Chapter 33 – Argus: Years-End
The skies above Argus were a war zone, where no aircraft dared travel. Deep thuds followed by double and triple explosions echoed through the streets of an entire city brought to a standstill. No one dared try to drive anywhere either, considering every street in the city was closed except for a handful of bus lines and lanes kept open for emergency vehicles. Each deep thud originated from the Atlas military base just offshore, firing high up and over the city inland, the shells bursting in huge spheres of color, gigantic haloes, or drooping curtains of crackling, sizzling light.
The first time in Cinder Scoria's thirteen years, she was seeing an actual Years-End Celebration from outdoors, and she sat in a foldable frame chair in the middle of the street outside the Emporium, along with her family and friends.
My family. My friends.
They were all there.
Garek and Selene, her Guardians, held hands and sat to her left. Selene had her free hand resting on Cinder's shoulder, and it felt warm and comfortable there.
Argent sat to her right, and held her own right hand clasped tightly and happily, and was oohing and ahhing. The feeling and sounds of Argent made her smile as much as the sights, sounds, feelings, and smells of an entire city in celebration did.
And behind Argent, Cinder could feel the presence of the rest of the Grimmslayers. She glanced back momentarily, to find Sarah looking at her and Argent with a smug, satisfied expression. Laurel was just staring at the sky happily, mouth slightly open.
Further away toward the Emporium entrance, Terra and Saphron were drinking some sort of spiced alcoholic coffee contraption, and chatting happily with each other. Cinder thought that maybe… just maybe… there was something brewing there besides coffee. But she wasn't sure. She felt a pang of jealousy for the loss of her friend Terra, but Argent's hand in hers took most of the sting out of it.
To Selene's left sat Mr. Stonecrop. Cinder was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he was Selene's dad. It felt weird for some reason, thinking of Selene having a dad.
Why would that be weird? It'd be weird if she didn't have a dad, right?
Argent's mom, Raechel, along with Sarah and Laurel's families sat further to the left. Cinder had been shocked to find that one of them, Sarah's aunt Raspberry Regalia, was her future Combat Instructor at Sanctum. The woman had allowed her deep pinkish-reddish hair to fall from the utilitarian bun she'd worn when Cinder had visited the Combat School a few weeks ago.
Further back, Sophia and Pete were sitting together and talking quietly. It had been… weird and kinda cool to see those two change from coworkers to dating. Reggie / BA, stood with Crystal in more serious conversation about something. Reggie gesturing and Crystal nodding along, ignoring the fireworks completely.
And just behind Garek and Selene, so close she could reach out and touch him, sat Rhodes, her first friend in the entire world. He caught her looking and leaned forward, ruffling her hair and making her huff, as the latest explosion of color in the sky reflected in his eyes. She could have frowned, but she didn't, and she felt Argent squeeze her hand and laugh at them both.
Everyone… well most everyone she cared about was there, in that one small space, in one small block, in one small street in Argus. And Cinder was happier than she could ever remember being.
Claxons, bells and a final series of explosions of color heralded the passing of midnight, and the beginning of a new year in Argus. Garek looked over the group, smiling and laughing and clapping, and found himself drawn to Selene's. She released Cinder's hand, and leaned forward, eyes dancing. Garek met her halfway in a lingering kiss, managing to ignore the hoots from Rhodes and the laughing/retching noises from Laurel and Sarah nearby.
It had been two years since he'd discovered a certain quiet place, and his life had been upended. A year since Selene and he had grown to become close friends. Only half a year since they became lovers. Slightly less than that since discovering The Lone Huntsmen, and Rhodes had brought Cinder into their lives.
It seemed too short a time for all of that to happen, and yet it seemed like this was always how things had been. Time is a strange thing, Garek thought, as he and Selene separated slightly, and pressed foreheads together, smiling.
In many ways, Garek felt like this year had been one of building foundations. He'd been allowed to have this, settle here in Argus, and build or rebuild ties. Next year… next year would be busy, he suspected, expanding their reach out beyond Argus and Atlas. At some point, he fully expected to take another trip to Mistral and Haven Academy, and beyond that to Kuo Kuana. From there, he'd likely be tracking down the White Fang leader, Ghira Belladonna. Might also be taking a trip to Vacuo, with Mr. Stonecrop.
But not Vale. He was staying as far away from Vale as possible. Ozpin was in Vale, and that was one man he wanted nothing to do with at all.
But for now, he'd enjoy what life had provided. A sense of calm belonging and safety.
Selene kissed Garek a second time, and leaned back in her chair, sighing, as the last of the fireworks began to fade from the sky. Soon they would all go inside to open presents and enjoy each others company for, she had been told, at least another couple hours while the streets slowly emptied and people were able to drive around again. The larger machines in the middle of the Emporium had been wheeled off to the sides, and they'd filled the space with chairs and small tables, almost turning into a mini café.
And she hoped, at some point soon after that, to receive a call from her mother. It had been implied. Selene considered how her life had changed in the last two years, from one of gnawing loneliness to being surrounded by friends and a life of purpose. She wished, not for the first time, nor the last, that her mother could be here with her, at these moments. But she would be satisfied with what she was given. For now.
Rhodes was on cloud nine, splitting his attention between the beer in his hand, watching in fascination as his little Cinder and Argent crushed quietly on each other. Man, that's just godsdamned adorable, and flirting shamelessly with the woman nearby, who he understood was Argent's mother.
That woman needs to seriously loosen up.
She was having none of it.
Though thinking about it, she is sort-of, kind-of my client for the evening, he mused. Since I'm at least nominally being paid to serve as an Escort to ensure Cinder doesn't… I dunno, explode into a fireball and singe her precious daughter's eyebrows.
Rhodes laughed quietly, caught Raechel's eye one more time, and raised his beer in a toast. She frowned back at him, but nodded.
Still don't think I'm getting anywhere there. Whatever.
He turned his attention back to Cinder. Gods, it was amazing to see how she'd changed from that quiet, fearful and angry underfed waif he'd first met at the Glass Unicorn. She was turning into confident young teen, and he suspected Sanctum was going to kick-start that process even more. He felt like… he was gonna explode with happiness and pride, even if Garek and Selene had done most of the work. Was there a slight pang of jealousy there?
Eh, maybe. Fuck the world if it can't take joke.
"Hey Claude, think I'd make a good dad?" He poked at Garek in front of him.
His friend leaned back and turned to half face him with a grin. "Sure thing, Irons. But you gotta get your own kid. We got first dibs on Cinder." Selene snorted, causing both men to look at her with some amount of shock.
"Oh… I… Hmph," Selene reddened. "I believe I will go fetch another drink."
"Amazing," Rhodes muttered. "I've never heard Selene snort before. Even her snorts are cute. Damn you, Claude, I hate your guts."
"Love you too, dude."
They were interrupted by Pete yelling about heading inside.
They had only been inside for a few minutes when Selene's scroll pinged.
S: Daughter, I am in a location where I can be safely called. I trust you are likewise.
"Ah… Garek." She held the scroll out to Garek, and he only hesitated for a moment.
"Sure thing, Selene. One second guys, family call." Several people waved him off.
Selene turned to Forrest, with a questioning look. "Father… do you wish…?"
"Not this time. Maybe next round." He shook his head. "I talked to her not too long ago, and I'm still trying to get my bearings back." She gave a nod of understanding, and took Garek's hand, leading them outside to a quiet spot before connecting the call.
Video swam into focus. It was a small desert encampment, somewhere near the coast, which screamed Vacuo. Firelight illuminated the features of a woman's paper-white face and alien features. Selene sighed softly, and smiled. "Mother. I bid you a joyful new year."
Salem's hair was loose, and her face softened immediately at her daughter's words. She smiled gently in return, "Ah daughter, It is wonderful to see and hear you. Thank you for… humoring me."
When Salem's face had first swam into view, Garek had felt himself tense, that old feeling of helplessness and terror threatening to flood over him. But this person… she didn't have that air about her, that feeling of dreadful and deadly power. He marveled that Selene had managed this, managed to drive an internal wedge between Salem's two aspects, at least superficially.
It made what he was about to do remotely possible. He took a deep breath, and eased into the frame next to Selene. "Salem, it's good to see you well." He fought to keep his tone light. "My parents expect a call from me, so it's the least we can do."
He watched Salem's expression turn from surprise, to a momentary sharpness, to thoughtfulness, and finally settle on something that might have been pleased. "Thank you, Garek. I am surprised you are willing to speak with me." She frowned slightly. "We did not part on the best of terms."
He felt Selene looking at him and he could feel her desperation. He shrugged. "We both love Selene. That counts for a lot."
"Yes," alien eyes regarded him, full of thousands of years of emotion, "more than anything else in Remnant." She flicked between the two. "You have made my daughter very happy. I can see this." Garek could feel the underlying tension in her voice. Never forget who she also is, what she is capable of, a voice in the back of his head whispered.
Selene intervened. "But how are you, mother?"
Salem's tone lightened. "Ah, well I can not say my company is as entertaining as yours. The Queen has given her bickering agents the holiday to do as they choose. I will not bore you with how they chose to spend such a precious commodity. And I in turn decided to follow your example and allow the servants to celebrate as they would until I return." She smiled again. "It is nothing. I get to hear my daughter's voice and see her smiling at me. It is all the celebration I require." Her face shifted, becoming less readable. "Is your father still in Argus?"
"Yes, he accepted our invitation to stay through the holiday. He will return to Vacuo after. Thank you, for suggesting he come."
Salem waved it away. "I did it for you, of course. He and I do not have… feelings toward each other, other than perhaps irritation and wariness. He told you of our… story?"
"He did."
Salem smirked, but there might have been a hint of pain in her eyes. "We were not what one would call a healthy couple, nor really a couple at all." She shook her head. "But enough of that. Garek. What of your parents?"
Garek blinked. He had not expected that question. "Ah… they are fine as well. They couldn't be here, but we're going to call them in a bit."
"Good. That is… well. As you say, family is important." Salem considered, "I wish that I could speak with Cinder, but…"
Selene nodded. "We have not explained things to her, yet."
Garek frowned, as he always did when the topic arose. "It's too soon, Selene." He regarded Salem again. "But we intend to, eventually."
Salem's wariness, that sharpness returned. "Be cautious, daughter." She regarded Garek again and her lips curved up in a smirk. "Listen to your betrothed. He is perhaps wise, for all that he lacks the perspective of centuries."
Selene sighed. "Yes, mother."
"Ah, and there is my little obstinate Grimmling." Salem's voice carried mirth tinged with another hint of sadness. "Bah, I will become melancholy and ruin the evening. Tell me more of your celebrations, and then I will return to Evernight and terrorize the servants." And Garek felt the shock of seeing Salem wink at her daughter. As Selene launched into a detailed accounting of the Years-End festivities, Garek mused on the unreality of Salem with a sense of humor.
Reggie/BA approached Pete and Sophia, drink in hand. "Happy Years-End, kids. How are things going in relationship-land?"
Pete grinned, "Things are going, Reggie, going real nice." To the former Specialist's surprise, Sophia smiled and nodded her agreement.
When did we start calling each other by our real names instead of those dumb nicknames we came up with?
Oh… yeah. When Garek and Selene joined the crew.
Four months since Garek and Selene had entered their little cabal and upset all their apple carts, and the three had nothing to regrets. From revelations that had changed their entire worldview, to connections forged with Polendina and Rhodes, and now Saphron added to the Emporium… not to mention the freaking funding that was allowing them to expand their capabilities dramatically… it was quickly turning them into a group that could do something rather than just survive and look for other survivors.
Sophia's scroll pinged from her pocket with an odd double-chime, and she frowned. Pulling it out, she read briefly and leaned in to the other two. "Our mole is messaging Selene from the coast near Vacuo." The trio watched as Selene and Garek spoke briefly with Forrest, who shook his head, and then exited the Emporium.
Another double-chime followed. "And now she's calling her back."
Pete frowned at the other two. "You know, that creeps me out, that we're having to do that."
Sophia stilled, and peered at him over her glasses. "Do you want me to stop? I can turn it off any time." There was almost an eagerness to the question.
But Reggie just frowned and his eyes tightened. "Not yet. We can't afford to. They're still keeping secrets from us."
Pete gestured, nearly spilling some of his drink. "Yeah yeah. I know. I know. Geez I was the paranoid one. Why are you the one pushing back?"
"You kept us alive for years, Pete. Don't bitch if you taught us too well." Reggie gave a laugh. "Hell, I consider them friends as much as you do, but there's something going on there and they've admitted they aren't telling us about it."
"Something bigger than a Remnant-wide plot involving controlled Grimm and Watts?" Pete said, with some disbelief. He shook his head. "I just can't see it."
"Or something personal that she's afraid to share." Sophia muttered.
"Either way, this crew works because we make sure we're all informed. The only reason I haven't grabbed Garek and demanded he spill it after Sophia found those messages, is because they've admitted that it's there, that it's personal and that they'll tell us when it matters." Reggie frowned at his drink and finished it. "But I don't like them getting to decide when it matters. I think we're going to have to push the question, sooner rather than later."
Pete sighed. "Yeah. I get it. But look, not tonight, okay? It's obvious there's a personal thing going on there with the mole, and it's Years-End so we know what they're calling about, right? Let's table this for a business meeting." He gave Sophia a squeeze, and she smiled and nodded, putting the scroll away.
"Sorry, I could have just waited."
"Nah, you couldn't. Nosy little gazelle." She punched him lightly, and then kissed him.
"Gah. Get a room, you two. And not the damn conference room this time."
"Prude," Sophia teased, and Pete snickered. "Anyway, it's time to open presents." She gave Pete a long look. "I hope to gods Selene helped you pick one out for me."
They'd generally set it up so that they could pool money and let the person who best knew buy the actual gift, both so they could get better gifts, and so that people didn't have to buy for everyone.
Selene's gift, despite the late start and Forrest's interruption of their original trip, had been completed on time. It was amazing what throwing money at a problem could do. It was almost identical to her original quarterstaff, except for internal modifications. The hardest part, according to the builder, was making it light enough to use, with enough mass at the ends to make strikes worthwhile, and internally protected from the shocks of use to prevent the… surprises from going off prematurely inside the staff when struck.
Basically, the staff now contained a six-round magazine that held some pretty potent flash-bangs that could be launched up to several dozen meters. Distance fully selectable with a dial where her right hand normally gripped. The Lone Huntsmen and Cinder had debated for hours before dubbing her new weapon "Persuasive Argument". Cinder had been giddy.
Selene's eyes practically glowed when she opened it and Garek explained it's capabilities.
"This is… perfect, Garek. I now have more ability to deter attack."
"Thought you'd like a nonlethal option." He leaned in and got a kiss for his thoughtfulness.
Garek, Selene, and Rhodes had taken the lead on having a custom weapon built for Cinder as well. "Kiddo, I know you treasure that sword I gave you, but really, it's too heavy for your current build." Rhodes waved his hands as she started to object. "I know you'll probably grow into it, but that's for later. You needed something you can use now." He handed her the wrapped box, and she began tearing into it. "It's dual swords, fits with what you've been doing with the practice sticks and kinda mimics my dual-mace style."
Cinder held them up, and her eyes started to sting. "They're beautiful," she breathed. The stylized dual blades had a coppery inlay, and the handles were slightly oversized for length. She frowned, trying to understand the reason for the curved single-edged design.
"They also mate together to form the body of a bow. See the openings at the back of the blade-tip and the notch on the other?"
Cinder's eyes widened as she placed the handles end-to-end and felt them automatically latch, twist, and lock together in a stable form, and a bowstring immediately drop down from the upper half with an attachment point that she intuitively pulled down to lock into the lower body of the bow. "It's… it's perfect, guys. Thank you!" Her voice was shaking she was so happy.
"We figured we'd let you name it, at Sanctum." Cinder just nodded, tears beginning to run. She didn't trust herself to even talk. Garek glanced over to see Ms. Regalia nodding with approval.
Sarah and Argent were watching Cinder closely. Sarah was smiling and nodding. She'd be getting her own weapon later in the year. Argent was smiling behind her hand, periodically glancing nervously at her mom, who scowled a little but didn't comment. She waited until Cinder had safely broken down and stored the bow, and then stepped up beside her, and whispered quietly as Garek started opening his present. "I got you something from me, too."
Cinder blinked, wiping her cheeks. "Oh. I… I got you something too." They traded small gifts. Argent had gotten Cinder a necklace that had half of a heart on it with and A engraved into it. She realized with a start that Argent was wearing a mated half with a C. "I… I hope you like it?"
"It's perfect. So we'll know, even when we're at different schools or I'm having to travel with Garek and Selene."
"Yeah, I wanted… I wanted to be able to tell people." She started to put it around Cinder's neck, and the teen girl froze and felt her body start to shake.
And then she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. "Cinder, love, it's okay."
Argent had pulled back, eyes worried. "What did I do?"
Cinder felt sick, she looked up to see Selene's worried face. "It is okay, Argent. You did not do anything wrong." She returned her attention to Cinder. "Do you want to put it on yourself, later?"
Cinder looked from Argent to Selene, and felt her hand creep up to her neckline. The scars were faint, but she could still feel them. Would always feel them. Her gaze settled on Argent again.
I can be anything I want.
She looked at the matching necklace around Argent's neck. "No… I… I want Argent to put it on me."
The relief and affection in her friend's eyes nearly broke her. Cinder closed her eyes and felt Selene's hand start to gently rub her shoulder and then she felt Argent's soft hands, hands that would never hurt her, slip around and behind her neck to fasten the necklace. The thin metal felt cool and soothing to the touch, and the half-heart pendant hung low enough that it could slip inside her shirt if she wanted.
It didn't hurt. It didn't hurt at all.
And then she felt her girlfriend's arms around her neck, and she kissed her cheek. She let out a shuddering breath.
"Good girl, Cinder. That was very brave of you."
Yes. I am. I can be.
She wrapped her arms around Argent and hugged her tightly. "You're the best," she whispered. "I… I never imagined I'd have someone who cared about me like this." She opened her golden-yellow eyes and saw Selene smiling at her, and pulled away, blushing. "I mean… besides Selene and Garek and Rhodes."
"It is fine, Cinder. It is not a competition."
"Oh, you have to open yours!"
It was a small, clear, glass orb with a scarlet metallic heart embedded in the center of it. The bottom was slightly flattened so it wouldn't roll away. "I… I made it myself." Cinder whispered, "with my… Semblance. I wanted you to have something that I made." She flicked between Argent's face and the gift. "I mean, I didn't make the heart, but I made the glass and put it inside."
"It's perfect. It's part of you." The two girls hugged again, and then glanced up to find that the half-dozen adults nearby had all stopped talking or looking at their own gifts, and were watching them with smiles of their own. Even Argent's mom seemed happy, and that was wild. "Uhhh hi guys?"
Sarah sighed. "I hope I find someone who looks at me like that someday." Laurel laughed at her and whispered something. "Ugh, no. He smells like popcorn. I hate popcorn."
That seemed to break up that little party, and people turned back to their own gifts again.
The rest of the gifts were a little more typical. Garek got a new and very expensive coat to replace the one he'd gotten shredded back in Mistral playing around with Spiders and Parrots. Forrest received some cold-weather gear, along with a special scroll that they would shortly explain to him, since he'd be their ears back in Vacuo. Sophia got two gifts, one that Pete insisted she could not open until they got back to his place or hers, which earned some knowing looks, and a second that included a rather lovely matching necklace and earrings that mimicked circuitry. She was surprised and touched.
Pete got more dress shirts. "Thanks guys. Thanks a lot. Yeah, yeah, I get it." He also a present that had no 'from' tag and contained a mug that had Best Fucking Boss Ever written on it. No one would admit to buying it for him, but several people gave each other knowing glances.
Crystal received two new rifles. Reggie had been the one to take the lead on those gifts. One was a gorgeous bolt-action that fired long-range dust rounds, including a scope with night-vision options. The other was a high capacity select fire number. The look on Crys's face as she oohed and ahhhed over them terrified Garek. Seriously. A new rifle. You'd have thought it was the best gift she'd ever gotten.
He shook his head and leaned to Selene and Rhodes so they could hear him over the noisy room. "Reggie tells me she'll actually make a decent bodyguard in the near future. He's been working with her on a Bullhead Simulator, too."
Reggie got a bulletproof vest, top of the line Atlas make, along with some other gear that Helens Nikos had suggested. You'd have thought it was his birthday. She couldn't be with them, unfortunately, but word was she'd be arriving in about a week with a surprise for them all.
[A/N and so we wrap up the first 'full year' of storyline as we bring the tenth year before the V3 Fall of Beacon (FoB -10) to a close. This Chapter was mostly an excuse to show how several of the characters, and their relationships, have evolved over the course of the year.
I can't believe we managed thirty chapters to cover this first full year of story. You're going to find that starting 'next year' FoB -9, the pace is going to pick up with more time skips, as we have solidified the core characters, and we will start increasingly drawing characters into the story from canon. And boy do we have some doozies in store for you!
The next few chapters will be split between Cinder's first week at Sanctum and Garek's second (or third if you count Atlas) foray into the wide world to further their aims. But I thought I'd include a few updates below as Author Notes regarding what they've managed to get up and running by end of this year:
-Black Arrow Security Technologies (BAST) – Officially contracted Rhodes via Broken Moon and doing jobs in Atlas outside his Huntsman contracts.
-Mistral-Argus Security Consultants (MASC) – Officially contracted Crystal via Broken Moon. They've now got an indoor firearm range ready to open in Springhill just outside Argus. Plan to expand it into a full Security Services training facility including a mocked-up urban setting and have already gotten a few preliminary contracts with Argus PD thanks to Sarah's father.
-Gazelle Communications in Argus – Gazelle has purchased the building behind the Emporium, setting it up as a Communications Technology Consulting and Repair Services company. The basements are linked and contain a complete research laboratory with air-gapped testing facilities for hardware.
-Broken Moon Staffingin Vale – Small office front in Vale. Currently providing staffing to a handful of companies in Atlas, Vale, and Mistral. Mostly administrative but a few professionals. Most of their staffing is unrelated to TLH core business in order to hide its true purpose. Vale office is staffed by a local headhunter and an office administrator recommended by their business advocate, Muenster.
-Back Office Services and Supplies (BOSS) in Argus is providing business consulting and supplies to most of the above, and branching out to a few other businesses in the area mostly as a contract-based professional services company.
-Vacuo Express Transport in Vacuo. Forrest is being set up to be a front man for this company now.
And as another add-on, here's a timeline of key events in this story, to help those who have followed along so far keep track of what has happened, and how that might differ from canon. Formats will be FoB (Fall of Beacon at end of Volume 3) Plus or Minus a certain number of years since I'll be including this from time to time at major story points. Here we go:
FoB -16 Garek's Partner Toller Crimson murdered by faunus extremists (this is pre-White Fang extremism).
FoB -15 Watts stages the Paladin Incident and fakes his own death, framing BA (Reggie Cass) for his supposed death, and then ruining GNU's (Sophia Keene) career at the Argus CCT Relay. He also cheats at an online gaming tournament run by Pete (Pietro Mason). Garek graduates Haven and the rest of Team STAG falls apart as his two remaining teammates abandon him.
FoB -11 Garek discovers A Quiet Place
FoB -10 Garek meets Selene and almost gets murdered by Salem.
-August: They meet the Lone Huntsmen and Rescue Cinder.
-September: Ties made with Pietro Polendina and Helena Nikos.
-October: Recruit Crystal, get a Secure Scroll to Salem, Set up Shell Companies.
-November: Rent a house, Cinder goes full murder-hobo on some human traffickers, they visit Mistral City on the Argus Limited to meet with Lionheart and get Cinder an identity and meet most of the cast of Roman Holiday. The Grimmslayers prove their mettle.
-December: Invasion of the Arc Clan. Saphron stays in Argus, Selene's dad Forrest Stonecrop appears. And Years-End musings!
So what else is going on in the world around this time period? Happy to share!
Most of the RWBY/JNPR kids are around 8 years old at this moment, except for Ruby who is 6yo. Most are living with their families or at orphanages.
Cinder is 13yo now and living with Garek and Selene, and completely derailed from canon as we discussed above. In canon she would still be suffering under Madame's bootheel.
Emerald Sustrai is an 8yo street rat in Vale City. It doesn't look like Cinder's gonna recruit her, but I have... ideas...
Mercury Black... dunno what the hell he's doing and not sure of his age. Cinder won't be recruiting him either.
Neo is still 12yo "Trivia Vanille" as described in Roman Holiday, living with her family in Vale and has not yet burned her house down.
Roman Torchwick as we saw is an enforcer and errand runner for Little Miss Malachite's Spider Gang in Mistral City, and has just finished playing babysitter for her daughters Miltiades and Melanie Malachite who are about Cinder's age.
Ghira Belladonna is not chieftain of Menagerie, but is head of the still non-violent pro-faunus White Fang for about another five years. Sienna Khan is currently one of his lieutenants. Dunno where Adam Taurus is at the moment. The current Chieftain of Menagerie is an OC I created named Perine Ursulus. You'll meet him in a chapter or two.
Atlas Specialist Task Force Team November, including "Foxtrot (Helena Nikos) and Team Leader (Charlie) are reporting directly to Captain Ironwood. This group (and their characters) are all creations of Coeur Al'Aran and I can take no credit for them.
Of Team STRQ, Raven is with her tribe somewhere in southern Mistral, Qrow is well into his descent into alcoholism over the loss of Summer, but is still playing Ozpin's errand boy. Taiyang is raising his kids as a single parent and grieving the loss of his wife. And Summer of course has been missing and presumed dead for about a year at this point.
Of the Maidens, the unnamed Spring Maiden is with Raven already, the Fall Maiden Amber is running around the Vale countryside, the Winter Maiden Fria is in seclusion in Atlas, and the Summer Maiden Omaira (Coeur OC) is wandering the deserts of Vacuo.
Atlas Headmaster James Ironwood is doing Ironwood things, and is head of the Specialists, but not yet head of all Atlas military forces.
Haven Headmaster Leonardo Lionheart has been approached but not yet threatened by Salem's agents, and Garek & Selene have made first overtures toward him.
Beacon Headmaster Ozpin is doing Ozpin things, and has zero clue (that we know of) about the shitstorm that is brewing in Argus & Mistral right now.
Vacuo Headmaster Theodore is chilling.
Salem is either playing a very clever game, or developing MPD. Your guess is as good as mine.
Dr. Arthur Watts thinks he's the smartest man in the world, and is happily infecting global security, military, and communications systems with his little toys, completely unaware that The Lone Huntsmen are gradually compiling a list of compromised systems, and plan to create countermeasures. Oh boy is he gonna be pissed.
Hazel is doing Hazel things and dreaming of murdering Ozpin.
Tyrian is his usual insane self.
Happy reading!