Chapter 3: Mentors Abroad

Loyalty is an innate human quality, but the choice is each our own. The IMC's choice to oppress those in the Colonies led them down the path of hatred and destruction. However, the choice to fight back was also the Militias own, and everyone who stood with them. What was more telling was those who chose the frankly weakerMilita. In their own right, they were the strongest in the Frontier.

Nobody said a word. All eyes were on the stranger. Jaune looked back from Weiss to the new guy to Port. The Professor put his attention to the class.

"Thank you, Cooper! Now, Weiss, an admirable attempt! However, you must not let distractions affect your performance on the field. In time, you will become a great huntress. Class dismissed!"

Everyone began to file out, Weiss grumbling and walking away. He gestured to her.

"Good job today!"

She ignored him, walking out of the room. So much for that tactic. He felt someone tap his shoulder, and he turned. It was Pyrrha.

"Let's go. We should catch up with Ruby and her friends."

He nodded to her. He looked back and saw the stranger converse with Port. The two seemed acquainted, despite his arrival mere minutes ago. Questions for another time. Jaune walked out of the class, overhearing Weiss rant to her friends.

"Admirable attempt? How dare he! I could've taken the thing down myself if it weren't for… ugh! You guys go ahead, I need to talk with our… leader."

"Weiss! I thought you did a great job today!" Jaune piped in.

Why did he have to be like this? He saw Weiss glare before turning away, where he bumped right into the stranger, falling flat on his bottom.

"Sorry, kid."

The guy reached his hand, which Jaune took.

"No problem, uh sir. That was, that was all me." Jaune said with a frown.

The stranger from class straightened himself up.

"Don't sweat it, I should've seen you too."

Taking a better look at the man, Jaune saw his military garb. It honestly did look like a standard military outfit, but now that he was closer, it was apparent that he didn't belong. He had insignia that clearly did not exist, and the overall look of the armor looked slightly outdated.

Jaune decided to pry some knowledge.

"So Weiss, uh, was correct when she said you weren't part of her company?"

The man sighed.

An eternity seemed to pass, and then Cooper took his helmet off. Jaune was able to see the man's expressions more clearly now. He gave a genuine smile and responded.

"No kid, I'm not. But what I am is just a soldier, fighting for what's right. Your headmaster told me that's why you were here too."

Jaune gave a surprised look. Despite his outward appearance and simple garb, Jack seemed to know quite a bit.

Jaune mentally slapped himself.

Of course he knows more than you. Everyone here knows more than you!

Cooper seemed to notice his slight frustration.

"You okay, kid?"

Jaune shook his head.

"No- I mean yeah! I mean, yes. I am."

"By any chance, do you know how to get back to the main entrance? The one with the big statue?" Cooper asked.

Jaune nodded, and pointed down the hall, stating, "It's right down that hall, but it's a bit new to me too, so I'll lead you back so I'm not confused later."

Cooper nodded back, and put his helmet on, gesturing Jaune to lead the way.

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The walk was mostly uneventful, the only things that happened were the awkward glances and occasional giggle made Cooper and Jaune's way. Cooper quickly figured the whispers were for him and the laughs were for the young man. The pilot saw no visible reaction from Jaune.

They neared the doorway leading outside, and a tall, muscular student walked through nearly at the same time. The stopped and gave a wide grin at Jaune. He looked like he was about to make a move, but saw Cooper and kept walking, but not before shoving Jaune in the shoulder.

"See you around, Jaune-y boy." The student said from behind them. Cooper turned to Jaune.

"What was that about?" Cooper asked. Jaune ruffled his hair uncomfortably.

"That was just Cardin. Another student here." Jaune replied.

"He doesn't strike me as the hero type."

"Oh, he isn't so bad. He's at least friendly with his team."

Cooper shrugged and walked outside the door. He stopped when he saw BT swinging his arms around. Bracing and beginning to run, he spotted an orange blur zooming around his Titan. Jaune caught up to him and also stopped.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Both Pilot and Student exclaimed simultaneously.

"That's my partner!" shouted Cooper.

"That's Nora!" cried Jaune.

The two watched as BT swung his arms around for the orange blur.

"Assessing the situation. Preparing countermeasures. Activating Electric Smoke."

Fearing for the entity named Nora, Cooper made a full sprint, activating frequencies on his suit so that he wouldn't get fried by the smoke. He could only hope Nora wouldn't be affected either.

"BT! Transfer controls!" Cooper shouted as he opened BT's hatch.

"Pilot recognized. Controls transferred. Welcome back, Cooper." replied BT.

Cooper relaxed BT's arms, only hoping the smoke would dissipate before the person could come to harm. Once it did, Cooper looked around, worried.

"Seeing anything buddy?" Cooper asked.

"No entities detected within 20- CAUTION: HIGH SPEED PROJECTILE FROM ABOVE." BT blared.

Jack raised BT's arms to block the incoming object, and was promptly slammed into the floor.

"Queen beats knight!" Cooper heard a feminine voice boast.

Standing over the downed Titan was an orange haired female student, proudly wielding a hammer nearly twice her size. What really caught Jack's eyes was that she was literally flowing head to toe in electricity.

Jack sighed. This world is going to need time to get used to. He then heard Jaune yell.

"Nora! Please get off the giant robot!" Jaune yelled. Nora looked sad, and complied, hopping off of BT.

Jack and BT rose, looking at Jaune, who in turn looked worried.

"Uh, Cooper? I saw you jump in, but where are you now? You ok?" Jaune inquired to BT.

Jack opened up BT's hatch, to Jaune and Nora's surprise.

"I'm alright kids. Sorry about BT. He takes his directives seriously. BT, stand down, they aren't the enemy." Jack ordered his Titan.

BT beeped acknowledgment. Both teens stood, silent at the Titan. Jack, from the cockpit, saw students around them peeking from behind pillars and corners. Nobody dared come out, except for a colorful set of individuals.

Jack recognized them as the groups called earlier: Jaune's group and the group including the girl in white who was irritable, to say the least.

They began a barrage of questions and shouts at him and their friends, to which Cooper only caught a few.

"Oh my gosh, Nora, are you ok?"

"I knew that man was trouble when I saw him!"

"Jaune, could you explain what has happened?"

Cooper took in all the chaos. He spoke to himself one thing under his breath:

"Oh boy."