Hey Guys. Little Question, one I suppose of personal preference. But do you prefer Bold or Italics to highlight a word that is accentuated in a sentence? Or do you write another way of showing it.
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Chapter 2
The Pip-Brick Road
A Few days had passed since Six's recovery, he had been tracking his assailant in-between classes and studying up on the 'continent' of Remnant by going to Port and Ooblecks lectures.
The Auditorium was bustling with activity. Today was team battles and the first years had been put against one another in head to head combat. Team CRDL against JNPR was first. Both teams stood at either side of the Auditorium waiting for the signal to go for each other.
"Ready yourselves" Glynda called.
"On 3!" Six added.
"1…" JNPR had arranged themselves in a line, ready to charge.
"2…" Cardin nodded to his team mates who had taken up a square formation with Cardin and Russel at the forefront.
"3.."
"Nora!" Jaune shouted as he and Pyrrha readied their shields charging forward. Nora swapping Magnihild to its grenade launcher form behind them, Ren moved in close, filing in just behind the two with shields.
"Dove Focus on the Grenades. I'll keep the dork and his girlfriend at bay" Cardin marched to meet Pyrrha and Jaune. Bullets rushing past him into the shield push from Sky's hybrid Gunberd.
Nora fired a volley of grenades at the opposing team's gunline, Dove loaded a round of red dust in retaliation and pinged it into the air. Pyrrha peeked out from behind akouo and altered the bullets course, causing it to spiral off into a wall.
The Quintet of grenades slammed into the gun line of Dove and Sky, sending them rolling across the stage floor. Their Aura immediately dropped into the red from the devastating direct hit.
"What are you two doing!?" Cardin seethed at his teammates
Jaune nodded to Ren from behind his shield. Signalling him to jump out from behind them, the lithe boy jumped up his two teammates into the air and brought his foot down in an axe kick.
As he did, from behind Cardin the shadow of Russel appeared, jumping to meet Ren midair with a cross slash aimed for the boy's chest. Ren tucked his legs to avoid the attack and flipped over Russel instead to avoid the slash, Russel passed over Pyrrha and Jaune skidding to a halt a few paces behind them.
Ren did much the same just behind Cardin. "Pyrrha, behind!" Jaune called and she pivoted to block the dual blade flurry from Russel as he fought fervently to land a hit on either her or Jaune.
As Pyrrha blocked Russel, Cardin raised his mace to punt Jaune. Yet as he raised it he fell to one side, Ren had kicked his right knee from under him, knocking him off balance "You little-" Cardin was struck in the head by Jaune. But that just seemed to piss him off as he glared back at Jaune and hardened his stance.
Cardin swung his mace in an Arc, the red gem at its peak glowing, it collided with Crocea Mors shield. The Dust explosion sent Jaune flailing across the Stage. Almost knocking him instantly into the red.
Ren retaliated for his leader and fully kicked Cardin's legs out from under him, fully breaking him onto his knees "Nora!" Ren called, as an explosion sounded and Nora flipped through the air, the last thing Cardin saw before his aura dropped was the shadow of Magnihild cracking his head like a nail.
Russel was still harassing Pyrrha, but his focus broke for a moment as his leader was knocked out, giving her an opening. She parried his dagger to the side, causing the Boy to stumble. She reacted quickly and fired shots into his abdomen, one after another to put him down and out.
"Team CRDL is wiped out" a resounding groan came from CRDL as they rose to their feet after a thorough beating. "Team JNPR wins" Glynda called.
Six looked down at Glynda and whispered "it doesn't really feel fair."
"What do you mean?" she tilted her head.
"Her" he nodded to Pyrrha "she's basically a super weapon. She offset Dove's bullet causing Sky and himself to be eliminated near instantly and it was basically a slaughter past that."
"She earned her moniker for a reason. She's more than promising, she's a prodigy." Glynda paused "there's something else bothering you here though, isn't there."
"They don't even know how to improve, CRDL that is. They used a textbook formation, reacted well to incoming attacks but everything went wrong. It must be incredibly frustrating" As Six finished, Cardin could be seen chewing out Dove and Sky.
Meanwhile JNPR celebrated with team RWBY over their triumph. Six 'hmmed.' Clearly dissatisfied. Glynda spoke up "A well fought match on both sides. We'll end it here for today children. Remember that next class will be one on one duels, so please make sure to train."
As they were making their way to the locker rooms "CRDL, c'mere." Six called them over. The team looked bitter and frustrated but trudged over "double time, c'mon I've not got all day".
They stood before Six who looked them all up and down "that was some good hustle today you four-".
"Of course it was, and we would've won if these two- '' Cardin started speaking, thumbing back to Dove and Sky.
"I give you permission to speak yet boy?" Six interrupted him, Cardin just looked up at Six defiantly.
"No but-"
"Then there ain't no reason for you to be talking. Now listen instead of yapping." Six scolded Cardin who averted his gaze with a 'tch'"You need to separate yourselves more in combat" he advised "You stick tight, which I can respect, but a close minded approach to attack will leave you like today. Nora cracked you guys open like a tin can."
"But if we spread ourselves thin then we just get picked off!" Sky replied and Six sighed.
"That's why you don't spread yourselves too thin, you separate but not too far, so that you can move into assist if need be. If your ally is in melee with an enemy then the enemy's allies won't shell you will they?" it was a rather simple answer, which the boy scratched his head at.
"How can we deal with fighters who are world renowned! Even Russel had issues in close combat with Pyrrha. She's a monster" Dove ranted, pointing to the lockers where Team JNPR were heading into.
"You train, you get better. Russel held his own long enough. But these are team battles Dove. You need to work with one another, I heard 1 sentence from Cardin at the start. JNPR might not be descriptive, but when they need one another they call for them. Communicate and train, be prepared for the next team battle. I want to see you all improve on what happened today" Six pointed to the lockers "get going".
They all moved off towards the lockers.
"Have you had any luck with the intruder?" Glynda asked as she watched CRDL bicker all the way to the locker room and the room cleared.
"Nope, but I did find a grenade in my pocket the other day. He's also been leaving cardboard landmines outside my door to sike me out the little bastard." A red dot appeared on Six's forehead as he spoke, Glynda looked up at it, her eyes focusing very hard.
"Six-"
"I'm pretty sure I found some discarded cram cans in one of the supply closets as well."
Ping
A .22 Bullet bounced off of sixes skull like he'd just been hit with a bb "I hate Cram, it's gotta be the worst. You guy's got that stuff here? Canned meat? At least I think it is…"
"Six, could you-" she looked on in shock as yet another .22 bullet pinged off of his skull and he continued to talk like it was just a mild irritation.
Six reached back and scratched his head "Something hit me?" another bullet whizzed but this time Glynda cracked her crop, one of the discarded bullets pinged against the whizzing .22 sending them both to the ground.
"You are being shot at, you absolute idiot!" Glynda scolded and ran off the cover. Six followed closely, vaulting off the stage.
"Why didn't you warn me?" Six asked, puzzled.
Glynda's eye twitched "I tried, you started talking about canned meat instead of listening to me!"
Six let out a 'huh' before fiddling with his Pip-Boy before reaching into his coat, producing a hunting rifle with a scope. "You wanna play snipers kid!? We can play Snipers". He shouted out from the cover they were behind.
"Six what are you doing you said he didn't have aura in your reports. You shoot him with that, you will kill him." Glynda chided, looking at the .308 bullets Six was about to load, hearing the large man sigh as he stuffed the rifle back in his coat.
"What do you suggest I do then? He's trying to kill me"
"Stall him, and I'll see if I can capture him."
Six nodded, ".22 can't you do any better than that?" six threw a cram can into the air, watching a bullet whiz by. Missing it "Not a very good shot either if your target isn't standing still"
Glynda skulked off, sneaking around the stage, readying herself to restrain the boy "Don't tell me you don't have the strength to shoulder anything bigger than that!" Six chuckled audibly, mocking his would be assassin "guess you did look a bit ratty"
As Six said that, Glynda watched a grenade hurl out from one of the stands towards Six. Cracking her crop, she caught it and the grenade exploded midair. "Catch him Glynda!" Six shouted.
"I can't catch what I can't see!" she scanned the stands as the dust from the grenade cleared, nothing. She let out a sigh "He's gone"
Six stood up from behind his cover "shit, he's one slippery little bastard." scanning around with V.A.T.S only to be met with the click that told him no one was there. 'Shoulda' just let me shoot him,' he thought, looking down at Glynda.
The Students all peaked out from behind the door of the lockers "What happened?" Ruby asked.
"Six's secret admirer started taking potshots at him," Yang replied.
"Is he okay!?"
"He looks fine".
"Is there anything you can use to track him?" Glynda asked Six who had moved into the stands to investigate.
Six shrugged "well, he probably travels light. Pip-Boy or not-" Something lit up in Six's eyes and he began pacing in the stands fiddling with his Pip-Boy "how could I be so stupid!"
"What? What is it?" Glynda asked, puzzled at his sudden enthusiasm.
"Pip-boy's have in-built tracking modules. Arcade explained the details of the whole thing to me ages ago. Now because it's local I won't get much outside of Beacon, but when he and I are both on Campus" Six flipped to the Caretaker mission, selecting it 'Why didn't I do this before. I'm really starting to lose track of things'"Ah hah!"
"So, you have what is essentially a tracker on him and you decide not to use it till now. Why?" Glynda folded her arms, squinting at him.
"I, uh." he flinched under her glare "forgot" he chuckled nervously.
"You forgot the tracking device that would lead you right to him!? You complete twit!" She fumed at Six who held his hands up in mock defence.
"Look, I've got it now, we'll find him-"
"You'll find him"
"I'll find him, beat his ass and bring him to Oz. Easy" Six finished and Glynda sighed in frustration, pinching her brow.
"Um, M-Ms. Goodwitch?" Ruby spoke from the doors to the locker room.
"Yes Ms. Rose?" she turned, her look of frustration melting to a gentle smile.
"Can we leave…?"
"Yes, go ahead, be careful on your way out." she gestured to the door.
Six stepped, down the stairs of the stands, eyes locked onto the Pip-Boy. "It says he's gone into the Gardens" following the moving marker on the screen.
"Chop Chop then" Glynda gave him a fake smile and gestured to the door.
Six gave a mock salute as he filed out behind the students. His eyes glued to the screen of the pip-boy "I've got you now you little fucker".
"Six?" he put down his Pip-Boy and looked down at who had called him. Ruby.
"Yeah what's up kid, I'm kinda busy right now."
"We were just wondering if you needed any help? Y'know since Beacon's super big, we thought you might just want some extra hands."
He looked past her to her teammates. 1 out of 3 looked displeased at the idea "You doing this for extra credit or something?"
"No…? But just out of curiosity would we-"
"Nope." her arms slumped "and I'm pretty sure Ozpin would kill me if he knew I'd asked for your help."
"We asked for per-"
"She asked for permission," Weiss cut in.
"I asked for permission to help. Because…" She huffed and looked up at him with big silver eyes "classes are booooring. Port wants us to study beowulf droppings and I just want a break"
"So you figured the best way to pass the time was to help me hunt down the murderous little mongrel that just tried to pump .22 into my head." he looked over Ruby back at her team "and you all let her think this was a good idea".
Yang shrugged, "I thought that we were supposed to work alongside you and learn. Y'know as part of your job as a teacher?"
Six pondered for a minute, Ozpin did say he was supposed to train them. "Right. Here's the deal, I'll let you skip by coming to help me. But you all have to listen to what I say, this kid is dangerous."
"It's not like I wanted to skip." Weiss rolled her eyes.
"Anything to not be in Port's lessons" Yang shuddered
Ruby did a small fistpump in the air "Yes!" she whispered to herself.
"You realise you're still gonna need to do Port's assignment, right?" Six added and Ruby's face drained "You've basically just volunteered yourself for extra work" he laughed to himself "Right, let's get going."
He walked past a petrified Ruby, ready to fall apart at the slightest breeze. Yang walked over and dragged the statue of her sister down the hall after Six.
"Didn't you say he was going to the Gardens" Blake asked.
"Keen hearing, yeah I did."
"Then why are we headed to the dorms?"
"Putting my Armour on." he strode around the corner.
"How dangerous is this Assassin of yours?" Weiss asked, fast walking to keep pace with the large man.
"Doubt the scrawny little shit can use any weapons bigger than a 10mm. But he's dangerous in other ways". Six recalled the Cazadore Venom that ate through him last time he fought Jackson.
"And what makes you assume that? Ruby can fire Crescent Rose just fine. He could have a better weapon and he's just waiting to use it".
"He could, yes. But he would have used it when he ambushed me if he did. Additionally you kids have that aura stuff, for plebeians like that killer and myself our bodies need to be able to handle the recoil. We can't rely on magic to dampen it for us."
"So he doesn't have Aura?" Weiss continued, quirking a brow
'Oh yeah I didn't tell them about that'
"Then why are you struggling so much with him then? Surely you can deal with one scruffy little auraless vagabond. Otherwise I don't think I feel very safe relying on you for security".
Six sighed "Yeah, I can deal with him, but like I said. He's dangerous in other ways. Stealth Boys cloak you almost completely, that's how he's been getting around, he's been sneaking about Campus setting traps where he knows I'll go and playing mind games with me."
"And these traps, what exactly are they?"
'I can see why she didn't want to skip class. Really trying to get anything she can out of this' Six thought to himself as he rounded the corner to the corridor his dorm was on. "Those, partly" he pointed to a bunch of cardboard landmines that had been spray painted dark green with a plastic bottle cap on their top.
"So you've been outdone, by a cardboard cutout" she looked over at the mines "how… tragic."
"Yeah well the real issue is" Six walked over to the cluster, pulling out a knife "amidst them, he sew's the real one beneath patches of the carpet" he squatted down and cut up a patch and pulled out a frag mine. "But he only started doing that after the 4th time he used the cardboard cutouts".
The girls looked shocked at the active landmine he was casually waving around in their direction "Oh right," he defused it "Perfectly inert, here a souvenir" he tossed the landmine to Ruby who's eyes sparkled.
"Best, lesson, ever"
"Wait here, don't walk about this hall" Six ducked into his room, carefully scanning it for traps as he went into the bathroom. Sliding on his helmet and armour "It's like you never left" he knocked the metal of his helmet before heading out into the hall again.
"I think I preferred Mummy Head Six if I'm honest" Yang looked at the red eyed mask with a sceptical look.
"It's not pretty for a reason, Raiders see these eyes and they know to run. But 90% of the time, they don't see me unless I want them too". He moved past the girls "right let's move".
"Six, what's your home like?" Ruby asked, twirling her new landmine between her hands.
"Hm. Good question, I'm not sure I'm at liberty to really say too much. Don't wanna scare you kids"
"Oh come on, it can't be that bad".
"It is that bad. And on account of my 'contract' that I have with your headmaster I'm not gonna say anymore"
"Well. If you can't tell us about it, can you tell us any stories? You said you were a courier in the forest but Ozpin introduced you as a Veteran so you must have some stories. Right?".
"Well there's a couple, I saved towns from gangs. I made peace between the Kings and the NCR."
Her eyes lit up "You ARE a cowboy", Six gave an amused look beneath his mask "have you ever said a one liner?"
He snorted "Of course! When I caught up to Benny, I stared him down and I said 'Special Delivery!' before I-" Six paused again, barely stopping himself..
"Before you?"
"Handed him over to the proper authorities of the Strip"'Can't exactly tell them that I popped his brains'
[Speech Check Failed]
Six looked down at the Pip-Boy, 'Really, I need you to tell me that wasn't the best line delivery?'.
Ruby just squinted her eyes at him, clearly she had another question brewing.
"And we're here!" Six gestured to the Gardens. Looking at his map "He's in the… appliances shed"
As the group stalked towards the Appliances shed they noticed the door was slightly cracked open. "Before I go in, I want you girls to stay back okay. No matter what happens I don't want you interfering. That clear?"
They all nodded "Are you going to be alright though?" Yang began.
"Yeah, he did hurt you pretty bad last time you two fought," Blake added.
"Last time we 'fought' he got the jump on me and poisoned me like a rat. This time, I'll be the one doing the hurting" Six grinned beneath his mask.
"Okay then, but we're here if you need us." Yang shrugged and laid back in one of the bushes with her hands behind her head.
"Oh, this'll be quick." Six slid the door open slowly, reaching into his coat he pulled out a cattle prod as he peaked around the corner of the door.
Only to feel something press against his head as he peaked around the door "Huh?" he looked up, a 10mm pistol was pressed to his head. "Oh not again-"
Bang
Six Spiralled back, woozy from the 10mm to the brain. A worried collective "Six!" came from the bushes the Girls were stationed in.
As the shadow of Jackson attempted to run past him, Six spun to hit him with a cattle prod, narrowly missing "Shit!" he cursed under his breath as he ran after the boy who was sprinting away from him.
In a burst of petals Ruby stood in front of Jackson "You idiot I told you not to go anywhere near him" Six clambered after his assailant, still partially KO'D from the 10mm.
Yet to Six's surprise Jackson banked right to avoid Ruby instead of attacking her, but was met with Weiss this time instead. Again, he turned left to avoid her, Yang and Blake blocked him and finally behind. Six stood tall, looming over the boy.
"Okay Kid, jig's up, put the Gun down." Six pointed to the pistol, it was only now that Six could see the boy. He trembled terribly and was sweating uncontrollably, apart from that he was a ratty little waster with a swollen jaw and a Pip-Boy. His only good features were his eyes and his short sandy hair.
"Eyes" Jackson whispered to himself and Six squinted. "So many eyes." before he more or less compressed himself into a ball.
"What's wrong with him?" Yang asked, looking down at the quivering ball "he doesn't seem so scary"
Between muttering of eyes, the trembling, Six looked over to the appliance shed "Dark places" he looked down at the boy "trembling, anxiety attacks" he thought back to the classroom with the grenade "Heightened aggression…?"'Could just be me winding him up though'.
"What is it?" Weiss asked "You're clearly putting something together there, care to share with the class?"
"Stealth Boys. They have immense power, right? Complete cloaking, but. Prolonged use of a Stealth Boy at max output can have some… baaad after effects, saw that first hand. Furthermore using it more after that can mess your brain even more"
"Is he going to be alright?" Ruby asked, clear pity in her eyes at the violently shaking boy on the ground.
"He'll be fine, just need to keep him off the Stealth Boys and pray he ain't been using them too long" Six looked between the girls "Don't feel bad for him, he did try to kill me."
"I know," Yang said looking to Six, then back down at the shaking mass "But it isn't easy to watch"
"Do you know him?" Ruby asked, squatting down to look at Jackson.
"He certainly looks familiar, but no one I know by name, that's for sure." Six moved to smack him, to knock him unconscious.
Pling
The world seemed to slow down as the Girls and Six watched a grenade fly out from the arms of Jackson into the air above him. "Woe, grenade be upon ye" he said as he rolled into the bushes.
"GET DOWN!" the Glowing green grenade, something Six was all too familiar with and he didn't wanna chance these kids could handle it. As they all ducked for cover, a chilling second passed and the group expected an explosion to ring out.
Yet it never did. Six got to his feet, looking at the grenade that laid on the ground now. He walked over and picked it up "Plastic" he turned his gaze to the bush the boy had rolled into "crafty little bastard" Six muttered
"Great, I got dirt on my skirt for nothing," Weiss grumbled.
"Better safe than dead" Six rattled the plastic grenade "let's go after him." the group nodded "next time, listen to me, if that grenade had been real you'd all have been in serious trouble".
"We're fine, besides our aura could have taken it" Yang replied, picking leaves out of her hair only to be met with a glare from Six.
"Doesn't matter, I tell you to sit still, you sit still! I've had too many kids thinking they're heroes, dying on my watch. I don't need another four on my conscience. Realise this kid is dangerous and has been trying to kill me. Do you understand!?" he barked, uncharacteristically shaken by the four girls' manoeuvre.
They all shuffled uncomfortably, it took a moment for Six to realise what he'd said."I know you were just trying to help" his tone softened "and you may not think much of these" he held out the grenade "but to me, this could wipe out a whole squad with ease."
"I-I'm sorry" Ruby replied, she wasn't really sure how to reply. It seemed it was much the same for the other three as they just nodded at his explanation.
He looked down at the plastic replica in his hands "Apology accepted." tossing the plastic into a bush behind him, he brought his pip-boy to his face "He's headed for the cafeteria. Let's go"
It was silent for a while as Six moved with the girls towards the Cafeteria. "Six?" Blake started "are there… Faunus where your from?
"Like the animal people? no, why?".
"Sounds nice." Weiss muttered, trudging behind Six.
"He has those wide eyes, so I was just wondering"
"Hm, I suppose it's possible he's a mutie."
"A Mutie?" She tilted her head.
"Yeah. Muties come in all kinds of terrifying shapes and sizes. Most of the time it's due to radiation, I'd explain more but honestly I never really understood it myself, the mutation process that is. Sometimes folk get something useful like night vision, other times it gives you an extra thumb, or foot. " Six shrugged as he explained.
As he finished his explanation they arrived at the cafeteria, which was eerily quiet. "So, what do you want us to do?" Ruby asked.
"Hold here, I'm gonna go to the marker. If something bad happens, don't get involved, go and get Glynda or one of the other teachers, that clear?"
"Crystal!" Ruby did a mock salute.
"Good" Six ducked in through the doors.
—
Ruby let her hand rest by her side as she let out a long sigh. Yang patted her on the back.
"He is terribly inconsistent," Weiss remarked looking in on the man "honestly, one moment he's an understanding and somewhat gentle teacher, the next he's barking orders at you like some ruffian." she finished, shaking her head.
"Weiss, I think he was just concerned. You heard him, wherever he served, he's lost people" Ruby added.
"It isn't like we made a terribly dramatic charge towards enemy lines Ruby. We cornered an auraless Criminal." Weiss replied "anyway, the assassin shot him. In the head, were we just supposed to let him get away after that?"
"Six has a tracking device. He would have found him" Blake answered flatly.
"Guys we don't have to argue over this" Yang interjected "let's just enjoy a free period whilst it lasts and watch Six kick some butt from the Cafeteria window" Yang dragged all three of her teammates to one of the large bay windows looking into the Cafeteria near the entrance.
—
Six walked inside, scanning the room as he went. It was tense and quiet. He stalked his way to the back of the room near where the food was served, he followed the marker, vaulting the serving counter and going back into the kitchens.
The kitchens looked like they'd been recently ransacked, cabinets worth of utensils strewn about the floor along with pots and pans.
'Says he's in the walk In' Six moved to the large industrial walk-in freezer and pulled the handle down on the door. Icy fog dramatically poured out as the freezer creaked open.
Illuminated by the lights of the freezer, standing tall, almost as tall as Six was Jackson. Cold fog rolling off of his shoulders. But he wasn't standing unprepared, Six's eyes widened as he realised what the boy was wearing.
"T-45d. So this was your ace in the hole huh? not bad" Six went to reach into his pocket only to be interrupted by the sound of thudding footsteps sprinting towards him as Jackson tackled him. Rushing through the kitchen and then crashing Six through the serving counter of the Cafeteria.
Jackson spun Six, throwing him across the room. Righting himself as he flew, Six landed on his feet as he skidded to a halt, his spurs scraped across the floor sparking. reaching into his coat he brought out a power fist clad right hand.
The pistons in the fist whirred to life as Six punched his right hand out "Time for a little 'education'" Sprinting forward to pummel the Power Armour clad Jackson. The Boy raised his left fist, where a nozzle jutted out from the armguard. Flame spewed forth, coating Six in a drape of fire 'That's new'.
He bit down and charged through, colliding his power fist with the flame spewing gauntlet. Jackson recoiled from the blow, stumbling back a few steps. Six took the opportunity to pat himself off.
Jackson readied himself, reaching behind his back he pulled out a familiar combat knife which he tossed between his hands before pointing it at Six and taunting him to come closer "You little fucker" he muttered before charging forward at Jackson who put his left foot back before lunging in turn to stab Six mid charge.
Dodging narrowly to the side, Six avoided the blade's point. Precisely he brought the power fist down in a decisive strike hammering it into Jackson's hand, the armoured fist sputtered and fizzled under the immense blow but kept its grip on the combat knife even as blood poured out between the joints.
"You're one tough little bastard" Six remarked as Jackson retaliated with a slash at his chest, the knife sparking against his riot armour. "You're not the only one geared up this time Kid" Six went for a right hook, which the boy went to avoid, but in the power armour he was just too slow to fully dodge.
With an immense slam the hook connected with Jackson's chest piece, the pistons of the power fist fully engaged indenting the armour that it impacted. Skidding back a few paces Jackson's chest piece fell off revealing the Power Armour frame beneath the metal casing.
He heaved a pained breath, the blow had left him winded. Six grinned beneath his mask, edging forward with his power fist raised. Jackson raised his knife and lowered himself into a stance of his own.
Six put forward some testing jabs which were dodged with deft weaving from his attacker who retaliated with quick stabs and low slashes. Yet Six remained unharmed, when Jackson did land a slash it was always against armour, Six was careful not to get cut.
Amidst the CQC flurry it was a mixture of skillful blows and well placed defence. Yet as the battle roared on, pistons screaming, metal scraping and the panting of the overexerted duelists they were both wearing thin.
The duo broke their bind and took a few paces back 'I'm getting old' Six thought to himself as he took in long breaths. Jackson simply stared Six down as he took breaths of his own "I don't want to kill you kid".
"The feeling isn't mutual" Jackson spoke clearly, readying himself into a combat stance again.
"So what, you're selectively insane? Or was the trembling an act to throw me off?" Six put his fists up as he approached Jackson for their final bout.
"I sobered up long enough to bury you old man" Jackson dodged an incoming fist by a hair, he had a little less armour so moving was a little easier for him.
"You didn't do shit, just put on some power armour and bit down on some fixer. You think that'll make a difference?" Six snickered as he taunted Jackson, who fumed at the provocation. Six smiled as the boy over stepped and leaned too far into a lunge.
Six hammered Jackson's skull with his power fist in a final strike and sent the boy tumbling to the ground in a heap. "That ought to do it" he put his foot on the hand holding the knife before prying it from his hands. "This too, can't have you pulling an arsenal out your ass" he unclasped the Pip-Boy from Jacksons arm and put it in his pocket.
Six sat back on one of the cafeteria benches, looking down on the unconscious and probably concussed form of his would-be assassin. "YOU CAN COME IN NOW!" He shouted, and the team of four poured into the cafeteria.
"That was so COOL!" Ruby beamed running up to Six "it was like a final showdown straight out of the TV" she paused and gestured to the air in front of her "'an intense fight were only one is left standing!'" she added in a deep voice.
"I'm with Ruby on this one, you really pummelled him" Yang took a seat beside Six "You gotta show me some of those moves" she did a pop, pop with her right and left fist "I mean seriously those hooks were crazy how do you put that much force behind your fists without aura?"
"Lot's of practice and-" he held up the whirring power fist "this helps take some of the load"
"So what happens to him now?" Blake asked, looking down on the crumpled assassin.
"Well, I hand him off to Ozpin I suppose and he does whatever he wants with him." Six shrugged, pulling a beer out of his coat.
"What about all of his weapons, where was he hiding them? '' Weiss asked. To which Six just waved his hand dismissively.
"Don't worry, I've got them" he glanced down at his Pip-Boy. "Right you kids hoist him, this Old Man is aching from battle."
"Aw, did grandpa put his back out?" Yang teased.
"Now listen here, I just gave you front row seats to a real combat demonstration so you better be grateful!"
"I know, I'm only joking jeez" She hoisted the armoured boy off the ground.
"Oh wait a second" Six got up and walked over, Yang quirked a brow at him as he unsealed the power armour and ripped him out of it. Jackson was bleeding quite badly to their initial shock, turns out severe blunt trauma isn't healthy when administered repeatedly and to the head.
But of course, miracle doctor Six always has a cure! Reaching into his coat pocket presenting a stimpack, he stabbed it into Jackson "There, that should hold him"
Six went back and picked up his beer before turning to the girls "Right, let's go, Oz awaits" and striding forward past the group towards the doors.
Yang effortlessly carried Jackson over her shoulder "Y'know he's almost as light as Ruby."
—
Six sat inside Ozpin's office, presenting the now cuffed body of the boy he had previously pummeled. The girls had been dismissed back to their class. "You're sure this is the boy that attacked you Six?" Ozpin looked sceptical between the large man and the small boy.
"Yessir, he was wearing the Pip-Boy" Six pulled out the older Pip-Boy that was once fastened around Jackson's wrist.
"I see, are there any logs on the device? Anything that might tell you who he is and why he might want to kill you?"
"There's a few, but they're all hunting logs, pretty big game too. He even has some old world tutor videos here on CQC and various 'Science Topics', which by the way is digital gold where I come from. Some other stuff too but it's password protected. If he wasn't a mutant I'd think he'd been raised in a vault or by the enclave."
"Why do you think he's a mutant?"
"When he opens them eyes of his you'll see. He's got some big' ol peepers."
Ozpin sighed, he really wasn't sure what to do. 'If I send someone from his home down to the V.P.D and he starts talking about it, it could compromise Six as well. That could lead to some issues with the council asking questions, which is a headache I do not need' he pinched his brow.
"Whatcha thinking we do here Oz?"
"We'll detain him on school grounds for now. He's too dangerous to hand over to the V.P.D, we have a holding area we can use for him whilst we try and figure out why he attacked you" Ozpin waited to watch Six's reaction, expecting an outburst at the prospect of keeping him close by.
"Okay" Six sighed "but this Kid. Isn't like the ones your training Oz, he's a bon-a-fide killer. On top of that the Stealth Boys have sent him loopy. You're gonna have to be able to keep a leash on him, somehow or I'm pretty sure he'll chew through the bars of whatever cage you throw him in."
"I thought you weren't fond of the idea of putting someone in a cage?" Ozpin poured himself a cup of coffee.
"This isn't the same, this kid came smack bam outta nowhere with one mission, to kill me, he even had Power Armour Oz and a Pip-Boy for Christ sakes. He's smart, trained and deadly"
"I understand the risks Six. But you said yourself that he didn't hurt anyone else other than you, I want to understand why that is."
Six groaned in frustration "You wanna know why? Because I'm a monster Oz, I'm a machine built for killing and destruction. And he's the product of that, one of thousands more than likely with a scope trained on my head."
"I Highly doubt that" Ozpin sipped his coffee "It has only been a week, but your stay here so far has proven you have more than just a capability for actively avoid divulging the atrocities of your homeland to my students whilst uplifting their combat potential through experienced guidance. Atop that you have made an effort to learn about Remnant's history and its enemies."
Six couldn't deny that he had developed a quick fondness for the kids. He slumped back in one of the chairs in the office with a sigh "Y'know it's like some sort of sick joke. I lived killing and deceiving for years. All I ever wanted was a better life for the wastes and I thought the NCR would bring that. But they didn't, after the Mojave it was onto the next expansion of the great republic and I was left to rot, to police the dregs they'd left behind." he gestured to the window lazily.
"Out there Oz, it's like a glimpse of what could be. There are so many things I could've done, so much I could have-" Six turned his head in shame as he paused, "The point is, I've done things, things I can't be forgiven for and he" he pointed a digit at Jackson "is almost certainly a product of that".
"But you can change" Ozpin sipped his coffee, as Six looked up at him "You have shown that, like I said. When given the right environment you are more than a self-destructive lunatic Six. You wanted great things, good things for your home. As did I for my own" Ozpin looked out the window Six gestured to "Remnant is far from perfect, and although we now live in a time of peace, that tranquil veil will not last forever."
"What are you getting at?" Six asked, puzzled.
"I believe your coming here is a chance at redemption or perhaps self-discovery. I think this NCR of yours has constricted you you believe your story was over, but I believe you have just discovered a New Chapter, free from the influences of those that would previously restrain you."
Six got up, a huff escaping his lips as he turned and made to leave "I have a past, one I can't just let go. There's people, good people, that are going to suffer If I don't go back".
'Is it responsibility? Or does he see it as an act of Martyrdom to relinquish his freedom for the better of others.' Ozpin sipped his coffee, deep in thought as he watched Six duck into the elevator. 'Either way, his past is a heavy burden it would seem' his eyes fixed onto the waking boy on the chair.
"Now. Jackson was it?"
—
Jackson's vision was a distorted mess of colours, like a child had scribbled the walls on with crayon, his world was a delusional mismatch of what was real and what wasn't. Yet one thing for certain. The Owl Man was talking to him. He looked up with wide eyes at the Owl.
"Jackson was it?" it asked, massive, terrifying eyes stared down at him. His own narrowed in terror as he struggled; he knew he had to get away, yet he was bound by chains. Rattling helplessly he put his weight back and the chair tipped.
"Calm down young man, I just want to talk." Lies, Owls were predators that stalked the night in search of smaller animals to snatch and devour. Jackson heard the footsteps echoing against the floor.
He could even feel the tremors. Or was that just his own trembling? The owl reached down and righted the chair "I only want to ask a few questions. Please I mean no harm".
"Free me from my binds" Jackson spoke and to his surprise the owl complied, the chains collapsed to the floor, yet he didn't let his surprise overtake him as he skittered to the darkest corner of the room "What is it the Owl desires?" even in the dark corner he could be seen, sweat dropped down his face.
"Owl?" the winged monarch took it's perch once more, overseeing its roost "I wanted to ask you why you are trying to kill Courier Six. For what reason do you bear so much hostility towards him?"
"Six?" Jackson paused, a fizzle in his brain causing a momentary lapse back to reality before he was dragged back into the depths of Stealth Boy induced hallucination. "The Beast is the quarry of the hunter", Jackson replied and the owl groaned "his pelt is highly valued!".
"Highly… Valued?" The Owl, clearly confused by the clear statement, needed further explanation.
"Yes, many want the luxurious pelt but one demonic pair has a bounty for it that I cannot ignore" Whilst Jackson spoke, he skittered about the shadows, pacing constantly in a vain attempt to lose the constant observation.
"Demonic Pair?" The Owl probed further.
"Yes, the demons Van & Graff"
"And what sort of bounty do they have on Six?" The Owl leaned forward.
A Lapse again, as the world fuzzed, Jackson grabbed his head as static crept in his ears. "Do you seek to steal my bounty, Owl?"
"No, in fact I want to help you claim it." It sipped from a tar-like substance.
"You will help me kill Six?" Jackson asked, his voice now trembling along with his body.
"No. I will pay you not to kill him. I will meet whatever Van and Graff have offered you" The Owl bargained, but it did not know the severity of the trade it proposed.
"The Owl cannot match what they offer. What they give is unique" Jackson's head was swirling as he replied, the Owl's gaze hardened.
"Unique in what way"
"It is…" he hesitated, "my Mother. The Demons hold her captive, in return for her I must bring them the courier's pelt" Jackson replied flatly, the Owl simply nodded in return. "I appreciate your attempt to preserve him but he must die."
"Must he?" the Owl answered "Is there no other way around this than killing? Surely a smart boy like yourself can think of another way to resolve this"
he pondered, closing his eyes and resting his chin on his fist "I suppose I could have tried to speak to him. But the Courier is known to be an unreasonable man! And I doubt he would respond well if I told him to kill himself."
"Maybe not to do that Jackson" the owl sighed "but he could help you save your mother when he returns to the Mojave, could he not?"
Jackson once again paused for a few moments, only now realising that he could have tried to save his mother. His tunnel-vision and sheer panic had sent him on a one man crusade across America to claim a Bounty "I-I did not think of that Owl Man. But what if they were to kill my mother whilst I attempted the feat?"
"You have your 'Stealth Boys' do you not? Could you not free her and stealthily make your escape?" The Owl offered a fresh perspective to the situation, one which was apparently needed.
"You do make a compelling argument. But how can I convince the Courier to assist me? I have just tried to gut him after all. Unless your mind bending powers of persuasion work upon him?" Jackson queried the Owl.
"You let me deal with that young man".
—
"Absolutely Not" The courier stated flatly "didn't we just have a heart to heart about what we'd do with him? The kid puts a knife in my spine and you want me to help him? Oz you must be a few screws short if you think that I'll take this deal." he fumed "Anyways 'Van & Graff' he means 'Van Graff' the little junkie and before you ask who they are. They're a weapons dealer and mean bastards"
"Evidently, they have taken that Young Man's mother hostage. All I ask is that you assist him in recovering his mother safely."
"Oh yeah. Hold on, let me just summon my Mojave Portal Gun and return to commence this selfless quest!" Six patted himself down before turning slowly to look at Ozpin "I must have left it in my other coat"
"Six, he clearly has issues. The boy needs help, It took ONE conversation with him to convince him not to kill you. Which was shocking by the way. And in that he's shown he suffers from immense delusions. I don't even know if what he's told me is the truth, but I do know it is my duty to assist those in need and in saying that I have never seen a boy more troubled… Six he thought I was a giant Owl."
"Come again?"
"He consistently referred to me as 'Owl Man'" Ozpin replied and Six just sort of stood there, staring blankly into the headmaster for a moment.
"So what I just 'play along' hoping that his mother hasn't been killed by the Van Graffs let's just assume he isn't lying to you and that he won't just stab me in the back. Let's just assume all of that and ignore that he is a violent schizophrenic?"
"Six, please. You wanted a leash, in this bargain it keeps him from being violent towards you and potentially towards students".
There was a long pause as Six paced for a moment before he grabbed his helmet and groaned in exasperation "Aahhh… Fine! Fine… what the fuck are we gonna do about him till you figure out how to send us back?"
"Well I may have made him an offer similar to yours"
"You offered to make him a TA? Oz, he's-"
"No. I offered to make him a student, so he would have a place to stay and potentially ground himself from his delusions"
Six stared at Ozpin "Is there such a thing is 'Suicidal Altruism'? because if not I think you may have just invented it"
"He will be strictly monitored, by you, as I feel partially he is your responsibility as he came over after you."
"Shouldn't there be a test or something like that for this? Don't you arrange your students into those teams anyway?"
"As he is, an exceptional circumstance he will be a student without a team but will still be able to partake in classes and extracurricular activities however will be unable to represent us in the coming Vytal festival."
Six sat down and sighed "I suppose if we're dealing with this, this way then I'll tell you about Fixer in case the little psycho has an episode"
"Fixer?"
"It's a temporary cure all for addiction, take one you'll have a massive headache but your addictions will be gone for a while. Addicts and Fiends use it to treat withdrawal symptoms so their not moving like a slug when they go to ambush a caravan."
"And this will return him to normalcy for a period? How much do you have?"
"Well I'm careful with my chem use so not alot. I've got maybe 11 doses total and that's including what the kid had."
"Introduce him in your next class, he looks close in age to the first years so it should be alright."
"Yeah sure, I'm sure that will go over fine." Six shrugged "where is the little hellspawn anyway"
"I had Glynda take him to an empty room. He insisted he wanted his Pip-Boy back by the way"
"Nuh-uh, not a goddamn chance. Do you have any idea what he can do with this thing?"
"No, but if it's anything like you I can assume it is extremely dangerous.-"
"Then you understand we can't give it to him, right?"
"Six, we need to establish trust with him. Give him back his Pip-Boy" Ozpin commanded as Six's shoulders slumped.
"Goddammit fine".
—
A day had passed since the capture of Jackson, there was now significantly less explosions followed by Six screaming obscenities. Team RWBY and JNPR were making their way to the lockers to prepare for combat class.
"What do you think happened to that kid?" Yang asked her team as she walked over to her locker.
"Does it matter? One less nuisance on Campus to worry about" Weiss replied.
"I did kinda feel bad for him after Six pulled him out of the armour though" Ruby added, fastening crescent rose to her waist.
"This is the guy who was planting landmines around the dorm, right?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah, I'd expected him to be some grizzled old dude like Six. But no, he was some scrawny little guy" Yang tilted her head up to think "he was just a bit bigger than Ruby and Weiss I think".
"So the assassin isn't some super cool ninja?" Nora butted in.
"Nope. Just your average violent teenager" Yang replied as she loaded shells into Ember Celica.
"So, what happened to him after you guys caught him?" Jaune asked.
"Well, we hauled him up to Ozpin's office and then we were told to go back to class. Nothing else really" Yang shrugged.
Nora produced a spyglass from her locker "There is more to this mystery that remains unsolved!"
"I'm pretty sure the mystery has finished Nora. He's probably been sent to the V.P.D to be processed" Ren replied, with a half smile at the cheery girl's antics.
"Could all students please exit the locker room" Glynda called out and the two teams wrapped up their gearing up to take their seats in the auditorium. "Now, as you all know, today is one on one duels." she tilted her head down and let out a long sigh before looking back up. "But before that, we have a small announcement to make."
She turned to the side, scratching and arguing could be heard "Come on! It's just for one min-"
"In front of all of them? No, never, not even the owl could convince me to splay myself bare before a menagerie of hungry beasts!"
"If you don't do this, deals off kid, and if you try to kill me because of that, there is no way Oz is helping you get home. Now get your ass up there, NOW!"
There was a long silence followed by a "no."
"Right, thats it." Six said, the Students were then witness to the most bizarre sight they had ever seen. Six walked up the steps of the stage, holding Jackson out by the scruff of his collar who struggled like a cat, scratching and attempting to writhe out of the Courier's herculean grip.
Until eventually Six stopped in the centre of the stage and turned to face the crowd of students, Jackson dangled loosely in his grip, spinning to face the crowd he had his knees to his chest, his head sunk into them so only his eyes could be seen. You could almost imagine a tail curled between his legs.
"Behold, your new companion" Six shouted, leaning into the boy in his grip "introduce yourself."
"Jackson".
"Brilliant, now you're all introduced." Six dropped Jackson, watching him roll off stage and scurry in a flash to the back of the stands "He's a little psycho that'll be joining you all this year. Any questions?"
A wave of hands raised in the crowd and Six sighed. "I hate this job sometimes" he went and sat down, looking over to Glynda.
"We won't have time for all of your questions because we still have class, but I'll answer a few. Miss Schnee, please?" Glynda asked and Weiss put her hand down.
"Ms. Goodwitch, we already have one abstract case in our year. But at least she was trained and is shown to be an exceptional huntsman" Weiss paused, before pointing to the back where Jackson was cowering "but he is an auraless criminal! Who attempted to kill one of our teachers repeatedly. I cannot accept him being here."
"Whilst I understand your concerns Ms. Schnee, I really do. Headmaster Ozpin has taken into account the reasons for his actions and has deemed that as part of his penance for those actions and for his safety he will study here and put his combative abilities to good use instead of using it for coerced violence"
"Coerced? Do you mean he was forced to attack the courier?" Weiss replied, squinting at Jackson.
"Someone from my past put him up to it. Obviously we can't tell you everything, but he wasn't going out of his way to murder me, well he was, but not because he wanted to." the Courier spoke up 'Doesn't change the fact he's a nasty little fucker' he thought.
More than a few hands went down at the answers to Weiss's question. But it didn't look like she was fully content with her answer.
"Cardin" the Courier pointed to him "What's on your mind".
"He won't be joining any of our teams will he?" Cardin asked, shooting a disdainful look towards Jackson
"Nope, he's a little creature so I doubt any of you would get along too well with him, in and out of combat. His condition makes it so he's not exactly easy to talk to" Six stared at Jackson as he said that.
"But how will he do practical exercises like Grimm extermination then if he doesn't have a team?" Ruby spoke up.
Six turned to Glynda and shrugged at the question "I'll take him on those, little guy is a tricky little fu-" Glynda glared "fellow so I'm sure he'll figure something out".
"Right children, that's enough questions! If you have any more I'm sure Six would be willing to answer after Class" Glynda gave Six a sinister smile.
"Yeah, sure! I love answering questions." he groaned.
"Brilliant, now, let's get you all paired for one on ones" A Massive display with two empty frames and a VS in between them popped up. The empty frames suddenly began to spin like the pictures on a slot machine.
End of Chapter 2… The Pip-Brick Road.
—
Okay. Chapter 2 finished, admittedly I'm having a little trouble writing conversations between characters :/ but that's an issue that will get better with time as I get more used to writing in their various personalities.
Anyway! I hope you all enjoyed reading. It was a blast writing this chapter. Especially the power armour fight between Six and Jackson as well as Owl Man Oz Oooooo~