A/N: Alright, time to solo write this shit. Since some have requested this, you probably know what this is gonna be considering the chapter title so yeah, expect it to be more of an AU since it's been"RWBY-fied" somewhat like the Love is War chapters.
Disclaimer: Anon Noir and by proxy, BillyBombastic, do not own RWBY. RWBY is a property of RoosterTeeth and Monty Oum (RIP). Cyberpunk 2077 belongs to CD Projekt and all Cyberpunk related media belongs to their respective owners.
[Badass Linebreak]
"ACK-CHOOO!" A certain bombheaded host sneezed as they were taken away by a stretcher carried by medic bots towards the side doors flanking the screen.
"Yeeesh, is he gonna be okay?" Sun asked Anon.
"He's gonna be fine, this room proved to be a bit too cold for his liking." Anon shrugged.
"Aren't you, like gods or something?" Yang asked.
"Sort of, but we're also basically aliens." Anon replied. "Anywho, worry not because whatever illness my brother had, it's not contagious towards humans or any other lifeform."
"Fascinating…" Oobleck muttered but Anon scoffed silently.
More like annoying. He thought before he addressed the guests again.
"Alright, since Bunny is running the projectionist room. I'll just provide the necessary exposition when it's- well, necessary." Anon explained as the emblems of Vale, Mistral and Atlas were shown.
"Don't expect highly, people. This just means that any of you can be present, not necessarily all of you." Anon explained.
"There's a chance! I'm gonna be in there kicking butt!" Sun whooped.
"On your life, monkey boy! Renny's taking the big stage!" Nora declared.
"Nora…" Ren said, but he too looked forward to seeing a version of himself on-screen.
The screen opened up to a nightly view of a futuristic city, skyscrapers were everywhere and futuristic looking screens were on some of the buildings.
The view nonetheless wowed the audience.
"Is that Vale?!" Ruby asked excitedly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you to the year of 2077. Where technology has literally gone crazy and Vale has become a sprawling metropolis of tech, tech and more tech." Anon explained.
"Even more than Atlas?" Penny asked in shock.
"More. Tech." Anon simply replied.
"Amazing…" Ghira muttered, his wife nodding in agreement.
"Do the Grimm still exist?" Ozpin asked.
"Much like the "Love is War" Universe, the Grimm are less of a threat here. Though that does not mean peace is maintained." Anon responded.
A Bullhead could be seen flying towards Vale. It landed on the landing pad of a tall and sleek looking building. Soon enough, the Bullhead's doors opened, revealing two columns of guards, taking positions and making a pathway for a familiar tin man to come out.
"Of course it'd be you." Qrow sighed exasperatedly. "Though you seem a bit older, eh Jimmy?"
"I certainly look different." Ironwood commented, noticing the sleek improvements on his prosthetics.
"I was expecting either a Specialist or some other high-ranking officer to stop by, but not General James Ironwood himself." James grinned at the voice as a familiar, older and much cleaner-looking blonde stepped into the scene, dressed in a military style corporate suit and had a peculiar line on the side of his face near his eye.
"Woah, Fearless Leader looks more fearless than you, Fearless Leader!" Nora complimented/backhandedly insulted the blonde, who slumped.
"Thanks Nora…" Jaune weakly said as Pyrrha blushed at how on-screen Jaune looked.
"Okay, that's actually pretty cool." Coco complimented the outfit, ever the fashionista.
"Okay, what's that weird lining on his face?" Scarlet asked as Anon shrugged.
"Oh, just the latest in cyberware technology, why?" Anon replied, shocking most of the audience, especially those from Atlas.
"Cyberware?" Winter asked curiously.
"Yeah, remember when I said that technology in this era went batshit crazy? This is what I meant by batshit crazy, Cyberware is James Ironwood if James Ironwood wanted to scan shit with his eyes, make himself twice as strong, hack the net with his literal brain and, I am not kidding, make himself a living, breathing sex machine." Anon explained to the best of his abilities.
Suffice to say, the Atlas General flushed particularly at the last description of Cyberware and more at the fact that he was used as an example of said last description, not that he had somewhat of a problem considering he's the one with the fucking prosthetics.
Qrow? He busted a gut, but Winter bonked him.
Yang? Busted a gut, but Weiss bonked her.
Ruby? Held in her laugh but Penny frowned rather cutely in disapproval.
"Anyways." Anon cleared his throat. "As a result of this Cyberware, some were a little addicted to it and began to experience cyberpsychosis, a mental illness that makes anyone overloaded with cybernetic augments…" Anon's voice trailed, awaiting an answer.
"Batshit crazy?" Coco guessed, making Anon snap his fingers.
"Batshit crazy."
Ironwood thought of the possibilities of this technology, while it had its merits, as Anon said, too much may lead to disastrous results. He kept this in mind as the viewing continued.
"Sometimes one must experience the outdoors every once in a while." The General replied as the two shook hands.
"I doubt that's something you would abide by in your younger years, General." Jaune retorted.
"That, I have no counterpoint." Ironwood chuckled as the two walked off the landing pad and inside the building as a massive projection sign could be seen on the side of the building that said: "MILITECH".
"Militech?" Kali read out.
"Militech International Armaments, a megacorporation that specializes in two things and two things only: Making a shit ton of weapons and private military contracting." Anon explained, to the most absolute joy of a certain reaper.
"W-w-w-weapons!?" Ruby squealed as she began to hyperventilate.
"Hey, hey, breathe there, sister." Yang patted her sister's back.
"Jaune! Jaune! Take me to Militech now!" Ruby sped towards the poor blonde and began shaking him.
"Woah! WOah! Help!" Jaune screamed as Anon snapped his fingers and in an instant, the reaper was back in her seat.
"Ehe, sorry Jaune." Ruby said sheepishly, earning a thumbs up from the blonde.
Arriving at his office, Jaune sat at his desk while Ironwood sat opposite to him as the latter gave the blonde a data shard.
"What's that thing?" Oscar asked.
"A data shard, can contain all sorts of information." Anon replied.
"How does someone read that-" Before Jaune could ask…
Jaune then inserted the shard into the back of his head.
And the vomit gates were open.
"...Why?" Jaune asked, retching into the bucket provided as his partner patted his back.
"Cyberware." Anon shrugged.
A view from Jaune's eyes revealed a screen full of information as Ironwood explained.
"A few weeks ago, one of our convoys was ambushed by unknown assailants just outside Vale, possibly from one of the local gangs in the area, but we think it's much more."
"What was in the convoy that's so important?" Jaune asked as the screen showed a truck's interior.
"Arasaka's shipment of prototype Atlesian Knights, the new 700 model to be exact." Ironwood replied.
"Arasaka?" Yatsuhashi asked.
"Arasaka Corporation, a world-wide megacorporation based in Mistral that deals with corporate security, banking and manufacturing. They have many regional officies all over Remnant, one of them being in Vale and they happen to be one of the most influential megacorps in the world, rivaling that of the Schnee Dust Company and Militech." Anon explained, earning a look of shock from Weiss and a subtle one from Winter.
"Though this "Arasaka" seemed to be invested in ordering this universe's new model of the Atlesian Knights." Weiss commented.
"It's no surprise. They wanted to stay ahead of the competition and the Knights are an exclusive to Atlas' repertoire of arms manufacturing." Anon smirked amusedly at Ironwood's look of pride.
"I see." Jaune simply said as the screen disappeared and the blonde removed the data shard. "Well then, I expected this to be a simple snatch-and-grab but considering that the shipment is probably somewhere in the city, I doubt I could have a few men with me in the streets without looking suspicious."
"What are you suggesting, Mr. Arc?" Jaune stayed silent briefly, a contemplating look on his face until he looked at the General and responded.
"I'm suggesting that this operation requires… a more specialized, outsider's touch." Ironwood's eyes widened before he frowned.
"You want mercenaries involved?" Jaune shrugged.
"Why not? Corporate soldiers are also mercenaries by some technicality so I don't see the difference nor the reason why we shouldn't have mercs with street smarts involved." The blonde countered.
"Kid's got a point." Qrow grinned.
"Does not mean I like it necessarily." Ironwood pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Wonder who's involved?" Fox asked.
"Guess we're about to find out." Coco replied.
Ironwood sighed. "If that's the case, then I might as well compromise with whoever mercenary you choose to hire. But know that both our heads are on the line."
"Of course." Jaune responded with a practiced, yet hollow smile. "Now as for who to choose, I have a few in mind."
The scene changes to a muscle car speeding down a highway in Vale.
Inside, the driver was revealed to be an older Neptune, who wore a more rugged and short sleeved version of his usual red outfit and had a beard.
"Oooh, cool car." Yang whistled as Neptune's jaw dropped.
Weiss, on the other hand, blushed at the sight of an older Neptune but frowned momentarily at the thought that her crush was a mercenary in this viewing, a good looking merc, but a merc nonetheless.
Shifting gears, he made a sharp drift to the right before stopping at a warehouse where a familiar monkey faunus was seen running away towards him, all the while dodging gunshots taken at him.
"Oh yeah! Awesomeness has arrived!" Sun whopped.
"Even if you're getting shot at?" Blake deadpanned.
"Ah.. well, I'm dodging them, right?" Sun scratched his head while his teammates snickered.
With a sigh, Neptune opened the passenger door and yelled out. "Get in!"
"Took you long enough." Sun laughed as he hopped in.
"Just buckle up." Neptune simply said as he shifted gears and sped away.
"So you got the package?" Neptune asked as he expertly weaved passed cars and trucks.
"Right here!" Sun pulled out the package, which was a rectangular box.
Suddenly, a truck came up and started hitting their side.
"Honestly, could you not come out of any deal without getting fucking shot?" Neptune said with gritted teeth as he countered with a hit of his own before speeding up.
"Well that explains things." Neptune said before shooting Sun a deadpanned look.
"Hey, they could be those cyberpsychos that Anon was talking about!" Sun defended.
"Oh you of little faith, my friend?" Sun replied whilst loading a few shells into his shotgun before the truck gained on them, this time on the monkey faunus' side.
As Sun pulled down the door window, he saw someone on the cargo bed with a rifle as they screamed while unloading several shots onto them.
Ducking his head as some bullets barely missed him, he took aim and fired.
His aim was true as the assailant was knocked off the truck.
"Uh, that guy had Aura, right?" Oscar asked nervously as Sun was also a bit sweaty that his other self might have killed someone.
"There are some that have their Auras awakened, and they're usually Huntsmen." Anon explained. "However in this world of "Cyberpunk"- as I like to call it, only a few left have taken the Huntsman career and seldom do people really awaken their Aura considering the existence of Cyberware."
"So then…" Sun's voice trailed off.
"They might have Aura, or they might not." Anon scoffed. "What's important is that this wasn't their first kill, assuming this universe's Mr. Wukong has indeed killed that person. Some of you, especially Huntsmen and Huntresses-in-training, need to know that eventually once you graduate or even while on a mission, one way or another, blood will be spilled."
"But.. we don't have to, right?" Ruby asked shakingly, as Summer comforted her.
"Hate to say it, kiddo, but the trench coat here is right." Qrow sighed. "You'll not only encounter many Grimm along the way, but also people who are willing to kill without remorse."
"Indeed." Ozpin agreed. "While it is a messy and rather sickening experience, to take someone's life, sometimes the necessary, even logical option… isn't always the right one."
"Guys, you got company." Scarlet's voice crackled from their radio link.
"Neat, I'm here." Scarlet commented. "Wait, where am I?"
"At a secure location, you're their Netrunner." Anon replied.
"Netrunner?"
"Someone with a lot of cybernetic brain implants who can roam the internet, look for a system to hack, nab some info here and there and basically sell said info to any fixer looking to buy some." Anon explained. "Basically, they're just a hacker with a fuck ton of wiring in their brain."
"A fixer?" Ruby asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Oh yeah, fixers." Anon said. "They're just people who happen to have something or everything you might need, knowledge, resources, people."
"Oh, so like Weiss." Ruby said in understanding, earning a "Hey!" from her partner.
"Exactly kiddo, just like Winter." Qrow added, earning a "Hey!" from the Specialist.
"Scar, we're already having some company, you might want to be more specific!" Sun said as he fired some stray shots at the truck.
"Okay then, Police."
"Oh no." Sun said. "Dude, do something!"
"Hey, other me for one!" Neptune retorted. "And two, I'm trying!"
Neptune cursed under his breath as he shifted gears and took a turn into another street. "Where are they coming from?"
"The Forever Fall District."
"Well shit, that's not too far away from us!" Sun said. "Nep, you might wanna either lose these guys or smoke 'em."
"At this point, I might be down to both." Neptune muttered as he took another turn into a highway. "Hang on!"
It was then that Neptune pulled on the handbrake and turned hard on the wheel, making the car swerve into a complete 180, narrowly missing the overshooting truck that chased after them as it crashed into oncoming traffic.
"Yeah!" Nora and Yang cheered.
"So cool!" Jaune said.
"Jaune, they made someone crash into traffic, someone could've gotten hurt." Pyrrha said.
"But.. but..!" The blonde made an effort to gesture with twitching hands.
"No buts!" The redhead said. "Just mine." She added under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing! No buts!" Pyrrha did not like the look Nora had.
"Bro…" Sun muttered as Neptune sped away just in time as they heard sirens from afar. "That was fucking wicked!"
"Dude." Neptune simply said as he spared his friend a sparkling, toothy grin.
"Oh man, Lil' Miss is gonna love this!" Sun whooped.
At this, Neptune and Sun tensed and started to wave their hands defensively, all the while shouting denials left, right and center.
"Now worry not boys, no one is accusing you of involving yourselves with such an individual." Ozpin assured, looking at Ironwood who nodded in agreement.
Both sagged in relief, all the while Sage and Scarlet sweatdropped, those from Beacon stared on, confused.
The scene then changed to show an apartment where Neptune exited from the bathroom in nothing but a towel.
"Hello~!" Coco purred, blood coming out of her nose.
"Coco!" Velvet squeaked as she covered her eyes.
"My eyes!" Ruby covered hers as well.
Weiss squeaked with a blush on her face and a little trickle of blood running down her nose as she covered her eyes, but dared to peek just a bit.
"Woah! Dude!" A blushing Neptune yelled at Anon, who helplessly shrugged.
"That's how it was rolled, I'm just the guy showing it."
Minutes after, Neptune was dressed when someone buzzed at his door.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by 2 armed personnel flanking someone whose silhouette was rather familiar.
"Neptune Vasilias?" A voice asked.
"Summer?" Taiyang asked his wife, who simply shook her head.
"Sounds like me, but it doesn't." She replied, making her youngest gasp.
"Wait a minute!" Ruby smiled excitedly. Could this be?
The screen then revealed it to be an older, more mature Ruby Rose, who looked to be a splitting image of Summer, minus the different hairstyle and the Cyberware which ran across the bridge of her nose and the fact that she wore a corporate uniform.
"Yess!" Ruby cheered jovially. "Milk!"
"My baby girl, all grown up." Taiyang sniffed. "She looks just like you, Sum!"
"I know." Summer said proudly before hugging her daughter. "I told you the milk would come in handy! Now look at you!"
"Yeah!" Ruby yelled.
Weiss simply grumbled, most notably at the fact that Cyberpunk!Ruby was more mature in… some places.
"Wow…" Oscar whispered with a faint blush before slapping both his cheeks, something which didn't go unnoticed by a certain dusty old crow.
"Yes?" Neptune said unsurely until he noticed the uniform. "You're… Militech, aren't you?"
At that, Ruby's eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she gasped and then started to shake in excitement until she launched like a goddamn missile, if said missile were like a pinball bouncing around the room until she somehow landed back in her place.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes!" Ruby repeated while fist pumping before taking a very deep breath and…
"Yes!" Ruby groaned out.
"Ruby!" Weiss chided.
"Sorry Weiss, but my other is working for Militech!" Ruby spun and bounced in her seat. "This is exciting!"
"You catch on quick." Ruby snarked. "Ruby Rose, Militech R&D, could you please come with us?"
"And if I don't?" Neptune challenged.
"If someone were to send us after you, Mr. Vasilias, you would've been dead already." Ruby retorted with a carefree, but hollow smile.
Eyes were widened.
Summer meanwhile, was cackling like a madwoman.
"That's my girl!"
"Summer!" Taiyang yelled out, but his wife turned to him with the same smile as her on-screen daughter.
"Is there a problem?" Taiyang gulped.
"I-I mean, good work..?"
"Thanks Dad!" Ruby brightly said, unaware of the frightened looks from her teammates.
Neptune tensed, he looked around his apartment before looking back at Ruby.
"Guess I got no choice, huh?"
"You do." Ruby said before she took on a neutral look. "The easy way or the hard way."
Sighing, he raised his hands. "Alright, alright. I'll come quietly."
"You don't need to raise your hands, Mr. Vasilias, we're not the police." Ruby gave a small, amused smirk before jerking her head.
Neptune placed his hands back down while shaking his head as he followed Ruby, all the while being flanked by her guards.
Ruby meanwhile, dialed up a number and a voice answered.
"Ah, Ruby." Jaune's voice spoke up. "I take it things went well with Mr. Vasilias?"
"Things were a bit tense, but I managed to convince him to comply." Ruby replied with a grin on her face.
"As usual, Rubes. Your charm and diplomacy never seems to fail for even a second."
"I take pride in my talents, Mr. Arc, though I have to admit." Ruby turned back to look at Neptune with an ominous smile. "You should send me out on the field some more, it seems to be.. fun."
This chick is scary. Neptune gulped.
At that, the screen dimmed and thus ended the viewing.
Neptune was shaking in his boots.
Yang was a bit concerned for her sister, though at the same time she was proud that on-screen Ruby was a lot more confident and the blonde hoped her sister would be the same soon (minus the scariness).
"So, how was that glimpse into the future?" Anon asked.
"It was interesting, to say the least," Ghira commented. "I couldn't imagine how our own home in Menagerie would have the same advancements as Vale in this viewing."
"Ah, but it is possible, Mr. Belladonna." Anon replied, which brought a hopeful smile on the Chieftain's face.
"That was so awesome!" Ruby said before trying to imitate her other self, as she turned to her partner.
"What do you think, Weiss?" She asked the heiress, expression and all.
"It needs a lot of work, you dolt." Weiss deadpanned, pushing her partner away from her face. "Luckily, I'm here to help you with that."
"Aww, thanks bestie!" Ruby tackled her.
"Get off!"
"Alrighty, Anon, what's next, what's next!?" Nora asked excitedly before slumping. "A shame Renny wasn't there."
"Don't worry, Miss Valkyrie, we'll be back in this world soon." Anon explained, which made some in the audience excited. "As for what's next, well-"
"IT'S RENNY TIME!"
[BADASS CLIFFHANGER]
A/N: Well, at the time of releasing this chapter, Billy has somewhat recovered sooner than expected, so yeah, I'm happy for him and expect him to be back in the next chapters of both this fanfic and Fear, Fate and Memory.
As always, how's this chapter? Be sure Read and Review, Favorite and Follow, Stay Cool and Anonymous and-
Billy: STAY BOMBASTIC!
Anon: Well, what he said