Hello again!
As usual, thanks for the support! I'm really, really glad the finale was well received! Once again, thank you so much!
Secondly, the poll will be closing in two days, since they're gonna play a part in the upcoming chapters. Lock in your votes, everyone!
The current status of the votes are:
1. The Boss (35 votes)
2. Summer Rose (33 Votes)
3. Kazuhira Miller (23 Votes)
4. Akira Nishikiyama (10 Votes)
As you can see, the leading roles don't seem to change very much. I've decided that the losers will have minor appearances in the chapters. For example, you can look at Kaz's role here. That means they'll still have an effect, but not anything major. Hope this doesn't disappoint!
Lastly, it has been brought t my attention that FFnet can be… quite unstable, rumours about shutting down. While I do hope such a thing doesn't happen soon, just in case, I'll be uploading this story on AO3 soon as a back-up. I'll keep you guys posted on how that's going.
With that said and done, enjoy!
Unknown Location, XX Years Ago…
BEEP!
BEEP!
BEEP!
The sound of red alarms was almost deafening, but he forced himself through it to listen to his I-Droid. Through all his wounds, lying against the wall with bleeding bullet holes and unable to stand, he'll always listen to his other.
"I never expected him to succeed…"
"Heh." He chuckled. Leave it to his other to state the obvious. He himself was never much for repeating words, before… before. "Then it seems Solid Snake was more competent than either of us gave him credit for. Quite a heavy tuition for such a meager lesson… wouldn't you agree?"
"…" Silence and white static.
"It's over. He's already destroyed the Metal Gear and activated the self-destruct sequence." He spoke to his I-Droid. The voice on the other end kept silent, waiting for his words. Respectfully. "This place'll go up in smoke in a matter of minutes… and the public will think Big Boss died with it."
"…I see." His own voice spoke to him from the other end, and yet there was a slight tinge of difference between his and his. "Are you sure you can't make an escape?"
"Pft!" He scoffed. "Positive. He got me good …This is it for me and you know it."
"The vision won't die with you." The other end's voice assured. "As long as a man carrying the name of Big Boss is alive, there will always be someone striving to create a nation for soldiers."
"Are you familiar with-…" The voice went quiet suddenly, taking in a deep breath.
"…Boss?"
"No, nothing." The other voice sighed. "Nothing for you to concern yourself with any longer."
He stayed silent, waiting for the other voice to continue.
They both knew this was the end.
"…Don't worry. I'll keep our dream alive."
"Heh…"
"From today onward, the name of Big Boss is something you no longer have to bear. Thank you, Venom… and goodbye."
Cut!
Venom let out a sigh. Now that was over with, and here he was. Dying in ruins, to be forgotten by the future.
That's fine. He's made amends with that anyways. All that's left, what they fought for… he'll leave the fight for his partner to continue.
With his remaining strength, Venom flipped his I-Droid and contacted another frequency. One he kept secret, one not even Big Boss or Ocelot knew about.
"Connecting…"
"Connecting…"
"Connection established – frequency scrambled, calls encrypted."
"…"
Venom chuckled. "Hello, Kaz."
Kaz spoke from the other end. "…I just got word that Snake's exciting the base as we speak. I'm guessing you're down and out?"
"Pretty much." Oh, how he wished to have an E-Cigar to smoke right now. It always felt right doing so with the one man he could trust with himself. After years and years of secretly working together beneath everyone's noses… Venom chuckled. "You trained him good, Sensei Miller."
"…I'm sorry." Kaz sighed. "I tried - I didn't want it to end this way. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do." Venom shrugged. "Still, these are our roles… I do hope that you'll beat him, if that's any consolation. Or at least survive."
"Yeah. The New Age's finally here…" Kaz rasped. "I'll… continue our fight." Kaz spoke, barely above a whisper. "I'll keep looking for Remnant, Snake. I won't let what we achieved go to ruins."
"Remember, Kaz -"
"I've already forgiven you. I don't have anything to rage at you any longer." Kaz spoke firm. "You… you went out of your way… that's more that can be said for the real Big Boss. You can be assured that I'll continue our fight for the truth."
"Heh. Just don't get played-"
"Like a damn fiddle, I know." Kaz chuckled. "Never gonna let that go, are you?"
"It's been years, Kaz, of course not." Venom chuckled.
"…And Quiet too."
Venom almost shot up. If he could, that is. "What-"
"It's the least I can do for you." Kaz said. "I know I said I didn't care for her back then, but…"
"Kaz, there's no need." Venom tried to reassure. "Really, I'm fine-!"
"No. Think of this as… Hell, I don't know. An apology? Some kind of thanks?" Kaz shrugged from the other end. "But… maybe this'll put your mind at ease a bit. So just take it, Snake. If she's dead or if she's still alive, I'll find her or die trying. My last gift to you."
He can't convince him otherwise. "…Alright then." Venom breathed out. "You've got the clear, Commander Miller."
"Roger." Kaz nodded. "…It's been an honour working with you…Medic."
Cut!
Venom let out a breath as the connection was cut for the last time. Good. No more loose ends on his side... his battle truly was over now.
He mentally counted down the remaining time. Six minutes… Five minutes…
Step.
Venom's ears perked up, and his hand instinctively reached to a non-existent handgun. Someone there?! Shouldn't everyone already have left by now?!
Step.
Whoever it was, they were getting closer and closer… Venom's eyes narrowed. No way Solid Snake would come back for him, no way any of the Diamond Dogs were left to rescue him. So that begs the question. Who was it?!
Step.
The footsteps grew louder and louder…
Step.
Venom's eyes almost shot out of his skull as the person finally came to view.
Step.
One final footstep and she stood in front of him. She gazed down at his broken self, pale white skin a contrast to the dark halls, black sclera, and red eyes emotionless as she stared.
Venom gasped and reached out to her with his left hand. It was so clearly her. "Quiet…"
'No…' Venom thought. 'How could you still be alive-?'
Emotionlessly, Quiet lifted her right arm. She opened her palm at Venom's throat, the phantom's eye drawn to that very same palm.
His eye widened when he saw what was coming.
Before he could react, black tendrils shot forth from her open palms and pierced his throat.
In mere seconds, he felt nothing as his vision went black.
Several Hours after the Battle of Haven…
Tai stumbled into the Medical Wing, carrying Raiden bridal-style. Of course, the weight of a full-blown cyborg was quite taxing, but he forced through it anyways.
"Mr. Xiao-Long!"
He saw several doctors rushing to him. Tai grunted and presented Raiden to them. They hurriedly took him off his arms. As soon as they did, Tai crumpled to the ground in relief.
He heard footsteps approaching from behind him. Then, he felt himself being lifted by the arms of two people, one on each side.
"Come on, teach." Blu spoke from his side. "We've got you covered. Together, now."
Tai groaned and followed his students' lead. Not long after, they found him an empty bed and laid him down, waiting for any free doctors to start giving him additional medical aid.
Coincidentally, his bed was right between Raiden and The Grimm Hybrid.
The Hybrid who, it seems, has been fully cured except for his Grimm left arm.
"We'll leave you to it, Mr, Xiao-Long." Blu and his teammates withdrew. "We'll help the rest of the first-aid team."
Blu and his teammates prepared to leave, but Tai stopped him before he went too far. "Wait…"
The student stopped in his tracks and turned around, approaching Tai once more. "What is it, Mr. Xiao-Long?"
Tai shifted his gaze from Blu to Raiden. "Find… a person named Jade in Mistral. He has a workshop, and he's the guy that fixed Raiden before." Tai took a breath. "Find him… and make sure he's safe. I have a feeling Leo tried to get to him too."
Blu's gaze darkened with the mention of the treacherous Headmaster. "I'll tell the rest to send a team down."
Tai nodded in response. "Thanks, Blu."
"Don't mention it, Mr. Xiao-Long." Blu leaned back, standing straight. "We owe you a lot more."
With that, Blu and his teammates finally left, leaving him alone with an unconscious cyborg, a restored human, and various doctors rushing back and forth for more time-pressed patients.
"…So."
Tai looked to his left. The restored human was speaking to him. His voice was gravelly, deep and rough.
"…You're the leader around here?"
Tai groaned. "…You could say that."
"Good." The res tored human looked to behind Tai and motioned with his head. "What about him?"
"…One of our best fighters."
"…Very well." The restored human leaned just a bit closer to Tai from his bed.
Tai, meanwhile, tried to keep his emotions in check. The adrenaline was wearing off, giving way to emotions that didn't come in during battle.
There was sorrow, from the people whose lives were lost. There was anger at the enemy, for the death of his allies and the students lost in battle. And maybe, just a touch of wounded pride…
"Don't."
Tai's thoughts were brought back to the present, the restored human's single eye boring into his own.
"I know how you feel." He said to Tai. "You won't accept this, you want to find out who's responsible." He leaned closer to Tai from where he's from. "I know who is."
Tai almost shot up. "You do?!" he shouted-whispered.
"Yes. However." The restored human said before Tai could get in another word, "I have a question for you first. These students, your fellow Hunters… do you care for them?"
Tai almost scoffed. "Of course I do."
"And when I reveal the truth to you, will you send them to fight in your stead?"
Tai became silent. He wouldn't do that, not in a million years. He'd fight alongside them through thick and thin…
And yet, he did just that now, didn't he? And now, with so many of his allies dead, and with him still here…
"…That's the nature of war." The restored human said quietly. "We'll lose people, and if you want to fight the Queen, you'll lose some more too."
"And so what do you think we should do?!" Tai growled. "We just lie down and let her kill us all?!"
"I never said that." He replied calmly. "But I know that look, I know how you feel. This pain, you won't forget it, will you?"
Tai became silent again.
"Your fallen allies, your murdered students… the sensation lingers. Like a lost limb." The man's eye seemed to dull just a bit. Like he was lost in a memory… Then, it went back to focus on Tai. "Let me help you."
"…What?"
"I have my own reasons for hunting the Queen down. And looking at how you care for your allies…" The man chuckled, hollow. "Let's just say it brings back memories. But. Promise me you'll let go. We're fighting for the future, not for the past. We'll honour the sacrifices of our own, but we can't wallow in their losses until we lose sight of hope."
Tai's gaze shifted from the man. He looked at the various wounded students and Hunters, all worse off than him. All because he couldn't lead the right, because he wasn't strong enough, fast enough, good enough-
The man spoke one last sentence. "…If you get caught up in the past - that anger, that pride - You'll feel nothing in the end."
Tai's emotions were a whirlwind. His students, dead. His allies, some barely alive. All because of some 'Queen'! A Hunter's supposed to protect Humanity and Faunuskind, and yet their Headmaster just turned his back on them and did all of this! And all because of what?! Some fuck-all conspiracy?!
Tai sighed.
…He was supposed to lead them to victory, to protect them all. And yet, was this a victory? Many of them dead, more wounded, the Academy in ruins... If this was victory, then why did it taste so bitter?
Tai looked around the Medical Wing from where he was. Did he fail? He didn't know for sure. Some would say yes, others would say no.
He was a protector, that's what a Hunter's supposed to be. Kind and considerate, steadfast in defence. And yet where did defending lead them? Too passive, and if he didn't act first, how long would Leo have continued to slaughter his own?
Tai sighed. Yes, he was a Hunter. He'll protect them all, like how a Hunter should. He'll be all he was supposed to be…
But damn if anger wasn't the easier option.
Tai scoffed. "Fine then." For now, he'll hold it in. Tai turned back to the restored human. "Tell me what you know."
All for the future.
The restored human took a deep breath. "We'll talk, but not all now. Best to say it completely once everyone's here. But first off, you can call me by my name." The edges of his lips quirked upwards. "Venom Snake. A pleasure to meet you."
Three Days Later…
Raiden didn't know how long it took for him to come to. But, judging from the beeps and sounds of people rushing about, he's willing to guess that he's either in a hospital or a Medical Wing, now way just hours after the battle.
After that initial assessment, his connection systems decided to kick in. Connecting with the CCT to determine time, place, and surroundings…
'Huh.' Out for three days in the Medical Wing?
That must mean they've won the battle.
Raiden relaxed just a bit at that information, his memories beginning to flood back in. Jaune's sister, taken hostage. Leo, using Jade's immobiliser to take them down. Blinding, burning pain. Darkness as he lost consciousness.
Raiden quickly opened his singular eye, making sure to make no sudden movements. He looked to his left. Jade was there, sitting on a bench and head passed out on a drawer for his bed. His hands were bloody, both from working day-in and day-out to repair him on-site and from injuries he sustained during Leo's raid on his workshop.
The tinkerer let out a snore, and Raiden sighed. Again, he's in his debt, even if Jade was the one who designed his immobilizer. Like he said, he can't blame the man. Was a part of him angry? Yes. And yet, most of him just understood that the situation was out of his control. At least he made sure to fix him up after the fact. No, the one that's at fault is Leo.
"Finally awake?"
Raiden's eye widened. That gravelly voice, low and familiar yet a tinge of difference...
Raiden turned his head to his right.
The legendary soldier stared back at him, right eye covered behind an eyepatch and shrapnel piercing his forehead.
Raiden stumbled back, falling down from his bed with a clang. He saw his target getting up from his seat. Before he could do so, Raiden already stood up straight and went into a stance.
Venom paused as he saw Raiden at the ready. Before he could analyse the cyborg's... familiarity more, Raiden already lunged.
Raiden threw a haymaker to Venom's right side. Venom parried the attack, brushing Raiden's fist to his side and giving an elbow back in response. Raiden doubled over, groaning from the hit.
Venom went in for a punch across Raiden's jaw. Raiden moved his head back just in time as the punch soared right in front of him. Before Venom could pull his arm back, Raiden grabbed it and tried to pull Venom to the ground. As Venom felt himself being pulled, he forced his feet off the ground and flipped, bringing Raiden's arm with him to an awkward grip. Before Raiden could react, Venom kicked Raiden's knees and forced him to the floor.
"Agh!"
Venom pushed Raiden deeper into the floor, twisting his arm behind him.
Raiden squirmed, trying to get a good look at his opponent. He saw just a small glimpse of the man. The previously normal skin had turned just a bit paler, with black veins running all over him.
Raiden loosened. This technique... he was the real deal. "Big Boss..."
In turn, Raiden felt his opponent's hold loosen as well. Venom's state went back to normal human. "...You know?"
Raiden growled. "You're supposed to be dead. Snake said so!"
"Solid Snake…?" Venom repeated. His eye's gaze sharpened. "Then you're like me. From the U.C."
"What kind of statement is that? Of course I am!"
"I just thought, with the way Tai was going about swordsmen..." Venom shook his head. "Doesn't matter."
"Hmph." Raiden scoffed. "So will you let go of me now, Boss?"
Venom did as he was asked, and Raiden got back up. Venom stumbled back into his chair, breathing heavily with sweat running down his brow. It took him all of his strength to put Raiden down, and he had no doubt that in a real fight, he'd barely last two minutes.
"So." Raiden rolled his neck. Waking up from and going straight to combat wasn't what he had in mind, but he supposed it was as good a warm-up as he was going to get. "How'd you survive?"
"That's… a long story." Venom sighed. His breaths were still rather short. "First off, I'm not who you think I am."
"What the hell does that even mean?" Raiden pulled another seat and sat down across Venom. He didn't feel like going back to bed right now. "And where's Tai, anyway? What'd you tell him about..." Raiden motioned around to Venom. "All of this?"
"Tai's off in his own room in the Wing. He didn't want to get out of Medical, but he still needs his privacy to lead the Alliance." Venom shrugged. "I only told him the basics; as much as I knew. I'm guessing it's been a few years since I was around, hasn't it?"
"You still haven't told me who you are, Boss." Raiden shot back. "You've got the voice, the eyepatch, the CQC… but last I checked, Big Boss didn't have a piece of shrapnel sticking out of his head."
Venom mulled over his next words "…Did I die?"
"…Yes." Raiden's eye narrowed. "You died right next to Solid Snake after making amends." 'So then who are you?'
"So it looks like he made some peace after all…" Venom Snake leaned back. He wished he had his E-Cigar right now. He could use a relaxing smoke. "And the Patriots?"
"Dead and buried along with Major Zero."
"Hmph… And thus the war comes to an end." Venom chuckled, gaze empty to the ceiling. "My time… I don't have any more orders to follow, huh?"
Raiden stayed silent, waiting for an explanation.
Venom sighed and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a cassette tape and handed it to Raiden. The ninja took it and gave it a look. The tape was labelled with the words 'From the Man Who Sold the World' on one side and 'Operation Search and Destroy' on the other. Interestingly, the latter's words were seemingly written above another set of words.
"Go on." Raiden looked up and saw Venom offering him a cassette player. "Give it a listen."
Raiden nodded and took the player. He inserted the tape with a click, on its primary side, and let it play on speaker.
BeepBeepBeepBeep!
"Now do you remember? Who you are? What you were meant to do?"
Raiden's ears perked up. Now this voice, this sounded a lot more like the Big Boss he knew. A bit more gravely, and the tone's a bit lower too. So, then, why the difference?
"You helped me survive that blow. And thanks to you I've left my mark."
Raiden mulled his thoughts. A cassette player, so probably around 2684-the 2690s. What were Big Boss' 'marks' around that time?
"You have too. You've written your own history. You're your own man."
Wait, 'history, own man'?
The pieces were starting to connect in Raiden's head…
Was this how Big Boss survived his first fight with Snake?!
"I'm Big Boss, and you are too. No… he's the two of us together. Where we are today, we built it. This story, this legend, it's ours."
Raiden growled. Snake always said that his first fight with Big Boss was one of his hardest. But at that point in time, the rookie still had some sort of respect for his former CO. To learn that this was the depths that Big Boss had fallen to even then…
"We can change the world and with it the future. I am you and you are me. Carry that with you wherever you go."
Forcibly creating his own version of 'Snake', taking away someone's identity until almost nothing was left…
"From now on… You're Big Boss."
It made Raiden's stomach curl in sickness and familiarity.
BeepBeepBeep!
The tape ended, leaving the room in silence.
"Don't get started on any pity." Venom spoke softly. "I've already accepted the role I'll play – played – in his plans."
"Yeah? And now I'm right back to accepting that Big Boss was an asshole." Raiden shook his head. "I thought that at least he'd fight alongside his own men…"
"Well, now you know how self-absorbed he was. Something that all of us had to have come to terms with. Ocelot, Kaz, and I…" Venom sighed. "And now… am I the only one left?"
Raiden leaned in. "If it's them you're asking… I'm sorry to say, but yes. Ocelot died after being infected with FOXDIE. Master Miller… he died in his home after Liquid assassinated him to take his identity."
"I guess I'm just a relic, huh…" Venom chuckled hollowly. But then, he straightened up as if recently motivated. "No… No, that's not true. I've still got things to do."
Raiden raised an eyebrow.
Venom decided to cut make it clear, but not before he could get all of them together. "Let me get Tai first. And maybe your partner, if he can join in. I'd rather not explain this twice."
"And why should I listen to you?" Raiden bit out. "As he said, you're Big Boss. And we both know what he's like."
"Hmph. Make no mistake. I've been looking into Remnant far longer than you ever could have. And even as his phantom-." Venom smirked. "I'm my own man."
In Tai's Office…
Tai was still recovering, that much was clear. He was forcibly bedridden by the doctors, save for a few steps here and there each day. Still bound to an IV drip and several Aura injections a day. As much as Aura did heal him, the doctors would rather he make a full recovery than a rushed Aura heal, even if he could technically walk around unassisted now.
Not that he'd leave the building, of course. Too much to consider.
Still, that didn't mean his workload was lessened. For some reason he couldn't fathom, the Haven Alliance still referred to him on what to do, on their next steps after the battle. As such, they met him in his room, and he tried his best to lead them right.
Funny, with how he had led them, he didn't think that they'd want to stick around. Honestly, at this point, he's just expecting it all to blow over. But they're looking at him right now, so for the time being he'll take measures so they'll be better off once he's gone.
With that, he rolled his neck and looked over the documents Blu gave his this morning once more.
The first document held a list of various names, all of them enemies from their battle that were spared, be it accidentally or not. At the top of the list was a name circled various times in various colours of pens.
Raven Branwen, tossed into the deepest dungeons available in Haven.
As he looked at the name, Tai sighed and turned over to another page. He knew the condition she was in, Blu had told him that earlier; chained to the wall by Aura cuffs with guards standing by 24/7. Notably, she hadn't made a single move, not a single escape attempt. All she had done so far was stay silent with her head bowed.
And, judging by the scribbles on her name, he had a good guess that the Haven Alliance were getting restless. So far, all he had them focus on were repairs to the campus and initiative talks with the Council.
Venom was right. They were now flowing with sorrow, but even more so, burning with anger. They wanted to lash out at the injustice, at those that did them wrong.
For the umpteenth time that day, Tai sighed and flipped another page, reading up on reconstruction and healing efforts as well as outside relations. Campus restoration was starting, and most of the students were assigned therapy if available. It is, of course, understandable if they didn't want to continue as Hunters, even more so if their team was broken.
Yet another failure on his part as a teacher.
As for outside relations, they had begun talks with the council on how to continue from now on. They were… apprehensive, fearful that another wrong step would send Haven down on them yet still not wanting to lose the power they had left. As such, all that became of Mistral was radio silence.
Not a word in or out to the other Kingdoms, all forms of communications kept at a truly bare minimum.
This can't last forever, of course. In the back of his mind, Tai knew he had to make a call soon, either continue leading the Alliance or find a replacement or something.
Sunlight went through his room's window and onto a stool next to his bed, shining light on a simple-looking handgun Jade had gifted him as he was rescued. A special one he had crafted, made from what he had seen of the HF Blades. It held five shots a magazine, and was given to him right before Jade began working on Leo's data recovery.
It was… tempting… to take the gun and solve the problem right here and right now. To go on a wild rampage and let his anger loose.
HF Dragonsbreath, Jade had called it. Remembering the name sent shivers back down Tai's spine. Just the power that an HF handgun holds…
All their loss, his failure of a victory…
Anger, burning up inside.
Tai shook his head. He thought he had buried his wild tendencies a long time ago.
Tai's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in."
With the go-ahead, Blu went into the office and shut the door behind him. "Good evening, Mr. Xiao-Long."
Tai waved at Blu to take a seat, all the while still looking over the documents. "Something on your mind?"
"…Kinda, yeah." Blu pulled a chair and sat next to Tai. "But maybe I should give a status report first?"
"Huh?" Tai shifted his gaze to Blu. "V's not around?"
"Said he's getting Raiden up to speed with before they come to you." Blu responded, "So he \told me to report the stuff to you."
Tai hummed and closed the documents. "Well, you're free to speak. Go on ahead"
"For starters, the reconstruction's going well. Mr. Jade's AI's also recovering Leo's data pretty well. Medical attention, both physical and mental, has exceeded expectations; all Mr. Venom's words, not mine." Blu said.
"Guess that matches up with this." Tai waved his documents to Blu, before closing them and placing them next to him. "And… the thing on your mind?"
Blu's shoulders sagged. "I'm just… shocked, I guess."
"Most of us are." Tai answered. "That's the entire reason we got therapists in the first place. I know how the circumstances have forced us to do some things… we probably would've never done." Like killing went unsaid.
"It didn't feel real." Blu whispered. His voice was barely audible, even in the silent room. "At the time, it was us or them. I get that. But now…"
"You're wondering if things could've been different?"
Blu nodded mutely, eyes to the floor.
Tai took a deep breath. Of course. He was feeling the same thing, after all. Made him wonder if he was fit to lead at all.
"Blu-"
"How could they do this to us?" Blu began to shake, anger starting to seep into his tone. "All we wanted was to help others! And now with almost half of us dead...!" Blu looked up, his eyes burning with rage. "I- I want to strike back at them. Justice. They need to pay."
Tai flinched. He too felt the anger burning up inside, but please, not his students.
The teacher took a deep breath. "That'll come, Blu. But we can't let it consume us." He was battling with that himself. "We can use it to drive us, but we can't let it consume us."
"You don't feel it at all?!"
"I do, Blu. But…" 'I can't let it rage outside' "I'm fighting against it too. We just have to be better."
"Better, huh?" Blu looked away and sighed, energy leaving his frame. "Yeah… I guess you're right some way." He stood up, pushing the seat back. "I'll get everyone else back to their posts. Mr. Venom's waiting for you downstairs. It was… nice talking to you, teach."
Tai shook is head. "I'll always be here for you, you know that right?"
"And for everyone else?"
"…I'll try my best."
Blu nodded and turned away, leaving the room and closing the door with a click.
Silence.
Then, Tai sighed and got off his bed. Once more, he began asking how they could stand around him even now, take orders from him.
He was never a leader, and he's been okay with that for a long time. He took orders to help people and did his best, yet now…
Now, truth was coming.
He was eager to find out.
?
The first thing Jaune registered was the steady beeps of his cardiac event monitor.
The second thing he registered was the sound of people talking over him. He tried to keep himself steady, laying still so as to not alert the others.
"How long do you think he's gonna be out?" Tai.
"I… can't really say." Raiden. "I've never been half-and-half like he is. The Patriots turned me full-body the first chance they got."
"Hmm..." Tai trailed off. His feet seemed to shuffle, going to another point in the room. "What about her?"
Raiden spoke again. "I've seen her case before, but not to this degree."
Jaune's breath hitched. His sister?!
"The docs said she was knocked out from chloroform, right? I've seen cases with it before, but she should've woken up by now…"
It was all his fault.
"A coma?" Tai asked.
"No, no way." Raiden denied. "Still, can't deny it's making us anxious."
Jaune's breath got a lot quicker. His heart rate increased dramatically, monitor beeping frantically.
Jaune opened his eyes and tried to force himself off his bed.
"He's awake!" Tai was the first to take notice. He quickly ran towards him, Raiden following suit.
Jaune groaned and forced himself up. He felt Raiden and Tai forcing him back into the bed, but he kept pushing against them with all his might.
"Dammit!" Tai screamed at the door. "Doc! Get over here!"
Jaune growled against their restraints. "Let… Let me see her!"
"Stay down, Jaune!" Raiden yelled. The doctor finally came over, carrying a syringe full with anaesthetic.
"Keep him steady!" The doctor put his needle close to Jaune's arm. As Raiden and Tai used their strength to force Jaune steady, the doctor injected the syringe's contents into Jaune's bloodstream via his left arm.
Almost instantly, Jaune's struggles weakened. "Grh…" He struggled to keep his eyes open. As his body started to slack, he titled his head and looked to his left.
His sister, lying still in a hospital bed, the only sign of movement the rise and fall of her chest.
He reached out to her with all his strength.
His eyes began to droop.
"I-I'm sorry…"
His eyes fully closed, his left arm falling to his side.
Tai and Raiden sighed as they stepped back. The doctor pulled the syringe out and looked at Tai. "Let me know if he wakes up again."
Tai gave a wordless nod. With that done, the doctor turned around and left the room.
"You going to be okay, Tai?"
"…Yeah." Tai nodded. Looks like Jaune won't be joining them anytime soon. "Let's get this over with."
Raiden nodded silently and followed in step behind Tai.
Tai closed his eyes for just a moment.
Scarlet wasn't Jaune's fault alone. Tai didn't feel like that at all.
Two Days after Venom's Briefing, in Tai's office…
Most of the patients in the Wing had finally been discharged. That left a few outliers and Tai alone in his room/office.
I mean, the fact that the Grimm were controlled? That there were more like Venom, roaming around Remnant?
The thought sent shivers down his spine and hot anger to his head. How could a Headmaster work with someone who controlled the Grimm? Betraying everything they stood for?
Not to mention the other things Venom and Raiden told him, about a Grimm-free land just out of reach, one that was completely isolated….
And to top it all off, Venom wasn't all there during his Grimm state either. He mentioned where he was made, that there was a Queen and her pawns, and the U.C along with Raiden, but other than that? It was hard to remember for him other than hazy images.
All the more reason they needed to crack what remained of Leonardo's intel ASAP.
Venom sat next to him, flipping over more documents and writing down notes. The soldier had taken the job of delegating between Tai and the Haven Alliance when Tai didn't want to go out. When he's not out, the two of them worked together to manage for now. Like the soldier said, he'd help Tai lead them as long as he was willing.
"Here." Venom interrupted Tai's thoughts, handing him another document. "Might want to take a look at this."
Tai took it and did as he was told, flipping over its pages. "The Vytal Festival?"
"I remember that she had plans for that." Venom said, "And since we have people over at Beacon…"
Tai nodded along. "Any idea of who's hers?"
"Like I said before; felt like a dream."
Tai swore.
"I've already circled the major details, though." Venom continued, "Point is, we need to get there ASAP."
"Fine then." Tai put the documents to the side. "But we need to take care of Haven too, remember?"
Venom smiled slyly. "Oh, they've got everything figured out."
Tai was skeptical. "And that means…"
Tai couldn't comprehend it. After all, their victory was barely just. He failed them then, what's to say he won't fail them later?
His musings were interrupted when his doctor knocked on the door. He came to visit Tai one last time. "Mr. Xiao-Long. We've done a final check of your vitals and status. You're finally fully healed."
Taiyang nodded. "Thanks, doc."
The doctor shook his head. "No, Mr. Xiao-Long. All of us, we owe you. Not many would have gone through days of torturous walking just to get to the truth. Your actions played a major role in saving us all."
Tai looked away. "But that wasn't enough. A lot of us died, and I don't think some will ever fight again…"
"And yet had you not intervened, who knows how long it would've gone on?" The doctor shot back. "This isn't a perfect world, far from it. All we could do is stride forward."
"Like I said, Tai." Venom spoke, "Don't hold on to anger."
Right. That.
Tai stayed silent.
The doctor offered his hand to Tai. "Come, Mr. Xiao-Long. Everyone's waiting for you."
'...Waiting?' Tai thought .
The doctor waited patiently for Tai. With no other choice, he took the doctor's hand and let him lead them out of the Wing.
They reached the end of the Wing, just about to leave the building through the entrance. And yet from inside, Tai could feel the air heavy with something he can't understand. Anticipation? Respect? That doesn't add up…
The doctor stepped behind Tai just before he exited, the sun shining brightly through the glass slide-open doors. The doctor put his hands behind his back and gave Tai a small smile and a small nod.
Tai returned the gesture and walked out of the Wing, Haven coated in orange from the rising sun.
He felt his breath hitch as he saw the scene before him.
Students and Hunters, all standing in line waiting for his exit. They stood straight and proper, heads held high and hands clasped behind their backs.
Tai struggled to find words. "What…"
Then, they unhooked their hands and began clapping.
"I…" Tai stuttered. "I don't understand…"
He felt familiar hands rush him away, to a stage nearby, propped up in front of them all that wasn't there before. As he was positioned in front of his audience, he turned to the person who pushed him up.
"Blu… what's happening?"
Blu ignored his teacher's question.
"You're a better man than Leonardo ever was." He began. His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. Some sort of speaker? "You've lead us through something we could never face alone, lead us through our darkest hour. Without your efforts, who knows when our eyes would've been opened? And for that, we owe you so much."
Everyone waited for his answer.
It took a while for Tai to find the words. "I didn't do anything extraordinary." Tai denied. Then, he turned to the audience, who had gone silent. "I… I don't deserve your thanks. I'm sorry, everyone, that I couldn't have done better. That some of us still died. I don't..." Tai felt his breath stop in his throat.
Tai looked down in shame. "I-I'm sorry I couldn't do better. I don't deserve to lead you. I'm not a leader. Never was, never will be."
"...And that's exactly why."
Tai's head shot up. 'What?'
"We can't change the past, teach. All of us here have agreed to that." Blu spoke, "But we don't blame you for our loss. The thing is, you're willing to recognise your own faults. That makes you different from him. To stride forward no matter how hard it seems. You fought alongside us… so let us help you in return."
"You're above Leonardo in every way we can think of." Blu pulled out a brown coat with miniature shields decorating its sides. "And for that…"
Blu presented the coat to Tai. "We'd like to welcome you home."
"Welcome to Haven, Headmaster Xiao-Long. You are a true Hunter."
The crowd saluted him with their best posture. He looked around as everyone stood straight, some of the students' cameras flashing to take piectures.
All in respect to who he was.
Tai took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He opened them again and took the coat in his hands.
Tai wore the coat around his shoulders, the weight suffocating yet reassuring. He saw Blu offer his hand. With new resolution, Tai shook his student's hand with a firm grip. His eyes met his student's own, determined.
If he has to be better, then so be it.
Anger, sorrow, hope…
He'll lead them all so no one has to suffer like them again.
Thanks for reading!
I initially wanted to put the whole Venom brief thing here too, but since that's still dependent on the poll, I'll save it for the next chapter.
And, of course, for the beginning section of this chapter, all credits to the original authors of 'Last Day in Outer Heaven'.
Let me know what you thought in the reviews!
See you next time!
Review Responses:
To zacker1590, glad you liked it! And, of course, the group's gonna be hunting for Salem.
To Gwynx, thanks!
To cortescen, happy you liked it!
To SolSparda369, you know, that's actually a cool idea, about the achievements stuff. It sounds really nice. I'll see if I can work it into something in an upcoming chapter. As for Scarlet, well, no one knows when she's gonna wake up. Even so, you think Jaune wants to be around?
To Xealchim, I'm still gonna focus on the Jaune mass murderer plot point. I guess what I wanted to pull with Scar was retrospective, for Jaune to find his place in this old world of his. And… I don't get the thing with MGSV? Sure it's story is all over the place but it's still kinda connected, in its weird unfinished sorta way.
To SuperSaiyajin4Vegeta, yeah, I wanted there to be actual stakes. If it was no difficulty, while yes it would still be cathartic, then that'd set a trend for the coming arcs, wouldn't it? And glad you liked the chapters! If you're waiting for the world's reaction, they're gonna see something a whole lot worse…
To ThatSpaceMann2, glad you liked it! And thanks for the faith!
To Spyash2, yes, she's unconscious! Still, Jaune's not gonna like someone caught in his crossfire.
To Skeletalrepublic, yeah, he's suffering. Don't worry, it's all gonna come to an end soon. Thanks for the compliments, as always! :)
To Jose Mendoza, eyyy glad you liked it!
To ThanoSstinks, there's still a lot more coming¬!
To The Storm Master 567, it's more like rage? Like, it doesn't matter what Leo says, he touched family. And that's off limits. Glad you liked it!
To GAIC0, yeah, you're right. I'll get back to that at some point.
To Insane Wombat, that's now up to Tai. And with how a little relatively unstable he is now…
To Arkantarasia, yeah, hope this chapter cleared that up a bit, like you said. Thanks for reading!
To Salamandra134, no, not just yet.
To Just a reader now a writer, (1), y'know one of my ideas was to have Jaune brawl with Blake at some point… I don't know if that happens… and yeah RWBY's got enemies in the Fang, but with them still enrolled at Beacon they're hard to catch, get what I'm saying? With how much Ozpin can get away with… (2), as you've just read, Haven just went radio silent, which is just a little bit better than outright outright telling them what happened. And yeah, they're now kinda out for revenge, though not as much as the Diamond Dogs were. And (3), I plan to make Jaune half-and-half. He sure believes in the Hunter system, but believes it in his own way. Thanks for reading!
To zakuzilla, thanks!
To Mattysteel, naaaaaah she ain't dead!
To Kabuto S. Inferno, The motorcycle's comingggg! I've just got the right way to introduce it when we get to Vale. And yeah, I got in to the whole Huntsmen-abandoning-ideals stuff here a bit. Them or us at the time, but of course, the realisation of what they did comes in not long after. Also, I'll be looking for a place to expand Beryl, just haven't found the right time to do so since this is based on Tai. I think maybe the next chapter? We'll see. The part about Leo's intel will be covered in Venom's briefing in the next chapter, And Haven's next move, as well as RWBY/NPR's reaction, will be coming in chapter 3 of debriefing (I think?) He's still got some calls to make, which are Raven, The Council, and finally leading Haven. And yeah, Venom's the real deal. As for Yakuza, really I'm just really looking forward to see where they take Kiryu's story in Gaiden. Since I'm probably just gonna save up for Judgement, since that's the one I'm most excited about. As always, thanks for all the compliments, and thank you for reading!
To Adeinprc, well, you've got a little bit of his memes here! As well as a bit of off-screen character development for him.
To NeroAlmia, wow, thanks for the praise! Really! I'm really happy that I managed to get the feel of MGS, and that the climax fights weren't boring. And as for the poll, that's because I don't want to overload the story in terms of character interaction/development. We've already got Bladewolf and the Yakuza character incoming, not to mention RWBY/NPR, Salem's group, and the two winners of the poll. Again, thanks for reading!
To ThickJiggles, no! We've still got some ways to go!
To Guest (1), ah, I decided to save him for the Fang. Though I think you'd find some parallels between him and Leo now.
To Sark, :)
To Guest (2), I plan to name the group 'Final Haven' now, with their own interpretations of Hunters under Tai. Though how he'll be different, we'll have to see.
To Guest (3), hope this serves as a good enough build-up for the coming chapters! Glad you're excited, and thanks for reading!
To Anon, yeah that is one of the weaker points. Ehh… I'd say just go with Gohan.
To Irishbay, yeah, you're right!