"LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU BASTARD-"
Mason turned the audio function of the surveillance off with annoyance.
"Sheesh, doesn't she get tired of continuously shouting?"
"Honestly? I don't know Mason. But as far as I am concerned, she can scream her throat out, but she is not getting out of that cell under any circumstances."
"My thoughts exactly, sir. What about our patient?"
"She is stable, for now. But she will need proper treatment when we land. My semblance can only enhance her natural healing factor, but I can't bring her out of her unconscious state."
"Affirmative. I have already contacted Beacon and received a message that the best medics were already on standby, waiting for us. General Ironwood is also there."
I winced at the mention of Beacon. This was far earlier than I hoped to interact with Ozpin. I had originally planned to contact him only after taking care of a few hidden dangers, such as the mysterious man behind the hacking of Beacon CCT and the one responsible for cutting off our transmission back in Atlas.
Of course, my research yielded no information, so I had to shelve those thoughts, and Tyrian Callows and Hazel were already out of my reach since they were already missing for three years now.
I also had no plans on revealing who I really am to Ozpin, but the recent discovery changes things.
Summer Rose is the current Summer Maiden.
This changes things to an extreme degree and is the first deviation from the history I know from back home.
I knew for a fact that Summer Rose was not a Maiden back home since Ruby had already asked that question back during my time. Ozpin said that the Summer Maiden was a student at Shade Academy in Vacuo and died in a Grimm attack a year before we joined Beacon. Of course, I did not take that man's words at face value and always suspected that he was hiding a few things, but the overall information was true since we had valid records from Lionheart's scroll that we got our hands on.
Just this fact alone is enough to call all my previous knowledge and my motivation to move forward into question, but I am choosing to ignore that for now.
I can't start thinking about what ifs right now. I simply can't afford that. My sanity is already at its limit, and I don't want to spend another decade wandering the planet in a deranged state like I did back in the Ever After every time I lost my sanity.
Besides, I already acknowledged the fact that this was not my world the moment I saw my parents and my younger version. I knew that I would never see my own parents, my sisters, or my friends in this lifetime. I already came to terms with it back in the Ever After. And I already promised myself to change the lives of this version of my loved ones for the better.
An Arc will never go back on his promise. Even if it meant I had to deal with Ozpin and my unpleasant feelings for him.
Besides, I knew I was right. That my actions are not wrong. The proof of that is currently lying unconscious in the med-bay of the Ship.
As the hour dragged on, the incessant banging on the cell door started to grate on our nerves. Finally, I could not take it anymore and headed to the back of the ship, where the Med-Bay and the Holding Cell were located.
With a scan of my retina and my fingerprint, the door slid open.
Predictably, Raven immediately tried to leap out of the cell and tried to turn into a bird. But I was already prepared and delivered a powerful palm strike to her chest, causing her to lose all the air in her lungs and crumble to the floor in pain due to the fact that the Aura Suppressors were stopping her Aura from protecting her.
I admit, I am being extremely heavy-handed with this woman, but I have no need to justify my actions to anyone. I will admit openly that I hate this woman and am barely containing myself from killing her.
The amount of pain that this coward caused to Yang directly in the form of her abandonment issues and many other psychological issues, and the indirect harm she caused with her inaction and with her assistance to Cinder, is enough grounds for me to execute her on the spot.
"The next time you try that stunt, I will kill you, Branwen. So, you better behave yourself until I hand you over to Ozpin and hope that he puts you away in a hole and throws away the hole."
"..lease..mmer..me"
"Speak up, woman. Aren't you a Branwen? The so-called 'Strong' that rule over the 'weak'?"
Raved tried to glare at me, but what I found in her eyes stunned me.
It wasn't anger or humiliation as I had expected. It wasn't even the fear that I knew she should be feeling right now due to her cowardly nature.
No, it was guilt, hope, and desperation.
…I did not expect this at all.
"Please…Tell me…Summer, is she..okay?"
"And what is it to you if she is okay or not? Didn't you abandon her already for your 'family'?"
"Please! Tell me!"
She was slowly regaining her strength and started to climb back to her feet. Hmm, I don't sense any energy build-up that indicates that she was about to use her shape-shifting magic.
But with people like her, it was better to be safe than sorry.
I reached into my pocket and took out a remote. Deliberately making slow motions so that she can see it, I pressed the switch.
"AAAAAGGGHHH"
A powerful current shot through her body, high enough to cause her intense pain, especially in her Aura-less state, but not high enough to cause any permanent damage to her body.
Letting go of the switch caused her to fall back to her knees.
"You like that? It is the latest feature in the Aura Suppressors that Atlas created. It sends a powerful current through your body, causing immense pain. It is normally used for heinous criminals that are considered high priority and no different than the Grimm. Of course, given your background, I think they suit you quite well. So, how does weakness feel, Raven Branwen?"
All she could do was glare up at me from the floor.
"Y-You, a-are a monster"
"Indeed. I am. If it means protecting my loved ones and their families from creatures like you, let alone a monster, I am willing to become the very personification of Evil. A demon that even Salem would recoil in disgust from. So, don't tempt me into ending your life in the most gruesome way you can imagine. Now, again, why do you care about Summer Rose's life? Is it so you can know if you can still gain those Maiden powers for yourself?"
"SHE IS MY WIFE, YOU DEMON!"
…..Huh?
"..What?"
"She is my Wife! I want to see her! Is she even alive, you sick bastard-"
A swift strike to the back of the neck rendered her unconscious.
Things are changing way too much. What is even going on here? Such massive changes did not happen with my family. Hell, I don't think there were any changes at all.
So why did things change so much when it came to Ruby and Yang's family?
What is going on here? Is it the Blacksmith? Or the Tree? Are they somehow messing with Remnant?
No, that should be impossible. From what I remember reading in some of the books from the Prince, The Tree should not be able to interfere with other realms outside of the Ever After.
But then, what is going on here? Is it because this is a different world? But isn't that explanation way too simple?
….Wait, is it really that simple? Is it really just because this is a different world? No hidden plot or scheme from some unknown party, but truly a random change due to a difference in the world?
I don't know anymore. Hopefully, I'll get some answers once I meet Ozpin.
Walking back into the cockpit, it was easy for me to pick up on Mason's unease.
"….Do you think my actions are too extreme? Mason?"
"Not really, Sir. Don't you remember I said I know who she is? I am pretty sure she deserves what you did. But, permission to speak frankly, sir?"
"You know you don't have to ask me for permission, right? We've known each other for a year now. While I may be registered as a Specialist and technically your superior, I never pull rank with those I consider my friends. Anyway, go ahead."
"I think you should refrain from acting on your emotions like that, sir. I know from experience what happens when you indulge in your emotions too much."
"….I know too, Mason. Believe me, I don't want to go down that path either. But sometimes, I lose control."
"….Did she kill someone close to you?"
The memories of our fight in Haven and how Raven set us up came to mind, but I quickly suppressed those memories.
"No, but she came close. I doubt she even remembers the incident."
Especially since that event has not even happened yet.
"Then, I hope you will stay away from her until she is handed over to the General and Headmaster Ozpin. I learned a long time ago that vengeance is not really healthy for a Huntsman, or humans in general."
"…At this point, Mason, Vengeance is one of the only reasons I am still alive."
"Then I hope you focus on your other reasons for staying alive. I know it is not my place to say this, but I don't want to see a good Huntsman like you lose themselves to their emotions."
"….Thanks, Mason. You are a good friend."
Mason just looked at me with a grin.
"That I am, sir."
Never change, Mason. Never Change.
----------------------------------------------------------------
(Ozpin POV)
As the feeling of magic got closer and closer, I held my cane tightly, waiting anxiously to know just what Summer's condition was.
By my side, Glynda was already supervising the medics that were a mix of Medical professionals under NDA and under my personal payroll, as well as the Medical teams from Atlas military that worked directly with Specialists and were well-versed in working on confidential tasks.
While she displayed a stern expression, I knew well enough that she was panicking hard on the inside. She was never good at expressing her emotions in an outward fashion. But the slight tremors in her body and the way she kept looking towards the distant dot in the sky that was slowly growing larger by the second, it was easy for me to tell how she was feeling.
It is to be expected. Summer is one of her closest friends from her days as a student in this very school that was established by one of my previous incarnations.
Thankfully, she did not have to hear really bad news thanks to James's newest recruit.
"Your new Specialist is really something, James. I knew he was competent from the documents you shared, but I did not expect this level of competency. Although I do feel you could have informed me before deploying your people on such a sensitive mission."
The Atlas General's flinch was not ignored by me. Good, he at least remembers that I am still his ally.
When I learned that James had revealed the existence of Maidens to one of his soldiers, a new recruit at that, without informing me, I was really furious. Thankfully, Juniper Arc has already proven himself with his actions, so he at least deserves some degree of trust from us.
But I cannot have him do something like this again in the future. Thus, I need to keep reminding him of his blunder every chance I get so that he doesn't do something like this again.
"…Thanks, Ozpin. He is a really good Huntsman. Despite having only gone on two missions till now for me, he delivers results."
And what results he delivered. First, it was that extremely powerful and ancient Taijitu up north that has existed for a very long time. If I remember correctly, it was called the Jormungandr back when I was the King of Vale.
Then, there was his mission with the Crown.
Honestly, these two missions were already on such a high difficulty that even some of the greatest Huntsmen that I had access to would have serious trouble handling them. But Juniper Arc completed these missions all by himself.
My thoughts were interrupted when a car screeched to a halt near the landing pad, and two men got out of the vehicle.
Taiyang looked extremely drunk, and Qrow didn't look much better either. Understandable since Summer had been missing for more than a week, and the last update that we received from her scroll was a warning of her Aura breaking before the scroll died.
Those two must be going through serious trauma right now.
Thankfully, the worst-case scenario has already been averted.
"Where is she? Ozpin?"
"Oz! Where is Summer?"
"Tai, Qrow, calm down. She should be here any moment. Look, see that? The bullhead is almost here."
Indeed, the Bullhead was already in Beacon airspace and was just a few minutes away from landing. And judging by the steady pulse of magic I am sensing from it, Summer is in a relatively stable condition, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about for now.
As the Bullhead slowly landed, the bay doors opened. The Medics wasted no time in rushing the aircraft and retrieving the patient from within.
Tension that I didn't know I had left my body as I felt myself sag in relief as the medics brought out Summer on a stretcher. Her rosy complexion, strong Aura, and steady pulses of her Maiden magic told me that she was not in danger.
Tai and Qrow wasted no time and ran to her side, despite the many protests from the medics who decidedly cowered under the furious glares of a worried husband and friend.
Then, Ironwood moved forward and signalled the drones behind him to surround the Bullhead, much to my confusion.
The confusion soon turned to shock when I saw none other than my former student, Raven Branwen, with Aura suppressors on her wrists, being escorted out of the ship by a man.
Once I looked at the man, I had no objections to Ironwood's claims that he is an Arc. His resemblance to Julius Arc is uncanny. If I didn't know any better, I would have said that I was looking at Julius himself. But I knew better since I saw his corpse before his body was handed over to his brother, Nicholas Arc.
The moment Raven stepped out of the ship, the drones surrounded her in a prisoner escort formation and started leading her into the section of the school that Atlas was using as its temporary base.
"Hold on, James. What do you plan on doing with Raven?"
"I am going to interrogate her for information before trying her for her crimes."
"That is not for you to decide, James. Despite her activity in Mistral, she is still a citizen of Vale, so it falls under my jurisdiction to punish her."
"You can't be serious, Ozpin! Do you wish to let her escape her punishment?"
"Oh, she will be punished all right, but I will be the one to decide."
The scowl on Ironwood's face would have any other man cowering in front of him, but I am not just any ordinary man.
"…Fine! Have it your way."
James stomped away while Glynda escorted Raven deeper into Beacon, into the vault. I will deal with her later.
But first, I need to see what he wants to talk to me about, given the way he is staring at me.
"How can I help you? Mr. Arc?"
"I need to talk to you, alone. Ozma."