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"Did he say where in the area the craft went exactly?" Ozpin asked politely, drumming his fingers on his desk and looking at Yang gravely. She shook her head, and he sighed almost tiredly. "It would figure that the White Fang would have a hideout or two there, I suppose. The city's innards make hiding and moving easy, even from the Grimm to an extent. And since they'd be unwelcome in Vale proper, it figures they'd go there."

"I can have General Ironwood send a detachment immediately, if you wish." Miss Goodwitch offered instantly, the older man shaking his head just as quickly and leaning back in his chair. He continued to stare at Yang and her team, the foursome shifting uncomfortably under his gaze until Miss Goodwitch spoke again. "Sir?"

"Have James conduct a military raid of the Emerald Forest. Make it appear as though we believe the White Fang to be there, to throw off the next stage of my plan." He smiled gently, and inclined his head at RWBY, "You have done very well, children. Now please, if all but Miss Belladonna could leave for now, we can discuss the next phase of the plan."

"Why do you want Blake to stay?" Ruby asked meekly, Yang nodding along to the question, "She's not in trouble or anything, right?"

"Of course not. I simply wish to discuss a few things with her, that is all." Ruby hesitated for a half-second before turning to leave, followed by her friends. After a moment, Ozpin stood and moved to the counter along his left wall to refill his mug and gestured to the open chair, "Please, Miss Belladonna, have a seat. We've an important matter to discuss, after all. You like tea, correct? Chamomile?"

She did as he asked, crossing her arms and looking at him warily, "How would you know that?"

"Cameras. Planted across the entire campus to monitor students in public areas, along with reports from your student account and your Scroll." Miss Goodwitch said simply, moving to stand beside Ozpin's chair and smiling thinly at her, "I assure you, we conduct the monitoring for student safety and the Kingdom of Vale. The reports are confidential, and anything unneeded is discarded or saved to a backfile."

"Two sugars and a drop of cream, if you would." she muttered, watching the Headmaster of Beacon Academy fix her tea of all things. He stopped to place the teacup on the table in front of her before moving to his own chair, and she watched him warily all the while. "Can I ask what this is about?"

"Your past, Miss Belladonna." Ozpin said simply, folding his hands in front of him and watching the girl flinch visibly. "Be calm, Miss Belladonna, you are in no trouble. I know what you've done in your past, and have made no move to report you. So relax, take a breath, and let us move forward."

She was quiet for a few moments, eventually taking the teacup and stirring the contents idly, "How much do you know?"

"We know that you were a senior member of the Vale branch of the White Fang ever since your childhood. We know that, as the violence escalated, you were integral to the planning the execution of two riots and a bombing event." Miss Goodwitch stated coolly, the Faunus taking a nervous sip of her tea before she continued, "We also know that you were unaware the plan for the bombing would be enacted. And that once you were aware of it, you were distraught. We are also aware that you volunteered for a raid on a Schnee supply train, and thwarted it and the bombing that would have followed, saving countless lives."

"And your reactions to these discoveries, coupled with your intervention against the latter event, is why you are here." Ozpin said quickly, not giving her a moment to speak for fear of her panicking and fleeing as he knew she tended to do from the same records he'd gained this information from. "If not for that, I'd have arranged your arrest before initiation and you'd likely be incarcerated even now."

"If not worse.…" she was quiet for several seconds, sipping at her tea a couple of times before speaking, "Why mention this now, though? If you already knew and didn't confront me more directly before, why do so now?"

"Because we want to involve you in a small force we will be deploying in a covert action against the White Fang in Mountain Glenn, leading up to the rescue operation of Jaune Arc." Ozpin said simply, the Faunus blinking in surprise and leaning back in shock, "We are aware of your… romantic involvement, I suppose I shall say, with Adam Taurus. Tell me, how would he react should you send him a message begging to come back to him? Saying how wrong you were, and how you see that now that you've been in the human world for a long enough time?"

"I..." she paused for a long moment to think, her eyes tracking back and forth rapidly as her mind raced, "he would likely arrange a retrieval for me, if I had proof that my defection had been a temporary… lapse in loyalty."

"Like your attempted assassination of a racist authority figure at Beacon, putting the woman in the hospital with grave wounds?" Glynda asked, raising and eyebrow and pressing a hand to her chest, "While I detest even a temporary charge of such bigotry against myself, it would easily do the job. Would it not?"

"No." She said instantly, the other two looking surprised. "Not on its own. I'd need to be arrested, tried publically, sentenced even. He'd need hard proof that it was true before acting. But once he was convinced, he'd come for me." She sat the teacup on the table and stared at the table, "I would have to lose my team, among other things. And be outed publicly as... as a Faunus."

"Sadly, that is precisely what we must ask you to do." Ozpin said quietly, watching her carefully before deciding how to phrase his next question, "We need you to understand that this is vital to the safeguarding of the Kingdoms, not just the Kingdom of Vale. All of them. You'd be a hero, a single person thwarting a threat to the Kingdoms in their entirety."

"Not that anyone would know." She said sourly, crossing her arms and almost glaring at the man, "And of course, it would make matters worse for Faunus in Vale. They will suffer for this, you do realize that, right? My people will get hurt."

"Hurt, but alive, is better than what awaits them otherwise. I would also ask if you know the names Amber, Summer, Tlaria, Janet…." she shook her head, confusion clear and mouth gaping slightly at Miss Goodwitch's words, "These are all people who gave their lives, and were forgotten entirely afterwards. True heroes don't require worship or praise for their actions. Which, I wager, is why you didn't step forward after stopping the train bombing."

"Which is, of course, beside the point." Ozpin interrupted, smiling warmly, "General James Ironwood's personal attendant, Specialist Winter Schnee, will be the one to save poor Miss Goodwitch's life from your vicious, unwarranted attack. You will then attack her, wounding her as well, and I will agree to hand you to him for trial- on the condition you be tried at an Atlesian-Valean Joint Force base."

"One coincidentally near Mountain Glenn, where the White Fang are currently based. While his forces raid the Emerald Forest, which is quite far from Mountain Glenn." Miss Goodwitch smiled almost wickedly, Blake's mouth dropping open further in surprise, "Due to the nature of the operation, he will trust Atlesian Knights to secure you while he personally leads the raid. And with Winter wounded already, or reported to be at least…."

"I'd be near Mountain Glenn, guarded only by drones, and proven to Adam as loyal to him." Blake finished, nodding as a grim smile formed on her face and she tilted her head in an almost impressed fashion, "That's… quite clever, ma'am. But what happens to me after?"

"Once the operation is complete, you will be exonerated publically. It will be stated that you were tricked, and that the details are classified for your protection." Ozpin said simply, spreading his hands in a regal and calming gesture, "And you will be welcomed to Beacon once more, as a hero to Vale and a show of what Faunus are at their heart. Heroes, like any Human could ever hope to be."

"You definitely know how to sell an idea, Headmaster." she said, smiling in a mildly amused way before sighing and nodding, "When do you want to put this plan of yours into action, then?"

"Today." Ozpin said immediately, opening a drawer and putting a small, red knife on the desk, "This has had blood placed on the edges of the blade, to serve as 'proof' of your crimes. Winter and several soldiers are waiting on the Bullhead landing pads. All I need to do is send her a message, and her soldiers will come to escort you out under duress."

"Alright." she said quietly, "But I have one request." He raised an eyebrow and she continued. "Tell my team what is going on. If I go to Mountain Glenn, they will try to follow if they think I actually did this. And Adam will slaughter them."

"Very well." He turned to Miss Goodwitch, "Once Miss Belladonna has been taken away, send for what is left of RWBY. Have them escorted here under guard, if need be." she nodded and he relaxed into his chair, "Then send for Winter, Miss Goodwitch. And thank you, Miss Belladonna."

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Roman stormed through the door as soon as Jaune opened it, Neo right behind him, and he turned to look at the taller man in confusion, "What's going on? Your agitation is making me uncomfortable." He looked at Neo, and she shook her head and shrugged. A clear show of not knowing yet either.

"That dumbass, Ozpin." Roman grumbled, turning to look at him and plopping into a chair with his legs propped up on the table, "Junior says he got a report to a Huntress looking for you, and he's clearly reacting to it. So it got through." He waved his arms extravagantly and sounded exasperated when he spoke, "Except he's sent Atlas's fleet to the forest as far away from here as feasibly possible. In the Emerald Forest, instead of here in the damn mountains." "What is that idiot even doing?" "Neo and I have our necks on the chopping block, and he's bombing the damn woods!"

"And you're sure he got the message?" Jaune asked, Roman nodding his head side to side in a 'yeah, pretty sure' kind of way, and Jaune continued, "Then we have to know more about what is going on in Beacon. Ozpin likes to use his own people for things, he had one training me personally for that reason. He wouldn't use the military-"

"Except as a distraction, maybe?" Roman offered, crossing his arms and nodding for a second while Jaune sensed his irritation fade, "But what could be happening at Beacon as the other play in this plan? It doesn't make any damn sense."

Neo tapped Jaune's arm after sitting down next to him, offering her Scroll to him with a news report on it that he started reading out, "Beacon Academy student Blake Belladonna was arrested today after assaulting the Headmistress with a specialised weapon. In an official statement, Headmaster Ozpin explained that the Headmistress had expressed concerns over the number of Faunus currently enrolled at Beacon, citing a worry over White Fang involvement." Jaune took a breath before continuing, smiling all the while as he began to understand what was happening, "Miss Belladonna, who had been making a report to them at the time, attacked the two of them. She managed to badly wound the Headmistress before Headmaster Ozpin engaged her, managing to contain her until an Atlesian force came to apprehend her. A trial is scheduled for two days from now, and is considered open and shut. An official statement from General Ironwood stated that if she is convicted, she will be executed for crimes against the state as per their political standing. In a more unofficial statement, he expressed the opinion that it is likely Blake Belladonna herself was a member of the terrorist organization."

Neo accepted the Scroll back, and Jaune looked at Roman when he spoke, "So she's part of the plan? How?" "It doesn't seem connected to me…."

"I don't know, Roman. But she has to be involved somehow, Blake wouldn't just… attack someone like that." he shook his head in disbelief, "That wouldn't make any sense. She's fought against the White Fang multiple times. She's a good person, I could sense it."

"And you can always tell good people from bad ones?" Roman asked, raising an eyebrow at him mockingly, "And yet you share a bed at night with Neo." "And the bed better be all that you two are sharing." "You've never been wrong?"

"Not really." He shrugged, "I haven't had the Semblance incredibly long, but I'm usually spot-on with my guesses. Especially if I spent any time around a person, like I did with Ozpin. That's why I'm relaxed around Neo I guess, I… get how her head works, I guess. Hard to put it into words, sorry."

"Eh, I guess I can't judge." he shrugged, closing his eyes and leaning back comfortably, "If you can see into people's heads, makes sense that you'd be a bit naive looking." He held up a hand before crossing his arms, "No offence." Jaune could sense that he'd meant it, of course, but he decided to ignore it, "What do you think we should do about it then, oh great, wise one?"

"I… I don't know." Jaune sighed, crossing his arms and collapsing backwards onto the bed. Neo raised an eyebrow at Roman, who shrugged in return, and spun to sit cross legged and look at him.

"You could be more helpful, you know." He heard her think at him, and wasn't that an odd thing to be used to. "Guys that can get out of sticky situations are hotter too, you know. Might actually get laid if you could show that you had a pair."

"Thank you, Neo." he drawled sarcastically, rolling his eyes but smiling slightly nonetheless, "As always, your mind is as in the gutter as it is useless. Thank you again for the commentary, though." He spared her a glance, the small woman smirking amusedly. "In all seriousness, though… I don't know. If we try something, it could ruin Ozpin's plans. Easily, in fact. His plans are always complicated, if you mess with them-"

"Cinder said that you needed to be ready to move in two days." Roman said quietly, holding his Scroll up and shaking his head, "Just got the message kid, and it says that they'll be blocking Scroll signals in and out until you're gone." "If she suspects us, then I'm as good as dead." "So I hope our deal is set in Dust damn stone."

Jaune sat up, Neo looking at him in concern before twisting around to look at Roman and then back around to type at her Scroll rapidly. Jaune ignored her, looking at Roman's hard face. "It is. I gave you my word, Roman, and even if you're criminals, an Arc never betrays his word. Never."

The thief nodded and stood, walking towards them, "Good, now stand up Neo." She tried to show him her Scroll, and he pushed it out of the way and pulled her up to stand on the bed. "Now, Cinder was going to just take you at first, Jaune," he grabbed at her jacket, unbuttoning it and redoing it so that they were buttoned wrong, one dangling from the bottom and the collar riding up. "I convinced her to let you take Neo here, since you and her were sleeping together." He turned her around, untucking her jacket partially before reaching up to mess up her hair, "Just selling the image. You're not allowed to actually sleep with her, though. I'll kill you, if you do. Skin you alive and feed you to pigs, if I need to."

Neo plopped onto the bed when he was done, pouting and looking at Jaune. "Tell him I'll sleep with you if I damn well want to. It's my choice and my choice only, not his."

"Okay, first of all, I think it's my choice who I sleep with too, Neo." He pointed at her, "She said to tell you that she can, um, sleep with whoever she wants." She thumped him on the leg and he rolled his eyes, feeding off her humor against his will and grinning slightly, "And she said to tell you in a significantly more sassy way than I am putting it."

He gave her cheek a pat and turned to walk away, chuckling, "I'll bet it was." After he plopped back into his seat, he laughed again, "Where were you when she and I first met? You would have been damn useful." "Might have saved me a few bruises early on too." Jaune choked on a laugh, and Roman rolled his eyes, "Right. Mind reader, I forgot for just a second there. Forget that I said literally anything, I am very happy you weren't around us."

He nodded when he heard a light knock on the door, and Roman looked at him with a questioning look. He nodded, and Neo tucked against his chest and pushed him against the wall so they were practically cuddling, "It's Cinder." The fact that he knew that by sensing it went unsaid entirely.

At this point, everyone knew how he knew things.

Cinder walked into the room with a sway in her step, one that disappeared as soon as she saw Neo. Jaune sensed the assumptions she made before she spoke, "I see Roman's reports were true. Ah well, I suppose if Neo strikes your fancy," she shrugged and smiled, settling into a chair across from Roman, "I suppose you won't consent to departing unless Neo comes along then?" He nodded, and she sighed, "Ah, well, as long as it keeps you content and quiet." "Men, all the same. Find the right pair of legs to spread for them, and they fold."

Jaune wanted to argue, but bit his tongue instead, "I thought about your… offer, too, you know." She raised an eyebrow, and he coughed lightly to clear his throat. He had to sell it, after all, so it had to look hard on him, "I… I'll do as you ask."

Cinder looked surprised for a second, before a smile spread across her face, "I see. That's very good, Jaune, I am very happy to hear about your change of heart." She crossed her legs smoothly, not bothering to make a show for him anymore, "Your friend, Belladonna. Adam has… requested," "demanded, more like, the animal.…" "that I see to freeing her from her incarceration. As you are joining with us, I supposed I will invite you to assist us."

"A-assist you?" He unconsciously tightened his grip on Neo's shoulder, the girl tapping at his knee nervously. "On a… like, in an attack?"

She nodded, smiling widely and looking friendly as anything he'd ever seen, "Oh, yes. To prove your loyalty to our cause." She gestured to Neo with a hand, "Oh don't worry, your... " "Whore." "Friend will be coming with us. We'll need her help, after all." She raised an eyebrow and looked at her, "Will that be a problem, Neo?"

She shook her head against his chest, tapping Jaune's knee harder, "Tell her she's a bitch, that I'll help her get the girl for you, and that if she looks at me like I'm some piece of meat to sell to you again, I'll kill her."

"She, uh, says she'll do it." She jabbed him in the chest, and when he looked down he saw her pout, and tried to ignore that and the accidental show of cleavage from her position and where Roman had messed with her clothing, "Uh, she, um… it was a bit less polite than I said."

She poked him again, "I saw you looking, perv. You want to see my chest, you have to get me and Roman out of here."

"I'm sure it was." Cinder said, rising and moving towards the door, "If you fail to meet my standards, she will be the one who pays the price first. Followed by dear Roman, here," she trailed a hand along the brooding man's head, and he jerked away at the last second, "After that, I will start sending assassins for your friends. One. By. One. Then I'll deliver their heads to you, one after another."

"I get it, okay Cinder?" He interrupted, the woman's amusement and irritation echoing towards him, "I will do exactly what I say I will. You have my word. And an Arc never breaks his word."

"Good." She turned, striding out the door fully.

Roman rose and followed behind her, nodding his head politely, and Neo jabbed him again, "I meant it, you save Roman and you can do whatever you want to to me." He rolled his eyes, and she jabbed him again, "I just want you to promise to try, at least."

"I promise to try, Neo." He said, leaning his head back and letting his arm drop behind her, "That's all, though, I can't promise to succeed." She gave him a pat on the cheek and he sighed, "Could you do me a favor? I'm starved, and I'm not allowed to leave the room-"

"I'll get you something to eat." She said... well, thought, the idea still confused him a good bit.

He watched her leave and sighed, banging his head against the wall behind him, "Sleeping with an assassin, and now I'm going to be in an attack with terrorists…. Yay."

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Pyrrha stumbled slightly as the pod finally opened agonizingly slowly, Miss Goodwitch practically catching her as she stepped out. Ironwood stepped up on her other side and wrapped a strong arm around her, "Easy, Nikos. You've gone through an ordeal." She didn't respond for a second, staring at the floor and breathing heavily, "Nikos?"

"Hm?" She looked up, blinking owlishly at him, "Who?"

Glynda and James exchanged worried looks, the woman resting a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder, "Pyrrha, are you well?" The girl nodded, shaking her head after a second, and Glynda continued, "If you're well, we need to make our way to the infirmary to run some tests. Make sure everything went smoothly and get you some much needed rest."

The two helped her walk back to the elevator, James keeping an arm around her waist to keep her up while she stared at the wall. Glynda spoke first, as the elevator rose, "Pyrrha, how are you feeling? Any pain? Aches, perhaps?"

"I'm hungry, and tired." She admitted quickly, reaching up to rub at her eyes as a child would, "I'll be better when I get some sleep… ma'am." She smiled, nodding at her, "I'm sorry if I seem… out of sorts."

"Don't be, Nikos." She gave him a look and James' eyes narrowed slightly, but he chose to ignore it, "You went through two days of… I don't even know how to describe it, Pyrrha. But take your time. You have done us a service unlike any other, and will be treated as such." She hummed in response, and the two adults helped her through the mostly abandoned hallways in the late night's silence. Finally, they reached the infirmary and eased her into the bed.

A doctor in an Atlesian uniform started busily checking her over. Removing her armor and examining the skin, checking her pulse and then her eyes, before putting a line in her arm for Aura supplements and nutrients. A drone arrived with soup, and Glynda sat at her bedside and spooned food into her mouth, "Eat slowly, Pyrrha. You need to recover at your own pace, but as soon as you can, we need to begin testing your abilities."

"Alright." She murmured with a nod, James watching them and dismissing the doctor once his work was done. "I'll do as well as I can, ma'am."

After a few minutes, James opened his mouth and spoke, "Miss Nikos, what is your full maiden name? Where are you from?" She looked at him in surprise, as did Glynda, and he nodded apologetically, "Humor me, please."

"My name Is Pyrrha August, sir. I'm from a small village near Vacuo city…." She looked confused for a moment and shook her head, "Didn't you know that?"

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