Chapter 2: Dead Man's Game

Now that Ruby was closer she got a better look at the man. He was slim and had a tan skin tone. His hair was tied in a braid but it was clear he didn't take care of it because of all of the stray ends. He wore a light gray jacket and baggy jeans. His eyes were a deep brown. His face was soft and his voice had a rapid tone. It as if there were two voices speaking at once.

Ruby looked at his man with a shocked expression. She couldn't even respond. "Ummm… hello? You okay Summer?" The man asked.

"I'm not Summer." Ruby finally responded.

"Hun." The man said stroking his chin. He leaned in close to get a better look at Ruby's face. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"I'm pretty sure." Ruby said putting her hand up and slowly backing up from the madman.

The man sat back in his chair and began to type away furiously at the keyboard. "Oh." The man gasped. "I see now, your Summer's kid. That makes sense now. I got so excited I didn't read the DNA code close enough." He said before standing back up and taking a look around, "How long have I been here for? I mean I know Summer wanted kids but not this soon you know. I'm not mentally prepared for this. " He asked aloud.

"Who are you?" Weiss said stepping and demanding answers.

The man smirked, "I am the one who controls your fate. The one who leads the army of the damned. The one whose knowledge knows no bound. I am…" The man said striking poses before pausing for dramatic effect. "The mighty GM!"

Everyone in team RWBY cocked their head in confusion. "Who?" Team RWBY asked in unison.

Suddenly all the flair and confidence the man had quickly deflated. "You… don't know who I am?" He asked.

"We don't even know where we are." Yang shouted crossing her arms in frustration.

"Hun…" The man said walking back to the console. "They didn't tell you about me?" He asked devastated.

"Who is they?" Blake asked.

"You know, Ozpin, Raven, Qrow, Summer, Tiyang. The original beta testers? Isn't that why you're here? To retrace the steps of your elders? To finally beat the game?" The man asked.

"I think you should start from the beginning." Weiss said.

The man sighed, "Alright take a seat then." He said pointing his finger in front of team RWBY. In a instate four chairs appeared.

"Where did these chairs come from?" Yang said jumping back.

"Just take a seat, this might take a while." The man said.

Yang, Blake, and Weiss looked to Ruby. Ruby nodded and the rest of her team sat down in their respective seats. "Okay, so let's start with my name. My designation was X56RTY935ZRT56HTG115YUT." The man said. "But you can call the GM."

"What are you?" Ruby asked.

"I am the pinnacle of engineering and advanced robotics. I am the first of my kind. I am an artificial intelligence." GM said.

"That impossible." Weiss said.

GM stood up and got in Weiss' face. "Oh? What makes you say that?" He asked.

Weiss pushed GM's face away from her, "We have AI but nothing like… whatever you are. AI is designed to follow a strict code and do a specific job. You're far too chaotic for that." She said.

"Says you! I was made to be the first of my kind. To act and think like a human. So that one day I could help a more advanced AI inhabit a physical body and protect the world. I was designed to test that AI so it would be ready for the real world." GM said making a projector appear and then moving between the slides to show what he was talking about through infographics.

Ruby began to think about what GM was saying. AI. Physical body. Protect the world. "Oh, you're talking about Penny!" Ruby said without thinking and then immediately covering her mouth.

The GM stopped the slideshow, "Who's that?" He asked in confusion.

Ruby shook her head, "Um… A friend. Don't worry about it." She said unconvincingly.

The GM cleared his throat, "As I was saying, I was designed to lead the next generation into the future." He said.

"So why are you inside a little black box? Also, what was that stuff we went through earlier?" Blake interrupted.

"You know if you stop interrupting me maybe I could explain." The GM said crossing his arms and pouting.

"Sorry." Blake said.

"Thank you. Now, where was I?" The GM said stroking his chin trying to remember where had left off. "Oh yeah, the game. Nazi Zombies, the ultimate test of survival and teamwork. I designed the game to push the player to their limits so when I transferred the data to the new AI it would know what to do in any combat scenario in order to save the lives of its comrades."

"Okay, that makes no sense." Weiss said.

"What? It makes perfect sense!" The GM shouted in protest.

"If you need to gather data why not test people against Grimm, the real enemy? Not some make believe zombies." Weiss said crossing her arms in disappointment.

"I could have done Grimm but come on, zombies are so much cooler!" The GM said his eyes sparkling a bit. "Besides with Zombies I could come up with some crazy story line!"

Ruby shrugged her shoulder, "You do have to admit, he's got a point."

"Zombies are a lot more fun to kill." Yang said.

"So, let me get this straight." Blake said. "You designed a simulation where people are forced to fight the undead so an advance AI could learn how to fight more efficiently on the battlefield?"

The GM snapped his fingers, "Exactly!"

"You know that sounds insane correct?" Blake responded.

The GM shrugged his shoulders, "Well when you become and advance AI you can you do whatever you want with your simulation." He said crossing his arms.

"Now, it's clear to me that this will be a lot easier to explain if we bring one of the beta testers back. So who's left at Beacon? Ozpin was also really cool but the guy always preferred to work alone. Qrow was always a loose cannon and never really cared about completing the objective. Raven was skilled for sure but she always gave me the creeps." The GM began to rant walking back in a straight line.

"Umm…. Let's just grab Ozpin." Ruby said stopping the GM's walking.

"Yeah, he can vouch for me. He'll probably explains things better than I can anyways." The GM said sitting back down in front of the monitors. "Alright, I'm going to send you back now to grab Ozpin. Just tell him GM is looking for him." He said as team RWBY slowly began to fade from this reality.

"Oh yeah the return trip is a little bumpy but…. You should be fine." The GM said as team RWBY was transported away.

Suddenly team RWBY found themselves back in the classroom before they entered the game. They all staggered around for a bit. Weiss quickly regained her sense and ran to a bucket and promptly threw up.

Ruby rubbed her head and looked around trying to get a better bearing on her surroundings, "Oh… what just happened?" She asked the rest of her teammates.

"I feel like I got run over by a car." Yang commented.

Blake looked around and recognize the classroom where they had set up the console. "I think we're back home." Blake said.

Ruby walked over to Weiss who was throwing up, "You okay?" She asked patting her partner on the back.

Weiss gave Ruby a thumbs up and then continued to throw up into the trash can. "There there, let it all out." Ruby said comforting her partner.

"So… I still have several questions." Yang said.

"Yeah none of that made any sense. I mean did it even happen?" Ruby questioned.

Blake shook her head, "Regardless of what we thought happened or didn't happen we should tell Ozpin. He might have some more insight into this… thing." Blake said pointing to the black box.

"Good idea. Are you gonna be okay Weiss?" Ruby asked Weiss.

Weiss removed her head from the trash can and gave a thumbs up. "Yeah, wonderful." She said still groggy.

"Alright then, should we leave that box here or bring it to Ozpin's office?" Ruby asked.

Yang unplugged the console from the electrical sockets and picked it up. "I think it might be a better idea to take this with us than leave it for someone else to find. We don't want a another incident." Yang said alluding back to the time they hall left their weapons in their dorms and found Jaune playing around with them.

Team RWBY made their way to the to Ozpin's office, with the occasionally stop so Weiss could throw up. Finally they made it to the Ozpin's office and knocked on in his door. "Ozpin? It's me Ruby." Ruby said knocking.

The door to Ozpin's office opened, "Come in Ruby, how can I help you today?" Ozpin asked.

"Well I was hoping you could tell us about this." Ruby said as Yang pulled out the console and placed it on Ozpin's desk.

A quite overcame Ozpin as he sat down in his chair. He pressed a switch on his desk and the windows were covered up. The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife. "Where did you find this?" Ozpin asked in a serious tone.

"Well I got it from some old man but I-"

"Did you turn it on?" Ozpin asked cutting off Ruby.

"Well yeah but I think-"

"Okay heres whats going to happen. I'm going to ask you one question and you going to give me a honest answer. Understood?" Ozpin asked.

Ruby gulped, she had never Ozpin so serious before. She was scared of his intimidating aura he projected. Team RWBY nodded in unison. "Okay, was anyone bitten?" Ozpin asked.

"What… bitten?" Ruby asked.

"Bitten? Was anyone bitten?" Ozpin asked slamming his fist on his disk and lowering his head.

Ruby began to panic. She checked all over her body for any kind of bite mark. The rest of her teammates did the same and checked there body. They went into a panic, they were so wrapped up in checking for bites they almost didn't hear giggling.

"Are they really checking?" Team RWBY heard someone whisper.

Suddenly the shades came up and Ozpin raised his head laughing, "Oh, I shouldn't have but once GM told me what happened I couldn't stop myself. I'm sorry girls." He said.

Ruby scratched her head in confusion, "Wait what?" She asked.

Suddenly Ozpin's desk lit up and a screen appeared in front of team RWBY. On the screen was none of other than the GM. "You should have seen your face!" His face was scrunched and filled with laughter. "Oh man, that was great. Thanks Ozpin." GM said.

"That's your idea of a joke? Scaring us half to death?" Weiss asked clearly distraught.

"Oh calm down. I control the virtual reality. You wouldn't have been hurt unless I allowed it." The GM said crossing his arms. "Speaking of which, one sec." He said as he typed on his keyboard. One second he was behind the screen the next he was inside the room as a hologram. "Oh man I've been trapped in that box forever. Feels good to get out." He said stretching his limbs.

"What? When? How? Why?" Ruby said confused pointing to the screen and then to the hologram back and forth in between questions.

"Allow me to explain." Ozpin said taking a sip from his mug. "After the great war we noticed how teams of individuals could change everything. The problem was that building strong bonds between teammates takes time. Time the Atlas military felt they didn't have during the war." Ozpin said using visual cues to help explain. "So they invited virtual reality. With virtual reality a group of soldiers could train for months while only minutes of real world time passed."

"Imagine it like a bootcamp, except this boot camp lasts for what seems like months. But, on the bright side you were only at the bootcamp for day in real time." The GM said.

Weiss nodded, "That does make sense. It allows people to train and become stronger and at the same time save well… time." She said.

"Exactly but over time the scientist noticed that extended stay in this virtual reality had sever... problems on the human mind. So the idea was scratched. But from the ashes of this plan I was born." The GM said. "They realized that they could further advance AI through virtual reality. So they made me to teach the next generation of AI in a safe space. This way they could learn right from wrong and junk."

"Okay but why zombies? Why not have the real world and real world examples?" Yang asked confused.

"Well… I told you. Zombies are so much cooler." He said with a smirk. "Besides training AI is so boring otherwise."

Ruby put her fingers to her lips and began to put everything together. "Okay so let me get this straight. Atlas made virtual reality to train soldiers. That didn't work out so they moved to AI. They made you," Ruby said pointing to the hologram of GM, "to help train the next generation of AI and you used zombies to help train their combat and teamwork." She said.

GM snapped his fingers, "Exactly."

"So where does my mom fit into all of this?" She asked.

"Well your mom and others like her were the first to test the zombie scenario. To help set parameters." Ozpin said.

"Yeah, that's why I called them beta testers." GM said.

"So, if you are all impressive why did we find you in some old man's shop?" Blake asked.

"I have no idea, I can't really see the outside the world without a connection of some kind." The GM said shrugging his shoulders.

Ozpin sighed, "It was shame really. Testing was going well here at Beacon. I gave the box back to Atlas military but when I asked about the project they told me it had been discontinued. You have no idea how sad I was to hear that." He said shaking his head in disappointment.

The GM placed a hand on his chin, "Well I don't remember anything like that happening. Anyways now that I've been found you should call Atlas and tell them to pick me up." He said.

"Yes that does seem like a good idea." Ozpin said. "I can't thank you enough team RWBY. You have found a very important piece of history. Who knows maybe one day we can continue the AI program." He said.

Ruby chuckled mentally. Probably best she didn't say anything about Penny. "No problem." She said.

The GM turned to Ozpin, "You know Ozpin I finished the last map."

Ozpin raised an eyebrow, "Did you know?" He asked.

"Yeah and I think the best beta tester should be the first to try it." The GM said it.

Ozpin sighed, "I don't know about that. It's been years." He said with a chuckle.

"Oh come on. Just one quick run around the map and the ship me off. Won't hurt anyone." The GM said.

Ozpin thought for a moment and then nodded, "One game won't hurt." He said.

"Awesome I'm sett up in classroom 5-B." The GM said disappearing.

Ozpin looked to team RWBY, "Wasn't that classroom locked over the weekend?" He asked.

Yang shrugged her shoulders, "I find locked doors more like… suggestions." She said.

After the events in Ozpin's office team RWBY were sent back to their dorm with a warning and a small pat on the back.

Ruby was a little upset she didn't get to try a bit more of the game. She was hoping that one day she could show Penny. Ruby thought that the GM and Penny might get along. And even though the zombies were scary she thought it was fun. It was also cool to be in the game.

Yang didn't like all the blood the game had but enjoyed the mindless violence. If she ever went back she was going to as the GM to do something about self cleaning blood. This way her hair would stay clean. She also wanted to talk to him about the outfits they had to wear. It was way to baggy for her to move around properly.

Blake was astounded by the technology the virtual reality had. However she was a bit frightened by a new implications. If the GM had downloaded her body it was possible that it knew she was a Faunus. She was kind hoping to never see it again.

Weiss didn't have a good time at all. She didn't like the zombies, the blood, or the creepy atmosphere. While she was impressed by the technology she thought it could have been used a bit more professional. She was also confused by the GM. Although she didn't have a lot of experience with AI the GM… felt a little too human.

It had been a few days since that day. They hadn't heard any news from GM or Ozpin so things went back to they normally do.

Ruby was busy reading a book on her bed when she got a call on her scroll. She answered the call, "Hello?" She asked.

"Um… Ruby?" A voice said on the other end.

"Yes?" She asked confused. "Who is this?"

"It's the GM, could you um… oh god shes coming. Listen it wasn't my fault okay!" The GM said before hanging up.

Suddenly the door to team RWBY's dorm flew open. "You all must come with me this instant!" Glynda shouted throwing open the door.

"Um… are we in trouble." Ruby asked afraid she had found out about that prank she had pulled on Cardin.

"I said now!" She shouted causing everyone on team RWBY to follow Glynda out of the dorm.

They followed her down the halls and every time they tried to ask what was going on Glyna told them to follow. Finally they arrived in the classroom where the black box was set up. "Is this about the virutal reality?" Weiss asked.

"Yes, I need you to get me inside." Glynda said.

"Um… okay I don't really know how this works." Ruby said walking up the consle. "Let us in?" She asked.

The words 'NO' appeared on the screen. 'Come back latter' it read a few seconds latter.

"See, I've been trying this all day and nothing." Glynda said.

"Well did you try asking nicely?" Ruby asked. "Please let us in?" She asked.

The screen was blank for a moment before they were all flashed by a blinding light.

Team RWBY and Glynda found themselves inside the GM's room. He was furiously tapping away at the keyboard. "Okay before you get mad-" Was all the GM was able to say before Glynda walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

"Where is he?" She yelled.

"Okay first, yelling won't help the situation. Second, you can't hurt me in here." The GM said.

"So why are you sweating?" Blake asked.

"She scares me." The GM mumbled under his breath.

"I'll ask once more. Where is he?" Glynda asked.

"Where who?" Ruby asked confused. "Can somone tell us what's going on?"

"Ozpin has gone missing ever since he entered… whatever this is." Glynda said.

"Gone? How?" Yang asked.

The GM rubbed the back of his head, "I kinda lost him."

"Lost him?" Glyna asked.

"Well more like I can't pull him out of the map." The GM said.

"Explain, now." Glynda said dropping the GM in his chair.

"Well he went into the map and now I can't pull him out. Simple really." He said.

"And why can't you pull him out?" Glynda asked.

"I don't know. Something's… blocking me. I can't access anything to do with that map." He said returning to typing. "Every time I try to reroute control… something blocks me."

"Something?" Glynda asked.

"Yeah something. This is a lot harder than it looks lady. Pulling a physical object into the virtual reality? Hard work. And then bring it back out the same way it came in with the same condition? It's like trying to land on the moon with a boat." The GM said. "Normally the code does all the work for me but it's not working. I don't know what's wrong."

"Can't we unplug the console? Maybe a reboot will fix everything?" Ruby said thinking of a solution?

"With Ozpin still inside? His mind would be destroyed. That's even if I can bring him back out with all his limbs intact. Most likely his body will disintegrate if you tried unplugging the console." The GM said.

"So, what can we do?" Weiss asked.

"Well I can send someone inside the map. If someone went inside they could try and bring him back out from that." The GM said.

"You want to send someone after him? That's insane." Glynda said.

"You got a better idea?" The GM asked.

"Yes, you fix the problem without putting anyone else in danger." Glynda said getting frustrated.

"Well at least I'm trying. All your doing is yelling!" The GM shouted.

"Why you little!" Glynda said about to tear the GM apart.

"Stop!" Ruby shouted causing the two to stop arguing. "I'll go in after in." She said.

"No you can't." Glynda said.

"Yeah not alone. I got you back sis." Yang said placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Wherever you go, I go." Weiss said.

"Someone has to do something." Blake said.

Team RWBY looked at each for a moment. They all trusted in each other. They were sisters in arms. It would have been a touching moment but the GM ruined it. "Thats swell and all that you want to go in after Ozpin but there's a problem. None of you are high enough level." The GM said.

"What does that mean?" Ruby asked confused.

"There are different maps and scenario. Each one harder than the last. To access them you need a specific level. Without it my code won't allow you to access the map." The GM said.

"So, we'll train. Get a high enough level to rescue Ozpin. What is the level requirement for the map he's trapped on?" Ruby asked.

"Its called Revelation and its the last map. To access it you need to be level 100." The GM said.

"What level are we?" Ruby asked.

"Well Glynda is level 0 as she's never been on a map. After your first try" The GM said typing at his keyboard. "Team RWBY are all level… 1." He said.

"After all of that?" Yang asked.

"Yup, you're nowhere near close." The GM said.

"How long would it take to get to level 100?" Weiss asked.

"It took Ozpin about.. Three real days to get that far. About a year's worth of game time." The GM said. "And based on your prior performance it would take…" The GM returned to his keyboard. "About ten days worth of real days. 4 years of game time."

Ruby sighed, "Well… any good news?"

The GM shook his head, "Unfortunately no. On top of everything the more time Ozpin the more his mind will detare. If you take too long by the time you find him he won't Ozpin anymore."

Glynda sighed and sat down in a chair, "This couldn't possibly get worse." She said.

"Yeah, we kinda hit rock bottom. But I have any idea that might save Ozpin." The GM said.

"Alright you all have been brought here for a reason." The GM shouted to the room full of Beacon students. The GM had the idea to have all the Beacon students all trying the maps and seeing who leveled up the fastest. It was almost like a race. Expect this race was timed and if they weren't fast enough Ozpin was going to die. So not really like a race at all.

"Ozpin is missing. I know some of this virtual reality stuff is confusing but all you need to know for now is that you need to save him. To do that you must level up and reach the map Ozpin is on." The GM said.

"Um… how do we level up exactly?" Jaune asked raising his hands.

"Simple, I will drop you all off in teams of four. Once your team is on a map your objective for now is to survive as long as you can. The longer you survive the more experience points your earn. Simple right?" The GM said.

"What kind of maps are these exactly?" Cardin asked.

"For now you all will start at the most basic map. Nacht der Untoten, night of the living dead." The GM said causing the hush to fall over the room. "Yes in these maps you will be fighting the undead. unfortunately my programming prevents me from telling you anything beyond the basics. I'm only going to tell you once so listen up." The GM said,

"Nacht der Untoten is the most basic map. You will be trapped in a building while hoards of the undead attack you wave after wave. To kill them you must shoot them with a weapon. While on the map you will be unable to use your semblance, weapons you made, or even use any physical traits you might have. You will all be treated the same way. You are also unable to leave the building in any way. The only way to move through the building is by earning points. You get points by killing zombies. You can also use points to buy better weapons as the zombies will increase in number and durability as the waves progress. This is a lot of information and I know it's confusing but your learn more from first hand experience. If you ever want to quit just shout pause and then say quit." The GM said breaking out into a speech causing some people to be confused or simply not listen.

"Alright I hope you're ready because we don't have a lot of time. Good luck!" The GM said walking over to his keyboard and typing in some command.

In a instant the entire room of Beacon students were absorbed in a bright light and disappeared. This was the beginning.

They are trying to rescue him.

Let them try.

But what if they are successful in making it this far.

Don't worry, I plan on it.