Author's Notes:

I believe this was already referenced in an earlier chapter but I want to reiterate. Aura is always active in this story. Sleeping or otherwise. This story follows pre-volume 4-5 rules (where this was retconned). The only time it isn't active is when it's broken.

Most Semblances also stop working when Aura shatters.

"Text/Messages"

"Speech"

Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout, RWBY, or any associated characters

Remnants of a Courier

Arc 4: Chaos Theory

Chapter 82: Fuel

"Everything is good on my end," Junior confirmed as Six watched Gratius untie the security chief. "We had the first few strays come in but I assume we'll have plenty more. And we've got power and supplies to last up to a week even at full capacity."

Then everything was going to plan. Huey jumped to her feet, silver hair and dog ears frayed and on edge as she put her fists up, ready to fight.

"Good," Six affirmed as he turned to the Faunus. "I'll secure Beacon and head over within the hour. Follow the plan and I'll be there shortly." He didn't wait for a response, ending the call.

Putting his hands on his waist, he questioned the security officer. "What are you going to do next?

Huey's eyes narrowed as she took a step forward. She was cut off by Gratius who stepped in front of her. There was a moment of silence as the two professionals stared each other down, daring the other to attack.

"You heard what I said," Six continued. "You saw what was happening. You know that Beacon is going to be swarmed by Grimm."

The Faunus' eyes darted towards him, a snarl on her face as her muscles tensed, ready to pounce.

The Courier raised one hand. "You have a choice to make. Fight me here, solving nothing and getting yourself killed." Then he raised the other. "Or work with Gratius and a team of Voidwalkers I just sent here to save Beacon and the CCTV tower, inadvertently saving Vale."

Lowering both his hands and his tone, Six continued, "Make the smart choice Huey."

Another tense moment passed of her glaring at him. But Six already knew her choice.

Huey forced herself to relax and turned away, a frown still on her face. "Fine, but don't think Vale will go along with whatever scheme you've cooked up." She practically spat the words at him as she headed for the door. "I'll get the faculty and students in order."

She turned back to point a finger at Six, "Keep me informed," before storming out of the room.

"That went better than I expected," Gratius commented as he turned to his boss.

"It went according to plan," Six replied as he turned to the monitors. He switched them back to Beacon's security cameras, already seeing flying Grimm approaching the school.

This would work. Beacon would be able to defend itself. Even now he could see students and faculty alike fending off the beasts. The android soldiers provided by Atlas were enough to bolster Beacon's forces.

That would change in exactly three, two, one…

The soft blue glow of the android faceplates shifted to a deep and menacing red. Their once supportive roles altered as they turned their weapons on the staff and students. Cinder had made her move, which meant that Roman was now free on the supersized carrier. Exactly where he was supposed to be.

Cinder's virus–Queen's Gambit–was in full effect now. It had subverted the android programming, turning them on Vale's defenders. Equally important, it had also infected the Emperor Maxum. Not only had it disabled the Emperor-Class Battleship's weapons, it had spread from there, infecting smaller ships. This left Atlas' fleet helpless against the onslaught of flying Grimm.

This wasn't the original intention of Cinder's virus. She meant for Roman to take control of the ship and gun down other airships. However, Six had discarded that plan. After all, it was wasteful and stupid. But his plan–a better plan–would start soon.

With their automated defenses disabled and their defenders caught unaware, the Grimm quickly swarmed in. And if Six had to guess, the White Fang were likely making their move too.

The White Fang had smuggled in a select number of Grimm early for the attack to sow additional confusion. Those had likely already been released, an advanced wave ahead of even the aerial Grimm. This would give the Faunus time to eliminate key targets and political opponents. That would only serve to destabilize Vale more and leave a void in Vale's power structure.

A monitor on Six's right revealed Cinder marching toward the bunker under Beacon. That wouldn't do. He sent a message to his squad of Voidwalkers in Beacon who were waiting on a rooftop, having snuck in when everyone was at the Festival.

A few moments later an explosive was fired at Beacon. More specifically at a structural support in the hall that led to Cinder's objective. Collapsing it and creating a blockage. She'd have to find a new path around now as his plan unfolded.

And Six waited, five minutes. Five minutes of a relentless android and Grimm onslaught in Vale. He wanted the citizens and defenders of Vale to understand the predicament they were in. How deep in the shitter they truly were.

Gratius gave him a nervous look as he watched Beacon's defenders being overrun slowly but surely. The combined forces of Grimm and androids being too much. Not to mention that plenty of staff and promising students were stuck at the coliseum.

Just a bit longer.

Gratius' Scroll crackled to life as Huey called out. "We're being overrun, where are your people!?"

Gratius moved to answer it but Six held up a hand, halting him. They needed to be more desperate. The first wave of Grimm had only just arrived.

Grimm functioned on instinct and wouldn't wait for their brethren to catch up when smelling the mass amounts of fear from Vale. The faster Grimm would arrive first as a sort of scouting wave. The real trouble only occurred once the main body of Grimm arrived in the second wave.

His eyes glanced over the monitors as the minutes ticked by. Students and teachers alike took blows and returned them. Grimm fell and blood was spilled. It wasn't enough, the defenders were losing.

Ten minutes passed. The students and teachers were being pushed back to the front doors. Some of them were even injured, their Auras too low to protect them.

It was good enough.

Six tapped away at his Pip-Boy and sent a signal to the CCTV tower. This activated his dormant Wild Card program. A few moments later he seized control of the androids himself.

He selected a few pre-built executables he made and ran them. Glancing back up to the monitors, the assaulting androids immediately switched gears again. Their red hue shifted to a dark purple.

The staff and students of Beacon watched on in confusion as the androids switched sides again. Six's newfound tools were playing a prerecorded message. One that told of the virus, Six who had removed the virus–a lie–and who to blame: Cinder for being a terrorist and Ozpin and Ironwood for being incompetent. Basically, he was reiterating his points from his coliseum speech.

Now he directed his attention to the warships stationed over Vale. Since Roman had given Cinder a direct link, it meant that he now had a direct link.

"Alright, what's going on!?" Roman shouted as he turned to Neo. "If we don't get this pretty little ship firing at his friends, Atlas is going to be swarming us!"

Neo in turn just gave him a shrug and a smile.

"Thanks for being helpful!" He couldn't help it. Her nonchalant attitude dug under his skin in this tense situation. Something was keeping him out of the ship's controls.

With Neo having taken out the crew, that left the automated androids under Cinder's control to man the ship. Sure it wouldn't have complete functionality but it should have more than enough to fire upon the other airships!

"What in the ever-so-useless-Gods is going on!" He shouted once more before the monitors around the room flickered.

A glitch?

Taking a step back, Roman glanced around. Each monitor was showing the weapon systems were locked. The soldiers hadn't done that…

His Scroll buzzed and Roman darted his hand into his pocket. Pulling it up revealed he was getting a call from an unknown number but it was familiar to him as it was the number assigned to a certain employee of his.

Pressing the answer button, Roman immediately accused, "What did you do?"

"Only what needed to be done," his former employee replied. Which made Roman curious how he got all of this in place when Cinder and Ozpin were hounding him.

"Which is?" The conman questioned as he stared out over the dark skies around them swarming with Grimm. Watching as Nevermores began tearing a smaller airship apart.

"I've taken control of all automated systems within the city." Six said that so nonchalantly. Like it wasn't a feat of near magic to pull off what he just did. "That includes the combat androids and soon the warships Atlas was utilizing."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Roman leaned onto a console as he asked, "And then what? You point big guns at people and force everyone to comply?"

"You're thinking too narrow. I'm not holding a gun against Vale's head, Cinder is. Ozpin and Ironwood, along with their council, are failing to stop Cinder's gun."

What was Six getting at? Roman thought for a few moments, tapping his cane as he did so. Only one thing could match the firepower of Atlas' fleet.

"You're saying Cinder is holding a Grimm gun against Vale? Then what's Atlas' fleet in this fucked up metaphor?"

There was a sigh from the other end. Was Six looking down on him? The thought caused Roman's eye to twitch and his mouth curved downward in a snarl.

"She's holding the gun, I'm holding the shield," the Courier explained as an explosion lit up the night sky.

One of the warships had just lost something important. A raging fire engulfed a large section of it as several Grimm flew away. It then suddenly changed course, moving towards the harbor of Vale. Was that Six's doing? Minimizing damage by having airships crash into the harbor's waters.

Checking the monitors around the room, Roman could see roughly ten soldiers dressed in purple and black gear securing several rooms near the hangar. The skeleton crew left on the Maxim didn't stand a chance between the androids and these new soldiers. One of the intruders had connected to the Emperor Maxim's network by plugging what looked to be a portable storage device into a console.

A bigger picture was forming in his mind now.

"That's why you gave the big speech, very nice by the way." Roman's praise was laced with sarcasm as he checked the ship's console. The Emperor Maxim was still holding together for the moment but its size only served to prolong how long it took for the Grimm to find something critical.

"You wanted to set yourself up as a victim, then save the day, and have Cinder, Ozpin, and Ironwood take the fall. Right? You really think it's going to be that easy?"

"Not at first, but when I'm the only viable option for rebuilding after?" Six's statement sounded like a threat. Like it was inevitable.

"Even if you take Ironwood and Ozpin out of the picture, the Council-"

"Won't be a problem," Six cut him off, earning a mute chuckle from Neo. Roman flipped her off as the Courier continued, "I already have a plan in place. And that's if the White Fang don't wipe them out first."

Roman paused at his words. If he could take the Council out of the equation… Then his plan could work. It would be tough but possible.

"That brings me to an important question," the mercenary turned revolutionary began as Roman organized his priorities. The plan was changing and he needed to be adaptable.

"How would you like to work for me?"

Six sent another warship into the waters around Vale. Two sacrifices wasn't bad. But it was about time to turn the defenses back on.

Now that he had Roman's compliance, he'd have two teams of Voidwalkers assisting him on the Emperor Maxim along with the automated androids subduing any resistance. That would also free up the two bullheads to reinforce the rest of his troops.

With his Voidwalkers creating a perimeter, the automated defenses back online, and communications restored. Vale would have a far easier time recovering from the disaster. And that just left one last loose end. Cinder.

"Gratius, remain here and coordinate the Voidwalkers and Huntsmen at Beacon. I have a task to take care of before heading for the Maxim."

His Voidwalker nodded, eager to finally start his task as he manned the monitors and began issuing orders.

As he stepped out of the security office, Six ran toward a side entrance for the hidden bunker which Cinder had detoured to because of the destroyed hall. All he had to do was surprise her there and one well-placed shot would do the trick.

As he ran, the halls a blur around him, he transmitted another command through his Pip-Boy, bringing the warships in the air back online. By the time the second wave of Grimm arrived, they'd find their faster brethren dead.

That's when his Pip-Boy buzzed. Gratius was already calling him.

Slowing to a fast walk, Six picked up the call.

"Sir, bad news." His Voidwalker began with a tired old trope. Never a good sign. "Ironwood's bullhead just exploded. He was in transit to one of the airships when it suddenly detonated. We're not sure what caused it and we have no idea if he's still alive."

That was bad news. Ironwood definitely wanted him dead but having a high-ranking general of another nation dying would be… Problematic to Vale and Atlas relations. Something he wouldn't have time to remedy while he rebuilt Vale.

"There's more."

Shit.

"We have multiple squads reporting that it's getting dark, really dark. It looks like a storm has suddenly appeared over Vale and could cause torrential winds and rain. Moreover, there's more Grimm than we initially anticipated."

That felt familiar somehow… But he didn't have time for it until Cinder was dead.

"Understood, tell them to fall back to the secondary perimeter if needed. I'll be there shortly." Six didn't give time for his soldier to answer as he began sprinting again. He'd finish Cinder quickly and handle the rest after.

Six's feet skidded against the floor as he took a sharp turn down another hall. The windows blurred by and he barely even registered the smoke and Grimm outside as he ran. He was already close to the entrance. Another turn and-

The Courier barely had time to roll to his left, slamming into one of Beacon's interior walls as a yellow gauntlet sailed past him. The wall behind him cracked and shattered in a web-like design.

"Going somewhere?" The confident blonde questioned as she withdrew her fist from the wall. A shower of stone shards fell to the floor but Six paid no mind to the destruction of property. After all, he had a very pissed off Yang to deal with.

Rising to his full height, he brought out his own gauntlets, the black and red metal contrasted starkly with her bright yellow.

"I was," Six began as he cracked his neck, "But if you want a second beatdown, I can oblige. Though…" He glanced behind the blonde and to the hall he was running towards. "That might mean Cinder gets away."

The student's eyes narrowed in both frustration and confusion at his words. She raised her arms and prepared to strike as she replied, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means Ozpin has been lying and Cinder has duped you."

Yang took a step forward at his response, obviously not liking what he was saying. He didn't step back. She'd just have to deal with the truth.

"Ozpin has a bunker under the academy." Six said as Yang's eyebrows raised in surprise. "There is a power down there that Cinder hopes to steal. I plan to eliminate her before she does."

Her expression remained for only a moment before her eyes narrowed once more.

"Why should I believe you?" She pointed a single finger at him before continuing, "Maybe I should just buy my team enough time to get back from the tournament and kick your ass."

The Mimic–No, Courier Six, Yang reminded herself. Courier Six let out a soft sigh at her threat. Like she wasn't anything to worry about.

This guy was really making fun of her? After everything he had done. Yang ground her teeth together as she raised her fists and stepped forward.

"What's so funny asshole?"

He was still looking down the hall, not even bothering to look at her.

"Most of your teammates are at the Festival. It would take them too long to get here." His gaze finally turned to her as Six continued, "And you couldn't keep me here for more than a minute."

The statement was obvious. He was saying that she couldn't stop him.

"More importantly, I cleared your name, and this is how you repay me?"

That gave Yang pause. She knew exactly what he was talking about. His little presentation hadn't just slandered Cinder and Ozpin but also cleared her and Pyrrha's names. It turned out that bitch had tricked them all. Most importantly…

"I don't need to repay you for shit!" Yang spat back.

"Really? Where do you think your teammates would be if not for me? Where would you be? Where would Cinder be?"

What was he trying to get at?

He pointed a finger at her as he continued, "I'll tell you. Your teammates would be drowning in androids and Grimm, more people would be dying, maybe your sister too. And you'd be stuck here forced to watch it." His finger moved to where he had been running. "And Cinder would be laughing as she killed another innocent person and stole everything she could ever want."

"What does she want?" Yang questioned as she struggled between whether to fight him or go find her teammates.

"The same thing every tyrant does, power." Six moved to step past her as he ordered, "Either go help your friends or hide in a corner. Just get out of my way when you do."

"No."

That single word made Six's head whip towards her and she practically felt his anger trying to strangle her.

"I'm not letting you just tell me a pretty lie," she continued and his anger subsided. "You show me this bunker and Cinder. Then we take her down together."

That was the first thing she said that gave him pause.

"Why?" He asked.

Honestly, she was panicking. Grimm at the doors, White Fang everywhere, Cinder, a secret fucking bunker!? Six seemed to be the only one who understood what was actually happening.

She guessed it was better to confirm if he was lying. And if he wasn't, maybe she could use his information to figure out what to do.

And also…

"Because she killed my friend and tried to frame me. I want a piece of her."

Another pause before something pinged from his wrist. Actually, now that she looked down, she saw that wrist-scroll Weiss had talked about. He hadn't been wearing it before when she saw him at the White Fang base. Maybe he just didn't have anything to hide anymore.

"Fine. Follow me."

Six took a step forward before she stepped in front of him.

"Wait, one thing." Her interruption caused him to turn to her again with obvious annoyance.

"What?"

Yang reached into her pocket before producing the weird flower decoration she remembered House wearing. The preserved chrysanthemum was still a pristine white with only a few smudges from when Ruby had dropped it on the way back to their room. Kinda weird, Yang didn't know of any flower that stayed good for that long.

Ruby had picked it up and they had kept it in their room. When this had all gone down, it felt right to bring it with her. Maybe she kinda assumed she'd run into House, maybe it just caught her eye, maybe she just panicked… Either way, this might be good payment for him clearing her name.

He paused. Six's gaze lingered on it for a few long moments. Moments Yang figured he didn't really have. She could only theorize what was going on behind that mask but it was clear that the flower had him thinking.

His silence ended when he took the flower and stowed it away for safe keeping.

There were no words exchanged between them but Yang couldn't help but feel that Six was thankful for her returning the flower as they began running. That was good enough for her.

Author's Notes:

I may or may not have mislabeled the Black Queen virus in a previous chapter to Queen's Gambit. Oh well, small continuity error. I will continue referring to it as Queen's Gambit for consistency's sake.

The timeline of events in RWBY is fairly nonlinear between episodes and they don't describe when things happen or in what order. I'm going to do my best to just follow the episode's events unless the Courier has changed them in some way.

As a final note, don't worry, the long chapters are approaching and will be here soon. The very long chapters.