, what do ya'll think? Is it ok or do I need to hang myself from a tree?
Chapter 10
Now. What to do in a derail?
Do you complain that it had happened? Moan about now useless knowledge? Or do you instead embrace it and accept the new reality?
Well. I've decided that complaining about the shit deck sent my way would nevertheless attract fate's unwanted attention and throw even more wrenches along my way. So in the name of self-preservation and self-interest, I was going to embrace the derail and go forward, full throttle.
I still wondered though who the hell had the bright idea to off Jacques fucking Schnee so goddamn early in the timeline. I mean, I was going to do that! Who the hell stole my totally original idea! I even had a nefarious plan and everything! Now it's all ruined! RUINED!
But in hindsight, I guess it was for the best. One, I didn't have to dirty my grubby little hands with his blood. Two, I wouldn't have white-haired women coming at me with a vengeance. Despite those two comforting thoughts, I still felt miffed that my thunder was stolen.
While an inactive Jacques might be a good thing, both in the terms of morality and humanity, it was a nightmare practically. Hate him or love him, Jacques was a good bloody businessman and shared the highest post in the pecking order with a few other men and women. When he hit his disgusting head on the Schnee Estate's floor, it created a shitshow of epic proportions.
The first shit show was the faunus reaction. And oh boy they reacted.
From every hamlet from Vacuo to Mistral, people celebrated. If you had a bone to pick with the SDC, it was time to party. It was just like America during the announcement of Osama bin Laden's death. And when news came out that it was a faunus assassin that tried to off Jacques, well, let's just say that Ghira Belladona won't be having some sleep for the next couple of days because Menagerie partied like Moscow at the end of World War 2.
Granted it was an over-reaction in the part of the faunus but when the guy who was literally responsible for your people's suffering was in near death, wouldn't you be excited as well?
And speaking of Jacques killer, there was still no info on who might have done it. Only that it was a faunus who wore black and had a real hate boner for Papa Schnee. The trail had gone cold and here was only one principal witness, the Schnee butler Klein. Other staff also hadn't heard or seen anything useful to give the investigators and security footage, onced opened, revealed nothing.
The principal suspect was of course, the White Fang. The group had become more militant as the years went by and in the previous year, they started their first attacks on the SDC. So, it would make perfect sense that they'd done it, right?
To everyone's surprise, they denied it.
When the accusations started to fly at the White Fang, Sienna Khan herself publicly denied it and claimed no official sanction was taken against Jacques Schnee. When I thought about it, I supposed it also made sense.
The White Fang under Sienna Khan were insurgents, not terrorists. Fucking Adam hadn't taken the reigns yet and turned the movement from bad to worse. Trying to assassinate the head of the SDC might seem like a good idea but it was actually a terrible one for a group like the Fang. If Sienna Khan, hypothetically, wanted Jacques dead, then it would have signaled to everyone that the White Fang was ready to escalate shit and make the Kingdoms even more paranoid. By limiting their targets to SDC trains and convoys, by not executing hostages and merely holding them for ransom, it would only make the Fang a troublesome group but not a terrorist group.
Of course, most people didn't believe them. And the Fang's status was quickly upped from troublesome raider to dangerous terrorist group real quick.
So now, we have one brain dead Jacques in the hospital and a mystery assassin roaming around Atlas. I sure as hell don't want to be the guy in charge in investigating this.
In response to Jacques untimely incident, a new CEO had to take the reigns of the SDC. And that was the second shitshow.
" Let us then work together and build a better future!" declared Willow Schnee from her podium, her voice echoing from my scroll. " A future free from the weight of the past and filled with the promise of a better tomorrow! Not only for Atlas, nor Mistral, nor Vale, Vacuo or even Menagerie, but for all of us! For ALL of Remnant!" A loud round of applause erupted in the hall as Willow finished her speech and offered the crowd a small bow.
I promptly turned off my scroll and laid it on my desk. I leaned back on my chair, my mind reflecting on what had happened.
With Willow as CEO, things were bound to change, I reflected. She wasn't cut-throat like Jacques and keeping his policies, while it would have been practical in the short run, was a handicap in the long run.
For every change in government, it is far more practical to keep the old system than to introduce a new one. That mantra is even more sacred in the business world. Businesses run on stability. If there is no stability, there will be no business. Jacques previous policies, at least the ones I know of from canon and from reading about him with in-universe books, were designed to give the SDC as much cash as humanly possible and were also cleverly designed so that the heir would no longer be concerned about trying to create a new formula but merely be competent enough to maintain the system.
While it sounds good, it comes at the cost of losing your public image, and of having slave labour, and of having working conditions so shitty that it would even make a Gilded Age Capitalist turn to communism in sheer disgust. And to keep it, the SDC would have to continue the shady shit that Joq the Cock did.
For the sake of future credit, Willow has to reform the SDC from chef to chief and purge the company of all things Jacques related. She would also have to remove her current board of directors, for insurance purposes, and fill it with people who have a severe dislike of Jacques. Not that she needed to look too hard considering Jacques had stepped on a lot of toes to get to where he was so she could probably try and recruit old executives to her.
If Jacques would somehow recover from his, erhm, illness and try to retake the SDC, Willow would be too secure in her position for him to do anything about it and considering the fact that Willow wasn't an asshole, there would be next to nothing for him to blackmail her.
By reforming the SDC to be more worker-friendly, by surrounding herself with loyal and competent subordinates that hold a healthy dislike for a certain Jacques Schnee, she would be untouchable, an act of god or death being the only things present that could remove her.
I smiled as I considered the repercussions. Perhaps the derail wasn't too bad after all. Perhaps I shou-
A knock on my door interrupted me from my thoughts.
"It is open!" I yelled, annoyed that someone had interrupted my monologue. The door swerved open and my father poked his head in. I blinked twice. What does he want now?
"Alex. I was just dropping by to inform you that Willow called your mother and I for a favour. The Schnee manor is going to undergo some renovations to better its security from faunus assassins." That makes sense. If someone tried to kill me, I would improve my security system or create a new one. But why does he need to tell me this? I'm not their bloody engineer!
"To make the renovations faster, they need to stay in somewhere so that they won't be a bother to the construction screw. They would have stayed at a hotel but Willow isn't keen in leave her children alone without family to watch over them." Oh that's neat. She's a goo-.
What.
No.
NO!
"So she has asked us if they could stay at hour house until the renovations are complete." He explained, oblivious to my growing panic.
Please say no. Please say. Please no.
"Your mother and I have agreed!" he declared. "They'll stay with us until their renovations are done. Isn't that grand!?" He asked me, a smile on his face.
"Yes. It's very grand!" I lied through grit teeth. But my father was too excited to notice my clattering teeth and turned around from the door, humming a tune.
For fucks sake dad.
FOR THE LOVE OF-
I smiled sweetly as mother opened the door, revealing three figures standing on the doorway. The first was Klein Sieben, the Schnee family butler. He held his hand to his heart and bowed.
"Klein Sieben at your service ma'm." He introduced himself, his eyes flickering. Mother nodded at him in recognition. "Good afternoon Klein. I trust your ride was without interruption?"
Klein smirked. "Of course, ma'm. No assassin shall come while Klein Sieben is at the wheel!" Mother hummed as she looked over his shoulder and at the piles of luggage behind him. "Do you need help with that? I can call for help if you want?"
An offended look came upon the butler's face. "Ma'm! I would be a terrible butler if I cannot carry lugagge by my lonesome!" declared Klein. He then gestured towards the bags that were cluttered behind them. "May I prove myself, ma'm?"
Mother smiled, amusement on her face. "Go on then, Sir Butler." she ordered. Determination came upon Klein's face as he turned to carry said bags. While the butler busied herself with the bags, mother turned her attention to the two white-haired youths in front of her.
"We have heard what had happened to your father." started mother as she went forward and swiftly dragged the two into one massive hug. "I don't know who did it but I swear we'll find the one responsible and they will pa." she declared grandly. Weiss blinked at her declaration but nevertheless offered her a smile.
"Thank you auntie. That would be wonderful." muttered Weiss, an airy look hanging in her eyes. Seeing this, Alena quickly chimed in.
"Don't worry, children. That assassin will be caught." she said, her hand resting on their shoulders. "Until that happens, the two of you will stay with us until its safe for you to return home. Don't worry. Auntie Alena and Uncle Gerard will keep the two of you safe." She assured them. Weiss merely nodded while Whitely pouted. The boy most likely wanting to go back home and not stay at another house. "And Alexander too!" she added as she sent me a wink. I rolled me eyes as I went forward to greet my friend. When our eyes met, her smile widened.
"Alexander." curtsied Weiss.
"Weiss." I nodded.
For a few minutes, we stood there in silence. Then I spoke.
"Want some pie?" I offered.
"That would be grand." she sniffed.
A/N: I'll be sticking to canon as much as I can, only this time, certain things and motivations will be changed.
Like how Weiss is going to get her scar…
Chapter 11
While having the head of a multi-billion lien industry fall victim to a faunus assassin might be exciting, it eventually gets old. And one week later, the excitement of Jacques Schnee's near death experience fizzled away and the world began to return to its normal routine of mundane reporting.
The only people that still haven't let the thing go were conspiracy theorists who made wild theories on who the assassin might be to faunus and anti-faunus groups hurling insults at one another. But I did not concern myself with those two earlier groups since they were filled with crazy and stupid. The one that I had the most concern with was a certain Weiss Schnee.
The girl had been distant and aloof ever since she came to live with my family. She spent long hours in the library reading books about Forensic Science and Atlesian Law. Her private tutors - We were all home-schooled - informed my parents that she had been neglecting certain subjects like arithmetic but gave her all in others like fencing. The house staff had also complained to my parents, especially the faunus staff, that she had been rude to them, accusing them of being assassins in disguise or some other nonsense. Heck, she even snapped at Whitley and Albert whenever they wanted to play with her.
There was only one reason why she was acting like this. Weiss was clearly deeply affected by her father's accident.
When I had mentioned this to my parents, they had a distant look form on their faces and they promptly told me to not give it anymore thought. They would take care of it, they said. It will be fine, they said.
Well, I tried to listen to them and let them handle it. But after one incident that occurred in the house, I wasn't going to wait around any longer.
Geppetto had visited the house with Amir to report to daddy dearest about the performance of the new ABR. I did my usual going to the front door to greet them. When I was about to offer my hand to Amir, I heard a loud "NO!" scream from behind me. I turned to find Weiss with a rapier in one hand, Myrtenaster hadn't been built yet, stomping towards us.
"Weiss! What th-" She cut me off with a glare as she lifted the rapier and pointed it at a confused looking Amir. "Get away from him, Alexander!" she commanded as she stood between us. She turned to face Amir, her grip on her rapier tightening. "I'm not going to let you hurt him!" declared Weiss. Silence fell as three eyes of different colors regarded the determined-looking girl who had a rapier in her hand.
My eyes darted to Geppetto who looked at the display in amusement then to Amir who looked really, really confused. Eventually, he started to speak one word that was in our minds.
"What?"
She growled as she inched the rapier closer to his neck. "Silence, assassin!" she roared. My ears perked up at her accusation and I finally understood what was going in her head.
She thought that Amir was here to kill me. And her basis was due to the fact that Amir was a faunus.
Oh god. Was she going to become a legit racist?
That would not do. Not on my watch. I had to put her tendencies down before it gets out of hand.
And what better way to turn someone from racism than with cake?
Weiss threw a pillow at the wall of her room in frustration, her mind twisting and turning. Albert, who had been resting nearby, yelped as the pillow landed next to him. Her eyes widened immediately as she heard her dog's distress. She turned to find the dog whimpering, his little ears were drooping back and his tail was tucked between his legs. Weiss immediately ran over and knelt next to her dog, doing her best not to look aggressive. As she did so, the girl was fervently begging the Samoyed to forgive her outburst.
Thankfully, Albert's posture relaxed when she began to caress his head.
Weiss sighed as she took Albert in her arms and sat on the carpeted floor. She then nuzzled the dog's nose, causing him to yip adorably and rest his head on her lap.
Her mind wandered back to an incident that happened a day ago. She had been playing with Whitley and Albert near the entrance when Whitley spotted something, or rather, someone.
"Look! It's big brother Alex!" he pointed excitedly. At the mention of Alex, her head turned immediately and saw the white-haired boy walking towards the front door. She unconsciously smiled, remembering Whitley's first reaction to Alexander.
Her cute little brother had thought that Alexander was a big brother that he never saw before. Before she could say anything, Whitley started to run and promptly assaulted her friend with a big hug. Horror fell upon her as her younger brother looked up at the bewildered boy and declared,
"Brother!" he yelled ecstatically.
At that moment, Weiss thought that she would die in sheer embarrassment at her brother's childish reactions. But her worries were unfounded when Alexander spotted her, smiled in understanding, and laid a hand to pat Whitley on the head.
"Yes. I'm your big brother, Whitley." he whispered. Whitley was positively delighted and nuzzled deep into her friend's legs.
Nostalgia came upon Weiss as she remembered that it had happened during happier times. Father had started to become more attentive to her, she and Winter were still… close and things were… simpler.
A dog's whimpering brought the white-haired girl from her thoughts and it was there she realized that she had hugged Albert a little too hard.
"Oh, apologies Albert." she said sheepishly as she released the dog from her grip. Albert then stood up and stretched in front of her, yawning rather cutely. A giggle then came upon her when Albert suddenly growled and moved to bite his tail. Seeing that the tail was out of reach, the Samoyed then went around in circles, swearing vengeance at the elusive end.
As she watched the dog make a fool of himself, her mind once again recalling the incident that occurred the day before.
With curios eyes, they watched as Alexander opened the door to reveal two men. The first man she recognized as Geppetto Polendina, Alexander's private tutor and a man her father once referred to as a brilliant but boorish man. Alarm, fear and anger came upon her when she saw the second man. No. Not man she corrected herself but animal.
He was tall, with piercing yellow eyes and with two furry, looking ears on his head. She turned white when she saw him smile when Alex offered him his hand. What was her friend doing!? Did he not know that the faunus were assassins! She had to save him!
Without hesitation, she grabbed her rapier which she had rested against a wall after sparring practice with her tutor and sounded off a loud "NO!" to warn Alexander. It was just about also about time as well as Alexander was inches away from accepting the animal's hand. She smirked mentally. She had done it! She had saved her friend from the faunus assassin!
Weiss brought her hands face in shame, remembering what came afterwards.
"Weiss! What in the gods name are you doing!?" Alexander roared, his pale face red in embarrassment. Her eyes narrowed at the tone her friend used on her but she could forgive that transgression. She too would be angry if someone yelled at her from across the room.
"I'm stopping this faunus assassin from getting to you Alexander." she reasoned as she glared at the faunus, the animal had the gall to look offended! "Now stand back while I-" Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander had exploded.
"HE IS NOT A FAUNUS ASSASSIN! HE'S MY BLOODY TEACHER!" the white-haired boy shrieked, his pale face now a different shade of red. It took a moment for Weiss to register his outrage. When she did, horror and shame came upon her.
She released her grip on the rapier, letting the sword fall on the floor while she bowed repeatedly towards the faunus assas-no, teacher, she mentally corrected herself.
"Erhm, you are forgiven?" the faunus said, his voice still mired with confusion. When she turned to Alexander to offer her apologies, the boy had stomped off in anger, leaving Weiss to stand alone and red in shame. For the entire day, Alexander refused to talk to her, only speaking to her out of necessity rather than want.
And his refusal to talk to her hurt her. And it hurt her deep.
She fell on the carpeted floor, her arms spread wide. What was happening to her? She never harbored any dislike for the faunus before. She and the faunus staff at her house were cordial enough that she could even consider them as friends. After her father's attempted assassination, she couldn't even look at them straight in the eye without thinking ill thoughts about them. And now, thanks to her short-sightedness, she had damaged her friendship with one of the few true friends she had in her life.
' First Winter, now Alexander. Good going, Weiss Schnee' she lamented bitterly. It was all because of her and her anger that she had dam-
A soft knock on her door interrupted her from her thoughts. She rose from the floor, quickly fixing herself from her scruples. Once she had finished, she stood straight and turned towards the door.
"Who is it?" she called it.
"Weiss. Are you in there?" She perked up when she realized who it was. It was Alexander.
"Ah. Yes. I am." she said uncontrollably. Her mouth moved to cover her mouth when she realized what she had said. But it was too late for her to take back what she had said as Alexander later added. "Oh. good. Could you open the door? I'm carrying something and I cant open it myself." Getting over her surprise, she sauntered towards the door and her hand reached out towards the handle. Before she could twist it, hesitation came upon her.
What was she going to say to him? She had humiliated him in front of not one, but two of his teachers. Scratch talking to him. How was she going to face him even? When she was about to pull her hand back and give an excuse to not face him, the voices of both her father and sister came upon her mind.
"A Schnee does not back down from a challenge. A Schnee meets it head on, grapples it by its horns and beats it down into the ground."
With their advice echoing in her mind, determination filled her. She was a Schnee for gods sake! She wasn't going to back down from Alex, whatever he wanted to do!
And so, she twisted the door knob, determined to make the first word.
But her tongue failed when she saw the Friedlich heir standing straight, a silver tray in his hands. On the tray were two slices of a cake she never saw before. The slices were of a dense chocolate cake with what looked like a thin layer of apricot jam on top, and it was coated in dark chocolate icing on the top and sides.
"Sachertorte?" he offered.
She never said yes so fast in her life.
The two youths sat across one another on a table that Alexander's parents installed so that Weiss could have meals in private if she wished. The two ate in silence, both silently savoring the rich and smooth cake that Alexander had baked, both also doing their best to avoid eye contact. Eventually, their plates were emptied and the two once again sat in silence.
Weiss spoke first, emboldened by the advice of her father and sister.
"It was a good cake." she mumbled. Weiss inwardly cringed. She hadn't meant to sound so childish! But Alexander paid it no mind, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"Oh. Thank you. I did my best." replied Alexander as he attempted to flash a confident smile. But it only ended up looking like an awkward grin.
Once again, silence fell as the two struggled to find words to say to one another. After a minutes, hesitation, the once again found the courage to speak and moved to-
"Weiss, I-"
"Alexander, I-"
The two blushed as they realized that they had spoken at the same time. Alexander shifted awkwardly on his seat while Weiss turned her body left of her chair, her hands gripping the ends of her dress.
Eventually, the two once again talked.
"You first." Weiss offered. But Alexander would have none of it.
"No. You first." he replied. "I shouted at you."
"I screamed and embarrassed you in front of your teachers." whispered Weiss, her blush reddening as she recalled what had happened. "My fault was bigger. You first."
Alexander moved to speak, to say that his fault was the biggest. But he realized that it would only end up with them playing an awkward tug-of-war so with great reluctance, began his apology.
"When I… yelled at you yesterday… I was not myself." He explained, his posture now straightening as he spoke.
"I was embarrassed by what you had done and I was also… angry." Weiss winced at the sharpness of his pronunciation. "I was angry because you jumped out like a pop-gun. I was also angry that you had accused Amir as an assassin out of all things. He has been teaching me since I was five and I can tell you that he is no assassin." Alexander stressed. When he realized that he had been rising in volume, he lowered his tone.
"So that's the reason why I yelled at you." he harrumphed, causing Weiss to look at him. The boy smiled sheepishly, a hand running through his hair. "So… sorry?" He said awkwardly. A small smile formed on her face as she faced him fully.
"Apology accepted, Alexander Friedlich." she said graciously, her grip on her dress relaxing. "Now that I've heard your apology, would you hear mine? I have to tell you everything." she later added. Confusion grew on Alexander's face but he nodded and urged her to say her piece.
So she did. And she told him everything.
She told him about her father. She told him about the stress that his hospitalization brought on her. Se told him about the wedge that it drove between her, her sister and her mother. And she also told him about her growing hatred on the faunus for having turned her father into a vegetable.
"My father wasn't always so expressive even when Winter was born. Mother told me that during our births, he simply nodded, gave us our names and left." Bitterness seeped in her voice but if Alexander noticed it, he respectfully held back his tongue, allowing Weiss to continue. "I've been trying, ever since I was young, to have him to notice me, to have him to… to…" Her mind went blank for a moment. This time, Alexander chimed in.
"To show affection?" He suggested, thinking about Weiss's earlier explanation. Weiss nodded.
"Yes. To show affection. Not only for myself but also for Winter and mother. When I tried to get them to help me, they only told me to give it up, calling it 'fruitless'." she hissed. "So imagine my surprise and delight, after seven years of trying, when he finally did take notice." Nostalgia and accomplishment filled her when she remembered the first headpat her father gave her. It was better than anything in the world, well, other than Albert, Winter, and Alexander's cooking.
"What made you try so hard?" Alexander asked. Weiss held back speaking, her mind deep in thought before she settled on telling what really made her do it.
"I was on the verge of giving up really." she admitted, shifting in her seat. "When I was five, I had grown used to his distance and of Winter and mother telling me to stop." Her eyes met his. "Then your family came into my life."
"My family?" he mouthed. She nodded.
"Yes. When I first saw how happy your family was, I was envious. I asked myself day and night why I couldn't have what you had." she whispered. "What had I done to have a father so cold and distant? It was then that I realized that maybe, just maybe, if I followed his footsteps, if I did what he told me and delivered it two-fold, then he would… show affection."
Alexander leaned forward on the table, his hands resting on the wood, his icy-blue eyes leveled directly at her.
"Considering how highly you speak of him now, it worked?" he surmised. Weiss sighed as she leaned back on her chair.
"Yes. It worked. He gave me the love and affection that I have craved for my entire life." confessed Weiss. "It was… rapture for the lack of a better term."
"That's a strong word to use." he quipped, causing her cheeks to heat up. "I don't know any other word to say, okay?" she huffed as she crossed her arms. "So if you want to hear my apology, you better sit there and listen!" she leveled. To her irritation and slight amusement, her friend chuckled and motioned for her to continue.
And so she did.
"With him finally being the father I wanted, I devoted myself to him and we grew close. So, imagine how it felt for me when he was… when he was… assassinated."
The rage and anger and hurt that she had hidden threatened to spill out of her but with sheer force of will, she held it back. She couldn;t express herself properly if she was distracted by her emotions.
"I was livid, Alexander. I was angry. I could not feel anything else. I looked at a cause, a reason on who might have done it and when I discovered it, I threw all my frustrations at it."
Her mind recalled memories of her lashing out at their faunus staff, friends who she had been with for years, now enemies in her eyes. It filled her with nothing more than shame and regret.
"Since the assassins was a faunus, I presumed you…" Realization hit Alexander. "Oh no."
"I acted out on my maids who were faunus. I called them bad people. I called them assassins. I called my friends who had been with me since I was baby as… as…"
"Enemies?" Alexander offered. Weiss shook her head.
"No. I called them animals." lamented Weiss. She looked at Alexander and recoiled as she saw shock and disgust flash in his eyes. It hurt her to see it but she knew she deserved it after what she had done. Her mind told her to stop, to simply offer her friend her apologies. But her conscience urged her to continue. And so she did.
"The staff weren't the only ones I attacked. I had also attacked Winter as well."
"What did you do?" he demanded. Weiss could not meet his piercing look and firmly planted her eyes at the plate in front of her.
"When I asked her why anyone would want to hurt father, she told me that he deserved it, that he had done bad things to people like the faunus. I lashed out her and called her the..the… b-word."
"Bitch?" Alexander chimed. This time, it was Weiss's turn to be scandalized. Her cheeks reddened as she glared at her friend.
"Alex! How could you!?" she hollered. But Alexander scoffed and leaned back on his chair. "You've said it now I've said it. I'm not going to let you taste soap by your lonesome you know."
Weiss grumbled at her friend's crass attitude but secretly, she was delighted that he had done so. Alexander quickly motioned for her to continue speaking and she did so.
"After I used crass language with Winter, we had an argument. I called her that crass word and-don't you dare say it again!" she yelled as she noticed the look that her friend was giving her. She blushed as he leaned back laughing on his chair. When he had finished laughing, he wiped a tear from his eyes and bade for her to continue. She flashed him an angry glare that promised retribution if he interrupted her again.
"As I was saying, I argued with Winter, we said some things that we cant take back and now, she thinks I hate her." said Weiss, her gaze softening. "I didn't mean what I said to her. I was just angry that she called our father bad when he wasn't!"
It was then Alex said something that caught her attention.
"Weiss. Have you tried to look into what your sister said?" Alexander asked, his expression unreadable. Weiss blinked. "No. Why?" The expression that was on his face next chilled her.
"Look up then Schnee Dust Company leaks in the CCT Net. You will see what your sister meant." he said ominously. Weiss made a mental note to do so. "I will." she promised.
"So… the apology?" he said teasingly. Weiss looked at him strangely, what was he on about? Then she remembered that she was supposed to apologize to her for having humiliated him in front of his teachers. And so, she stood up from her chair and traipsed in front of him. He watched in amusement as she then offered him a curtsy.
"I allowed myself to be overcome by my own personal emotions and caused you undue distress. It was unbecoming of me, Weiss Schnee, to act in such a undignified manner. I offer you my sincerest apologies."
"And I, the distressed party, graciously accept and forgive Weiss Schnee in her transgressions." he declared in a grand voice that made her giggle. "May such a thing never happen again." he later added.
Silence fell as the two regarded each other with friendly eyes. Alexander later spoke up, catching her attention.
"What are you going to do with Winter now?" he asked. Her shoulders fell. "I don't know." she admitted. "She would probably be too angry at me to even listen at my apology. I think I should not contact her for a little while."
Alexander scoffed as he stood up. "Don't be like that Weiss. Winter adores you. I think she would be willing to be forgive you right now if you called her!"
"I don't know about that…" Weiss trailed off.
Winter stared at her scroll, her finger just a few inches from the 'call' button. As she was about to press it, a knock interrupted her. It was then she noticed that she now terribly late!
She stood from her bed and rushed to get dressed.
' Weiss still probably hates me' she mused. ' Maybe I'll call her some other time.'
Weiss's thoughts were then dragged to the mud when she felt arms wrap around her. She blinked once then twice.
"Alex?"
The hug around her tightened.
"Oh shush. You look like you needed one." he whispered into her ear. A part of her wanted to deny what he had said but she knew it to be true. Weiss liked physical contact like hugs and headpats. To her, it was greater than any other praise there was in the world. And so she reached out and wrapped her arms around her friend as well.
"Thank you, Alex." she whispered, her worries and stress slowly filtering out in her friend's comforting arms.
For a few minutes, they stood there, locked in their own world. It was then that Alexander pulled back, his cheeks a little red. This she noticed.
"Alex. Your face is a little red. Are you sick?" she asked, concern in her voice. The white-haired boy shook his head. "Oh. Not that. It was just…"
"Just what?" she demanded.
"We were just standing there hugging for three minutes straight. I think that was just a little too much." he coughed. Weiss narrowed her eyes at him. "And is there a problem with that? Am I not huggable?" she said accusingly, her hands falling onto her hips. His eyes wandered as he whistled. "Oh! Didn't you like the cake I made? Why don't we go get some more?"
"I'm not going to eat your cake unless you tell me why you pulled out!" she yelled, jabbing a finger at him.
A scandalized look fell on him. "Weiss!" he shrieked in embarrassment.
A/N: isweartherewillbenomoreheartwarmingshitiamscarywriterrawrfearme
And so there we have it. Alex is now trying to subvert Jacques propaganda from dear old Weiss and sway her to the light side of the force.
Chapter 12
There is a saying that warns you about meeting your heroes because sometimes, they aren't the people they are made out to be. A celebrity for instance might be famous for playing the role of a fun, kind, and sweet character that gets your "This person is good!" meter on the overdrive. But then, you meet that celebrity and you find out that celebrity is nothing more but a stuck-up, egotistical, two-pronged maniac.
For a certain Weiss Schnee, she was also having the same experience. Instead of a celebrity however, she was having her father as her hero and she not only found out that he was a stuck-up, egotistical, two-pronged maniac but a man who had a lot of blood in his hands.
I was occupying my father's office reading about the History of Atlesian Arm Manufacturing when Weiss came in looking as if she had seen the worst shit that mankind ever produced. I recognized that look, having seen it on my friends' faces after they binge-watched five horrible b-rated movies for giggles. She stood before my father's desk, emotionless and still.
After a few moments of standing and of me awkwardly flipping pages on my book, she finally spoke.
"Alex." She began, her tone shaky and soft. "Can we talk?"
I closed the book and set it aside. "Sit." I gestured to the chair in front of the desk. She did so and sat, her arms grasping the ends of her dress. I quickly flagged that of her thinking something that girls her age should not be thinking about. I clasped my hands over the table, my morbid interest piqued.
"So… what's on your mind, Weiss?" I asked.
"What do you think of my father, Alexander?" said Weiss, her ice-blue eyes looking into my own. I recoiled slightly, not expecting the question. Getting over my surprise, I answered her.
"Well. Your father is one of Remnant's most powerful man. He's an effective businessman and judging by the way you think of him, a good father." It hurt my soul to say that fucking Jacques Schnee was a good parent but I was not keen on stomping on Weiss's currently fragile emotions and thought to give a textbook corporate answer.
But the look Weiss sent me all but told me that she wasn't buying my white lie.
She crossed her arms, steel falling upon her visage. "I'm not a dolt, you dolt." she sniped. "I know you've been studying to be the heir of your father's company so you know things that I don't. What do you really think of my father?" My eyebrows rose slightly. What could have gotten her in thi-
Oh
"I trust you have read the Schnee Dust Company leaks?" I surmised. The way she winced confirmed my statements.
Before that bastard Jacques had his little slip on the stairs courtesy of a unnamed Faunus assassin that may or may not have been White Fang, despite Sienna Khan's fervent protests, the company was rocked to the core when someone blew the whistle and released dozens of files of an extremely damaging nature.
When that had happened, I was mostly quiet about it and so were my parents. Nearly everyone in the business world knew, at least to an extent, about the shit that was going on in the SDC. Considering how large their operations were, it was more of an open secret ready to be told if you knew who to talk to.
We could have done something about it and exposed the SDC for what it was. It was the moral thing to do after all. But it sure as hell wasn't the practical thing to do. The SDC's problems were its own and the dust they produced were far too important than the lives of faunus workers.
I shook my head off from my thoughts and returned to answer Weiss's question. But before I did…
"I'll tell you my real thoughts on him BUT" She winced at the sharpness of my pronunciation. "Promise me that you won't react negatively nor assault me after I finish my piece." I stressed. This was important for me because I wasn't keen on getting hit on by Weiss's little fists.
"Fine." she grumbled. "I, Weiss Schnee, promise not to react negatively nor assault you after you talk. So can you please get on with it?" she pleaded.
I wasted no time.
"Your father, while an effective businessman, is one of the worst people to have ever walked Remnant." I paused to check if Weiss was going to react negatively but she was silent, her eyes telling me to continue. So I did.
"He is greedy, and ambitious. When he married your mother, he usurped her as the next heir of the company and turned it from a respectable albeit rough dust mining company to what it is currently now. He is also a ruthless man for turning his faunus workers to what is basically his slaves." I chuckled mirthlessly. "And from what I read, the faunus slaves of old had it far better because they at least lived in respectable conditions. The conditions that his workers are in now would even make a Mistrali slave master go green in disgust."
The knuckles that gripped her dress turned paler than what it currently was. But despite that, I kept on talking. "Frankly speaking, Weiss. While the attempted assassination of your father was terrible…" It really wasn't "… and cowardly, I cannot fully condemn the faunus assassin for doing what he/she did, considering the circumstances." I finished and kept my eye on her, checking to see her reaction.
"Is that all?" she whispered.
"Yes." I confirmed. For a moment, I thought that she was going to reach through my father's table and strangle me or something. The girl in front of me was Weiss Schnee for fucks sake. I braced for the incoming attack. But nothing came.
Instead, she deflated on her seat and released a sigh.
I quickly stood from my father's comfortable chair and scooted around the desk to join her. Once I neared her, I then gave her a big fluffy hug. I once again expected that she would push me away. Instead, she just snuggled deeper into me.
For a few moments, we were in each others arms. I could hear her breaths in the silent room, the only audible sound that of electronics working in the background. Eventually, I released her from the hug and sat on the chair across her.
"I feel so dumb." she whispered. I perked up.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because I spent years trying to earn the love of a terrible man." she sniffed. Her eyes were red and on the verge of tears. But no tears came out. "I fought with Winter because I loved my father. I've called my own sister names because I thought he was worth defending. Now I find that out that he has been so… horrible." Bitterness and despair laced her tone. "When I read the leaks, I thought they were lies. Then I saw it."
I felt myself recoil, familiarity flooding into me.
The leaks did not only contain reports. It also came with pictures and a few videos detailing things that are on the supreme levels of fucked-up. One of the pictures was of an SDC guard beating the shit out of an elderly faunus man. The man was on the ground, bruises and all. The guard on the other hand looked like he received pay earlier than it was due to arrive.
But that did not beat the videos that were released. One such video was of workers striking out a mining town. The miners who had been peaceful, were met by SDC robots that demanded them to go back to work. When the miners ignored them, they opened fire into the crowd. The crowd dispersed but then a bullhead came out of nowhere and shot into them, spreading bones and blood everywhere.
That video increased my hatred for Jacques Schnee all the way to Sunday but what also made me angry was the fact that the bastard was using bots he bought from my father's company!
Thankfully, the bots were repainted with SDC colors, making it all their fault. But it didn't take two and two together to figure out that those bots were made by a Friedlich manufacturing plant.
I shivered at the thought of the impending lawsuits our way if someone decided to bring us to court.
A warm feeling interrupted me from my thoughts. I looked down to see that Weiss was holding my hand, her eyes looking up at me.
"Am I a bad person, Alex?" she asked. Horror crept into me.
"What makes you think that, Weiss?" I asked, clearly disturbed at the thought. She looked away, her eyes refusing to meet me. "Because I'm a horrible person's daughter. Because I acted out against Winter. Because I-"
Oh fuck no.
"Weiss. Stop." I growled. She bristled as I went forward and laid my hand on her shoulders. "Look at me." I ordered. When she didn't budge, I repeated my order and this time, she finally did.
"What is your name?" I asked her.
"Weiss Schnee." she answered quickly.
"Is your name Jacques Schnee?"
She shook her head.
"Do you feel terrible on what your father has done and do you feel a little bit at fault?" She gave me a joyless nod.
"Do you want to do something about it? Do you want to fix it? To make it better than before?" I said. She mumbled something under her breath.
"I did not hear you. Say it again." I ordered. She looked down at the floor, her eyes still refusing to meet mine.
"… yes." she said softly. It was enough for me to hear but I wasn't satisfied by it. Not one bit.
"Weiss Schnee!" I yelled slightly. "What did you say!?" This time, she looked at me.
"YES!" She shouted, her eyes now glaring into mine. While my ears weren't pleased at her yell, my brain was more than happy to see fire burn in her eyes.
"Then that answers your question, Weiss." I said as I gave her a pat on the head. Her next words revealed what she felt at my oh-so brilliant prodding.
"What?"
"Let's try again then shall we?" I said as I fell back to sit on the opposite chair. "Your name is Weiss Schnee, and not Jacques Schnee. Am I correct?" She nodded. "You feel terrible on what had happened and what to make it better than ever. Am I correct?" She again nodded. I smiled when I saw gears turn behind those ice-blue eyes of hers. "Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Weiss?"
"I am not my father." she mouthed. "I am not him."
I nodded. "Correct. You may be his daughter and you may share his blood but in the end, you are not him." I said as I stood up once more and and brought her into my arms. " You are who you choose to be." I whispered as I gave her a pat on the head.
"And what of me feeling bad?" she said, her face resting on my chest. I chuckled.
"A bad person would not have felt horrible on what had happened." I explained. "A bad person would leave things chaotic and terrible. Look at yesterday for instance. If you were a bad person, would you have tried to apologize to me?"
"I wouldn't have." she replied after a brief pause.
"And regarding Winter, do you still want to make up with her?"
"I do." she sniffed.
I grinned. "Then there we go. You don't need to worry about this or that Weiss. You are a good person no matter what anyone says. No matter what your father did, it is not your fault. It is not your sin. It is his. What you can do as his daughter is to not follow his example and be better than him. Do you understand me?"
Her eyes were firmly fixed on me. Whatever fire there was a minute ago turned into a full on inferno.
"I do." she affirmed, her voice now with steel and confidence. My smirk grew wider as I pat her head once again.
"It is nice to see you like this, Weiss. You look even prettier when you are like this." I said with a wink.
Amusement coursed through me as Weiss turned redder than a tomato.
"Y-y-you dolt!" she screeched as she stood and began to assault me with her fists. I laughed jovially as she tried and tried to hit me. Eventually, she ran out of steam but not wanting to admit defeat, she sat back on her seat, crossed her arms and looked away.
"Hmph!" She harrumphed.
For a minute, we sat there. Her being all tsundere like and of me, looking at her with a grin. Oh hey, it was fun bullying tsun-tsun Weiss. Who knew?
"Now. Are you alright?" I said after a few more moments of silence. She softened immediately. "Yes." she said under her breath. I went over to her and once more, laid my hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it Weiss. I know you are good and will do good when we grow up. The only thing that you have to do now is to prepare yourself for it and to believe in yourself that you can do it." I said sagely. My hand reached for hers. She shivered when I raised it up to my heart but did not pull away.
"Now I want you to do something for me." I declared. "Promise me that you will be better than your father." The inferno that was in her eyes returned and she did not hesitate as she answered.
"I promise that I will be better." she vowed. She recoiled when I moved her hand from my heart to hers. "Now promise to yourself that you will be better." The determination in her eyes flickered slightly.
"I..I'll try." she said softly. I shook my head and laid my free hand on her shoulder.
"There is only do or do not." I quoted. "There is no try." I leaned in closer so that my face was bare inches from her. "Promise to yourself, Weiss. That you WILL be better."
This time, the fire did not flicker and the steel in her voice only confirmed it.
"I shall be better."
"Good." I cheerily said as I released my grip and returned to my father's chair. As I sat down, I noticed that Weiss still hadn't left.
"Do you need anything else, Weiss?" I said as I opened the book I was reading earlier. Surprise came over me when she suddenly stood, walked around my father's desk and planted a small kiss on my cheeks.
As shock took hold of my body, she pulled back, a smirk on her face.
"That was for teasing me, you dolt." she said confidently. Her bravado quickly fizzled as a more thankful expression replaced it. "And as… thanks for being a good friend." she added as a small blush began to adorn her cheeks.
"Oh. Um. Anytime. What are friends for anyway?" I dumbly clucked. She giggled at my nervousness. "You really are a dolt." she said as she played with her braid. Her cheeks reddened even more as she looked around the room.
"W-would you…"
"Would I what?"
"W-w-w-would you l-like another k-kiss?" she said. When she noticed my dumbfounded expression, she talked once more. "As proper thanks! As if I would see you in any other way you dolt!" she later added, jabbing her finger at me as if it were a sword.
"Sure?" I replied, my brain not working properly thanks to shock. As soon as she heard me say yes, she tiptoed her way towards me, leaned over and gave me another kiss on the cheeks.
"Thank you. For everything." She whispered. As I tried to reply, we heard a loud crash on the doorway.
Our eyes darted to see a traumatized looking Klein, a tray on the floor, and an open mouthed Whitley staring at us with with blue eyes.
Our faces turned a whole new shade of red as Klein stumbled back and collapsed with his back on the wall while Whitley, mischief in his eyes yelled at the top of his lungs.
"AUNTIE ALENA! BIG BRO ALEX AND BIG SIS WEISS ARE KISSING!" In the distance, I could hear a familiar voice screaming " WHAT!?" at the top of her lungs.
"Whitley Schnee! When I get my hands on you, I'll tear your skin off your bones!" Weiss shrieked as she ran out. Whitley giggled as his sister went after him. Before she turned the corner, I could see Weiss mouthing another "Thank you" before she ran out the door, screaming bloody murder as laughter trailed the halls.
And there I was, sitting like a red-faced moron. It took my scroll to ring to knock me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, wanting to get my mind out of the gutter. I checked on who was the sender and found out that it was from my father. I opened it and read it.
I blinked twice to see if I was hallucinating but to my horror, I wasn't
For fucks sake dad!
What do you mean we're going to Menagerie!?
A/N: My hands and brain must be evil for they make me write such disgusting fluff. I shall cut them off to relive you all from such horrible diabetes.
Anyway, I guess this can be a conclusion to our Weiss's predicament. Hopefully, she becomes better and reconciles with her sister. And this is the last chapter that will feature such disgusting fluff. Ew. I can feel positivity radiating through me already.
jk.
Next stop: Menagerie. Mission: They want more things that go boom-boom.
Chapter 13
As someone born and raised in a country smack-dab in the middle of the equator, the heat really shouldn't have bothered me. After spending years cooped up in a snow-covered hellhole, going to a place of sunshine sounded like a dream for me.
I missed the sun and its comforting warmth. I missed lazing around white-sand beaches that shone like gold under the sun and stretched as far as the eye could see, lined with coconut trees whose leaves swayed listlessly in the summer breeze. One could take long naps on a hammock, the waves crashing against the shores and the melodic orchestra of birds accompanying you to sleep.
However, my expectations and hopes were promptly taken from me and smashed against a wall.
First off, Menagerie was hot. And by hot, really bloody hot. It was so hot that as soon as I stepped outside the bullhead which took me and daddy dearest straight from Atlas, I started to sweat profusely. Secondly, I was going to find no rest because as soon as people heard that some Atlesian stiffs were going to pay a visit, they promptly set up a picket line at the place we landed.
"Go back to Atlas!"
"Down with the Schnee!"
"Friedlich Murderers!"
Crowds, held back by uniformed faunus, perhaps Menagerie Police, had gathered outside the pad we had landed on, picket signs and everything. I quickly surmised that they were here as kind of a double protest, both against my father's company and against the SDC. Despite Willow doing her best to repeal the acts of a certain Jacques Schnee, it still couldn't do away the suffering and pain he had wrought upon the faunus and old grudges die hard. And as for my father's company…
We sell things that have and will continue to kill people, both humans and faunus, since the days of the Old Mantle Empire. It was pretty self-explanatory why we weren't liked.
I should have expected that there was going to be protests of some kind but I hadn't expected it to be so large. The entire thing was a hush-hush and extremely mundane arms imports agreement between Menagerie and Friedlich AG. We sell weapons all the damn time yet no one gave a crap.
Bloody protesters.
I scanned the crowd, rating their picket signs from zero to extremely creative. I found a sign that showed a childish crayon drawing of Jacques Schnee being burned by fire. That drawing I mentally gave an extremely creative score.
Normally, the company would have sold the arms via the Atlesian government masked as a care package but due to Atlas and Menagerie not really having the best of relationships, the company decided to sell directly with no middle-men. The deal wasn't really that too much of a boon for the company but daddy dearest railroaded it through his own Board of Executives about branching out and opening a market in Menagerie, perhaps even setting up shop there with our subsidiary companies.
Why should we even bother with Menagerie, one might ask? It was miserably poor in resources, relied on imports and was home to an international insurgency. What could possibly be so useful about Menagerie?
When I questioned my father about this, he simply gave me the same answer he told his Board.
"Because the continent of Menagerie is untapped and has plenty of cheap real estate and because Ghira Belladonna wants to expand Menagerie." he explained as we entered the bullhead that was to take us to the sun-baked continent. "It also increases our reputation with the faunus and would show that we care about diversity." he lated added.
"So it's just a cheap way to get popularity?" I said incredulously. He frowned as he stepped into the bullhead.
"Don't be like that Alex. Think positively!" he scolded as I followed after him. "Once we get that deal with Ghira Belladonna, we could also negotiate for our subsidiaries set up shop there! Think about the headlines! "Freidlich AG sets an example! Funds Faunus State!" he said proudly.
"And what about the accusations that we will be funding a terrorist state?" I shot at him, thinking about the negativity that would arise at the deal. He snorted as he sat in his own seat.
"Our arms already end up in the hands of Valean mobsters and Mistrali gangs. They are going to get our weapons anyway either by legal or illegal means. Why not secure this million lien deal before that happens? And besides, our company's logo is a eagle, Alex. The eagle does not care of the opinions of the pauper birds. It roosts where it pleases."
I blinked back to reality as father looked at the gathered crowd and promptly smiled and waved at them despite the insults that were thrown at him. Cameras flashed as he spread out his arms and sent kisses at them. That cheeky display stunned the crowd, visibly expecting him to be something else. But this was Gerard Freidlich, weapons magnate and dorky eccentric and right now, a bloody mad lad.
I took a step away from my father, not really wanting to be so close to him at his display. The embarrassment was tuned out for we were soon met by a deer faunus flanked by a troop of guards who had the Belladonna insignia on them.
"Ghira Belladonna apologizes for not being here to meet you in person." the faunus said as he gave my father a short bow. "Matters of State have held him back and he cannot afford to part from them." My father waved it off. "Oh. I don't mind." He then gestured towards the crowds. "I think they have given me a warm welcome already."
The faunus bristled, thinking that Gerard had been insulted at the protests. I quickly stepped in to explain.
"What my father means is that he appreciates the… energy that the People of Menagerie has for the arms deal, provided it is successful." The faunus raised his eyebrow at me, visibly wondering why the hell Gerard had brought a kid along. Father saw the look he sent me and later explained. "He's my son. He will be accompanying me to observe the deal." The faunus looked at my father as if he grew a second head. He later ignored my existence and turned back to father.
"I see… If you would please follow me?" He said as he motioned to a convoy of cars that waited by the gates.
Father nodded and we began to move. Father and I weren't the only ones there. We also had a news crew for documentation and our security detail. I glanced at the futuristic-looking soldiers and their equipment. They weren't only there just to protect us. They were also a not-so-subtle way of displaying what was in store for Menagerie if the deal went through.
"Could you remind me what we are going to sell them, father?" I asked as went into the air-conditioned vehicles.
"The usual." He replied nonchalantly. "Guns, bullets, and heavy equipment. Ghira Belladonna has been expanding the Menagerie Defence Force and they need what we can offer."
I nodded as my mind wandered. Menagerie had an actual standing army like Atlas. I didn't know why this fact was overlooked in the show but that fact was kind of important in the political sense.
Menagerie was surrounded on all sides by hostile powers. It would make sense for them to have an actual military considering the fact that everyone and their mother distrusted the faunus.
The convoy started to move through the streets of Kuo Kana, the seat of power in Menagerie. I glanced out the window, noting the picket signs and protests.
"Charming welcome." I commented. Father chuckled as he took out his scroll and stole a picture of me looking out the window. I turned at him, pouting. His chuckled deepened as he took another picture of me, commenting.
"Your mother would love this."
I grumbled as I turned my attention back towards the protests outside, my mind wandering back to Atlas.
When we were about to leave, Whitley begged me to bring him along. I had become fond of the boy and he of me and I would have been more than happy to bring him along. But the place were visiting was not a library or a sports center. It was Menagerie, a continent populated by people that suffered under his family. My family and our company weren't really liked that much and some form of protests would happen. If he, a Schnee, would come along, then it would cause riots of epic proportions. And besides, my parents would not stand for such a thing.
I tried to explain this to him but there is only so much that you can say to a toddler.
When I kept on saying no, Whitley began to hug my leg as hard as he could, his face nuzzling into them, My heart was positively exploding at his precociousness but I had to stand strong, for his sake. Klein had tried his best but the little white-haired boy would not budge. So if I and Klein could not make him move, then Weiss will.
She was surprisingly gentle with Whitley. I had expected her to be her usual Weiss self and be all hoighty-toighty like. I guess she was taking her older sister role seriously. Surprisingly, Whitley listened.
Only after I promised that I would bring him back a souvenir and would spend an entire day playing with him. With great reluctance, he let go and went to his sister's side. I breathed a sigh of relief after that, not really wanting to have any Schnee blood to on my hands. Weiss then turned him over to Klein who then excused himself and went back into the Manor.
Our eyes met and I smiled awkwardly.
"I'm surprised you are not asking my parents to be brought along." I said to her. She scoffed as she crossed her arms.
"I'm not a dolt, Alexander.." stressed Weiss. "Whitley thinks that you won't be coming back. I on the other hand know that you will come back." Her voice then softened. "You will be coming back, right?" I went to her and gave her a pat on the head, to her surprise.
"Of course, I'll come back. Who'll feed you cakes and pies and cookies in my absence?" I smirked. Her cheeks reddened and she promptly jabbed a finger at my chest. "I'll have you know that Klein too can make food that are as good, no, better than yours!"
"Of course he does." I quipped. The girl took in a deep breath then spoke.
"Alexander Friedlich. As my cake butler, I command that you return after you've finished… whatever you are doing in that continent!" she ordered. "If you don't then I will be extremely upset! Do you understand!"
I gave her another pat to the head, causing her pale cheeks to redden even more but with great effort, she stood her ground.
"I understand." I said.
"Swear it!" she nearly screeched. And I did, with an exaggerated bow.
"I swear to come back to you and Whitley and bake you two as much sweets as you want, Princess Weiss." I added with a smirk.
She hit me in the chest.
I smiled as I recalled her reaction. I swear she makes it so easy for me to tease her.
Mother had been apprehensive about the idea but dad told me that she was her problem. I asked him how he was going to convince her to bring me along for the ride.
He only gave me a smirk.
Fucks sake dad.
But oh well. At least their marriage is healthy. Healthy to the point of audible.
Thank god that they've managed to install sound-proofing when the Schnee's started to board with us. I wasn't too willing to educate Whitley about sex ed and I will only do so when the little munchkin turned 20.
That boy was too precious to corrupt educate.
I shook my head off from my thoughts, finding it disturbing and not entirely necessary for me to explore and so, focused on what lay ahead.
We had finally arrived at the Belladonna Mansion after some minutes of driving through protest filled streets. I stepped out of the car and my eyes ran through the sharp and distinct architecture of the place. I whistled in admiration. The house was aesthetically pleasing and designed to look like a Japanese castle. And like a Japanese castle, it was time to meet the Daimyo and his family.
Ghira Belladonna was, well, huge for the lack of a better term. He wore a his signature open violet coat that revealed his chest hair and clearly looked the part of a leader of Menagerie. His wife, Kali Belladonna, was much more pleasant to look at for fully comprehensive reasons and the least intimidating. She had the look of a woman that enjoyed mischief especially if it came at the expense of someone else. Or to be more accurate, her daughter.
And there she was, standing beside her mother. She was dressed in a black hakama that was similar to Kali's. When our eyes met, I fashioned a smile and waved at her. She shyly waved back.
I raised my eyebrow at her Un-Blake like behaviour then promptly realized that this was Blake before Adam got his hands on her.
Huh. I wondered when she was going to go on her grand ninja/terrorist adventure. That would be excellent blackmail material in the far future.
"Welcome to Menagerie." Ghira greeted as he stood forward, his hand extended. Father accepted it and the two men shook hands. "I apologize for not meeting you when you landed. I was pre-occupied with state matters."
Gerard nodded in understanding. "Oh it's fine. It happens to all of us." Ghira grunted, his eyes scanning my father and the people he brought.
Then those yellow eyes of his darted towards me.
I suppressed a shiver as he loomed.
What! He was so big!
"And who is this?" He questioned gruffly, his eyes scanning me up and down. The guards bristled behind us but whatever tension there was died quickly as father laughed jovially and gave me an affectionate pat on the head. "This little man is my son and heir, Alexander." father declared.
Ghira then stared at Gerard. "You would bring a child to an arms deal?" he said incredulously. Father simply gave me another pat on the head. "I assure you. He is older than he looks, Mr. Belladonna. And he is here to assist me, if you don't mind."
Ghira shrugged, the air around him saying that he'll just play along with my father's game. I twitched at his dismissal of me. I then mentally swore that as soon as I no longer looked like a white-haired shota, I was going to celebrate.
Kali, who had been at the sidelines, strode forward and elbowed her husband lightly. "Aren't you going to introduce us?" she purred. Ghira nodded and gestured towards her. "My wife, Kali Belladonna and my daughter, Blake." He said with no small amount of pride. Kali's eyes went towards me and twinkled. Like full on twinkled.
With a grin, she pushed Blake forward, urging her to introduce herself. Blake just plain looked scandalized. Seeing that she was too awkward to start the conversation, I initiated it.
I held out my hand. "Alexander Friedlich." I added, a smile on my lips.
She looked at my offered hand, hesitation in her eyes. But thanks to Kali's urging, she took it.
"I'm Blake." she whispered.
A/N: Forgot to post this yesterday. Sorry!
Chapter 14
"First of all, the company would like to thank you for coming to us first." started Gerard, his eyes on the giant of a man seated in front of him. "I assure you. You will not be disappointed." he then added as he handed the man a folder that detailed everything that Menagerie could have, provided they would accept the deal.
We were ushered into the house and into the Belladonna meeting room. I sat right next to father, my eyes scanning the room and the deal being made in front of me. Ghira sat opposite to us, in his hands was a folder detailing what we were going to sell him. The large man flipped through its pages, his eyes impassive with each passing page.
Finally, Ghira stopped reading and laid it on the table in front of me. He then stared at my father.
"That is a lot of weapons." He grunted. Father smiled. "Mr Belladonna, you had made it absolutely clear the last time we spoke that you wanted weapons that could protect Menagerie. I simply followed your request. Menagerie wants the best then it will get the best!"
"Yes. It is the best. The best outdated equipment you have." he growled.
On paper, Menagerie had hit the jackpot. If Ghira would sign the deal then Menagerie would be secure in terms of arming its expanding army. The only problem here was that the equipment that was going to be sold to them was rather dated. Not dated in the sense that it would be totally useless but dated in the sense of an M3 Grease Gun and an MP5. Sure the two guns can do the work required but one would definitely prefer the MP5.
Seeing the large man's irritation, Father quickly explained why. "Mr. Belladonna. I've told you before that the equipment you wanted for Menagerie simply cannot be possible. My own government would have my head if I sold you such powerful equipment." Ghira crossed his arms, a frown marring his face. "Then what use is talking with you when you will just sell us outdated weaponry?" There was a dangerous glint in his eyes as he spoke. "When we last spoke, you led me to believe that you will sell us top-of-the-line equipment. It appears I was misled."
Father elbowed me lightly in the sides. That was my signal to speak. So, I spoke.
"Mr. Belladonna. Menagerie will have its equipment but not in the way you think."
Ghira stared at me.
"Explain." he demanded. I turned towards my father who gave me a nod. My gaze went back to Ghira whose eyes beheld both curiosity and wariness.
"Because of outside pressure, My father cannot sell you the weapons wholesale." I began. "If he did, it would attract too much unnecessary attention both to his company and your country. If this deal hypothetically pulls through, there will be waves. We are ready to deal with those waves but there is a limit to how much a wall can take before it collapses. By selling you the equipment that we are offering now, then certain negative reactions to the deal will not be so vocal." I explained, my eyes staring into his. "A battle rifle is not the same as a frigate after all. While we cannot sell you the weapons, there is a way we can go around that." I added.
"And that is what?" scoffed the large man.
"Subsidiaries." Father interjected as he nodded at me. I pulled out another folder and handed it to Ghira who accepted it suspiciously. He flipped the cover over and read the title.
"Kuo Kana Arms Manufacturing?" he uttered as he looked at my father then to me. Father spoke.
"When I said that you will not be disappointed, I meant it." explained Gerard. "I will leave the file to you for review but for your benefit, I'll summarize it." He cleared his throat, his stance turning more business-like. "My company wishes to set up a subsidiary arms company in Menagerie to sell the arms directly to you. By that way, we can circumnavigate the peering eyes of certain parties and the arms can go directly to you. Other benefits include the construction of an manufacturing plant here in Kuo Kana that will surely provide employment as well as the necessary infrastructure to support it. That includes building Menagerie's first ever CCT beacon"
To his credit, Ghira stoically held a neutral expression but his eyes betrayed his surprise. I allowed myself a sliver of satisfaction as I watched his reaction. So this is what it feels like to be a benefactor?
I like it.
Ghira recovered quickly, harrumphing. "This wasn't our deal." he grunted.
"I merely altered the deal to be of maximum benefit to both Menagerie and my company." quipped Father as he took a sip of tea. "Friedlich AG did not become successful by doing things half-baked. We gave our all and our efforts were rewarded."
"I see…" Ghira mouthed, his eyes fixated on the folder that was in his hands. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke again.
"I am going to have to think about this." he said as he laid the folder on the table. He looked back at my father then to me. "In the meantime, why don't you and your son join my family for l-"
The door swung open and in came Kali, a pink apron over her Hakama.
"Its time for lunch!" she announced as she sauntered inside. Her eyes fell upon us, a kindly smile tugging her lips. "Why don't you come and join us? The two of you must be hungry after flying all the way from Atlas." From the door, I could see Blake peeking inside. I sent her a friendly wave and she quickly darted back, much to my amusement.
"We'd be delighted." father replied as he stood from his chair.
Oh joy. Lunch with the Belladonna's.
What could possibly go wrong?
The meal was delightful.
After spending years eating gourmet food, the Eastern style cooking that Kali made was a godsend for my tastebuds. The meal was organized neatly on a black lacquer tray. On each tray were five bowls of varying size. The first bowl was filled with steaming white rice, the next was filled with chicken teriyaki whose sauce shone in the light, followed by a bowl of miso soup with three pieces of tofu floating in the broth, boiled sea bream with turnip and the loveliest mochi that I had ever seen.
"Someone's enjoying their food." remarked Kali, noting my pleased expression.
I turned to her, my eyes positively beaming. "Madam Belladonna. You must consider a culinary career. With the skills you have, I assure you that success is all but guaranteed."
"I don't know about that." Kali giggled as she turned to her husband. "Who'd be here to take care of him?" Ghira's cheeks reddened at the attention. "I think it is the other way around, Kali." harrumphed the bearded man as he took a bowl of his miso to his mouth. Kali responded by leaning in close to rub the man's chest hair, causing him to sputter and redden even more.
Blake just look scandalized at the whole affair.
"You should see how my parents act around each other." I grumbled at her as I picked a piece of chicken up with my chopsticks. A pair of hands found their way on my hair. I looked up to see that it was my father, grinning.
"Don't worry, Alex. One day you will have your turn in embarrassing your children." snickered Gerard as he ruffled my hair. "They way you and Wei-
"Daad!" I whined, making him pull back, chuckling all the way.
As we finished the meal, the adults began to discuss business. Ghira had reported to his wife what the Friedlich New Deal would be for Menagerie and she reacted visibly.
"You would set up a CCT beacon in Menagerie?" Kali said incredulously, Blake perked up at that. "Why?"
"Because it would be necessary to ensure efficient operations in the far future." he replied. "We can't have deliveries and whatnot be disrupted all because of communications errors."
"I was under the impression that Friedlich AG was only an arms manufacturing company?" Ghira questioned.
"We also own other businesses as well, Ghira." addressed father. Minutes ago, the adults agreed that the usage of first names was acceptable as they weren't speaking in business terms. Kali later added that being called a Madam had also made her feel old. So first names it was. "We have numerous subsidiary companies in airship construction, steel, logistics, manufacturing, and technology. My predecessors weren't really comfortable in having one business only."
"And how are the faunus treated there?" Blake chimed in, her eyes set and filled with fire.
Fire that went out when different sets of eyes turned towards her.
The way her ears drooped made me want to pet her. But reason won over my want, reminding me that we were here on a diplomatic mission to sell something, not to declare war.
"We have no quarrel with the faunus, Blake." father chuckled. "I treat all my employees equally. In fact, one of the main researchers in my team is a dog faunus!" The Belladona's perked up at that.
"Who?" asked Ghira. This time, I answered.
"Amir Lin. He leads the engineering department and has also been my teacher since I was five." Kali turned to me. "Five?" she asked.
"When he was five, he told me and my wife that he wanted to start his training as my heir." interjected father, drawing their attention to him. "I initially said no since he was young but he wouldn't budge until I said yes. So I said yes and… here he is now, already accompanying me on deals." I narrowed my eyes at him. That was not how I remember it, you liar! As I moved to correct him that it he who started it, Kali threw her cents in.
"You started so young?" She looked at me then to my father. "You must be so proud of him!"
Gerard chuckled as he gave me a pat on the head, his eyes beaming at me. "Aye. I am."
I blushed at his praise.
Goddamn it, dad.
Ghira, who had been watching us, then turned to Blake and smiled.
"Well. My Blake hasn't started anything yet but I am still proud of her." he beamed as he ran his hand through her head. "As am I!" Kali purred, her hand also reaching out towards her daughter's hair.
Jesus Christ. She looked like a pouting tomato kitten.
"Well then, could we return to business, Ghira?" father said, knocking us all from our thoughts. The man looked at his wife who nodded at him.
Kali watched as the three stood up from their seats to return to their little discussion. As the wife of Menagerie's chieftain, she could have joined in the talks but she preferred not to. Politics and business weren't her cup of tea. She wasn't a cool politician like her husband nor a fiery speaker like Sienna and she did not marry Ghira to take power or some such nonsense. If anything, her presence there would just serve to distract her husband and she knew that Menagerie needed him to be thinking with his brain and not with his other brain.
As the three trailed down the corner, she returned her eyes to her daughter who had been nominally silent for the most part. Concern filled her as she noticed the troubled look that was on her daughter's face.
"What's wrong, Blake?" she asked. Her little kitten looked up at her.
"They look like Schnee's." murmured Blake. Kali smirked "For men who look like Schnee's, they seem rather dashing, don't you think?" Her little's ones ears drooped in embarrassment. Kali giggled as she ruffled her daughter's hair. "I can take the older one, you can steal way the youngest." she joked. Yellow eyes darted towards her in shock and scandal.
"I was only joking, dear." she said light-heartedly. Her tone then became serious. "Now, what is really the problem here, Blake?"
"There's no problem, mom." insisted Blake. If Kali wasn't her mother, she would have believed her. Unfortunately for her little kitten, she knew it when her daughter lied.
"Blake…" she warned, her tone now a little forceful.
This time, her daughter relented.
"Why are humans here, mom? I thought they all hated us." said Blake as she looked up at her. Kali tittered. "Oh Blake. Not all humans hate us. Who ever gave you that idea?"
"I just heard it from someone in Kuo Kana." said Blake, hey eyes on the floor. Kali sighed as she brought her daughter into her arms. Of course her little kitten would hear it from there, possibly from a radical White Fang rally. While she was willing to stand and fight for equality, she was not of the mind to spill blood for it. Peaceful means still achieved results.
It saddened her when people left her husband's peaceful message for Sienna Khan's radicalism but she couldn't blame them. Not especially since the world saw the depravity that the SDC inflicted upon their people.
Oh, she was angry all right when she viewed the leaks herself. But she knew that if they would respond to the SDC's violence with violence, it would only needlessly escalate things.
And now, her little kitten was becoming besmirched with their message. The mere thought of her Blake joining the now radical White Fang terrified her. If her daughter was going to fight for faunus rights, she would have to do it peacefully like her father. She would have to stamp out whatever rot the Radical Fang was feeding on her daughter.
"Blake. Listen to me." she said seriously. Her daughter blinked.
"Just because there are a few terrible humans doesn't mean that all of them are terrible. For example, if I took a bucket of dirt and threw it into the sea, would the sea become dirty?" she questioned. Blake shook her head. Kali leaned in to kiss her daughter on the forehead. "Exactly. Keep that in mind whenever you hear someone says that humanity hates us, alright?"
"O-okay." stammered Blake.
"Now, why don't we practice that mindset? How about you take Alexander around Kuo Kana later?" she suggested. "From the way he was looking at you, it almost looked like he has a crush on you." she cheekily added. "Not that I mind, he seems to be smart, rich an-"
"Mom!" protested Blake, her cheeks red in embarrassment.
' Oh sweet daughter.' grinned Kali as she gave Blake another pat on the head. ' You are so easy to tease~!'
A/N: Another Menagerie update with kitten and bureaucracy.
Oh and as a freebie, this is what Alex looks like:
Alexander Friedlich
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Chapter 15
"Could you go into greater detail about the new deal you are offering?" said Ghira as we all returned to our seats.
"Alright" Father nodded as he spoke. "As I've said, we will be setting up a subsidiary arms company here that will be named Kuo Kuana Arms Manufacturing. We will be constructing a manufacturing plant in Kuo Kuana with the necessary infrastructure to support it such as roads, housing, dust reactors, and so on and so forth."
"Assuming that Menagerie will take the deal, who will fund the construction? We are already spending precious Lien on your weapons. I do hope that you are not hoping to bankrupt us with that." pointed out Ghira.
Father cleared his throat. "Friedlich AG will handle the costs of construction as well as the materials necessary. The only thing that we need right now is workers."
"So you'd want the faunus to work construction then?" chimed Ghira, his arms crossed. Father sighed at the insinuation Ghira was sending him.
"Not just construction. But also as foremen, managers, and distributors. The construction will be a boon for Menagerie. Think on what it would bring when it becomes operational." he stressed. Ghira hummed as he eyed the folder detailing the plans.
"This will be a big operation." he remarked. "It would be costly for you I imagine."
"The gains that will be brought after it completion will cover the costs." dismissed father.
Silence fell as the two men regarded each other.
"I would have to admit, Mr. Friedlich…" addressed Ghira. "… that this New Deal of yours has caught me by surprise. I contacted you because I wanted to buy weapons for Menagerie's army. Instead, you offer us industry and technology. I would like to ask you something."
Father nodded.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Ghira, curiosity in his tone. "You could have just sold us weapons and left it at that yet you give us tools and more. Why?"
"For two reasons mostly." Father hummed, his fingers drumming the table. "The first was because my company wished to expand to Menagerie. We already have a foothold in Atlas, Vacuo, Vale, and Mistral but never Menagerie. We figured that it was time to start." Father clasped his hands. "The next reason was for testing purposes."
Alarm filled Ghira's face. "You would test weapons on Menagerie!?" he growled.
"Not in the way you imagine, Mr. Belladonna." said Gerard. "I did not mean to have Menagerie just be a mere testing ground. In fact, this will be a benefit for the both of us."
"Explain yourself." demanded the chieftain.
"It relates to the first reason actually. We have weapons testing sites all over Remnant save for Menagerie. My company is interested to see how our weapons would be like on the continent's environment. And as I understand it, Menagerie has a wildlife problem?" asked Gerard.
"A wildlife infestation to be exact." corrected Ghira. "They are far more dangerous to us than the Grimm actually."
"Exactly." smiled Father. "We get to test our weapons, Menagerie feels safer from the wildlife."
"An equivalent exchange then." Ghira surmised.
"Pretty much." agreed Father. "So, do we have a deal?"
"I have one last question if you don't mind." interrupted Ghira. If father was annoyed, he did not show it. "What is it?" he asked.
Ghira stared straight into his eyes. "Are you not concerned that the weapons will end up in the hands of the White Fang? Are you not worried that they might use it at you?"
"Mr. Belladonna, our weapons always end up in the hands if both savory and unsavory characters. The very moment our weapons leave the production line and are shipped out, we are no longer responsible for it. It is entirely up to the user on how they will use them, not us." answered father. "And as for the White Fang attacking us, well, I believe that my company has no quarrel with the Fang. Faunus employees are treated the same way as my human ones." He then grinned. "If they do decide to attack us, well, I guess we have new targets to practice our toys on."
He then extended his hand towards Ghira. "So, we have a deal then, Mr. Belladonna?"
Yellow eyes darted towards the offered hand. For a moment, I feared that Ghira would say no. But my fears were unproven as the large man accepted it.
"Menagerie thanks you for your offer, Mr Friedlich." said Ghira, a faint smile appearing on his lips. "We have a deal."
"While I am pleased that you are grateful at my company, Mr. Belladonna. I'm not the person you should be thanking." he admitted.
My eyes turned towards my father.
"Really?" said Ghira, surprised. "Who then?"
Ice-blue eyes turned towards me. Yellow eyes followed afterwards.
I did not ask for this. I did not ask for this!
Father grinned. "This was all my son's idea, Mr. Belladonna. He was rather adamant that Menagerie must have its weapons."
I glared at my father. Ghira. Please don't belie-
"I see." said Ghira as he offered his hand towards me. "Well, Menagerie thanks you, Alexander."
' Roll with it for now, Alex.' I thought to myself as I accepted it. ' You can kill your dad later.'
"It was a pleasure, Mr. Belladonna." I said, doing my best not to grit my teeth. "Our customers must have the best and they must get the best after all."
My bastard of father laughed as he began to pat me in the back. "Well said my boy!" Outside, I was the very model of peace. Inside, I seethed. Father then turned towards Ghira. "Alright! We just need to go through a few more details, for formalities sake." He then turned to me. "Your work here is done, Alex. Why don't you relax for awhile?"
I turned towards Ghira. "Mr. Belladonna, may I use your kitchen?"
A hairy brow rose. "For what?"
"I'm going to go and make something to commemorate this occasion." I answered. ' And possibly poison my dad' I wanted to add but I held back my tongue. Ghira nodded and yelled. "Blake!"
A few minutes later, the door swung open and in came the catgirl.
"Take Alexander to the kitchen, please." he ordered. The girl nodded and bade me to follow her. Before I left, I gave my father one last scathing glare as I went out the room.
As she was leading me, she was slightly ahead. I could tell that she was suspicious and wary of me, judging from the way she walked and the fact that her cat ears would twitch as I walked.
"So…" I said slowly, her ears stood straight. "Should I call you Blake or should I call you by your last name?"
"Blake is fine." she replied as she turned the corner. I followed after her.
"I have a feeling that you don't really like me." I pointed out. When her ears stood straight, I knew I hit the jackpot. She stopped walking and turned towards me. "What makes you say that?" she asked accusingly, her eyes narrowing.
I blinked at her change of character. Who was this and where was the cute shy kitten a few moments ago?
"Well, the air around you reeks of hostility." I replied, my palms spread. "You ears twitch when I walk and you are tense whenever I try to talk to you." Her ears twitched again. "Look. Do you have a problem with me?" I asked straightaway.
She looked at me for a few more minutes, her eyes hard and staring. She later deflated, seeing that I was not offended, only curios.
"I'm sorry." she apologized, her eyes set on the floor. "It's just… we don't get too many humans here." she admitted. My eyes softened in understanding.
"So seeing my father and I must make you pretty uncomfortable huh?" I surmised. She nodded shakily. I sighed as I rubbed the back of my head.
"For what its worth, I'm sorry for whatever my company did to the faunus. I-"
"Its not your company, Alexander." she interrupted. "Its just you being a… human."
Oh. So that is what its about eh? My mind wandered back to the protests that greeted us when we arrived and of course, towards the White Fang's radicalization.
Blakey here must have been buying into the Fang's radical message. Ohohoho no. Like Weiss, I must un-fuck this before it gets wo-
I held back my tongue.
Blakey became a huntress due to her disillusionment with the Fang and Adam's maniacal tendencies. If I change her screws right around this time, would her path still lead her to Beacon?
I glanced at the cat girl in front of me.
"Blake." I said, catching her attention. "No matter what sort of things people…" Adam. "… will tell you, don't believe them. Not every human out there wants to enslave the faunus or some other nonsense. Most just want to live their lives in peace the same way the faunus do." I said as I crossed the distance between us. She glared at me.
"If that's the case then why are we still treated like second-class citizens?" she challenged.
"Ask yourself this. Has every human treated the faunus like trash? Or have you seen individuals do that?"
Her glare softened. "… individuals." she said softly.
"Exactly." I said. "Don't blame the group for the actions of the few. There will always be those types of people no matter what. What we can do as the majority is to show to others that we are not them and that we are better than them."
Silence fell as we stood apart from one another. "What can I do then?" she suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"What can I do to change that?" she asked. I scratched my head. "Change what? The mindsets of people?" I said aloud. She nodded.
"Well. I'd start by not judging people and…" I trailed off, my mind wandering. Blake stomped her foot impatiently. "And what?" she demanded.
Oh fuck it. "… and expand your horizons! Y'know, go around, travel, see the world. I find it that those who travel the most tend to be more open-minded towards new people and new experiences." I explained confidently. Well, it wasn't what I had in mind though that sounded quite right.
"Expanding your horizons, huh…" Blake mouthed, her face scrunched in thought.
"Blake?" I said, catching her attention. She shook her head and turned back.
"It's nothing. Come, let's go to the kitchens."
Alexander hummed a tune as he set about to prepare a one of his most favorite delicacies from home. As there were no other aprons available, he had to settle for Kali's own pink one that looked comically over sized on his small frame. It irked him, reminding him of his build but he had better things to do than complain. He had a cake to bake after all.
As the Friedlich heir set about to work, Blake watched the young boy closely.
She did not know what to think of the white-haired Atlesian. One, he represented a long line of people that had made things that had taken faunus lives. But they too had taken human lives as well…
" Don't blame the group for the actions of the few. There will always be those types of people no matter what. What we can do as the majority is to show to others that we are not them and that we are better than them."
She shook her head from her thoughts to observe the Atlesian that was now using their house's kitchens.
She found him expertly whisking a concoction he made out of eggs, milk, vanilla oil and… lemon zest?
"What's the lemon zest for?" she asked as she stared into the mixing bowl he held in his hands.
"For flavor." he said simply as he laid the bowl onto a nearby table. He turned his back from her to wash his hands. Blake leaned over slightly to smell the mix.
She found it pleasant.
"What kind of cake are you making?" she asked again, curiosity filling her. "Yema cake." he replied, his back still turned.
"Ye-ma?" she said slowly, trying to get a feel for the strange new word. She hadn't heard of such a cake before.
"That's a strange name for cake." she pointed out. Alexander turned, a sheepish expression on his face. "Eh. It tastes better than it sounds. Trust me on that." he added with a wink.
Blake nodded and found a chair to sit on but her gaze never left the boy as he worked.
'He's good.' Blake thought as she watched. Well, she couldn't really properly judge since she wasn't a great a cook as her mother. But she had watched her mother cook before and if she were to describe them both, they both looked like the knew what they were doing.
She remembered the first time she had tried to cook. She had was hungry one day and wanted to eat fish so she took out a fish from their refrigerator and tossed it onto a pan. She had observed her mother cooking and had doused the pan with oil. A little bit too much oil. When the golden liquid had started to sizzle, she threw the fish in.
She had expected the fish to become hot. What she did not expect was for the hot oil to come flying at her. Fortunately, she was fast enough to dodge the oil.
On that day, she lost a perfectly good fish, a little bit of her pride, and constant oil jokes from her mother.
As her eyes followed Alexander's fluid movements, she wondered how many accidents he had before reaching to his level of cooking.
"Why did you learn how to cook, Alexander?" she asked. The Atlesian was in the middle of whisking something in another bowl. He looked up from the bowl, his ice-blue eyes blinking.
"Well, my mother decided one day that I had eaten a bit too much sweets and would not allow me sweets unless I ate my vegetables." He explained as he began to whisk again. Blake winced at that. Her own mother wouldn't allow her the food she wanted unless she ate her broccoli. She shivered as she thought about that evil green vegetable.
"So on that day, I decided that if I wasn't going to get my sweets from other people, I was going to get it myself so I taught myself how to cook." continued the white-haired boy. Blake nodded at that. She could appreciate that mindset. That was-
Wait.
What?
"You taught yourself how to cook?" she said incredulously. Alexander laughed nervously as he laid the bowl down. "The chefs back home were also instructed not to listen to me if I wanted sweets. I guess those instructions also extended to teaching me so I spent days watching them work as well as researching on my own. I just followed those and learned eventually."
That was… unfair.
Why was it that when she tried to cook for herself, she failed. But when others did it, they succeeded?
"Don't get me wrong though." he then added, catching her attention. "It wasn't all perfect like what you see now. I messed up dozens of times. There was a time where I mistook salt for sugar and added it into a muffin I was baking."
Her eyes widened in surprised.
"I had baked it for our head chef basically to convince him that I knew what I was doing." he narrated as he mixed the contents of the two bowls together. "It all came out nice and perfect. The head chef was so impressed! Then he ate it." The frown on his lips and the way he slumped down made Blake snicker at how silly he sounded.
"He told me: 'With all due respect, Master Alexander, but leave the cooking to the professionals.' When I heard that, I was heartbroken." Blake felt the need to pat him on the back to console him but he seemed too busy with his cake and she was not so sure if he would appreciate the contact.
"I thought then and there that my cooking was terrible and I was nearly convinced to stop my cooking." he sniffed. Her ears perked up.
"Nearly?" she mouthed. He nodded and delivered his line in the driest tone she ever heard. "Yep. I later discovered that I had accidentally used salt instead of sugar. Hooray for me."
Blake giggled, whether it was from his exasperation or his dry tone, she did not know. All she knew was that she had giggled. Her giggles heightened when she saw the look that Alexander sent her.
"So… yeah." said Alexander as he laid out the mixture over a cake pan. "I learned from my failures and became better. I had a dream to learn how to cook and I didn't give up on it. Because of my persistence, I succeeded."
Blake leaned back on her chair, her arms crossed. "Really? Then what if that dream of yours was truly impossible to achieve?" Her mind wandered towards equality between humanity and faunuskind. Adam, the bull faunus she met at the last White Fang meeting she attended, told her that what she dreamed was impossible.
As her mind was about to wander towards Adam, ice-blue eyes appeared in front of her. She then saw the resolute look on his face.
"If that is the case, if my dreams are truly impossible…" He laid a clean hand on her shoulder and leaned closer.
" Then I shall dream on until death!"
Blake looked up at him and found steel in his eyes. She-
"Ahem." a voice politely coughed from the kitchen door.
The two youths froze as they turned to see Kali standing at the doorway, a serene smile adoring her lips.
"It's not what it looks like!" they both screamed at the same time. When they realized they had spoken together, Alexander resembled a tomato with white turf while Blake was like a red ball that had two yellow eyes and cat ears.
"Sure." Kali said sweetly, causing them to flush even more.
A/N: What's this? Optimism? ew. get that ray of sunshine and cuteness out of here. we dont do that in this website.
Chapter 16
Later that afternoon, father and Ghira finally finished hammering out the deal that would ensure a mutually beneficial outcome for the both of them. It was also convenient that a bright, triple-layered cake with yellow frosting sandwiched between the layers awaited them when they finished their negotiations.
"It's good." remarked Ghira, his eyes wide, as he munched on a slice that Kali had cut for him. It was also rather comical as the large man held a much smaller plate in his hands and he was doing his best to not accidentally shatter it. "But a little too sweet for my tastes." he then added.
"I think its wonderful." said Kali as she lifted a spoon to her lips. Her ears twitched as soft chiffon entered followed by the rush of sweet sticky cream that expanded in the folds of her mouth. She turned to me, smiling. "You should make it sweeter, Alex."
Satisfaction filed me as I took in the reactions of the Belladonna's. Ghira seemed like the man who wouldn't go for dessert if he could and would only eat it if it was necessary. As for Kali, I pegged her as a woman with a sweet tooth and quite probably a frequent visitor to the dentist. As for Blake…
The little kitten was on her second slice. I noted the satisfied look that came upon her face every time she ate then the deep hunger that followed when she had finished chewing. She was so engrossed in eating the cake that she did not notice splotch of cream on her lower lip.
'Maybe I should make it less creamy the next time.' I said to myself as Kali took a nearby tissue to clean the mess Blake had made on her lips, much to the kitten's protests.
"I think you've had your list slice, dear." Kali said as she took away Blake's plate. Blake's eyes widened in betrayal. She tried to reach for it but Kali proved too strong for her. With no other option left for her, she pouted.
If Blake did that to me, I would have folded in two seconds. Unfortunately for the catgirl, she was facing Kali Belladonna. Such foul but undeniably cute trickery will get her nowhere.
The woman simply reached out and ruffled her daughter's hair, smiling. "Oh Blake. Your pouting may have worked when you were five but-"
Ghira suddenly coughed, drawing our attention towards him. When he had seen that our eyes were on him, he scratched his beard awkwardly. "Oh, sorry. I think I've eaten too much cake."
My eyes went down towards his plate and found a fresh cake slice. Suspicion filled me as I had seen that he had finished his cake. Did he manage to get a new slice without us noticing?
"I don't think I can eat anymore. It's far too sweet." he said dramatically as he slowly pushed his plate towards his daughter. "I wonder who could finish it?" he added as he winked towards Blake.
A smirk adorned the cat girl's features as she took her spoon and took a bite of the cake, all the while throwing her mother a defiant glare. Kali merely sighed as she returned to her own slice.
"You have a lovely family, Ghira." complimented father. The large man smiled sheepishly. "We do our best." he said as he gave his daughter a headpat.
"That reminds me…." Kali began, catching our attention. "Will you two stay for the night or do you need to go back to Atlas immediately?"
Father and I shared look.
"Well, the offer is nice, Kali" said father as turned to the woman. "But I'm sorry to say that we need to head back to Atlas immediately. The missus would have my head if I came back late."
"I can understand that." Ghira said aloud, causing Kali to blush and elbow her husband in the side.
As the adults conversed, I found Blake's eyes on me.
"You're leaving?" she asked, surprise on her eyes.
"Sadly, yes. Mother was rather adamant that we leave as soon as we finished work." I explained. Upon hearing that, her ears deflated. "Oh." she mouthed.
Oh?
"You sound disappointed Blake." I smirked as I leaned forward. "Why? You don't want me to leave?"
"I didn't say anything about that!" she said defensively, her eyes narrowed. I chuckled as laid my spoon on my plate. "Don't worry about it, Blake. We'll see each other again, probably."
"Probably?" said Blake, eyebrows raised.
' Yes. Because yer going to Beacon. Yer a huntress, Blakey.' was what I wanted to say but that would leave her asking some unnecessary questions. I liked it when I only knew the necessary details and I was going to keep that monopoly as long as possible. So I gave her a half-truth.
"My father's company and Menagerie will be working together and my father is the type of person that wants his investments to be safe and sound so he'd probably visit Menagerie a couple of times and he'd probably bring me along." I lied smoothly. It was a trait that I had picked up in my lessons. There were just times in business where you had to stretch the truth a little bit to profit. As long as you did not outright scam people then it was perfectly acceptable.
"Okay." she said after a few moments of deliberation. "I'll hold you onto that."
"In the meantime, why don't we exchange scroll numbers?" I said as I moved to take my scro-
"I can't." Blake said softly, stopping me just as I was about to take my scroll out. I looked up at her. "Why not?"
Blake hesitated.
"I… I don't have a scroll." she admitted, her eyes were downcast as she spoke, her ears low in shame.
I resisted the urge to pet her right there and there.
"It's okay." I chuckled as I instead reached for a paper and pen that I kept within the pockets of my vest. I wrote my number down and handed it to her.
"When you get your first scroll, just list down my number." I said as she took it from my fingers. I cracked her a grin. "Just call me if you need anything, alright?"
"A-alright." stammered Blake, her cheeks slightly red.
"Alright!" I repeated, my fingers mimicking guns, my grin widening.
"What's this 'alright' business I'm hearing?" a deep voice interrupted. We both turned to see Ghira Belladonna staring at us.
"Nothing important." we both said at the same time. Somehow, we managed to fight off our cheeks from reddening.
"it better be." huffed Ghira, a dangerous glint in his eyes. My father elbowed me on the side, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Fuck off, dad.
Eventually, the rest of the afternoon rolled by, father and I bade the Belladonna's farewell. The news crew who had already done their documentation and Ghira had gone out to inspect our security and was satisfied at what he saw.
Thankfully, the protests were over and no further incidents occurred.
Father and I took the opportunity to buy some souvenirs to bring back home and went into one of Kuo Kuana's many open air-markets. Most of the faunus there sent us weird looks but nevertheless left us alone, more than likely because they knew we had lien to spend.
I mostly purchased ingredients for meals I was planning to cook as soon as I returned to Atlas as well as some handicrafts that certain peddlers were selling. But amongst my purchases, only a few things mattered the most.
The first were a pair of pearl earrings for Winter, I was going to have them mailed to her. The second was a box of specialty cookies for Whitley and as for Weiss?
I opened the small box I held in my hand and smiled as a light-blue gem greeted me.
Yep. It was going to suit her just fine.
When she had heard from Whitley, that her friend, Alexander Friedlich, was on his way back to Atlas and would arrive tomorrow, Weiss did not get excited. She did not feel happy, and most definitely, she did not miss him.
She was not like Whitley who worried that his 'big brother' might not come back to them. She knew that he was going to come home. Where would he live if he would never come back?
For the entire day, she spent it most productively. It was so productive that she could even imagine Winter praising her for using her time well. She had studied her lessons, practiced her rapier-work and attended the lessons of her voice coach. Those activities she had done perfectly and as usual, her teachers offered her their praises. But despite doing her best and receiving their praises, why did it all feel so empty?
There was something lacking in her routine. Something important was missing and it annoyed her.
So she recounted what her days were like. She would wake up, eat breakfast, get patted on by Alex, play with Whitley, do her lessons, get praised by Alex, then sh-
Her train of thought stopped as she once again recounted her day; over and over again.
She frowned, her fingers dropping the needle on the floor. Since when did his praise mean anything to her? Unconsciously, her fingers twitched and she recoiled when she felt something soft.
What was-
She looked down at the red scarf on her lap. Of course. She was knitting a sweater for Alex as a gift to give him when he came b-
'Wait a minute' her mind drawled. Why was she knitting him a sweater?
" You dolt." she heard a voice in her head say. " It's a gift for Alex. Didn't he say he was going to bring back something from Menagerie for you?"
The Schnee girl nodded as she returned knitting the scarf for her friend. It was only right after all. He was going to give her a gift and it was due proper for her give something back.
"Veiss…" a sleepy voice interrupted her. She turned to see Whitley in his pajamas rubbing his eyes. "V-vhen… are..you..coming… to… bed?" he yawned.
"I'll go to sleep after I finish this scarf, Whitley." explained Weiss as she continued to knit.
"Who is it for?" he asked, his voice now clearer and less drowsy.
Annoyance flashed in her face. "It's for your big brother. Now go back to sleep. I need to finish this." shooed the older girl.
Whitley stared at her sleepily but even in his drowsy state, he knew better than to come in between his older sister and big brother Alex. He liked big brother Alex and if his older sister was making something for him then he would leave her alone.
The youngest Schnee sibling bade his sister good night and returned to his bed. Weiss on the other hand stayed up until the scarf was complete. When she judged it to be of excellent quality, she fell asleep.
On her face, a smile. In her hand, Alexander's scarf.
A/N: Bloody fluff. Go sit in a corner and die.
Anyway, after this one, we are going back to explosions. We shall all be dragging Remnant to a new world of DAKKA whether they like it or not, laws of physics be damned.
Chapter 17
As I stepped out of the bullhead and onto the landing pad of my house, my hands grasping a woven bag filled with my special purchases. I was met with the biting cold of Atlas. Then by my mother who gave me a big hug followed by a round on endless questions. When I answered them to her satisfaction, she turned her attention to my father and the two promptly played a little bit of tonsil hockey.
I ignored them as I took another step. Just as I welcomed the welcome chill of Atlas, I felt a force latch onto my leg.
I looked down and found myself staring into the eyes of Whitley Schnee, his arms wrapped around my legs, his ice-blue eyes wide and excited.
"Brother!" he yelled excitedly. I smiled as my hand ruffled his hair, eliciting a childish giggle from the boy. I inwardly danced at how bloody adorable the youngest Schnee sibling was. There and then, I swore to make sure that Whitley won't grow up to be the dickhead he was in canon and keep him the pure little innocent angel he was.
"Hello Whitley." I greeted affectionately. "Have you been good?" He nodded enthusiastically, a wide smile plastered on his face. "Have you eaten your vegetables while I was away?" I then added, my own eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Yep!" he chirped. I smiled as I gave him a head-pat. Whitley had an abhorrent hatred for vegetables, even more so than any normal child. Klein had told me that the boy would spend hours not eating unless given food he liked.
I was well aware that Whitley looked up to me. How that came to be, I did not know. But I was going to be the best damn big bro figure for the kid even if we weren't related so I cooked up a scheme with Weiss to get him to eat his damn greens. The two of us ate more vegetables than normal within the sight of Whitley, sure enough, he began to mimic his big bro and big sis.
To hear that he ate his damn greens without me present was simply satisfying.
Such effort must be rewarded.
"Whitley. I have a gift for you." I announced, causing the little boy to shake in excitement. I reached for the considerably large box of baked goodies inside the bag and whipped it out dramatically.
"For you." I declared as I handed it over to him.
Blue eyes ran through the metallic cover. Said cover was of a green field with dozens of cute animals in various states of happiness. I thought it was cute. "Open it." I motioned Whitley. His hands unclasped the cover off to reveal dozens of cookies of different shapes and flavors. The sweet smell of baked goods filled our nostrils as we leaned in closer to sniff it.
He looked up at me. "Is this all for me?" he asked with a faint whisper.
I gave him another head pat. "All for you."
He closed the box and pulled it into his hands. A pure, innocent, and joyful smile appeared on his face. The only smile that the children could ever pull off.
"Ahem." a voice harrumphed, grabbing both our attention.
We both turned to see Weiss standing a few meters from us, arms crossed. Beside her was Klein holding a yellow box. I patted Whitley and told him to enjoy his cookies. THe excitable boy ran off back into the house with his prize. With him off, I strode towards Weiss.
"I'm back." I greeted her. "Did you miss me?"
"You took too long." she sniped. "And no, I did not miss you at all! Not one bi-"
I cut her off as I crossed the distance between us and gave her a headpat. "I missed you too, Princess." I said cheekily. Her cheeks reddened at my cheeky tone and at the hand now patting her head.
"You're a dolt." she sighed, recognizing that I would tease her more if she put up any more wild reactions and thus decided to play along. From behind, I could see Klein holding back laughter.
"I have a gift for you." I announced as I reached for-
I stopped just as I was about to pull it out. Weiss narrowed her eyes at me as she saw the smirk that I wore. "Close your eyes." I instructed her. Without protest, she did so.
I was both elated and mildly disappointed that she didn't put up a fuss.
Putting my thoughts aside, I opened the small box and took out the necklace that was tucked inside. Gently, I wrapped the silver chain around her neck. She stifled when she felt my hands touch her but did not say a word of protest. After a few more moments of ensuring the necklace was good on her, I pulled back.
"All done." I announced. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Weiss gasped when she saw the ice-blue crystal that hung around her neck. The white-haired girl reached out to touch the crystal and felt its rough edges. It was the size of a walnut, neither too big to be too garish nor was it too small to be insignificant.
"It's a pretty thing." she heard Alex say. "Just like you."
Weiss felt her cheeks redden even more at her friends' compliment. Did he really have to say it like that? And why was she so bothered when he'd say it? Klein would say she was pretty all the time yet she did not feel bothered by it!
"S-Shut up, you d-dolt!" she stammered out. The boy responded by giving her another head pat. She tried to slap away his hand but faltered when he began to pat her.
"It looks good on you." observed Alex, his tone now honest and factual. Weiss beamed at his praise. She did not mind it when Alex would praise her. The only time when she would be bothered was when he would do it teasingly. And Weiss did not like it when she was teased.
"Of course!" exclaimed Weiss as she brought her hands to her hips. "I make everything look good." she added haughtily. It was not an empty statement. It was a matter of fact.
For a few minutes, the two stood doing nothing but to enjoy each other's company.
Alex, a proud smile on his face as he regarded the young girl in front of him. He was glad that she was able to get her mind out of the gutter despite all the outright traumatic events that had happened to her. He then promised himself to ensure her happiness as a friend… within reason of course.
Weiss, a cheeky smirk on her face, as she contemplated the boy in front of her. His absence had made her reflect on what Alex had done for her. Even when she was unfair and unkind, he never left her side, he never doubted her, assumed the worst of her and listened to her. She was glad to have him as a friend.
And friendship like that needed to be rewarded.
"Alex. I have a gift for you." she announced. She mentally smirked when she saw the surprised look on his face.
"Really? What am I going to get?" he asked excitedly.
"Close your eyes." she commanded. He looked at her, confused. Then, realization hit him.
"I see. Using my own words against me, hm?" said Alexander.
"Close your eyes you, nitwit!" she huffed indignantly. Her friend chuckled as he did so, making Weiss grumble as she turned to Klein. She opened the box he held in his hands and brought out a scarf she had knitted the day before he arrived. She tested it out on herself and found it both comfortable and warm. It was also special as she had also knitted her family's emblem at one end of the scarf.
She strode towards him and slowly wrapped the scarf around him. Alex moved to speak but she shushed him. After a minute of putting the scarf around him, she was done.
"You can open your eyes now." she declared. The boy did so slowly and smiled when he saw the red fabric. He ran his hand through the material, letting off a sigh as he felt the soft wool.
"Well?" she said nervously. He turned to her, a smirk on his face.
"I think it's wonderful…" Her heart leaped for joy at his praise.
He fixed her a look.
"Just like you~!" he then added teasingly.
"D-Dolt! Dimwit! I-I-Idiot!" screeched Weiss, her face redder than before as she assaulted Alex with a flurry of punches. Alexander retaliated by blocking the Schnee girl's punches… with tickles.
Laughter filled the Friedlich manor as the two youths began to chase one another. On their faces, bright happy smiles.
Winter sighed as she took a step into her dorm.
Today had been a rough day. Her partner had bested her, bested her, during their sparring. She liked to believe that she was as humble as a Valean shepherd but after that incident, she could not deny the fact that she was rather prideful.
But instead of some other person she knew of that had black hair and was currently in the hospital, she was not going to beat down her teammates for her own failures. She was going to go and improve herself and be worthy of her pride.
She collapsed on her bed, her muscles in bliss as the warm and welcome clo-
She stood up straight as she heard a knock on the door.
"Miss Schnee? A package for you. From a 'A.Friedlich." a light voice said on the other side.
She gasped. Alexander sent her something? What was it about? Was it about Weiss? Had she done something? Had sh-
' No.' she thought to herself, forcing her panicked mind to calm down. She just over thinking things again. If Alex saw her now, there was no doubt that the boy would snap sense back into her.
Despite his young age, Winter was surprised that the boy proved rather mature when it came to things. He had noticed, despite their sparse conversations, that she had problems and had become her unofficial confessor.
She took deep breaths, her anxiety slowly fizzling away.
" You are Winter Schnee, Ice Queen." Alex had told her. " The Ice Queen does not fall to quick assumptions nor allows herself to be overwhelmed. She holds herself together until the other is finished. When that happens, she unleashes the blizzard."
Calmly, she approached the door and pulled it open. Outside stood another Atlesian student. From the armband she wore, Winter pegged her as the one in charge of distributing mail for the week.
"Miss Schnee. A package for you." the girl repeated as she took a brown folder and handed it towards Winter. She accepted it and signed the form the mail carrier had her sign. The girl gave her a salute, excused herself, and went off to distribute more mail.
Winter closed the door behind her and tore open the package.
Down came a small Velvet-box along with two pieces of parchment. She knelt to pick up the first one and… gasped.
It was a picture of her, Whitley, Alex, and Weiss during happier times. They were all on a snowboard heading down a hill, bright smiles on their faces. Nostalgia filled her as she took in every detail in the picture and tried to recall what had happened on that day. Her eyes widened when she saw writing at the lower left corner of the picture.
" Winter, Weiss, Whitley, and Alex. Friends 4ever! "
She recalled that she disliked the usage of 4 as a word but Weiss and Alex had badgered her into accepting it.
She gingerly placed the picture on her desk and recovered the box and the last remaining parchment. She flipped it over and found that it was a note.
" Dear Winter.
I brought you a little something from a trip my father and I did in Menagerie. When I saw it, I could not help but think of how it would fit you. I hope you don't mind my little gift. The picture was also another freebie that was added by me as another little gift to keep you company. Atlas is cold after all. I do doubt that the frost will have a great affect you as you are the Ice Queen after all but it never hurts to have a little warmth.
I hope that you have a wonderful time at the Academy. Know that Weiss and I are rooting out for you.
Your friend, Alexander."
She smiled as she read the letter. So Alex had brought her a gift. ' What could it be?' she thought to herself as she opened the velvet box and found… starlight.
A pair of earrings greeted her. It had silver-steel piercings that glittered when light struck it and its pearls seemed to glow when basked it light. Inside the box was a another rolled up note. She took it and read it aloud.
" The prettiest pearls on the sea for the prettiest lady I have seen."
Winter half-scoffed and half-giggled at his jab. For one, the line was rather cheesy. Secondly, if the boy thought that he could win her over then he was surely mistaken. Maybe when he was older…
She stopped her train of thought as she took the ear rings. Such thoughts were unwelcome and inappropriate at their current ages.
Winter stood from her chair and examined herself with the dorm's mirror. She performed a couple of poses to get a full look of the earrings and sure enough, the earrings did rather fit her. It accentuated her sharp looks and made her look rather regal.
"A fitting gift for the Ice Queen." she murmured, her eyes straying towards the picture that Alex sent her.
She took note of the joy that was present on each of their faces… and smiled.
A/N: One last fluffy time before we dive into the glorious business of making killy stuff. In the meantime, I'm still trying to figure out how the hell Atlas's military works and how to model a offensive force against the grimm
Chapter 18
The Atlesian Military was the premier fighting force that Remnant has ever known.
Thanks to its relatively small population, it had built itself legions of robots that could drown battlefields in silicon and firepower in place of men. But just because they had robotic legionnaires didn't mean that it had neglected the human element.
The Atlesian soldier is a highly disciplined and well-trained combatant, armed with weapons that could give the creatures of Grimm a run for their money. While he was not as good as fully-trained hunstmen, he and his squad could be relied upon to do their jobs. There were also the Specialist Corps, an elite cadre of hunstmen-turned-soldiers. Arguably, they were one-man armies on their own but they weren't the ones that made Atlas so feared and respected.
What truly made Atlas a formidable Kingdom was not its robot legions nor infantrymen but its Navy.
The Atlesian Navy was the largest air fleet in Remnants history. It consisted of mighty battleships with the offensive power of 'fuck you' to small to sleek corvettes that could sow panic and chaos on opposing fleets. Its reach was considerable and would literally blot out the sun or moon wherever it appeared. Its offensive capabilities even coined the phrase:
" Piss off the Atlesian army and you'll be dead in a week. Piss off the Atlesian Navy and you'll be dead in a day."
With these in store, it was no wonder Atlas was considered a great power. But what does it do with its military might?
Does Atlas try to spearhead offensives against the Grimm? Does Atlas try and reclaim land lost from the Grimm?
To my great disappointment, it doesn't. Instead of doing any of those, Atlas's military merely performs dick-waving contests against the other Kingdoms and sits in the barracks eating glue.
I had read through numerous in-universe books and questioned military officers thanks to my father's contacts to find out why Atlas was so static and each of their responses were the same.
Status fucking Quo.
That and also thanks to the machinations of a certain Headmaster of Beacon who made the military look bad compared to huntsmen.
Why must the military plan offensives when they can just stay behind walls and maintain order? The public does not want offensives, the Councils of Remnant sure as hell don't want offensives and the Grimm could be dealt with easily.
" So let's just keep the way things are." they said. " It will be alright." they said.
From a lazy and practical point of view, it made sense. People are living life peacefully and the big scary Grimm are kept at bay by walls and or huntsmen. Why bother with the effort?
But from another point of view, keeping the status quo would only serve the Grimm and by extension, Salem. While Mankind and the Faunus cower behind walls and continents to keep themselves out of trouble, Salem can keep everyone in one place at one time and make her plan of killing everyone easier.
If the people of Remnant keep to the status quo then they will never be victorious against the Grimm. No one ever won wars by being on the defensive.
With those thoughts in mind and after I fulfilled my other responsibilities with Whitley and Weiss, I locked myself in my room to plan Fall Schwarz and Fall Grun.
The most important and far more dangerous target was Salem. Ozpin might be a reincarnating Wizard but he can't grow Grimm out of the ground like potatoes. Salem however can and let us not also mention her merry band of ruffians who were also capable of screwing with people in their own unique and little ways.
Salem was not going to be dragged out of her Palace in the Grimmlands so that meant that the fight had to be taken to her. Even if an offensive into the Grimmlands couldn't be achieved then what consisted of Fall Schwarz could be used in retaking lost territory from the Grimm.
The first step of Fall Schwarz was communications and that meant the construction of satellites.
The CCT Network was good enough in performing its job in telecommunications but the benefits of satellites were far greater. Fire-throwing ladies won't be able to implant viruses onto them and they weren't as vulnerable as the fuck huge CCT beacons.
This task I was going to give to Geppetto and his team. I had spent three goddamn years not only learning from them but also opening them up to my ideas. Last time I checked in, they were slowly opening up to my grand 'visions.' I guess it was time to test out how far I've prodded them when I was going to meet them again.
The second step of Fall Schwarz was armament. I had plenty of ideas but of all my ideas, I preferred my Plan's A and B.
Plan A was to build up an army with power armor. If Remnant could build mechs then they sure as hell could build power armor. In fact, it would most likely be cheaper and could comfortably fit in with the general Rule of Cool that the entire planet ran on and deliver the same firepower.
I envisioned the suits that the Terran Federation had in Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars. It looked cool, was maneuverable, and allowed soldiers a lot of options in terms of firepower. And knowing Atlas, it loved its firepower.
It was also decently powerful and could be a boon for soldiers with locked auras.
Speaking of aura and semblances, I gave up questioning about it after a couple of years. I was not going to waste precious brain juice in figuring out magic systems and my logical and science-loving Terran head would break if I figured it out further.
Anyway, I then drew up the power armor designs I penned as MICA or Mobile Infantry Combat Armor. It was to be powered by dust because why the hell not. It was hypocritical of me to have my stuff powered by dust but until I had other alternatives available, I was going to use it. Anyway, the armor would feature a HUD system, night and thermal vision, a voice modulator, and a jetpack. Under the armor was going to be a skin-suit that could keep users cooled or heated depending on the climate.
Basically, it was the same armor from the show but it had slight differences. The armor's colour scheme was feldgrau and on the chestplate was the insignia of Atlas and on the sides of the helmet was the logo of my father's company, the Friedlich Eagle.
When I had finished the design, I snorted. The bloody thing looked like it was designed by a engineer working for a futuristic Wermacht. But that was okay, I guessed. The Wermacht definitely won the looks category when it came to designing their stuff.
Continuing on with Plan A, the power armored soldiery would then be heavily supported by artillery and gunships. These two things I was going to have to put in extra time to design.
As for Plan B, it was to simply follow's Atlas's modus operandi which was to drown the Grimm in the bodies of robots. It would not waste life and would be rather easy to do. If I was going to take that, I would be like Salem except this time, I'm sending out robotic hordes at her creations. Well, if Plan A was not going to viable, then I'd simply just improve upon the designs of the AK-130's to make them even more human-like. Probably even give them a modicum of self-awareness to increase their combat capabilities.
As I was about to make plans for Fall Grun, a sudden knock at my door interrupted me from my work. Irritation coursed through me as I left my desk and opened the door. There I found Whitley with a bright yellow ball in his hands.
"Yes, Whitley?" I said, my voice neutral.
The innocent look on his face just made it clear that he had no idea I was doing something important.
"Big bro Alex, I found a ball!" he said as he lifted it up over his head. "Do you want to play?"
My eyes darted back towards my desk and the half-finished drawings then back to the innocent expression on his face.
"Oh. Why not?" I said as I stepped out of my room. As I did, Whitley's smile grew ten-fold.
The things we do for the people we cherish….
A/N: As Alex is still a bloody shota in this, I'll be doing another time-skip. I hope ya'll don't mind.
Last edited: Jun 25, 2019
Chapter 19
Life marches on and so does time.
After three weeks of boarding with us, they had to go back to their old house.
Weiss and Whitley could't stay with my family forever. The renovations at their house was finished and Willow recalled the two and Klein back.
It was a rather heart-wrenching send off. Whitley wouldn't leave my side and cried a river. It was only after I promised him that I would visit his house did he let go of my leg. Even then, he was still sobbing.
Weiss on the other hand…
"I want you to to visit at least thrice a month. I want you to bake me cake before and after you arrive at my house. I want you to-"
She did not hesitate to give her demands. From visits, to sweets making, to scrolls calls. The girl was relentless.
And to make her passing easier, I said yes to most of them. I was pretty sure that most of her outrageous demands were made due to the fact that we were parting ways. I wasn't that dense to not see that I had made an impact on Weiss. She came to my family during one of her most vulnerable moments and I helped pull her out of the brink.
That has gotta leave an impression. Whatever impression it was, I could only hope it wouldn't come to bite me back.
"-and call me lots! Do you understand!?"
I crossed the distance between us two and pulled her into a hug. I felt her arms reach around me.
"I'll keep in touch, Weiss." I whispered into her ears. She pulled back from my embrace and there, I saw tears in her eyes.
"Promise me that." she sniffed. I smirked as I gave her a pat on the head.
"I promise."
With one last deep hug, Weiss and Whitley finally left my family home.
With them gone now, I could finally return to my work without interruption. I could finally go back to life without Weiss constantly egging me nor Whitley wanting my time to play.
I did not cry at their departure.
Real men don't cry.
They just sweat through their eyes.
Days became weeks. Weeks became months. Months became years.
The next eight years were a blur of un-important memories mostly due to how embarrassing it was. Why was it embarrassing? Because I had now had to relieve being a bloody teenager all over again.
It was subtle at first. I'd get angrier much more easily and I'd get random and anxious thoughts. Then, it went full throttle.
BAM! Hormones!
Now, every single woman I've met seemed to be the prettiest bloody thing that I had ever seen. My eyes would unintentionally wander south or north depending on what asset was the most noticeable and I had struggled mightily to keep my hands to where I could see them.
But as I entered into adulthood, it warranted me some advantages.
For one, I was no longer a shota. Thanks to that, Dana would no longer bully me at work anymore and mummy dearest would no longer pinch my cheeks at dinner.
I had done my best to build up my muscles but for some fucking reason, my body wouldn't physically build them up. Oh, I had a trained and toned body alright but goddamn it I wanted to look ripped. Speaking of my looks, I still had a fucking bishie face. I thought that if I grew facial hair, it would negate the bishie face I had.
But for some reason, my facial hair also refused to grow. But it was fine, I was still growing and maybe if I ate specific foods, the damn hair would fucking grow.
Anyway, Remnant still resembled canon, sort-of.
Willow had cleaned house and instituted reforms into the SDC. Their mines were reorganized and were much more safer than last time. Certain people who were deep with Jacques Schnee had gotten the boot. Some escaped justice, others were found dead. Not that it mattered because some of them had committed crimes that were just too damn sick that the only punishment fit for them was death.
While Willow had done her absolute best to restore the family-friendly status that the SDC used to have, some people were just too caught up with their pain that the only path left to them was the utter destruction of the SDC.
Some people were still angry that that the SDC still existed. Considering the scope of the Leak that occurred years ago, it was a surprise to everyone that the SDC still existed as an entity. There were outspoken people that demanded the SDC be disbanded or be split into different companies but Atlas outright refused and so did the other Kingdoms.
Their refusal to listen to the demands of the people created a rather interesting movement.
" THE RED FANG STRIKES AGAIN! VOWS TO CONTINUE ATTACKS AGAINST THE SDC!"
On the television screen was a chaotic scene. Said scene was of a SDC compound burning while a large flag was draped over its walls. Said flag had the image of a red wolf's head biting down on broken chains.
Thanks to Atlas and the other Kingdoms outright protecting the SDC, they disappointed and angered a lot of people. That anger inadvertently created Remnant's first anarchists.
Citing the naked protection that the Kingdoms of Remnant were giving the SDC, a new movement arose to, in their words, " put an end towards the corporate tyrants that rule the classes and the puppet kingdoms that perform their will."
From their anger, the Red Fang was born. Said Fang consisted of former White Fang members, intellectuals, workers, and basically anyone with a bone to pick against the kingdoms decision to protect the SDC. Basically, they were the classic terrorists that put fear into the hearts of anyone who happened to live nice and comfortably.
This was no longer a faunus problem, they argued, it was now everyone's problem.
And who could blame them when governments over the world would outright protect a monopoly?
The White Fang still existed of course. But thanks to the Red Fang's rise to power and with the SDC not being a total asshole now, there was no point in staying. And so, Sienna Khan effectively halted all their attacks and returned the White Fang's original goal of campaigning Faunus rights.
But not every change was bad.
Whitley had grown to be a polite young man who still sought my praise and play-time except he had discovered video games and wanted me to play with him there. While he was still prone to the follies of youth and of being a young rich kid, he was leagues better than what was in the show.
Weiss had taken up singing and just as expected, she aced it. But it wasn't just her singing that she aced.
The girl I had enjoyed teasing years ago had grown up to be her teen self, pony-tail and all. I had always known that she was pretty but damn her age sharpened her beauty.
I hadn't gone and visited Weiss for a couple of months now thanks to my work and of her being distracted with her singing as well as her fencing. I hope the girl wouldn't give me a fit if we meet again.
Winter was still Winter, determined to make it to the Specialists and to prove herself a strong and capable woman. I hadn't seen her personally through the years but I could tell that she was growing into the delectable minx she was in the show judging from the way her voice was changing.
I halted my train of thought before it could get any worse.
I hate hormones. I absolutely DESPISE them.
On other matters, things were going nicely in my front.
First off, Friedlich AG would forever be remembered as pioneers of Space Science as of three years ago when we had launched the Heimdall, Remnant's first ever low-orbit satellite.
I had finally gotten around and nudged Geppetto and his team to build one after implanting the idea to their heads more than a thousand times. It mostly involved me mentioning its benefits to Geppetto and telling him the great stuff that a satellite would give. Eventually, he took interest in it, badgered his team and I to design one, and we did.
It was mostly them though as they were the eggheads and I was but a simple arms manufacturer. All I had done was to simply look out for dead ends. After lots and lots of trial and error, we finally managed to finish one.
Launching it involved an Atlesian destroyer to transport the Heimdall to the atmosphere. When it had reached its limit, it was to launch a specially-designed rocket that contained the Heimdall. Said rocket was filled with enough propellants that could, theoretically, launch the satellite far enough to Remnant's orbit.
When the destroyer had reached its limit, the Heimdall was launched.
Back on Atlas, we watched the video feed of the Heimdall coursing through the atmosphere before the footage was cut. With bated breath, Geppetto had Jonathan check if the Heimdall was transmitting. For five minutes, we had waited for a response. Then, we received this:
Heimdall's Beeps
When we had heard that, I swore I would not cry. Yet hearing it over and over again was just… beautiful. The rest of the team was far more open than me. They let loose cheers, whoops, and Geppetto plain jumped around the room in excitement.
With Heimdall in place, it was basically proof that Remnant could launch satellites albeit in a unorthodox manner and so, we presented our findings towards father and his board.
This was all done in secret. Only a few select individuals were told about it and the crew of the Atlesian destroyer we commandeered had been told they were doing a Dust experiment. This was done in secrecy more of as insurance because if we told everyone about it and it failed, we would have been humiliated.
They were, at first, pissed that we had squandered company funds in pursuing useless research like satellites. Their stance changed almost immediately though when we played Heimdall's beeps and sold them the benefits of satellites. With data that proved that it was workable, they agreed to raise the Research and Development's budget three-fold.
Armed with a bigger budget, Gepetto and his team felt safe enough to pursue bigger goals IE creating Remnant's first satellite network.
In other areas, I had gotten mummy dearest to try unlock my Aura. I had already proved myself adept in using Joyeuse, my shameless sabre Myrtenaster copy, after endless rounds of practicing with Weiss as well as having tutors for my own.
" For it is in adversity, we achieve sublimity. Through this, we become paragons of bravery to lift others to glory. Infinite in potential and unbound by time. I release your soul, and by my shoulder, set thee free."
Having aura felt like wearing a second skin. I think it was an apt description after all you were wearing your damn soul. I wondered what my semblance was. I guess I had to ask dad or review my family's history again. Last time I checked, there were some Friedlich's that dropped the family business to become Hunters.
Hopefully, it would be something involving with fire. I like fire.
Anyway, I had also gotten myself quite a decent armory. While I'd like to twiddle around with Joyeuse, I was not one to overspecialize. As Robert Heinlein said, overspecialization was for insects.
The first weapon I had was a pair of dark brown gloves that seemingly looked like a normal pair of gloves. The only caveat there was that it was specially sewn to take in gravity dust that enabled me to do some honky wonky Jedi shit. I had two reasons for the glove's construction. My primary reason for having that made was because I was lazy and it enabled me to perform numerous tasks without even standing up. The second one was to make me feel like a Jedi or a Sith, depending on who I was facing, and screw with them with gravity stuff.
The second were three pens that had five different inks. They looked like and functioned like normal pens except they were sldo mini-grenades, well, depending on which color I chose. If I chose red, it would be a Thermite grenade. If I chose Blue, it was to flash people. If Black, to stun people. If Green, to blow people up. And as for the last colour, Violet, then it was to dispel White Phosphorous.
I had observed that aura protected Hunstmen from physical harm. I wonder if that protection also extended to their sense or for the White Phosphorous, their lungs.
The third weapon were my boots which would reveal a small tiny knife coated with a special mixture that would ensure a clean and quick death for the victim. And yes, I took direct inspiration from the Kingsmen.
The fourth weapon, frankly the most powerful in my arsenal, was a signet ring made of Iron and bore a black eagle with outstretched wings. It was powerful because it denoted me as the next in line to inherit a company that existed for a long time and had weapons that spanned the known world and whose kill count was similar to that of Remnant's most infamous tyrants.
The ring was also special because it gave me two annoying lessons.
The first lesson, one that my ancestors had to always keep in mind, was that Iron allowed humanity to create stronger and more resilient weapons to use against its enemies. But the weapons that were being used were only as good as the men who wielded it or in our case, crafted it.
The second one, the most personal lesson, was that Iron was the most 'human' of metals and thus, wholly distrusted by magical spirits and entities.
Considering who my targets were, the irony was not lost on me.
A/N: So we now have communists, teenage angst, and an up and coming satellite network. What will they think of next!?
Anyway, Alex's fighting style is going to be a confusing mix of elegant sword play and dirty fighting. Considering who the villains are in RWBY, it would be fine to scrounge out whatever advantage he can.
Last edited: Jun 26, 2019
Chapter 20
"Gentlemen. I thank you all for coming." I spoke aloud, my voice friendly and charming. "I assure you, your time will not be wasted."
The men in the room nodded neutrally, their eyes boring into me. I fought the rising urge of my body to shiver at their stares. I knew why they were staring at me. I was a teenager trying to sell grown men weapons after all. Who wouldn't gawk at that?
I had been developing the MICA as I grew up and when I hit 15, propagated the idea to Geppetto. He was taken at the idea of a suit that, for all intents and purposes, would allow people with locked auras to fight as effectively as a hunter. He said that the suit would be of incredible use for isolated villages who couldn't afford Hunter support. I smiled at that and complimented his kind heart for thinking of small villages.
Unfortunately for him, I was not just going to let the MICA be the trump card for wayward villages. I was going to build and/or equip an army with it.
When the time had been right, I approached my father and sold to him the idea I had. He saw the potential the suit offered and green-lighted the manufacture of a prototype. While daddy dearest highlighted the manufacture of a prototype, he stated that it was going to be the only thing he was funding. If I wanted more, I was going to find my own cash IE, start using the lessons that had been drilled into my head since I was five and make a profit. I accepted his challenge and with the mighty powers of connections, called up the most likely customers of the suit.
I stole a quick glance at some of Atlas's most powerful men. The table had five seats. Three of those were occupied by members of the Council of Atlas. The final two were being sat upon by representatives of the Army and Navy.
"To be brief, Friedlich AG has made a breakthrough in infantry technology and we believe that this breakthrough will serve our Kingdom's interests well." I said, my eyes traveling around the room. I pointed towards a screen and an image of the MICA was displayed.
"That breakthrough, gentlemen, is power armor." I said, my voice containing no small amount of pride.
To their credit, the assembled men managed hide their reactions well under a mask of stoicism. They merely clapped and bade me to continue.
"On your desk tops are folders containing the specifics of the MICA from armaments to technical parts. While I was initially going to tell you how great the MICA is, it is pretty clear that you gentlemen prefer actions to words. So, I shall show you what it can do." I announced. Eyebrows rose at my unorthodox way of selling the suit but they made no mention of it.
I turned towards the screen, a remote in my hand, and pressed a button. Soon enough, the roars of thrusters filled the room.
Multiple sets of eyes turned towards the screen, curiosity and interest flickering. Displayed on the screen was helmet footage of the MICA prototype being tested by a Atlesian soldier.
Said soldier was in a region in Northern Mantle and his task was to find three beacons that had been airdropped for the test. Once he had secured those beacons, he was to signal back to base for pickup.
We watched as the soldier jumped and weaved through fields of snow and through the thick forests of Northern Mantle.
"As you can see gentlemen, the MICA is maneuverable and agile." I spoke aloud, highlighting the mobility of the suit. Pens scratched as secretaries wrote down what I had said. A loud roar then came from the screen, grabbing the attention of the people assembled. It too had gotten the attention of the suit's user who raised up his weapon, a absurdly large and unnamed rifle, and fired.
Bullets found their way into the flesh of a beowolf who thought that it had found an aura-less human. It thought wrong and had died as a result. When the user had stopped firing his rifle, the spot wherein the beowolf once stood resembled that of a small crater. But as the saying goes, if you found one beowolf then its pack was not far behind.
Multiple snarls came in through the screen's speakers and right on cue, dozens of Grimm made their presence known. Seeing the situation that he had found itself in, the MICA trooper activated his thrusters and retreated to a minimal safe distance. As he did so, multiple yellow cross-hairs began to appear on the Grimm. When the cross-hairs turned red, the dark Mantle night was illuminated as a shoulder-mounted minigun let loose its deadly payload at the beowolf pack.
The minigun was accurate and relentless, its bullets turning the Grimm it targeted into cheese due to the amount of holes that it tore through them. As it all occurred, the secretaries began to write into their notebooks even more.
"And as you can also see, any user of the MICA will have enough firepower to tear through Grimm. And in the case that the user finds himself surrounded, they he can also use the numerous armaments that the suit offers. A list of all available armaments and other technical knickknacks are found in your folders, gentlemen. If you wish to view them, you can do so at your leisure." I later added.
The footage dragged on and highlighted the suits greatest features which were mobility, firepower, and maneuverability. When the presentation had finished, the questions started to fly.
"What benefit would the MICA suit offer Atlas?" A councilor asked. I considered in offering a political answer but decided that honesty would be the best way to get through the man.
"If the Council of Atlas invests in the manufacture of the MICA then it would allow our soldiery greater access to even more firepower and mobility. It would be incredibly useful if used for lightning-fast strikes against the Grimm and or other targets. It would also allow the faster deployment of troops who could be inserted behind enemy lines and both outmaneuver and outgun the enemy before their reinforcements can arrive in time " I explained, my eyes locking with the councillor. "It would also raise the combat superiority of our soldiers even more. In fact, we could outclass anything that Remnant has to offer outside of Hunters of course."
The councilors nodded at that and returned to reading the folders I handed them before the meeting started.
"If the Military purchases theses suits, how soon can manufacturing begin and when can they be deployed?" interjected the Army representative.
"Production can begin as soon as you agree to fund its manufacture." I replied. "And if you agree to fund it now, the first batch of the suits will be produced within three months."
As I watched the growing interest flicker in their eyes, I spoke once more, my voice louder and clearer.
"So, what do you say gentlemen?" I announced, a smile on my lips. "Are you all interested?"
"Would you allow us a few moments to discuss and think about this, Mr. Friedlich?" a councilor piped out. Satisfaction coursed through me at his address.
"Of course. I shall be waiting outside." I said graciously as I turned for the door.
As I left the room, my scroll rang. I picked it up and found that it was a call from an unknown number. I frowned at that and moved to cancel the call but before I did, my instincts screamed at me to accept the call. Hesitantly, I did so and a voice that I hadn't heard for a long time flowed through my ears.
"B-Blake?"
A/N: Oh noes? What has happened to our favorite catgirl? Stay tuned for the next update and find out
Chapter 21
"B-Blake?"
My eyes narrowed when I heard the cat girl breath a sigh of relief. While I was not one to make any conclusions, I had a funny feeling that told me that her call wasn't exactly to share pleasantries with me.
"Alex. I need your help." A myriad of emotions went through her tone. Hope, Fear, Desperation. That sent my warning bells ringing to high heaven.
"Um. Sure? Where are you right now?" I heard myself say. When I realized what I had just said, I mentally berated myself for letting my mouth talk before my brain could say anything. Blake better not get me involved with some shady shit. I'm already due to inherit an arms company. I didn't need anymore skeletons to stuff inside my closet.
"I'm in Vale right now." Blake said softly. "And I need to disappear."
"Why?" I demanded.
"Not on the scroll. I need you here. Please. I'll tell you everything when we meet. Goodbye." At that, she cut off the connection and left me in the hall to stare at my scroll. A message was sent to me a few minutes later. I opened it and found the address of what I presumed to be a cheap motel as well as an apology for the sudden call.
I briefly thought about forgetting what had happened but I had given the girl a guarantee. A guarantee was a guarantee even if it was on accident and I wasn't one to leave friends hanging. Besides, she also sounded rather sick and weak. If anything, she might really need my help.
And so, I finished up my business with the MICA suit, the result being the purchase of a couple units by the military, and charted a bullhead to take me towards Vale. I had justified the trip to my parents by claiming that since I had gotten a successful deal, I was entitled to a day of celebration. They agreed on the condition that I had to take a servant with me, don't do too much damage towards the family name, and or do illegal shit. Beyond that, they were rather hands off at my sudden interest in vacations.
Bloody rich folks…
Anyway, I landed in Vale and took up residence in one of my family's many estates all throughout Remnant. Estate might be a too strong of a word though as it was actually a three story apartment building in one of the city's most affluent districts. Vale was a literal city-state which meant land was small and made the construction of massive houses impossible.
The only thing left to me now was to figure out how to get to Blake without looking suspicious.
I settled on giving the servant I brought along a bribe to let me 'have my own fun." and promised him that I wouldn't do anything too damaging. The servant, the youngest in our staff, agreed readily and went off to get drunk. With him out of the way, I went off to find the elusive kitty named Blake.
The address she gave led me to a really shady and near rundown part of Vale. The streets weren't maintained, streetlights were all but destroyed, and it was so full of crime that it would have made Tortuga look like a cakewake. I already had to deal with different sorts of colorful people ever since I set foot into that ghetto. Two had tried to mug me and one even tried to pickpocket me.
I dealt with them by sending them flying with my gloves. When people had seen what I was capable off, the muggings eventually stopped but that did not prohibit the numerous malicious glares sent my way.
I may be stupid but I wasn't that stupid to walk around in my default clothing. Instead, I had a black hoodie on paired with blue jeans and some rubber shoes. All in all, it made me look like a guy out jogging or a drug dealer depending on people's perspectives.
It wasn't difficult to find the place where Blake was staying. It had a big billboard on the rooftop basically advertising its location. I followed it and came inside. An oddly familiar voice greeted me as I entered.
"Welcome to the Hyatt Motel! Would you like a room?"
There, behind a run-down counter, stood Velvet Scarlatina dressed in a fine black and white uniform with a smile on her face. When I saw her, I nearly face-planted.
I had first thought that the bunny girl behind the counter just happened to look like Velvet but when she spoke with that distinct Australian twang, it all but confirmed everything.
What the flying fuck was she doing there?
When I noticed the odd look she sent me, I moved to reply. "I'm not here for a room. I already have one. Do you know where Room 14 is?"
The bunny faunus ears perked up. "Of course sir. I know all the rooms in this Motel. Is it safe to assume that you are the occupants partner?"
I nodded dumbly, my mind still trying to figure out why the fuck she was there.
"Well then. Would you please follow me?" the faunus said as she walked around the counter.
Our steps echoed throughout the hallway. I winced as I heard the numerous sounds that came from the rooms that we had passed. I turned to look at Velvet and found the bunny girl walking normally as if it were a stroll through the park.
"Are you not bothered with this place?" I asked aloud. She turned back towards me. "Why should I, sir?"
The look she sent me told me that she literally had no idea what I was talking about.
"Erhm. Nevermind." I replied, embarrassment leaking through me. Velvet hummed as we rounded a corner and finally reached Room 14. The door of the room was just like the doors we had passed, run down and in a desperate need of a replacement.
"Here's Room 14, sir." announced the bunny girl. "Do you need anything else?"
"Um. No. Thank you." I let out awkwardly. Velvet sent me a friendly smile. "If you ever need anything, do not hesitate to call the front desk." At that, she left me.
Okay. That was enough weird shit for the day.
With a deep breath, I knocked at the door. "Blake?" I called out.
I waited patiently for the door to swing open but no catgirl came. I knocked again, this time a bit louder.
It was then that I heard a pathetic mewling voice come from inside.
"Help… me."
I did not wait any longer. I simply kicked the door open.
Blake Belladonna was afraid. So very afraid.
First, she abandoned her parents and her life in Menagerie. Secondly, she ran off to join a group that had espoused a message of equality for all but had turned out to be a band of murderers and thirdly, she once again abandoned them, her soul no longer able to tolerate what they had her do. She had hid inside her rented room two days, never going out in fear of being recognized and killed for 'Deserting the Comradeship'.
She couldn't return home to Menagerie. That would put her family in danger. She couldn't go back to the Red Fang. They would kill her for deserting and her Mentor would never forgive her for leaving.
She had thought that she would die inside her rented room alone, afraid and hungry. What food she had brought along with her before she left had all been eaten a day ago.
Her mind went back to her childhood home, of her mother preparing her favorite dish. Of spending lazy afternoons under palm trees. Of cookies and cakes…
Sweet… yema… cakes…
When she remembered the sweet taste of milk and fluffy chiffon, she also remembered the boy who had baked it. She had also remembered the exact words he had told her on the day he left.
" Call me if you ever need me."
Luckily, she had kept the paper he gave her despite the years going by. She had also gotten a scroll as well and had become familiar in how to use it. With shaky hands, she dialed up a number and waited.
For a moment, she feared that he would not pick up. She was calling him with a new number after all and her mentor was rather adamant that she never answer numbers she did not know of lest she fell victim to a "Vacuoan Prince Scam". Whatever that was.
But her fears were unfounded when the call was accepted and a familiar voice spoke aloud:
"Hello?"
He sounded different now. Older and smoother. She wondered what he now looked like.
"A-Alex?" she said weakly. She feared that he wouldn't recognize her. She hadn't spoken to him for years after all and he might have forgotten her. She was just a little faunus girl with silly ideas and silly dreams after a-
"B-Blake?" Alexander Friedlich said aloud, surprise and relief in his tone.
Their exchanged had happened a day ago and the cat faunus had spent the entire day laying on her bed, afraid that if she moved around, she would waste her energy. Her stomach grumbled at her all the while.
There, she waited and waited. The pain inside her stomach had intensified and suddenly, sleep called out to her. She tried to fight, to stay awake. But as each minute passed, the cal to sleep became stronger.
Slowly, her eyes began to shut.
"Sorry… Mama..Sorry… Papa…" she cried out weakly as sh-
A flurry of knocks at her door kept her from sleep.
"Blake?" a familiar voice rang out.
He came. He actually came!
She tried to stand but her body had been weakened greatly by hunger. Seeing this, she devoted the last bits of her energy into her voice and gave a cry for help. That had done the trick and the motel door was kicked open.
Striding into the room was a tall man with sharp features and ice-blue eyes. He wore a simple black hoodie and pants but in Blake's weakened state, he looked as if he wore the clothing of a Duke. In fact, that air around him stank of nobility.
With him here, Blake knew that she was finally safe and thus, allowed herself to fall asleep. The last thing she remembered before darkness overcame her were his arms reaching for her.
They were… warm.
A/N: Looks like operation kitty is a success! Or is it?
Stay tuned for the next update to find out!
Chapter 22
"She is lucky to have you as a friend, Mr. Friedlich." The doctor said as he packed his instruments back into his bag.
"What is her condition?" I asked, my body leaning against the doorframe.
The bespectacled man stared at me. "She is stable, thankfully. The girl needs rest and time to recuperate though. I also would highly recommend that she does not do any strenuous physical activity if she wants to recover. "
I strode from my post to sit at her side, my eyes directed at her rising and falling chest.
"I shall be leaving her prescription medicines with your servant. I trust my fee has been paid?" the man said as he stood by the doorway.
I waved him off. At that, he left.
Seeing Blake's pitiful state, I could only think of one thing.
"Blake. You are a bloody moron."
It had been a day since I had Blake as a unofficial guest at my family's apartment and still, she hadn't woken up. I had called my parents that I was going to be home within a week and unsurprisingly, they agreed as long as I kept out of trouble.
If we were middle-class, they would have gotten ballistic.
Anyway, I had kept vigil over Blake for the previous day. While I would have wanted nothing more than to stay at her side and ensure that she won't hurt herself, I still had to go out and do normal rich boy things. I mean, who would take a vacation in another continent yet spend the entire time cooped up inside an apartment building?
I tapped my fingers impatiently against my table. A few other patrons of the cafe I was hanging out in sent weird glances my way but I ignored them.
My mind was running.
I was still in the dark in what Blake had done that warranted her to run. One fact was certain to me though was that she had involved herself with some dangerous folks that sought people like me dead or worse. I had also brought along what few things that Blake had. Most of her items were inconsequential. What was truly eye-catching though was her weapon, Gambol Shroud, as well as a diary that also contained a rather meticulous list of notable Red Fang members as well as specific and highly sensitive details about the Red Fang.
That discovery gave me the impression that Blake must have done some really excellent spying or she was high enough in the organization to know about those details. It also made it clear to me that she was in some deep shit.
So much for keeping myself out of trouble.
I was rather worried at that fact though. Why was she in the Red Fang? Wasn't she supposed to be with the White Fang with Adam?
It was then I promptly remembered that the White Fang had demilitarized years ago when the SDC became less shitty and Sienna Khan had all but kept their activities mum. If Adam was his "Kill em all" self then he would have more than likely joined the Red Fang and dragged Blake along for the ride.
If my assumptions were true then the only reason Blake was currently in a bed right now was because she couldn't get off of Mr. Adam Taurus's Wild Ride.
As my hand reached for my cup of mocha, my scroll rang.
"Sir. She is awake." My servant informed me.
I grunted as I laid my scroll on the table and finished my cup of mocha.
Blake better have a good bloody explanation when I get back.
"Master Alexander will be joining us shortly. I would offer you refreshments, Miss Belladonna, but I'm afraid the doctor was rather adamant that you wouldn't be given alcohol. I can offer you tea or coffee however."
Blake swallowed. "I… I'll just have water, please."
The man bowed then turned to leave the room, leaving Blake alone to stew in her thoughts.
She had awoken screaming at the top of her lungs, her mind dreaming of blood and sweat and chains. Despite that, the man that came into her room dressed in a butler's uniform didn't seem disturbed at her screaming nor at her appearance. Instead, he simply looked at her with a polite expression and offered her refreshments.
Blake deflated on the luxuriously soft mattress she found herself in, her mind wandering.
Alex had come for her. He actually went all the way to find her and bring her to safety.
That fact filled her with relief as well as guilt.
How could she face her friend like this, weak and exposed? How could she talk to him despite not having called him at least once through the years? How could she dare to look him in the eye when she called him out of the blue not to exchange pleasantries but to ask for help?
Her thoughts were briefly interrupted when the butler returned with a mug in his hands. He strode towards her and handed her the mug. Blake muttered her thanks as she reached out to get it and sat up to drink it. She shivered when her fingers touched the mug and noted how cold the it was. She brought it to her lips and drank. She then finished, handed the mug back to the butler and brought herself down..
"How long was I unconscious?" the faunus asked.
"A day and a half." replied the butler. "The Young Master never left your side ever since we both came here straight from Atlas."
Heat crept up on her cheeks as she heard the butler speak. Alexander did that? She forced herself to calm down lest her mind wander needlessly.
"Where is he?" choked Blake. The butler's eyes gleamed.
"Oh. He just went out for lunch. When I informed him of your waking, he said that he was coming here immediately. He was rather adamant about speaking with you."
Her ears drooped. The butler hummed as he strode next towards a window. Her eyes narrowed when she saw amusement flicker on his face.
"In fact, he is already here."
Alarm and panic filled Blake.
What in the gods name was she going to say?
The door swung open and in came a tall white haired teenager clad in a suit of silver and black, a luxurious red scarf wrapped around his neck. Blake's eyes widened in surprise at the transformation her friend had undergone. That only made her conscious on how she looked. While had was healthy, she was sickly. His skin and body was filled with life. Hers was gaunt an-
"You are as beautiful as the last time I had seen you." smiled the man as he drew close. He signaled the butler to leave and the man did so with a bow.
The catgirl reddened and sank underneath her covers, a thick white blanket covering her up to her neck. Alexander said nothing as he took a nearby chair and set next to her bed.
"You came for me." mumbled Blake. Alexander nodded.
"Of course." scoffed Alex. "You are my friend and my father has always told me that a friend in need is a friend indeed."
The faunus girl shook her head.
"What I want to know is… why? Why did you come for me?" she asked, her eyes meeting his. The white-haired teen sighed.
"I came for you because you sounded you needed help. I am not the type to sit by while my friends are in danger. And besides…" he drawled as he leaned forward and ruffled her hair. "Didn't I promise you that I would help you if you ever needed it?"
Hear ears twitched at his contact. It filled her a sense of security and rekindled her memories of warm affection. The gloves that he wore also helped the fact to-
Disappointment filled her when he suddenly pulled back. Why did he pull out? If she were younger, she would have protested. But now, she was older and had mastered her facial expressions. She was not going to embarrass herself in front of Alex.
"Now that you are awake, would you kindly tell me what you were doing with a group that would see me and people like me dead or run out of town?"
Like that, all good feelings she had in her were gone.
Noticing her dead fish impression, Alex sighed. "Don't worry. I'm not going to surrender you to the authorities or anything. I just want to know the truth."
Blake gulped as she considered what to say. Was she going to lie or tell him what had happened? She considered lying. She didn't want her friend to hate her and she feared that telling him the truth would hurt him. But then, she remembered that he had went all the way from Atlas to find her. She had to tell the truth.
He deserved nothing but the truth.
"I was in love…" she started.
Alexander nearly choked.
"With a dream." she then added.
"What dream was that?" Alexander asked shortly after breathing a sigh of relief.
"I dreamed of a world where people would no longer be judged from the traits of their body but be judged from the content of their character." she whispered. Alexander suddenly went as still as a pole upon hearing her.
"The White Fang had promised to all faunus that their goal was to achieve the dream I had. So I joined it…" she paused to think of a word to describe her mentor. "… with a friend." she then added.
"And what had happened?"
"Disappointment." lamented Blake. "Both for me and my… friend. The White Fang wasn't peaceful in its means to achieve what it wanted. I was made to do things, Alex. They made me do things that I did not want. But for my friend… it was worse."
"Tell me then." nudged Alexander. Blake bit her lip.
"He didn't like it at first. But then he became good at it. He started to like what they made us do. He wanted to go to the next level. But then, the SDC started to reform and our militant message no longer held weight. The missions started to stop and I believed that was the end of it." sighed Blake as she lowered her blanket to sit up on her bed.
"I guess it wasn't the end of it then?" chimed Alex. Blake nodded.
"Yes. When the Kingdoms of Remnant refused to take action against the SDC, there was an outcry everywhere. My friend and those who thinked like him demanded our leaders to take action but they refused. They said that the SDC had repaid in full its sins against faunuskind and the new President, Willow, was not like her husband. So we left."
"We?" mouthed the Atlesian.
"I followed my friend because I thought I could change his mind." quickly explained Blake. "While all that happened, a new movement arose. They called themselves Dissolutionists. They espoused an idea that called for the dissolution of private companies as well as the dismantlement of the kingdoms that protected them. They said that the private sector viewed us nothing more but cogs to power their machines and that they were protected by the Kingdoms that only existed as their puppets. They cited the refusal of the kingdoms to take action against the SDC as proof of this."
"There must be more than that." said Alex.
"After the dissolution of the kingdoms and private companies, they wanted to reorganize everything for the benefit not only of one class but for every class." added Blake.
"True equality huh?" Alex said as he shifted in his seat.
"Yeah. And the only thing that we would lose as the oppressed workers were our chains. And unlike the White Fang, this can only achieved after armed struggle. They said to look at the Kingdom's verdict on the SDC and asked us if peaceful means could be used against a juggernaut like that. They said that the SDC's reforms weren't reforms but concessions to keep the working class happy. If we were to be truly free then the SDC and fellow corporations must be dissolved."
Alexander rubbed his chin as he listened to her, his face expressionless.
"Allow me to guess, your friend was taken at their message and joined the Dissolutionists and you followed after him." offered the Friedlich heir.
Blake blinked then nodded.
"I joined with him because I was still thinking I could change his mind and bring him back to the White Fang with me. I was… I was wrong." admitted the catgirl. Alexander's expression became even stonier.
"He must have been a great guy if you followed him like that." observed the white-haired teen. Blake's brow furrowed when she heard the ice in his voice. Why was he being so icy about her friend?
"I was." nodded Blake. "He was my mentor and taught me how to fight. He protected me when we joined the White and Red Fang. It was the least I could do."
"Were you lovers?" interjected Alex. Horror filled Blake.
"Lovers? Never!" she denied. "Adam was like a mentor to me and he viewed me more as a sister of the revolution than anything else!" She could never see herself with Adam. He was easily handsome enough but the bull faunus was focused more in his desire to see-
"Adam huh?" mouthed Alex. Blake then realized that she had allowed her emotions to reign free and had unconsciously betrayed her mentor. But then again, she had left him in the Red Fang.
Blake grit her teeth. "Yes. My friend's name was Adam. And he allowed himself to be consumed by the Red Fang's message of armed struggle."
"That aside, why didn't you run sooner? Why haven't you contacted me sooner? I could have helped you escape." argued Alex. Blake sighed.
"It wasn't that simple, Alex. I had still believed that I could convince Adam to come back with me. I hadn't realized that he was too far gone to listen to me. By the time I had come to terms with that, it was far too late for me to back out because Adam and I had risen through the ranks. It was only by luck and timing that I was able to escape."
"At least you are finally out of there." Alex said gently as he stood from his seat, sat on her bed and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. Blake felt her cheeks redden slightly as he laid a hand on her. She shook her head.
"Alex. I may have left the Red Fang but what I did is still with me. Do you have any idea what they made me do?" Blake felt a little guilty at the venom she injected in her voice but she couldn't help but feel resentment. After all those years of spilling blood, of making sons fatherless, of making wives widows, and of seeing her mentor fall into a path of death and carnage, regret and guilt pulled at her heart strings.
She couldn't help if she was acting the way she was.
"What are you going to do now? Are you going back to Menagerie?" suddenly asked Alexander.
Blake's train of thought halted at that. She missed her family dearly and she was tired after fighting for so long. But she couldn't do that. She couldn't endanger her family by going back. The Red Fang would be hunting her and the last thing she wanted was to lead them home. She did sort of had a plan. She had built-up a list of Red Fang leaders as well as certain details of the group that included safe houses, future plans, as well as other sensitive details. She figured about going to the authorities with her list and then…
Her mind briefly stopped working.
She didn't know what to do next. In her paranoia and fear, she merely prepared her exit strategy and not what to do afterwards.
"I… I don't know." admitted Blake.
"I have an idea." Alex announced. Blake's ears perked up. She turned to face him.
"What is it?"
"Why don't you come with me back to Atlas?" offered the heir. When he had done so, the light in the room had shifted towards the Atlesian, giving him a certain glow. Blake's eyes widened at the scene. Why was it so familiar?
The Shogun extended a hand towards the wounded kunoichi, a resolute expression on his face.
"Join me, ninja, and I shall show you the world!"
The kunoichi gasped as the sun rose behind the Warlord's back, giving her a vision of fields afar.
Did he want her to… swear allegiance to him?
He had saved her life of course and she owed him. But if she accepted his offer then he would be put into danger because of her!
" That is why you are there!" a lordly voice in her mind yelled. " To be his kunoichi and protect him from those that would harm him!"
" Who knows? Maybe he'd show you his appreciation for your protection." purred a softer, sweeter voice. "No man goes that far to find-"
She halted her train of thought as she locked her eyes with him.
"You will have me? Despite what I have done? Despite what I am?" whispered Blake.
The Atlesian shrugged.
"I would have you for you, Blake. I see no other person next to me but Blake Belladonna, ninja extraordinaire and my dear friend."
A smile crept to her lips.
"Then I shall have you, Alex-dono."
Alex blinked.
"What?"
A/N: Blake. You filthy ninja chuuni catgirl. Alex, you dumb arms-selling lummox.
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA CATGIRL, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA CATGIRL, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA CATGIRL! KITTY POWER!
Chapter 23
"Take these papers and have them signed by father please." I said as I pushed a set of papers forward.
"Do you need anything else, Alex- dono?" replied a feminine voice.
I glanced up at her from my desk, my eyes not hiding my exasperation.
"Do you need anything else, Alex?" Blake said with a sigh. I waved her off.
"No. You can have the rest of the day off if you want." I yawned. Blake nodded and turned to leave my office.
With Blake in tow, I had no further reason to stay in Vale. While it might have been fun to walk around and accidentally run into other canon characters, I wasn't quite enthusiastic about running into people like Roman Torchwick and god forbid, Ozzie himself.
I was still quite unsure how to deal with Wizard. Could he sense the fact that the bastard gods of Remnant had effectively sent me to kill him? Would he react negatively to that fact or would he rejoice at the thought of finally dying for real this time?
In any other case, further contact with other canon characters was going to be a no-no for the meantime.
And so, I dialed up my parents and told them that I had gotten bored and I was going to go back to Atlas. As Blake wanted to hide her identity, we agreed that she was going to go by the name of Belle and she was going to masquerade as my bodyguard/secretary/maid. She originally wanted to go by the name of Mochizuki Chiyome but that name would stand out amongst my workers so Belle it was.
When her aura had caught up and brought her back to shape, we left Vale for Atlas. I had run through company bureaucracy and railroaded her to be hired as my own personal secretary. But before any of that, I had her call her parents.
I was not going to be mistaken as a catnapper or some other nonsense.
"Why? They might want to look for me!" she protested. I gave her a disapproving look.
"Blake. They haven't heard from you for years. The least you could do is to tell them you are safe." I argued. But the cat faunus stood her ground and refused to call them. I tutted at her.
"Look. You don't need to tell them everything. Just tell them that you are alive and well and that you are safe. I just want them to know that you are alright." I reasoned. "And trust me, parents who think that their children are fine are less prone to rash action. You wouldn't want them to accidentally find you and bring you back when you are in the middle of something important now would you?"
She nodded hesitantly but I could see the gears behind her eyes working.
"Now go and call them." I ordered.
I left her alone in her room to make her call. When she called me back, tears were in her eyes. Of course, I went and gave her a comforting hug.
"They wanted me to come back." sniffed Blake.
"What did you tell them?" I asked.
"Enough to let them know that I'm safe." she whimpered. I gave her a pat on the head.
"It's alright. You are safe now."
With her own parental problems and other unforeseen problems squared away, I brought Blakey over to Atlas.
As the heir of Friedlich AG, I had some leeway when it came to running the business. I could act on the company's behalf and open up negotiations in place of daddy dearest, and more importantly, I could also hire in new talent without further scrutiny.
So when I started to walk around with a disguised Blake at my side, people did not ask questions.
It was a good thing that walking around Atlas wasn't a thing because the last problem I needed was the paparazzi breathing down my neck. It was also helpful that my activities kept me at work and home specifically.
Blake had initially wanted to go out and do something against the Red Fang. She kept on telling me that she had 'information' that could be utilized against the group. I told her to relax, rest, and get used to the monotony of being in corporate while I handled that for her. When she refused to listen, I made it a command.
Strangely enough, she listened to me.
Ever since we had left Vale, she always referred me as "Alex-dono" and had now kept an assortment of ninja items on her person.
I had long known that Blake was a ninja enthusiast but her level of dedication to the shinobi was a tad bit concerning for me.
Oh well. It was fine as long as she didn't let her enthusiasm get over her head.
Blake glanced down at the list of papers in her hands. Looking upon them once more made her mind recall her Lord's orders a few minutes ago.
"Perform your duty well, kunoichi!"
"Yes, my lord!"
She quickened her pace.
After some time of walking, the disguised catgirl found Mr. Friedlich's office. She took a deep breath then knocked thrice.
"Come in." a male voice called out to her. With that confirmation, she opened the door and found the ice-blue eyes of one of Remnant's most powerful men staring at her.
When Alexander had introduced her to them as his secretary, their reactions were mixed. His mother scrutinized her from head to toe and tested her until she was satisfied. His father gave her strange looks.
Blake had momentarily feared that he had recognized her but Alex had assured her that it had been years since the man last saw her and might have forgotten what she looked like.
Back to the present, she shivered at the gaze he sent her but said nothing. She closed the door behind her and strode towards the man's desks.
"I have here some papers from your son, Mr. Friedlich." Blake announced. The man nodded and motioned her to put them on his desk.
As she moved to put the papers on his desk, the man suddenly spoke.
"Tell me… Belle." She froze at his tone. "How did you meet my son?"
She turned to see his eyes staring deep into her soul. She gulped and thought fast of an answer.
" It is important that my parents do not know who you are. You are the lost daughter of Menagerie's chief. If they find out that you are there, they will not hesitate to send you back home." Her Lor-Alex's voice echoed in her head.
"I met him in a café, Mr. Friedlich." She stuttered out. She groaned at her show of weakness. And why was she feeling scared anyway? She had met Alexander's father years ago! She knew him as an open and warm soul!
Was it all an act to get into her father's good graces?
"A café hm?" repeated Gerard. The look he sent her told her that he did not believe her. "And how did you convince him to give you a job? So many others have tried to get to where you are and had failed."
'I asked nicely?' she almost blurted out. But thankfully, she had held her tongue. She forced herself to calm down. She was not going to disgrace her Lord by being a bumbling idiot!
"I asked him for a job and he gave me one." she answered confidently. The confidence she gave in her answer quickly fizzled away when she realized how dumb her answer war. She had done it. She had fai-
Jovial laughter erupted from Gerard's mouth as soon as he heard her answer. Blake blinked in confusion.
"You have spine. I'll give you that." grinned Gerard. "And how has he treated you?"
This one she could answer with all honesty.
"He has been good to me, Mr. Friedlich. I would not be here talking with you if it wasn't for him." That fact was true. If he hadn't saved her then she would have died of hunger or worse. He had lifted her from death and if he wanted her allegiance then she would be happy to give that.
'And more~!' a teasing voice said aloud in her mind. She fought off a blush that threatened to appear on her cheeks.
"I see." nodded the Friedlich Patriarch. "Well. Don't let me take up too much of your time then, Belle."
At that, Blake gave him a low bow and moved to exit the room.
As the door was about to close behind her, she heard the man speak once more.
"Oh and Blake, do work on your disguise. You could ask my wife if you want some pointers. She's rather skilled in dressing up."
She froze.
"And she also approves of you by the way! Do take care of our son for us!"
What?
A/N: Blake is such a cute little chunibyo.
I think she needs professional help.
Chapter 24
Her steps were lithe and silent as she traveled the cat walk of the Red Fang hideout. Her ears perked up as she heard a man loudly exhorting to a enamored crowd.
"The Corporations will stop at nothing to subject us all! They don't care if you are faunus or human; for in their eyes, we are all slaves to be worked to the death!" He yelled, eliciting a roar of indignation from the crowd.
Winter ignored the dig at her mother and her heritage. The Specialist took her position directly above the podium where the speaker ranted.
"Foxtrot in position." the Specialist whispered into her scroll. "Scroll check to all units, over."
A cacophony of voices responded.
"Lima copies. Standing by for prosecution." an older male voice replied.
"Victor, standing by." said another male voice, younger in tone.
"Hotel, standing by." followed another voice. This time, it was female.
Winter nodded and unsheathed her sabre. The Atlesian peered over the catwalk to see the crowd had been whipped into a frenzy as two masked men dragged a beaten looking man on on stage. A sneer came upon the speaker as the man neared him. Winter growled at their despicable treatment.
"Ground Team, be advised. VIP sighted. Assist and Neutralize, over." said Winter as she maneuvered to get a more decent look at the hostage.
The man had been beaten black and blue. There were bruises all over his face and his lips had turned purple. Another surefire sign that the Red Fang hadn't been neglecting their hostage not one bit.
"This man is guilty for exploiting his workers!" spat the speaker as the two hooded men forced the man to his knees. "Working them to exhaustion and until the flesh peeled from their bones!"
He grabbed the man by the hair. "And what say you to these accusations, worm?"
The man responded by spitting out a mouthful of phlegm and blood at the speaker. Winter cringed at the disgusting display. The speaker responded by diving his fist straight into the man's stomach. The bound man cried out in pain and spat blood on the stage.
"Even in his bounds, he is still arrogant to the very end!" cried the speaker as he turned to face the crowd. "What say you all?"
"Guilty!" roared the crowd, followed by cries of death and crucifixion. Winter shivered at that. She did not know if the Red Fang would do such barbaric methods of execution but she figured it wouldn't be below them to try such a thing.
"Very well!" laughed the speaker. "What the People wants, the People gets!" At that, he pulled out a thick knife from out of his clothing. Winter didn't need to be genius to figure out what he was going to do next.
"Ground Team! Prosecute!" she roared.
Chaos erupted as glass and stone broke followed by the staccato booming of weapons discharging and the screams of the dying.
She-
Woke up with a gasp and a loud cry.
Her eyes darted around her to find that she was back in her room and on her bed.
She sat up, a hand going up to massager he temples. Another horrible nightmare had brought her out of sleep yet again. Was a good night's sleep so much to ask for?
When she became a Specialist, she knew that she was going to face Atlas's enemies, both inside and outside the Kingdom. She had expected to fight Grimm and even the White Fang. But then, the Red Fang came out of nowhere and threw her off her course.
She knew they were brutal. Field reports had told her as much. Prisoners being burnt alive, hostages being found hung from trees with a sign around their necks detailing their crimes.
It was horrible. And to see it all first-hand even more so.
Never before in the history of Remnant has she found such hateful anger. Even during the Faunus Rights Revolution, no side went overboard in their treatment of captives. The Red Fang on the other hand, was different.
She could not understand what went in through the minds of those Radicals. They seemed willing to do whatever it took to achieve what they wanted, no matter what the world thought of them. A Worker's paradise or so they claimed. She herself had even tried to read the pamphlet that their group published titled 'The Dissolutionist Manifesto' to understand what went through their heads.
She barely finished reading it, finding their arguments absurd and insane.
Managing a company was difficult enough already. Now they wanted everyone to have a hand in it? Ridiculous!
Her scroll buzzing brought Winter out of her thoughts. She reached for it and saw a message from General Ironwood requesting her presence at his office.She briefly wondered what the General needed of her before deciding to find out for herself when she went there.
She went of her bed and took a quick shower before heading towards the General's office.
After knocking on his door three times, she heard the General beckon her to enter. She took a couple of breaths as she swung it open.
Inside, she found the General examining a couple of files behind his desk. She strode before him and gave him a crisp salute.
"Specialist Schnee reporting as ordered, sir!"
The General glanced up at her from his papers. "At ease, Specialist." he ordered. "Do take a seat as well. We might be here for quite some time."
At that, Winter was confused. Had she done something wrong? The hostage that she and her team had rescued was alive and well. They had captured a dozen or so Red Fang terrorists and confiscated their cache of weapons.
She was however not one to question orders and duly sat across the General. For a few minutes, silence reigned as the General continued to read his files. Winter sat silently, waiting until the General had finished whatever he was doing. Finally, the man set aside his files and faced her.
"Tell me, Specialist. How do you find your work?" the man suddenly asked.
Winter paused to think before giving her answer.
"It is… not what I expected, sir." she admitted, her mind returning to the nightmare that she had woken up from.
"Not what you expected?" said Ironwood, eyebrow raised. "Would you please elaborate?"
"It has been…" she bit her lip, her mind coming to terms with what she was going to say. She did not want to lie. She had to tell the truth. Lying about it would only serve to trouble her more. She glanced up at him. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"
"Permission granted." nodded Ironwood.
'Thank the gods.' thought Winter as she began to spill everything.
She told him everything. She told him about her growing unease with the Red Fang, of her horrifying discoveries during her missions, and of the nightmares that began plaguing her dreams.
"Ever since I have started missions against the Red Fang, sir. I have been distressed as of late." she confessed. "I have read about what they had done and seen what they have done. I… I am appalled at the depths of their hatred. I just cannot understand it. How can they do such terrible things against… against people?"
Ironwood nodded neutrally, urging her to speak.
"I have also been experiencing nightmares as well. It ha-"
"What sort of nightmares?" interjected Ironwood.
Winter shivered.
"I remember my missions. I remember the eyes of the people I have killed. I see the anger, the pain, and the sheer hate in their eyes before I cut them down." Her voice was a whisper as she trembled in her seat.
She was fully prepared in doing what it took to finish her missions. The one thing she wasn't prepared for were her enemies.
A warm hand was laid upon her shoulder, throwing her out of the loop. She glanced up to see that Ironwood had stood up from his seat to knock her from her thoughts. The gesture was simple but it did wonders to calm her mind. When she had calmed down, the General returned to his seat.
"I see that the missions have been talking their toll on you." observed the General. Anger and fear coursed through her. She did not like his insinuation that she couldn't handle the stress. That fact stung her pride.
"I assure you, General, that I am still combat effective!" Winter all but hissed.
Ironwood responded by pushing the papers he was reading towards her. She glanced down at it and gasped. They were her evaluation papers!
"These papers say otherwise." said Ironwood, his finger tapping them twice. "Would you like to know what they say?"
She gripped the sides of her seat.
"Troubled, Irritable, and Stressed." read aloud Ironwood. Upon hearing that, Winter slumped in her seat.
"Winter." addressed Ironwood. "You are among my best agents. I am incredibly lucky to have an operative like you serving under me." She warmed a little at his praise. "But no matter how talented an operative might be, that operative is still a human being. We still get tired and we still feel. There is no shame in that for it tells us that we are not monsters."
His words did much to comfort her troubled soul.
"What would you have me do, General?"
Ironwood turned towards another piece of paper, onxy-colored eyes running through the print. "A break from missions will do you good so I am holding off your missions in the meantime. I am not going to assign you a desk job either. That would be a waste of your talent."
Relief flooded Winter.
"What are your thoughts on bodyguard duty?" asked Ironwood, his eyes returning to her.
Winter frowned. In one hand, it would get her out of her missions. On the other, it would be troublesome if her charge was someone who liked to get into trouble.
"Who will I be guarding?" she questioned.
"A new and important asset that will ensure Atlas's technological dominance for years if we play our cards right. He has proven to be an imaginative and driven character." Ironwood said as he folded his arms over his desk. "In the wake of Red Fang attacks against high-profile individuals, it has become necessary for our Kingdom to protect our best and brightest."
An egghead? She could handle that.
"And what is the name of my charge?"
She nearly sputtered at General Ironwood's reply.
"Alexander Friedlich."
Alexander sneezed suddenly, attracting the attention of Blake who stood dutifully at his side.
"Is something wrong, Alex- dono?" Blake asked, concerned.
The Friedlich heir shook his head as he brought out a handkerchief from his pocket. "For the last time, just call me Alex. And no, I feel fine."
"Of course, Alex- dono." Blake replied as she took her post once more. Alexander shook his head at his friend/maid/secretary/bodyguard's antics and returned to his work.
'It was probably nothing.' he thought, his fingers sketching.
A/N: This is what he was sketching:
Support Craft
[img: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7]
Last edited: Jul 3, 2019
Chapter 25
Winter's thoughts were in a flurry.
How long had it been since she had last seen Alex? Eight? Five? Whatever it was, it had been too long since they had last seen each other. Technically, they still saw each other but there was only so much that could be seen via scroll calls and messages.
It only reminded her how much she had missed seeing while rising through the ranks of the Atlesian military. She hadn't seen Alex grow. She hadn't seen Weiss grow either.
The shuddering of her craft brought her out her thoughts.
"Aircraft Landed." drawled the monotone voice of her personal craft's computer. She stood from her seat and retreated into the craft's rear where the exit was.
"You will be the Heir's bodyguard for the time being. We'll call you when we need you. While this is also a chance for you to rest, do not forget that you are protecting a HVI. Do not fail your duty. Do not fail Atlas." Ironwood commanded.
"Yes sir!" she saluted.
There was hiss as the doors of her craft opened followed by a low whir as a ramp extended down towards the snow-covered landing pad. She took a deep breath before walking down the ramp.
She took note of two figures that awaited her.
The first figure was male while the other was female.
The female was a badly disguised faunus dressed in a maid uniform. The male on the other hand…
"Welcome to the Manor, Miss Schnee." the first figure greeted her, a warm smile on his lips. Winter's eyes scanned the man.
He was tall, a respectable 6'2. His hair was combed neatly and his face bore no blemishes nor pimples. Speaking about his face, he was eerily familiar though Winter could not properly place who he was. He had sharp features and ice-blue eyes. It dawned on her that he could easily disguise himself as a Schnee and no one would bat an eye.
He wore a silver double-breasted suit over a silver waistcoat and a white dress shirt. Around his neck was a luxurious red scarf and if her eyes did not deceive her, the scarf had the Schnee Snowflake sewn onto it as well. That caught her interest. She didn't know that SDC had started a clothing line.
Well, ever since she had given up her position as heiress in favor for a military career, she hadn't been that involved anyway.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir." greeted Winter. "But would you kindly inform Mr.Friedlich that I have arrived?"
It felt strange addressing Alex as 'Mr. Friedlich'. He was younger than her after all and the boy was insistent that he be referred to as Alexander or Alex but she was meeting a servant. Such casual words could only be spoken amongst friends behind closed doors.
"I see." smiled the butler. "Which Mr Friedlich, the younger one or the older one?"
Winter stared at him. How impudent!
"The younger one." she replied.
The man's smile grew larger. "Well. Here he is!"
Winter's eyes narrowed. What sort of butler was this m-
She scrutinized him further. Ice-blue eyes. Check. Familiar face, check. Familiar voice. Check. Was this…
"Alex?" she whispered. When the man nodded, warmth flooded Winter as she moved forward and brought the younger man in a hug.
If she were younger, she would have made an emotional display. But she was no longer young nor was she going to do such a thing. She was a woman of class and such vulgar displays was best left for the young.
Weiss was in the midst of practicing her swordplay when she suddenly felt attacked. She also felt as if that her friend was in danger of being swallowed by a woman of higher bearing and talent than her.
She considered calling him right then and there but decided to forget about it, thinking that it was just a mere fluke.
"So, Winter." I drawled. "How long are you going to be my bodyguard exactly?"
When I had broken free of Winter's warm and rather strong hands, I invited her inside for some tea and biscuits.
The ridiculously attractive woman in front of me smirked. "What's the matter, Alex? You sound displeased that I am here. Last I recalled, you were the one that kept on coming to me when you were younger."
If there was one thing that Winter liked to do, it was to be a infuriatingly affectionate tease. Back when we were younger, she had a lot of fun poking fun at Weiss and me. I should also not mention the fact that my hormonal body was getting a tad bit excited with Winter around.
With her generous tracts of land, hourglass figure, and a voice that could melt butter, who wouldn't be? To make it worse, she had noticed that I had noticed and was doing small and subtle ways of screwing with me.
There was only one probable course left for me and it was to ignore it as much as humanely possible.
"It is nice to see that you are still the same mature lady, Winter." I deadpanned. Winter tittered at me.
"Were you not briefed by your father?"
"No. He just told me yesterday that I was going to get an Atlesian Specialist as a bodyguard." I replied neutrally. I then added. "I did not expect it to be you."
A hurt expression came upon her face. "Why? Am I not good enough for you?" she whimpered.
"Don't be so dramatic. You and I both know that you could wipe the floor to whichever unfortunate soul crosses your path." I stressed. We were momentarily interrupted as Blake appeared, a tray in her hands. She dutifully offered Winter and I slices of cake that I had baked two days ago.
"My, you seem to have well-trained subordinates, Alex." complimented Winter as she took a plate from Blake. The cat girl smiled charmingly at the praise.
"Of course. My subordinates are excellent in their jobs." I said with a smile
Blake's mind was panicking, hard.
There was a Specialist inside Alex's house. Not only that, said Specialist was going to be his bodyguard for a undetermined amount of time. To make it even more worse, that Specialist was Winter Schnee, the infamous Ice Queen.
In the Red Fang, to meet the Ice Queen was to risk certain death. No comrade met her and lived to tell the tale.
But she was no longer in the Red Fang. She was now in the service of Alexander Friedlich, her friend and Lord. She was not going to disgrace him by letting her fear take control of her. She was a bloody kunoichi, an infiltrator and spy.
She would be damned if she would fail her Lord again.
I shivered slightly, feeling something strange emanating from Blake. The catgirl had finished distributing the sweets and had turned to leave.
"Is something wrong?" Winter asked, noticing my disturbed look. I shook my head as I returned my attention towards my plate.
"No. I just felt as if I was being made an object of affection or something." I assured her. I scanned her and smirked. "Now enough about me. I see that you are wearing the pearl earrings that I have bought for you. They suit you, Winter."
My comment seemingly caught the eldest Schnee off guard. Indeed, she wore the pair that I had handpicked her.
"W-Well. They are beautiful pearls." she confessed.
"Like you?" I said teasingly. Her pale skin easily betrayed the tinge of pink that appeared on her cheeks. Tease me once, shame on me. Tease me twice, shame on you.
"A-anyway!" she coughed. "What have you done that has warranted the protection of a Specialist like me?"
I grinned. "Asides from being a charming and handsome man…" she snorted at that, hurting my masculinity a little bit. "….my team and I have pioneered forays into space."
When I had mentioned that, a mix of emotions flashed in Winter's eyes. If I hadn't known her for years, I would have missed it. It was difficult to spot but if you did, you'd know that you had gotten her attention.
And so, I started to talk.
I told her of Geppetto's 'idea' to send a satellite into Remnant's orbit and of how we had spent years working on a design. I told her of our struggles to get a functional design and of keeping the entire project a secret from the company's bookkeeper and finally, of our success, of Heimdall responding, and of the eight different satellites currently orbiting Remnant.
When I had finished, she began to interrogate me.
"Why have you not made this news public!?" she all but demanded. "This story needs to be told!"
On one thing, the effect of this news would be like drinking iced tea on a hot day. It would definitely get people to look on the bright side of life again and Friedlich AG would ride a huge wave of support. On the other hand, if fuckos like Watts or Cinder would hear about this, they would do their best to sabotage or mold it for their benefit.
The last thing that Remnant needed was for a satellite network to be controlled by those psychopaths.
"We did not make this public because this is still new technology." I reasoned. "My father wants the company to have the time to understand what we are doing. Think on what would happen if we say, launched a satellite but for some reason, it failed and crashed spectacularly. The entire company would look bad."
Winter nodded at my explanation. "Well. I suppose it would make sense for your company to understand what it was doing before doing such publicity stunts. I applaud you for your critical thinking, Alex."
For some reason, I felt my stomach turn when Winter complimented me. I allowed myself a small smile. "Well. It was not all me. Geppetto and his team are geniuses in their fields. I don't know what I'd do without them."
The Specialist perked up at that. "How is Dr. Polendina by the way?"
"He has been doing well. He's been given a some time off from father for a job well done." I said as I took in a spoonful of cake. As I began to munch, a thoughtful expression came upon Winter's face.
I gulped down my cake. "Something on your mind?"
The white-haired woman shook her head. "Oh. I just had a strange thought."
"And that is?" I asked, curios. She smiled.
"It's just strange to think that years ago, you were barely my height. Now, you are designing satellites and eating cakes with me." She faced me. "Time flies fast doesn't it? It makes you feel old."
I scoffed. "You? Old? Winter, you look like the same young woman that I spent hours talking with. You don't look old. You are still beautiful."
An exasperated cry escaped Winter's lips.
A/N: I think we've had enough of this lovey-dovey crap. It's time to take control of the wheel and ram it all up to eleven.
Chapter 26
The Red Fang was both a blessing and a cruse.
They were a curse because they were indiscriminate in their attacks and had also raided Friedlich AG warehouses for goodies.
They were a blessing because they increased company sales thanks to their enthusiastic campaigning. With their operations on the rise, it has forced governments to purchase more arms to counter them.
Our biggest customer in this regard was Vale
Vale had no army to speak of so its primary defense against the Red Fang was its police department. During the early days of the Red Fang insurgency, Vale PD was woefully unequipped and unprepared to counter their attacks. I mean, it was sort to be expected. They were cops and they were supposed to deal with small time criminals and their ilk, not an underground anarcho-communist terrorist group. There was no question why Vale had the highest amount of upper class casualties during the first few months of the Red Fang's insurgency.
Gee, I wonder how things would have went for them if they had an army whose primary purpose is to defend the state. Thank you so much Ozzie!
Speaking of the Headmaster, he had been pressured by the Council of Vale to send more Hunters to help defend the city. To make his situation even more shittier, he has been bombarded with requests for Hunter support from villages outside Vale.
I used to think that being a Headmaster of a organization of super heroes was kick ass job.
I don't want that job anymore.
Anyway, with Ozpin juggling his hunters from terrorist hunts to Gimm hunts, there was one clear option left for Vale to defend itself and that was to buy weapons. Luckily for them, daddy dearest went ahead and offered them discounts.
As Atlas was an ally, the Council of Atlas had offered to send a Naval Battle-group to help defend the city. Everyone had all expected Vale to accept the offer. Atlas was after all a mighty ally and had the best military in the world.
To everyone's surprise, they refused it.
"Why would they refuse Atlas's offer?" questioned Blake as she laid down a set of papers on my desk. "Wouldn't a fleet deter any Red Fang attacks?"
I glanced up at her and offered a smile. "They refused our offer of security because of politics, Belle."
Blake blinked at me.
A new voice then joined in. "If the Council of Vale had accepted the offer of security, it would make them look like they were incapable of defending their own citizens. It is important for the Council of Vale to look strong in this time of crisis. Having an army of foreigners inside their walls does not exactly inspire confidence."
I swiveled my chair towards the source of the voice. "An apt explanation, Winter." I complimented
Winter smiled briefly in her own desk. Said desk had books and papers that were neatly organized.
As I wasn't the type to go around traveling, it wasn't really expected for Winter to see much action. And so, we spent most of our days either inside my own office that daddy dearest had furnished for me inside our house, going to Friedlich AG testing sites to see how the company's prototypes were going along, and meeting up with the RnD research team for further discussions.
It was all boring work and not that exciting. So, I had mostly allowed Winter to do whatever she wanted to do.
Today, we were inside my office. I had daddy dearest add in two extra desks for Blake and Winter for them to have their own places to work and sit on. I was not going to have the two of them stand around while I worked.
"I don't understand it." said Blake, her tone clearly confused. "The Council of Vale would risk the lives of people for politics?"
"If they want to keep their Council Seats and keep the population happy then the Council of Vale would happily risk anything." I drawled, my tone note entirely sympathetic. While the Councils weren't purely democratic, enough public pressure could 'convince' Councilors to give up their seats. My eyes scanned my catgirl secretary and I noted the frown that adorned her lips.
"What's the matter, Belle? You look downcast." I observed. Her bow drooped a slight inch.
"I didn't realize that the councils were this…"
"Selfish? Cowardly?" I chimed. Blake's eyes widened briefly at the words I had used before she nodded. We turned to hear Winter sighing.
"Unfortunately, Alexander is correct." murmured Winter. "Almost all Council decisions aren't made because they are right. They are made because they are popular."
"So this is Council policy now? To make popular decisions instead of the right ones?" growled Blake, her bow twitching.
"Welcome to the Government." I said simply, my shoulders shrugging as I signed the papers Blake gave me.
It is an unfortunate truth to discover but a necessary one for Remnant. If the Councils refuse popular demand, they risk generating negativity and the Grimm are drawn to negativity the same way kids are drawn to Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
"No wonder the Red Fang has so much support…" Blake murmured. From her desk, Winter twitched.
"Alright. That's enough politics at the dinner table." I said firmly. "We need to focus more on the upcoming Vytal Business Summit coming next week." At that, the two turned their attention towards me.
"Winter. What is the SDC going to exhibit?" I asked, my swivel chair turning towards her. Winter crossed her arms, a smirk on her face.
"Oh Alex. Surprises are called surprises for a reason. And besides, why must I reveal to you what mother has planned? Do you wish to one up her?"
"Why did I even bother to ask?" I grumbled, eliciting a light laugh from the white-haired woman.
If there was the Vytal Festival then there was also the Vytal Business Summit, an international business forum where the bigwigs of enterprise from the four Kingdoms come together to show off their latest products and generally have a swell time flaunting their wealth. It was also an opportunity for international big business to talk to one another and discuss issues. There was no doubt that the Red Fang was going to be tossed into the talks. While not as glamorous as the Vytal Festival, it was nevertheless grand enough to attract crowds.
In layman's terms, it was a World's Fair on steroids.
"The event's security will be tight so I don't need you both to hover around me all the time" I said neutrally. "Take the moment to enjoy yourselves there."
The two women frowned.
"Unless you both want to end up on tomorrow's cover of Gossip Weekly, it would be for the benefit of all of us." I calmly explained.
They glared at me.
"Alex. I was assigned to protect you. I can't do that if we are separated." argued Winter. Blake nodded, Winter already having taken the words out of her mouth.
"Alright fine." I relented. "Don't blame me if you are hounded by the paparazzi."
Anyway, the Summit was a chance for the different companies there to show off the next generation of CEO's. Willow was going to be parading Weiss around as heiress, Winter having dropped her claim as Heiress years ago (Weiss had plenty of things to say about that).
Speaking about Weiss…
"You do know Weiss is going to be there to represent the SDC right?" I pointed out. Winter went still in her seat. "How are you going to deal with that?"
I had no clue on how their relationship was going right now. I had badgered the two to try and reconcile. If things had progressed, they didn't tell me.
"That will be my problem." she whispered, her eyes turning from mine. I could feel the confusion emanating from Blake. I hadn't told her what was going on, out of respect of Winter and Weiss's privacy.
Oh well. The only thing I could do was to advise them. If they were going to deal with their problems, they had to do it themselves. It wasn't my position to interfere.
"Very well." I coughed as I grabbed another stack of papers to read. " The placement of the… "
As I was the heir of Friedlich AG, I was going to go to the event to represent the company and show off our latest knickknacks. There was a stereotype that the company would always exhibit weapons or something else that could be used as one.
Unfortunately, the company hasn't done much to stop that stereotype considering what were going to show off. I think our reputations as gun nuts and weapon-freaks were going to worsen.
At least I had managed to convince daddy dearest and the board to join in the food concessionaires. Friedlich Foods was going to be a hit and I knew it.
All I had to do was to ensure that nothing untoward would happen and everyone would go home happy.
"Ruby. No."
A cry of indignation escaped from a young girls lips. "But Daaad! You promised! You said that if I got good grades, I could visit the Vytal Expo with Yang and Uncle Qrow next week!"
Tai Yang smiled sweetly at his youngest daughter. "I did promise you that but Qrow's not here yet. I'm not going to let you and Yang go around Vale without anyone to watch over you."
With the Red Fang going around causing trouble, Tai Yang had been paranoid to the bone about the safety of his daughters. One could never be too sure about those red totting maniacs.
The blonde man let out an 'oof!' as he felt a strong hand slap his back.
"Don't worry dad! I'll take care of Ruby." cheered Yang, a confident smile on her face.
"Yang. The last time I let you watch over your sister, you left her alone and burnt down a club." frowned Tai Yang.
"That was one time!" protested Yang. "And besides, the guys there asked for it!"
The blonde man harrumphed. "Even if you could watch over Ruby, I am still not letting the two of you leave. Why do you two even want to go there anyway?"
"Weapons!" yelled Ruby, stars in her eyes. Tai Yang sighed. Of course it had to be weapons.
"And you Yang?"
The blonde girl coughed. "I may or may not want to see new upgrades for Bumblebee."
Tai Yang grumbled.
"Still! The two of you are not going. Qrow hasn't shown up for one we-"
The door of their house creaked open as a familiar figure strode inside.
"Who wants to go to Vale!?" Qrow Branwen loudly announced.
"Uncle Qrow!" excitedly yelled his girls as they rushed to give the man a hug.
Tai Yang face palmed.
"Damn it Qrow!"
A/N: A couple more updates then we'll go on the main show. When I wrote this, I honestly thought that the first few parts were just going to be a couple updates then firepower bonanza. Oh well, my bad.
As a purely hypothetical question, do you think Alex should be in a ship or should he stay a single beaver? If yes, who should he be shipped with and why?
Chapter 27
The Vytal Business Summit or the Vytal Business Exposition was the ultimate gathering of the corporations of the Four Kingdoms to talk shop and share pleasantries. The Summit had similar aims like its more exciting counterpart which was to unite the Kingdoms albeit done differently. While the Vytal Festival united people in one desire to see super-powered teenagers beating the crap of one another, the Business summit looked to unite people via business.
The first Summit was mildly successful in that regard as it was organized like an actual business summit and was dreadfully boring. The organizers quickly learned however and planned to organize future summits like a festival instead. That meant food stalls, show rooms and a chance to show off their latest products, and other crowd attracting knickknacks.
And by different companies, everything from steel to books.
While I was indeed the company's representative, the Summit proper was going to be attended by the actual CEO's of the different companies. They were the ones on the top of the pecking order and they were the ones who were going to decide on how things were going to go forward.
For the poor sods like Weiss and I, it was going to be our jobs as heirs of our respective companies to be the public face for the plebians to gawk at as well as be the ones to organize our presentations.
The other heirs went first, showcasing their neat little knickknacks to the crowd with various degrees of applause. The way the showcasing went was from who donated the least to the most amount if lien for the event. The second to the last presenter was Friedlich AG and after that, the SDC. While sweet Mother Willow wasn't a poppycock like her husband, she was still a Schnee. And Schnees were rather infamous for their pride as well as not letting anyone have the last word.
My clothing for the day was going to reflect my family's colors. For most of my life, I had worn silver and white as a nod to the company's flag which was a veritable copy of the Prussian flag except it did not have the scepter, orb, and crown of the Prussian one. Instead, it had free talons and had a F on its breast. I was at first disappointed that it wasn't there but I later learned from our family's biographers that we did have those baubles on our flag but we lost the right to carry it after the Great War ended and when the nobility was abolished.
Alongside that, we lost our right to use the nobiliary particle of 'von' in our name.
But those facts were best left for later. Right now, I had a sale to make.
I did not pay any attention towards the crowds that eyed my move. I had done presentations in front of crowds a lot of times already and in my previous life, I was a middling Thespian. Stage-fright had no sway on me. The only thing I was afraid of was of the Schnee siblings teasing me if I didn't do my job well. Winter was mostly the one that liked to tease a lot whilst Weiss was more reserved. But once she got started, there was no stopping the endless wisecracks.
Speaking of Weiss, she was in her own little corner in the audience surrounded by people wearing SDC colors. She looked like the pampered little Princess she was down from her posture to the little tiara she wore on her head. Our eyes met briefly and she flashed me a smug smile. That little smile of hers sent me a little bit on edge as it looked like she knew something that I didn't.
I momentarily glanced back to the corner where my company was assigned to see Winter also sporting the same smug look.
Ok you two. I thought you had an argument and a grudge match for years. Why am I seeing a sudden a sudden show of solidarity? Are the two of you just uniting because you want to see my company taken down a notch or something?
"In these turbulent times, personal defense has reached a whole new level of importance." I began, my steps echoing throughout the stage. I ran my eyes at the contraptions that were placed on stage beforehand.
"And we, Friedlich AG, are happy to provide the means to defend self and family." I then added as I took out a remote from my pockets and pressed. Like that, the contraptions came to life.
The first contraption was a tripod machine encased in a white shell with a singular eye in the middle. When I had activated it, the eye emitted a red glow. The shell then opened horizontally, revealing two barrels. The machine made a low hum as it came to life.
The second contraption was an orb with three eyes and two appendages. In the middle of the appendages was a submachine gun that oozed deadly precision and a bad day. It hovered slightly above the stage floor, its three eyes glowing yellow instead of the first one's red.
The last contraption was a van sized turret with a massive minigun. When I had activated it, it then shifted into a humanoid body albeit its right arm sported a 10 milimeter submachinegun. Its 'shoulders' also opened as well, revealing missile pods.
I smiled as cameras began to flash at their reveal.
During the development of the three machines, the caveats that we had in mind were defensive, civilian and Vale. It was then that I came to the conclusion that Portal, Fallout, and Overwatch had those caveats in mind. All it took was to design them Remnant-style and put in some improvements.
The Sentry Guns from Portal would be excellent for home defense. Their neat and small frames could fit into any part of the house and give intruders a 5.7X28 millimeter welcome. The only reason why the Sentry Guns from Portal were crap was because the firing mechanism inside the damn thing was a spring mechanism that fired the entire bloody bullet. Fortunately for Remnant, I was not Cave Johnson and my company was not facing bankruptcy.
"The SG-107, SG an abbreviation for Sentry Gun, is fully capable of firing 900 5.7X28 millimeter rounds per minute. It can also be upgraded however you wish and also has different other models that will soon be available for purchase in our company website." I explained as I drew closer towards it and gave a gentle path on its head.
" Hello!" it chirped, drawing a loud 'Oooh' from the crowd. I paused for a brief moment as I thought I heard one 'Oooo' that was significantly squeakier than the rest. I shook it off, thinking that it was just some kid that probably was addicted to cookies or something.
"As you can also see, it is quite intelligent. Its intelligence is quite limited though so don't expect a polite conversation from it." I said flatly, earning some chuckles from the audience. I gave the Sentry Gun one last head pat before moving to the next machine.
As I drew nearer towards it, the robots eyes turned towards me and flashed in recognition.
" Commanding Officer on Deck, present arms!" It loudly yelled, earning a round of applause from the audience. I grinned.
The Mr. Gutsy robots from Fallout were entertaining pieces of work and pieces that I quite liked despite their gung-ho attitude and propensity to shoot communist infiltrators. The environment that I envisioned for the Mr.Gutsy Models were patrol duty for cities as well as villages. The fact that they're robots meant that they could work both night and day with the added bonus of quick fire support.
Dust powered Mr.Gutsy models were quick and maneuverable, a perfect robot to have supporting you in tight spaces or similar environments. While the SG-107's were stationary weapons, the Mr.Gutsy models were a more mobile version. My Gutsy models could also be upgraded from its standard weaponry as well to pack a bigger punch. It made no sense to me to keep it the way it was.
I gave the Mr.Gutsy copy a salute before turning towards the audience and explained its capabilities, earning nods and polite clapping. I saw no reason to change its names and the thought of Ruby and her future team encountering them was hilarious.
Finally, I came to my final presentation.
The Bastion models from Overwatch was going to be a nightmare to fight. During its Turret Mode, the minigun it wielded would slice people and Grimm like a hot knife through butter.
As for improvements, the Bastion models were perfectly good enough. The only changes to it was its dust powered core as well as some missile pods.
These babies were going to be killers. And judging from the looks from the people watching, they knew it too.
Eventually, my presentation went through and I was greeted by smug-looking Weiss, arms crossed and a smirk on her face. While I did not see her, I could also sense that Winter was watching the two of us.
"So, how did I do?" I greeted her.
"Adequate." she replied, ice-blue eyes flashing. "I'll be sure not too humiliate you too hard."
I scoffed at her remark.
"Go ahead. I'll be sure to present you with a plate of comfort cake. You'll need it after your presentation." I shot back. She rolled her eyes at me as she walked past me. As she did, I called out to her.
"You look beautiful in that dress by the way! It would be nice to see you dress like that more!" She stopped in her tracks but did not turn to face me. My eyes spotted her knuckles tightening before she stormed off.
I chuckled all the way back to my seat. There, I found Winter at the chair next to mine. An unreadable expression was on her face as I came closer towards her.
"Why must you tease my younger sister like that, Alex?" she sighed softly. My lips curled into a grin.
"Because it is fun." I replied with a sing-song voice. "Besides, you also do it."
Winter huffed, her arms crossing. I gave a hearty laugh as I sat next to her and gave her a pat on the head. It was quite a sight. Me, a younger man, giving the much older woman a head-pat.
And that showed, for as soon as I did so, Winter's cheeks soon turned pink. I pulled back moments later, victory etched on my face. The older woman noticed it too and grumbled.
"You'll be wiping that infuriating smirk on your face soon, you infuriating man."
I scoffed once more. "And why's that?"
She pointed towards the stage. I turned to see Weiss standing there in her resplendent white dress. I then noticed two large metal boxes behind her, the Schnee snowflake emblazoned on them. I also realized that Weiss had already started talking minutes ago and was listing off what their product was capable of.
" … she and her line of sisters can perform numerous household duties and other basic tasks. But their main role is to be a protector and defender. Fitted with an advanced combat chip, she can easily protect your home and family from those that would dare harm it!"
My eyes narrowed at the triumphant look she wore.
" … introducing the latest in combat android technology, the ARTEMESIA!"
With a flick of her fingers, the box split open to reveal two near-human like figures clad in a light-blue dress and white armor, the Schnee snowflake emblazoned on chest-plate. On their faces, a white masque over pale skin.
The two androids took a minute to register the crowd before taking two steps forward and giving the audience light curtsy.
"Artemesia, ready to serve." they intoned, their voices smooth and pleasant.
Who. What. When. How. And Why.
That's not fair.
That's not fair!
Bloody Schnees and their bloody androids!
A/N: So while Alex here is off presenting boring turrets, the SDC was secretly developing android waifus behind his back. I shall give points to the person that spots the reference.
The Artemesia is based off the one in Persona. It's not going to feature the crazy abilities of a Persona though. The only thing that it will get from Persona is the body. It's other abilities are going to be more in the style of RWBY. In other news, think of them as near-human robot maids that are also adept in making your life a challenge.
ARTEMESIA!
[img: data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7]
Chapter 28
Weiss's smirk spoke volumes of how inordinately pleased she was.
"Try and beat that, Mr.Friedlich." she taunted, her arms on her hips. In response, I smiled at her. This was not a defeat. Merely a minor setback.
"It could have been much more impressive. But one has to say nice things in order to protect the other's feelings." I replied candidly. Weiss scoffed at my magnanimity as she walked past me.
"If you would excuse me. I have plebeians to attend to. You and I shall dine later, Mr.Friedlich."
I raised my eyebrow at that.
"Do I get a choice in the matter?" I called out to her. She merely wagged a finger at me as she marched on. As I watched her retreating form, my mind was in a crescendo.
How the bloody hell did the SDC create combat androids? And with based out of a bloody Persona no less? Unless there was another poor bastard inserted into this crapsack world like me, I could see no other way that they'd get the Persona design!
Weiss better have some good answers for me later on or I swear I'll flip a table.
I glanced at the crowds that had formed circles around the two Artemesias, gawking and taking pictures all the while. I shook my head at that. They were fools who couldn't appreciate a good working weapon that could fill the baddies would bullets and more. Bloody simpletons!
Was it so hard to ask for someone with a similar mind to mine?
"Um… excuse me!" a familiar voice squeaked behind me.
I froze.
No way.
No bloody way.
I slowly turned around, forcing a smile to my face. Sure enough, I found myself staring into the wide silver eyes of one Ruby Rose.
Guten Tag, Ruby Rose.
"Can I help you, Miss…?" I drawled, playing the stranger card. Her eyes widened as she realized that she hadn't introduced herself. Coughing awkwardly, she put a smile to her face.
"I-I'm Ruby! Ruby Rose! P-Pleased to meet you!" she squeaked as she offered her hand out for a handshake.
I accepted it.
"Alexander Friedlich." I replied. I was momentarily put off as I noticed the starry expression on Ruby's face.
Okay?
"Can I help you, Ms. Rose?" I repeated myself. That brought Ruby out of her dreamy state. She shook herself off of her stupor yet the stars in her eyes remained.
"I just want to say that I think your weapons are way cooler than whatever the others produce and that I am your number one fan!" she declared grandly, her red cape billowing as she made her declaration.
I blinked at that. Did she just call herself as my Adoring Fan? When the hell did that happen?
Oh wait. Weapon nerd. Considering who I was, it was most likely that she had heard of me and my work.
'Just roll with it, Alex. It ain't gonna hurt nobody.' My consciousness whispered.
"I… I see." I coughed into my gloved hand. "I was not aware that I had a following."
I was under the impression that I had kept my social profile as quiet as possible. With Ruby declaring herself as my number one fan, it seems I was wrong. That fact may or may not have boosted my ego.
Ruby then had a strange look about her. That I had noticed.
"I think it's mostly just me…" she admitted shyly, her fingers intertwining. "There not that much people in Signal that appreciates weapons as much as me."
At that, my ego was defenestrated and beaten to a bloody pulp. Thanks Ruby. You are a stellar human being.
Noticing my downcast look, she waved her arms about, her eyes shining. "N-not that it's a bad thing! I'm like, a super-fan and super-fans are worth way more than normal fans!" she argued. I briefly considered if this Ruby's line of reasoning was norm-
No wait. This is Ruby fucking Rose. Our weird is her normal.
"Signal? Isn't it that Huntsman Preparatory School?" I questioned, diverting the awkward topic away. Ruby's eyes widened in surprise
"You've heard of Signal?" she asked excitedly.
Oh shit. How do I explain this?
"Well, yes. I've met some Hunstmen who said that they had studied at a school named Signal. That is before they attended Beacon." I lied smoothly.
For a moment, we stood there silent and unmoving. Ruby twiddled with her fingers.
"So… I've got this thing…" she started shyly.
Is she…?
Her hands reached for her back. My eyes widened in surprise. Was she going to get me to sign Crescent Rose or something? Excitement bubbled in my as she brought out… a little scarlet notebook that looked good enough to be a small girl's diary.
My smile strained on itself as Ruby held it out towards me, body slightly bowing.
"Couldipleasehaveyourautograph!?" she spoke in quick succession, oblivious to the disappointment on my face. With a heavy heart, I took her notebook and my pen I kept on hand and signed it. I returned it to the girl who bubbled with excitement and energy.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she bubbled, a big smile on her little face.
"Anytime, Miss Rose." I replied. Ruby bade me farewell as she turned and ran, leaving me alone to stew in disappointment.
Ruby. You haven't reached adulthood yet and you are already breaking the hearts of men.
Well. She was lucky that she was an adorable little munchkin. Her bubbly attitude had at least negated the stark feeling of disappointment I was feeling.
"Alex-dono. Do you want me to follow her?" a familiar voice said from behind me. I sighed as I turned to see Blake with a serious look on her face.
"For the last time, it is just Alex. And no, don't follow her. She just wanted my signature." I said neutrally. There was no need to think too much into it. It was then a thought came to me.
"Oh and Blake, where were you? I thought you were supposed to be my bodyguard." I said with narrow eyes.
Blake blinked.
"I was reconnoitring the stadium." she answered, her eyes looking into mine. I glanced at her ears then back at her.
"I see." I deadpanned. "Was the stadium so big that you lost yourself in it?"
"Yes." Her ears twitched.
"Did the stadium happen to be located in a particular area that had tons of interesting places?" I challenged. The catgirl kept her face neutral yet her ear twitched rapidly.
"It was."
I sighed.
Maybe I should start paying her in books instead of money. The author and I were of the same mind after all.
Ruby couldn't believe it. She fan gotten an autograph from a Friedlich. An autograph. Not only that, he also spoke with her and she did not stutter around like an idiot.
As far as Ruby was concerned, she had won the jackpot.
The Friedlichs were legendary for their weapons. Their armaments, while aesthetically dull, were Grimm killers. From their smallest product to their largest turret, Friedlich Arms ensured that Grimm died by the hundreds.
And look awesome while doing so.
Asides from comics and baking, Ruby could, in her humble opinion, count herself as a enthusiast of sorts. People often told her that she had taken her enthusiasm too far and also told her to slow down a little. All Ruby could do was to listen and forgive them for their refusal to see her genius.
One day, she was going to make them listen to her. She will make them see the wonder that was Ruby Rose!
"Jeez Rubes. What's got you so excited?" Yang asked with a grin. Ruby faced her sister and squealed out her answer.
"I got an autograph!" she yelled excitedly.
Yang briefly wondered on who here was interesting enough to warrant Ruby's attention. She thought of comic book authors but her younger sister had been bouncing up and down at her other favorite subject. Lilac eyes widened in surprise. Mischief then filled Yang as she grinned at Ruby.
"Let me guess, the Ice Prince from earlier gave you his autograph?" There was no other person here that Yang could guess to be the focus of Ruby's excitement. The girl loved weapons as much as she loved cookies and comics.
Judging from Ruby's energetic nods, she had guessed correctly.
Yang's grin grew wider. Oh, she was going to have fun with this.
"So, was he hotter in person?" she asked teasingly. Ruby went as crimson as her cape and cried indignantly at her sister's teasing. Yang snickered as she let out a free arm to ruffle her sister's hair.
"What was he like then?" questioned the blonde. Ruby calmed down slightly, glad that her sister had finally asked her a normal question. And people said the she was weird one!
"He was polite and really easy to talk to. Alexander didn't act all hoighty toighty like and listened to what I had to say." replied Ruby, a smile coming to her face as she talked about the man. The mischief that Yang momentarily put aside for her sister's benefit returned in full force as soon as she heard what Ruby had flat out confessed.
"Ooh. First name basis already? You work fast Ruby!" she teased. Ruby turned a whole new shade of red.
"Yang!" she whined.
Yang's laughter echoed throughout the day.
A fair distance away from the stadium, a man sat alone inside a rundown motel. His eyes were plastered towards the television inside his room. Broad-casted were live images from inside the stadium showcasing the different baubles on display.
He growled when the camera then panned towards a booth decorated with a white snowflake. Unconsciously, his hand reached out to grasp his weapon.
It was a dagger that had a hilt and cross-guard that was as dark as night and a blade that seemed to glow with light. He licked his lips in anticipation.
For what the SDC had done to his family, he was going to go and return the favour.
His primary target was guarded well and wouldn't be easy pickings. But that was fine to him for his objective was to cause as much pain and confusion as possible.
If he couldn't get to her…
Then her daughter and heir would have to make do.
A/N: Blake's a perv, Yang's a tease and what's this? Trouble brewing in the horizon?
Ohohohohohohohohoho ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡)
Chapter 29
The first day of the summit went well relatively well. No one had died and everyone went home satisfied.
Speaking of satisfaction, the Company had been bombarded with calls yesterday inquiring about the Sentry Bots and the Mr. Gutsy's. While it was too soon to say that the models were going to be a commercial success, the economic weather seemed good enough for it to set sail smoothly.
But while others bothered themselves with the baubles being displayed, I refocused my attention towards the heart of the event which was the actual Summit.
The first thing that was being discussed by Remnant's richest and powerful was the Red Fang and the new growing ideology called Dissolutionism. And very much like the old Gilded Age industrialists of Earth, they had no idea how to deal with them.
The Mistrali corporations advocated for their demise and it was pretty easy to see why they wanted it. Mistral was heavily divided by Class and the Dissolutionist message of equality and the destruction of the upper classes attracted a lot of disillusioned recruits. It was also no surprise that the Red Fang was strong in the Eastern continent. Heck, there were even rumors that whole settlements not directly controlled by the Council of Mistral had been taken over by the Red Fang. If it was true then a possible Mistrali Civil War was in the works.
Not that it mattered to my father's company anyway, we'd probably just end up selling weapons to both sides of the hypothetical conflict.
The Atlesian corporations, namely my father's company and the SDC, preached restraint instead of force. It was argued that the best way in discrediting the Red Fang and the dissolutionist movement was to give them exactly what they want such as better working conditions, higher wages, and all other necessary elements to ensure Worker's rights. It was clear to everyone why the SDC spearheaded that idea. The SDC had a tarnished record when it came to workers rights so it was not a surprise that they wanted to change that image.
For Vale, the corporations from the Kingdom played both sides although they leaned slightly more on Atlas's side. They had done so as a slight nod at the economic and political bond the two Kingdoms shared and mostly because they were uncomfortable at the heavy handed language Mistral was speaking.
Vacuo's only corporation was politely listened to but shoved aside. It wasn't as if their message had any weight to it or anything. Their Kingdom was a piece of crap that even the Red Fang wouldn't touch.
In all honesty, the discussions was a shitshow. The SDC wanted to improve its image. The Mistrali Corporations wanted to protect themselves.
For the sake of time, the discussion was halted and moved to be opened for discussion for the second day of the three-day Summit.
That day had arrived and the Red Fang was still in everyone's minds. The Mistralis kept up their murderific attitude whilst the Atlesian corporations still kept on insisting for the Velvet Glove.
But that was not my problem. That was my parents problem. My problem as of the moment was to ensure our operations during the event ran smoothly and I was going to dedicate myself to that.
I had ran booths in conventions during my previous life so I was pretty much well aware of the pain it brought. Except in my previous life, I didn't handle guns, explosives, and food at the same time. It was frustrating and challenging work. I had to ensure that the Sentry Guns were working neatly. I had to monitor the Mr Gutsy's and keep them from insulting people and I constantly worried that the Bastion model we had would accidentally crush a small child.
Not only that, I had also had to worry about any potential Red Fang attack at the stadium. The group had been surprisingly mum for the past few weeks. The little notebook that I had retrieved from Blake made no mention of any plans to attack the Summit which worried me even more.
"Alex. Is something wrong?"
My eyes darted towards the source of the voice and noted the worried expression on her face. I forced a smile to my face as Winter's eyes narrowed.
"I'm fine, Winter. Just worried about the days events." I lied.
Unfortunately for me, Winter read through me.
"I have known you ever since you were a boy, Alexander Friedlich. I will know it when you are lying." Winter sniped. "So tell me, what is wrong?"
I sighed. I knew that lying to Winter was a terrible idea. She was a Specialist for goodness sakes. Not only that, she and Weiss also knew me since childhood and the two sisters were rather perceptive. I lifted the demitasse cup in front of me to my lips and took a quick sip before speaking.
"I'm just worried about any Red Fang attacks at the stadium. I swear, this is the perfect environment for an attack to take place." I admitted. Winter's eyes flashed in understanding. She leaned back on her chair, her legs folded over one another.
"I understand your paranoia but I think you are being overtly paranoid." speculated Winter. A curios brow raised itself as I regarded the woman seated across me. What brought her to that conclusion?
"Really? Enlighten me then, Miss Schnee." I said bemusedly. Winter frowned for a minute then spoke.
"I have fought the Red Fang before, Alex. I have also studied their movements, ideals, and motivations. And based from my experiences fighting the group, I don't really think attacking this Summit would be of great benefit for them. It isn't in their modus operandi." reasoned Winter. I frowned at that.
"And why would they not attack? Remnant's richest is just a conference room away. One little attack and they are all dead. Isn't that what they want?" I pointed out. Winter shook her head.
"This stadium is also filled with civilians. Not just any civilians mind you but children and students." countered the Specialist, ice blue eyes set at me. "The movement's source of strength is their ability to project themselves as Freedom fighters up in arms against the rich and powerful. That is how they are able to attract recruits despite their… brutality."
She visibly winced, most likely recalling a bad memory before continuing her explanation. "If they attack this stadium, they run the risk of involving many civilian lives and subvert the messianic image they try to project. You may claim to be a freedom fighter but if you involve civilians in your attacks then you are nothing more but Grimm in human or faunus form."
"And that bit about modus operandi?" I asked.
"So far, the Red Fang have carried out kidnappings, raids against warehouses, assassinations, distribution of illegal weapons, and sabotage. They have never performed high-profile attacks in the way you are imagining." theorized Winter, her pale visage focused as she speculated. "To do so would be highly uncharacteristic of the group and would mean two things."
She held up two fingers, the two going down as she explained. "A, the group has had a change in leadership and has therefore radicalized or B, it is a cell going rogue and id acting against the directives of the parent organization."
As she finished, I could not help but be impressed. Her line of reasoning made sense. The Red Fang followed a pattern and had strictly kept to that pattern. They haven't bombed public places… yet.
Adam had allowed himself to be consumed by the Red Fang's revolutionary message and knowing the sick fuck, he'd take his merry delivery truck and put the damn thing to full throttle.
As long as that red-haired, mask-wearing, sword-totting, two-faced, and two horned creep drew breath, I will treat the Red Fang nothing more but as a volcano ready to erupt. But unlike the majestic mountains that nature had formed, these volcanoes could be removed.
"Excellent line of reasoning, Miss Schnee. Truly, you deserve the Specialist title that you wear." I complimented her. Winter scoffed at my praise but I could not help but notice the way she puffed out her chest in pride.
"It was a trifling observation, nothing more. In fact, even a small child could have discovered it. I am aghast that you haven't seen it yourself, Alexander." smirked Winter. What's this? Insulting me after I had complimented her? Two can play it at that game Winter!
"Apologies, Miss Schnee. I wasn't able to see it because I saw something else that had distracted me." I said slowly, baiting her to rise to my question.
"And that is?" she challenged, I smirked as I slowly raised my finger and pointed it at her.
" You."
For a moment, Winter sat unmoving in her seat. Then, slowly but surely, her cheeks started to redden and redden. I laughed mightily as the great Winter Schnee turned into a complete blushing mess. I earned some irate glares from the patrons but I paid them no mind. Who knew bullying the Schnee sisters was so much fun?
"One of these days, I will end you." Winter gritted out as she glared at me.
I smiled cheekily as her as I took a sip from my expresso cup.
"To return to our subject matter…" coughed Winter, the woman doing her damnedest to recompose herself. "If the Red Fang are going to attack, they will do so with their usual flair." Feeling magnanimous, I allowed the change in subject.
"So either kidnapping or assassination." I surmised. "But the question here is who?"
Winter crossed her hands once more. "if they are going to target someone, it will definitely be someone high profile."
"But not just any high-profile target." I chimed in. "That target must belong to a company that is even above the upper class. Someone extremely valuable that the victim's family would do anything for their safety." Winter nodded.
"That target must also be a relatively well-known public figure. By doing that, they can increase the pressure on the family to do what is needed to ensure the victim's well-being."
Our eyes met briefly. But we didn't need to speak in order to understand what was both in our minds.
"Blast it." I growled as I stood. "Why the hell were you assigned to me in the first place? She needs the protection, not me!" To my surprise, Winter hadn't stood up. I had expected that she would try and calm me down but she hadn't risen.
"Alexander. Sit down." she ordered firmly. I collapsed on my seat yet the tension remained in my body.
"This isn't just about my strained relationship with Weiss, Alex. Don't assume that. My sister and I may not see eye to eye on things anymore but that does not mean my love for her has changed." Winter said calmly. "You are next in line to inherit a weapons company that is embedded into Atlas's history and being. You have also been instrumental in the development of new technologies that will aid our Kingdom. In the eyes of my superiors, you are inherently valuable."
I growled at that assessment. Weiss was not something to be discarded at a whim damn it!
"Do not mistake me, Alex. If your lives were in danger, I would secure my sister's safety first and yours second. But if I was ordered to save you first then I will not hesitate." she said firmly. I was taken aback at the determination and steel that was in her voice. And judging by the fierce look she was giving, she was deathly serious about it.
My shoulders sagged. "This is terrible."
Winter laughed mirthlessly. "Terrible things happen all the time. The only course of action left to us as people is to rise at the challenge and overcome it. If we are weak, we train and become stronger."
"And if we fail?" I asked her.
Winter's face was neutral.
"Then we die gloriously or we die foolishly. Either way, we die all the same."
I sighed as I collapsed on my bed.
The entire event had taken the energy out of me and people, as always, was difficult to deal with. The Red Fang hadn't reared in their ugly heads and the event went smoothly. Heck, I even sighted Ruby walking around the event accompanied by Yang. She did not come and talk to me though neither did I try to do so. The two of us had our own affairs to attend to and the day didn't seem to lighten up.
Absentmindedly, I reached for my scroll to check what was on the news. I had been busy the entire day and I was anxious to find out what I had missed.
The first thing that was broad-casted was of a massive building on fire.
At first, I thought that it was just an establishment that was down on its luck. It was then that I realized that it was a five star Hotel in Vale's more affluent districts and that hotel was where…
The broadcast was interrupted as my scroll rang. I glanced at the caller and gulped. I took a deep breath as I accepted the call and held the scroll close to my ear.
"Auntie Willow? What is it"
There was a slight sniff in the background until a shaky voice replied.
" Alex… It's about… Weiss… "
My heart beat ten times faster as I dreaded her next words.
" She's been kidnapped." Willow choked out in the other line before she broke into tears.
But my brain did not stay conscious enough to listen to what she had to say for as soon as I heard those three words, I saw nothing else but red.
To whoever did this thing….
You just signed your own fucking death warrant!
A/N: Uh-oh. Looks like someone did a little oopsie. The question is, who did the little oopsie?
Chapter 30
Willow was inconsolable. It was perfectly understandable as she had her daughter taken from her. My parents were doing their best to try and console her but the woman was just crying her eyes out. But for me?
I just felt like taking the quote "Don't get mad, get even" seriously and I was going to practice that quote on those hapless fucks that took Weiss.
For the moment, I had managed to keep my temper in check. Going around and bitching about the kidnapping would only make me feel even worse.
My parents had Willow come over to our apartment to keep her company as well as to increase her security. Daddy dearest dialed up his connections in the Vale Police Department and informed them about the kidnapping. A couple of hours later, a floor in our apartment was transformed into a Police Command Room of sorts complete with terminals, computers and all other knickknacks.
Mother requested that the entire thing be kept a secret. The police and other people in the know had agreed to her request mostly because mother had threatened them all with death if they said a word. Her line of reasoning was simple. It was still Summit week it was highly vital that people do no freak out over the kidnapping. The Summit was already discussing some controversial things and they didn't need another black stain to ruin everything for everyone.
As for the kidnapping itself?
A Valean detective with burnt orange hair and indigo eyes took Winter, Blake, and I with him to a private room and to explain how it had happened.
"The kidnappers had purposefully set the hotel on fire in order to cause a panic." the man explained. "While the hotel staff and security were preoccupied with evacuating guests, it would seem the kidnappers took the opportunity to nab Miss Schnee. Footage from the hotel cameras and eyewitness testimony have all shown that they were able to spirit her away by disguising her as a burn victim and used an ambulance to spirit her away."
Winter had been..frosty to say the least. I had never seen so much ice on the woman before. It was pretty to say that she was incredibly pissed as well. Blake was angry as well though not because Weiss was kidnapped but because she had decided that the kidnappers were the Red Fang. In her mind, no other person could have done it.
"How were they even to nab her anyway?" I interrupted the explanation. "Weiss isn't a slouch when it comes to combat and she has her aura unlocked. I doubt she'd let herself be taken away like that so easily."
Blake chimed in. "Aura does not immediately make you invulnerable, Alex. There are still some things Huntsmen are vulnerable to." My eyes darted towards her. Had she finally decided to drop that damn honorific on me?
"She's right." Winter sighed, a hand massaging her temples. "I had once participated a raid into a drug den. The shooting had ruptured bags containing powdered opiates and I accidentally inhaled some. After that mission, I swore to keep a mask on every time we did another raid."
That little tidbit of information confirmed something for me. Huntsmen may be walking tanks but they were still people. With that in mind, I suddenly felt more confident in my pen-grenades.
"Do we have any confirmation on the identity on the kidnappers?" Winter asked as she turned towards the detective. She frowned when he shook her head.
"At this moment, no. But our primary suspect as of the moment is the Red Fang." Blake tensed when the orange-haired detective finished speaking. I gave her a quick reassuring pat on her shoulder before turning to face the detective.
"Either way. Those bastards are going to have hell to pay." I growled. Taking Weiss from me? I will break their fucking legs and leave them out in the wilds as Grimm food!
"Calm yourself, Alex." said Winter, her frown still present. "Nothing can be done if we let our anger overtake our judgment." I turned to glare at Winter, my anger rising at her lecturing at me but I stopped before it could get any worse. She was right. I had to keep my shit together.
For Weiss's sake.
"Has there been any ransom note?" Blake asked, her ears twitching. The detective shook his head once more.
"We haven't gotten anything yet. We didn't find anything at the hotel nor was there anything sent to the Station." He bowed slightly at us. "On behalf of Vale PD, we apologize we couldn't do more."
I sighed as I went forward and gave a pat on the man's shoulder.
"It's alright. You are all already doing your best to find those bastards. It would only be unreasonable of us to ask more of you all. Keep up the good work, detective."
Something flashed in the man's eyes as he requested permission to rejoin the investigation. I granted it and he walked out of the room. I turned to face Winter and Blake who both had pondering looks on their faces.
"Well?" I asked. Blake's lips curled into a frown.
"Something here doesn't make sense. Why haven't the Red Fang broadcasted this to the public? This is a dream come true situation for them." Winter shook her head.
"Then they must have an ulterior motive if they aren't broadcasting my sister like a piece of meat for the public to see. What do you think the Red Fang would want?" asked Winter. before I could answer her, Blake beat me to it.
"She is a high-value hostage so the Red Fang would most likely demand the release of certain Red Fang leaders captured. They would also most likely milk this as much as they can and demand weapons, lien, and other matériel for them to use." she speculated.
"You seem to know a lot about the Red Fang." Winter said slowly as her eyes narrowed. Blake and I suddenly went very still.
"I just thought as if I was one of them." argued Blake. She gulped when a blade was suddenly pointed at her throat. My eyes went wide as saucers as Winter glared at Blake with an intensity that I had never seen before.
"Oh really? Did you think as one of them? Or did you think so because you used to be with them? Don't act so innocent, Belle. I know what you are." snarled Winter as she pushed forward and backed Blake up until her back had hit the wall.
"What the hell are you doing?" I hissed. She glared at me then back to Blake who looked as white as a sheet.
"My Specialist title is not just for show, Alexander. I knew something was wrong about your little assistant ever since I had met her. No one acts so nervous about a Specialist whom they never have met before." she said calmly but the ice behind her tone was anything but calm.
"Everyone gets nervous when they meet soldiers!" I reasoned out but Winter only shook her head.
"She recognized me before I even introduced myself. Specialists are trained to watch out for signs and she was afraid." Her grip on her saber tightened. "Give me a good reason why I should not hand you over to the Vale Police or better yet, arrest you myself."
"Do you want to start a war!?" I growled as I stepped in front of Blake to shield her from Winter. The woman stared at me as if I grew a second head, confused as to why I would shield Blake. I turned to Blake, my eyes asking permission to reveal her secret.
She nodded.
"What do you mean start a war? Speak sense, Alexander!" she demanded.
"She is no ordinary Red Fang member." I gritted out. "She is Blake Belladonna, daughter of Ghira Belladonna." Her eyes widened in recognition.
"The Chief of Menagerie?" she gasped in shock. I nodded.
"And heiress to the Chiefdom of Menagerie." I said with levity. Winter took a step back, disbelief in her eyes.
"I almost started a war…" she whispered. I turned to face Blake and found the catgirl frowning.
"Blake?" I called her attention. She looked away. I sighed as I moved away from the two.
"Look. We must not let this tear us apart. Weiss won't be rescued if we go at each other's throats. We need to work together or she will die. Can we just please focus on that matter at hand then return to this after she is rescued!?" I barked out, my frustration seeping out of my voice.
The two women said nothing but nodded. As I moved to say more, the door suddenly opened. It was the detective from earlier.
"We have a scroll call from the people that claim to be Weiss's kidnapper. We have them on video call right now."
We moved out of the room before anyone could say 'go'.
There were only a very few moments where Weiss could truly say that she was afraid. Now was one of them.
First off, she could recall settling inside her room preparing to sleep when she heard a knock at her door. She opened it to find one of the hotel's workers with a plate of cake in his hand. She remembered the man calling the cake as a 'compliment' of the hotel and offered it to her. Figuring that a plate of cake would do no harm before bed, she accepted it and ate it.
It was a good cake but not on the same level as Alex's cakes. Not that she'd admit it to him, she would never hear the end of it.
The last thing she then remembered was of smoke filling her nostrils before passing out.
When she woke up, she was bounded by rope and was in a warehouse of some kind. There were also multiple figures surrounding her dressed in all manners of clothing but there was one article of clothing that united them all.
A red armband depicting a black wolf's head biting down on black chains.
Red Fang.
If she was any other person, she would have panicked then and there. But she was a Schnee. She was not going to show fear. What was that thing Alex told her again? ' Appear strong when you are weak and appear weak when you are strong?'
And so she did, swearing vengeance and death at her captors.
It had been a couple of minutes since she had woken up. Her captors had did their best to keep her company. They threw insults at her and spat on her. They did everything they could to break her. But she did not fall to that. She was Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the SDC and she would not break.
"You show spine for someone in chains."
She turned to glare at the source of the voice and growled. The man chuckled as he drew closer, a hand over his weapon.
"Do you miss your family, Schnee? Would you like to speak to them?" Weiss said nothing and continued to glare at the man. She hoped that she was convincing in her look of defiance for her heart was pumping desperately and she was well and truly afraid for her life. The man snorted as he made a gesture with his fingers. A Red Fang member appeared, a scroll in his hand and pointed it directly at her.
It was in video mode, flooding relief into Weiss as she saw the worried and relived looks of friends and family. Most importantly for her, Alex and Winter.
"Weiss!" Willow cried as she stood from her seat. Relief flooded Alexander as he saw Weiss. Asides from potential mental damage and looking slightly tousled, his best friend was still whole and untouched.
"As you can seem, Madam Schnee, your daughter is relatively unharmed." filtered a harsh male voice through the speakers. Alexander's eyes darted towards a figure coming into view. It was a man who looked rather youthful. He had brown hair and dark brown eyes. Alex released a breath he didn't know that he was holding. Seeing that they weren't dealing with the OP two-faced creep Adam, it meant that a rescue operation was going to be relatively easier.
"What do you want?' started the orange haired detective that had been their go to person since the start of the kidnapping. Alexander felt slightly off as he hadn't asked the man's name. Once the call was over, he'd be sure to get his acquaintance.
" Straight to the point hm? Very well." Alexander growled at his amused tone. " The Red Fang demands the release of 40 political prisoners that the Atlesian Specialist, Winter Schnee, has captured during her operations. The Red Fang also demands 27 million Lien as ransom for the return of Weiss Schnee. If you doubt our sincerity and do not deliver our demands within four hours… "
Shocked cries and gasps broke out as Weiss's dress was stained red.
Alexander felt his world plummet as Weiss released a pained scream. When he heard it and saw the stain on Weiss, he nearly lost control. But a firm hand on his shoulder directed his attention towards Winter who was sporting the same bloodthirsty look as him yet looked as unmovable as ice.
"Not now. Later." she hissed. Alexander took a deep breath and exhaled to release the tension in him. As he did so, the man's voice filtered once more through the speakers.
" … then we shall carve out your daughter like a Halloween pumpkin and reveal your most dangerous secret to the masses. How is your husband by the way?"
Alexander had heard enough.
"I've had enough of this!" Eyes turned towards him as he strode forward into view. The man on the other end looked at him amusedly.
"What's this? The Friedlich heir? Are you going to beg me for your friend's life?" He mocked. To the surprise of many, Alexander smiled.
"You know, I was going to ask you what sort of casket you wanted for your funeral. But when you harmed your hostage, you lost that chance. There will be no casket. When this is all over, I promise you that I will personally break your legs and feed you to a pack of Grimm." Alexander's tone was chip and happy as if he were greeting and old friend. At that, he turned from the screen and walked off.
His ears perked at the sound of footsteps and he turned to see Winter and Blake trailing him.
"Where are you going, Alexander?" Winter demanded.
"I'm going to hike up a mountain to pick an Edelweiss." he replied. Winter frowned.
"You don't even know where to start." Blake pointed out.
"I am lucky then that I have a bird's eye view." he said with a grin. The women blinked at him twice. They later smiled as they soon realized what he had meant.
Don't worry Snow White. Rescue shall come.
And it shall come in fire!
A/N: Many thanks to Comrade Krasnogvardiech at SB in betaing this chapter. He's proven to be rather eagle-eyed in my mistakes.
Now, a few more tumbles along the road then we are on the main event! When that times comes, Remnant shall burn in the fires of a newer war, a massive war, a war so grand that it shall even make the Gods themselves tremble!
Chapter 31
Margery tried to stifle a yawn but failed as it escaped her. It must have been contagious as another sentry followed suite. The two looked at each other, theirs eyes briefly shining in understanding until they turned away.
It had been an hour since they had last called the SDC bitch for a ransom. She smiled briefly, remembering the heiress's screams as their leader cut her up like the spoiled pig she was.
Margery was born into poverty and knew nothing other than pain and hardship. She grew up in Mistral, subsisting in thrown food and wearing tattered clothing while Mistral's 'finest' strutted around in expensive clothing and gorging on good food and wine.
She hated seeing that. What made them deserving of such luxuries? What had they done to have those? She thought of ways of getting back at the those pigs but every time she did so, she was caught and beaten black and blue by the forces that were supposed to protect the people.
Well, that definition clearly needed revising as it only meant the rich and powerful.
She had lost all hope of getting her due and was on the edge of accepting her shite existence until the Red Fang came in like damn bloody heroes and offered her a chance of getting back at those pigs.
She took it and reveled in it. The Red Fang spouted things like equality and wealth distribution but Margery wasn't interested in that. All she ever wanted was for the pigs of high society to feel the same pain she felt in her youth and damn it she was going to make them feel it hard.
Sometimes, it was exhilarating. Most of the times, it was downright boring.
Like what the were doing right now.
First off, who the flying fuck would enter through the rooftop? Doors were invented for a fucking reason. She turned once more to her partner and let out her thoughts.
"Hey Jax."
The man turned towards her and grunted.
"Why do you think we're here?" she asked him. The man grunted and turned his attention from her. Margery rolled her eyes. Fine then. All she wanted was just to fucking talk.
Her last thoughts were of insults to be thrown at her partner but they were cut short arms wrapped around her neck from behind and in one swift move, was snapped.
Jax too was facing a similar predicament as his partner except his death was long and agonizingly painful for a kunai was thrown straight into his throat. He fell on the rooftop, his hands grasping at the knife until he eventually died choking on his blood.
The figure on the warehouse rooftop then turned to face at a neighboring rooftop were dozens of shadows waited silently.
"The rooftop is clear." Winter declared, lowering the binoculars she held to her eyes. Alexander nodded and pressed a button in his scroll. A minute later, five Artemesias and four Mr. Gutsy's came into view. The Combat Androids curtsied in unison while the Mr.Gutsy's gave a salute with one of their 'arms'
"Artemesias. Assist Winter in taking out the trash. Mr. Gutsy units, follow me. We are taking the scenic route."
The cracking of whips and the sounds of guns cocking echoed in the night.
"… they will melt your bones in a vat of industrial acid you piece of-"
The Red Fang leader ignored the Schnee girl's insults as he laid a paper bag on a nearby table. He opened it and methodically laid out its contents. All the while, the Red Fang's hostage kept up her insults. He had the girl moved from the lower warehouse to the upper floor foreman's office for security reasons. While they moved her, the girl kicked and screamed like no tomorrow.
"… I will personally freeze you into a glacier and toss you off the coast of Atlas, you vile and sick cun-"
He blocked out her rants and unwrapped his dinner. He licked his lips as the inviting smell of pan-fried sourdough bread stuffed with tender roasted beef with caramelized onion and black-pepper sauce filled his nostrils. He bit into the sandwich happily, sighing blissfully as his tongue basked in the tender beef mixing with the sauce.
"… Eating while in a situation like this? You and your ilk truly have no shame! Of course, what can be expected from a pack of delusional fools!"
Amusement flickered in him as he checked his wristwatch and confirmed that the Schnee girl had indeed been ranting for the past thirty minutes non-stop. After she had gotten through screaming and moaning in pain, she started the exploded in a fiery rant, insulting anything and anyone that happened to pass by her.
"… What are you staring at you ingrate?" hissed Weiss as she struggled at her bonds.
"Are you aware that you have ranted for thirty minutes straight without stopping?" asked the Red Fang terrorist.
Weiss glared at him. "And so what? Are you perhaps jealous?" To her fury, the man nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and continued eating the beef sandwich in his hands as if this was another day at the office for him.
How could he act so casual after cutting her up like that? He deserved nothing but death for what he did. She was scarred! An abominable wound had marred her perfect face! Alex would… he would…
He would never see her the same way again.
Weiss had long since had refused to cry again but the thought of her best friend seeing her as damaged was too much. She allowed herself to be captured and drugged. She was weak. She would never measure up to him. He would never praise her again.
"I will kill you." swore Weiss, her eyes glaring at the man. The Red Fang terrorist barked a harsh laugh that caught Weiss off guard.
"I know you do, Schnee. I knew what was going to happen to me as soon as I signed up with the Red Fang." he revealed as he laid aside his sandwich and propped another chair closer to her.
"Would you like to know why I joined the Red Fang?" asked the man. Weiss hissed at him. He merely rolled his eyes at her display of defiance.
"I'll tell you anyway." said the man as he leaned back on his chair. "I joined the Red Fang because of your mother."
Weiss blinked. She did not expect to hear that. Noting the confused and unprepared look on her face, the man continued.
"You see, when your mother took over the SDC. My father lost a very important job and because of that loss, he was also disgraced." he explained. Her eyes widened slightly then narrowed.
"If he lost that job then he deserved it! He was probably too incompetent to hold on to it." she said with a sneer. A part of her wondered what sort of work his father did to have such a dramatic fall but did not want the man to get the satisfaction. But her eyes betrayed her thoughts and the man saw through her.
"He was the SDC's Chief Operating Manager." growled the man. "Removed from his position because he was unfortunate enough stand with your father and not your mother. Do you know what happened when he was removed?"
Weiss was too shocked to respond so the man continued. "I found him hanging by his belt around his neck from the ceiling. My mother, in her madness and grief, joined him three weeks later in a Mistrali motel we rented. And because of my family name, not one place helped me out. I was left alone to fend for myself." he hissed. "I was lucky a Red Fang recruiter found me and took me under his wing otherwise I would have been dead. I don't care if they want to burn Remnant down to the ground. As long as I have a chance to get back at your bitch of a mother for what she had done to my family, I will happily sacrifice anything, even my life."
Weiss said nothing as the man visibly shook from pent up anger. He then forced himself to calm down and took a deep breath. As he released it, he smiled.
"He told me one interesting thing before he killed himself. The day after your mother removed him. Would you like to know what it is? It's about the supposed faunus assassin that tried to kill your father."
At this point, Weiss's attention was spiked. She knew that her father wasn't exactly the best of people. She had fully read through the list of crimes that was committed in his name and she had begun to distance herself from him. But she was still curious on who might have tried to kill him. Once she finally knew, it might perhaps be the final key to calm her soul.
The man smirked.
"There was no faunus assassin. The one who tried to kill your father was…"
Weiss held her breath.
"Your moth-"
He was abruptly cut off as the skylight windows broke, filling the room with dust and debris. When the dust had settled and she could make out who had broken through, relief filled her.
"Alex!" she joyously called out his name. But then, she remembered the wound on her face. In shame, she looked away from his gaze.
Alexander Friedlich scanned the room and smiled when he saw Weiss. His stomach fluttered slightly as he noticed the relief on her face though when he saw the scarring on her eye and of her looking away shamefully from him as if she were deformed, the anger in him burned two fold and overcame whatever good feeling he had. His attention turned towards the Red Fang leader who had been knocked down onto the ground in surprise.
Outside, he could hear gunshots and the screams of the dying. His grip on Joyeuse tightened as he adopted a combat stance. His Mr. Gutsy models followed after him through the breach he made and hovered to form a firing line at his flanks.
"So… about those legs of yours…"
A/N: Once again beta'ed by Herr Krasnogvardiech at SpaceBattles. He has been of great help in keeping these fics dusted and neat!
I am shaking in excitement as the main event draws closer. Let us wish our Alex-boyo luck because after this little road-bump, the kiddie gloves are coming off.
Chapter 32
With a flick of my finger, the Mr. Gutsys opened fire.
Bullets arced forward and landed but the Red Fang leader had gotten to his feet and had ran out the room, the Deus Ex Machina dagger in his hands. The hovering robots did not need any more orders from me to pursue them and had followed suit, firing into the hallways and eliciting screams. Said hallway must have been full of Red Fang, caught unawares as they rallied back from whatever defensive positions they tacked together.
I dearly wanted to make him bleed right now, but at the end of things getting his head was just a secondary objective.
I turned my attention towards Weiss, her face was still turning away from me. Did she think that just because she got scarred, my opinion of her would change?
"Weiss?" I called out to her.
"Don't look at me." she mumbled. I rolled my eyes as I moved to cut her binds.
"As much as I would like to chat about how terrible life is, I need to get you out of here." With a quick slash from Joyeuse, she was free. "Now let's get yo-"
"No." she interrupted. I blinked at her.
"What?"
She turned to face me, her eyes burning with fury. "I want his name and I want his head." she growled.
I frowned at that.
"You do realize that there are hundreds of terrorists standing outside this room, armed to the teeth and highly motivated to kill people. You don't have a weapon right now, you are sporting an injury and your mother is worried sick about you. I am not about to let you have a go at someone after you were just abducted." I pointed out. Her eyes glanced down at Joyeuse then back to me.
"Then give me a weapon. I'm willing to fight and I'll even pay you back, I need it now and there's nobody better for it. Isn't that your whole raison d'etre?" she said coldly.
As I moved to argue, I paused to think.
Between the two of us, Weiss was really the superior combatant. While I can say that I could hold my own in a fight, I can't really dominate one. I still had yet to discover my semblance and to cover my shortcomings, supplemented myself with extra armaments like my dust gloves and grenade-pens.
Weiss was fully capable of bringing that Red Fang bastard down and I knew it. Still, I could not accept that she go out and get payback. Not after what had happened hours ago.
"Sorry Weiss but I can't let you go out there. I- We nearly lost you to those bastards. We don't want to lose you again." Weiss paused as she scanned me up and down with those ice-blue eyes of hers. She sighed in exhaustion.
"I cannot just stand by in the side-lines while everyone else is doing their part. That is not me, Alex. I can never accept that." she whispered, her eyes looking at me. I winced as I saw the scar on her left eye.
"Give me a weapon, please." she pleaded, her eyes shining in the light.
Honor and pride demanded Weiss to take action and to my horror, my gut was telling me to let her do it. And holy shit, I was really going to let her do it.
"Weiss Schnee. You are extremely lucky that I hold you in high regard." I grumbled as I held out Joyeuse towards her. She blinked then smirked as she took my weapon from my hands.
"Hmph. It would seem that my devious plan to separate you from your weapon seems to have worked after all. I expected more resistance from you, Alex." I smiled cheekily.
"Oh Weiss. I could never resist you."
She turned red as a tomato, muttering dork or some such nonsense under her breath.
As we moved to leave, I realized something.
Did she just use puppy-eyes on me?
"Shoot! Don't give up now! For the Revo-urk!"
The Red Fang terrorist crumpled down towards the ground before he could finish his sentence. Winter turned to stare at his men and saw the fear in their eyes. A sneer came upon her face as she lifted her saber and moved to attack.
The warehouse was her stage and she was its dancer. The Red Fang fools that stood before her with their weapons were going to be her unfortunate targets. She moved fast before they could react, quickly dispatching the nearby terrorists with her saber. Her senses alerted her to a terrorist charging at her from behind with a hammer and she turned to deflect his attack. Summoning a black glyph, she halted his attack before it even touched her. As she moved to end his life, he was pulled back by a silver-steel whip that had coiled around his legs. He screamed in terror as he was pulled back by a Artemesia unit who then dispatched him with a blade that was built-into its arms.
Wordlessly, the Artemesia unit turned to another target just as she was about to compliment it for a job well done.
Winter couldn't help but smile at the thought that she was just about to compliment a robot of all things. Putting her thoughts aside, she once more charged into the fray.
There was a reason why she had been given the unofficial title of Ice Queen, her appearance and demeanor aside. When she planned her operations, they were fast, efficient, methodical, and brutal. She crafted them to be as shock inducing as possible and to give the operators the aura of coldness and indifference. That meant no frills, no spontaneous actions and no lolly-gagging. The time wasted on pointless conversation could be better used on dispatching the enemy.
The Artemesia units that the company was producing were the perfect units for her line of work. Their appearance was human enough as to not scare people off yet it was also menacing enough to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy. Their white masques certainly added to their look.
"It's the Ice Queen! Shoot her!" shrieked a voice.
"What about the robots?" asked another, fearfully.
"Just fucking shoot!" the voice once again yelled. Winter rolled her eyes. There was a reason why she wanted her team to know plans beforehand as to not alert their enemies on what they were going to do. If they were just going to announce their plans like that then there was no point in secrecy.
She summoned a glyph that propelled her forward and in one clean slice, cut off the man's head. Disgust filled her as the metallic smell of blood filled her nostrils. Even she was exposed to it more than once during her operations, she could never get used to the smell of blood.
As she turned to finish off the remaining terrorists in the nearby, her instincts screamed at her to…
She turned and cast a black glyph and nearly buckled at the force sent her way.
She glanced down to see a white and black dagger being held back by her glyph. She looked up and saw the man that held it. From behind, she could see the Mr.Gutsy machines Alex had brought following after him, their weapons at the ready. She momentarily considered in pulling back as the hovering robots looked ready to fire their weapons but the machines held back and instead hovered to better positions.
Winter then pushed the Red Fang cell leader away from her and readied herself for an attack.
"Damn you all!" he growled as he tightened his grip on his dagger, his face red with rage. Winter said nothing, her face a cool mask. She took a quick glance around to see the Artemesias tidying up whatever remained of the cell. In the distance, she could hear the screams of police sirens heading their way. With the amount of noise they were making, it was only natural that someone would have dialed the police department.
She tightened her grip on her weapon and glared at the man. "You are under arrest, filth. Surrender now."
"I'll die before I'll give up to you, Schnee!" he roared.
"That can be arranged." a familiar and feminine voice declared. The two paused to stare at the source of the voice.
On the catwalks stood her sister, Weiss Schnee, Joyeuse in her hands and a sneer present on her scarred face. Weiss turned to look at her and smiled.
"Dear sister. Would you perhaps join me in apprehending this worm? He has laid his hands on me and insulted our family."
Winter smirked.
"Of course sister. I'll even let you have the first honors."
At that, the two Schnee siblings lunged at him.
A/N: Looks like Alex won't be the one to someone's legs though. Oh well, at least Weiss gets some payback.
Edited once more with Krasnogvardiech. He's a good lad.
Chapter 33
The fight was finished as fast at it happened.
Weiss summoned a glyph that propelled her forward and delivered a kick to the man's back that sent him flying towards Winter who caught him with a Black Glyph. Once caught, she pointed him towards the sky and sent him flying. Afterwards, the two went on their merry way of thrashing him about as much as they pleased. As much as I wanted to join in the fun, I had other things to worry about. Namely, the remaining terrorists that were about to outflank the Gutsies. And of course, the McGuffin dagger that was the bastard gods' oh-so-kind gift.
The sisters made a joke out of the unfortunate son of a bitch who comprised what the Red Fang managed to muster in place of leadership, and I strolled over to retrieve the dagger that fell out of his hands after Weiss dropkicked him.
I had nearly forgotten about that bit and of me being the 'champion' of the gods and all. The reemergence of that dagger reminded me that I had a duty to do.
While I agree wholeheartedly that the messy divorce of Ozma and Salem needed to be dealt with permanently, I was going to do it my way and not in the way the bastard gods of Remnant intended for me.
I'm sure as hell not a main character, here. I know it to my bones; I can't be the one to do it. The name of the show was RWBY for goodness sakes and not Alex or some other nonsense. That meant the main character was going to be the one to deliver the final blow against the main antagonist which was Salem. I mean, Ruby has her silver-eyes and crap so it would also be reasonable that she would be the one to wield the McGuffin dagger for maximum main character abuse.
I was not going to risk life and limb to try and give Sallie and Ozzie the Julius Caesar treatment.
The question now was how to give her the dagger. Ruby's too smart, as far as I know, to take and trust a magical dagger out of nowhere. Despite my profession, I am not the Santa Claus of weapons.
Perhaps I could melt the damn thing and coat Crescent Rose's blade with it, angle it as an upgrade to make her abomination of a weapon extra powerful or something. The God of Light did say that the metal was specifically made by them to get past Ozma and Salem's whole immortality shtick like a cheap Deus Ex Machina.
Well, that settles it. Next time I see Rubes, I'm offering her an upgrade. I'll say I'm aiming to push the bounds of what weapons can do by making them as killy as possible.
That route meant that I was mostly likely going to Beacon or staying around Beacon which also meant being in close proximity around Ozzie himself.
To hell with it, If I could deal with the God of Light, I sure as hell could deal with a coffee addicted headmaster.
I suppose there could be plenty of logical reasons for me to be there. First off, ensuring Ruby gets her premium metal upgrade. Secondly, being on the front lines greatly helps in staving off Cinder's Kinder egg surprise during the Vytal Festival, and Thirdly, I could angle it as a public relations campaign. Atlas wanted to deepen its ties with Vale (mostly for their food) and Vale wanted to deepen its ties with Atlas (mostly for our army). What better way to deepen ties than letting the heir of a rich Atlesian conglomerate study at a Valean institute for Hunters?
A loud crash brought me out of thoughts. I glanced at its source and found a Red Fang terrorist being thrown against a wall by an Artemesia. As the man tried to scramble to his feet, the android took out its wrist-mounted blade and unceremoniously shoved through the man's throat. He threw himself aside at the last second and the blade just nicked his coronary artery as opposed to going through his spinal chord.
Seeing this, the Artemesia adjusted its grip and raised, eliciting pained and choked screams. He tried to free himself, his hands desperately clawing at the Artemesia but the android did not budge. There was a good two minutes until the man finally expired, gurgling on his blood.
With him dead, the android walked off to hunt for more Red Fang.
I blinked at the needlessly cruel display and at the broken corpse of what was once a living human being, his eyes forever locked in terror.
That was rather unnecessary. And worse, it wasted time - anyone coming in with a swipe from its back would have been able to floor the thing. I knew that Winter wanted to be seen as a cold killer by her enemies but surely there were better ways to shock and awe people. I mean, damn!
I shuddered to think on how those androids would be used if someone like Cinder, or worse, got their hands on them.
What did Weiss say about their programming again?
" The androids are programmed with an advanced combat matrix recorded from numerous huntsmen we had hired. While it does make them proficient… killers, they can't be expected to do such things as we have also programmed them with an ethics matrix meaning they cannot retaliate unless they see an illegal act per to the Kingdom's laws." she boasted during a private dinner we shared days ago. She also told me that their Artemesia models were much more advanced androids that the SDC was fielding in their mines. Seeing that the anroids they were using for mining was a excellent model, why not develop one for combat maid duties?
I should also not forget to mention that the dinner was paid for by dear Aunt Willow with an accompanying band paid for by my parents.
While I was not one to assume, I was pretty sure she wanted something to happen out of that. Well, unless my parents tell me about it happening, I was not going to come to wild conclusions.
I wasn't a dense idiot. A union of our families would be supremely beneficial and I was keenly aware that Weiss wasn't giving me the doe eyes for giggles… these days.
Hell, if I asked for it, my parents would allow me to go to Beacon for the sole purpose of being extra close to Weiss and was banking on our new found freedoms to develop something.
Not only that, Winter seemed to be giving me the same set of eyes as well. I caught her looking at me multiple times when she thought I was distracted and her eyes weren't exactly subtle in what they wanted.
If that route happened, I would not only get a link to the Schnee family but also tighten my families links to the Atlesian military. Winter was a damn legend in the military and getting her with me would cement me as One Of Us in the eyes of the guys that use my product.
Thinking about it, no matter who I chose, someone in the end was going to get disappointed. I better check Remnant's marriage laws and see if polygamy was a thing. But if I'm setting a limit, it would be at two and I would ensure effective and strict family planning. I was not going to court disaster by doing a harem. History shows that having one is a terrible, terrible idea. A great example of this would be the Qing who were fucked over because of the Dowager Empress Ci Xi, a concubine who rose to prominence.
My thoughts were put aside as I was once again interrupted by a loud crash that kicked up a fog of dust. Once the fog had settled, I could see the two sisters huffing and puffing over the heavily battered and bruised body of the Red Fang leader. Upon closer scrutiny, the man was still breathing though most likely knocked out cold.
Tsk. Aura was bloody magic and a cheat code. Why can't people just be squishy again and make this fighting business easier?
Leaving my post, I strode towards the breathless women.
"Exce… Excellent work sister. I see you have improved massively." heaved Winter as she cast a glance at Weiss who smiled at her compliment.
"Th… Thank you, sister. I shall… strive to better myself more." puffed Weiss as she strode towards the man and laid her right boot on his chest.
Winter and Weiss were deathly tired. They had poured their rage, frustrations and anger at the man. While it had done wonders for their stress, it left them rather exhausted. Not mentioning that the moon was at its highest and the call to sleep was at its loudest.
"Excellent work you two." said aloud a male voice. Paired eyes of powdered snow turned and caught a rising star of arms heading towards them pleased and proud.
"What a gentleman. Letting the women do the work while he sits in the corner and watches." sniped Winter. Weiss nodded.
"A true gentleman indeed." Alexander had a cross look about him.
"In my defense, Weiss took my only weapon. What was I supposed to do? Throw my boots at him?" The women snorted as they turned to regard the now unconscious form that lay battered on the ground.
"What should we with him, sister?" Weiss asked. Winter returned her saber to its sheath, her eyes scanning the Red Fang leader.
"He'll… he will face a trial, in a court of law, in adherence to due process. If he cannot afford legal representation, it will be provided to him." Winter said, voice clearing and regaining strength as she strode towards Weiss, a smile slowly dotting her face.
"I am glad that you are safe, Weiss." The girl glanced down at the ground.
"I am sorry, Winter." the girl mumbled under her breath. Winter blinked then stared at her in amusement. "What is this about?"
Weiss sighed as she met her sisters gaze. "I am sorry for calling you that… word many years ago. I was… angry and… confused. I didn't know what I was thinking and in that state, I called you something you weren't. Please, forgive me."
Winter's expression softened and the smile on her face faltered for a brief moment. "If anyone should apologize Weiss, it should be me. I shouldn't have belittled your feelings like that. It was immature of me as your eldest sister. I would beg for your forgiveness as well, if you would permit me."
Weiss smiled. "I forgive you, sister." Winter smiled once more.
"And I forgive you, Weiss."
At that, the two siblings laid down their grudge and gave each other a fierce, sisterly hug. Alexander watched at the sidelines and smiled at the spectacle. He was later joined by Blake who eyed the two siblings curiously.
"What is going on, Alex?" asked the catgirl. Alexander smiled.
"Something magical." replied Alexander, his eyes darting to her. "And how are things on your end?"
"All necessary information has been accounted for. They weren't exactly subtle in hiding their information. I've already cataloged the necessary intel and have sent it to your computer." Alex nodded as he glanced at a nearby Red Fang flag that stood on a pole.
"And the stragglers?" Blake blinked.
"Bound and awaiting arrest. Vale's Police Department have the facilities to handle them."
She blushed as Alex gave the girl a headpat.
"Good job Blake. I don't know what I'd do without you." complimented Alexander with a smile. Blake did her best not to beam at his praise and headpat. She was a proud ninja damn it! But the warmth of his touch and the smooth leather gloves he wore was too much for her and thus, she melted into his headpat.
To her disappointment, Alexander pulled back from his patting and had walked over towards the Schnee siblings, his hands folded behind his back.
"Now that this sad event is over, could we perhaps go home now and sleep? I'm deathly tired from all this cloak-and-dagger fiasco." he loudly complained.
At the mention of sleep, it fully dawned onto Weiss on how tired she was. Perhaps sleep was a good idea…
Weiss fainted on the spot but Alexander had wrapped his arm around the girl before she could fall. He turned towards Winter, a pleading look on his face.
"Winter? A little help?" he begged.
Winter took a few steps towards him, smiled at him, and promptly fainted as well. Alexander yelped as he used his other free hand to catch Winter before she could fall. With the two fast asleep in his arms, one slightly heavier than the other, Alexander glanced at the moon and sighed.
"Blake. Please call a transport. We need a a ride. A big one for these luggerheads."
"Yes, Alex- dono. Your will be done."
Alexander shook his head.
"Jesus, Lord in Heaven, give me strength." he muttered.
A/N: Edited again with Krasnogvardiech. He is doing this fic a service.
Anyway, there ends the Vytal Business summit. After this one, some cute, gay, and heartwarming fluffy shit will happen, possibly an introduction of new weapons or two then finally, the main event.
Fasten yer seatbelts boys and girls. It's going to be a bumpy ride.
Chapter 34
The following day, rumors and hearsay began to spread despite Vale PD's best efforts to keep things hush-hush.
Between the hotel's plume of smoke turning the clear evening to haze, the fire trucks flanked by police cruisers and ambulances rushing through the streets, and the noise of a pitched engagement at the warehouse, this was just too big to conceal from the public eye. With public interest growing, it was imperative that an official story be drafted and done quickly.
And so, it was decided to reveal that an attempted kidnapping was done on a HVI but the matter was quickly dealt with by the police. While the statement from law enforcement soothed the general populace, probably helped along by the speed and scale of the civilian agencies' response, a few people still dug deeper to try to find out the real details. Mostly journalists and truthseekers.
Mom and Dad were on that problem, though, and not in the kind of way I could do much to help. With how much they brought to bear here I'd just get underfoot.
But returning briefly to last night's fiasco, the Red Fang who surrendered were turned over to Vale PD who arrived at the crime scene. Aunt Willow was beaming with joy and relief when Weiss was returned to her and fawned over her like a mother hen, much to Weiss's embarrassment.
My parents were less than pleased with me though as I had left the apartment without telling anyone. They were amazed I didn't break down and lose my cool in a truly hostile engagement, and it was my first at that. They were happy I was safe and proud I succeeded in retrieving Weiss, despite that, they were still angry. They grounded me and revoked certain privileges of mine, to be returned when they seemed fit.
But I did not care.
Weiss was safe now and that was all that mattered.
I sighed in bliss as I brought a cup of tsokolate to my lips. tsokolate was a traditional Filipino hot chocolate drink, known for its thickness and ability to both warm you up and energize you. The drink was prepared by dissolving pure ground roasted cocoa beans in water and milk, to be briskly mixed by a wooden spoon called a molinillo.
Winter, Weiss, Blake, and I were deathly tired from our nightly excursion and we would have wanted nothing more than to sleep for so long it would measured in dog years but unfortunately, there was still the last day of the Business Summit to attend to. Weiss had an excuse to stay as she was rather shaken at being kidnapped and thus, stayed nice, warm, and tucked on a bed in my family's apartment. I had spent two extra hours awake preparing cakes for her as a gift.
There was no way in hell I was going to let her stay cooped up in her room unfed. My grandmama back home on Earth did not raise a scoundrel.
Luckily for me, there was not much to do on the last day on the Summit. What knickknacks needed to be done were met on the previous days and the corporations were finalizing out their talks.
And so, I kept myself to the splendor and glory of my concessionarium which stood next to other smaller, inferior concessionaires. I stayed there mostly to sit around in our cafe tables and enjoy the last day in peace and quiet.
Our food booth's specialization was sweets, namely Filipino Ice cream, cookies, cakes, pastries, and anything else I could remember from the world I left behind. My manager had complained to me about a little girl wearing gothic clothing that had nearly eaten the booth out of its stock of cookies. I told him not to worry about it as that particular customer had paid good lien for it.
I wonder who that customer might be…
Anyway, I was busying myself to a plate of yema cake with a cup of tsokolate. Winter on the other hand was busying herself to a bowl of crushed ice, evaporated milk and a mixture of sweetened beans, coconut milk, sweetened gelatin, fruit slices, flan, and a scoop of ice cream topped with a honeywafer.
As a job well done, I had treated Winter to a bowl of halo-halo, a dessert from my homeland. It was a veritable taste from the Orient and some fine comfort food. A worthy treat for a woman of her caliber.
I was also going to give Blake the same treatment but the catgirl had vanished when we arrived at the stadium. More than likely 'scouting' the stadium for potential terrorists.
I returned my cup to the table and leaned back into my chair. I turned my head to Winter and smiled at how she meticulously ate her ice treat with a long silver spoon. There was an etiquette in eating halo-halo; one must not eat it ingredient by ingredient. To do so was improper and borderline heresy.
The proper way to do eat it was to take your utensil, crush the ingredients and mix them around. One properly mixed, you could now dig in.
The honeywafer was gone and the bowl was losing its contents at a steady pace. A few minutes later, the bowl was empty and Winter leaned back on her chair, satisfaction on her face.
"How was it?" I asked, curiosity etched in my voice.
"Satisfactory." she replied as she brought a napkin to her lips. I rolled my eyes at her assessment. Ever since childhood, I knew that the Schnee siblings had a veritable sweet-tooth. Little Whitley liked flan and cookies while the two sisters enjoyed cakes, pastries and ice cream.
And halo-halo, once properly mixed, was nothing but sweet.
I hummed as I turned my attention first towards the patrons that busied themselves to the 'exotic' treats my food concessionaire served to the crowds that passed us by. My mind wandered as I watched on.
The Red Fang were proving to be highly troublesome and annoying. I had taken a quick glance at the intel that Blake had photographed and sure enough, the order to get at Weiss came none other than Adam Taurus himself. But what was strange was that the order directed the assassination of Weiss as soon as they had a bead on her, not kidnap for ransom. Further prowling revealed that the Red Fang leader's had recorded his impressions of Adam and from his recordings, it was clear to see that he hated Adam., calling him a psycho and other colorful titles.
That was a rather interesting fact to discover, once again highlighting the movement's biggest weakness. Surely, gathering the damaged and the lost of Remnant together is going to be mixing one spectacular powderkeg. And when that powderkeg explodes, there will be chaos.
The raid had also yielded interesting results such as locations, future plans, and most importantly, names. Once this information was going to be passed, the group was going to find itself on the back-foot afterwards.
One matter still remained though…
"The spiel you gave Weiss last night. Was it true? Is the cell leader going to be given to Vale?" I questioned as I turned my attention towards Winter. She stiffened at my question but relaxed after she took a deep breath.
"I had reported this incident to General Ironwood yesterday. He says that he will do what he can to extradite the prisoner to Atlas for interrogation." I frowned.
"Do you think Vale is going to give him up? This incident did happen on their soil and they would want nothing more than to throw that bastard in one of their prisons" I pointed out. Winter lifted one leg over another as she shifted on her seat, her eyes set on me.
"I would like to think that he would be extradited to us. We are quite possibly the only ones here on Remnant with the will and capability to go after his friends. I do not think it would be in Vale's best interests to allow their huntsmen to go after terrorists, they need them close at home more than ever. There has been an abnormal rise in Grimm attacks on outposts and villages ever since the Red Fang fired the first shots." answered Winter, her arms crossing below her chest. I nodded at her reply.
"Speaking about villages, I've heard about Mistrali villages being taken over by the Fang. Is there any truth to this statement?" I absentmindedly asked. Winter's pale visage was then marred by a frown, followed by a scowl. I blinked and quickly scanned the woman seated across of me.
"It would be in our best interests if we steer this conversation towards something else, Alexander." suggested Winter, not too subtly. I nodded, putting my thoughts and fears aside.
For now.
"Did General Ironwood say anything else?" I asked. Winter nodded.
"He did. After this summit is over, I am to report back to him. I believe that the general has surprise party to plan." I blinked at her strange usage of terms. Was Ironwood planning a surprise party for staff or something? Looking back at Winter and the expecting look she wore, I quickly understood what she meant.
"Ah. That is a shame. I was under the impression that you were going to be assigned to me for quite some time. Are you sure you can handle delivering the general's presents?" I asked, the silent question being 'Can you handle being deployed again?'.
Winter quickly caught on to my insinuation and sighed.
"When duty calls, we must answer." she said softly, a smile beginning to dot her face. "I will be fine, Alex. There is no need to worry."
"Weiss too was looking forward in making up for lost time. She will be very disappointed." I said slowly. Winter sighed once more.
"I know she will be disappointed but Weiss is a smart girl. She will understand." I leaned forward to take a quick sip of my drink but the cup came up empty. I gave a tsk in annoyance and placed it back on the table. I looked back up at Winter who was eyeing me in amusement, perhaps she was amused at the annoyed grimace I was wearing.
"Well, you know where Weiss and I are. If you are on leave, don't hesitate to visit us." I grunted. The white-haired woman nodded. "Of course." A contemplative look came upon her face, that look I caught.
"Something on your mind, Winter?" She smiled at me.
"I have one request to ask of you, if you don't mind." Curiosity filled me as I watched the woman shift in front of me.
"Well, as long as it is reasonable I suppose. What do you need?" Winter motioned me to lean closer and I did, curious on what she had in mind.
"Please take care of Weiss. Watch over her and protect her to the best of your ability. Would you do that for me Alex?" I stared at her in confusion. Where was this coming from?
"I won't make any promises but I'll do what I can to keep her safe." I said earnestly. Winter nodded, satisfied at my answer. That only made me suspicious. Was there something you aren't telling me Winter?
"What is it that you aren't telling me?" I crowed. Winter pulled back, her face glancing up towards a flag-pole. I followed her gaze and it led me to look at the Black and Blue banner of Mistral.
"I cannot tell you everything Alex. But I can tell you this." she whispered as she tore her gaze away from the banner, her eyes turning to me. The next words that came out of her mouth and the guarded look she wore sent a chill that ran through my spine.
"Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst."
A/N: Edited again with Krasnogvardiech.
Sometimes I wonder if this is a RWBY fic or an advertisement for Filipino cuisine.
Oh well. It was nice to have Winter tagging along even for a short while. Now, what could she mean by that?
Chapter 35
There was a dull thump as a body was thrown flat on the hardwood floor.
"I yield." I said flatly, my eyes boring into the ceiling above me. My vision was then blocked as a figure loomed over me. I blinked as a hand reached out towards me. I held my own out and accepted it. I was pulled up in an instant.
"You are improving, Alex." complimented mother, a smile at tugging her lips. I rolled my eyes as I dusted myself off.
"There is no need to sugar-coat it, mother. I can handle criticism." I grumbled. Mother scoffed.
Normal mothers and their sons would bond by shopping or doing other mundane things. My mother and I bonded in the dueling room in our house and as usually, she would wipe the floor with me.
Gone was her usual corporate garb. For dueling purposes, she was clad in her old huntsman armor which was full-plate armor with a green cloth over it, the Twin Axes of Vale proudly emblazoned and a green headband on her head. For her weapons, she held a ranseur spear which could mechashift to a rifle if she so wished and a tower shield to protect her.
It gave her a rather knightly look. Funnily enough, daddy dearest had told me that in her younger days, she was a veritable Knight of Vale down from personality to outlook. Strict, stiff, and deathly loyal to her chosen liege-lord. While time and father had mellowed her out, some things just couldn't be taken out of her.
"Your problem, Alex, is that you are too cautious." she informed me, her shield and spear momentarily set aside for her to explain. "While it is a boon to be cautious with your enemies, don't hold back too long or your foe will take advantage of you. I have never won my fights by being defensive all the time."
I frowned at her assessment. "My problem mother is that you are too heavily armored for me take down and you have a ridiculous stores of aura. I can fight well enough, you are just too difficult of an opponent to fight." Mother scoffed again, her gauntleted hands reaching for her shield and spear.
"Then fight smarter, not harder. Do not try and keep up against opponents who are stronger than you. They will outlast you and you will risk defeat or death. Now, en garde!" she roared as she charged. I yelped as rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding her spear. I jumped back and adopted a combat stance.
Our duels were not just moments where the two of us could talk good. It was also her way of testing me to see how much I had learned from my tutors. It wasn't my thing to disappoint my parents and I had learned well enough to hold my own in fights and even win a few on my own. But against higher tier enemies, I'd definitely be in serious trouble.
"What is your plan for the future, Alex?" she said aloud as she thrust her spear towards me. I rolled to the side, taking the opportunity to slash at her exposed rear.
"I was under the impression that my dear parents had something prepared for me. I would like to hear it first before I gave my own!" I loudly replied as I held aloft Joyeuse and fired a Fire Dust round at mother. The woman raised her shield and was engulfed in flame and smoke.
Others would have celebrated at this point, thinking that explosion would knock her out cold. But I had fought her long enough to know that a simple fire dust round wasn't enough to bring her down. Surely enough, the smoke settled down and revealed mother, her shield aloft and unscathed.
She relaxed for a moment, slamming the spear pole on the floor.
"You are correct. We do have a plan for you." confirmed mother, nodding slightly. I relaxed as well, returning Joyeuse to its sheath and waited for her to talk.
Mother wasted no time.
"You are to take charge of our Vale branch. The current branch manager is getting on his years and is due to retire within a few months. While your father has a prospective list of replacements, I had convinced him to allow you to take charge instead, provided you accept." mother said rather curtly.
"What are my duties? Can I still pursue my projects?" I asked. Mother hummed as she pondered my question.
"You are to ensure the continued purchases of our weapons and deepen our ties with the Kingdom of Vale. As for your projects, you may still continue them and even produce versions of them in Vale. You are also given a degree of autonomy but important decisions must be referred to your father. Do you accept?"
Well. That changes things. By holding a position like that, I would be in a much more better place to prepare for Cinder's Wild Ride as I could hold the manpower and resources of an entire branch. My future plans wouldn't be given a suspicious glance as it could easily be hand-waved as weapons development. The other benefits would include being close to Ozzy but far enough that he couldn't get his grubby fingers on me…
A smile formed on my face as I regarded my mother.
"Very well, mother. I'll take the job."
A pleased look appeared on mothers face. "Excellent. But before we go further in that, I would like to ask what was your plan? We could discuss that with your father."
I shook my head. "There is no need. It was a wild, silly and foolish plan."
"Alright then. En garde."
I blinked. Then panicked as mother accelerated forward, her spear aimed towards me.
"And so, I'm going to Vale within a couple months. Neat isn't it?" I said excitedly, basically retelling what my mother had told me hours ago.
" I see." replied a cool voice. I blinked at the tone Weiss was using on me. Was it me or did she sound… relieved?
"Is something wrong, Weiss?" I asked, adjusting my scroll so that I could better hear what she was going to say.
" Oh nothing." replied Weiss. " I was under the impression that you were going to stay here in Atlas. It seems I was wrong."
I raised my eye brow at that.
"Weiss, in your language, when you say nothing is wrong, there is something terribly wrong happening. Tell me what is bothering you and I'll try to help you as much as I can." I said neutrally as I reclined on my chair.
" When did you start to be so observant?" questioned the girl, her tone flippant and amused.
"Ever since you came into my life, Princess Weiss." I said teasingly. There was a brief pause in the line and I briefly worried that she had cut off the connection but my fears were unfounded as she gave a weary sigh.
" You really are a dolt, Alexander Friedlich."
I smiled, imagining her pale blushing visage in the other line. I etched my scroll closer to my mouth and whispered softly. "But I'm your dolt, Princess Weiss."
Weiss gave out a long embarrassed groan. I laughed jovially, visualizing her embarrassed face.
" You are insufferable." she complained.
"It is your fault that you make it so easy." I shot back. There was some grumbling in the other line that was too unintelligible for me to catch but it was most probably just another of Weiss's episodes of speaking her own language. I waited until she finished grumbling then said my piece.
"So, you were going to say something to me?"
There was brief pause in the line then she spoke up.
" I still intend to become a huntress first, an heiress second. Mother and Winter wished for me to go to Atlas Academy but I have chosen Beacon instead. I mean not to insult our own Academy and General Ironwood but Beacon is the premier Hunstman Academy on Remnant and I must attend nothing but the best." she droned.
I tapped my foot impatiently. "And?"
" Well, you never mentioned about wanting to become a huntsman and I just thought that… well… you were going to stay in Atlas and… "
Everything clicked. And once I realized it, it made me flutter in all the right places.
"Are you worried perhaps that we might not see each other?" I said teasingly.
" … yes." she said faintly.
I hummed a tune "Well. There's no need to worry, Weiss. I'll be in my company's office and you'll be in Beacon. Hell, I could even go and visit you. You can also see me whenever you want and I will always, always, make time for you. Do you understand me?"
" I understand perfectly well, Mr Friedlich." replied Weiss, returning to her old arrogant tone. " And I expect nothing else from you. I demand cakes and sweets to be prepared at all times, do you understand me?"
"Would you perhaps like a hug, a pat to the head, and a kiss as well?" I teased. There was a loud yell of frustration and of the phone line being cut. I glanced at my scroll and smiled.
Oh you little snowflake. You are such a magnet for teasing.
I laid my scroll aside and glanced down at the blueprints on my table. I traced a gloved finger over one and hummed.
Winter's crptic words had inspired in me a degree of paranoia and had urged me to return to the drawing table as soon as we returned to Atlas. As of the moment, it was only a matter of getting the newest designs to the factory floor.
No matter what comes our way be it Grimm, anarcho-communists, or something else, I shall not fear for I shall prepare a house-sized mass of fuck you.
A/N: Next destination: Giving Cindy and her minions a can of kick-ass.
Chapter 36
Theme for this chapter. Listen for maximum immersion:
For the last two months that I couldn't think of as much other than calm before the storm, I prepared and prepared and prepared some more for the events I hazily remembered the show's timeline portrayed through screen-time. Frankly speaking, the damage could be summed up as hell in a blander, wrapped in Fucked Up Beyond All Hope-rope and diluted with Go Gently Into Good Night tonic. I could only hope by the time the main events would be rolling, Cindy and her crew would find me and by extension locked, loaded and ready for a fight.
The first issue I addressed were the Bullheads that Remnant seemed to salivate on. While they were excellent in their roles as transport aircraft, it was insufficient and under-powered for my future plans not to mention its rather creative… design.
And so, I drafted up plans for the manufacture of a new transport VTOL. I envisioned a heavy-transport craft that could ferry troops and support vehicles to the battlefield in a jiffy. It would also have to be heavily armed so that it could function as a gunship and support the troops it landed. Luckily for me, I had the perfect bird in mind.
Retiring out the Bullhead - considered by Remnant aviators to be a tried, tested platform filling the role of an air support-capable dropship, and the best possible compromise between construction complexity and performance - was essentially ripping teeth out of a cross-Kingdom operation. People knew Bullheads, experimental ones are quite common because its performance characteristics and tolerances were nearly always handily explained before any article about modifications. Even non-engineers could pretty easily pick up what the Bullhead frame was capable of, because apparently every journalist was loaded with an 'Allow me to explain how you are wrong' attitude. Peer reviews by professionals weren't nearly as mentally special as tabloid writers.
Putting that issue aide, though, I'd barely glanced over schematics of the Bullheads that we were producing, one sunny day. That mess was frankly enough for me to get my calculator and get to work.
Simply put, the Bullhead didn't perform well enough outside its role as a light air transport. I foresee that with the MICA suit's advent, those fast troopers in order to be dropped exactly where they needed to be would need a craft with a lot longer legs, also quite a lot faster. That automatically made up-armoring a requirement - in my old world you could never armour a light aircraft enough that it mattered, but here with Dust in the mix there were quite a lot of options available to the guys working my refineries and smeltries.
The engines needed a complete redesign. I'm quite sure Father's got people who do nothing but argue over engine details, I'll show them this project and give design requirements in a bit. I finished laying out the most basic of a flying triangle of a guns-and-cabin section ahead, maneuverability thrusters to the sides and behind, a crew compartment behind them that could drop either bombs or MICA operators from a downward door… this doesn't fit the bill still, I'll need to go back to this later.
The D77-TC Pelican from Halo fit the bill to my criteria. Not only was it a effective transport sans gunship, it was a survivable aircraft and came from a setting where nearly everything was militarized. The Pelican didn't need further altering as it was a good enough design. The only changes that I had drilled into it was its dust-powered core, making it faster than its Halo counterpart.
While a gunship transport was good, a dedicated gunship was even better. And so, I had also drawn up two types of gunships, one light and the other, heavy.
The light gunship I envisioned to be operated around urban areas and its duty was to serve as quick fire support whenever needed. As for the heavy gunship, it was to be the support soldiers or hunstmen would call whenever they need nasties within 3 km blasted all the way to Kingdom Come.
For the lighter side of things, the GDI Orca fighter was best suited for light support missions. From my memories of Command and Conquer, it was a light, fast, and maneuverable CAS plane. My head was still hazy as to what it could exactly do but with a little tinkering, the RWBYfied Orca might do its namesake proud. The Orca I had redesigned featured a 40 mm chin-mounted auto-cannon, its controls linked to the pilots helmet. On the stub-wing pylons, there were two missile pods for unguided action and AGM anti-Grimm missiles.
The aircraft was also fitted with a special engine to make it buzz into hotspots as fast as possible. The ones who are calling for support might be putting their survival on support to arrive as fast as possible.
A satisfactory aircraft that could help huntsmen or soldiers stuck in the mud.
As for the heavier side of things, the HMP Droid Gunship from Star Wars came to mind. It was a slow and a less maneuverable craft, but what it lacked for in speed, it made up in sheer support value. For my RWBYfied HMP Gunship, it featured twin chain-guns, one 80 mm auto-cannon, and 18 missile pods for unguided fun. It could also carry a compliment of Atlesian Knights for additional infantry support and featured thicker armor plate and a energy shield.
The energy shield was rather unnecessary as the armor on the gunship was thick enough to resist blast damage but hey, I wanted it to ruin the day of those it was targeting and damn it, I want it to be hard to kill. This choice I will never regret.
I also kept it as a UAV. I found no reason to give it a pilot and programmed it with an advanced combat matrix linked directly to the Friedlich AG satellite network. No way in hell was I going to link my robots to the virus-trap that was the CCTNet.
As for why I chose the Orca and the HMP, I had chosen the Orca because I needed an aircraft that could support huntsmen, law enforcement or military in urban areas. Not only that, the support also needed to pack a decent enough punch as to properly kill whatever it was sent to shoot at. For the HMP, it was chosen as it was a heavily-armored Katyusha that could fly. Anyone dumb enough to stand in its way was going to have a real bad time and considering that we were going to fight off hordes of Grimm, a Katyusha seemed a good choice to saturate a parcel of land to smithereens.
As I had now satisfactory gunships and gunship-transports, I moved on to air superiority vehicles.
For that role, the FA38 from Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 would be suitable. It was capable of going supersonic and was also a VTOL, a satisfactory craft to be sure. I then designed it to carry two 30mm rotary cannons and hold missiles for aerial targets.
With the air sufficiently addressed, I had moved on to the groundpounders.
This was not Remnant's first attempt at making tanks with legs, but by our Father who art in Heaven, I mean to make a good go of it. To begin with, the armoured ground transport was just about obsolete with the MICA letting the average guy zip around the battlefield on microjets. All that's left is the guy with nothing but cloth and plate in the way of the Grimm - the man of the line.
I had always disliked seeing the common grunt being made to sit in the sidelines eating glue while the hunstmen stole all the glory and always wondered what they would be like if they were upgraded a bit. As the heir to the world's largest gunmaking compnay, I had that chance.
To make the common grunt stronger in the face of things like Grimm, anarcho-communists, and hunstmen, they had to given the right tools and I resolved to give them those tools.
I then designed an exoskeleton for the grunt's use. Taking inspiration from the exoskeletons from Call of Duty, the Type-21 Exoskeleton was born. Once worn, it would significantly increase the users strength, agility, and speed. The exoskleton would also allow for increased carry weight and lessen the strain on soldiers.
Now this thing wasn't just a wearable forklift, its multi-angle input design for its connector segments let its hydraulics combine large forces from multiple directions thanks to the bullshit Dust could do to metal, and my lab guys were quick to chuckle and throw in small pressure-blowout valves. To me, though, that meant infinitely variable torque was a possibility in the near future for vehicle transmissions.
All in all, the average guy could now leap from building to building, lift things way beyond what a normal human could carry, and be fast enough to keep up hunters.
To increase their lifespans, I had also designed an armor system for the grunts. Taking inspiration from Half-Life, I took the armor worn by the Atlesian soldeir and gave it a much needed power-boost. The Type-16 Powered Combat Vest was designed to make the normal grunt a more durable and effective soldier. It could withstand bullets from low-caliber weapons and resist high-caliber shots. It was capable of protecting the soldier from low-level to mid-level Grimm.
The headgear was also connected to the PCV and I took advantage of that fact. Instead of a helmet that covered the face save the mouth, the soldier would wear a facemask similar to what Starlord wore from the Guardians of the Galaxy. It would also function similarly as well, capable of being deployed at a moments notice. The only change there was that the eyes glowed blue instead of red and the facemask featured a HUD, night and thermal vision, a voice synthesizer and protection from chemical or biological attacks.
Overall, they looked rather intimidating and aggressive but considering I was planning to attack Sallie rather than sit behind walls, that was a small price to pay.
For armaments, I had to look to Halo once more. The MA5C ICWS and the BR55 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle would be excellent Grimm killers. These guns were designed to pierce the Covenant energy shields, their armour, their hides, all of the same exiting the other side… with conventional nitrocellulose-derivative ballistics gunpowder! Look out space barbarians, anarcho-communists, and immortal Sorceress ladies, these hunter-gatherers' stone slings fire at 2000 rounds a minute!
Satisfied with the infantry, I moved on to the vehicles that would transport and support them. This part was a conflicting one for me as I had way too many choices to attend to. And so, I momentarily halted choosing any singular 'good enough' design and made the decision to focus on the one thing I had known would turn the army of man into not something lightly trodden on.
I knew I was holding something amazing in my hands when holding it up to the sun made tears of pride tickle my cheekbones. This massive tank would stand at a 100 tons fully loaded, with half of that being its triple-hulled impact-absorbing pressure cable matrix. There were simply no peer level opponents that could or even would field vehicles to compete with whatever I built for the job, so I took dad's Defender tank and made it even better.
It was actually a little weird, that they had a different idea of what a Tank should do - instead of an armoured gun-carriage that adhered to Jules Verne's predictions of 'land-cruisers' that could cross infantry trenches and crack fortresses, they thought it should be… well, just like a motor, a carriage and guns coming second! The caterpillar tread propulsion system, that Earth best summed up as a train that laid down its own tracks, was actually how it faced its inception here on Remnant! Some guy didn't like that trains had to go only where their tracks led them, and so he built trains that needed no tracks, could ford rivers, climb mountains and ignore forests!
Kind of explains why there's not much opposition to giant tanks; nobody on my team or my dad's staff saw an oversize gun-carriage, they saw a very tiny, very slow one-carriage train built around hauling an artillery platform around.
Back on target - for anti-air duty it had strategically placed gaps in its top armour for the installation of internal-loading hatch-launched missile pods. There was a little bit of pity, as commanders would be limited to the diameter of the gaps in the hull, but that's why I made the rear of the turret have a modularly-reconfigurable panel!
If the operator wished for that spot to be armoured, that was an option, but it would all but restrict them to be using any given configuration of missiles. Armour plate was not quickly baked, not even on Remnant. I mean, the alternative is for guys to climb outside to manually reload external missile cells, and I wasn't going to yield that substandard an option unto my armies and customers.
The armour plates were a ceramic-metalloid compound matrix putting the Earth's Chobham armour to shame - a beastly gravity-compressed and Dust-fused plate comprising of varying amounts of titanium, tungsten, uranium and vanadium forming the biggest chunk of its protections where I didn't slap a silicone-carbon composite plate for shrapnel protection and puncture resistance. 750 millimetre thick at all points meant that the cable matrix had plenty sturdy stuff to work with.
I honestly hadn't known what more to do after slapping a pair of chainguns to cover its four turret-and-hull-mounted exit ports. I was in the middle of determining how far between the engine and the turret ring-motors I should affix an energy shield generator - I had gone for high-grade, high-power and high intensity models in my calculations, because if this tank's systems could shrug off those then it surely would be able to laugh aside something made for practical function! - when I decided that was enough.
I rolled up my blueprints and sighed happily.
I had to thank the Command and Conquer universe for such wonderful designs. They provided ideas for excellent support vehicles.
I put aside my blueprints and sighed once more. I had a couple more months until my transfer to Vale. While I had done my best to prepare for Cindy, I was still unsure if my preparations were enough. After all, no plan of operations reaches with any certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main force.
What if it were insufficient? What if I screw up? What if I fail and allow Cindy access to my weapons? What if I-
A polite knock at the door interrupted me from falling into a pit of anxiety. Momentarily calming myself down, I glanced at the door and spoke.
"What is it?"
"Miss Schnee has arrived sir. Are you ready for your trip?" came the voice of a servant. I glanced at the bags that were neatly packed at the other side of my room then back to the door.
"I am ready. Tell Weiss I'll be coming down shortly." I said with a wave.
"Very well sir." replied the butler, his footsteps echoing down the hall.
All my worrying about the future has done me no good. Maybe some time in the mountains with the Schnees will do wonders for my mental health.
A/N: Blessing be upon Krasnogvardiech for helping me with this chapter.
After this, some cutesy gay fluffy stuff then Vale time.
Last edited: Jul 19, 2019
Chapter 37
A few days ago, Aunt Willow had dialed our house and invited us to join her and her children for a two day vacation at a mountain resort famous for its hot springs. Unfortunately, my parents were busy with company matters but they dutifully informed her that I was available to be brought along.
At first, I was not so enthusiastic about the idea. I myself was busy working my butt and brain off at the drawing table but I warmed up to it when my parents noticed how stressed I was getting. There was truth to their observation as I was getting rather worked up about the impending Apocalypse. A few days of rest and relaxation would do wonders for my mental health.
And that was how I found myself in a Luxury airship with the Schnee family heading towards the Mantlese mountain ranges minus Winter who was off doing things I was not cleared to know.
For the trip heading towards the resort, I had spent it in conversation with Whitley. The little kid who wouldn't eat his veggies unless encouraged to by Weiss or I, had grown to become a fine, upstanding lad with his soul having taken of the dream of flight, with an unspoken wish kindled within in him - written it may be all over the young man's face - to captain a ship of the line when he grew up.
I would say Captain Whitley was a improvement compared to the infuriating little shit I saw in the original show.
Also and quite amusingly, if he wasn't talking about the 'great ships of Atlas' then he would spend it asking questions about 'Lady Belle'.
I knew it from the very moment that the boy laid his eyes on Blake that he was crushing on her and was crushing on her hard.
For the trip, she had worn a short black dress and a white long-sleeved coat with a purple scarf wrapped around her neck. She also wore black stockings that reached out to her thighs and black-high heeled shoes. If anything, it gave her a snow secretary look.
It was easy to see why Whitley found himself so smitten at my bodyguard-ninja-secretary. I had to admit, as a healthy male, that Blake did look rather comely but my eyes would always be diverted by another girl who would always make sure that they were on her. Not that I'd tell her that. If I did, she would tease me and would probably tattle me to Winter who would then join in the teasing.
Weiss and Blake weren't introduced formally. They had already met a few times but beyond a few polite words, there was nothing more. At that time, I had an inkling that Weiss viewed her nothing more than a corporate flunkie.
Apparently nobody informed her that Blake wasn't a secretary or even an adjutant, only essentially a live-in one. We paid her an allowance and filed her as a family dependant because it'd look honestly pretty skeevy if we flat-out put her on the books as a personal assistant.
Needless to say, Blake often whispered to me about the icy looks that Weiss would send her. Weiss was polite enough but whenever the two spoke, there was always a hidden jab somewhere in her words.
Speaking about Blake, she had spent quite some time fangirling over Willow. It was pretty simple to see why as Willow was instrumental in Faunus and Worker's rights in Remnant despite being a human capitalist.
Willow thankfully had been flattered at the attention, and had spent some time talking with her. I caught a feeling something had been settled, or perhaps established, because they were friendly as could be after the first week of Blake's unofficial tenure as my aide-de-camp.
After a few hours flight, we finally arrived at our destination. Stepping out of the airship, we were greeted by the resorts proprietors, a Atlesian and Mistrali couple. They gave a low bow as we exited the airship.
"Welcome to our humble establishment. We hope that you will enjoy your stay here."
As if on cue, I smelled sulphur and steam in the crisp morning air.
The resort was a massive five-story building built on a hill overlooking a large lagoon filled with crystal blue water, eerily similar to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa of Iceland fame.
However, we weren't here to mingle with the plebes that frequented the resort. The resort featured a number of small, private and opulent cabins. This Aunt Willow had paid for and it was there that we were going to have our little soiree.
It was clear to see the proprietors influence in their resort. While the main building was distinctively Nordic, the 'cabins' were designed like Japanese onsens.
I took a quick glance at Blake and noted the stars in her eyes. I rolled my eyes as I followed after the proprietors.
Kūso wíabū
Life was good.
All the stress and tension from the last few hours left Weiss's body as she took a dip into the steaming blue waters of the hot spring. It wasn't bad to groan, surely, as the rejuvenating water around her started working wonders on her sore arms and core from the day's activities.
Night had already fallen and the moon was at its highest but the girl found it difficult to sleep and thus went out for another foray into the hot spring alone. She wasn't worried about being alone to bathe. In fact, she preferred it. At least she wouldn't be humiliated compared to earlier…
Her ears perked as she heard conversation in the other side of the sliding door that led towards the hot springs. Her hand reached out to open it and found her mother and Alex's secretary talking. Her mother sported an amused look as she listened to the black-haired faunus girl yap.
" You're a hero for what you've done to right the wrongs against faunus all over the world. I'd like to speak for all of us when I say thank you."
Mother smiled serenely. "It was no consequence. It was the right thing to do.
The secretaries eyes wet wide as saucers, twinkling with reverence. "Please, if you need anything of me, do not hesitate to ask."
Weiss stopped listening a quietly tiptoed towards the corner. As she was about to disrobe, she heard her mother's voice call out to her
"Weiss? Is something wrong?" Mother asked, her eyes twinkling with concern. Weiss turned and found the secretary looking at her as well, her yellow eyes blinking. It was then that Weiss noticed that the two had already disrobed and had towels wrapped around their… bodies.
She quietly grit her teeth as she turned her back towards them.
Weiss groaned in embarrassment as she recalled that awful memory. It was even worse when they went into the bath proper! Mother was grace, beauty, and elegance in human flesh. Every step she took towards the steaming water was measured and gaiety, her hair wrapped in a neat bun. Hell, she was even more refined than Winter!
The secretary was also nothing to laugh at either. Weiss could tell that girl was more than she let herself out to be. She could see a hidden grace that gave her an aura of mystery and danger. Not only that, she also had long smooth legs that reeked of nothing but promises. Her faunus heritage also had a certain appeal to it as well.
Compared to them, she was a joke. Her attempts at refinement were stiff and made her look more like a prissy girl rather than a Lady. Her body was less developed and petite, certainly not as eye catching as her mother, Winter, and Alex's secretary.
Not to mention the… scar on her face.
Weiss sighed as she leaned against the rock of the hot spring. Her gaze went up towards the moon that was anchored high in the sky and the numerous stars that twinkled like far distant lighthouses.
She remembered a conversation she had with Alex back when they were younger. Their two companies were invited to a government function that was so dreadfully dull and boring so the two decided to sneak out and explore the building. Eventually, their exploration lead them towards the roof of the building and there, they saw the stars and moon at their highest.
There they spent a few minutes standing, looking up at the night sky until Alex spoke.
"You ever wonder what's up there?"
Weiss turned to face him and pondered his question.
"What do you mean?
His gaze never left the moon. "Maybe someone up there is wondering what it's like here."
Weiss crossed her arms and frowned. "And what would they see here? There's nothing to see here." She narrowed her eyes at the smile he gave her.
"Well, there is something on Remnant that anyone would travel miles just to look at."
Weiss had to admit that her interest was piqued. Alex was rather knowledgeable about things so he might have an idea on what it is. "Really? What is it?"
She turned pink as he strode towards her, laid a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
"Your beauty of course."
Weiss flushed at that memory. On instinct, she curled up into a ball and whimpered.
For her entire life, Alex was there for her. In good times and bad, he was always there for her. Even at her ugliest moments, he never left her side and had always offered her a shoulder to lean on, no questions asked. Not only that, he was smart, funny, kind, and brave.
Brave…
When she was kidnapped, he could have let Winter, his secretary or even the Valean Police go after her. But he didn't stay back. He stood up, tracked her down and rescued her at the risk of his life.
Her stomach turned to knots as an image of Alex flashed in her mind, smiling and laughing. In his dark blue uniform, he looked straight like a Prince from the days of the Old Mantle Empire. His princely looks and easy charm did nothing but enhance that image even further.
She stopped her train of thought before she it could go out of control.
She sighed.
Weiss knew that she wasn't the most sociable of people but despite what was suggested by what was her desire to be staunchly away from the cliques and strata of high society, she was not dense. She knew what she was feeling and it wasn't in her to deny her own emotions.
She was in love. She loved the one who was the best friend she could have wished for.
The only question that was left to her now: What to do about it?
She flushed as she considered her options. He wasn't some stranger she met on the street. He already was her best friend so she pretty much knew what is to be known about him. He did not keep secrets from her and she understood that if he did harbor some secrets, it was for the best. After all, he and his father worked closely with the Atlesian military. Unlike some people, she knew the value of discretion.
Should she tell him what she felt? To her, it was the only right thing to do. Yes. She shoul-
She bit her lip. What if he didn't feel the same way? What if he didn't want her? What if he was repulsed by her?
She shook her head off her thoughts. This was stupid. She was stupid. Love was stupid. Everything was stupid!
Weiss sighed as she stood up from the water, her hands reaching out for a nearby towel to dry herself. She would have to think this carefully.
This was hardly a place so run-down its rooms were filthy, but it remained good practice to shower after a geothermal pool, to avoid having crusty, sticky skin when the minerals remained after evaporation. After that she donned her… what was Mistral's name for the long dresses? Yu-kata?
Fully dressed in her yukata, she tiptoed her way out of the hot springs area towards her room. To do so, she would have to pass by the living room but since it was so late, she figured that no one would be there to greet her.
But as soon as she rounded down the corner, she was quickly proven wrong as she saw the object of her affection sitting by one of those blanketed heater-tables, his back turned against her. A few meters from them, the sliding door that lead towards a balcony was open, letting the moon pour its light into the room.
In her surprise, she called out his name.
"Alex?"
"Good evening Weiss. What brings you up at this unholy hour?" pleasantly greeted Alexander. Weiss narrowed her eyes at him. What was he doing?
"I couldn't sleep so I had a quick dip in the hot springs. What about you?" she asked, suspicion laced in her voice.
"Thinking." answered Alexander.
"Thinking of what?" demanded Weiss. Alexander merely smiled.
"Of you."
Weiss flushed. She shook her head at his jab.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Alex." sighed Weiss.
"I wasn't joking." deadpanned her friend. Weiss blinked once. Then twice.
"You are an idiot." she sighed.
"But am I a cute idiot?" he asked teasingly. Weiss rolled her eyes as she strode towards him. She glanced down at available spaces of the kotatsu and occupied the one closest to him.
Once her automatic brain functions had stopped, she quickly realized that she had sat next to him. Her cheeks threatened to redden but she had gotten better in controlling herself when in the presence of others.
"What were you doing, really?" she asked. Alexander relented after a moments hesitation.
"I really wasn't joking when I said I was thinking. I had some difficulty trying to find sleep so I thought I could sit around to think. I thought I'd get tired of it and fall asleep but as you can see, I've failed at that."
Weiss smirked. "You think? This must be new territory for you. Would you perhaps want me to help you traverse this strange new world?"
Alexander grinned. "Well, I wouldn't have any other person that I lo- know to be with so I accept your offer."
The two youths stared at one another, flushed, and turned their gazes away. Silence reigned as the two refused to look at each other. Eventually, Weiss mustered the courage to speak.
"Alex. I have a question."
Alex felt a lump form in his throat.
"Go on." he rumbled.
"What do you think of me?" she questioned. Alexander paused to think then gave his answer.
"You're the most… formidable and willful person I know. You're great to be around, and I like your visits very much. You're a friend that is… very dear to me."
"Is that all?"
Alexander bit his lip.
"No… I… I think that you are also…"
"Also what?"
Alexander flushed.
"I also think that you are amazing and beautiful."
Weiss's cheeks turned even redder. She couldn't help but scoff.
"Are you… jesting?"
"Do you want me to sing it for you?" challenged Alexander. He gave himself a mental slap when Weiss smiled and bade for him to do so. He shouldn't have…
Oh fuck it.
Tune
Alexander started first humming the tune. When it rose, he sang.
"There's a White Rose in Atlas, I'm going there to see,
No other fellow knows her, Nobody known to me.
She cried so when I left her, It's like to broke my heart,
And if we ever meet again, We'd never walk apart.
She's the sweetest little rosebud, That Atlas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, And sing of Rosalee,
But the White Rose of Atlas, Is the only gal for me.
Oh, the White Rose of Atlas is the only girl I love,
Her eyes are even bluer than Atlas skies above.
Her heart's as precious as Atlas and wherever I may go,
I'll remember her forever because I love her so.
There are so many roses that bloom along the way,
But my heart's in Atlas and that's where it will stay.
With the White Rose of Atlas so I'd better get there fast,
'Cause I know I was her first love and I want to be her last."
Silence fell as Alexander stopped singing. Weiss stared at him, mouth agape. When the gravity of the situation had fully set in, the two flushed brighter than a tomato stuffed with lights.
Alexander was the first to stand from the kotatsu, eyes averted towards the door that lead towards his room, shame and embarrassment filling him. But before he could get away, he felt Weiss's hand grasp his arm. Alarm filled him as the girl pulled him towards her and…
She paused, for a moment in gently pulling him back down to her level. He had to get down to his knees. In a breath, she gathered her courage. Alex's nerves were ringing with tension.
Weiss let all her worries go and showed her longing by giving to Alex her first kiss.
A/N: A giant word of thanks to Krasnogvardiech for betaing this chapter. May he be carried to Valhalla and forever ride shiny and chrome.
In this chapter, Alex has become a man. Hooray. Blizzard(Alex x Weiss) ftw. Blessed be their coupling yadda yadda yadda.
After this, Vale. After that, the world! Muahahahahahahahahaha!
Chapter 38
Her lips were soft and tasted of vanilla and cherries.
After a few seconds of being lost in each other's bliss, Weiss pulled back from Alexander, her cheeks hot and red. Alexander himself was similarly bothered, his usually pale visage now a red colored palette. The two stared at one another, their eyes displaying multiple emotions.
Joy, Nervousness, Fear, and Want. Such thoughts were coursing through their veins as they recalled their moment of joining a scant few seconds ago.
Alexander's mouth was agape, a finger reaching to his lips. It still tasted of her. Weiss had cast her gaze downward to the kotatsu seating her, trying to burn through the table's wood to the carpeted floor beneath. It felt easier to do than looking back to Alexander in that moment.
"So…" Alex whispered. "What does this make us?"
Weiss eyes returned to him.
"Do you… hate it?"
Alexander allowed himself a shameless grin.
"No. I think I could get used to it… if you want." Alexander said, his right hand reaching out to her. Weiss glanced at his right hand then him.
'Do it!' a voice in her head yelled.
She reached out and accepted his hand. She narrowed her eyes at the sly look Alexander gave her. What was he pla-AAAH! Her thoughts cut to nothing as Alexander gently pulled her close, then hoisted her clear of the kotatsu's warmth and raised her by the hips to be level to him… and kissed her again! The fiend!
Some minutes, or maybe months' worth of time and space, were lost to the two in each other's embrace. Past the first showing of affection, this was a deliberate move into one another's space in mirrored intimacy.
Alexander was the first to pull back, eliciting a low whine of protest from Weiss. He grinned madly at her.
"Now we are even." Weiss glared at him.
"I hate you so much." she growled.
"I love you too, Weiss."
She scoffed.
"What makes you think that I-mpmh!"
The cries of birds and the light of the sun greeted me as I opened my eyes. Groggily, I tried to rise but a firm hand halted me in my tracks. It was then that I noticed that there was something clutching me at my side. I looked left and all manner of reason left me as I saw the petite breathing form of one Weiss Schnee sleeping peacefully.
At first, I wanted to scream but before I could, I licked my lips and tasted vanilla. It was then that I remembered the events that occurred the night prior.
We must have fallen asleep after…
I felt a whole cannonade of emotions rushing through me. I felt afraid. I felt nervous. I felt embarrassed. But among all those emotions, the strongest feeling that I felt was sheer uncut joy.
I took note of the rising and falling of her stomach as she took soft breaths of air. I leaned in close to give a soft peck on her forehead, whispering an affirmation of love in my native language. Not only that, I also whispered a silent prayer not to the bastard gods of Remnant but to the Most High that sits on the Highest Throne and to the Blessed Virgin that bore the Son.
" Heavenly Father. I know that I haven't been the most devout of your believers but please, if you want to punish anyone, let it be me and not her. Blessed Virgin, please watch and protect the one I love. If you do this, I shall praise and glorify your name now and forever. This I pray, in His and your most glorious name, Amen."
The sound of a sliding door being opened interrupted my moment of silence. I darted my eyes towards the hallway and watched as the yawning and half-asleep form of Whitley groggily marched his way out of the hallways. When our eyes met, he stopped and stared.
His eyes went from me then to the sleeping form of his sister. He blinked once then twice. After a whole minute of staring, a goofy grin came to his face as he gave us a thumbs up and slowly retreated back to his room.
Cheeky little…
We bumbled some approaches that would've been smooth sailing, awkward like birds just learning to fly as we both tried to figure out how to include our new other half into our usual activities. We caught as many grimaces and annoyed stares as approving smiles, but we just didn't care. We were happy with each other and that was all that mattered.
People noticed and they noticed it rather quickly. With hindsight, it was pretty obvious. The two of us usually stayed close to one another and look at each other like a bunch of smiling blushing hyenas.
Whitley was the first to know about the change in our relationship and was all around supportive of it. He was still a right proper brat about that though, making jokes at our expense.
The next to find out was Blake. She took the news well, giving Weiss one look and promptly gave her the title of 'Weiss Ojou-sama'. From that, I guess Blake had now seen Weiss as the Lady and me as her Lord. Sometimes, I wished that Blake would return to her original sarcastic and deadpan self. She briefly returned to that when Weiss was kidnapped so why not now?
Thinking about it, I'm pretty sure she is doing her subservient ninja acting to screw with me. As for why, I did not know and I wasn't keen to know.
The last person to hear about this was of course, Willow Schnee herself. When Weiss and I had broken out our desire to start a relationship, Willow had an enigmatic look about her and merely smiled all the time.
"I approve of your relationship. May it be long and blessed."
As it was lunch, Willow bade Weiss to go first and that we would catch up afterwards. It was then that I realized what was going on. The questioning that she gave me a few minutes ago was just a warm-up. This was going to be her true interrogation.
I am not ashamed to admit that I felt fear as I watched the matronly smile on Willow's face. After all, nothing in a man's life is scarier than his own mother-in-law.
The expected interrogation never came. Instead, Willow simply gave me one sad look that told me everything.
"Give her the life and love that I couldn't give. Ensure that she does not end up like me. Can you do that for me, Alex?"
I gave her my most sincerest look. "I shall."
She smiled as she gave me a pat on the head. "You are a good man, Alex. Weiss has a bright future ahead of her. Your parents will be delighted when they hear about this."
Oh yeah that's nic-
Wait.
"Did you plan all of this ever since Weiss and I met?" I asked, suspicion laced in my voice. Willow whistled innocently.
"I have no idea what you mean."
Sure…
The rest of the day was spent in outside sports. The Schnee family were clearly in their element there. Willow and Weiss were Goddesses in skiing and Whitley was a master in Snowboarding. Blake wisely elected to stand at the sidelines and watch from the distance. As for me…
I would like to say that I was average at snowsports. The trees that I crashed into would probably disagree with my assessment.
Eventually, the day came to a close. The last night there I spent talking with Weiss.
Theme: Edelweiss
"I'm quite terrified actually." confessed Weiss.
We were standing out on the balcony overlooking a vast forest of snow-covered trees. The aura surrounding us was similar to what happened the night previously and that fact wasn't lost to us. This time, we were prepared for that.
"Terrified of what?" I asked. Weiss sighed as she leaned on the wooden guardrail of the balcony.
"I'm terrified of Beacon." whispered Weiss. I nodded as joined in her leaning. I bade her to elaborate and she did so after a quick sigh.
"It will be a… new world for me. I have never been in such a place before. Winter often told me that Beacon was freer, wilder, and…"
"Insane?" I offered. She smiled at my assessment and nodded.
"In a way. She said that the students there were lacking in discipline and focus. A 'gaggle of children' she said." finished Weiss, trying and failing to mimic Winter's quote.
"Look on the bright side. At least you aren't going to Shade Academy." At that, Weiss shivered.
"Oh gods no. I would rather stay in Atlas than go study in a… pig sty like Vacuo." she sniffed.
"That would be a headline for the ages. ' Schnee studies in Shade Academy! Local population in a uproar!" I joked. Weiss scoffed.
"In another path maybe. Not this Schnee."
I glanced at her wistfully. She caught my gaze.
"What?"
I smiled. "Nothing. Just marveling at your beauty."
Weiss reddened and grumbled under her breath. I laughed as she turned redder and looked away in a huff. Calming down, I sighed as I glanced at the moon.
"To be honest, I also sure the same feeling as you." She perked at that and turned to face me. My eyes never left the moon.
"What I'm going to do in Vale… it will be different compared to what I am used to. A entire branch is different compared to a stall or even my team in Research and Development. Hundreds of people will be depending on me. If I make a mistake, it won't be just some hit to their livelihoods, at what I'll be doing, any fuckup of mine can carry real consequences. I-" As I was about to rant some more, I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder.
That hand, I could almost feel it buzzing with affection and support, belonged to a Weiss reaching up with her forearm resting across my bosom. She looked up to me in pure trust as much as for the difference in height.
"That is always the worry of good leaders. They think of the people below them and not only of themselves. Whatever happens, Alexander. I know that you will be strong enough to face it."
Warmth filled me as I regarded her.
"Y'know, our dynamic used to be of you going to me with a problem and of me giving you advice to face that problem. Why has our dynamic changed?"
Weiss smiled.
"It seems I have usurped you, Mr. Friedlich. Are you upset?"
I pressed a hand to her cheek and leaned in close. She did not resist.
"I can think of no one else better to replace me, Miss Schnee" I whispered softly as I leaned in for a quick chaste kiss. I pulled back and noted her red cheeks and the stars in her eyes.
"I am lucky to have you at my side, Weiss." She giggled.
"And I to have you, Alex."
At that, we leaned forward once more and kissed.
It was not chaste.
A/N: Props to Herr Krasnogvardiech for editing this chapter once more.
Would you look at that? A nice blooming romance. It would be a shame… if something were to… happen to it.
Last edited: Jul 23, 2019
Chapter 39
"PRESENT! ARMS!" bellowed the Master Sergeant to a full company of the Foundry's security team as I set foot in Vale disembarking out of my most successful design to date. Not remotely the devil's grin Pelican - I would keep improving and keep refining the equipment till I had long left behind the newest craft my company would soon produce - the D77-TC Stork.
The orderly rows of the fighting faithful were at parade perfect presentation. It was impressive, but I kicked down my respect for warriors and instead looked over the group as future users of my weapons. They were beneath their effort for presentation a solemn bunch of big guys and gals. Their competence was clear, and so I felt safe in dismissing the matter as resolved ahead of time.
I tried not to strut, really. But can you really not after flying in a hunk of metal suspended in the sky by the black magic of aerodynamics, magic pixie dust and engine power?
An elderly gentleman clad in a double-breasted black suit walked over towards me. My face brightened in recognition.
"Welcome to the Vale Foundry, Mr. Friedlich." he greeted me. I held out my hands towards him.
"Mr. Kohr. My family would like to thank you for 30 years of service to the Company. We hope that your retirement will be to your enjoyment."
His smile buoyed aloft by the years of service cast in his face, he shook my hand with the steadiness found only in one who accomplished what they set out to do. "Thank you Mr. Friedlich. Shall we begin the tour?"
I nodded at him and thus, my life as a Branch manager began.
The last months I had left in Atlas I had spent in getting projects of mine licensed and made. I had managed to license my designs but the only one I had managed to get through to the manufacturing lines was the Pelican from Halo. Re-branded as the D77-TC Stork, a prototype was tested and approved which in turn, led to its production.
As for why it was smooth-sailing in its production, the Atlesian military had expressed a desire for a heavier transport craft for soldiers and by sheer coincidence, the company was also testing its first models; pre-production versions at any rate as I would tweak and refine the layouts until it satisfied me, to say nothing of adapting production lines to fit around local manufacture yields.
Representatives were invited to see the prototypes first hand and were satisfied at their performance. Afterwards, a contract was signed up and Atlas was due to get its first Storks in six days.
The reason why I changed the transports name from Pelican to Stork was because of personal preference as well as some cleverly done wordplay. I mean, what are Storks most famous for?
Anyway, the other designs would have to wait until I get into running the Vale branch, and then managed to expand it to the point that making future experimentals wouldn't crash said branch. I mean really, this is my first command, my magnum opus, failure at this point is anathema to my career.
If there was one thing to look forward to, it would finally be the chance to get my designs through without having to wait for approval from those above me.
Moving on, the Vale Branch was part office and part factory. The design of the facility look liked it was built by Ringworld Dwarves, had the plans laid down by Black Mesa and had its integrity and structural reinforcement done by the Adeptus Mechanicus minus the religious iconography.
A huge chunk of land had been allotted to the company, thinking only a small factory was sufficient for Vale's requirements and thinking the space-efficiency would be on the low end as we distributed the facilities, and even then it had been imagined that we would keep a large distance from neighborhoods and the cities to cut down on noise pollution.
That being not only made stupid by the recent year's surge in Valean munitions orders, we flat-out couldn't utilize our usual cookie-cutter of an interchangeable design my grandfather had first laid down planned for Mistral's broad vistas and sturdy clay due to the soil integrity and the nearby swamp of the factory grounds.
The tour that Mr. Kohr gave me was indeed quick. It was enough for me to see what I was going to be working with for the foreseeable future. Afterwards, he led me to my office.
He'd already cleared away all his personal effects, and I had caught words bouncing off walls out of breakrooms that he filled all of a plastic bag with said effects. I was drawn to think of monks in that regard; starkly, brutally austere was one way to put their lifestyle. I didn't plan to overly adorn my office to begin with, but the dark oak wall paneling, the polished marble fireplace and the aged oak study-table just begged for decorations. Perhaps when my time was freer…
I sighed as I sat down behind the study-table and eyed the holographic computer on my desk.
For the first time, I was going to be alone. Well, almost alone.
Blake had followed me dutifully ever since I had retrieved her from that god-awful motel. She had proven to be a efficient secretary, a capable combatant, and a good friend.
During our return home after our hot-springs trip, I had thought long and hard on what I was going to do with her as the canon events loomed closer and closer. I could tell as I was going to be sent to Vale two weeks before Weiss. So that meant that the clock would start spinning as soon as Weiss arrived.
And so, I asked myself a question. Should I keep her at my side but risk losing the symmetry of Team RWBY or should I let her go but risk losing an efficient worker?
Thinking about it, she played no particularly crucial role other than being the provider of direct security of my person. Even if she chose to return to Kuo Kuana, no overarching blow would be lost on my operations. She was a good friend and valuable assistant but for the plans I laid down? As heartless as it sounds, she might as well be just a number.
And thus I decided that she was to go to Beacon. If she attended Beacon then she could act as my eyes and ears inside the school. As I was not attending it, I had no idea what Ozzie and his crew might be planning. While my future knowledge could still be counted, it was what we didn't see that bothered me.
Another reason was for her to act out her role as a cat ninja and protect her ojou-sama. Weiss had skill - and charm and grace and had captured my heart but on-topic, she lacked the experience to put into motion a truly effective combatant on the battlefield. Yang was powerful but her youth and explosive personality made her easily lose focus. Ruby was also skilled but oh so adorably naive. Having the skilled and no-nonsense Blake around would be good for their development as a team and as people.
I breached this to Blake and of course, she protested. Once I explained my reasons minus RWBY part, she calmed down and found the assignment to be her liking. Mostly because I made it sound like I was giving her a mission and deliberately acted like a Shogun but that was a story for another time.
And so, RWBY was still going to be a thing. Until the day that happens, she was still going to stay with me as my ninja secretary.
"So what's our itinerary for today Blake?" I asked, turning towards her.
She glanced down at the board of papers she held in her hands.
"Your day is mostly free. It's only tonight that you would be busy." she answered. A grimace came upon my face.
A Ball was going to be held in my honor later on basically as my introduction to Valean society. It was an opportunity for the high and mighty to get to know me as well as for me to get to know them. A quid pro quo party to be blunt.
I sighed.
Atlesian balls was just like playing a game of Vampire the Masquerade. Each and every word and action you made would be observed and measured appropriately. There was no wonder why Weiss disliked attending the soirees of her fellow upper-class.
Let's see if Vale offered the same environment.
It's official. Vale balls were shit.
I could count at least six couples who were brave enough to introduce themselves and their daughters to me. I gave up trying to count the amount of women that tried to chat me up, no doubt acting under orders from their parents or siblings.
They had done so not because I was some hot young stud. It was simply because I was the heir of one of the largest and most powerful company on Remnant. Not only that, my pedigree was similarly attractive as the Friedlich family was hella old. To put it to perspective, the name 'Friedlich' and our sigil, the eagle, was stamped on the cuirass and greatsword of the first King of Mantle made by my ancestor some hundred years ago that was now resting peacefully behind bulletproof glass and a shit ton of guards inside the Royal Palace in Atlas.
We had been weaponsmiths for all our family's recorded history - and Weiss's company was only two generations old.
To put it bluntly, a marriage to a Friedlich would grant unimaginable wealth and prestige.
This wasn't the first time I had been through that dance. I had been approached like that in Atlas a lot and I had gotten quite adept in getting myself out of it.
Having mother around was of great help as well. She had flown in straight from Atlas basically to help me settle in.
I had to hand it to mother though. She knew who exactly to introduce me to and who to allow within a few steps of me. I had been introduced to councilors, business magnates, and other high-class pillowheads.
Blake wasn't going to be walking around with me for the moment. She was currently watching me from somewhere. I did not know where but I could feel her eyes on me.
Overall, I was having a somewhat enjoyable time. I had made dozens of acquaintances who were connected to some industries that were going to be vital to my plans.
That was until mother found someone that she just could not wait introducing me to.
She and I were busy chatting with a couple of councilors when she caught sight of someone. She politely excused us and all but dragged me towards that someone.
"Who is so important to you that you'd drag me from the Minister of Administrative Affairs?" I bemused. She shushed me as she all but pushed me forward to meet a silver-haired man with sharp facial features and clad in a green suit.
Theme: Dance of the Knights
Ozpin.
Shit
A/N: Edited again with Krasnogvardiech. May his life be long and fruitful!
In other news, hello Ozzie. Wonderful weather we have today hm?
Last edited: Jul 24, 2019
Chapter 40
Ozpin's eyes twinkled in recognition as soon as he saw my mother who beamed at him quite unusually. He was not alone however for at his side stood Glynda Goodwitch clad in her usual clothing, her blonde hair wrapped in a bun. One arm held a clipboard while the other held her signature riding crop.
She seemed to be displeased at being brought to the event. If I had to guess, it was to basically act as Ozpin's secretary for the evening and write things down. I mean, I'd be displeased too if I was bought to a high-class party but I wasn't allowed to take part in the festivities.
I might be wrong but that was the only scenario that could come to my mind. I mean, the buffet table had a caviar bar for goodness sakes.
"Ah, Alena. It is a pleasure to see you again." Ozpin greeted. Mother smiled at his greeting and edged me forward. His eye then turned to me. For a brief moment, I swore he was scanning me.
"And this must be the man of the hour?" he surmised. I put aside the nervousness in my head and flashed Ozpin a charming smile.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Headmaster Ozpin." I greeted him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. I momentarily twitched as I had let out an indication that I knew him but a quick thought came into me as I held out my hand for a handshake.
"One might have been living under a rock to not recognize the Headmaster of Beacon. I have heard stories about the man that oversees the training of Humanity's greatest heroes." I quickly added, eliciting an amused chuckle from him.
"I trust those stories of me are good I hope?" he laughed as we shook hands. His grip was firm despite his lean appearance.
Images of Ozpin from RWBY Chibi flashed in my head as I heard him ask his question. A laugh threatened to leave my mouth but I stifled it.
"Nothing too bad, I assure you." I nodded in respect. The bastard-gods situation aside, it's commendable that he kept getting up, time after time, to continue the same drive for advancement day after day just because people - their names lost to the ages, and may their memories rest in the holiest halls - would face insurmountable odds to help this guy that was genuinely trying to make things better. As we finished our handshake, mother chimed in.
"What brings you to this Ball, Headmaster? I was under the impression that Beacon was busy preparing for the new semester. I was told you couldn't attend."
"Yes Ozpin. Do tell why we are here rather than continuing our preparations for the new semester?" added Glynda, her eyes fixed on the silver-haired man. Ozpin adjusted his glasses.
"Well Alena, my colleague and I are here in the hopes of convincing certain Councillors to see the benefits of increasing their support for Beacon. The future doesn't come cheaply I'm afraid." he explained.
"Money problems?" bluntly asked mother.
Ozpin stood motionless.
"If he hadn't purchased that damned giant golden lemur statue then we wouldn't have to be here to beg for more funds…" grumbled Glynda, her eyes narrowed at Ozpin.
Mother and I shared a look then stared back at Ozpin.
"Giant golden lemur statue?" I said aloud.
Ozpin adjusted his glasses. "I believed and still believe that it would help raise morale among the students and remind them to stay strong despite these troubled times."
I stared hard and long at the man that held the venerable title of Headmaster.
"Well… if the Headmaster believes that it will help the development of aspiring huntsmen then who am I to complain?" nodded mother. Upon closer inspection, one could see uncertainty in her eyes. Ozpin either did not see it or ignored entirely and allowed himself a smile. Glynda merely sighed at his side.
"And on the topic about aspiring huntsmen, how about you Mr. Friedlich? Have you considered a hunstman career?" Ozpin suddenly asked, his attention turned towards me. Glynda shot him a quick look. Mother moved to answer but I beat her to the punch.
"I'm afraid I cannot attend your school, Headmaster Ozpin. I have recently been assigned to hold the position of Branch Manager of the Vale Foundry as you may have heard. My schedules would come into conflict you see." I explained, my tone apologetic.
The man shook his head in regret. "I see. A shame then. I was looking forward in seeing you becoming a hunstman. It would have been quite a sight. There hasn't been a Friedlich hunstman for a long time."
I blinked.
In our family history, there had been quite a few Freidlich hunstmen. The most famous one would happen to be Johannes Siegfried von Friedlich, who slew a giant Grimm dragon during the Great War with his sword, Gram.
When I first read it, I could scarcely believe it but further digging proved that it did happen. it would have been cool to have his sword but the weapon was lost like its owner after their titanic battle.
I shook my head. That was freaky to discover.
"Well. Future Friedlichs perhaps. Not this one I'm afraid. I seek to develop new weapons the likes Remnant hasn't seen before. I intend to use them against the Grimm threat." I declared. Ozpin smiled in amusement.
"That is a respectable goal. Your weapons would be a welcome addition in the defense of Humanity." he complimented me. I moved to argue but I held my tongue. What I would have said would might be taken in the wrong way and the last thing I needed was for Ozzie to send someone like Qrow to watch me and my pale ass.
"I hope they will be of use. We have allowed the Grimm too much credit. I daresay it is time for humanity to build itself the tools for a counter-attack." I announced a tad bit passionately. I paused to check their reactions. Mother smiled at my desire to see dead Grimm. Glynda nodded approvingly and Ozpin…
He just gave me one long look, his eyes twinkling with… something.
"Then as Headmaster of Beacon, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors. I await the day where my huntsmen would work alongside your weapons."
I allowed myself a flattered look and gave him my thanks.
Our little motley group chatted for some more. That was until Ozpin sighted a group of men walking past us. I recognized them as people who worked in the Valean Treasury Department. It was quite easy to spot them as they walked with a sense of superiority and the overall smug look that often was their facial expression.
At that, we gave each other our farewells.
"It was a pleasure seeing you again Alena. It is always good to see the Green Knight of Vale still alive and happily wed." he said to my mother who laughed at his praise. He then turned to me and offered me a smile.
"I am honored to make your acquaintance Mr Friedlich but I'm afraid that we would have to cut our conversation short. I may not convince you to join Beacon but could I convince you to come by and chat sometime? Perhaps when your schedule is freer."
"I'll think about it. Until next time, Headmaster." I said, bowing slightly. He gave me one last look before turning away, Glynda following behind him.
"So… Green Knight of Vale?" I asked as I turned to my mother. She rolled her eyes.
"You are too old for bedtime stories, Alex. Ask your father or read a book if you want to hear my exploits." I smiled.
"One is never too old for bedtime stories." I quipped.
"Don't be daft, Alex. You are 17 now. You should be thinking of things boys your age should be thinking about. Tell me, how are things going with Weiss?"
My smile dropped and I could feel heat rise to my cheeks.
"Please mum, stop." I pleaded. She ignored me as she went on to yap.
"You know, your father is always available for advice when it comes to performing. Did you know that we conceived you in the miss-"
I covered my ears and walked as fast as I could, my eyes now transfixed at the buffet table which looked rather inviting.
The last thing I could hear was of her laughing all the way.
Silence your laughter, mother! I will have none of this slattery!
A/N: Edited again by Krasnogvardiech. May wind forever blow in his sails.
Chapter 41
Encountering Ozpin the night before gave me a unkind reminder. While I might have been producing weapons left and right, I still did not have the men necessary to wield those weapons and deliver righteous justice upon the enemies of mankind.
And so, I resolved to tackle that problem as fast as humanly possible.
William Steuben was the Vale Foundry's security chief. Born to the highlands of eastern Mantle, he was balls-to-the-wall in conduct, playing fast and loose with rules and regulations to the result of twenty-two commendations in his profile. He took his position as his destined way of life, and he looked like he chewed a bowl of nails without any milk for breakfast at oh-God-thirty in the morning every day. His record was impressive, holding his position far longer than Mr. Kohr, to say nothing of earning his position through pure merit at the age of twenty-four, and had transformed a rough-and-tumble bunch of lazy Mistrali outriders into the respectably competent force his garrison had become.
Exactly the type of man I needed to build me an army.
I tore my gaze away from my holographic computer towards the door as a polite knock filtered through.
"Come in!" I called out. The door opened to admit the weathered man in question, his gaze locked on me and countenance strict. In the flesh, he had without Aura an aura of a man running a tight ship. His uniform, typical to our private security contractors, the Friedlich grey-and-blue coat and under it a flak vest with pouches packed with our product. He took of the .444 Bear Killer, the big iron holstered at his leg. Good taste.
"Take a seat, Mr Steuben." I gestured towards the empty chair in front of my desk. He complied and was seated. In doing so, I wouldn't have been surprised to gain something resembling a tan as he tried to eyeball me to a crisp.
Uh… why does it feel like he's the boss and I'm the idiot cadet dumb enough to be caught after looking for ID-10-T papers and shore line?
I shook my head out of those thoughts. Being distracted would only make me look stupid.
"Would you like a drink?" I offered in a quick tumble of words. He shook his head twice with eyes closed and head tilted; polite, but firm in the denial. Alright then. Straight to the point it is.
"Mr. Steuben. How many years have you served the Company?" I asked, my voice level. His reply was immediate.
"I have served for thirty seven years. Ten under your late grandfather. Twenty seven under your father."
Surprise came over me.
"You served under Grandfather Frederick?"
He nodded.
That was nice to know. Perhaps I'd ask him later on what grandad was like. My father rarely spoke of him and the family biographers gave me scripted answers. But that was for another date. Right now, I had a man to appoint.
"Anyway, despite your years of service, how is it that you stayed as a mere security chief? I imagine that you'd rise up the ranks by now."
"My wife is local, she's not happy with leaving Vale and our lives are pretty comfortable. We do not need anything more."
I gave him a look. So he rejected any potential promotions for his wife? I didn't know whether I should admire him for his devotion to his significant other or shake my head at it. Oh well. It wasn't my position to judge how others should live their lives.
"I see… well. I was reviewing your file and I think that a promotion for you is long overdue." He moved to speak but I quickly added. "Don't worry. This won't take you out of Vale." He wordlessly withdrew his objection, that being probably the only issue with him.
"Thanks to certain events out of our control, security has never been more important. And so, I have decided that an expansion of our Security Forces is a must." I announced.
"How large are we talking?" asked Steuben
I dropped the bomb. "I want to expand the Security Forces from a company to a full blown division." His eye widened slightly. I noticed it and pointed it out.
"Is there a problem?"
He shook his head. "It would be problematic. Not only would it send the wrong signals, it would give the Council of Vale the wrong ideas. A ten-thousand strong force that is well-equipped and trained would not sit well for a country without a military."
"A regiment then. Would that be sufficient?"
He paused to think. "It would be unusual for a private company to have a security force to have numbers that big but not as problematic as ten thousand men-at-arms."
I nodded lazily. "Very well then. A regiment it is."
"What would be the justification for this size increase?" he asked.
"Asides from the reason I told you earlier, I want our Security Forces to be made available for contract as mercenaries. It would also be an opportunity for the Company to have future equipment tested on the battlefield. If I were to blunt, we are essentially creating a new subsidiary company that delivers death to the poor sods it is sent to fight." I explained.
"And where do I come in?"
I smiled. "I want you to be the man that molds that unit. You have done excellent work in Mistral and you kept that record up here in Vale. If you accept this, you will be the sergeant so to speak. While I will remain as the overall commanding officer and head of the company, I will leave the more practical decisions to you. So, what do you say?"
"I have some questions." I nodded.
"May I choose my officers?"
I nodded. "You may. Hell, if you'd even like to find guys to fill the boots on the ground, more power to you."
"What will be our equipment?"
"Everything Friedlich Arms can produce, refurbish, acquire and invent." I answered bluntly.
"What will be the pay?"
"Hazard pay alone would bring combatants' pay to four thousand Lien a week. Included with that is free dental, provided housing and the bills for schooling and scholarships for children will be fronted as courtesy. Also, monetary backing in case of hospitalization, and mandatorily provided insurance."
He paused to consider my offer. After a moment of thinking, he extended his hand towards me. "Then I accept."
After we shook hands, I opened a drawer in my desk and brought out a folder marked with a little white flower. A wispy look came upon Steuben's face as he saw it.
"Further details about your promotion will be found inside if you are still curious." I chimed as I handed him the folder. I noticed him staring and followed his gaze.
Ah.
"Thinking of tall mountains and blossoming snow, Mr Steuben?" I quipped. His lips pursed slightly.
"Yes. But I have a new home now and a blonde flower to go home to." said Steuben. His gaze then turned to me. "How about you, Mr. Friedlich? Any flowers in your lives? I imagine her to be quite a beauty."
Nostalgia and warmth came over my body as my mind bombarded me with certain images that I wouldn't think of voluntarily. I returned my gaze towards the white flower on the folder and smiled.
"The fairest flower in the world." I sighed wistfully. I shook my head from my thoughts as I regarded the man in front of me.
"As I was supposed to say, congratulations on your promotion Mr. Steuben. How soon can you start?"
"Within a few weeks." he replied evenly, steadily, already sure his plans of action would work.
"Excellent. You are dismissed." At that, he respectfully bowed of his head, seeming satisfied, and exited the room. I leaned back on my chair and glanced towards the window. I tried to imagine seeing the spires of Beacon but the Foundry was at the opposite end of Vale and I instead saw dull residential rooftops.
Oh well.
With my army well on the way, I couldn't resist the grin that was coming on my face.
Salem and Ozma's bloody chess game had cost mankind, losing the initiative and development time as much as lives. Sucks to be them, for I was going to take to their game like a bird, shit over their pieces, and mess up their precious chess board.
Status quo my sorry pale ass!
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech. May he live long and prosper.
Missed posting yesterday. due to internet problems. Must be up by now. As a consolation prize, here are two updates.
Chapter 42
With Steuben out to recruit my army, I took the steps to prepare for their arrival. I was not going to have a force of testosterone filled sausage-suckers wear away the asphalt in PT drills while office workers spill coffee in their haste to put equipment orders through.
As I had prepared schematics months before my arrival to Vale, I was pretty much set on getting them towards the factory floor. The only thing left for me was to give them a stamp of approval and forward it towards the manufacturing department.
The hissing of complex machinery, the whirring of conveyor belts, the cyclic thumping of punch press machines, and such distinctive noises blended into a dull roar - putting it poetically, the plant seemed to be grumbling and bitching as it awoke, shit, shaved and showered before putting on the new uniform I had given it for the new tasks given with it's promotion, echoed in my ears as I stepped up a steep set of slatted sheet-metal stairs onto a caged walkway.
From it, with the smell of metal being worked on, my heart fluttered as something in me hearkened back on the work of my forefathers, seeing how far we've come… It made me want to grab a workbench and a set of tools myself.
Man without tools is nothing but a man. Man with tools may take the world. Industry gave our species one hell of a power-up for it allowed our brightest minds to develop machines that we couldn't have produced with our own hands. And now, I was going to use that power-up to build Remnant a fighting force that it has not seen ever since the days of the Old Mantle Empire.
The Industrial process has always fascinated me ever since I was a kid. It had awed me at an early age that it is possible to make a complex machine without touching it as its components were being shaped. Hell, one of the happiest moments that I could recall was visiting a Friedlich manufacturing plant for the first time. I had spent the entire trip near-salivating as I witnessed battleship turret being assembled in front of my own eyes.
Many years later, I was still the giddy little munchkin who liked to stare in awe as weapons of war were being manufactured in front him.
No amount of fail-safes made an automated process truly self-continuing when repairing the line was a must when something broke. And it doesn't matter how good artificial intelligence is getting these days, in a process with as many possible points of failure, it's a bad idea to not have boots on the ground and adaptive brains moving able hands to resolve problems.
I halted mid-way through the catwalk to dignifiably appraise the overviewing sight. Certainly not press myself to the walls of the cage, let off a keening coo as I saw a high-pressure cyclic injector that deposited squirts of molten steel with a failure rate of one in a million passes as it distributed 130 grains of metal at a time for the .30-06 cartridges chambered by our SMG's.
From further tours and reviewing the plans of the Foundry, I had realized that there was something interesting behind its construction. Not only was the manufacturing plant built deep underground due to space concerns but also as a precautionary measure. In the hypothetical event that the walls of Vale would collapse, it would be pretty much a given that everything that would resemble civilization would stop.
I mean, who would want to go to work when there are literal monsters out of your door?
Throwing those thoughts of my head, I settled my gaze on a particular assembly line and smiled.
I had long since thought that Remnant was unimaginative and lacking when it came to their militaries. From what we could see from the show and lore, it was pretty much a given. And so, it was a surprise when I had taken the time to study Atlesian battle tactics that I realized the lost potential that Atlas had.
While the rest of Remnant hid behind the protection of Ozpin and his Huntsmen, Atlas had spearheaded the development of tactics for use against both Grimm and non-Grimm opponents. For the Grimm, I recognized the prime Atlesian anti-Grimm tactic as something straight out if World War One - Ensnarement.
The Atlesians would bait Grimm into designated killzones. Once properly baited, they would simply gun down the Grimm like fish in a barrel. Except those fishes can tear you apart like a doll.
Another tactic that they also liked to use was air assault. This one was mostly used by the Atlesian Marine Corp though as the air force and navy was one and the same. Anyway, the Navy would pound the everliving hell out of a designated area. Once sufficiently pounded, the Navy would greenlight the Marines to land and basically finish up whatever Grimm was left.
And in the thankfully rare event Grimm followed up with a second wave borne from stupid moments, the Navy gunners got a chance to show off and the Troopers were treated to a close-in fireworks festival as the Grimm were turned into pretty clouds through the artillery shield. It seems they think the best defense is a good offense - or more accurately, there is no better method of entrenchment than superior firepower.
With those and an assortment of other tactics, it wasn't too hard for me to explain to Steuben what I had in mind as it was similar to what Atlas was using.
My regiment would be three times to size of a standard Atlesian one, because if we are to be a deciding factor we will be needed to hit well above our weight class, and the best way the trooper did that was through concentration of force. Heavier weaponry, more effective tactics, networked warfare and force multiplication were the foremost terms that cropped up in my casual overview - and Steuben was excellent for the man of action in my force, but I didn't actually know him that well to see if he'd fall into the same traps of thinking as the Remnant warriors.
I glanced over at an assembly line, Line 23, and observed as line after line of steel plates were transported via conveyer belt to be processed and make up the body of the Type-16 Powered Combat Vest. One hundred and forty units per batch and two more batches to be fabricated. The foremen estimated that we would have more than a thousand PCV's produced by the end of the month as long as supply was constant.
Some of my proposals were going to take time to produce namely the more larger ones like the Stork. It wasn't due to bureaucracy but rather, due to the fact that the Valean Foundry wasn't equipped to build large products like that. Due to business and security concerns, branch manufacturing plants could only produce groundpounder equipment.
Security was a huge concern for Friedlich arms. A single one of these plants would be enough to supply the Red Fang for an indefinite amount of time, or flood the black market with product. Law enforcement would have a bad time either way. So the really advanced tech - the stuff that looked at what the civilian market considered top of the line and smiled in warm affection like a mother being shown a macaroni-and-glue painting by their child - was outright illegalized outside of Atlas's military.
I didn't want that at all however, I wanted to build my own machine-making machines if I wanted my army to have the tech it deserved. Convincing my parents of that would be tougher than outright swiping the battleship turret production lines.
For my army, I had envisioned a combined arms approach. Platoons of exo-suit infantry supported by tanks, MICA suits, and gunships would make one hell of a interesting lightshow. All I had to do now was to wait for Steuben to finish up his recruitment drive and I would feel much more safer when that would happen.
Speaking about that recruitment drive, I gave Steuben my full confidence. He had told me that he had people in mind to serve as the officers of my mercenary army, former Atlesian soldiers with half a mind to go back into action. As for the normal baseline grunts, he was also going to find former soldiers and militia men as well as opening up recruiting stations in Vale.
He was not going to recruit the first person that would show up though. He assured me that he would fit in a strict criteria with military or militia experience being the primary desirable trait to be hired. And if he does find unqualified but fit recruits, there was nothing a little conditioning could handle.
My thoughts were momentarily tossed as I heard footsteps approach me. I turned to see that it was Blake with factory-safety-required pair of radio earmuffs (like my own) and a worried expression.
"What is it Blake? Cat got your tongue?" I asked teasingly. She rolled her eyes at my pun and handed me her clipboard. I accepted it and found that there was a paper that needed my signature. I took out a pen from my pocket and signed the document.
"Why are you buying warehouses and land? Don't we have enough space in the Foundry?" she asked.
"There not for the Foundry. I'm buying those because I'm going to set up the warehouse workers with a salary, because those warehouses are going to be filled with the stuff coming out of the food factory I'll be setting up" I replied cheerfully. Ever since I was five, I had wanted to set up my own food factory. People had shown interest in our food stall during the Vytal Business Expo and we still received questions regarding our food so it was high time to legitimize Friedlich Foods.
I was going to start the first Friedlich Foods factory in East Vale and for the capital, my father had given me a small loan of a million lien to be paid as soon as I could.
Blake rolled her eyes at my ambitions and accepted her clipboard when I finished signing. I returned my attention towards the assembly line.
The main events of RWBY would be happening around a week or so from now - Torchwick's petty crime wave was in full swing right now, robbing dust from every establishment that had it. His efforts were sometimes frustrated though when he robbed a establishment that had Friedlich Sentry turrets or Mr. Gutsy's around. If I ever met him, I would have to thank him for handing the Company a load of scared and willing-to-pay people who filled our coffers.
Anyway, every time the clock ticked closer towards canon, I could feel a a sense of anticipation, excitement, and a little bit of fear wallow in me.
It was so close that I could almost taste it!
But that was okay. Canon was going to breach the walls of normalcy and rear its ugly head inside.
Too bad it was going to find a gun barrel at the other end, cocked, loaded and ready to fucking go!
A/N: A thousand thanks to Krasnogvardiech for editing this update!
In other news, I'll be starting the 'canon' events in the next update. Buckle up buckaroos! It's going to be a Bizarre adventure!
Chapter 43
Long term goal, stop Salem and Ozpin from fucking up Remnant.
Short term goal, defend Vale from Cindy's vodka party.
I wish I could say that I had a Lelouch level plan in store to stop Cinderella from burning Vale down to the ground, but I wasn't that pissed, and I couldn't wrangle together a plan that good with as much unknown to me right now.
But then again, I have never been a fan for over-complicating things. Making things far too complex would just bite me in the ass one day.
And so, Alexander's four-step program was really simple.
I knew myself but I had only a vague outline of my enemy's capabilities, and I didn't wish to lose in hundreds of battles from now. Gathering intelligence was paramount. Asides from that reasoning, there was also the off chance that Cindy had other surprises in store that we didn't see in the show. I was not going to be bent over and fucked just because I failed to consider if Cindy had Plan B's in mind.
But before I could do any of that, I needed to find out where she was first.
For that little problem, I crafted my own robotic spies to do my intelligence gathering for me. The robots I created weren't human spybots but rather, animatronic animals common to cities everywhere; local bird and rodent pests. For Vale that was fuzzy-eared mice and pidgeons. The last thing people would expect to spy on them were animals after all. No one thinks that the birds outside their windows are spies not unless they were crazy.
Anyway, I programmed my robots with an advanced intelligence matrix to help them blend in with their animal disguises. It would be hella strange to find a flock of lifeless pigeons staring at you. Heck, I had also even drafted in some synthetic fleshy bits to enhance the disguise. To top all of that, their cameras were connected to my scroll or holographic computer via satellite so I could see and even talk through them if I wanted.
That 'push'to-talk' addition was pretty fucking funny. I had a marvelous time screwing with people with my pigeons but that was a story for another time.
Anyway, it was thanks to my foresight that a flock of my robo pigeons scouted one Roman Tochwick leaving The Club with a group of black-suited and red-tied gentlemen trailing behind him.
Now, the reason why I had kept a flock and a pack of mice inside Junior's club at all times was for one simple reason. To put eyes and sensors on everybody's favorite gentleman thief who would lead me to Remnant's Cinderella expy.
While I was pretty much aware on Cindy's overall goal, I had no clue on how to get to her asides from the bits I could remember from the show.
And so, spywatch it was.
My pigeons followed Torchwick around and the orange-haired thief had strutted into a familiar looking Dust store. I wondered why that store looked so familiar to me despite not having been there in the first place. It was when one of Tochwick's goons was thrown out of the window I realized what it was.
I watched in fascination as the fighting spilled out into the streets. Tochwick was using his cane weapon to defend himself from Ruby's attacks and was doing a rather marvelous job at it. Ruby in this urban zone relied on speed alone, that being sadly not enough to overcome Torchwick's experience and the orange-haired bastard made a run for it as soon as he was able to immobilize the girl.
When the fight had finished, I paused the feed and gathered my thoughts.
The long awaited day had come. Canon had finally reared its ugly head. When I had gotten that realization, I felt like I was cast to drift onto the tides of the ocean, listless and unmoving. A small part of me had wished that canon wouldn't arrive, that it wouldn't come and I would enjoy life with Weiss without having to worry about Sallie and cretins wanting to murder me.
When I saw Roman's goons getting their asses handed towards them by a fifteen year old girl, I knew that the kiddie gloves were off and the big-boy pants needed to be put on.
So be it.
Continuing on with my four step program, the second part of it was preparing my forces to counter her own.
Steuben had been blindingly fast in rallying my regiment, bolting down eight hundred souls - a company's worth of combat personnel and around a hundred trustworthy office workers, grease monkeys and general asskickers to back them all up. Currently, he and his officers were somewhere in the Foundry drilling up the recruits to meet their standards. While it wasn't what I had in mind, he assured me that I would get my regiment up and running within a few months.
Until Steuben's hellweek was done and the recruits properly armed , I only had myself, a squad of Artemesias that I had bought and modified from the SDC, and an arsenal's worth of weapons and equipment to count upon for the defense of Vale.
Blake was gone now. I allowed her a day off to relax before her mission to Beacon. She had spent it requisitioning shit from the Foundry namely grenades and other throwable knickknacks.
Before she left I also gave her a few items that would help in her mission. Listening devices the size of coins and a special scroll that wasn't connected to the CCT beacons but to the private Friedlich satellite network. It still functioned as a normal scroll though and she could still connect to other scrolls.
When she was filling in her enrollment form for Beacon, she wanted once more to go with name of Mochizuki Chiyome. I had to again interfere and tell her no, stating that it was a strange name and it would only make her stand out more. Grudgingly, she listed her real name instead.
Jesus christ Blake. I know you are a ninja weeb but would it kill you to not act like one at least one minute?
Maybe I should have sent her home to Menagerie instead of bringing her along with me to Atlas. I swear her ninja tendencies grew worse when I had brought her along. Now that I phrased her assignment Weiss like a Shogun, she would no doubt start to see me more as a Lord rather than as a friend.
I'll have to address that in our next meeting. I didn't get her out of the gutter for her to look at me as if I was a Duke straight out of the history books.
Anyway, the third step to my four step program involved finding allies to help me ruin Cindy's future debacle. There is after all a limit to what one man could do. I am but one man, here, still under the leash of my parents at that. There were just some things that couldn't be done by my lonesome.
The most obvious choice as an ally was Ozpin. As loathe as I was to admit it, he would be a right proper guy to have backing you in a scrap. He was powerful and had actionable intelligence that I desperately needed. With his intel coupled with my army and financial power, we would have more than enough sufficient force to threaten Cinder and even Salem herself.
The only problem with him was that he was a control-freak bastard and had a fondness in saying half-truths. He was, in the simplest of terms, a useful ally and a unreliable nuisance.
Thinking about it, I would probably lose a lot more if I discarded Ozzie's help this early. Until I could stand on my own, an alliance with Ozpin was necessary. The only question now was when to raise it to him? I couldn't exactly just approach him on the fly and say: "Hey there Ozma, wonderful weather we are having. Say, wanna join forces to kill your ex wife?"
Recalling the last and only time we met, didn't he say that I was always welcome to join and visit him for a chat in Beacon? Perhaps I should take up on his offer. He was pretty much hinting that he had something to say and I was rather curious on what it was. On the plus side, I could meet up with Weiss again. Not having anyone to tease was rather boring and depressing…
Oh well. Let's see what Ozzie has to offer. If he wants me to bow down to him, I'm going to take that cane of his and shove it up his asshole.
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech.
While writing this, I had thought of having Alex go to Junior and ask info from him instead but that would just be risky as he might run into three dangerous characters namely Roman, Neo, and Yang. As for why Yang is dangerous, she beat up a Club's worth of guards and customers and thoroughly roughed up the place. Plus, having an old money aristocrat hanging around a seedy club frequented by the common rabble would not endear him to his fellow elites. So, personal animal spies it was.
Next stop: A quick visit to Beacon.
Last edited: Jul 30, 2019
Chapter 44
If there was one thing that show didn't do proper justice then it would be how beautiful and massive Beacon was.
Even from the distance, Beacon was like a mighty silver spike thrust into the earth, with glittering green rooftops and gleaming marble walls. The only thing that was out of place of the picturesque setting was the massive CCT beacon smackdab in the middle of the academy.
If I could recall correctly from my history books, Beacon used to be a castle belonging to a now extinct line of Valean dukes who all died to a man during the Great War. The last remaining member of that family line donated the castle to the Council of Vale who then transformed it into a hunstman Academy.
A shame though. That family line was rather badass but that was a story for another time.
The Stork landed with a steady whoompf of suspension on the Airship Pad. I unbuckled my restraints and stood up, erstwhile straightening my clothes. Light filled the interior as the rear door opened and from inside, I could make out a portly outline from outside the craft. I smiled in bemusement as I had an idea who might be meeting me.
As soon as I took my first steps out of the Stork, my suspicions was pretty much confirmed.
Peter Port stood at a mighty 5'8 and emitted an aura of confidence borne of experience and barely-contained testosterone. He wore his signature double-breasted burgundy suit with gold piping and buttons. His pants, of the same color as his suit, was tucked inside a pair of black cavalry boots.
I on the other hand wore the same clothing I had worn during the Vytal Business expo. A Friedlich blue Waffenrock tunic with red cuffs and gold trimming. I had pants of the same color also tucked in like Port's. In addition, I also wore a Friedlich blue greatcoat that I kept open and flowing as well as the scarf that Weiss had gifted to me many years ago.
If this scene had no context, it would look like a 19th century drama political flick no thanks to my military style garb as well as Port's rather aristocratic appearance.
"Welcome to Beacon, Mr Friedlich." greeted the rotund professor. I held out my hand for a handshake.
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage, Mr…?" I trailed off, playing the stranger card.
"Professor Peter Port." he declared in a grandiose tone. Declaration finished, his voice returned to a business-like luster "I am to be your guide for the duration of your visit to Beacon. Normally, the teaching staff would be here to greet you due to your status but you have come at a difficult time I'm afraid. Shall we?" He motioned towards the stone walkway that led to the Academy. I nodded and exited the ramp.
Following after me was a single Artmesia clad in in her distinct garb and a lone Mr Gutsy that tried to infuriate the Artemesia with insults to her SDC heritage. The only thing that was going to be angry was the Mr Gutsy as the robot maid all but ignored his taunts and wisecracks.
Port eyed them with an amused glance before turning his attention towards the walkway.
"Where's the rest of the teaching staff?" I asked curiously. As Port moved to reply, we both twitched as loud, effeminate screaming registered into our ears.
I blinked. I returned my gaze to Port who seemed to be chuckling jovially.
"My, it seems that they have already started without me. Nevermatter! I can still view the footage later!" he harrumphed with a slight tingle to his voice. I raised a skeptical eyebrow at the rotund man in front of me. Sensing my confusion, he explained.
"You've arrived at the most important moment of a student's life, The Initiation Ceremony, where they are sent feet first into a Grimm-infested forest to hunt down artifacts that would determine their place in the Academy!"
Upon hearing Port's rather exuberant declaration, I turned a tad pale than usual. I knew that the Initiation ceremony would land Ozpin and the staff in a cell faster than you could say attempted murder but this was still ridiculous.
"Isn't that rather dangerous?" I pointed out. Port merely laughed.
"Dangerous? Hah! Hunstmen eat danger for breakfast!" he dismissed with jovial exuberance and supreme faith in the process at work. That was a feat of its own and I need to learn how to do that.
He suddenly sighed and spoke once more in a much more serious tone. "Hunstmen must learn that every single waking moment of their life is mired with danger. There are no moments of respite. There are no moments of peace. That is the consequence of being a hunstman."
As I moved to speak, I suddenly stopped as I spotted something in the corner of my eye.
Lying by a marble pillar was a troop of brown-and-black furred Capuchin monkeys, leisurely squatting and without a single care in the world. I raised my finger at… that.
"What in the world are those?" I all but demanded. Port stopped, hummed briefly as he looked to where I was pointing and smiled.
"Those my boy? Those are capuchin monkeys." explained Port, offering little explanation at all. I stared at him impassively.
"I can see that. But why?"
"Ah. I can tell you now but I assure you, you'd hear the same answer from the Headmaster when you meet him." replied Port. I glanced back to the monkeys who sensed that I was staring at them and had gathered to watch me. I glanced back to Port.
"Are there any other animals that I must be aware of?" I asked with a deadpan expression. Port rubbed his mustache as he recalled his memories.
"Well, the Headmaster also has a pet owl he keeps in his office named George. My fellow colleague, Doctor Oobleck, keeps a pet chameleon in his room and the Headmistress has a pair of hamsters and a goldfish in her care." listed of Port. I returned to look at the monkeys who were now following us as we walked.
"Is that the only troop?" I questioned.
Port shook his head. "Oh no! If I can recall correctly, they are merely a part of the main troop. There is a much bigger troop here."
"How many monkeys?"
"Five hundred at least."
I gave him a look.
"Five hundred capuchin monkeys? Where on Remnant did Headmaster Ozpin find five hundred capuchin monkeys?" I asked incredulously. Port fixed me a smile.
"As I had said, you may ask me but the Headmaster would no doubt tell you the same tale. I assure you, it would be best to be heard from his own mouth."
One of the capuchin monkeys stood on his legs. I assumed that the monkey would flash me a wave with his hand. Instead, he merely flexed his muscles and flipped me the bird instead.
I flipped him the bird back.
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech.
This update was supposed to be longer but I had some problems finishing it. I'll be putting up the rest of his visit in the next updates.
Chapter 45
"Welcome to Beacon Mr. Friedlich. I trust your welcome has been warm?"
Alexander flicked down the news gazette in his hands to glance at the source of the greeting, then lowered it to see everyone's favourite Wizard headmaster clad in his usual green clothing with a mug of freshly ground hot chocolate in his hand.
"It has been a strange welcome, but a welcome nonetheless." he replied honestly, recalling the monkeys and of that loud effeminate screaming in the distance. He had tried to guess on who it was but he just couldn't put a finger on who it might have been.
Ozpin nodded in satisfaction, a small smile coming to his lips. "That is good to hear. Could we step into my office? I feel that a long discussion is ahead of us."
Alex laid down the gazette and inclined his head. "Lead on, Headmaster."
Professor Port had led Alex to this small reception-area outside the Headmaster's tower after half an hour. During the walk, Port hadn't resisted commenting as he traversed what was likely half of the Beacon facilities. The campy charm of his pomp and bombast, while endearing at first, grew stale at breakneck speed.
Arriving at the Headmaster's tower, they took an elevator that led them to the top. As it did so, Port continued to ramble more on how awesome and mighty Beacon was and on how its teaching staff was the most capable and talented teachers around. Not as talented and capable as him of course but hey, he had to give credit to his fellow colleagues after all.
It was a good thing that the elevator was fast otherwise, Alexander would have gone mental listening to him ramble.
The elevator opened up to a waiting room of sorts and it was there Port left Alex, promising that the Headmaster would come to meet him shortly after finishing up the Initiation ceremony and the subsequent assigning of teams.
Alexander then sat down in the comfy and quiet room with soulful crescendo of his shoes' gratitude backed by the choir of his relieved eardrums, and helped himself to the nearby percolator and amusing himself by watching the dissing match between his Mr Gutsy and the clearly SDC Artemesia.
" Look at you! Dressed in a dress and armed with a pansy whip and a pansy sword! Oh well! What can you expect from the SDC but fancy schmancy gizmos!"
The Artemesia craned her head towards the Mr Gutsy and frowned. " And what can you expect of F riedlich creations with nothing more than testosterone-addled robots with an inferiority complex?"
The three eyes of the Mr. Gutsy stared hard and long at the robot maid. " What did you say!?" he roared.
Artemesia did not skip a beat. " Ah. An audio glitch. The Schnee Dust Company not only programmed me with domestic and combat subroutines but repair subroutines as well. Would you like me to repair your inferior audio systems?"
" Why you patronizing little-"
It was to that bickering Ozpin walked into. When he arrived, they stopped arguing and gave him their respects. The Gutsy robot giving him a salute and the Artemesia curtsying. When he and Alex took a step inside his office, the two returned to their dissing match once more.
"Charming marchines." commented Ozpin, amusement in his tone, as he strode towards his desk. Alex's eyes scanned his office and it pretty much looked the same as the one in the show all except for one. In a corner of the room was the Headmaster's owl, George, and he was perched on a pole. He was a grey Great Horned owl and he was giving Alex the death stare of the century.
O… Okay?
"Never mind George. He is always wary of visitors." chimed in Ozpin as he sat on his chair. "Before we start, would you like some refreshments? Tea, Coffee, or Hot Chocolate?"
"Tea would be nice." said Alexander as he sat across the Headmaster of Beacon. His ears perked up as he heard chattering from a dark corner of the room. Confusion filled him as a capuchin monkey with a fez and a black bowtie exited the corner with a mug of tea in his hands.
The monkey scampered towards him and offered him the mug. Alex accepted it and brought it to his lips. Hm. Chamomile. Amusement then filled him as the monkey turned towards Ozpin and held out his hand as if demanding payment. The Headmaster of Beacon complied by opening a drawer in his desk and handed the monkey three raspberries who accepted it and scampered to his corner as fast as he appeared.
"Headmaster, I think I must be in the wrong place. Last I heard, Beacon was a center for learning and not a petting zoo." Alexander joked. Ozpin smiled at the man's humour.
"Mr. Friedlich, I assure you, you are in the right place." Ozpin assured him.
"How did you get a lot of monkeys anyway? Did you purchase them?" Alex asked. To his surprise, Ozpin shook his head.
"Last year, an airship carrying containers full of them crashed in the Emerald forest nearby. When the airship had crashed, the monkeys escaped and migrated here. I think they've adopted the faculty and student body as their own." he explained. Alex looked at him incredulously.
"And the students did not complain? The teaching staff?" Once more Ozpin shook his head.
"A party of Hunstmen led by Doctor Oobleck was sent and discovered in the ships logs that the monkeys were smuggled and were to be used as lab monkeys. When word of it was spread, the students all but demanded the monkeys be taken in as Beacon property."
Alexander stared at him harder. "There was no attempt to surrender the monkeys to say, the zoo?" Ozpin shrugged his shoulders.
"There was but the zoo could only take in so much capuchins and the monkeys themselves did not want to leave Beacon. And so, it was decided that the monkeys would have to stay."
Alexander took a quiet sip of his Chamomile tea. This was not the RWBY he remembered.
He…
No.
He could try and argue but it would only make his head hurt. He would simply have to go with the flow. Fighting a wave would only exhaust him. Besides, exactly what harm was this particular eccentricity going to do? Activate the animals' Aura?
As long as the man gave him what he needed then he would be more than content to leave the wizard alone to his devices.
"Monkeys aside, Beacon is a beautiful place Headmaster. It has been an honor to see it with my own eyes." diverted Alexander.
The Headmaster in green bowed his head at his compliment. "And it too is an honor to host a dignified visitor such as yourself. I would have prepared a grander welcome but the students are being initiated and the teaching staff is sadly pre-occupied with them."
Alexander waved him off. "There's no need for such pomp and ceremony. I am a mere businessman, not a Royal Prince."
The silver-haired Wizard tittered. "Your manner of dress and speech say otherwise, Mr. Friedlich. My students are rather impressionable and already, rumors have circulated about your arrival."
Alex raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Really? How did they know?" Ozpin adjusted his spectacles.
"Well. You were seen walking around Beacon with Professor Port. Port is a capable educator but he is rather lacking when it comes to discretion." chatted the Headmaster of Beacon. "And students, if they aren't fighting Grimm or causing property damage, gossip the latest news in the Beacon CCTNet forums."
As proof of this, Ozpin flourished his scroll and showed Alexander a website that was laid out in a similar manner to one place he remembered from Earth… Tumoner? Tumbler? Many images or short snips of articles, and endless scrolling. Sure enough, there was already a compilation of his pictures with dozens of comments ranging from tolerable to borderline concerning.
"It seems that you have gotten quite a following Mr. Friedlich." commented Ozpin with a smile that only spoke leagues of how amused he was. Alex shook his head at that.
Teenagers…
"The novelty will wear off within a couple of weeks." dismissed Alexander. He shifted in his seat as he eyed the man that had held the line for centuries. Say what you will about Ozpin but he had tried his best to halt mankind's ultimate demise even if he had lost hope of ever winning.
"Now, may we talk business?" asked Alexander. Ozpin nodded and laid his mug to the side, an indication that he was committing to the dialogue.
When Alexander had booked an appointment with Ozpin, he had specifically angled it that he was going to donate a sum of money to Beacon.
The whole setup was absolutely distasteful - the oldest ways of tribe and clan still applied in society, and to give someone who's all but the elder, the shaman, something as petty as cash? But it was simply so - Alexander was at the end of all things a merchant-to-be, and with cash donation and investment was the way he could get this close to Ozpin at all.
"As I understand it, Beacon accepts donations but what do we get on our end?" Alexander asked.
"Well, it entirely depends on the way you wish to donate. Is it a business donation or a personal one?" questioned the Headmaster, his eyes set on Alexander.
"It is a business donation. My mother has always been keen to support her Alma Mater." said Alexander.
"Should the Friedlich Arms Group wish to donate then the benefits would be as follows." He adjusted his spectacles and looked as if he was reading from an invisible porjector. "Your products would have the highest priority for advertisement to our students, staff, and administration. Considering the line of work my students wish to pursue, it would be rather easy to sell. Furthermore, your enterprise and the company you keep would be honored in Beacon, and you will have the gratitude of myself and everyone walking my academy's halls."
Alexander nodded, "Anything else?"
"You would also have the opportunity to pick a hunstman team and assign them a mission if you so wish." At that, Alexander's attention turned into interest.
"Are there any limits?" Alexander asked, suddenly enjoying the prospect of donating money and momentarily putting aside his distaste.
"As long as it operates within the boundaries of Vale and adheres to Valean law and custom then there is no limit to what mission you might assign of them." said Ozpin, his eyes scanning Alexander. The arms dealer paused and tried to think of any potential losses he might have.
He found none.
"A quick question." Alexander asked. The headmaster sagaciously nodded. He had time, and the ball was in his court.
"If two companies would donate, would the same benefits apply?" Alexander said, thinking of using the main company and a subsidiary company to get the benefits of donating to Beacon. A thoughtful expression came upon Ozpin's face as he considered Alexander's question.
"Certainly so. Why?"
"… nothing to be concerned about."
The responding silence might have been filled by a disdainful snort or raised eyebrows at Alex's obvious lie.
Ozpin almost smiled.
"The precise amount would be thus…" Alexander coughed, taking the absence of a riposte as one in its own right.
As the discussion turned towards the finances, Alexander's mind was in a flurry. Of course he was still going to ask Ozpin for help against Torchwick but he was also getting something even better. After all, what could be more valuable than a ruby and more delectable than a juniper?
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech. May he live long and blessed.
In the next episode of Dragon Ball Z, it will feature our boy hobnobbing with the locals. A whole team of em.
Chapter 46
Weiss wasn't one to swear like a plebe but she felt borrowing an expression of theirs was the perfect way to respond to her experiences in thus far.
It was official. Beacon can go bite her ass.
Beacon was supposed to be a fresh new start for her. It was a chance to make something out of her life without the assistance of others. Sure she had an allowance with multiple zeroes in it, had a famous family name to move socially, and could also count on her own personal fame as an opera singer but the fact of the matter here was that she was well truly on her own to carve out a kingdom in Beacon.
There were no more servants to direct, no assistants to boss, and no Alex to bake her cakes. It was just her wits and skills.
These such thoughts were circulating in Weiss's head when her airship neared the famous Hunstman school. She remembered the feeling of awe and wonder as she spied the tall spires of Beacon from her airship. She imagined bright and confident students strutting around immersing themselves in fine academia and sharpening their combat skills in duels and the like. She imagined a teaching staff that was the best of the best with a heart to educate the next generation.
And then, she actually took a step inside the school and quickly understood why Winter referred to it as wild and insane.
There were the monkeys lying about and students walking around them as if they were part of the decorations and that avant-garde giant golden lemur statue that was seated on a marble column, it had one arm bent at an angle across its chest while the other was fully extended parallel to the first arm, the face turned toward the bent elbow.
And then, there were the new arrivals like her. There was that girl with red-tipped hair and her crabby blonde-haired sister. Weiss rolled her eyes and glanced at the siblings. The youngest one, Ruby, was walking ahead of them with a skip to her step, happily humming a tune while her sister, Yang, followed closely behind, her hands folded behind her head.
Inside of her, Weiss couldn't help but feel cheated. This girl with the upbeat act somehow managed to become the team leader for their team. The honorable Headmaster of Beacon had chosen this underaged airhead over her, Weiss Schnee. to lead.
Apparently, the girl that had almost blown up a part of Beacon was qualified to lead a team of aspiring hunstmen rather than an heiress to a multi-billion lien company who had been taught to lead and fight by the best tutors that money could buy.
"Do you realize how much danger you could have caused!?" Weiss screeched, her fingers pointing towards the multiple vials of dust now lying about the ground. Her irritation was increased when the girl had the gall to look confused.
"Whuut?" the girl squeaked, silver-eyes blinking.
Weiss resisted the urge to facepalm at her obliviousness. Her mind urged her to scold the girl some more but she forced herself to calm down. Alex had once told her that she was just like dust, a little spark and then suddenly, an explosion would happen.
Of course, she was offended at Alex poking at her character but a upon reflecting on it further, she had to admit he had a point. Mother and Winter never lost their composure, even at the most terrible of times. She had to do them proud and screeching like an harpy would only tarnish her and the family name.
Weiss sighed.
Well. There was no point in sweating out over something so petty. What would Alex think of her if she went off on Ruby? Oh well. The least she could do was to reign in Ruby towards a direction that wouldn't get them all killed. She figured that it was still leading the team from a certain point of view.
At least she wasn't alone to face the insanity. She took a quick glance at her companion and partner for the next four years and was heartened to find her sporting the same look of trauma she had worn a few hours ago.
Weiss was surprised to find Alex's personal maid in Beacon and the girl was quick to explain her presence there. Apparently, she was to go undercover as a student to be her own personal bodyguard.
It was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Belle was the perfect partner that she could've asked for; quiet, mature, understanding of personal space and there was no slack to be picked up from her way in combat. Her earlier view of her as a corporate flunkie was quickly thrown out of the window immediately when she displayed her competency during their artifact hunt in the Emerald Forest.
Weiss sighed as she once more cast a look at the path ahead of them. She could only hope the teachers were as good as they were claimed. At least they would break the cycle of nonsense she would have to deal with.
Speaking about teachers, classes were going to start tomorrow. Right now, they were free to do as they wish. Weiss had suggested that the team spar so that they would get to know about their fighting styles more. That way, she could formulate tactics and strategies for them to use.
Then her suggestion was thrown out of the window when Ruby decided that they had to get back to their dorms for an impromptu slumber party. Judging from the look the girl sported a few minutes ago, there was going to be no argument.
And so, slumber party it was.
Their footsteps echoed as they traversed the stone pathways of Beacon. At this point in time, the senior students were in their classes which kept the school eerily quiet. The first years were few in number but from what Weiss had seen, it didn't really matter if they were a hundred or a thousand as they were all boisterous and rowdy.
Luckily, the rest of the first years had wandered off to explore which allowed Team RYWB and by extension, her, some peace and quiet.
Her precious peace and quiet was then thrown out a window when Ruby stopped in her tracks, a excited squeal leaving her lips. Weiss rolled her eyes at the younger girl's antics. What? Had she found a new monkey to fawn over?
Ruby turned around, her eyes glittering with excitement. "He's here!" she exclaimed. Yang raised an eyebrow at her sister's sudden outburst. "Who's here?" asked the blonde, taking steps forward to see what exactly gotten her sister in such a craze.
Sure enough, she saw it or rather, him.
"Oh my gods…" snickered Yang, her eyes returning back to Ruby who looked like she was about to explode from sheer excitement. Weiss and Blake glanced at each other, quite lost on what was happening. Weiss took the imitative to find out first and walked over to Yang's side to see what the fuss was about
"Alexander?" she gasped.
Sure enough, her fiancee was a few feet away from them in deep conversation with the Headmaster of Beacon while his escorts, a single Artemesia and Mr Gutsy robot stood a few feet away from them. She couldn't quite place what they were talking about but she could catch snippets of 'Roman' and 'Criminals" being discussed.
As eyes of silver and lilac fell on her, further away two others caught notice. A wise man's unhurried shift of attention and a young one's snap-to in precision found more in soldiers than business executives.
"What?" she said aloud.
"How'd ya know him? Where you like, childhood friends or something?" asked Yang. Weiss considered about telling her the truth, but decided to reveal it only when it suited her.
"If you haven't noticed it Xiao Long, I happen to be Weiss Schnee…" emphasized Weiss sarcastically."… the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company. I may or may not know my future colleagues in the industry."
"Yup. Childhood friends alright." chuckled Yang, mouthing the p with an audible pop and eliciting a glare from Weiss . She then turned towards Ruby and gave her a pat on the back. "Sorry Rubes. Looks like your Jack Frost already had an Ice Princess back home."
Alarmed, Weiss turned towards the girl. Did she harbor any feelings for Alex? Had they met before? Fortunately for Weiss, Ruby was turning beet red out of embarrassment rather than any actual attraction.
"Yang. I admire him, not like him!" protested Ruby, her cheeks turning red. Her protests were duly ignored however as the blonde ruffled her hair.
"Sure you do." teased Yang.
"They're coming here." deadpanned Blake. Sure enough, the Headmaster was striding towards them, Alexander and his escorts following closely behind.
"Girls, were you not told that eavesdropping is rude?" started Headmaster Ozpin. The teens, sans Weiss and Blake, grimaced.
"It's fine Headmaster. I know them." chimed in Alexander as he regarded them with a smile. His eyes shone in recognition as he locked eyes with Ruby who smiled back, to Yang who winked at him, towards Blake who shared a conspiratorial nod then finally, to her.
Weiss felt gentle twinges in her heart when he smiled… seeing it again made it easier to return it.
"So Weiss, this is your team?" he asked. She nodded and was about to introduce them when Yang beat her to the punch. The blonde strutted forward and wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"Hey Aleeex~!" Yang must have decided her kick right now was to make Ruby crave death by becoming a crimson cocoon, because in one motion she sashayed an obviously exaggerated step forward, arched in a upwards stretch and grinned like she caught a canary bigger than her own head. Even the words were twisted, exiting as a throaty purr rather than anything decent. But lilacs were atwinkling - no foul intended. Ozpin and Blake looking on seemingly entertained. Weiss might've chuckled behind a covered mouth had the target of the act not been her Alex.
Weiss liked to think that she wasn't prone to jealousy. To be insecure was for lesser women. She was Weiss Schnee for goodness sakes! She was an opera singer, an heiress and a fencing expert! Despite her long list of accomplishments, she still just couldn't help but feel jealous towards her team leader.
Ruby on the other hand felt like she was going to die. Being told on your idol was perhaps, one of the very worst things she could imagine. I mean, what was one supposed to feel if their secrets were laid bare before he one they idolized?
Weiss understood about him that Alex's response to deep offense to his sensibilities was to spring back and return the blow. Nothing physical, or at least it couldn't be told outside of the angles of his face and the look in his eyes. Few could tell this - or perhaps even notice, finding it easy to call it a trick of the light - but in that silent click of all of a heartbeat, where his instincts were doused like a lamp, he may as well have been kiln-fired brick for how hard-faced he would be afterwards.
He kind of looked like his father when he did that. A Mistrali legionnaire would've recognized the state of mind, and obeyed him.
Except… he scratched the back of his head.
Quietly happy, Weiss found it in herself to look on. Mercifully nobody seemed to have noticed.
He smiled sheepishly as he regarded Yang. "I am rather flattered and honored that Miss Rose still views me in a positive light. I shall continue to do my best to be worthy of that praise."
"You still remember my name?" gasped Ruby. Alexander nodded at her. "Well, it is rather hard to forget you and your cheerful personality Miss Rose." He then turned back towards Yang.
"Ruby never mentioned you when we last spoke. Miss…?" he let on. Yang flashed him a smile and leaned ever so slightly to give him a view of her generous tracts of land. "The name's Yang Xiao Long but you can call me Yang. You've earned it." she added with a titter.
Yang must have felt like she was getting lasered by a Friedlich designator at that point, because Alex hadn't once dropped his gaze from the horizon to the bountiful hills, to Weiss's secret delight.
"I'd tell you my name but I feel Miss Rose has told you that a dozen times already. It's a pleasure to meet you, Yang." He nodded at her. He then moved his attention towards Blake
Blake, who unsubtly straightened up at the sudden attention.
"And you are?" Alex asked.
"Belle Donnabella" she replied.
Weiss wondered why the two were acting why they didn't know one another but then she remembered that Belle was here in secret and no one needed to know that she was in fact a skilled huntress pretending to be a student.
"I see that you are faunus and proud of it." He started. To be sure, nothing adorned Blake's head, displaying a pair of cat ears for the world to see. "No concern expended for bigotry?"
questioned the Friedlich heir. Her jealousy spiked when the faunus smiled a little bit too warmly.
"I met someone that taught me a valuable lesson." said Belle.
"And that lesson was?"
"Dream on until death." she said with a warmer smile. With their talk finished, Alexander finally turned towards her.
Weiss made a mental note to have a long talk with Belle. There was something about her talk with Alex that was a little off.
"Weiss." he said simply. Weiss's emotions were struggling. She was happy that Alexander was here but at the same time, conflicted about the sudden show of warmth that he and his assistant shared.
"Alexander." she replied.
"I would love to stay here and chat but I still have a long discussion with Headmaster Ozpin…" Said Headmaster was standing by, his earlier confronting personality long gone and replaced with… amusement? "… and by the time we are finished, it would be rather late. What do you say I take you and your team out for dinner this Saturday?"
"That would be grand." she said graciously. Already, she could feel the excitement emanating from Yang and Ruby, no doubt excited at the thought of free food and drink.
"You already know my scroll number so we can catch up later. Now, would you excuse me?"
"Go…" was all Weiss found strength to say - it suddenly felt like she'd hauled the team on her back all day long. Alex met the world with pain a mirror of her own… And from a vest pocket over his heart produced something he clasped hands over and handed to her.
Theme: Edelweiss
"I'm sorry, I can't stay to speak more. Can this be enough, just for today? Duty calls to both of us, I'm quite short on time now."
Weiss felt heat creep towards her cheeks and the worries she had harbored a scant few minutes ago were gone in an instant. In his gloved hand was a small flower with white woolly leaves and petals.
An edelweiss.
She accepted it gracefully and held it in her hand. Her teammates glanced at the flower curiously and she could feel the questions forming in their heads. She on the other hand understood what the flower was speaking.
She forced herself to calm down and curtsied, her hands reaching out and visibly grasping the blue crystal necklace that he had given her a long time.
"Until then, Alexander."
A flash of emotion flashed in his eyes as he saw her touch the necklace, a pained smile on his lips.
"Until then, Weiss."
A/N: Edited with Krasnogvardiech. May he live long and prosper.
Anyway, aren't they two sappy little cretins. May they enjoy their precious moments because soon, they gonna have a bad time.
In other news, the reason why Weiss is touched at Alex giving her an Edelweiss because the Edelweiss symbolizes deep devotion and love. In this sense, Alex is using to signify his deep devotion and yadda yadda to Weiss cream.
And as for why they aren't being overtly displaying of their relationship, they are distinctively upper class and overt displays of affection are considered poor form.
Chapter 47
Some time after returning to my office, my eyes were fixed on the fireplace, a glass of Mistrali red wine in my hand.
Visiting Beacon hadn't been unproductive, and yet I hadn't completed what I had set out for.
While I'd secured a core of loyal customers and no-pay-needed testers for weapons too crazy to hand to sensible men, this meaning essentially free advertising as Huntsmen basically couldn't help but tell everyone about what they did when they did it, that benefit was mitigated by the fact that Ozpin was as helpful as a slippery rope. Meeting the Beacon dream team in full was nice, but that was a band-aid over a stuctural collapse.
After I had made Beacon a little richer than before, I immediately spoke to him regarding Torchwick's activities and hinted a desire to combine our forces to stop Torchwick which would then lead us towards Cinder then eventually, Big Mommy Salami herself.
Due to events outside of our control however, there was nothing he could do in an official capacity. Most of his experienced hunstmen and huntresses were preoccupied with defending Vale both from the Grimm and the Red Fang. The latter was proving to be quite more problematic of late despite Atlas increasing efforts to combat them.
I took a quick sip of my wine and began twirling it gently, my mind running.
Ozpin was however willing to share whatever information he had or would discover. Already, he had given me a sizable file that I would read later on.
With that squared away, I could fully return into building my forces.
When I had returned to the Foundry, I was hit both with good news and bad news.
The good news was that Steuben was already getting started in whipping the men and women we had into shape and my foremen reported they would meet the deadlines under budget and ahead of schedule so that meant once their training was over, they could expect the right and proper equipment for them to use.
But when it rains, does it ever pour. My request for blueprints for the advanced manufacturing equipment was returned to me with what may as well have been a fat, sloppy, steaming mass of 'DENIED'. God, a septic tank was less full of shit than that e-mail.
Of course, I had a mild freak out over that because I was not keen in getting my people killed by literal ubermensch and abruptly phoned my parents as soon as I could.
And the reason for their refusal?
"Do you remember the Paladins that old Jacques wanted to produce?"
I struggled to suppress a snort. "Who couldn't? You complained to me, mother, the dogs and anyone who would listen that the overhyped wearable forklift got approval rather than the Guardian tank."
Father grunted in the other line. "Well, a shipment of Paladins that was supposed to be delivered to the military was intercepted mid-delivery. The attack footage revealed no distinguishing features about the attackers - aside from their numbers and their damnably good execution of the train raid, they gave nothing away before popping an EMP that fried the shipment's transmitters. From what I could gather from my contacts in the military, they were intercepted and stolen by the Red Fang."
Silence reigned in our call.
"Son?"
"So what you are telling me… is that the Red Fang have with them not one, but shipment of Atlesian war machines with enough firepower to level a city block?"
"There were five Paladins stolen to be exact." he informed me. I failed to suppress a sigh.
"And how does this relate to your refusal to send me better manufacturing equipment?" I questioned.
"Alexander. This isn't just mere machinery." Father said flatly. "What you are asking for are machines that can enable anyone to make weapons that are far deadlier and dangerous than anything that we have produced. There is a real risk that the Red Fang might try and intercept them if we ship parts to you."
I stayed silent for a moment, thinking of a solution.
The White Fang hadn't laid down their arms, but I remember being humbled by seeing the goodness of them in various videos broadcast on media - they'd consolidated themselves into an effective militia focused on aiding the settlements far from big cities.
From that, there was no doubt the Red Fang was going to be taking their place as Cinder's goons. Considering that they want to remodel Remnant from top to bottom, it would have been relatively easy for Cinder to spin a tale of how she wants the same thing as them and play them like a fiddle.
From canon, I could remember that Roman Torchwick had something to do in the Paladin thievery. Perhaps if I could get to Roman and immobilize him from taking action…
"What if I lower the heat that is happening? What if I calm down the rocking seas?" I asked my father who replied. "Then maybe we can work something out."
He paused as my words finally hit him clear. "Are you planning on doing something dangerous, Alex?"
I stayed silent, not able to answer his question.
Ever since I had grown up, Gerard Friedlich striked me as the type of man who enjoyed a good laugh and easy times. He was never the type to yell or get angry, always keeping his cool and collected. I had never seen him angry nor had I done much things to get him angry.
And so when I heard him talk again, I swear I felt my bones shiver.
"Alexander Friedlich. You were sent to Vale to head our branch, not to go around town hunting extremists. You will NOT do anything dangerous do you understand me?"
He didn't need to so much as raise his voice to get it across to me that doing anything other than exactly what he wanted was a bad idea. Aside from being my dad, this man was also my boss.
My mind jumped to detailings of the Kingdom of Mantle's forces in the War of Expression. Our family records listed three generations of men being known as Wulfaufstandiche. The most common name for them today was the Werewolf Guerillas. Father right now looked like he'd fit seamlessly into the groups that fought hard enough that Grimm were secondary and everyday - all he did was look at me, through the video link, and I felt like he could've Force Choked me if I talked shit at that point.
"Father. I never said I was going to do anything myself. We hire people for a reason." I reminded him. "I am increasing our security forces to shore up our defenses as well as to act as mercenaries for hire. The best of them shall also act as my own personal force, to do things that are far too dangerous for me to do. I'm not stupid."
"If that is what you wish then I will not intrude on it. I'll support you even. But Alex please, don't do anything stupid." he all but pleaded me.
"I won't." I swore.
As I did that, my fingers unconsciously crossed themselves.
I downed the last dregs of Chozzowick's merlot and glanced at a painting on the nearby wall.
It was an oil painting of my family depicting my father seated on a sofachair, dressed in the Friedlich uniform. Mother was behind him looking radiantly immaculate in a green dress, a little pearl tiara on her blonde hair. I on the other hand was at his left, standing with my hands folded behind my back and clad in a uniform similar to father's.
I sighed as I laid the glass of wine I held aside.
Okay dad. I won't do anything stupid against the Red Fang.
Too bad you never mentioned anything about self-defense.
A/N: This update was edited by Krasnogvardiech. May he live long and prosper.
A heads up to everyone. I'll be changing my update schedule from one update a day to a strict Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule to to irl stuff. So only expect updates on those days.
Chapter 48
Losey Princip took a moment to examine his weapon, an old Mistrali Assault rifle, and checked it for any imperfections. Finding none, he lowered it and took a moment to scan his surroundings.
The Outskirts of Vale was a dangerous place to be. The Grimm had started to become active as of late, making travel much more odious and difficult. Not to mention….
"The train is going to be here in a moment. Get ready." announced a gruff voice. "That also means you, Comrade Princip."
Princip grit his teeth and struggled to suppress a growl from leaving his fault.
"That's right college boy. You better keep up. Or is hard honest work too much for you?" added another voice. Princip glared at a scrawny looking man with curly hair and a greasy grin on his face.
"Stop that, Leon." chimed in another voice. "It isn't the time for us to deal with your bullshit."
From the foliage came a woman with bright blue eyes and brown-hair tied in a bun. She carried a custom sub-machinegun that could fire tons of dust rounds yet it wouldn't jam nor overheat.
"It's comrade Leon, comrade Svetlana. It it too hard for you to remember?" reminded the man, a little too mousily. Disgust was written all over her face as she regarded the man.
"Why don't you run back to the Commissar and kiss his ass like you usually do Leon? Isn't that the only thing you are good at?" she shot back. The man turned red with rage and looked close to exploding but Svetlana's raised weapon deterred him from doing so. Instead, he walked off, not-too silently cursing under his breath.
As he left, Svetlana turned towards Princip and her gaze softened significantly. "Hey, you okay?"
Princip sighed. "There was no need for you to do that, Miss Skovodka. I could have handled it myself." Losey blushed when the woman laughed musically.
"Losey, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Svetlana. I'm no longer your college professor, you know." She laid a hand on his shoulder, her touch sending tingles down her spine. "In here, you and I are comrades. We are equals now."
"O-of c-course M-miss..er… Svetlana." Princip stuttered. He blushed even more as the woman released another one of her musical laughs.
"Aren't you adorable." she said teasingly. "Come now. We have a train to intercept."
He fiddled with is rifle and stood awkwardly. "Y-yes, Svetlana."
Others joined the Red Fang because they were wronged by society. Some did so simply because they wanted to watch the world burn. Him on the other hand?
His reason was far more simpler but something definitely worth more than a comfortable life behind a desk.
He didn't care what other thoughts or wanted. All he cared about was her.
"October. Prepare to move." declared their commissar, this time, thankfully letting aside his disdain for Princip to focus on the current issue.
Their little squad were only part of a greater operation tasked to intercept perhaps the largest shipment of dust that Vale had ever received and perhaps, something even more valuable.
For most of their operations, the Red Fang had avoided targeting trains that carried the Friedlich seal. They were well-defended and had extreme layers of security that convincing a drug addict to give up his habits seemed far more easier than attacking a Friedlich train.
This time, it was different.
This particular train was different because not only was it carrying tons of dust, rumors were circulating that it was also transporting a high-level Friedlich executive. If they could capture that executive, then they could also perhaps negotiate the company to hand over lien and dust towards them.
With the calculated gain deemed to outweigh the danger, two sleeper cells were quickly turned active. In three days, nearly a hundred comrades rose up from the dark, hailing everywhere from the slums' woodwork to the cities' secret societies for the audacity of this raid.
Despite that, there was something about the shipment that was just wrong to him. Oh, it had become routine to rob trains and the occasional convoy when it appeared but this time, there was just a a sense of apprehension in the air.
His thoughts were momentarily cut off when he heard clicking. He refocused and found Svetlana clicking her figners at him to get his attention.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked.
Seeing her face did wonders to calm his nerves. Perhaps it was just pre-combat jitters giving him the shivers. As long as he kept his guard up, he would be fine.
He smiled at the woman. "Oh. It's just nothing."
"Princip! Svetlana! Catch up!" yelled their commissar. The two shared smiles and glances for a moment then nodded as they rejoined their squad.
Due to the precious cargo inside the train, derailing it was out of the question. Instead of blowing a part of the tracks up, a specialized team would be inserted via bullhead into the lead train and slow it down from there. Normally, they would have prepared dust charges that could slow down the train's advance but it was so sudden that stopping that train from the inside seemed like the only solution.
And stop the train they did.
And as soon as that happened, the fighters charged at the train from all directions.
There was just something a little… off.
"Clear!" yelled Princip, his assault rifle raised as he peered inside a bunch of empty cabins.
"Clear as well!" yelled in kind Svetlana, a fair distance away from him.
"Where the fuck is everyone?" voiced Leon. This was one of the few moments that Princip could say he and the bastard thought the same. Where was everyone?
"Something's awry. Follow me, we now search the freight cars." commanded the Commisar. The three wordlessly followed after the man and passed by other comrades who were also similarly confused. Eventually, they reached the freighters and already found dozens of comrades looking around. Inside, they could hear shouting.
"What's happening?" Leon said aloud. Svetlana's face was grim.
"We are about to find out." said Svetlana as they followed their Commissar into the freighter car. Inside, they found different other commissars arguing with one another. Boxes labelled "DUST" were stacked upon one another.
"Comrade Commissar. What is the problem?" Their commissar asked. One of the men frowned.
"Check the boxes." he said gruffly. Their commissar spotted one that was already opened and leaned forward to check. He dug his hand deep into the crate and pulled it back, revealing… sand?
The car once more was filled with dissenting voices as the commissars resumed their argument.
"Hey, Losey. Let's check the back." whispered Svetlana. Princip nodded and followed her lead. They walked and walked through the different other freight cars and found nothing else but more crates filled with sand. Eventually, they reached the final freight car.
The two shared a glance, nodded, and opened it. The door revealed a wooden table that with a… music box?
Theme: Sakkijarven Polka
Said music box played a little tune that he could only describe as both haunting and taunting. The two watched, entranced as the tune reached its zenith.
Then, their vision was lost as a bright explosion filled the night sky.
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech.
And so, it begins. Take out your shovels boys. We are digging up communists.
Chapter 49
I was asleep when the first scroll call rang.
It was from an insider from the Valean Department of Transportation informing me that one of the rail lines carrying cargo for the Foundry went offline and that an explosion never seen before had been sighted from that particular rail lines.
Feigning shock, I asked him what could have happened and the caller informed me that it was either an accident or sabotage. He then told me that more could be discovered the following morning and that I merely had to hope that nothing bad would come out of it. I thanked for his call and hung up. After a few minutes of feeling quite ecstatic for my future prospects, I went back to sleep.
The following morning, my scroll was bursting from a dozen missed calls and messages. It was mostly from a business partners and the like but the only ones I actually bothered to check were from my parents, Weiss, Winter (Surprisingly) and Blake. All of whom were saying the exact same thing and it was to check the news.
And so, I went up to my television, activated it and found myself looking at a news report that had a badly burnt train still smoking from fire, emergency services running around trying to put out the remaining fires and or assisting the wounded. The headline of the report was simple yet spoke volumes.
" Explosion on Rail 13: Red Fang attack goes awry."
I hummed a tune as I turned off the tele and went towards my apartment's balcony to take in the fresh morning breeze. Opening the door, I stepped outside and took in a deep breath.
It was a relatively simple plan. Stuff crates full of fine sawdust, add in fire dust explosives at certain key parts of the train for controlled demolition goodness and set it up to be the biggest shipment of dust to be sent to Vale. After all of that, wait for the Red Fang to take the bait.
Sure enough, they took to it like flies to honey and paid the price.
I took out my scroll and checked Tweeter and already found the social media machine doing its work. 4san was also being highly active, calling the Red Fang attack as "dumb and retarded" among a list of other things.
Overall, the Red Fang attack on the train was seen as a negative one. Public services were grounded to a halt and classes were being suspended for the day. I could also imagine that an army of reporters were camping right outside the Foundry for me to make a statement.
And a statement for them I will make.
As for now, I think I shall celebrate… with beer.
"Ozpin. You must realize that the Red Fang have grown way too brazen." came the steely tone of General James Ironwood. "You need my help and you need it now."
Ozpin frowned as he regarded the man that stood in front of him or rather, the man's hologram. "I agree with you in principle, James. But I disagree with you in practice. Tensions are high in Vale and the last thing the city needs is you to show up with an army and a armada."
It was Ironwood's turn to frown now. He did not look pleased.
"How many trains must be raided then? How many stores must be robbed and its owners penniless? You have failed to stop one man from going around the city let alone an entire insurgency."
"Roman Torchwick is merely a thief. He does not need further scrutiny." Ozpin said dismissively. Ironwood's frown deepened. "Atlesian Intelligence has received an anonymous tip that Roman Torchwick is working with or for the Red Fang. The tip also claims that the Dust robberies were a way for the Fang to gather enough dust to potentially open a breach in the Walls of Vale."
"And who is the source of this tip?" asked Ozpin.
"We do not know as of yet. We are still trying to verify if it is true or not. If it is true, the ramifications are massive."
"if something happens, Beacon will be ready to deal with it." said Ozpin.
An annoyed look came on Ironwood's face. "Do you mean Qrow will deal with it?" he said accusingly. Ozpin said nothing and instead took a sip from a nearby mug of hot chocolate.
Ironwood sighed.
"Ozpin. Qrow is dealing with other… errands. Most of your hunstmen and huntresses are busy fighting the Grimm. Who are you going to send? Students? Your own teaching staff?"
Ozpin chuckled momentarily. "Well, if you have seen what my students and staff could do then maybe they would be more than a match for the Red Fang." Ironwood allowed himself a small smile at Ozpin's attempt at humour but quickly suppressed it.
"Ozpin, old friend. You need my help. Convince the Council of Vale to allow Atlesian ships and boots to defend the city. Atlas and Vale are allies for the Brother's sake." Ironwood exclaimed. Ozpin twitched slightly at the mention of the Two Brothers but made no further reactions. Instead, he sighed.
"I am sorry James. I cannot do what you ask of me. Your ships and soldiers will only inflame tensions, not stifle them." Ozpin said with finality. Ironwood's face went grim for a moment then he nodded.
"Then the die is cast." he simply said before cutting off the connection.
Ozpin took in a deep breath and released a long suffering sigh. He reached out for his mug for comfort but found it to be empty, having taken many sips during his conversation with Ironwood. He whistled for a refill and Nikko, his personal Capuchin butler, came around with another mug and handed it to him. Ozpin accepted it gratefully and gave Nikko his usual payment of berries.
George, his personal owl, flew from his perch to his desk and offered his head for Ozpin to pat. Ozpin did so and ran his fingers over the owl's head.
Remnant was facing one of it's biggest crises ever since the Great War. New ideologies, new faces, new weapons. From an outside perspective, Ozpin looked like an eccentric man without any care in the world but inside, he was worried. So deeply, deeply worried.
If Qrow's reports were to come by, the Mistrali Red Fang were planning to do something big. He wasn't quite sure on what it might be but Qrow could easily guess that Mistral would forever be changed if it came to pass. Leonardo, the Headmaster of Haven and his old friend, assured him that Haven was perfectly safe from the unrest happening in the continent and already prepared contingencies if something were to happen.
Ozpin took another sip of his mug and leveled his eyes at the ceiling.
He was now stuck between the frying pan and the fire. While he was confident in Haven's security, Leo was still worried about what was happening in the countryside and requested support. Reluctantly, Ozpin had to loan Qrow to Leo to help deal with whatever problem arose. This would have been easier if Raven was still around but the woman had cut off all ties to him many years ago.
His other hunstmen were occupied by the increasingly active Grimm showing up in the Valean countryside as well so he couldn't use them unless he wanted to draw the ire of the Council of Vale. He scowled in annoyance. Last time he remembered, the Council was far easier to deal with when he was King. Why he chose to dismantle the monarchy was beyond him. If only he could travel in time and stop his previous self from signing that accursed treaty…
Tch. This wasn't the time to be wallowing in regret. He had to do something or risk losing everything he had worked for.
Now… who to ask for help…
Wait…
Didn't Alexander Friedlich mention that he was building an army and shared concern over Roman Tochwick's activities?
Hm.
Perhaps something can be arranged….
The roaring of a chainsaw tearing through flesh and the subsequent screaming of men echoed throughout the forest floor. A few minutes later, the screaming and roaring died down, leaving only eerie silence that was punctured by a strong voice.
"This is what happens to traitors, incompetents, and idiots. These men have made a grave error that cost us our reputation, the lives of a hundred fallen comrades, and the loss of irreplaceable materiel."
A man in black, a white mask covering his face, spoke loudly before an assembly of men and women. These were no ordinary people however as they were the leaders of the different Red Fang cells operating in Vale. While they were doing their best to appear grimm, it didn't take a single moment to see the fear present in their eyes.
"Their transgressions would have been forgiven if they had succeeded in their mission but they did not. They only made us look like fools in the eyes of the world. Starting this very moment, the independence of your cells are now revoked. By the authority granted to me by the Dissolutionist Presidium, You will now all answer to me and to me alone. If you accept this change, take a step forward. If you wish to dispute this, stay where you are."
At that, twelve people went forward. Adam scanned each one of them then nodded.
"This decision has been accepted by the majority. Let it be so. You are all dismissed."
They left as soon as he gave his assent, leaving only him and the other occupant of the room.
"What should I do with these two?" Adam turned to see his lieutenant gesturing to the mangled bodies in front of him.
"Dump them in the river, throw them in the forest, I don't care. Do what you want." he said simply. The Red Fang Lieutenant nodded and exited the tent, excusing himself to look for cleaning materials and a shovel.
"My. You are a mean one, Mr. Taurus." a voice announced from behind him. Adam turned to see a dark-haired woman with flaming amber eyes saunter into the tent, her hips swaying as she took a careful measured step. Normal men would have been lost to their baser urges at the mere sight of the temptress in front of him but he was far from normal.
"Miss Fall." he greeted her neutrally. "What do you want?"
A sly smile appeared on her face. "What hostility! Is this how you treat your friends, Mr Taurus?"
Adam crossed his arms as he regarded her. "I was not aware we were friends." he deadpanned. The woman chuckled briefly. "You do have a sense of humour, dry it may be. Keep it up and you might even find someone to call your own."
"A revolution is hardly a place for love and romance." he argued. The woman rolled her eyes as she passed by him to to look at the mangled bodies that had just been cut a few minutes ago. Adam took note of how she did not look disgusted nor even afraid of the sight. She turned to face him as soon as he finished speaking.
"You don't really understand people do you?" she asked. Adam snorted. "What is there to understand?" He then frowned as he realized that they were straying off topic.
"What are you really here for, Miss Fall?" He asked. He did not plead. He asked.
Cinder Fall resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the Bull faunus's… blunt attitude. If he was less of brick then maybe she could even consider him to be interesting but then again, he was way too much of a zealot to think of anything normally.
Oh well. There was no point in drawing it out more anyway.
"The Red Fang needs to get ready to go to Vale. Prepare your comrades."
Adam stared at her.
"Make sure your pet Torchwick behaves himself. Remember that we are allies in the destruction of Vale. We are in this together." he said with an emphasis.
Cinder smiled slyly.
"My dear Adam. I wouldn't have it any other way."
At that, the Bull faunus strode out of the tent. Cinder watched balefully as he exited the tent. When he was gone, a frown marred her fair features.
The Bull faunus liked to think that he was ahead of the curve and she was more than happy to feed him that fantasy. Lust wasn't the only thing that could make a man go insane. Pride was one sin that man professed to not have but guarded oh so jealously and she, Cinder Fall, was nothing but talented when it came to bringing out the worst in men.
She returned her gaze towards the mangled bodies of the men that dare to step out of line.
Her frown turned into a sneer as she took in the look of terror and pain that was in their eyes. She couldn't have thought of a better end for incompetent idiots.
With their failure to secure the dust and it subsequent public reveal, it would grant the Red Fang even higher degrees of exposure and it might even convince the Council of Vale, or worse, Ozpin, to send people after them and risk the discovery of their entire scheme.
The last thing she needed was for one of Ozpin's toadies to come knocking at the Red Fang's door.
Well, she wouldn't mind if the Red Fang died to a man. They were merely a means to an end. Once that end was achieved, they would be thrown aside like the fools they were.
Speaking about fools, she would have to figure out a way to navigate the Red Fang through the tense and turbulent waters of their own making. Their movements would no doubt be watched and monitored. One more screw up and her chance at power would be lost forever…
Her expression darkened as her mind replayed images of her earlier failure. If only that meddling pawn wasn't there, none of this would have happened.
Hm.
As soon as she sapped the Maiden of her remaining powers, she was going to kill that dark-haired bastard personally.
A dark chuckle escaped her lips. The things she was going to do to him…
Until that could happen, she would have to keep her thoughts under control.
After all, she still had a city to burn.
A/N: Edited by Krasnogvardiech.
Pardon about the slow updates. College just started eh. I have to keep my priorities straight
. Don't worry though. This fic ain't dead.
Chapter 50
There was a hiss as a pair of metallic doors opened. Grunts, yelling, and sweat hit me like a howitzer fire mission as I took a step into the Foundry Security Branch's exercise yard.
A pair of sentries straightened at me as I passed them. I nodded and trudged on, my entourage following after me.
A few days had passed since the Red Fang attack yet the tension in the air was still palpable. The Sales department reported that my Sentry Guns and Mr. Gutsy's we selling like hotcakes. It wasn't just my company that was getting a boost in profits though. The SDC was also performing well with their Artemesia Combat Maids.
Weiss never let me hear the end of it.
In other news, I had received a most curious scroll call from a certain silver-haired Headmaster. He had called me to come to Beacon for another chat. Based on how he had worded it, he sounded like he was going to ask something of me.
I had no clue on what it might be but I had a sinking suspicion that it was going to be involving a lot of paperwork and doing some sneaky cloak-and-dagger bullshit.
For the day, I had taken a moment off my desk to review Steuben's efforts. Watching my people work had become a ritual of mine and it helped to bring me up to date on our progress. There was an observation deck just for this sort of thing but I had wanted my people to see me that I was truly present, not a far off figure that watches from the distance.
Men and women clad in Friedlich blue and gray combat fatigues were being tested without relent or pity by the demons Steuben had summoned to wear the drill hat , Cadres - an informal subdivision of two hundred and fifty men to match the batches of armour plate baked for them - went double-time around a track between doing high intensity endurance exercises when they weren't being beaten black, blue, green and yellow by the CQC instructors.
I frowned slightly at that. While I had told Steuben that I had wanted an army, I meant it in the sense of having what was essentially a private force. His Atlesian upbringing and general bluntness re-interpreted that as "Construct a military with Atlesian candour and make them loyal to me and the Company."
Looking to the closest source of commotion as I walked, I saw a fucking giant of a faunus- no, wait.
Göttenmutter, that's a woman. That's a big girl alright.
The squad she was drilling looked far out of their comfort zone, the purple stubs on their nametags denoting their prior careers to be law enforcement. While I could judge by their sweaty faces and appearance of general suffering that they were closer to rent-a-cop than to SWAT, I attempted to be a kind man and simply bowed my head in sympathy to their misery.
I kept on eyeballing what was built by one guy I casually asked to build me an army. And while I walked - not even trying to match the pace a cadre of big guys who were crushing half-klick sprints - I realized this facility wouldn't fit the bill as we expanded. Even turning the Foundry into a fucking battle fortress wouldn't suit - simply put, people needed room to breathe and move or morale would plummet when you have to share a shitter with a hundred people.
After all, equipment wasn't the only thing that makes a good soldier. Morale and spirit was another important factor that helps to motivate the troops.
The cadres that I passed by momentarily halted their exercises to give me crisp salutes. I responded by giving my own. It wasn't really necessary for them to give me salutes but Steuben was a Atlesian hardass and old habits died hard.
While there were plenty of Atlesian veterans around, most of our recruits were actually Valean. Some recruits were guys that peeled away from local militia outfits - the stubs on their nametags were yellow but a good portion of them were youngn's looking for action and adventure hence the necessity for PT. The blatant Company and pro-Atlas propaganda was another freebie thrown in by Steuben but hey, if it made them more agreeable to my Company and Atlas then why not?
Eventually, my review had ended as I crossed the training yard and entered another building that was just across the yard. As I took a step inside, the guards posted there straightened as soon as they saw me.
"At ease." I ordered. At that, they relaxed slightly but still kept up their stiff appearance. I nodded and climbed a a flight of stairs that led me to the second floor. There I met more pairs of guards who saluted at me. I replied in kind as I passed by their stations until I eventually found myself at the place I had also taken to visiting.
I leaned down on a eye scanner that opened to a much more different room.
Chatter that was filtered through the open door died out as soon as I took a step inside the room. My eyes took in the holographic computers and screens displaying data charts, site locations, personality files and other such intelligence technobabble. I then scanned the men and women that manned the equipment, taking note of their facial expressions and auras.
I had always been fascinated at the idea of having my own war room. Not only would it give me a centralized location to send data to be analyzed, it would also grant me a place to take in ideas from. Having my own general staff helped with that regard, their input invaluable in helping me shape my decisions. I was after all, a businessman. I may be savvy enough to formulate strategies and tactics on my own but professionals were way ahead of me in that curve.
Steuben wasn't kidding when he said he knew people.
I bade them all to return to their posts and trudged towards a metal door at the far end of the room. As I neared it, the door opened by itself and revealed a conference room with four uniformed figures seated on their chairs. They stood up when I entered and I bade them to sit down.
Those men were my general staff. I gave them the moniker of the Fantastic 4
I had long known that RWBY was a place where people and concepts from Earth were reincarnated. Ruby was Little Red Riding hood. Weiss was Snow White. Blake was Belle from Beauty and the Beast while Yang was Goldilocks. There too was JNPR being named after heroes of mythology and history.
It was logical to conclude that famous military men would also have their names made manifest as well.
"Mr. Moritz, Mr. Patton, Mr. Steuben. Mr. Ike." I nodded.
"Hail Hydra." They intoned. I nodded and the four sat down on their seats.
I was making my own army and I was going to have fun with it. I mean, who wouldn't if they had tons of money and time?
"Mr Steuben. What is the status of the recruitment?" The seasoned campaigner nodded, invisibly parsing his response of irrelevant details to give the intelligence I needed, and smothering the cigar that had tinged this room with smoke and cherries.
"We are nearing the intended goal of 5,500 men. If we add in our current security forces from before, we have an approximate 10,500 men-at-arms."
"How's the logistics holding, Mr. Ike?" I asked, turning towards the man. He pressed a button on his scroll and the table lit up as a hologram appeared. It featured statistics directly measured from the production line.
"It is holding well, Mr. Friedlich. Provided the Foundry keeps on producing, the men will be armed and ready."
I smiled at that. "Good. We might need those sooner than you think!"
We nearly jumped out of our seats as Patton slammed his hand on the table, a wild grin on his face. "Now that's more like it! When can we start?"
I harrumphed. "If the information we have received is solid then we can start immediately. However, I have received a call from the Headmaster of Beacon himself, inquiring on the capabilities of our army. I have a feeling that he might have something for us, if his tone was giving any suggestions."
The mood around the table frowned. Patton had the sourest look out of all of them.
It was easy to see why.
I mean, if people had superhuman abilities and other awesome feats, the common soldier becomes overlooked and irrelevant.
"What's the matter? He wants to use our boys and girls as extras in his damn play?" seethed the man. I kept my face neutral.
"I don't know as of yet. What I can tell you now though is to get ready. We will be going after the Red Fang with or without him. Their attack on us is… inexcusable." I added a little bit of flair at the end and that wasn't lost on the men.
I then turned to the last man I hadn't spoken to yet and asked. "How goes the contingency plans, Mr. Model?"
The man did not skip a beat in replying. "If by some disaster, say a breaching of the Walls of Vale happens, I am confident that not only will this facility be safe but survive the breach and even be a focal point in a counter-attack, should the need arise." declared Model with not a hint of arrogance - Steuben's eye for recruits turned down glory hogs - but the pride was there in the master at his craft. Some people were professionals, aiming to consistently succeed and viewing a stalemate on equal terms to a defeat. Model was a perfectionist; he thought his work deserved perfection, and so he endeavored to deliver it.
"You think so?" I questioned.
"I know so." he nodded.
I had hired these men for a specific purpose. Steuben was of course the man to train my army from the ground up. With his contacts, he called three other men to serve a purpose.
Dwight D. Ike was a logistics wizard he met in Mistral. He had called the guy from his boring desk job in the Mistrali Council and he was more than happy to answer the call. His role was self-explanatory, that being to handle the logistics of the Security Forces.
Smith G. Patton was also another guy he had met in Mistral. Patton was a former Mistrali militia commander who was removed from his post for being too 'crazy'. Apparently, asking for men and materials to go after the bandits that lurked the Mistrali countryside was crazy. Steuben called him up, referring to his dismissal as a waste of talent and Patton's agreement summed up that situation well - when the guards are away, the bandits play.
Otto Walter Model, an Atlesian, was a guy Steuben picked up when he attended a lecture conducted by the Atlesian Staff College back in Atlas. Steuben was impressed by his ideas on defense and had tested it when he was still in charge of security in our Mistral branch. When he and I had discussed the strategies that my army would utilize, he had Model in mind to recruit.
It was a tough order of Steuben to bring an enlisted officer of the Atlesian Army to the team, but my second-in-command managed it anyway. Model's official mission statement detailed that he was here to liase with Friedlich assets and attain actionable intelligence as to what threats were likely to head to Vale. It had been a good enough smokescreen to slip by the Atlesian High Command's radar, or at the very least they saw through my subversion and let it happen.
The three had gotten along like fire and water though it was mostly Patton and Model at ends with one another.
Model's disdain for plebians put him immediately at odds with the moto-vational words out of Patton that had it come from a junior officer would have been pithy platitude bullshit. On the other end, Patton hadn't been able to find grounds to excuse Model's lack of respect for his peers, the lower ranked and the enemy.
I had guessed people like that would have reservations against one anothers' modus operandi, so their reports of the internal situation in the ranks hadn't been too big a surprise, but Steuben had assured me he would handle any issues that might crop up. So far I had yet to find cause to doubt him.
The writing was clear on the wall; that if anything could untie the tension knotting itself together through my ranks, it would be the Grimm, or the Dissolusionists showing their ugly hides. Real trust might take a while yet.
As I moved to speak up, intending to inform them about the latest developments I had been working on, my scroll rang.
I excused myself from the room and opened it to find the caller was none other than Winter herself. I scratched my head at that and wondered why the hell she was calling me at this point. Figuring that I wouldn't know if I didn't answer, I opened up my scroll.
"Yes Winter?"
Silence filled the room as I considered her next words.
"Ironwood did what !? "
A/N: Kudos to Krasnogvardiech for editing this update!
First off, apologies for the delay. This was supposed to be posted yesterday but due to technical errors, I wasn't able to. Hopefully, this will be enough for ya'll
Chapter 51
Negativity surged through me as Winter's words echoed in my head. Bewilderment and surprise flowed through my body as I tried to grasp what she had said.
A slight groan from the other line brought me out of my thinking hole.
"There is no need to sound so dramatic, Alex. It is hardly something to be worried over."
I could imagine her eye roll already.
"Explain to me then. Tell me why I shouldn't be worried." I questioned her, quietly suppressing the confusion in my voice.
"You should be pleased, not worried. General Ironwood is moving to protect the interests of all parties. Atlas, your company, and Vale." replied Winter. I frowned.
"What? By sending a fleet to dock at Beacon?" I said sarcastically.
"A single battleship and a heavy cruiser hardly counts as a fleet, Alexander." sniped the eldest Schnee sibling. "And since we are on the topic of military forces, I too would like to know why you are increasing the size of your Foundry's security forces as well as to why you are arming them with top-of-the-line military equipment."
A bead of sweat ran down my forehead.
I had my legal counselors look for ways as to justify the existence of my army and ensure that it won't be mired by bureaucratic and legal trouble. I had prepared for questions like what Winter threw at me me but despite my preparation, I was still quite unnerved that it would come so quickly.
I was under the impression that thee questions would come after I revealed their existence, not while they were still being conditioned.
"Not only that, you had also filed in a request for heavy equipment to be delivered from Atlas. The aforementioned request however was denied by your father. Would you be kind enough to explain why?" Winter's tone was borderline interrogatory. Questions surged through my head as to how the flying fuck Winter was privy to my corporate secrets.
I understood it if she heard about the army I was building but the request for equipment was extremely private affair that a select few people knew namely my parents, me, and Wei-
I resisted the urge to slap my face.
Had I just fallen into the old "Classified info is leaked because Boyfriend X couldn't resist telling Girlfriend Y adage?"
"Weiss told you all of this hasn't she?" I sighed. Slight amusement filled me as the other line went deathly silent. For a minute, I had thought that Winter had dropped the call but a quick inspection of my scroll showed that she was still connected.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that statement." Winter said diplomatically. I rolled my eyes once more.
"Look. Nothing is going to be gained by talking and throwing things around in a scroll call. Why don't we discuss this over a cup of coffee and cake at my apartment?" I offered.
"What makes you think that I would be in Vale? I could even be calling you right now in Mistral or Atlas." challenged the woman.
"I know you'll be here because you are Ironwood's top operative and it would be next to impossible for you not to be around him. So, what do you say?" I replied.
"I want that golden cake you once baked for me. The one with buttercream, meringue and cashews." she demanded.
"Alright. It's a date then." I teased.
The line went dead in seconds.
Whispers passed and fingers were pointed literally or otherwise as I trudged the stone steps of Beacon, my entourage following after me.
"Damned gawkers. Is it their first time seeing greatness?" seethed my Mr.Gutsy escort. I did not turn back to answer him. Instead, I glanced at the massive shapes in the air and made a disappointed tut.
"How would you react if you saw an Atlesian Battleship and Heavy Cruiser showing up in your school one day?" I questioned the bot
"Why, I would be incredibly honored!" enthusiastically replied the floating ball of death. "It's not everyday that we get our boys and girls in the skies to come and assist us!"
I turned from the patriotic ball of death and returned my attention towards the two massive shapes hovering in the distance. From their underbellies, I could read the names of the vessels. Their underbellies bore the stencil-painted names of the ships in high-visibility white.
The lighter armed and lower tech Atlesian Navy Ship was the heavy cruiser Indomitable. Laid down as a jack-of-all-trades with equal distribution of hangar bays, crew berthing, maneuverability and at minimum six intermediate energy lances able to be pointed in any given direction, it served to be support to the mean and mighty ANS Titan.
Ironwood had been quick to snatch up the lead ship of the new and promising Legion-class battleships being made to fill the ranks of the XIV battlegroup. That wasn't one of ours - matters navale tended to fall under the Heiligen shipyards than us. I think we produce a lot of the supply and spare parts going aboard it, though.
Ironwood made a good pick for his flagship, honestly. It offers a big toolbox to work with.
I shook my head to refocus as I traced the path towards the Headmaster's tower where Ozpin and Ironwood awaited.
Ironwood's move was… unexpected.
I knew for a fact that Ironwood was a jarhead of the highest degree and that he was going to show up in Vale with an army and a navy but wasn't that supposed to happen much later?
His move signaled to me two things.
The first was that relying on 'canon' events to happen as they did wouldn't be for the best. I had already interfered enough that the butterflies must have been flapping their wings like crazy. That and I must've missed something big, or some decisions must've been made without me. The fact that the ships showed up here, looking like they were on a route and a mission, suggests this was planned far in advance.
The second one was to speed up the building of my army because bloody hell things were moving fast. The truth came painfully to me as I realised I had banked too much on the factions and power blocs to be too at-ease with things to infight among themselves. Belatedly I remembered one of Mom's political lessons; that a group was irrelevant unless it had a noteworthy say in the outcome of the dice being rolled, and the most direct application of that was having leverage for its force. That, in practicality, came down nine times out of ten to force, military or otherwise.
Minutes later, my entourage arrived at the Tower. I found my way towards the elevator and pressed the button that took me to the Headmaster's office.
The lift lurched as it took me and my entourage up. While that happened, my mind plotted.
The first order of business once my army was done was to disrupt the Red Fang. That would mean adding my command structure and my fledgling battalion to the pools of deployable manpower to the swelling Joint International Task Force slowly consolidating like a waking giant. I had also opened up the Friedlich Satellite Network to my budding Intelligence Service and they had taken to it like butter to bread.
Bullhead and Airship flights. Secret settlements in the countryside. Hell, Mount Glenn looked like a real settlement due to the amount of traffic that was going in there.
Speaking of Mount Glenn, I had a special plan for that city. It truly was a tragedy that it fell to the Grimm many years ago. It had everything set up to be a proper city. Infrastructure, industry, and housing. The proper ingredients to make a city great.
And it was all left unattended and free.
The dinging of the elevator brought me out of my thoughts. As the door opened, I adopted a mask of indifference as I took a step outside.
The first thing I felt was the negativity that emanated from the room. As I took stock of the room, I saw the line that had been drawn.
On one side sat General James Ironwood, Winter Schnee at his side. On the other was Headmaster Ozpin, Glynda Goodwitch beside him.
It was pretty clear that the two men were in the midst of an argument and judging from the frowns on their faces, it was rather explosive.
The women were doing worse than just glaring - they both had a set to their jaws that suggested bracing for an incoming blow, and to expect it to be the first of many.
Four sets of gimlet eyes turned my way, annoyed at the interruption. Winter didn't visibly react, but I knew her - she may as well have perked up in joy right then.
Not wanting to make this anymore awkward, I straightened up and spoke.
"I come in peace?" I offered.
Edited by Krasnogvardiech
A/N: Tis a late update but an update nonetheless.
Pardon for being late. College is really, really draining.
Chapter 52
"How fortunate you arrived, Mr Friedlich, our discussion was about to include you." Ozpin greeted, rising from his seat with a patient brow raised in surprise. Ironwood did so as well, neutral but wondering what this was about.
"Forgive me Headmaster but you two gentlemen seem to be in the midst of a discussion. Am I Interrupting?" I questioned.
"I said our discussion would be including you, Mr Friedlich." Ozpin commented, light of tone as he bade me to sit. The mood in the room lent the feeling saying 'no' would be a bad idea.
Ironwood glanced at the headmaster. His eyes all but spoke volumes of his irritation at my appearance, no doubt due to me being a civilian intruding in their affairs. But if he wanted to oppose me joining them, he made no mention of it.
The two seemed to take a breath. I guessed they were rethinking their avenues of thought.
In the quiet moment while we seemed to be taking a breather, I caught the eye of Winter. And gave her a small wink. She rolled her eyes to the ceiling in exasperation, and looked like she decided the headmaster's ceiling was very interesting.
Schnees, so easy to tease…
I plopped myself down on the dark brown chair Ozpin directed me to, across Ironwood. As I did so, I scanned the room.
Ozpin was being Ozpin. Unreadable and his mug of hot goodness steaming on his desk. While he didn't give off much details, the Deputy-Headmistress on the other hand told me everything I needed to know. Glynda had a dark shadow looming about her and her lips were slightly frowning.
The same could be said of the good General, but at the same time not quite. He oozed irritation and impatience, but I guessed it was because busy, structured military command did not encourage - much less actually afford - time to muck about and relax when there were things needing done. Winter also shared her General's irritation albeit it was gradually fading due to my teasing attempts.
If I had to guess what happened, Ozpin called Ironwood to his Office in order to discuss his sudden arrival over Vale. He then had Glynda scold the General for his rash actions. And of course, Ironwood fought back. Mostly likely chiding Ozpin for his inaction towards the Dissie menace and Torchwick. And the rest, as they say, was history.
"Had you not been hands-off with the Red Fang and their identified and known assets- " He of course meant Torchwick, but the blatant emphasis suggested he wasn't the only one in play. This was concerning to say the very least. "Then there would be no cause for me to deploy ships into this region as the Festival is approaching. Staying in a tower while the fields burn is not effective in withstanding the Grimm."
And I was awed, because of all the things about this situation - my cake included - that actually ruffled Ozpin. I wouldn't call it even anger, or annoyance, but I got a feeling not even his students received the look the old man now bore.
' Looks like I was right after all' I thought to myself, my attention going to Ozpin to see how he would react. It was a wasted attempt as Glynda then spoke on his behalf.
"Two capital ships, one of them a battleship, into Valean airspace, without a word to the Council? Are you out of your mind?!" Glynda… genuinely cried out. It didn't seem like she thought that being a problem had been comprehended by the commander. At that, Ozpin continued.
"James," Ozpin began, losing the sourest look I had ever seen and taking up calm once more. "We would have dealt with the Red Fang and Mr. Torchwick in due time. Right now, I simply do not have enough Hunstmen available. The Grimm have become active the last few months and we can ill-afford hearing news of another settlement being wiped out."
"Furthermore, I have not been 'stuck in a tower' as you say. I am quite aware of what the mood of the public in general is. Caused by increase in Grimm attacks, insurrection by the Red Fang, and other disturbances." He then leaned forward slightly, his eyes firmly set on Ironwood's. "With your arrival, Vale is even more agitated. We here understand the necessity of your actions but the common man in the street does not. He doesn't see salvation, James. All he sees is a massive, Atlesian battleship suddenly appearing outside his windows. If you had taken the time to inform the Council that you were coming then you and I wouldn't even be here arguing."
"With respect, headmaster, the General is simply taking the right course of action." interrupted Winter, entirely analytical. "A longer time without proof of force would embolden the Red Fang; giving them the notion that they could wreak more chaos on Vale's infrastructure to lessen stability, and further unrest."
"Specialist!" growled Ironwood, onyx-eyes steeled towards her. Winter froze, promptly realizing she spoke out of her place and stood at attention.
"I agree." I suddenly said. Eyes turned towards me, surprised. I glanced at them and smiled.
"While the General had indeed stepped on a few toes with his sudden arrival. It is still better than waiting for bureaucratic gears to start grinding. I have been working with the Council these last few months and getting them to agree with anything would have taken time. Considering then nature of General Ironwood's request, it would have taken even more time. Time suited to best combat the Red Fang and this Torchwick fellow don't you think?" I explained cheerfully.
Ironwood stared. His subordinate was clearly not allowed to speak in his business, but as I had more than just a modicum of assets I could bring to bear. He had no choice but to take seriously the man supplying his munitions. Our eyes met; onyx in a silent agreement with blue.
"Headmaster… you must understand, seeing this in the lens of a soldier makes the situation clear that we can't afford to sit down and wait for opportune moments to strike." I said, the very picture of gentle but saddened. "I am very much aware of how the soldiers I supply think. Either we attack first, or die first. In this war we can't win by being defensive, not while the Red Fang move among the people we protect."
"Waiting in place for the next attack just means they make the next strike with the same understanding of how we're vulnerable. We can not throw them back at the gates because they're already in the walls. One was too many innocents to sell their lives for the price of our inaction. I can build more trains, sir, but real action isn't measured in Lien." I gave the air of dramatic flair, but I like to think I put my certainty behind the wordless tallying-up of damages that I don't think I managed to hide.
Ozpin turned towards me, his face expressionless.
"What do you propose then, Mr. Friedlich?" Ozpin asked, his voice neutral.
"I'll save us all the pointless banter then." I declared. I reached inside my uniform and held out a hexagonal pin. Engraved in it was a small white flower. I held it out for all to see then laid it on Ozpin's desk.
"I had always been concerned with the Red Fang ever since they started their first attacks. When someone… dear to me was nearly killed by them, I resolved to make a stance towards them. I have been establishing a staff and a group to hire and train up volunteers from among Vale's retired police, ex-militia of surrounding townships and various Mistrali and Atlesian personnel. I raised this force primarily to defend the Friedlich Arms facility in Vale, but I now propose that these men and women be used to handle the Red Fang." I declared. I could have used put it more bombastically but time was a-running and I could best perhaps save the monologue for another time. I glanced around the room to discern their reactions and so far, it was to my expectations.
Ozpin was unreadable once more, Ironwood had a mix of alarm and suspicion written on his face. Glynda looked at me as if I had grown a second head and had started jumbling plastic balls on fire around. Winter returned her attention towards Ozpin's ceiling once more, remembering our conversation a scant few hours ago.
"You far overstep yourself if you think to train an army inside Vale, Mr. Friedlich." Goodwitch's accusation was icy… but apart from the intense toning-down she utilized to get across the notion of distance, that great things were on the move, I couldn't help but think she held back the full bore of her reaction.
I frowned. "With all due respect, by definition and by what I outlined to be their task and purpose, the operation is expanding from a guard force for company assets to a regional security militia. Adding counter-terrorism to their operations capability does not turn them into a mobilized military force, Miss Goodwitch."
I then turned to Ironwood who had been glaring at me this whole time. "General. I am quite sure that you have already been briefed by Intelligence about my activities here…" I stole quick glance towards Winter who refused to meet my eyes. "… so you are more than aware of their purpose. I had made certain that there will be no finer outfit to make the Fang and Torchwick hurt, and badly. I will, in fact, make them so well fit for the job that it would be madness to not use them."
"Explain." Ironwood said gruffly looking less than pleased at the idea of a large and well-equipped army operating independently of Atlas, but slightly mollified that the plan I had hatched was convenient.
"Due to your sudden arrival, you have made yourself look alarming in the eyes of Vale. I'm also quite sure you would know how civilians might react for foreign troops to suddenly be flying and marching about in their city. Now, a significant portion of my soldiers are locals we recruited from the militia and law enforcement. Familiar faces." I trailed off, letting Ironwood run through my words.
"Vale is going to react less negatively if they see familiar faces doing the work and would be more likely to cooperate if operations occur." Winter said aloud, exiting her brief exile of looking at Ozpin's ceiling. I smiled at her.
"Exactly. I have also been gathering intelligence, verifying it to be actionable and planning ahead for a better angle of attack than anyone." My eyes ran through Ironwood and Ozpin, betraying no other emotion than an earnest desire to help.
"You would ask us to rely on your army? What are it's capabilities? It's equipment? As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Friedlich. is that you had just raised a private military force inside the borders of our allies." Ironwood rebuked me. I resisted the urge to tell him to go fuck himself, considering what he had done. I had to be diplomatic here lest I earn the ire of Ironwood and Ozpin.
"General. I spared no expense when it came to men, material and talent. I assure you that I have a force unlike any that Vale has ever seen. I had also taken necessary steps both legal and political to ensure that there would be no complications with our esteemed friends." I replied reassuringly. I wasn't an idiot. I was more than aware of what my actions looked like. Hell, I'd be pretty uncomfortable if I knew that an army was being trained right next to me. While my para-legal department had… well, whatever they were paid, for the last month it wasn't enough. They quite well ensured the wolves wouldn't be chomping down on my work, it was still going to be inevitable that the Council of Vale or that of Atlas would come crashing down my party ala Sokovia Accords style.
It was in my best interest to get shit done before that would happen.
"If we, hypothetically, request the services of your army." Ozpin spoke after being silent for awhile. "What further aid can you offer us? What do you want in return?"
I smiled at him. He was going to love this. "I am willing to join this effort with Friedlich assets both financial and research-wise to make future conflicts as brief and as one-sided as possible. As well as sharing the intelligence I gather. Everything is easier when you have a bird's eye view of things. " I winked at Winter who caught on to my words quickly.
"As for what I want, I simply want the freedom to operate, your trust that I can operate and some paperwork to be signed to cover some sundry expenses. We can discuss this further if you like. I have time." I drawled dryly. The two most powerful men in Remnant glanced at one another, unspoken words being exchanged.
"You are asking a lot, Mr. Friedlich." Goodwitch said, a hand reaching out to massage her aching head. "This is too much to give in good faith."
"Governance is completely separate from my forte, Miss Goodwitch." I sighed, blinking as the stress of all the last quarter hour hit me - how do I put this clearly? "My way is just to make weapons. I want the operation utilizing my product to be effective. This is how I can further refine my ways. I don't want fame or glory or a damn bloody Kingdom, I just want to succeed. I want to make the best quality goods possible, for the lowest material cost possible, paying the best wage possible and selling my wares for the most competitive price possible. I have no further designs beyond wanting to live out the rest of my days in peace and serenity. The damn Fang is making that hard to achieve."
I paused to catch a breath, my frustrations slowly leaving me. I leaned back on my chair and locked eyes with Goodwitch.
"And also, my personal stake in this is my still-smoking train that demands an answer, and I will be damned if the Fang don't end up paying for it."
"And your interest in Roman Torchwick?" questioned the Deputy-Headmistress, her eyes boring into me.
"He stole from associated stores aligned with my company. I'm going to put a stop to his reign of chaos." I affirmed, oozing the most earnest and sincere air I could. I then turned my attention from Goodwitch to the two men I was here for.
"So gentlemen… what do you say?" I asked.
"What do you think, James?" Ozpin asked his sullen and grim-faced friend. Ironwood craned his head towards me to which I smiled charmingly.
"It's an offer that I think is worth considering, looking at our current situation." Ironwood conceded… although not really. I'll choose to believe he realized his 'courageous' act stepped on a lot of toes, because he was now willing to make amends.
"Then you wouldn't be opposed to further discussion?" Ozpin continued.
"I am not." he replied. My smile grew wider.
' You have made the right choice, General. You just have no idea.' I thought to myself as discussion began to flow freely once more. Ozpin had requested Glynda to prepare them drinks whilst Ironwood had Winter prepare notebook to jot down key points in our discussion. Winter did her task dutifully but had left the room to find a suitable notebook. Glynda did hers with the look of a woman bearing intense ire and dissatisfaction. Glynda returned with Nikko, Ozpin's personal capuchin butler holding a tray of chilled creamed coffee. Winter later returned, notebook in hand, only to enter just in time to find the legendary James Ironwood having an intense love affair with the can as he downed it in one long chug.
The face she made was so priceless that I had later regretted not having pictured it.
Anyway, as nods and words were exchanged, what was essentially the First Triumvirate of Roman fame was being formed inside Ozpin's Tower. This fact was not lost on me. Ironwood was clearly Caesar, being the one that had crossed a Rubicon. Ozpin was most definitely Pompey, being the overachiever he was, And I was Crassus, by virtue of my wealth.
However, unlike Crassus, I wasn't going to get killed early on in the play and get overshadowed by two heavyweights. I was going to make my own mark and survive, unlike some fool who died with Parthian silver in his throat.
A/N: This fic is not dead. It just took a short nap.
On a serious note, I apologize for my absence. College sucked the life out of me. I was going to post an update during the Holidays but I got drunk, most of the time, and forgot about it. Hopefully, this update makes up for my absence.
Edited by my mate, Krasnogvardiech
Chapter 53
Beacon was no stranger to history, whether it passed by or took place in its halls.
Even before the ancient redoubt was made into a school for Huntsmen - and later the site of Vale's CCT tower - it had seen the course of empires, and the rivers of blood spilt upon it and for it. One particularly legendary battle had the combatants forever etched into legendary glory.
When Weiss had first set foot past its gates, some old intuition made her feel that the martial history was almost tangible. An idle thought suggested to her that perhaps if one drank deep from a mug of chai, they could pretend they saw the life, and the passion, and the valiance of all the heroes like a haze that settled down around the shoulders. Whether their bodies were retrieved or not, it was a hearty shot of morale to know here lay honored rest for all those unknown soldiers.
She had known how her own course would go on, though. As soon as she saw all the young warriors, she understood that such events simply were not for her. She was here for nothing more, nothing less and nothing other than becoming an excellent Huntress. Power-playing and influencing world events seemed simply to have no place in what she would accomplish.
But then one sunny morning, she woke up to find two Atlesian navy ships, sleek hull and all, in the skies outside her dorm.
She did not scream per se. Screaming wasn't something she, Weiss Schnee, did. She wouldn't deny however the feeling of surprise coursing through her veins. Having cannons seemingly aimed at you would startle anyone, even someone like her. Still, she must have been very very surprised that it had even woken someone like Ruby Rose from sleep and the girl slept like a log.
The last time a foreign force was inside Vale, it was to conquer it. Was her country abandoning it's alliance with Vale and was now intent for revenge after its losses during the Great War? She had heard of certain circles that disapproved of the friendly relations Atlas shared with Vale. Perhaps they had launched a military coup overnight and had hijacked control of the Navy?
No. That was preposterous. If Atlas had wanted to conquer Vale, it would have sent more than two battleships to do the deed. Atlas's navy was the premier force in Remnant and just by looking at the ships outside, it was rightfully considered so. However, two navy ships and its crew would find conquering Vale a Sisyphean task. The logistics to consider and the fact that Vale would fight like a caged Grimm would make invasion a death sentence for any invading army.
"WEISS! Look at its GUNS! Those are Huge! Wait, are they auto-loaded and gyrostabilized? How many guns per battery?"
Well. At least someone was having happy thoughts.
Ruby had woken up and all but squealed at the sight of the battleships. Only Ruby Rose would be the one to wake up in the morning and be excited at the sight of an army showing up outside her window. Weiss didn't know if she should feel sorry or envy at the Ruby's innocence. She was still unsure whether she would consider the girl as a friend. The girl that had also been selected as their Team Leader was immature, childish, and easier to distract than a baby. Furthermore, she was way too obsessed with weapons in a way that one could consider healthy.
However…
"Say Yang, what are our chances of capturing that battleship?" Ruby truly squeaked, sounding all the world like a squeezed toy, while the soles of her shoes made weeki-weeki sounds as Ruby led their brisk pace almost walking on air to the first class of the day - History, taught by a professor fond of moving fast enough to tickle lightspeed.
"You aren't seriously considering that are you?" asked Belle, tone exasperated but knowing their team leader was just that happy to entertain this grand fantasy. Or was it Blake? Alexander's… secretary had a fondness for changing her names if the opportunity presented itself. Weiss spared a curious look in the direction of the brawler, still putting in effort to keep up with their speedy leader, and beheld the rare sight of Yang focused deep in thought.
"Well. I say we have a good chance. There's me after all." The look on her face settled into something like, surprise surprise, a lioness coyly confident that she could take on the world and come out standing. It was as clear as day that Yang was imagining herself 'kicking ass and taking names' if Weiss had to use the language Yang spoke.
Upon hearing her sister's input, Ruby all but beamed. "We WILL take that ship!" she all but declared. "Alright team. We'll get to the battleship by using Beacon's rocket locker system and fight our way to the bridge!" Ruby looked at them with a fire in her eyes.
"Yang!" The blonde brawler glanced at her sister, amusement in her lilac eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Use your fists and pummel anyone who's going to come in our way." The silver-eyed girl ordered. Yang smirked, clearly relishing the thought of smashing anyone daring to come her way.
Ruby turned her attention towards her next target, Blake, who shrunk under Ruby's gaze. "Belle, Use your ninja powers and watch our backs. They'll never see you coming!" Blake stared at Ruby as if she lost a head. The black-haired catgirl then shared a glance with Weiss in which Weiss replied with shrug. Blake, seeing that Weiss wasn't going to rescue her, sighed.
"If you say so Ruby."
Anticipating her being next made bearing Ruby's joy no less of a pain. The whole thing would have been endearing if it was some kind of resolute sincerity spoken in true-hearted confidence of the other, but this kind of childishness was honestly irritating. Sickening, considering that leaders should lead, not simply be the loudest among the team.
"Let me guess. Freeze high-priority targets and engage to disable with Myrtlenaster." Weiss stated with an invisible snark, deadpan like a parent blearily making coffee in the early hours of the morning to prepare for the day while the kid watched morning cartoons with their breakfast. It would seem that she took the word's out of Ruby's mouth as the girl nodded up and down so fast that Weiss wouldn't be surprised if the girl began hovering from the amount of lift her head generated.
Seeming to feel mightily pleased with herself, their leader walloped the air and struck a dramatic pose.
"Go Team RYWB!" she cheered. Quick to follow was an enthusiastically, playfully forceful wallop to the back of Ruby's head by a Yang who shared her sister's passions and was amused by them. These were followed by lighter dope-thwacks by Weiss and Blake respectively, who didn't want to rain on parades and neither embarass themselves for Ruby's entertainment.
Quick to follow was an enthusiastically, playfully forceful wallop to the back of Ruby's head by a Yang who shared her sister's passions and was amused by them. These were followed by lighter dope-thwacks by Weiss and Blake respectively, who didn't want to rain on parades and neither embarass themselves for Ruby's entertainment.
A sigh exited a Weiss that had her eyes closed and silently counted down from ten, bearing this kind of childish immaturity from a leader who with a reason to do otherwise could utilize her sharp mind to calculate strategies at breakneck speed, with the martial prowess to make breakneck speed a literal possibility. Blake watched on, neutrally amused but not passing up the opportunity to not make this game worse.
"Yeah!" followed another voice, a female one.
Team RYWB snapped around to see the speaker - bright turquoise eyes and orange hair and soft pink and white clothes, striking Ruby's dramatic pose with a finger raised to the sky. Three figures approached behind her.
"We don't know her." deadpanned Lie Ren, his voice laying thick with exasperation. Weiss couldn't help but smile at finding a kindred soul surrounded by insanity.
"Renny! How could you? After everything I have done for you!" gasped Nora Valkyrie, the cause of Ren's nightmares. She marched up to her partner, a distraught expression on her face. Despite this, Ren remained nonplussed and repeated his earlier statement, only adding in extra dryness.
"We don't?" asked Jaune Arc, confusion writ up and down and on every angle of him. The blonde stiffened up once he caught clearer sight of her. Chances were that she was a hearty helping of the cause for his awkwardness.
Weiss had some amount of guilt for that. Arc had attempted to chat her up with that horrendous pick-up line. Weiss's retort…
"I have a fiancee!"
She was stressed, from the long travel from Atlas. And the near accident with Ruby and her dust supply. She could have been kinder, and had not been.
But alas, the damage had been done and she was able to witness a boy getting crushed in but a span of two seconds. At least she apologized. It probably wasn't enough. Perhaps she should offer him compensation?
Her thoughts were thrown into disarray as Nora wailed.
"Oh Ren, why have thou forsaken me?" cried Nora dramatically as she laid her hands on Ren's shoulders, and physically shook the teen back and forth, seemingly ignoring silly things like inertia and momentum. The subject seemed to refuse to be ruffled or even riled by her mannerisms.
"Oh hey Pyrrha!" sounded out their leader's exclamation. "Hello!" the gladiator girl greeted warmly in kind. Ruby then promptly crossed the barrier and brought the redhead into a hug. The unexpected act merited the appropriate reaction. Indignation flared within Weiss, horrified at the sudden breach of etiquette Ruby had just committed.
"Ruby!" she cried. "What did I say about etiquette! You just can't randomly… hug people!"
"But it's Pyrrha!" brilliantly argued Ruby. "She likes hugs! Right Pyrrha?" Ruby asked as she turned towards the redhead who looked lost.
"Um. Yes?" she blurted. It was clear as day that Pyrrha was lost for words and had given her reply under pressure. This didn't matter towards Ruby who took it as consent. She then craned her head towards Weiss and stuck out her tongue.
"Ruby!"
While the reunion with team JNPR had allowed them to catch up, they still had classes to attend. As both teams had the same class, it was decided that the two would walk together. Weiss could honestly say that it was a pleasant experience if only it wasn't for the two massive battleships hovering above their heads.. It seemed that was the only hot topic of late. Battleship this. Battleship that. They walked the halls of Beacon and the lips of each and every student was battleship. They attended classes and while Professor Oobleck carried class normally, well, by his standard of normal anyway, it was pretty clear that not everyone was comfortable with the Navy ships.
Well. Except for Ruby. And maybe Nora.
"-and then, we'll blast them into Oblivion!" loudly exclaimed Ruby, her tone taking on the grandiose. "Get ready to fire, Captain Nora!"
"Aye aye, Admiral!" eagerly saluted Nora as she held her hand out and made explosion noises.
They were in the Mess Hall, in their own little corner that Nora regally dubbed "The Kingdom of RWYB and JNPR" While she ate her lunch in silence, Ruby had conscripted her teammates and Team JNPR into an impromptu acting skit. She at first thought that the her fellow teens were merely humoring Ruby. She later found out that they weren't just humoring her. They were downright into it.
"Um. Admiral?" nervously asked Jaune, who was given the role of a helmsman by Ruby. The girl, who stood on the table struck a impressive figure as she had a foot on a watermelon, her hands crossed and her red cape flowing in the wind, glanced at the blonde boy.
"What is it, Helmsman Arc?" she asked. Jaune's mouth moved to speak but suddenly, he stopped. This alarmed Ruby who dropped her pose.
"What is it man?" she demanded. Ruby got her answer as Jaune all but screamed. "Incoming!"
Arc's fateful word would forever be remembered as the last sound before a pie hit Ruby square on the face.
Weiss choked.
The pie slid down from Ruby's face and onto the wooden table. Righteous fury, written in raspberry jam and pure vigor was on Ruby's face as she turned to face the source of her troubles. A blonde bombshell who happened to be her sister.
"How dare you, Yang!" she gritted. Weiss faced the blonde brawler and found her smirking, a tomato on her hand.
" Captain Yang, dear sister of mine!" Yang proclaimed. "And my crew and I are going to plunder your little miserable ship! Right guys?"
"Aye aye Captain!" Pyrrha said enthusiastically. The redhead and Yang then turned to their last remaining member which was Ren. He glanced at them both and sighed.
"Aye, Captain." Ren let out. Weiss felt nothing but pity for him.
The table shook as Nora slammed the table with a closed fist. "Ren! I have never forgiven you for what you did earlier! Prepare to face the Queen's wrath!"
"I'm so-"
"Fire!" Ruby yelled. At that, the two sides went into battle. Using an assortment of weapons that ranged from tomatoes to pies and even turkeys, the Battle of Beacon's Mess Hall began.
Weiss had seen this coming ever since Ruby began talking about being an admiral. And so, she politely excused herself and had sat at a corner which she knew she would be safe. When the battle began, the other students that had also been dining in the Hall quickly fled. Weiss took the opportunity to catch any food that flew and added them to her plate. Having quick reflexes helped her in that regard.
"Beacon is insane. Everyone is insane." a voice said aloud next to her. She turned and nodded sympathetically.
Belle Belladonna. (Or was it Blake?) had felt a shift in the wind and had also bolted when Ruby began talking about how great it was to be a admiral. Weiss was gracious enough to allow the faunus to join her and together, they watched the insanity play out.
"Well. At least its entertaining." Weiss quipped as she turned her attention towards the fight. Yang had secured herself two turkeys and had began using them as gauntlets. Her opponent was Ruby who donned a tray. it wasn't a scythe but she was suing it skillfully. Yang threw a right hook that Ruby intercepted with the tray. The girl then reached for a nearby baguette and swung it at Yang. Before the sword of gluten could strike Yang, it had been cut into two by Pyrrha who held a… swordfish?
Pyrrha's assistance was short lived as Nora struck her with a Warhammer she fashioned out of a pole and a watermelon. The redhead was sent flying but was quickly caught by Ren.
"Helmsman Jaune! Now!' yelled Nora. Weiss's eyes darted towards a corner of the room where the blonde teen had somehow weaponized the vending machines. He struck the one nearest to him that sent a chain reaction in the machines who then began to rapidly fire their cans at Ren, who expertly batted the carbonated projectiles away with two hefty leeks rather than be caught flat-footed.
While it was entertaining, Weiss could only scoff at such a display. Firstly, she was a Schnee. Schnee's don't food fight. Secondly, she was seventeen years old, not four! And so, she sat back on her chair and be entertained by the sight.
At least no one thought of using their semblances. That would be disastrous.
Belle didn't enjoy the scene nearly as much. Amber eyes crinkled with indignation, paired with a mournful growl.
"What are they doing." Her tone was low, and ordinately slow, said in the way of one aware of the work behind keeping things where they had to be. Had the faunus a tail, it would be flicking to and fro, but for the meantime she simply clenched her fists and disapproved heavily. "Don't they know how much in expenses moving all of this produce takes? Or all the sheets needing signed just for security?"
That reminded Weiss something. "I imagine you had done similar work for Alex when you were his secretary?"
Blake nodded. A series of questions formulated in Weiss's mind. While she already had undergone training to be the next in line to inherit the SDC, Alexander had beaten her in sheer experience in running a company. He had also started his training when he was five, an impressive number, while she had started much later. Before, Winter was supposed to inherit but her sister had renounced her claim as she favored a career in the military. These considerations shaped the stance of Weiss's position as she surveyed Blake - her partner could be presumed to be moulded by her fiancee's way of thinking. She was certainly no dogsbody, that type of office-dweller carried themselves worse than Arc; he at least earnestly willed to do all he did, and didn't seem to be the type to drag his feet when asked to do his job.
"Tell me. What is it like working for Alexander?" questioned Weiss. She didn't blurt out an answer right away, actually putting effort into planning her response. Something which Weiss approved.
"Alex is…" Weiss inwardly winced at her causal address of her fiancee but didn't let her feelings known towards the faunus. "… well. He was a great boss. Kind, caring, understanding. He demanded excellence and rewarded those who were excellent. He didn't treat any of us differently. He treated us all the same whether we were human or faunus, custodian to boardmember."
Silently, Weiss took mental notes.
"Was he ever hard on you?"
Belle's quiet chuckle was heard far more clearly than the chaos not far away from them… a disproportionate happenstance. "I didn't worry about much when he was in the office. He would either be typing away at his computer, dealing with paperwork or wracking his brain trying to come up with new ideas or fix some problem he would spot ahead of time. When he left the office was the headache."
The two winced as they heard soda cans exploding. But as they were safe in their corner, Weiss bade the faunus to continue.
"It's difficult to think of him as someone really important. He talks to anyone, from anywhere, with no worries and wouldn't be overbearing trying to get to know them and their story." Belle seemed a touch wistful… Weiss quietly filed that away. "He doesn't set barriers. He doesn't turn away people wanting to talk to him, and he would spend time hearing them out."
"You have no idea how stressful it was to watch over him." The distant, almost sweet deference turned to the claggy custard of the put-upon and weary, and Belle's voice turned to a drone to match.
"I do think," Weiss said, shifting to seat herself more comfortably, "despite this, you have done great work. He's still alive, after all." Weiss quipped after the praise, to which the brunette ninja gained a sheepish smile.
"I… I guess I do."
At that moment, Weiss heard the distinct buzz of a device set to vibrate silently… from within the folds of Belle's blazer. Weiss was jolted back into the chaos of the present by this - she was still engines-ahead-full in interview mode. Blake seemed almost to shrink in on herself in the way of someone caught doing something they very much were not supposed to. Belle's hands shook slightly- was she perspirating? The gulp out of her partner was nearly audible, and how still she seemed despite moving quickly to bring out a small device, concealing it under the folds of the tablecloth.
A small hologram of Alexander popped up. Quite the surprise, to be sure.
"Alex-dono." Blake spoke with reverence, bowing as much as she could, which turned out to be just a bit more than a nod in order for her to remain inconspicuous. Their own scene well concealed by the havoc of the ongoing food-fight around them. Weiss narrowed her eyes in suspicion. That honorific again. And why did she have an instant communicator with her fiancee?
Alexander rolled his eyes in annoyance.
" For the umpeenth time, stop that Blake. Your my secretary, not my ninja."
Blake remained nonplussed. "Of course, Alex-dono."
The holographic form of her fiancee sighed in exasperation. " You're a real piece of work, Blake." Another sigh followed. " Oh well. We'll discuss your other issues later. Listen." Weiss leaned closer to hear. " I've just finished having a wonderful discussion with Headmaster Ozpin. You might be interested to know that your team might be working with me sooner or later. I imagine that some fresh air would be good for your team."
Away from Beacon's insanity? She would take that chance in a heartbeat. Her feelings of elation quickly evaporated as she realized that Alexander had technically informed Blake first before her. And the faunus was his secretary! Why hadn't he told her first? He had her number!
"Very good, Alex-dono. Do you have anything else to say?" Blake said, holding her device as if it were a holy artifact.
" Yes. Tell Weiss that I love her and I miss her with all my heart and soul."
A blush crept to Weiss's face upon hearing her fiancee's frank… confession. Alarm filled her as she saw Blake staring at her, perhaps considering on informing Alex that the girl he wanted to flatter was right next to her. Weiss quickly brought a finger up, all but begging Blake to not reveal that she was there. Blake blinked at the sight of Weiss eyeballing her and keeping a gimlet stare affixed while she shook her head from side to side. Her finger made motions of wagging side to side, funnily enough.
Relief flooded Weiss as the faunus nodded and returned her attention towards her device. "I'll ensure that Weiss-sama knows." Blake said earnestly.
Alexander nodded and the connection was cut, leaving the two teens to stew in their thoughts.
Weiss was giddy. Who wouldn't be when the one she loved expressed his feelings towards her? While she was still quite suspicious of the nature of the relationship between her fiancee and his secretary, she allowed herself to at least feel giddy for awhile. There was nothing on Remnant that could ruin this mo-
A pie. A blueberry pie sailed in the air and landed square on her face, covering her with filling and crust. She stood from her hiding place and found that the fight had stopped as all combatants was staring at her. Rage filled Weiss as filling dripped down her face.
"Who threw that pie!?" she yelled. She glanced at Ruby who quickly pointed her finger at Yang.
"Yang threw it! Pinky swear!" squeaked the diminutive admiral in which Yang protested.
"Hey! I did not-" Her protests were cut off as Weiss unleashed a loud and enraged cry.
"YAAAAANGGGGG!"
A/N: It's update time.
Alright. A few more interludes and we will finally, finally, get to the main story. Alex has built himself an army and by god, he will use it.
Edited by my mate, Krasnogvardiech!