Chapter 10
A new day dawns
Pyrrha swore and threw her pillow in the direction of the wall as it sounded as if heavy construction was taking place next door. She sat up her hair frumpled and a small line of drool on her chin. A shoulder was exposed as the nightgown ties had come loose in her sleep
" Good morning. The shower is free for now. Me and Ren are already done." Jaune greeted her
She merely grunted as she got up and stumbled towards the bathroom, ignoring Ren trying to pull Nora from the bed as she held on with grim determination to the bedpost
"Ren, No. No. I wanna sleep." Nora wailed
Jaune chuckled
"I have a tazer if you want to use one." He offered jokingly
"Yes! Yes! Tazer me! Give it to me! " Nora cried out happily
"Uh, Ren?" Jaune stated, slightly freaked out
Nora had gone from sleepy and grouchy to her hyper self in two seconds flat. What Jaune found unsettling was the dementedly happy expression on her face. Ren was now struggling to keep her contained, Jaune contemplated helping the other boy but decided to stay back
"Jaune two things. Never let Nora have or make coffee and never let her have electricity." Ren grunted as he finally subdued her
"Okay and the second thing?" Jaune asked cautiously
Ren lifted his left hand displaying a scar on his palm
"Never get between Nora and the last pancake." He said
Jaune nodded
"Very well, I will keep it in mind once I learn what pancakes are." Jaune said solemnly
Nora seized her struggling and stared at Jaune open mouthed in shock. Jaune swallowed on seeing her expression change so suddenly
"How do you not know what a pancake is?" Nora demanded, her tone soft as if speaking in a church
"Never had any or I could know it under another name." Jaune shrugged
Ren went flying as Nora bucked and threw him off. Jaune had the petite ginger in his personal space seconds later and found himself being marched to the door
" Mess hall, now." She stated firmly
"Maybe after you change into your school uniform." Jaune suggested, trying to look for an escape
The two boys hurriedly spun around as Nora's sleeping clothes went flying to the laundry hamper. Minutes later Jaune was grabbed by his arm and dragged to the door, Pyrrha barely had time to drop her shower basket by her bed before she too was grabbed. Nora stopped suddenly halfway down the passage to the elevator and stairs
"If you don't know what pancakes are, do the sisters know?" Nora asked
"We all ate the same food." Jaune said
"Wait here." Nora ordered
She marched to the door of team KHYA and nearly kicked the door down before force marching Jaune and the sisters to the mess hall.
The fish versus pancake debate was still going strong as Jaune and April shepherded their teams to their first class, leaving an unconscious heretic lying on the floor of the Mess hall. The heretic had received a beatdown for scoffing at fish and pancakes being superior food and proclaiming ramen as food from the gods. Both sides of the debate had decided to teach the heretic a lesson he will not forget before going back to their debate, laced with facts and subtle insults. For a moment Jaune wondered where teams RASP and RWBY were not having seen either group at all this morning.
Ren sat down with a sigh and activated his semblance
"Now I know what the elders meant by trying to herd cats." He muttered
"Their hearing is better than ours." Jaune nudged him
"I did not mean it as a racial slur," Ren stated
"I know, but I have given up trying to explain cat related expressions, they don't understand it at all. It is easier not to make any." Jaune explained
Jaune looked around the room. The seats were set up in an ampitheater style. A small pit was to one side of the room. A blackboard filled with diagrams and figures covered the board. Jaune sighed as he was already getting lost. Ren grabbed his shoulder
"Do not worry we will help. Just concentrate on paying attention, Maybe film the board before class." Ren suggested
Neither boy noticed the teacher seated at his desk give an approving nod in Ren's direction. The bellrang and Port gpt to his feet to close the door. He was promptly run over by the arrival of team RWBY. Getting to his feet he pointed them towards the front row chairs before closing and locking the door. After taking roll call he stood infront of the blackboarf and pointed to the sketches on the board and the photos above them
"Grim, the plague of Remnant, the monsters in the forest and in the dark. For us Hunters our prey and I, Peter Port, the most eligible bachelor in Vale will be the one to teach you all I know."
He pointed to a bust of himself
"Look upon my visage and be inspired."
He started a long winded tale about rescuing a village by himself. Jaune frowned as he noticed Port kept on iterating several points in his tale. He started writing it down, absent mindedly reverting to Aurabesh as he wrote. He looked up from his notes to see Port before his desk looking down on his notes.
"Scribbling? Mister Arc." He asked
"Sorry sir, just reverted to the language I know best." Jaune replied
"In that case tell me where the weakspot on a boarbatusk is." Port challenged
Jaune looked at his notes
"The abdomen sir, they also get disorientated from their rolling attacks so timing a counter attack is an important thing when dealing with them."
"Absolutely correct." Port beamed
Port sauntered back to his podium and resumed his lecture
"In conclusion a Hunter must be noble, a hunter must be strong and resolute. Who believes they have what it takes?"
"I do?" Weiss snapped harshly
"Then step into the pit." Port stated
The class stepped into the converted airship hanger that housed the Stealth,Tracking and Survival studies class. A very subdued Ruby in the lead, followed by a seething Yang, an irritated Blake and the heiress who had her nose in the air. They followed the wandering path made between the replanted foliage to what they hoped were the seats for the class.
Jaune and Hina both paused and lifted their fists in the gesture to stop. The rest of the class pushed past the two stalled teams
"What is it fearless leader?" Nora chirped happily
Hina sniffed the air and stepped into her combat stance. Katya and Yara following suit. Jaune stepped in front of his team and crouched low
"We are being hunted." She said softly
Pyrrha spun around and looked at the door they had just come through in. The deadbolt had been engaged and electricity played over the metal door
"The door is locked." She whispered
Hina closed her eyes as she concentrated for a moment
"There are a lot of beings here. More than the class we are with." She reported
Katya stiffened and unsheathed her claws before jumping into the foliage with an angry yowl. The bushes shook as she and her target clashed. She returned moments later, clothing torn dragging an older student into the passage they were standing in. She held him in a chokehold. The dog Faunus was dressed in dark colours, face turning blue as he was being choked by the stronger than expected petite girl
"How many of you are there?" Jaune demanded
The boy merely grunted and shook his head.
"Katya, knock him out." Hina ordered
Katya tightened her grip and the boy collapsed. April and Pyrrha looked panicked, Nora was nearly bouncing in anticipation. The slight shimmer around Ren indicated that his semblance was in use
"What now?" April whispered harshly
Jaune pointed to the walkway that lined the roof of the hanger
"We get to higher ground and find a way out from there. Yara, Katya on point Ren you are with me on rearguard. Nora, Hina flanks" He said
"Watch where you step, there may be traps." Yara added
Katya looked down at her victim
"That is right Cats rule, canines drool." She said before moving from the path into the foilage
The group skirted the side of the building hoping to find the ladders connected to the walkways above. They moved slowly and carefully. Pyrrha yelped as she was suddenly lifted into the air. A noose around her ankle. Nora and April grapped hold of her and delayed her being lifted higher. Hina jumped onto Pyrrha and slashed at the rope with the pocket knife she carried. Pyrrha dropped to the ground and hastily pulled her skirt down.
They kept moving at a slower pace than before. The two in the middle now tasked to see if they could spot traps. Katya pushed Yara to the side as she was about to step on a pile of leaves, She stumbled against a bush and the flowers released streams of pollen. Yara coughed before starting to sway and dropping to the ground onto the pile of leaves triggering the dead fall. Katya managed to grab her by the skirt to keep her from falling completely into the trap.
Jaune moved up
"Nora carry Yara. Hina to the front with Katya. Ren left flank, April, Pyrrha watch our right." He ordered softly
The ladder was set against the wall in a little cleared patch. Both Jaune and Hina stiffened
"Fall back, it is a trap." Jaune said
The group was swarmed as they tried to fall back. They fought furiously but were overwhelmed by more experienced fighters who had superiour numbers
The two teams were secured with cable ties before being dragged through the foliage by their feet to the middle of the hanger. The rest of the class had been thrust into chairs. Not many showing signs of having been in a scuffle. The teacher took notes on a clipboard as they were dragged in and dropped into chairs.
"Thirty two minutes. I am almost impressed. Amber give the antidote to the Mistral Nightwish to Miss Ichira" She said
The teacher was dressed in camouflage pants and a green tank top. Her long hair was secured in a braid behind her head hanging down to mid back. Her green eyes sparkled behind a set of glasses. She hid a smile as Yara started groaning in misery as she was revived
"Release miss Ichira and give her water."
She stood up from behind her desk and lifted a black envelope
"Do you know what this is?" She asked
"Death notification." April said her voice scratchy
"That is right, if this were a real life scenario the Headmaster would now be filling these."
She looked at the older students who were looking smug
"And I would suggest you lose the smug looks. How did seven first years manage to take down two whole teams?" She snapped
She started to walk between the defeated students and the now more contrite looking older students
"Beyond the walls of the city and settlements danger lurks everywhere and the danger does not consist solely of the Grim. Bandits and outcasts from the villages roam the woods and they will not hesitate to kill you or take you as products for the slave trade. Constant vigilance is your only hope of avoiding that fate."
She paused to point out Pyrrha and Weiss, before gesturing to the other girls
"Today the bandits got two lucrative hostages and another eleven new products for the sex markets of Remnant. Lien will be filling their coffers."
She looked to the boys
"Several of you will be joining the girls in that fate, just because you are male does not mean that you can not be made an addict like the girls will be. Death would be preferable to being sold on the flesh market."
She returned to her desk and stepped to the side. She pulled against an object and cloth painted to look like the foliage behind the frame dropped revealing a screen on a pedestal
"You have till the end of class to try and break free from your restraints. In the meantime let us analyse the actions of the only two teams that put up a fight." She said
She started the recording and paused it before turning to Hina and Jaune
"What warned you that something was wrong?"
"Just a feeling something was wrong, Professor?" Hina stated
The professor nodded at that and gave a quirky smile
"Gut instinct then and you will learn my name only once one of you manages to escape."
She resumed the recording and stopped on Katya dragging her victim from the bushes
"Miss Katya how did you detect mister Poole?"
"I smelled his toothpaste and he was not very quiet on his approach." Katya replied
The teacher continued with the recording and paused where Pyrrha was lifted from the ground by the noose trap. She looked to the older students.
"Who confiscated the knife they used?" She asked
The students looked between each other and at that point Katya and Hina jumped from their chairs their bonds cut. They rushed for the now more clearly visible ladder and the open windows close to the walkway. They were halfway up the ladder before the teacher whistled sharply
"Okay, girls, you managed to escape. Come back to class." She called out
She turned back to the still seated and standing students
"Mister Ren you may start cutting the others loose, Miss Valkyrie it is pointless to pretend to be bound when your restraints is lying at your feet. Mister Roberts go to medical once class is done and make sure that you have reset your thumb correctly."
She waited till the two escapees had rejoined them. She stood behind her desk
"I am professor Anastasia Moody. In this class you will learn how to move and survive in the wild. You will learn which plants are safe to eat and which should be avoided. You will also be taught how to hunt and process the wildlife of the various regions of Remnant. Later in the year you will all partake in an exercise to see how much you have learned, and before you ask, little surprise tests like this one may occur at ant time. The quicker you learn that nowhere is truly safe the better off you will be. Now the primary area outside of Vale can best be described as…"
Yang was banhing her head against the table halfway through the assignment they had been given for history, finally lying face down in her book
"What is up with this school? Homework on the first day despite being beaten up after being put to sleep in class. Not mentioning an old man hitting on us girls" She demanded plaintively
"What is it that makes you unhappy? Being the target of him pretending to hit on you or being recorded in class?" Yara asked, struggling with her own work
Yang looked up
"Where did Moody actually hide al those cameras?" She asked
"In the trees I guess, I was more referring to the ones in Port's class." Yara replied
"There were cameras?" April demanded
"Inside the bust by his desk. If you look closely you can see the camera lenses." Katya answered
"I call bullshit, no one can see that clearly that far. And I call bullshit on you smelling that guy in Survival class." Yang said crossing her arms
Katya smirked at her
"You may want to avoid going swimming in the next few days or wearing white underwear. Maybe use more deodorant and less hair products." She said with amusement, tapping her nose
Yang turned a near fire engine red. Hina looked around the room
"Where is Ruby?" She asked
Yang's expression fell
"Studying in our room. With ice bitch going at her all day and striking out and struggling in classes she wants some alone time." She said
"And your partner?" Yara asked
Yang pointed to the far side of the room where Blake was curled up in a chair by a window.
"Where is JNPR?" She asked
"Last we saw in their room. Jaune said something about getting to know his team better." Yara replied
Yara closed the history books and packed her stuff away
"I am not making sense of this. I will have to ask Oobleck about all this on Saturday." She said
"Saturday is a rest day, it unlikely you will find him here."Yang pointed out
"Remedial lessons since we never received formal schooling." Yara replied.
"That sucks, the weekends is supposed to be used for rest and shopping and partying." Yang stated
"Does not matter, we can not really go and shop or party as we have limited funds. Sure Jaune's family is sponsoring us but it does not feel right to spend their money." Hina replied with a shrug
"Hopefully we can go on the monthly culls soon and get money we have actually earned." Katya added
"We get paid for the culls?" April asked
"It says so in the student handbook, obviously we get paid less than the older students and the professional hunters." Hina answered
The lights flickered three times as the librarian flicked the lights on and off indicating that closing time was approaching. They all packed up and started their way to the rooms.
"Any one willing to bet that tomorrow is going to be brutal as well?" Yang asked
"We have combat class tomorrow and after the reviews we received I am not looking forward to that." April relied
"Not mentioning we have class with your sister first thing after breakfast." Yara added
"Yes! At least we have an adorable teacher in the morning." Katya cheered
"You are talking about my sister." April said tightly
Katya glomped her and smothered her in her chest. April tried to break free. Yang was snickering at the interaction while the other sisters just continued as if nothing was wrong, and for a moment Yang was certain she saw Blake taking notes in a small notebook
"No need to be jealous you are cute and adorable too." Katya purred
April stopped struggling once she could not break free and just hanged limply in the embrace
"Fuck my life." She muttered
Inquisitor Training grounds (Old Temple guard Barracks Jedi Temple)
The Pau ún male turned away from studying the training going on below him as the door opened behind him. He dropped to his knee
"How may I serve, Lord Vader?"
Darth Vader walked up to the observation window and looked down at the training grounds. His rasping breath filled the room. Two grey uniformed officers had followed him into the room and stationed themselves by the door standing at parade rest
"There has been a shift in the Force." He said after several minutes
"Yes, we have all felt the awakening. My inquisistors in the field have been instructed to be more vigilant." The Inquisitor replied
"Instruct them to be on the lookout for the Cripple, he was part of the event." Vader stated
The Inquisitor thought for a moment before going to his desk and terminal
"The seventeenth sister has logged a report concerning him. Ah, here it is.
Captain of a freighter heading to Rendill. Transporting parts and equipment to the garrison and factory there," The Inquisitor reported.
Vader turned around and crossed his arms
"On another matter has the prisoner recovered from her last escape attempt?" Vader demanded
"She has been removed from the bacta tanks three days ago and has been kept in her cell. She has been docile so far"
"Have her brought here." Vader ordered
Several minutes later a furiously struggling young girl dressed in a glaring orange jumpsuit was carried in by four stormtroopers holding on to a limb apiece, her head covered in a black bag . The inquisitor with them was limping badly. She was dumped in a chair and the bag taken off after being restrained in the chair.
She was about sixteen years of age. Brunette with green eyes, her most distinguishing feature was the pointed ears marking her as not completely human. She blinked as her eyes adapted to the brighter light.
"Finally someone important takes the times to interrogate me." She snarked
The Inquisitor opened her file and put it on full display
"You will notice we have finaly convinced the bounty hunters guild to divulge your file. And I have to say I find your attempt at diversion juvenile to say the least." He said
"I had fun filling that out." The girl shrugged
" Keira Wren, Mandalorian. And here the juvenile antics begin. Sex answer lesbian only please. Planet of Origin answer some dirtball in the dark. Alternate identities Cuddlebuns, the pleaser of women. Mistress of orgasms, your sisters lover and it goes on and on. How juvenile and uncivilised." The Inquisitor sneered
"Yes! I win! The only thing my mothers profile got out of Windu and Kenobi was a raised eyebrow and a statement of how uncivilised." She cheered
Vader extended his hand in a force choke and she leaned back in the chair as her airway closed.
"More please?! I am nearly there" She groaned out
Vader let his grip go and she coughed as she leaned forward
"Which one got you fired up Windu or Kenobi?" She coughed out
Vader ignored her
"Di'kut. Ori'buyce, kih'kovid." She snarled
"Your opinion of me does not interest me." Vader said
"Then what does?" She asked
Vader took a seat at behind the Inquisitors desk
"Your ability to track targets. According to the guild till your capture in the archives of the temple you have had a perfect record of mission completion and captures. Then again they deny that you were on a sanctioned contract when you were caught. The first time you have failed" Vader answered
"Yes I got caught, but who says I failed?" The girl smirked
"No stolen data was retrieved from your effects and no transmissions had been made." The inquisitor replied
"You are of course assuming I was there to retrieve data and not perchance there to destroy data." She smirked again
Vader lifted a hand to stop the discusiion
"Of more immediate interest to me is the fact that a Mandolorian bounty hunter was able to use force techniques and a lightsaber, built using ancient techniques with modern parts. Dressed in a full set of Beskar armour. A rather risky decision to use one considering how many clones were still stationed in the temple complex and their hatred of Mandalorians and Jedi."
"Ran out of ammunition for my blaster and they just kept on coming. And I thought you knew that there exist other force users. Not all of us identify as Jedi or Sith. As for their hatred, not my fault they were cloned from a Dar Manda." She shrugged
"Also of more interest to me is the fact that your are now actually answering questions." The Inquisitor answered
"There is no point in me not answering, everything I know is useless now and I am not a masochist. My people are long gone and for all fact and purposes I am considered to be dead. It has been about two months after all since you captured me."
Vader crossed his arms
"Your people? Count Vizla has spoked to Countess Wren and she denies your existence." He said
"The main line has disavowed our existence a thousand years ago and yet we remain stronger than they are. As do our allies in the houses of Brevkin; Ordo and Fett. Not that havin a converstion for the first time in two months is not enjoyable, what do you want?"
Vader tapped on the embedded terminal
"In exchange for a full pardon I want you to do what you are good at. I want you to hunt down and capture this human male."
A hologram lit up. The head and shoulders of a human male appeared. He had blonde hair and blue eyes.
"A full pardon and ten thousand Mon Calamari credits. The return of my lightsaber and Beskar'Gam." She countered
Vader pointed to one of the officers by the door
"Captain Dallors will be with you at all times. Also you will be working directly under me from the Executor. And to be very clear. The man and any force sensistives with him are to be taken alive. No excuses or accidents."
"We have a deal. I would shake on it but I am a little tied up here" Keira stated
Vader made a gesture with is hand and the bindings sprung apart.
Mandalorian to English
Di'kut : Idiot
Ori'buyce, kih'kovid: Someone with an inflated view oh himself, of lesser importance than the person perceives themselves to be. Phrae meaning All Helmet no brain