"Shaun, I want you to be completely honest with me. Are you sure you want to go?" Nate asked as he kneeled in front of his son. Despite everything that had happened, all the time that had passed, Shaun had grown. Today had been one of his few "off" days, when the work was just light enough to push it onto his subordinates, so of course, he would spend it with his son.
"I'm sure Dad, you said Vale was a safe place," Shaun replied honestly.
"I know, but Shaun, Vale is a big place and I don't want you to get lost," Nate said, his mind racing for options to dissuade his son.
"But I'll have Codsworth and Ada with me," Shaun replied.
"And we'll do our best to keep him safe sir," Codsworth spoke up from the other side of the room.
Nate almost sighed but stopped himself. Codsworth was just being helpful, doing the job he had been given since Shaun came home. "I know... but..." Nate trailed off as he found himself at a loss for words. He had been given small reports on some of the going ons in Vale and the Kingdoms as a whole, but nothing he had found would be enough to stop his son from going.
"Come on Dad? I want to get some pictures for my friends," Shaun begged.
Nate put his hand up and let it rest on Shaun's shoulder. "Ok... give me some time and I'll see what I can do," Nate said.
"Thank you," Shaun said as he hugged his father. Nate just patted Shaun on the back of his head before he reciprocated the hug.
'Now, who do I have to call to make this happen?' Nate pondered.
Tanner just watched as Team RWBY set up Banners and re-arranged tables. She had heard of the Beacon Dance, a celebration for the end of a major war. That was something she could respect, to commemorate the end of devastation in the hope that it would not happen again. How a high school dance commemorates it is where she was at a loss for words.
"Enjoying the view?" The Storyteller asked as he approached her.
"Eh, just seeing something different," Tanner replied.
"I noticed, you don't see many people celebrating certain days outside of vaults," The Storyteller said.
"Yes, but why a dance?" Tanner inquired.
"That I can't say," The Storyteller replied.
"Oh, this leaves you speechless?" Tanner quipped.
"The dance is meant to help students bond with their fellow Huntsmen and Huntresses," Ozpin spoke up, seemingly appearing from nowhere. Tanner swiftly turned as Ozpin walked past them. Tanner just shook her head at the eccentric actions of the Headmaster as he stood next to the pair.
"I've read that many pre-war schools would hold dances for romance and shows of status," The Storyteller said. Tanner just shook her head again as The Storyteller began to ramble about Pre-war school festivities.
Salem huffed as she felt a stabbing pain in her skull. Her latest attempt to send Grimm to the Wasteland was met with failure. 'How does a Whale become a Ghoul even?' she lamented as her eyes narrowed. Her gaze shifted, now watching through the uncountable eyes of the palace walls.
Hazel and Tyrion had returned, with a group of forty-one Frumentari led by the one known as Lost Eyes. They walked calmly through the halls, carrying weapons and packs with pride and purpose.
Salem straightened her posture, allowing Grimm matter to merge with her form to add to her presence. As Hazel opened the doors to the throne room, she could now look down upon the group that stood in front of her. Hazel stood stoic as Tyrion kneeled in front of her in reverence, many of the Frumentari mirroring the latter's actions.
"We have returned Mistress," Hazel stated.
"It is an honor to meet you in person, Dark Goddess," Lost Eyes said as he raised his head to meet her eyes.
Salem stood up, her eyes narrowing at the Frumentari in the throne room. "I must thank you Lost Eyes, it is a pleasure to have you here to serve me," Salem said as she motioned for them to rise. Tyrion and the Frumentari all rose in sync at her command.
"How may we serve you, Dark Goddess?" The Frumentari spoke as one.
"What is your hierarchy?" Salem inquired.
"All of them follow my word, and I follow yours," Lost Eyes said.
"I have a mission for all of you, each of you will be split into teams of Ten," Salem began. "I have an agent in Vale who requires manpower, Lost Eyes I wish for you to take ten men with you to aid her efforts, the rest of you shall be brief on your separate missions," She announced.
"Understood Dark Goddess," The Frumentari spoke up.
"All of you but Lost Eyes are dismissed, Hazel will show you to the barracks of the Castle," Salem instructed. The Frumentari nodded as Hazel huffed and began walking out of the Throne Room. Tyrion just smiled as he made for one of the side doors of the throne room.
"What do you require of me?" Lost Eyes inquired.
"There is a great power which my agent possesses, this power has made her far more... stubborn than necessary," Salem said.
"I see, Goddess, you wish for me to report any potential betrayal?" Lost Eyes inquired.
"She is far too afraid to attempt betrayal, but her ego will interfere with her mission," Salem said.
"Understood, is there anything else I should be made aware of?" Lost Eyes asked.
"Your men are capable of using machinery and understanding code?" Salem inquired.
"They can learn, so long as they have a proper teacher," Lost Eyes said.
"Oh, Watts will enjoy that," Salem said
"You had us split into teams of ten, it is safe to assume that the rest of my men will be sent to the other Kingdoms?" Lost Eyes inquired.
"Correct, ten men shall be sent with Tyrion to seek out a certain individual in Minstral, ten shall be trained by Watts to infiltrate Atlas, and the remaining Ten shall be sent out to terrorize Vacuo's communities," Salem explained.
"And of the Wasteland?" Lost Eyes inquired.
"Do you believe that The Great Ceasar can topple the Wasteland's empires?" Salem asked with glaring eyes.
"Do you want my answer?" Lost Eyes countered.
"Yes," Salem stated.
"He will be shattered, regardless of the gift you have granted to the Legion." Lost Eyes said.
Lost Eyes felt his body still as Salem placed a hand on his shoulder. "How?" She asked with an intense gaze.
"He would shatter the men of the Legion against their enemies, his lack of true tactics and his hunger for battle will see lives wasted, even as he grinds the nations in his path under his metal heel," Lost Eyes explained.
"Then his task shall be done," Salem said. "He shall take the attention of the Wasteland, waste their resources and their population in their fight against him," Salem stated.
Lost Eyes stood silent before a cruel smile spread across his face. "Forgive my ignorance, Goddess," He said as he crossed his arm over his chest.
"You are forgiven, now prepare your men for your mission to Vale, you shall leave tomorrow," Salem said.
"Understood, my Goddess," Lost Eyes said as he turned to leave the throne room.
Salem felt a prideful smirk spread across her face as she watched her newest agent leave the throne room, he would prove most useful.
Running a hand through his hair, Six looked himself over in the mirror. The short beard on his face and the long blonde hair running past his shoulder had been thoroughly scrubbed clean over the last half hour. He ran the hand down to his beard, his bright eyes looking over every detail of his face.
The reason for all this preparation was a simple mission.
He was going to reunite with his family, with all the good and bad such an act would bring. With the issue of Mr. House dealt with and tensions between the Brotherhood and Atlas simmering down, he could begin reconnecting with his past. He had a letter sent out by the recently set up Follower's Outpost in Argus, one with details that only his family would recognize.
Speaking of his family, he wasn't surprised by their reactions when he had gone missing. His parents sent out a missing person's report and set a cash reward for his safe return.
He just wasn't sure how they would react to his return; they had been somewhat neutral if supportive of his application to Beacon.
How they would react to their kind-hearted son being the leader of a large nation in the Wasteland, he couldn't say.
"You all right boss?" Six almost jumped as he turned to see Raul at the doorframe. The Ghoul had returned just a few days prior with a small herd of Remnant Horses at his heels. The herd of loyal stallions had been moved to the south side of Vegas with a large pen made specifically for them.
"I'm alright, just a bit nervous," Six replied.
"I think being nervous is a light way of putting your situation boss," Raul replied.
Six had... explained his situation to a small group of trusted friends; Ed-E, Veronica, Christine, Arcade, and Raul being the main ones. He was sure Ulysses also had his own suspicions about his relations to Remnant. Sure his friends had been doubtful, but the contents of his case and the presence of the Old Man gave credence to his story.
"Still Boss, you don't want to keep them waiting," Raul said.
"I know, it's just..." Six trailed off.
"You still care about them, even if you aren't the kid they last saw you are their son," Raul reasoned with them.
Six let out a soft chuckle. "It will take a lot for them to believe it though," Six said.
"True, but your seven sisters will find it interesting," Raul reasoned.
"Hah, I still remember your faces when I told you that," Six joked.
"Not everyone has seven sisters, Boss," Raul replied.
"True," Six said.
The two just stood in silence before Six let out a small smile. "Three hours, then we'll be in Argus, I hope you like the looks of an Atlas/Minstral border city," Six said.
"I look forward to it Boss," Raul said before he left the room.
Six just turned back to the mirror, running his hand along the beard once more.