Chapter 9 Trust exercise.
Weeks had passed, well about two weeks since mine and Yang's little fun shopping trip gotta say it was… better?
I mean I'm not exactly the number one student, never have been but I am trying at the very least… I don't know why I am but hey why do what we do?
Or something like that.
Never been the most studious of learner's but I at least managed to figure out something interesting since taking dustology.
That mainly being PRC's, this world's variation of magic that didn't exclusively rely on dust.
Drawing mine was simple enough as I just drew a simple five corner star in the same fashion one does when you learn in school and then using each point to connect the final circle and then put an additional circle on top because of Stabling issues or some shit.
Honestly I was just happy I got lucky when I went the ole 'hail Satan route' with the pentagram.
Now I just needed to figure out what to do with it as that was the overall project for this semester which was to create your own PRC's and then find a use for them.
I mean technically you could do anything you want but the assignment was to find and give specific definition or action to your PRC and seeing as this was just looking for basic stuff they assignment didn't push for everyone to find an extremely elaborate/complicated function.
A function such as using dust infused clothing and then when activating the PRC it switches your clothes entirely.
Weirdly specific but the looks on some of the girls in the class that heard you could do that was eye catching to say the least.
Honestly for me it would make getting into sweatpants easier but I had yet to fully experiment with Dust infused clothes.
That was going to be on the lesson plan for next semester so I didn't need to think about it just yet.
In other news… Well, no one's dead yet, I haven't killed anyone, I haven't had the urge to-well I never had the urge but itchy trigger fingers had me on my toes.
Ruby… my partner seemed to open up around me, not as much as seemed to want to but maybe that was because I was still a little bit a stick in the mud.
Hey I had boundaries and I wasn't exactly open for them to all being opened all at once.
Then there was the training, training that had been an interesting experience to say the least.
"You know for our team leader she has quite the tendency to run off on her own." I noted as we stood in the middle of one of many arena room's the school could be assigned to teams or students to use for personal training via the use of robots and dummies.
In the middle of one such arena I stood, back against my cover in the form of the arena's inbuilt columns, reloading a fresh magazine into my rifle while my Column partner did the same thing with her own weapon.
"She's not the only one." Blake exclaimed as a yellow blur ran right past as an explosion followed by broken metal echoed throughout the arena.
"Yeah but at least Yang's at the very least visual cue before she moves." I said as I saw the barrel of a rifle pop out around my cover, grabbing it I quickly pushed away from my cover and yanked the rifle and the dummy robot around and quickly charged in it with my shoulder pinning it to the column.
Quickly following Blake moved, putting the barrel of her weapon against the dummy's head and shooting it, causing it to go limp, not one to not let a good meat shield go to waste, I pulled back and let it's main body sit on my shoulder.
"On me, give me cover while I tank the fire!" I yelled to Blake who was quick to nod while I pulled out behind the Column just as I said.
Bullets hit the Dummy shield while I heard Blake behind me as her weapon fired at whatever dummy had poked their heads out and fired at me.
When I got closer though I noticed some Dummy's out from the cover of my dummy shield that Blake couldn't hit so I quickly raised my rifle up with one hand and just as I was ready to point shoot with one hand-
BANG!
"I got it!" Hearing the familiar yell as the dummy I was aiming for immediately dropped to the ground, following the vapor trail I found Ruby on one of the column's crouched as she gave me a casual wave before disappearing in a blur of red rose petal's, Petal dash she coined in once.
Suddenly the columns in front of me were filled with a blur of red petals followed by the sounds of slicing metal.
Knowing what was happening I dropped the Dummy shield as there was no clear reason for me to be using it.
BLANG!
Hearing the alarm the columns started to lower as I saw Ruby was celebrating alongside Yang who seemed rather pleased with the outcome that happened.
"Are you noticing what I'm seeing here?" I asked Blake who quietly moved to stand right next to me.
"Other than Ruby doing the hard work? Not particularly." Blake said as I let out a sigh.
"Did you see that I finished the whole thing without being hit once!" Ruby excitedly as she Petal dashed over followed by an amused Yang. "I was Bang, whoosh, hiya!"
while she did some random arm swiping I just stared at the girl, thankful that my face was covered with my usual sunglasses and bandana cause she would see my annoyed expression.
"I'm gonna need a minute here." I said walking away as I pulled my gloved hand up and slowly rubbed my temples while I mentally reminded myself that she was still a kid so she didn't know what she was doing, not truly at the very least so I had to find the right words to not come off as… well me.
"Jackson, are you good?" Hearing the question I turned to see Yang looking at me with a small concerned frown on her face.
Instead of speaking I just shook my head and took a breath.
"Your sister is an amazing fighter." I started as I saw how she was well away from the two of us she was chatting away from Blake.
"Yeah I know, our Uncle trained her himself." Yang said, sounding rather proud but that wasn't what I was going with.
"But she's a shit leader and team player, more so the latter than the former." I said putting my rifle on my back, my coat's new magnetic lock keeping the weapon in place while I placed my hands on my mag harness.
"Hey she's not-"
"Yang this was a team training session not solo, look… we're running it back one more time but this time I'm leading." I said as I gestured for Blake and Ruby to come over.
"Sure but I doubt you can do better." Yang sounded rather miffed but I rolled my eyes as everyone gathered.
"We're doing it one more time." I informed everyone as ruby looked rather surprised and after a second I looked over to see Blake also looked rather surprised while Yang seemed rather excited at the idea.
"What? But we crushed it, why do we need to do it again?" She whined as I shook my head at her.
"No, you crushed it, this was a team exercise not a 'sit back and let me handle this' exercise trust me if it was I'd have everyone do this by themselves." I said as Ruby looked rather heart broken.
"Yeah but we-"
"No buts Ruby, this time I'm taking the lead you don't move unless I tell you, for now we'll do this my way for this exercise." I said as we all moved back to the panel that had the arena controls.
"We'll be running on call sign's or in your case code names-"
"Oooo can I be the Crimson Death no wait the Night edge ooo wait no I got a better one I'll be-"
"Overwatch." I quickly spoke up, stopping the girl from further annoying me with her need to be silly with her code names.
"Wha-"
"Overwatch, that's your code name and your job, You'll be up on the arena seats providing us with information and giving us warnings when either a tango AKA an enemy comes a little too close or starts moving position's." I quickly explained as I saw from the reflection of the Arena panel Ruby's confused and shocked face.
"What? you want me away from the frontlines?" She sounded near heart broken but I shook my head as I didn't fall for the pity party.
"Overwatch is very important even in small instances having someone watching your back from a distance is a very important job, the most they have to do though is pay attention else well we'll get there when we get there." I said shaking my head as I knew where that was going and it was better to experience it in a more controlled environment than in the field.
"Yang you're Y1, you'll be the heavy fire support when needed you will be suppressing with your rockets and keeping whatever is trying to get close at a distance as if they do get close well you got that handled." I quickly gave the blonde her call sign as she seemed to be rather pleased with the task I was providing her.
"Blake you're B3, you are Close quarters, when they get too close you will take point stopping whoever gets a little too close to either Yang or I." Blake just nodded in understanding.
"I'm J2, I'll be trying to keep them whoever I can to a mid range distance as well as provide cover fire when asked or needed, everyone put on your earpieces as well cause we will bring private comms for this." I said providing both my own task and putting on my scroll's personal earpiece. "And seeing as I will be the leader , I will be providing orders during this exercise, any questions?"
Ruby's hand quickly flew up.
"No Ruby you can not move up not even if it looks like we are going to lose." Ruby immediately pouted but before she could give further argument the arena immediately started changing.
"Alright we got twenty seconds to move into place, Overwatch moved into position." I ordered as Ruby stilled pouting Petal dashed upwards.
Meanwhile Yang and Blake were quick to reload their respective weapons while I double checked my own rifle to see if it was still loaded.
"Y1 don't rush in like before I want you ready to move when I say to go in but make sure to move cover to cover same goes for you B3." I instructed as we stepped up just before the arena's edge.
"Code names already, Alright J2 On your order then." Yang-Y1 exclaimed as I got into the mentality of working in an organized team or more than so organized team.
"Just call out when you need to reload or when you need to move up or not." I said as I quietly tapped my earpiece. "Overwatch you in position?"
…
…
…
"Overwatch are you in Position?"
…
…
…
"Ruby, you're Overwatch respond!" I quickly yelled both on comms and out loud as I heard a shocked yell.
"Ah sorry! Ruby-I mean Overwatch here I have a clear view of the arena." Overwatch exclaimed as I shook my head.
"It's the target area but we won't get into terminology now, you see the target's?" I asked as the arena's columns were placed and moved so that every third row with the exception of a couple of other rows they seemingly covered the vision to the otherside of the arena where the dummy's stood at the ready as we had at least another ten seconds before it started.
Shit that reminds me.
"Overwatch under no circumstances are you allowed to fire at the tango's."
"What? Why!?" Overwatch yelled out obviously annoyed about the new order I was giving her, and just as I was about to explain someone else came in to explain.
"Cause you'll give away your position and you will be targeted by the enemy and we will lose your Overwatch leaving us almost blind possible flanking." Blake quickly explained in a fashion that seemed rather personal.
"Oh uh… fine I get it but if they get too close-"
"Then you have express permission to fire if needed, now everyone is ready, we are about to start." I said as the room darkened and the only lightsource being directed to the arena itself.
BLANG!
"Y1 Take point, B3 take the rear." Quickly as I gave the Ordered Y1 moved onto the arena with me quickly following behind.
"Jack-I mean J2 I see four dummy's heading to your left." Overwatch explained as I was quick to grab and pull Y1 behind cover, she looked ready to say something but I held my finger up and told her to be quiet.
"Understood Overwatch, B3 I want you to move to the flank from the right side while Y1 and I engage." I whispered through my comms as I was quick to receive an "Affirmative" from the black themed girl.
Looking back to Y1 I gave her a nod before the two of us moved to separate columns and I raised my rifle up, my ACOG sight quickly aimed at one of the Dummy's bodies.
"Engaging open fire!" I yelled out as my rifle erupted in multiple flashes as the paint disabling rounds slammed into the Dummy's body before it dropped to the ground fully, the rest of the Dummy's were quick to follow up with their gun fire as I was quick to dash back into cover while I heard Y1 give her own suppressing fire.
"Got one!" Yang exclaimed before my head poked up and I watched as a blur of black shot behind one pillar and suddenly one dummy was pulled out of cover as they were wrapped in a familiar black ribbon.
Seeing this I quickly raised my rifle and shot the wrapped up dummy in the head.
"JACKSON BEHIND-!" A tingle in my head and I quickly dashing away my body going to the ground as I spun around and raised my rifle at the dummy that had managed to get behind me=
BANG!
The Dummy immediately dropped and I let out an annoyed sigh.
"Damn it Overwatch what did I say about shooting!?" I yelled getting back up and moving back to Y1 and she quickly Met B3 behind their own cover as they were struck by the dummy's own suppression fire. "Doesn't matter anymore, Overwatch, provide cover fire Y1 I when provided I want you to provide heavy ordinance!"
"Got it/On it!" Hearing the sisters agree the two moved about to their tasks while I moved to the right side.
"B3 on me we are taking the right side!" I exclaimed as I raised my rifle at the ready to fire in between columns.
"On your six J2." I heard B3 as I quickly saw her move to my right.
"Overwatch pause on your cover fire I need your eyes on the right, Y1 pull back for two rows and ease up on the heavy ordinance for a couple seconds and meet back on the right."
"I count eight dummy's coming your way." Overwatch exclaimed as I was quick to move forwards, rifle raised and ready as the first one that popped their body out behind their cover I fired, immediately the dummy went down while I moved my sights to another one and fired.
"On your six J2!" Y1 loudly called as she moved forwards.
"Y1 stay behind cover!" I called out but the girl was quickly met with a barrage of bullets from multiple dummy's.
quickly as she was hit by the rifle though Y1's arm was wrapped in a familiar black ribbon and was quickly pulled backwards behind a column.
Knowing that happened I quickly switched my rifle from single to full as I charged out from my own cover and fired a various burst of fire not bothering to aim as I all I was doing was providing cover and interference until I heard the tall tale sound of a click and I was quick to throw myself behind cover once more.
"Y1, B3 report." I ordered through my piece as I quickly went about ejecting my rifle's mag and then quickly replaced it with a brand new one.
"We're fine, Y1 only took a couple hits." B3 immediately responded.
"Yeah I could've taken it." Y1 said as she sounded a little miffed.
"Not the point, Overwatch I need info on the Dummy's now."
"Uh well there are five left and they are moving to surround you on the far right side and there are more incoming from the back, how many did you set up?" Hearing this I engaged the bolt to move forwards loading a fresh one into the chamber.
"Enough, Start from the back Overwatch keep them there as best as you can, B3 I need you to follow interference and catch any stragglers that Overwatch can't hit." Holding my rifle up I took a second to breath and calm my nerves.
"What about me?" Y1 asked and I opened my eyes and felt calmer as I heard the metallic footsteps of the dummy's as they moved closer to my position.
"Blitz it."
Swinging around my cover I dropped down onto a knee and fired a barrage of bullets at a couple dummy's as sniper fire echoed throughout the arena followed by a familiar explosion as I saw yellow flames erupted but I ignored it following my next shot to another dummy until I saw what I'm believing was the last three of the dummy's suddenly drop their own weapon and rushed at me.
quickly standing up I just put my rifle down and pulled out my pistol and popped the leading dummy in the leg causing them to drop down and the one behind to jump over but quickly catch another two paint rounds to the chest and they drop forwards while the last one just ran around their fallen comrades towards me.
Not bothering to aim, I just quickly stood up and dipped around the dummy's haymaker and kicked them right into a column before putting two in the back and one in the back of it's head causing them to drop to the ground.
Putting my pistol back into my holster I casually kicked up my fallen rifle and caught it before walking to the crawling dummy as it's faceless head turned up to face me and I just casually pointed my rifle at it's head and shot it.
once that was done I let out a light sigh and then quietly moved to a nearby column and jumped on top of it, getting a better look at the other side I was not surprised to see Yang with her hair on gold fire tearing whatever dummy just bum rushed at her while Blake quickly came into the flank and took out whatever Dummy that was focus firing at Yang.
And finally there was Ruby who was actively firing at the Dummy's that were trying and failing to flank around Yang.
"Better." I mumbled under my breath as I heard the arena's alarm rangout and the Arena's columns start lowering as it began another one of it's cleaning.
When everything was clear I watched as Ruby came down via Petal dash to an excited Yang and a semi smiling Blake as they spoke of the exercise.
"Definitely better." I called out the three as they paused and looked towards me with wide eyes while I slowly placed my rifle on my back.
"Yeah I guess it was… Hey Jackson." Ruby exclaimed as I blinked and looked at her. "Can we talk?"
Looking at Yang she just shrugged unsure what was going on… Where's this going?
Ruby casually stood in front of me as she seemed rather nervous for a second before she took a deep breath.
"Can you teach me how to be a better leader?"
"…What?"
"You see you're just better at being a leader and I'm not good at it… after this training I think you're better at being a leader so can you teach me on how to be a better leader?" She asked once more with further elaboration while I just looked at her in confusion.
"You want me to teach you how to be a better leader?"
"Yes." She immediately answered and I looked up to see Yang and Blake slowly walk over and I was clearly wanting their input so to speak.
"It's not like Ruby's bad at it she's just… well…"
"Inexperienced." Blake quickly provided, scratching my chin under my bandana I slowly moved the piece of cloth down followed by my own sunglasses.
"I dunno, isn't the school already giving you classes on how to be a leader?"
"They are, they're just not exactly what I was hoping for." Ruby looked down as she lightly kicked at the ground as she looked a little embarrassed.
"So what do you need me to teach you exactly? Cause I can't exactly teach you to be a leader exactly, that stuff comes with experience and I just have a lot more than you to an extent." I explained as I decided to just sit cross legged on the ground and gestured for the other three to join me.
"Well I mean I want to know how you can make decisions so quickly, I mean you were so quick in throwing orders around that I didn't even think about it and just did it, I mean is it your semblance helping or what?"
"Semblance?" Hearing that term I couldn't help but parrot it back as I was certain I hadn't unlocked my semblance at all, seeing as the general consensus is that unlocking it was more or less a pain and it was less than likely for most huntsmen to unlock it within starting their careers, shit I wasn't exactly thinking that I had one let alone thought I could get it so soon so that was a clear no.
"Ruby I don't have a semblance, you were there when mine was unlocked… I think? You never told me how it happened or not while I was out for those couple of days, but that is besides the point." I took a second to breath and then looked Ruby straight in the eye as I was semi ready to give her my honest answer. "You are not going to be an amazing leader,"
That quickly caused Ruby to look at me with shock filled eyes as he was clearly confused and hurt with what I just said but I was quick to hold my hand up.
"Let me finish, you are not going to be an amazing leader especially when we are just starting out, you have more than enough time to figure out your own leadership style… It's not gonna be easy but it's gonna take some time."
"Yeah Rubes Jackson's right we got four years, I bet you'll figure it out before our second year." Yang spoke up with encouragement while Blake just gave a small but equally encouraging smile.
"You think so?" Ruby asked Yang as she just grinned at her and gave her an affectionate tussle of the hair.
"Damn straight and hey if anything Jackson can just take over until you're ready lead us yourself."
"Yeah no I'm good I've had my fill of being the leader it's not exactly my cup of tea." I admitted while remembering my old business and how shit of a job I did as I just barely kept the place a float or at least 2B did, the damn lunatic.
"Look how bout compromise, during training I take over being leader and maybe certain situations, is that a good enough for you?" I suggested, Ruby's eyes seemed to widen before she gave me an enthusiastic nod.
"Good, I think we are done for the day, I am hungry and I've got more studying to do." I said getting up onto my feet and held my hand out to Ruby to take and pull her onto her feet.
"What are you studying anyway?" Blake asked as I let out a tired sigh and held my hand out as my PRC appeared above my palm.
"Whooa, you managed to summon it, what's it do?" Yang asked as she walked over and leaned closer to look at it as it slowly started rotating.
"Uncertain this is just a basis, haven't given it a real purpose or directive just yet." I said as I had an idea or two but those were a little complicated, like maybe a short term platform that I could use to jump off of or something but as that included further study as apparently making a stable PRC that could hold a person's weight and stay up long enough for someone to jump off was a mess of complications n shit.
But I think I could figure that out at a later date, so for now I just need to come up with something for this assignment.
"PRC's aren't something you can figure out in a couple weeks let alone for you so quickly." Blake noted as I looked at her and shrugged.
"I don't know how I managed to do it either but I did soooo yeah I got work to do." I said disengaging the circle entirely.
"How much Aura do you use to use it anyway?" Yang asked as I frowned before engaging the circle and noted how much of my aura was draining.
"Eeeeeh hmmm actually very little like it takes more effort to clench my fingers than using this." I explained before slowly enlarging it, "Making it bigger drains my aura a bit more but holding it is not really a problem."
"Wow, that's almost as big as the one Miss Goodwitch used to protect me from Torchwick." Ruby exclaimed and I quickly disengaged to look at the girl.
"Torchwick? Whos the fuck's that?" I asked as Yang let out an amused chuckle before she started to walk off.
"We'll explain in the cafeteria and trust me it is crazy." She said as I raised my eyebrow, finding myself rather doubtful of it being too crazy.
20 minutes later
I stand corrected, confused and concerned.
Chapter 9 end
Jericho: Simulator training and character growth
Amvmaster: Tactical team exercise but yeah this chapter was needed to flesh out some obvious team dynamics and such but you guys don't want to hear that, well I hoped you all enjoyed this one and I'm sorry for the wait!