I'm learning about teleology in one of my courses rn- that HAS to be Ironwood's dogma to a tee, right? Or is it more…Deontological
Anyways, here's your chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
Back in the manor dining room, the Ace-Ops and Outcasts had made their way in after hearing the news. Blake and Marrow felt a certain level of vindication upon seeing Jacques squirm in his seat like this, after all the shit he's pulled.
"Everyone in this room knew you were a shady son of a bitch, Jacques. But stooping to this? Just to win a damned election?" Ironwood asked, his voice full of controlled and cold fury.
"J-james, this is all-" Jacques tried to start.
"That's General to you," Ironwood corrected, standing up from his seat and marching over to Jacques', "But in a way I should thank you, because now all the pieces line up. The murders that happened, the death of Bram Thornmane...that wasn't one of my men who pulled the trigger. It was one of Salem's. And who else loves to sow as much chaos and discord as they can but Tyrian Callows?"
"But Callows is-" Sleet began.
"...alive. He was there before Beacon fell. Our first hint of...what was really going on," Ruby admitted.
"With Watts holding Callows' leash, it would be child's play for him to orchestrate a series of events to make me seem incompetent. What's more, Watts designed the security system for Mantle, the whole thing," Ironwood continued, "With the right access, he could slip in and sabotage anything he wanted. The only thing he needed...was a scapegoat." Ironwood grasped the back of Jacques' chair and the elite seemed to start shrinking in on himself.
"Becoming a councilor comes with a lot of benefits, doesn't it? Including one of the highest-clearance access codes in the kingdom," Ironwood said, "You just gave her an open back door to our entire kingdom. But I guess you never thought about that, did you? Too engrossed in the idea that you won, right?"
"These are outrageous accusations! I only intended to win the election. I had nothing to do-" Jacques started to protest, but Robyn cut him off.
"Only?!" the leader of the Happy Huntresses shouted, grabbing the nearest chair and slamming it into the wall, the sound echoing through the room. "You put the lives of countless innocent people in danger just so you could win an election and you talk about it like it was a small inconvenience?! You don't deserve to call yourself a leader!"
Ironwood stepped forward and placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Robyn's right. You may have won that coveted seat, but at what cost? Lives were lost, chaos ensued. And for what? Just to one up me? Hoarding power for yourself?"
Jacques slumped in his chair, defeated. "I...I didn't realize..."
"You never do." Weiss said, eyes cold. The tense atmosphere in the manor's dining room was shattered by the sound of multiple Scrolls buzzing and pinging. Jacques' Scroll, which was resting in the pocket of his coat, lit up suddenly, causing him to jump in fright. Ironwood, Camilla, and Sleet all withdrew their Scrolls and checked them.
Sleet looked up, his face pale as he received the news from one his personal assistants.
"Sir, we're getting reports from all over Mantle that the heating systems have been shut down," an army officer informed the general, "The temperatures are dropping rapidly, and people are starting to panic."
"What?!" Ironwood asked.
"You...you have to understand, I didn't know he was planning this! He never said what he wanted with-!"
"Shut. The fuck. Up," Winter growled, silencing her biological father with four words. As out of character as it was for Winter to curse, in this instance, it was more than warranted.
"What else can Watts do with the access Jacques' given him?" Camilla asked.
"With enough time...whatever he wants," Ironwood answered.
"You still have access, don't you?" Elm chimed in, "Just log-in and undo what he did!"
"I...can tell you're not a computer person. But...I can't," Jacques admitted, "We can't get into the system."
"He blocked it off," Ceres said, "Clever bastard."
Ironwood's mind raced as he tried to come up with a solution. "We need to get the heat back on, and fast," he finally said. "We can't let the people freeze to death."
"We could try manually turning on the heating systems," Vine suggested. "But that would take time."
"Not enough to prevent any casualties," Winter said. "We need to think of something else."
"No, there's time." Ben said. "All it needs is some good old fashioned Feedback."
"Feedback?" Sleet asked. His only answer was Ben tapping on the Omnitrix.
"But as long as he's in, he can keep it in a perpetual shutdown. Wait," Ironwood realized, checking his Scroll, "If he's using Jacques' credentials, then that'll leave a digital trail on the network."
"A trail that'd lead us right to his front door," Ceres realized.
"You may be right, or he may be mobile. Might be better to draw him out into the open. Wait, has he found a way into-" Ironwood began, frantically checking, before sighing in relief, "No. Amity's systems are still safe. But if he learns, so does Salem."
"Can you block him?" Weiss asked.
Ironwood tried, but upon the slightest hint of an admin command being put in, a large ACCESS DENIED alert took up his Scroll's screen.
"No good. He's already starting to lock the rest of us out."
The gravity of the situation hit everyone in the room, the fear of what could happen if Salem gained access to Amity Communications Tower weighing heavy on their minds. The tower was the key to their plan, the only way to restore global communications and bring the kingdoms together to fight against Salem.
"We have to stop him," Ruby said, determination etched on her face.
"And I know how." Ironwood said.
"Ok, so lemme get this straight," Robyn interrupted, getting everyone's attention, "Yeah still here. Hi. Just to make it clear, a disgraced scientist and a murderous psychopath found each other because of a crazy Grimm witch, right? Or is that because of the insane alien ghost? Either way, why would they specifically target you? And why are you working so hard to keep the Amity Communications Tower a secret from them?"
"...you know?" Ironwood asked.
Robyn shrugged. "I've been around the block a few times, picked up a few things here and there."
Ironwood looked at Robyn for a long moment before turning his attention back to the task at hand.
"To answer your question, it's because of what Amity represents," the general explained, "It's our last hope for bringing the world together and standing against Salem. If she gains control of it, we lose that hope. And yes, Councilors, that was the ''secret agenda I've been pushing."
"So how do we stop her?" Weiss asked.
"I can track Watts' movements through the network," Ironwood replied. "The rest of you? Ground control. Try and keep the riots contained and be ready for-"
"Sir, we may not be able to deal with the heating problem yet," Clover said, looking at his Scroll, "We have Grimm incoming."
"How bad is it?"
"Level Seven attack."
Ironwood paused at that, thinking up a new solution, but then one dawned on him. Simple, but effective.
"All of you, your orders stand," the general said, "Ground control. Get down there, now."
Ben nodded, as he activated the Omnitrix. "Alright, Omnitrix! Give me some wings." he slapped down the Omnitrix and he morphed into Jetray. "Ruby! Hop on."
"Right!" Ruby said, jumping on his back.
"Uh...shouldn't you do that outside?" Jacques asked.
"I mean, there are windows right there," Ben pointed out.
"Wait...wait, wait, wait, no, no, no, those are Mistralian-!"
Ben did not hesitate and he simply crashed through the window and took flight. "YOU DESERVE THIS!" Ben yelled, as he and Ruby sped off.
Jacques fell to the ground, wrecked.
"...how is it that someone breaking your window gets a bigger reaction than the rest of your crimes?" Robyn asked.
"You should've seen him react to a Mistralian vase being broken. Thought he was about to commit a murder," Weiss said.
"He is such a mess."
"You guys go ahead...I think I have something to deal with here," Oscar said.
"Are you sure?" Rook asked.
"Someone's gotta make sure Jacques doesn't bolt before his new ride shows, right?"
"And it will show," Sleet said, "I'll see to it that he's tried not just for treason but for accessory to murder as well. And...before you all go. You two," the councilman pointed out to Yang and Blake, "Give the Grimm as much hell as you did Forest."
Yang and Blake exchanged a glance before nodding.
"We'll do our best, sir," Yang promised.
The group left the room, leaving Oscar and Jacques alone. Jacques sat there, looking defeated and resigned to his fate. Oscar walked over to him.
"You know, sir," Oscar said, his voice laced with contempt, "If I was born in Mantle, I could have ended up in those mines. I could have been one of the people you exploited for your own gain."
Jacques said nothing.
"I would love to have the wealth you've stolen. I could probably help my town flourish if I donated all the money put into your campaign." Oscar said. "I could help my aunt repair some of the creaky floorboards...But instead, you chose to hoard it all for yourself, leaving the rest of them to suffer."
Nothing.
"You forgot your roots."
Even if the words didn't register with the man, Oscar said what he wanted to. As Oscar turned around, Jacques spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Wait," the corrupt now ex-councilman said.
Oscar stopped and turned back to face him.
"There's...one more thing," Jacques hesitated for a moment, as if trying to pick his words, "Please...watch over my son."
Oscar raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I'm not saying you have to be his friend, but...if you could try to steer him in the right direction, to be a positive influence in his life...I would appreciate it," Jacques continued, his voice shaking slightly. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't want my mistakes to be his downfall."
Oscar looked at Jacques for a long moment, taking in his words. He could see the regret and sadness in the man's eyes, and for a moment, he almost felt sorry for him.
"I had a friend like you, when I lived down in Mantle...when I was a younger man." Jacques said. "I wish I never cut him off. Maybe life would have been different then."
Oscar stood there for a moment, contemplating Jacques' request. He knew that Whitley had always been in his sister's shadow, and that his father's influence hadn't exactly been positive. But could he really take on the responsibility of being a positive influence in the young boy's life?
After a moment of thought, Oscar nodded. "I'll do my best."
"That's all I have left to my name. That boy." Jacques sighed. "Even then, I used him...and yet he worships me."
"Is that worship genuine, though? Is it all him or did you have a hand in that as well?" Oscar asked.
"...the latter," Jacques admitted, straightening his suit and taking a seat while he waited for the prison transport to arrive, "My wife had left me...my daughters hated me...the only one I had left was Whitley. So I..."
"Was afraid to lose him too. But it wasn't motivated by love...you were afraid you'd lose the last of your biggest success." Oscar shook his head, "You accused Ironwood of being obsessed with power and control, but that seemed to be a little bit of projection, huh?"
Jacques looked away.
"I'll do what I can," Oscar repeated, his tone firm.
Jacques nodded, his eyes downcast.
Mantas were scrambled as soon as the alarm came in for the encroaching Grimm horde. From a bird's eye view, it seemed to be made up exclusively of Megoliaths. From the ground level though, it was all manner of monsters. Sabyrs, Beowolves, even a few Minoroxes charged and weaved between the Grimm mammoths. The skies were clear now, but they would surely be filled with the beating of Grimm wings soon, be they Nevermores, Manticores, or Teryxes. An entire city's worth of negative emotions, all that fear, all that hate, would make the Arrowfell attacks look tame in comparison.
Some of the Mantas already airborne worked to try and thin the herd before they reached the city, firing off missiles into the stampede. Some of the smaller Grimm were practically vaporized by the explosions but the Megoliathas weren't really phased by the attacks. They considered the blasts minor annoyances really. One of those Mantas doing a strafing run had the first Teryx of many slam into it, shattering the glass and getting at the pilot inside.
The fear and other negative emotions only grew stronger when the first pack of Sabyrs made it past the perimeter wall. The hole that should've been fixed ages ago was just the perfect entry point for the monstrous smilodons. Then the first Minorox showed and made a new hole in the wall, just charging right through the defensive barrier. The riots quickly broke up, people running for their lives as the Grimm swarmed the streets.
A Sabyr pounced on one random civilian and knocked them down an alley, with only their terrified screams escaping before they were silenced with a bone-shattering crunch. Two poor souls were picked up in the talons of an ice-covered Nevermore, never to be recovered. A Minorox was about to gore two more citizens before two blades, complete with nearly invisible cables, wrapped around its horns and jerked its head back. Three more blades suddenly stabbed through its chest before the minotaur Grimm's body turned to smoke and ash.
"Thank...thank you!" one of the survivors said, before making a break for the nearest shelter. Penny recalled the blades and gave a short nod before taking off to provide support elsewhere. What few Atlesian soldiers and Knights on the ground were having a tough time with this many Grimm surging into the city. Sure, they managed to take some down with gunfire or blades, but for every Sabyr they killed, four took its place. For every Minorox that fell, a Megoliath thundered onto the scene.
From above, Ben and Ruby could see the chaos unfolding as the Grimm overran the city.
"Kinda reminds me of what happened in Vale..." Ben grimaced.
"Yeah? Well, all the more reason to end it now." Ruby resolved, unfurling Crescent Rose. Ben spotted a group of civilians huddled together in an alleyway, desperately trying to stay out of sight from a group of Beowolves prowling nearby.
"Hold on!" Ben warned, as he started to descend.
One of the Beowolves stopped and sniffed the air. It growled as it turned to lock eyes with the group of terrified people. It let out a few barks to alert other members of its pack as it began creeping closer to them. One of the citizens, a Faunus miner, tried stepping up to defend with only a pickaxe for a weapon. She knew it wouldn't do much unless she got a lucky hit in, but she wasn't just gonna sit back and die. The lead Grimm lowered itself to the ground and pounced, only to be met with a green laser cutting through its neck, severing the head.
The civilians turned their eyes skyward, thinking it was their robotic protector. Instead, they saw a red manta ray-like alien fly down, followed by a storm of rose petals. A few quick slashes turned the other Beowolves into chunks that dissolved away on the wind.
"Everyone ok?" Ruby asked as Ben landed next to her.
The group of civilians nodded, still in shock from the sudden rescue.
"Stay here and stay hidden," Ruby said firmly. "We're gonna try and clear out the rest of the Grimm so it's safe for everyone to leave the city."
With that, Ben transformed into Fourarms. The ground shook as Fourarms charged into a group of charging Sabyrs, sending them flying with powerful punches. Meanwhile, Ruby darted around the battlefield, firing off rounds from Crescent Rose and using her Semblance to quickly dodge and weave between the Grimm.
It wasn't long before the two of them had made a noticeable dent in the horde.
Back in the air, the other Outcasts had found their way to two Mantas that had been reserved for their deployment. Weiss looked out the window in the transport and saw the Grimm charging and wreaking havoc. She balled her hand into a fist at the sight because Jacques let this happen. He couldn't stand to lose so he sold his soul to a literal devil's advocate.
"Out of the long list of everything he's done..." Weiss started.
"This is the one we have the chance to fix before it gets worse," Kylie finished.
Clover stood up. "Alright, everyone. We are prioritizing citizen safety over killing Grimm. Got it?"
"Right!" The group said.
High in the air, a Teryx trailed the Manta, its piercing eyes fixed on its target. With a small screech, it dove down towards the airborne vehicle, its sharp claws extended, ready to strike.
As the Teryx closed in, it landed on the front end of the Ace-Ops' Manta, causing it to shake violently. The pilots inside tried to keep the vehicle steady, but it was no use. The Teryx roared, its razor-sharp teeth bared, and spread its wings, blocking the pilots' view through the windshield.
"Oh, crap!" Marrow yelled. "HANG ON!"
"Gonna try and shake it!" Harriet yelled, taking the initiative away from her co-pilot. Ride was already a bit bumpy, but this was gonna make it worse.
"C'mere you two!" Elm said, pulling Weiss and Kylie into a bear hug, using her Semblance to root the three of them in place. The other Outcasts and Ace-Op on this Manta either buckled up or held on for dear life. Vine even used his Semblance to help keep people steady, because he knew exactly what his teammate was going to try. Harriet tried to shake the Grimm off the plan, having it jolt to one side, maybe throw off the beast's grip, but that didn't work, much to her annoyance.
"Of course that did nothing," the speedster Ace-Op growled.
Weiss quickly realized that brute force wasn't going to work against the Teryx. She concentrated, summoning her Glyphs and quickly creating a series of them outside the ship. As the Teryx prepared to strike, Weiss activated her Glyphs, sending a blast of ice and wind towards the Grimm.
The Teryx screeched in pain as it was hit by the powerful attack, its grip on the Manta loosening. Harriet took the opportunity to make a sharp turn, throwing the Teryx off balance and causing it to lose its grip entirely. The Teryx plummeted towards the ground, disappearing into the city below.
Of course, that wasn't the only Teryx in the air. A second winged dinosaur Grimm raced in, taking advantage of the opening its predecessor had left for it and slashed the transport's right wing so badly that it must've sparked something vital. An explosion sounded off, rocking the ship even more. Harriet took notice of the damage on a dashboard readout of the transport and cursed under her breath.
"Don't think we're staying airborne for much longer!" Harriet shouted.
"Time to go then," Qrow said, shifting his weapon into its shotgun mode.
Weiss quickly assessed the situation and knew they had to get out of the Manta as soon as possible. She quickly activated her Semblance and created a series of Glyphs on the side of the ship.
"Everyone, jump onto the Glyphs!" Weiss shouted, motioning to the glowing blue symbols she had just created.
The group wasted no time in following her instructions, jumping out of the damaged transport and onto the Glyphs that led them safely towards the ground. As they descended, Qrow fired his shotgun at the Teryxes, taking them out one by one.
"Hey Qrow," Clover called out, casting out Kingfisher's line. The usually unlucky Hunter watched the fishing line wrap around the neck of a Manticore that was going to try and gore him, only to be yanked aside at the last minute.
"Missed one!" Clover smirked.
"You know you're still tied to that thing, right?" Qrow quipped.
"Hey, it's my ride down. Taking a page from their book and, well, being a bit reckless," the Ace-Op leader gave a two-fingered salute before leaping off the Glyphs and reeling himself in closer to the Manticore and landing on top of it.
"See, now you're just showing off."
The group landed on the ground, as the glyphs disappeared. They watched the ship crash into the tundra.
"Why is it that every time that we get onto one of those things, it crashes?" Weiss wondered.
"Weiss, you do have a flying summon, right?" Rex asked, having formed up the Boogie Pack to help his own descent down, "Why not just use that instead of blowing up a Manta every time?"
Weiss paused.
"I don't want to waste my Aura."
"But you'll waste Atlas planes?" Marrow asked.
"I...w-well, how come you don't use that jetpack of yours that often, hm?" the heiress countered, pointing a finger at Rex.
"...touche." Rex frowned, as he formed the Rex Ride. Marrow approached Rex.
"Hey, mind if I hitch a ride-" Marrow asked.
"Sorry." Rex cut him off, "I'm...kinda gonna ride alone right now. See ya." And like that, Rex drove off. Harriet raised an eyebrow at the unusually standoffish behavior.
"He's acting weird." the Ace-Op hummed, before darting her eyes at Weiss and Kylie.
"What?' Kylie asked.
"You...know him better than I probably should," Harriet admitted, "What's the matter with 'im? Cause whatever it is, it's not gonna help him out there."
Kylie and Weiss blinked.
"What?" Harriet asked.
"Nothing, just...huh." Kylie said.
Clover chuckled. "Reverting to your roots a bit, Bree? It's a bit refreshing to have you be the concerned one."
"Oh, it's that out of character for-...oh, you meant that in a good...way," Harriet sighed, "God, it just feels weird..."
"Nice ride, sir. Keeping it the whole time?" Elm asked.
"Nope," Clover leapt off the Manticore he had used to ride down to earth and snapped its neck in the process with Kingfisher's line, "You all have your designated zones. Let's save some lives, people!"
The group all went their separate directions. Our focus, however, was on Rex. Rex honestly couldn't look any of the Ace Ops in the eyes anymore. The fact he'd been lied to was more than enough. Thankfully, his zone was also home to...
Maybe the person he needed to vent to most right now.
His first thought was to try and go to the apartment, but then Rex remembered who he was talking about here. Noah wouldn't just hunker down in his home and wait for this to blow over. Sure, he wasn't a fighter, but he was adamant about helping out people who needed it. So it made sense that Noah would be with the Happy Huntresses, helping out with evacuations.
Joana slammed her weapon into the head of an approaching Sabyr, forcing it down into the pavement with enough force to crater the road and crack the Grimm's skull. The muscle of the Happy Huntresses huffed as she had been fighting for what felt like hours now. And these Grimm, from what she gathered, were only the first wave, the vanguard.
"This way, everyone!" Noah called out directing people into an old warehouse that the Huntresses had reacquired from the military, the very same warehouse that not so long ago Kevin, Kylie, and Weiss helped them clear of a Corrodium mutated rat Grimm.
A car was suddenly thrown down the road thanks to a Minorox drawn by the civilians trying to shake shelter.
"Uh, Joanna?!" Noah yelled.
"I see it, kid, I see it!" Joanna called back, shifting her staff into its crossbow mode and taking a few shots. The bolts just bounced off the minotaur Grimm's armor. It bellowed out in anger and charged the vigilante, horns lowered and ready to gore her. Joanna growled and brought the staff form of her weapon back, getting into a fighting stance. Before the beast reached her through, something raced past her and began to try and slow down the Minorox. Rex's Smack Hands had grabbed hold of the monster's horns, which would hopefully let the disillusioned Ace-Op put a stop to the charge. The Minorox struggled and huffed against the build's enhanced strength before it came to a sudden halt. Once it had, Rex yelled as he put all the force he could muster and jerked the minotaur Grimm's head to the side, snapping its neck and letting its body scatter on the wind.
Noah's eyes widened as he recognized the familiar figure with the Smack Hands. "Rex! What are you doing here?" he shouted, running over to him.
"I'm...I'm here to help." Rex said, putting on his goggles.
Noah blinked. "Rex? Is everything..."
"It's...god, if I had the time I would find us someplace to just sit down, maybe grab a coffee and just talk because there is SO MUCH going on up here right now," Rex said.
"That...that bad huh?"
"Yeah..."
"Hey, hate to interrupt, but I could really use a machine gun right now! Or...something, I don't know what you can and can't build!" Joanna yelled, firing off more bolts at a pack of oncoming Sabyrs.
Rex focused his Nanites and morphed his arm into Dragon's Breath, taking aim at the oncoming Grimm.
"Step back," Rex warned, eyes glowing. He unleashed a MASSIVE burst of flames that quickly incinerated the Grimm in one attack.
"That's...new," Noah blinked.
"Hey, I've been practicing with new builds. Experimenting."
"Good enough. Help me lead these people to the safe zone!" Joanna said, as Rex morphed back into the Rex Ride.
"...hop on." Rex said, and Noah obliged.
Joanna and the other Happy Huntresses followed behind as Rex drove the Rex Ride through the chaotic streets, dodging Grimm and debris along the way. Noah held onto the back of the vehicle, his eyes wide as he took in the destruction around them.
"...I found out what happened to my parents." Rex finally said.
That made Noah's eyes go wide.
"What? What happened?" Noah asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Atlas killed them." Rex frowned. "Blake helped me find out. She, at least, had the decency to let me figure it out myself. I'm...I'm just so pissed."
"Wait, Blake? How did she-?" Noah started.
"Long story short, she hacked Ironwood's files and found a lot of skeletons hiding in Ironwood's closet..."
Noah just spent a few seconds taking that in.
"So...you've just been played this entire time." Noah realized.
"Yeah."
"...pull over for a second."
"You sure?" Rex asked.
"Yes," Noah answered sternly. Well with that tone, how could Rex say no? He found a safe place out of the way and pulled over.
The air was thick with tension as the engine of the Rex Ride died down. Noah reached over, his hand shaking slightly, and placed a comforting hand on Rex's shoulder.
"It's okay to be angry and upset, Rex," Noah said softly, reassuringly.
Rex's shoulders shook with emotion as he let out a few sobs. Noah waited patiently, letting him cry for a minute before speaking again.
"I thought...I thought I could say this place was my home but they never saw me as Rex Salazar, did they? They just saw me as their plaything. Just another goddamned robot!" Rex sobbed.
"Atlas may not have seen you as...you, but you know I always have," Noah said, pulling Rex into an embrace.
"I know...I know..." Rex muttered. "I just...I thought I could trust them. I don't even know who else knows. Does Holiday know? Does Six? Do any of the other Ace Ops-"
"Rex. You said it yourself. The files were Ironwood's. I doubt he shared something this big with anyone. Because if he did, don't you think Six or Holiday would have told you? They care about just as much as I do. It might've taken some time, but deep down you know that they wouldn't keep this from you." Noah comforted.
"...no word on the Ace-Ops huh?"
"They're..." Noah sighed, "I can't speak for them. I know Six and Holiday, but I don't know all of them. Marrow and Elm sounded good though. From what you said, if they kept this hidden, they'd be hurting every second. But...Clover, Harriet and Vine..."
"...I want to just tear into that bastard." Rex said. "I want to rip the truth out of his mouth, even if I get killed trying. This whole time- the entire time-!"
"I know...I know," Noah said, just hugging Rex now. He couldn't even begin to comprehend the turmoil going on in Rex's mind. This whole time, the man who had helped him find a purpose, who had promised to help Rex find out more about his past, already had all the answers and was responsible for everything.
So what could Rex really do, when the man who seems to have hurt him the most was also the most powerful man in the country?
Back at the Gele Manor, the prison transport had finally arrived. Two Atlesian soldiers had placed Jacques in cuffs and began escorting him about to the ship. The once well-respected, in Atlesian terms, didn't even offer up any resistance. Whitley saw the whole affair from the top of the stairs in the now empty foyer.
Oscar watched Whitley from afar while Willow sighed.
"I never truly got why he was the only one who stayed behind with him. Maybe part of him realized his father would be alone, and wanted to try and help," Willow frowned.
"Jacques did admit he was trying to salvage his...failure," Oscar added, "But he did make me promise something."
"And what was that?"
"Watch over Whitley," Oscar's voice had a very somber tone to it, one he would call almost Ozpin-esque.
"He never was the best at making friends." Willow said, watching Whitley stand by the door. "Maybe I should stay here with him."
"Maybe not here. From what I've heard, this place holds just as many bad memories for you as it does Weiss, Winter, and Whitley combined," Oscar said, "Maybe your manor would be safer?"
"I suppose. I'll see if I can arrange a transport..." Willow said, walking off.
Oscar was left staring at Whitley. He took a deep breath. Just imagine you're talking to someone you know. Just be yourself. Be nice, be cool, and don't be weird-
When would you EVER be weird? A voice in his head joked.
...Oh. You're back. Oscar frowned.
Yes. I am. Ozpin said.
Why did you have to come back now? Oscar asked.
I've been present ever since Vilgax showed up. His arrival is very...suspect, especially with all this chaos going on.
Suspect? If you were really...'awake' for all that, you should've seen how bad Ben, Ruby, even Kevin reacted to the guy being there! It was like a nightmare had followed them back after they woke up! Oscar mentally shouted.
I...you're right...forgive me, Ozpin sighed, I'm just...so used to seeing everything through a certain lens.
We've noticed.
I've also decided to make myself known because of James' recent actions. Arresting Jacques hopefully put him off the wrong path. Ozpin hoped.
Are you talking about his Semblance? Mettle? Oscar asked.
Somewhat, yes. Because it seems we've forgotten something very important about him, something his detractors love to ignore. He's human. He suffered just as much trauma the night Beacon fell as the rest of you.
And right then, Ironwood's words came back to hit Oscar like a truck. "Sometimes I worry that's her greatest advantage. Without humanity, does she still feel fear? Does she ever hesitate?"
You don't think he'd-? Oscar asked.
It crossed my mind...as a worst case scenario. But Jacques' arrest seems to have turned things around. This Watts character may have set up quite the play...but secrecy was his greatest asset. Without it...he is vulnerable.
So, what's he gonna do next? Oscar asked.
I would wager something risky.
Let's rewind the clock by a few hours, back to when Ben, Weiss, and Kylie were sneaking through the halls of the manor. The trio of Outcasts had just found the evidence they needed, recorded the temporal echo of Watts' and Jacques' conversation, and then they bolted out of the office towards the main dining room. One of Jacques' guards had actually spotted them, but before he could do anything, a massive hand covered the guard's mouth and pulled him around a corner. A chain wrapped around his throat before a slight jerk silently snapped it. The guard's body was then hidden in a random broom closet, stripped of his uniform.
"Lucky this guy was my size," Raddock muttered, walking around the corner without his mask on. Fortunately, most of his face was hidden by security shades and a cap that somewhat resembled a pilot's. The Mistralian crime lord made his way into Jacques' office as well, going to the computer and activating the most basic of functions. He peered through the security cameras. He saw a few different scenes through the manor. He saw Marrow and Elm enjoying some hors d'oeuvres, the latter having declared she would personally eat Jacques out of house and home, Harriet was actually complaining about the wine to Vine, wondering how anyone could actually enjoy this stuff, Blake and Yang were talking to each other, and then-
"So that's what you look like..." Raddock raised a brow, "How the fuck did she lose to you?"
He took out his own Scroll and snapped a few pictures as proof. Adjusting his cap, he nodded and made his way out of the office and tried to play the part of being a Gele guard. He watched the Ace-Ops and Outcasts, including his targets, walk right in. It was around then that he decided to leave the Gele manor.
It took him a few hours to get back to the penthouse he had in Atlas proper. The wall-sized window looked out over the edge of Atlas, peering down into the industrial city below. He put in a code on the door and walked right in, about to turn on the lights with his free hand, while the other held his Scroll.
"Keep the lights off," his boss said, "Better to watch the fireworks down there."
Raddock approached and stood next to her, the duo of criminals watching smoke rise from Mantle and Grimm descend on the city.
"Damn. We didn't even do anything yet," the now pig-masked kingpin scoffed.
"Yet being the key word there. Did you find them?"
Raddock handed Cinder his Scroll, photo gallery already open. She saw the red cloak of Ruby and the green jacket of Ben and her one good eye narrowed in ironically cold fury. Black smoke wisped and twisted around Cinder's chair, forming up on the other side of Cinder as Floyd. The Geist's cyclopean blue eye locked onto the objects of Cinder's fury, but as soon as it saw Ruby's silver eyes, it recoiled a little.
"...don't see that everyday," Raddock smirked, "Now I know how she beat you."
"Don't," Cinder hissed, "Just don't...Raddock. Our time will come, trust me." The Fall Maiden grinned as the fires from Mantle reflected on her face and her eye.
The spark had been set and she would turn it into an inferno.