Chapter Ninety
Ruby Rose was excited, as today was the day of their first mission!
A supervised mission, yeah, sure, but still, mission!
And she'd be the leader!
…
Oh god, she was the leader!
She wasn't ready to be the leader!
"Ready to go out into the wild blue yonder, Rubes?" her sister asked, grinning.
No! No she wasn't!
But she couldn't just say that!
"Uh… yeah?" the small girl half-heartedly offered, then slumped. "nooo."
"Why?" Jaune asked, seemingly honestly curious, causing Yang to frown for a moment, but he wasn't paying attention to her sister, only her.
"Uh, because, uh, what if I do something wrong?" she questioned, looking up at the tall Faunus, feeling pitiful.
"Then you'll have your teammates there to help you," the antlered man answered easily. "And your supervisor, which is why we're not just getting missions and jetting. We'll both probably make mistakes, Ruby, but this is a training trip, so, really, it's better to make them here than it is when we're hip-deep in Grimm without any oversight." He paused, "Well, I mean, we technically already did that. Thrice. Huh."
Pyrrha came up beside him, telling Ruby, "What Jaune is trying to say is that we're still students, and, as such, our mistakes won't be the end of the world. Though, we should still try to avoid making them in the first place."
Jaune smiled at his partner, "Yeah, that. Besides, you'll be fine, Ruby. You've gotten better at combat, weall have, and you're doing much better in the tactical simulations."
"Weiss died in the last game," the mini-reaper felt the need to point out.
"Exactly, so now you know that she won't decide that, if she hears an odd noise at night while it's her turn on watch, that going and checking it out on her own because 'she didn't want to disturb the others' rest' is a great idea," he replied, smiling. "Something that your senior Huntsman watcher would've put the kibosh on instantly."
The younger team lead considered that, then slowly nodded. "Oh, uh, yeah, he, or she, would, wouldn't they?" she mused. "Wait, have all those games been preparing me for this?" the sniper demanded.
"I mean, not just you, but yeah," he admitted.
"You mean those were, -gasp-, Educational?" she exclaimed! "How dare you make learning fun!"
Rolling his eyes, the self-described Dragon replied, "Truly, I am a villain without compare. So, feel better about this entire 'mission' thing, Ruby?"
She frowned, realizing that she did! "Yeah! Thanks, Jaune!" she told him, giving him a quick hug, then realizing what she was doing and springing back.
"What about me?" her sister demanded, "What am I, chopped liver?"
"Oh, sorry Yang!" Ruby replied, hugging her too. "Don't worry, you're whole liver!"
Letting go, she ducked her sibling's playful punch and used her Semblance to zip over to the other side of her group, next to Weiss, sticking her tongue out at Yang, who shook her fist in faux-anger.
As they all walked in to the meeting hall, Jaune paused, then groaned, asking, "When the announcement said 'be prepared to represent your school', they didn't mean in full battle rattle, did they?"
Ruby, looking around, realized that while they were ready for combat, no one else was. "I, uh, sorry?"
He shook his head, "Don't worry, if Weiss missed it, then none of us would've caught it either."
"Hey!" the girl in question objected, lifting a hand to point at him, then stopped, considered what he'd said, and lowered it. "Oh, well, yes, I would."
"So let's just stand at the back," the Faunus directed, as they walked by a collection of backpacks, Atlesian hard-cases, and a couple of briefcases for some reason. If they were going on the mission right now, like Ruby thought they would, that'd make sense, but no one even had their weapons, so she wondered who'd brought all of this, and why. They stood behind the largest group of students, the ones from Vale, while the transfers from the other schools all stood in separate groups, in their school's uniforms, though most of them were looking bored, which was crazy, because they were about to go on missions!
"Professor Ozpin would like to share a few words before we begin," Glynda noted, standing on top of the auditorium's platform, then stepping back to let the Headmaster take center-stage.
The grey haired man looked around, both hands resting on his cane, though he held it like some people held a sword, and looked over all of them, Ruby having the feeling that he was looking at her directly out of everyone there, but that was crazy, right?
"Today we stand together, united, as we should be, despite our differences. Mistral, Atlas, Vacuo, and Vale. The four true kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell, or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, but, at its core, the largest was one of ideology. An ideology that would see to the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression, believing that, if we were to stop feeling, stop living, then the Grimm would no longer be a threat."
Yeah, Ruby thought nodding, stupid Mistral and Atlas! Wait, Ren, and Nora, and Pyrrha, and Weiss are from there! And they're okay! Even Weiss!
But, it seemed, Headmaster Ozpin had the same thought. "In some ways it was an understandable idea, if a misguided one, but the way its adherents went about it, forcing it upon others, was something that those that opposed tyranny could not stand for, both from without, and from within."
The older man paused, as a lot of students, especially the first year students from Vale, seemed surprised by that. "I'm sure your combat school textbooks suggested that these were monolithic struggles, with every member of their respective kingdom moving in lockstep, but, take it from someone who has been around for much longer, it was not, and they were not, as there has always been those that stand up to do what they think is right, instead of merely what they were ordered to do."
Taking another slow glance around the room, the white haired man noted, "Because, while Huntsman and Huntresses, as we know them today, did not exist then, those people who held that independent spirit did. They were young men and women, like yourselves, doing what needed to be done to help those in need, and to fight evil, wherever they found it. They did so regardless of what those in power said, regardless of what their peers pressured them into doing, and they followed their hearts, though hopefully tempered by their heads, to do what was right."
Around the hall, holographic screens slowly started to rise. "Now, you all stand together, united in purpose despite your differing kingdoms, but each of you are beholden to yourselves first and foremost, as, at the end of the day, your choices, for good or ill, are yours, and no one else's. However this equilibrium cannot exist without effort, without purpose, and without struggle. The rest of the world is able to live in peace, because Huntsmen and Huntresses work to uphold it, as you will be soon," Ozpin stated with complete seriousness. "As first year students, and as visitors to Vale, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Valian Huntsman or Huntress on the missions they undertake to maintain the safety, and security, of our world."
He smiled, "Some of you may be taken out of Vale itself for several days, others may work within the walls for a week, but no matter which path you choose, be it outreach, or defense, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best, for, no matter your kingdom, without you, all is lost."
Ruby clapped, along with the others. Well, not Jaune, but he didn't really clap for anything, just giving the man he called 'The Wizard' a firm nod, which, it seemed, the Headmaster returned, before striding off the stage.
With that, the lights rose, and the students started to slowly talk amongst themselves, trying to figure out what kind of mission they wanted.
"So, which mish are we takin', crimson commander?" Nora questioned Ruby with a grin.
"I, I'm not sure," she admitted, turning to Jaune, who was looking at the displays, even though they were several dozen feet away. "Uh, maybe we should see what they're offering?"
"Aye aye, mi Capitan!" her orange-haired teammate agreed, dragging her partner towards the closest free display. The others followed, looking at the missions on offer, this screen listing out a 'Search and Destroy', 'Escort', and 'Village Security' mission.
"Don't do an escort mission," Jaune suggested.
"Yeah, those are the worst in games," Yang jokingly agreed.
"Actually, yes," he agreed, surprising her sister. "And for the same reasons, only far, far worse, and keeping in that kind of 'low-ready' state for hours, every single day, is something you really need to train for."
Ruby frowned, asking, "Really?"
""Really,"" both Blake and Ren answered at the same time, sharing a surprised look at doing so.
"Eh, it's not that bad," their resident hammerer disagreed.
Her partner lifted an eyebrow, "That's because you'd sleep while we travelled in convoys, Nora."
The ginger girl just shrugged, "If it's not bad enough to wake me up, it's not bad enough to be worth smackin' around!"
"Well, when the first sign of trouble is someone getting killed by Grimm, that's not a workable strategy," Blake noted with a frown.
Not sure where this anger was coming from, Ruby spoke up, pointing to the next display over, "So, uh, not that one! Maybe a different screen?"
"What?" Weiss questioned, confused, then shook her head. "No, it's, let me…" she hit a symbol to the side, and another set of three missions appeared. "Another escort, more guarding work, more guarding work," she muttered, hitting the next page button again. "Oh, here we go! Search and Rescue!"
"Oh, that sounds good!" the mini-reaper smiled, reading the description. "Oh, it's bandits. I'm not sure-"
"We're taking this one."
For a second, Ruby wasn't sure who'd said that, only to realize that Nora had, the girl completely serious, dead serious even, for the first time, well, ever.
"Are you sure?" her partner questioned.
"It's him, Rennie. We need to do this," the girl stated, still with a kind of dangerous calm to her.
Ruby looked between the two, going, "Uh… what?"
"'Bandit leader is an ex-huntsman wielding a combination spiked club/shotgun. Possesses a damage-sharing Semblance, battery type'," Jaune read off. "You know this guy, Ren?"
"We do," the other boy nodded. "Ran into him on our way to Beacon. He and his men hit the convoy we were taking. Said his name was Niles Nix, and that any who surrendered would be spared. They were, at first. We escaped."
"At…first?" the tiny team lead questioned despite herself.
However, Jaune seemed to understand, nodding, and turning to her. "Ruby, the mission says 'Search & Rescue', but even if you leave this very minute, there might not be anyone left to Rescue when you get there. Can you handle that?"
Nora frowned, stating, "We're taking this mission!"
Jaune turned a warning look her way. "It's being taken, but it might not be taken by you. You are not the leader of your team for a reason, Ms. Valkyrie, just as Blake isn't the leader of mine."
The dark-haired girl seemed offended at that, but didn't say anything, as the hammer wielder frowned, then nodded.
Turning back to his fellow team lead, Jaune questioned, "So, this might be a bandit capture, or maybe even bandit killing mission. Can you handle that, Ruby? No is an acceptable answer, telling me what you think I want to hear isn't."
She frowned, as she didn't want to kill anyone but… bad people needed to be stopped. And, from what her teammates are saying, this guy was very, very bad people. And she wanted to save people! But she knew that, sometimes… sometimes you didn't get there in time.
Like Uncle Qrow didn't get to Mom in time.
But, but they had to try!
"We're taking it," she declared, hesitating, and looking to Weiss, "If, if that's okay with you?"
The Atlesian girl grimaced, and Nora started to say something, but was silenced by a sharp look from Jaune. "Bandits are worse than Grimm, and, while I'll try to capture them with Ice… Winter has had to eliminate threats, and so will I."
"O-Okay," Ruby nodded, turning to the screen, accepting the mission, entering her team name, only for a red window to appear that stated:
ADMINISTRATIVE HOLD
PLEASE STAND BY
"What?" she questioned, confused.
"Ah, let me take care of that," an older voice stated behind them, the girl whipping around to see-
"Hello, Wizard," Jaune smiled. "I take it this mission wasn't meant for first-years?"
"Normal first years, no," Headmaster Ozpin smiled, as he tapped something on his own Scroll. "But that is not a descriptor that could be applied to any of you eight."
The red error message disappeared, replaced with a message that read their mission had been accepted, and that they were report to the Bullhead dock in an hour to meet a 'Samt Alyashm'. If they needed to get suited up, they'd have to leave immediately, but they were already prepared for a fight, so Ruby turned to Jaune, asking, "What about your mission?"
"About that," the Headmaster said conversationally, continuing to tap on his Scroll, the remaining two missions on their screen disappearing, replaced with an 'Investigation' mission, detailing that Vale had lost contact with a distant town two days ago, and that the team was to investigate it, with a warning of High Grimm Activity.
Jaune looked it over, then turned back to Headmaster, and said one word that made Ruby stiffen in remembered fear. "Behemoth?"
"Possibly," the white-haired man noted mildly. "An Alpha, certainly, though, as your group has proven, that is no deterrent. There is a new variant of Grimm that has been spotted in Vale these past few years that interferes with local CCT coverage, and there is a chance that there is merely one nearby. Local Grimm movements, however, are such that they clearly have a guiding intelligence behind them, though whether it is a sapient one, or merely sentient, has not yet been determined. That is why you will be travelling with a Huntsman of great power and skill, who has taken out multiple Alphas simultaneously, and, should your foe be of greater caliber, will be of incalculable assistance in either its execution, or at least in repelling it until sufficient forces can be gathered to deal with the threat."
"If it's that dangerous, why not just send in the big guns?" her sister demanded.
The Headmaster smiled, "One does not call upon the Atlesian Military to engage in an 'unexpected multinational training exercise' without due cause."
Her partner's eyes widened, "You'd call General Ironwood?"
"A proper Headmaster has friends in many places," the older man noted. "Though, with any luck, it will not come to that. So, Mr. Arc, what say you?"
The Faunus looked to his teammates, Pyrrha nodding immediately, having no fear, while Blake and Yang exchanged looks, before nodding as well. Leaning over Ruby, Jaune hit accept, tapping in ABYN to confirm it, showing they were to start the mission in two days, where they'd meet…
"Professor Port?" Yang questioned incredulously. "That's the Super-Huntsman?"
However, Jaune nodded, "Checks out." At her sister's incredulous look, he sighed. "You really need to pay more attention in class, Yang. Dude's a certified badass."
"Dude's a certified blowhard!" she shot back, then realized the headmaster was standing right there. "Um, sir."
"He is aware of the impression he gives off," the older man stated, amusedly. "He would not have named his weapon thus otherwise. That said, Ms. Rose, you and yours should pack up for a trip. I assume you assembled your travel supplies as was instructed, should your mission take place as soon as possible?"
Ruby could feel her partner's stare. "Uh… mostly?"
"Well, then you should finish doing so, as not to be late. You would not want to start your first mission off on the wrong foot, would you?" the Headmaster questioned dryly.
"I, uh, no?" the tiny team lead replied.
For a long moment Mr. Ozpin stared at her, then smiled. "Well, then, you best be off, and, oh dear, it looks like Mr. Winchester is trying to accept a mission rated for third years and above. Normally I would let him stew, but his father was quite insistent that I give him the same treatment that I would any of the visiting students, so I suppose I will have to allow him to take it. Have a nice day, and, as I said, stay safe," he wished them, before striding off.
"Did…" Yang started to say, dismayed, then trailed off for a moment. "Did he just say he was going to let Cardin's team commit suicide by dumbassery?"
"Yeah," Nora grinned, "Ozzie's pretty cool like that! Right, Jaune?"
"That he is," the Faunus agreed, turning to Ruby, "So, you need help packing?"
"I, uh, no!" she replied, as the girl hadn't packed any of her clothes, and having Jaune see her pack her bra or panties would have her die of embarrassment. "Thanksthoughgottagobye!" she said in a rush, using her Semblance to dart out the door, then tear across campus, not dragging anything with her, like she'd learned in their training sessions.
While it'd been funny to see everyone get picked up and thrown across the practice area, Pyrrha had taken her aside and had a discussion on 'collateral damage' that'd been, well, something that she'd never really thought of, but was something that the professional fighter had stressed that she needed to be mindful of, since not every colosseum was going to have hard-light shields like the Vytal Festival's tournament would.
Working with her, Jaune, and, surprisingly, Blake, they'd figured out how to let her keep herself tight, like an arrow instead of spreading out like swarm, which let her move even faster, though it took enough concentration that she couldn't use it in combat yet.
Thankfully, she'd left the window open, so she could just dart up into it, reforming to rush about the room, getting everything sensitive packed away by the time that everyone else got there, and picked up their packs, Weiss having done so this morning, while Ren and Nora had done theirs even earlier, just taking them out of their closets. And the fact that Nora had been more responsible kinda drove home how Ruby had really dropped the ball on this one.
But that was gonna be the only ball she dropped!
Unless she dropped another one.
But then only the two!
Three was right out!
Then Jaune dropped by, with Pyrrha, and put down four thermoses on their table.
"Breakfast to go for several days," he told them. "They're self-chilling, so they won't go bad. Also, they boost Aura regen, so, if you're between fights, take a few swigs."
Suddenly, Ruby made a connection to a memory half-forgotten. "The potion you gave Yang!"
"The what?" her sister asked, walking in.
"When you were injured, and unconscious, underneath Vale, Jaune administered a substance that healed you," Ren noted. "Made with the active ingredient in the smoothies?" he questioned.
Jaune paused, then nodded. "Yeah. It is. Probably should get back to working on that, actually." Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he told them, "Either way, take these with you. Hopefully you won't need them, but-"
"Pfft," Nora scoffed. "Who cares about some fancy shmancy magical healing stuff, these are delicious!"
"To each their own," the Faunus shrugged. "You want us to see you off?"
And see her make even herself into more of an idiot? No thanks! "Nah, we'll be fine. We, uh, won't be able to see you off, probably, so, uh, that's just fair?" Ruby quickly reassured him.
Thankfully, he bought it, which meant she still got it, instead smiling at her and resting a firm, warm hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure you'll do great, Ruby. Just make sure to get everyone, including yourself, back, okay? I don't want to lose you. Any of you."
Aaaaand now she felt bad for tricking him! "I, uh, will?" she replied, as he stared at her with confidence, yet also worry. Was it getting hot in here? "But, it's, like, just a training mission."
"It is, in fact, not," Pyrrha noted. "Though Headmaster Ozpin believes it within your capabilities. That does not, however, mean that you should slack off," the red-head warned, almost seeming maternal, which, um, okay, but it was clear she was concerned too, so Ruby nodded firmly.
"We will!" she promised.
"Then that's all we can ask for, Jaune," Pyrrha noted, and Ruby realized that he hadn't let go of her yet, the man taking a moment to do so, before looking at the rest of the team, nodding to each of them in turn, Weiss blushing a little and looking away, Ren nodding back, while Nora just gave him a big thumbs up.
With that, Jaune took a deep breath, let it out, spreading rainbow sparks, turned on his heel, and walked out of the room.
After he was gone, Pyrrha told them, "My apologies, Jaune does not have a good record when it comes to goodbyes."
"Nah, it's fine Big Red," Nora replied with a half shrug. "We used to too! But he doesn't need to worry, we're totes not gonna die!"
"See that you don't," the Invincible Girl informed her with a smile, turning back to the mini-reaper. "And I do believe you can handle whatever you meet out there. Just remember that running is an option, and one I've taken myself a time or three."
"But, you're you," Weiss replied, as taken aback as Ruby was.
"Oh, these weren't official bouts, but I've dealt with an assassin or two in Mistral," the famous woman mentioned casually, like, like that as just a thing that happened. "Truly, Vale is a much more peaceful place. But, had I fought them, as I was, I likely would have died. Retreating to gather allies and armaments turned the tide, and allowed me victory. This situation is no different, and, with your Semblance, you have no reason to not retreat, carrying a teammate or two with you, if required."
"I, I will," Ruby nodded.
"Geeze," the blonde girl who walked into the room sighed, "I was all copacetic, but now you've got me worried, Pyr. Just, be careful, okay little sis?"
Rolling her eyes, the tiny team lead replied, "I just said I would, Yang!"
"Fair enough," the brawler shrugged, having her own moment of hesitation before leaving, Pyrrha following, Blake, who'd been by the door, looking over them all, nodding, and exiting as well.
"Now that was a buzz-kill," Nora sighed. "Nice that they care, though."
"It is indeed different," Ren remarked.
"Hey!" Ruby told them, offended, "I care too! And I'm sure so does Weiss! Well, probably-"
Her partner cut her off, "I do too! Honestly, I don't know what kind of life you two lived before this point to think that people wouldn't care!"
"Eh, orphans, amirite?" the orange-haired girl shrugged, which caused the white-haired girl to wince. "But come on! Let's get our grub and go meet this Huntsman of ours. The sooner we leave the sooner we can find Nix, and we can kill the fuck out of him!"
