The Boy Who Talks to Machines
By The Good Life Creator 678
Chapter Four: Flying in a Mechanical Dream
It had been two weeks since the Grocery Store Brawl, as Rebekah had decided to call it, and the best worst decision as Jaune had called it. It was hectic, filled with morning examinations and exercises, back to school shopping, a crash course on the many gaps in both Jaune's and Rebekah's curricular knowledge that Beacon expected, peaches, some weird food, and Jaune watching videos of basic hand to hand fighting to at least attempt to find stable ground.
It all started the morning after their return from the police station with Thumbelina waking them up at the stroke of four thirty in the morning. She started softly, or at least that's what she told them, but the two weren't getting out of bed fast enough for her liking. How she managed to wield both a battering ram and a polaroid camera at the same time was a mystery. The picture of Jaune clutching his heart in shock and Rebekah's fur standing on end hung proudly on the mad doctor's fridge captioned with 'Babies' first day.'
The rest of the morning set the pace of what the two EVOs could expect for the next two weeks. First on the itinerary was breakfast, something Thumbelina was adamant that a growing boy needed to be healthy. Jaune still didn't know how peaches could be cooked in so many ways.
Next on their list of to-does was a full examination. To Thumbelina, it was routine. She was just establishing a baseline of their heart rate, height, weight, nanite count, the basics. To Jaune, it was embarrassing. No matter how many times she assured him that she was a trained professional, that this was part of her job, and he had nothing to be ashamed of, he still blushed like a loon during the physicals. Regardless of whatever she had told him, he still had a pretty woman looking at him whose job was to document his body.
His saving grace? Rebekah got to join him for the fun. The look on her face when the mad doctor called for her? Priceless. The screams of terror as the raccoon attempted to run away? Hilarious. The bites on Jaune's forearms when he tried to hold her down? Painful. He was still shocked that she didn't pepper him with .357 rounds or use Phantom Gait to get away.
He still wished he got pictures.
After the invasion of personal privacy at the hands of a doctor that knew no sacred boundaries, Thumbelina gave them a tour of her yard. There was a reason she resided a distance from Vale proper; a large compound where she can be left to her own devices with dust applications and nanite research, a zoo of EVOs to study different variations and how certain traits become hereditary. She said it was for the safety of those in the city. Jaune believed that it was so she can make things go boom without being asked too many questions by first responders. Rebekah claimed that it was to conduct evil experiments on unwitting teenagers stupid enough to say yes to a loaded agreement.
After the quick tour, the mad doctor had Jaune stand in front of several specialized cameras and sensors to better document and understand just how he created his builds. He shifted through his builds, starting with the large mechanical hands. He showed her how long they can extend, how with a thought that he can connect to internal spindles to make them combat drills. He went to shift to a large gold sword with a blocky white hilt encompassing his hand and showed that the tip could split to become a large circular saw. He moved onto his gold hoverbike with white accents before extending the front fender to a battering ram. He created large gold turbine wings with grappling hooks coming off the turbines before shooting them as a makeshift bolo. He went to manifest a pair of gold and white boots with extendable spikes on the sole and a hydraulic cylinder that extended the boots. The only build that he had that didn't have a secondary function was the large cannon he saved for last. He liked it as is though, anything trapped while creating the cannon became a projectile; he even used it to shoot Rebekah at the Many Faced Giant as a distraction.
After showcasing his builds, the eclectic doctor had him cure a few EVOs to see his limitations. She said it was to see how the curing process worked in a controlled environment. Jaune was under the impression that she just liked seeing him take hits to his pride on repeat. Rebekah just found the entire thing comical.
The 'Show Down at the EVO Corral,' as it was now known between Jaune and Rebekah, left Jaune feeling demoralized. He had the ability to create large machines meant for combat, the power of technopathy, the talent to cure EVOs, all unique to him and only him. He should be a hero, a warrior, a paragon against the darkness of the world. Instead he was clumsy, fumbled footsteps and over-extended limbs made it easy to push him around. He wasn't skilled; he couldn't remember if he even learned how to fight.
He hated it, hated being so weak.
He remembered Ruby, images of crimson rose petals and swinging scythes crossing his mind. How could he even come close to touching her level of skill?
"You're a bit clumsy." Those were the first words out of her mouth when they left the doors of the police station. He knew she meant no harm by it, that it was merely an observation she made verbal. But she was right, he wasn't graceful in the slightest.
"I mean I'm gonna help you." The way she said it with a bright smile warmed him up if only slightly. Why she insisted without even giving the blond EVO a chance to say no was still an enigma. It wasn't pity, at least the smile she held while saying it made him feel that.
He made a vow to himself at that moment; no matter what happened, he was going to get better, good enough to earn that bright smile.
The day before they were to be sent off to Beacon Peach decided to go into town, hit up some of her favorite restaurants, and go clothes shopping for something more becoming of a huntsman. According to the woman he didn't pull off the hobo knight look as well as he thought and the bunny onesie he used for sleeping could only serve as a quick getaway as his enemies doubled over in laughter.
Rebekah only pointed a finger at Jaune as she exclaimed "I told you so!" in between fits of laughter.
At the end of it all he ended up with a few sets of dark blue jeans, some plain grey shirts, black gloves with hardened knuckles, steel capped boots, and a black jacket with two gold gear halves stacked upon each other embroidered on the shoulders. They did get a cuirass and a pair of bracers but they'd have to wait for it to be delivered as it was a special order.
After clothes shopping Rebekah felt the need to say how she was no longer ashamed to be seen around Jaune as he now looked just as bad-ass as her.
The day was wrapped up with getting Jaune a scroll. He never needed one but apparently it was a requirement for huntsman to have. He and Rebekah were always on the move and never stayed in one area long enough to make use of it. Hell, a lot of travelers still used pens and paper maps to get around.
Besides, who was he going to get a hold of, anyways? The raccoon that liked to hitch a ride on his shoulder?
Rebekah chose not to get one, stating that she didn't need to be tied down by a see-through screen. No one believed her though, stealing Jaune's at the first moment she got. He tried password locking it to no avail. He thought better of keeping it away from her physically, not needing another bite mark.
The morning of their departure started like the rest of the two weeks.
"Jaune… Rebekah…" Thumbelina's voice started as a soft whisper as her knuckles rapped against the bedroom door. No sunlight came from the windows, the crickets still chirped in the chill of the fall air, and Rebekah's fur bristled at the soft sound. It was happening again. Maybe he could pretend to still be asleep and get a few extra minutes. They weren't expected to be at the bullhead docks by eight anyways. They could get away with it.
"Jaune. Rebekah." The mad doctors voice became stern as the light rapping became demanding knocks. Rebekah growled in indignation as Jaune hid under the covers. Just stick to the plan, he was sure he could get away with another hour or two of sleep.
"Jaune! Rebekah!" The door flung open wildly, warm light flooded the room from the hallway, revealing Thumbelina's small frame wielding her trusty battering ram. With a start, Jaune shot upright, flinging Rebekah "Time to wake up! You got school today!"
--The Boy Who Talks to Machines--
Jaune was a bit excited for his first day at Beacon; even if it came more as an ultimatum than a choice it was still his goal to attend. Sure, the money he paid the forger was now wasted, something that Rebekah hadn't let him live down yet, but he was now in free and clear with no dirty baggage to heft around. Even Rebekah was excited now, having been told that she was going to be Thumbelina's aid.
He then discovered how huntsman preferred and questioned all of his life choices that lead him to that moment.
The bullheads.
Before that morning he had never been in one. Why would he when he can create his own wings and fly himself. He even suggested it. Professor Peach would have none of it, stating the numerous safety risks and security breaches that it would cause. At first he thought it was for the best, he wanted to appear as normal as Rebekah would let him.
He regretted listening to the woman. Having taken flight many times with not even so much as a hiccup he didn't ever consider anything like motion sickness. Put him in a flying metal cage and he was vomiting up breakfast within the first five minutes of take-off.
He was fortunate enough to make it to a bucket without spilling onto the floor. He couldn't imagine how worse everything could be if he managed to puke on everyone's shoes. Didn't stop his would be class mates from gawking at him as he moaned helplessly into the bucket. He even got a new nickname out of the ordeal; Vomit Boy.
He was tempted at one point to aim at Rebekah. She was laughing the hardest as she rolled on the floor. He was also sure that she was the one that started the new nickname. At least Professor Peach seemed a little sympathetic, offering a pat on the back in a failed attempt to ease his suffering.
He let out a small grateful whimper as the bullhead landed on Beacons docks, breakfast long gone after winning round two. "Finally…"
"You know, you should have told me you got airsick; we have meds that help with that." Thumbelina's remark was offered offhandedly as she rose to her feet, heels clacking against the steel floor.
"This had never happened before. I've never been trapped in a flying metal cage." Jaune's voice was shaky as he got over his lost battle. He got to his feet slowly, knees wobbling as if he was still learning to walk. He could still feel a bit of the airsickness grip at his stomach.
"Bwahahahaha!" Rebekah was still on the floor laughing. "You fly all the time and never once had a round two with breakfast. Stick you in this and bleeeeeeegh! This is gold!"
"You don't have to rub it in my face…" Jaune muttered. He could feel the grip on his stomach loosen slightly as he regained his balance.
"You're right, I don't." Wait, she was conceding? Did someone replace her? "That's what your fellow students are here for!" Nope, she was still the same Rebekah.
Thumbelina gave a faux cough to garner the two's attention days they continued fun bicker with one another. "I think that we should get off now. The pilot is giving us looks." She motioned towards the cockpit; an angry set of eyes peering back at the three stragglers. "Besides, I have reports I need to hand in, a lab to show off to my new assistant, and you." Her finger pointed at Jaune. "Have new friends to make and an assembly to get to."
The three made their way off the bullhead. Well, both Thumbelina and Rebekah made their way off while Jaune shambled slowly on shaky legs, the last of the sickness finally shaking off his stomach.
He had never been so grateful to be on solid ground. He could almost kiss it in gratitude.
Before he could commit to the idea, he took in the sight of Beacon academy. The campus was nothing that Jaune had imagined; a large castle that resembled something of a fairytale with a large tower jutting forth from the center.
His thoughts went to that of magic, wondering if the faculty would hand them wands. Suddenly the image of flying broomsticks and golden winged orbs was shattered as a loud bang resonated through the yard.
"Looks like I'm not the only trying to make a lasting impression."
--The Boy Who Talks to Machines--
Ruby was not having a good first five minutes at Beacon. Sure, the flight over went over with no major incident; the only thing of note being a rumor of a blonde teen throwing up into a bucket while being accosted by a talking raccoon. She was hoping it wasn't Jaune but knew better. He did get invited the same moment as her and the raccoon was a dead giveaway. Maybe he'd thank her later for keeping Yang occupied.
When they landed, the silver eyed girl got enamored at the sight of it all. It looked every bit as she imagined. The campus was as grand as any fairytale she had read and the weapons that her would be classmates were simply amazing.
"Ohmygosh, sis! That kid's got a collapsible staff! And she's got a fire sword!" Ruby Rose was on cloud nine; there were so many weapons holstered freely and in the open. She just had to ask the students about them; how they came up with them. The stories the tools of huntsman hopefuls could tell excited her to no end.
"Easy there, Rubes. Can't have you molesting other people's things." Yang yanked Ruby by her cloak, pulling the younger girl back to reality.
"Yang!" Ruby protested, pulling her cloak back from the blonde. "I wouldn't touch them without permission! That's rude!"
"Uh-huh, sure sis, whatever helps you sleep at night." Yang smiled. "Can't you just invade your own weapons personal space? It not enough for you?"
"She's more than enough for me!" The Young reaper held Crescent Rose close to her chest almost as if it were a child. "I made her myself! It's just that I like seeing new weapons! It's like meeting new people but better!" Partially because they wouldn't make fun of her size.
"You had no issues with making friends with your Prison Buddy," Yang pointed out with a smirk.
Ruby felt the heat rise up to her cheeks. "That was different! He creates them with mind powers and it's so cool!"
Yang shook her head at her sister's animated antics. She remembered when Dad brought her back to Patch two weeks prior. They always knew that the young teen liked comic books but never thought much of it. Colored the blonde surprised when Ruby came back after being held up for vigilantism with an acceptance letter to Beacon in hand and a story of a boy with giant metal fists locked up with her.
It didn't escape her that Ruby was more than just a little enamored by the boy and that their dad was faking his happiness at Ruby's early acceptance to Beacon. Those needed further thought and Yang would not stop till she got the answers she desperately craved.
Still, her little sister was growing up and coming out of her shell. All the young teen needed was a little push and she'd be making new friends left and right.
"You think you can make more friends?" Yang finally spoke up, a Cheshire grin molding on her features. Her own friends had finally caught up to them from the bullhead.
"Yang?" Ruby's voice was skeptical. Her sister was planning something. "What're you tal-"
"Because mine are here and I wanna catch up! Good luck, bye!" Yang left quickly, disappearing with a small group that appeared out of her awareness.
"-King about... And she's gone." The silver eyed girl pouted. Yang was always like this, throwing the young teen to the hypothetical wolves in an attempt to break her out of her shell. She did it first day at Signal; why would this be any different? The least she could have done was wait till orientation was done before running off. At least then Ruby would have an idea of where to go.
"Maybe I can find Jaune…at least he won't ditch me…" Ruby took attempted to take a step back, the back of her heel hitting something. Quickly turning around she came face to face with stacked white luggage, the one she accidentally kicked shifting slightly.
"And just what do you think you're doing?!" A voice questioned. Ruby turned to it, discovering an angry girl with long white hair and pale skin garbed in whites fading to ice blues with red lining. "Do you have any idea on what kind of damage you could have caused if those ripped?!"
"Sorry?" Ruby's voice was meek under the yelling. Why was this girl so angry? It was an accident. It wasn't like the large pile of trunks toppled over. "It was an accident! I didn't know they were right behind me!"
"Clearly. You could have killed everyone on the cliff."
Wait, what? Killed everyone on the cliff? Just what was in this icy girls luggage, anyways? Raw dust? Who would be insane enough to carry that in simple luggage? "Uhm, sorry again?"
"And aren't you a little young to be here?" the girl of ice questioned. "What did you do? Get lost in your way seeing a sibling off?"
"You're barely older than me! I earned my right to be here just like you, princess!" Who was this girl to question her? Just because she was slightly older didn't give her the right to cast judgement.
"I hardly believe that seeing as you don't even have enough situational awareness to realize you almost blew us off the side of a cliff." The white haired girl opened one of the trunks and grabbed a vile of ground dust. "Do you have any idea what this stuff is?"
"Why are you wavi-!" Ruby made a move to stop the girl from flailing the vile about. This girl was truly insane.
"It's dust, you dolt! Mined and purified from a Shnee quarry!" She continued to wave it in front of Ruby's face, granules flying into the air and into the younger girl's nose.
"I kno-, ah-ah-ah." Ruby could feel it. Right at her nostrils. This insane, crabby, princess was going to get both of them killed.
"Are you even listening to anything I'm saying? Is any of this sinking in yo-"
"Achoooo!"
Ruby was sure the explosion could be heard throughout the entirety of the campus. Fire, lightning, and ice encompassed both of them, covering the pair in soot. She was sure there was a small crater around them.
"Unbelievable!" the ice princess exclaimed, heels clacking against the stone floor as she stormed off. She continued ranting as she walked away, her voice fading into the distance as Ruby fell backwards.
That sealed it. The ice princess was truly insane.
"Welcome to Beacon…" Ruby muttered to herself. This was not how she pictured her first day.
"You seem to be having just as great of a day as I am."
--The Boy Who Talks to Machines--
The scene that Jaune walked in on was something of a surprise; Ruby sprawled on the ground, covered in soot, grumbling about stupid sisters and crabby white haired princesses. "Welcome to Beacon…"
"You seem to be having just as great of a day as I am." He offered his hand to help her up.
She lit up almost immediately at the sight of him, her silver eyes sparkled at the familiar face, a large toothy grin creeping its way on her face. Her smile was infectious.
She all but tackled the blond EVO in a tight hug. "Jaune! My prison buddy! You won't leave me, will you?!"
She squeezed tighter as if he would just walk away before stiffening up as if something was wrong, releasing the blond and backing up slowly. "You won't throw up on me, will you Vomit Boy?"
Jaune cringed at the question; the nickname struck back with a vengeance.
This was going to be a long day.
"Really, Crater Girl?" the blond boy shot back, motioning towards the small crater he found her in.
"That was an accident!" Her arms flailed about in an almost cartoonish fashion, her voice raised to a childish pitch.
"I'd be more inclined to believe you if the evidence wasn't written all over your face."
"It is?!"
The corners of his lips tugged, a laugh bubbled. He couldn't contain himself as she flustered upon looking at his face. "Meanie!" she retaliated.
"I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself." Her reaction was funny. "You do have a bit of soot on your face, though. What happened?"
Ruby began retelling Jaune of her first five minutes of arrival, about how her sister Yang ditched her to run off with friends, about the fight she had with the Ice Princess, and about how said icy girl was insane enough to carry raw dust in unsealed tubes.
"Is she crazy?" Jaune wondered aloud, the two walking down the main pathway.
"That's what I thought! She just kept waving it around in my face and yelling mean things then boom!" Ruby was still upset at the ordeal. The icy girl should have known better with how much dust she had in her luggage. "And she had so much of it too."
"What did she think she was trying to do?"
"Who knows, be mean?" The two laughed as the continued to walk.
"Anyways, I got something for you." Jaune reached into his pocket, pulling out a small rectangular device and tossing it to the girl.
"What's this?" Ruby inquired, looking at the small object.
"A thumb drive with some pictures and videos of my builds. You said you wanted to see them so I thought you'd like it."
"I wanted to see them in person though…" The young reaper sounded dejected. "You promised and everything."
"I remember you telling me to and running off before I could even say anything." He was sure that there was a rose petals or two in his hair.
"Come on! I'll show you Crescent Rose!" Before the blond boy could even respond she unfurled her weapon, metal shifting as the rifle became a large black and red scythe. "This is my baby!"
The video clip did not do the thing justice. The way it operated, all the moving parts working together in machined precision, was so much more impressive in person than any video could capture. He couldn't help but to be engrossed with the war scythe rifle hybrid.
"Now you!" She exclaimed with a bright smile, shifting her weapon back into a rifle and holstering it at the back of her hips.
"Now me, what?" Jaune was still dazed.
She smiled at his dazed words, proud of herself. Her baby was turning heads already and the school year hadn't even started yet. "Show me something cool!"
Jaune sighed as he stared into determined silver eyes staring at him with anticipation. There was no backing down with this young girl. "Okay, but only one. Alright?" She nodded, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement.
Eyes and blue traces glowed as his nanites shifted. He held his arm out before her as he felt the build come to life. She could see the nanites become formless metal blobs that encompassed his hand, taking shape into a large gold blade with a blocky white hilt.
Her excited smile became a toothy grin as he smiled sheepishly at her. She could only say the first thing that came to her mind.
"We are so making you into a superhero."
A/N- I'm kinda surprised with how many faves and follows that this fic had gotten. I wasn't expecting much; I've been gone longer than a minute so I wasn't expecting much to be honest. Maybe a couple here and there but this has exceeded my expectations so thank you.
Now let's get down to it, shall we? I'd like to apologize for the clunkiness of the beginning of it. It's not my best work. Oh well, can't win 'em all or so I've been told.
On a lighter note, yes, the chapter name is both a pun on Jaune's flying experience and a Satriani piece. Be lucky it wasn't Dust in the Wind. You have no idea how hard it was not to do that.
On to the reviews.
Guest Jon Snow- I'm assuming you want to know the characters, right? Francois is my stand-in for Jaune's dad. In the show RWBY, we never get his name. Rebekah is an OC I conjured up. Ruby is one of the main characters of RWBY. The world is mostly RWBY with Generator Rex elements thrown in.
Tropendo325- Thanks for the glowing words. I do try. I think part of the reason why Gen Rex isn't as popular is because of it's short run. Now a days, if it ain't running on for longer than it should it isn't worth it. Shows fallow that, movies have that pattern going on, and games definitely go with that plan.
Knight of the Thorn crown- Thanks for the idea; I fell on the name Phantom Gait so thank you, truly. Onto the pairing, I do have a soft spot for a three, Arkos, Lancaster, and a new one that came out of left field as of recently being Knightshade. It'll get figured out soon though.
For everyone else, feel free to review. I do read them all and I do take all ideas into consideration.