"I would usually wish to never speak about Ozpin, ever. But the world can be an entirely cruel mistress. Everywhere I went on the surface it was always Ozpin this and Ozpin that. Whenever Ozpin was mentioned, his lap dogs would drool all over him. His influence spread far and wide, they looked up to him as some kind of messiah. If only they knew the truth. He says that the academies are to train warriors to protect the people, a lie that he kept through the generations. No, he's training the next generation of tools he can use in his pointless never ending war. Ozpin is a pathetic man who can't even finish what he started."

….

Ozpin once again looked over Jack's files. He's done this for a couple of weeks now, it all looked fine and dandy, but something always bothered him about the papers. The clocktower behind him struck twelve, just in time for a certain Qrow to come from the elevator.

"Checking his papers' again?"

"Yes, I always want to remember everything I know about our employees." Ozpin kept shuffling through the paper files, trying to find the thing that just felt off.

"Do you expect them to be forgeries?"

"No, I collected the data from the official census and expanded from there."

Qrow took a seat across from Ozpin, his legs kicked up on the desk as he took out a flask, "I don't think you'll find much data on a farm boy."

"I know, that disturbs me."

Qrow rolled his eyes as he took a swig, "You could just ask his parents."

Ozpin sighed, "I can't they're both dead. From the police files on their case it looked as though it was either a double suicide or they both happened to kill each other at the same time. From what I could estimate it probably wasn't long after Jack left the farm and wandered off to who knows where."

"Any possible reason why?" Qrow was a bit intrigued at the revelation.

"No, there was a lack of notes and evidence that points to anything specific and the fact that they mostly spent their lives in isolation."

Qrow just sighed and silently watched the older man shuffle through the papers he had on Jack. It's just something that Ozpin always does. He knows that Oz just wants to be careful and have a lot of contingency plans. The less info he had on someone, the more he tried to find even the slightest hint. It could be anything, a bar tab, a receipt at a gas station, even just a bug that they happened to look at.

"So, you gonna tell him about the… you know?"

Ozpin sighed and placed Jack's paper's down, "Unfortunately, no. I don't have enough information to trust him entirely. While he does know of the Maidens' power, that's all the information I'm willing to give to him. He has to prove himself before he's earned the right to know. Much like you proved yourself all those years ago."

Qrow took another swig, "Ah, right. I forgot." He waved his arms in the air, "Whole chessmaster thing. Always thinking a million steps ahead."

"I'm glad you understand." Ozpin simply went back to perusing through Jack's papers', "When do you think you'll visit your nieces."

Qrow shrugged, "Sometime. Maybe I'll swing by in Glynda's class and piss her off." He took another swig from his flask.

"Remember that it doesn't hurt to visit your loved ones often. You don't know if it'll be the last time you see them. Especially the children that you've known and seen grow-"

Qrow looked perplex at the fact that Ozpin stopped one of his own-monologues? Speeches? Words of wisdom or whatever? His feet went off the desk and touched the ground.

"Qrow. What was Mr. Wynand's previous occupation? I think Amber said it, but I want to be entirely sure."

Qrow raised a brow, "Apparently he owned an orphanage for a while."

Ozpin sighed and fell into his own chair, "It's always the simplest things we miss. Even I'm not entirely immune to this." Ozpin reached for his scroll, "I'm going to make a few calls, if you don't mind?"

"Way ahead of ya." As soon as Ozpin picked up his scroll, Qrow got out of his chair and walked towards the elevator. He lazily waved towards the older man and entered the elevator. He took a small swig from his flask as the elevator descended.

As soon as the doors opened he was greeted with the humble face of Glynda Goodwitch, "Mr. Branwen."

"Glynda." Qrow replied as he stepped out of the elevator, but he stopped Glynda from entering, "He's making a few calls."

Glynda sighed and took a few steps back, "Of course he is."

A small silence occured between the two as Glynda had the intention of waiting for a couple of minutes to speak to Ozpin and Qrow just wanted to go on his way. He could've easily done it the moment he told Glynda about Ozpin's calls, but he just wanted to make Glynda bit more uncomfortable.

"So. When's your next date?"

Glynda crossed her arms, "Why would I indulge that information with you?"

Qrow smiled mischievously, "So it's pretty soon based off your reaction. You afraid I'll come and rain on your parade?"

Glynda didn't say a word. She could only glare daggers at the heavy drinking Huntsman.

"Don't worry, I'm not that much of a bastard to do that."

"I do not have to say what I do in my private time with you."

Qrow simply laughed and decided to make his exit, "Lighten up, Glynda," he suddenly grasped her shoulder lightly, "Enjoy your time with him. Everyone deserves to have someone they love, no matter what anyone else says." Qrow passed on right by.

Glynda's eyes widened in surprise and she turned around, only to be greeted by a black feather falling to the ground and a cracked open window. She'll probably never admit it, but she'll probably take the drunk man's words to heart… probably.

"You were surprisingly mature for once, Qrow."

….

Tenenbaum shook her head at another failure. This had to be the fifth Faunus that had died under her new 'employers'. This was the cost of living experimentation, it was never supposed to be and with new thoughts comes new experiments. Not to mention she was a little rusty from her refusal to do this kind of work once again.

She looked towards Fidelis as her unwitting 'helpers' cleaned another one of her failed experiments off the patient bed. Her patients were simply those who tried to defect from the White Fang and this was their due punishment. Non of the White Fang in the room with her showed any remorse for the traitors that died. Instead they were impatient to the fact that her experiments weren't showing results. Fidelis simply shook his head, his mask obstructing any emotions he may have had.

"Brigid. I know you can do better than this." Fidelis said through his modulated voice, it sounded more disappointed than angry.

"I've stopped doing this a long time ago." It was an honest truth, she did stop doing this a long time ago.

She was surprised to feel Fidelis grab her shoulders and straighten her up a bit, it was a rough, yet gentle pull. It was in no way full dominate control, yet, "It's all up in your head. The years of practice you've done to perfect your technique."

Tenenbaum clicked her tongue, "I thought you disagreed with experimentation?"

"I do, but the boss doesn't. I look out for my buddy, probably something you can't easily do."

Tenenbaum had to hold her tongue as she didn't want to reveal of the man she basically looked out for during her last few days in hell, "You probably are doing this for your own gain. You're just using your 'friend Adam as an excuse. What really defines friendship, if it even truly exists." She needed to throw him off, perhaps cause him to doubt a little bit. An argument between the two can last hours and days if she can do this right.

"Hmph!" He grunted in..approval?

She frowned, just what was he up to under that mask.

"That's the old Tenenbaum I knew. She always tried her best to mercicly bring you into the brink of despair and then experiment on you, knowing you had nothing to live for when you started to question yourself. We need that side back, back to experiment."

Tenenbaum gasped, she did not expect him to approve of her words and try to revert her back to her cold and ruthless self.

Fidelis chuckled and shook his head, "Just kidding. We just need you to experiment. I like the new you. Now you understand what it looks like from a normal person's point of view what your experiments truly cause."

Tenenbaum narrowed her eyes at the man, the one known as the White Mask, a ruthless man with a high bounty.

Fidelis clapped his hands together, "Okay your next experiment better work, or we're going to collect the bounty Atlas has on you."

She didn't need any other words, so she simply went to work on the next project. Going to Atlas would undoubtedly be worse. Not only would they probably try and get her back in the field of genetic experimentation (like she was doing right now), they would probably check her blood on a daily basis to see if she had poisoned herself, or prevent her from doing anything outside a lab period. They'd probably want specific genetic changes as well. Ironically she was given more freedom with the White Fang as they just wanted results, nothing specific.

Her situation was beyond the point of no return.

"I'll be the next test subject, so get me something good." Fidelis suddenly said.

She better make something minor, like improved vision, or stronger finger muscles.

…..

Lapis and Amber stood in a weapons shop. Lapis was simply looking for rounds to put in his gauntlets and rifle. Amber meanwhile was simply just browsing with a smile on her face. It felt good to be out and about in the city. Though she didn't travel as much as she used to, going to places was always a fun experience.

She examined the revolver that the shopkeeper gave to her, as per her request. It was a simple six shot revolver, nothing special. The grip felt nice and there was even an optional speed loader. She thought of getting an offhand weapon beforehand, so why not get it now?

"If you'd like miss, I'd could get you two holsters and a secondary revolver."

"What for?" It was not unusual for Huntsmen to carry two weapons or more, but usually they were content with having their weapons be a one of everything.

The old shopkeeper chuckled, "It'd be like those old movies. You find yourself surrounded by Grimm at the tip of highnoon, all would be silent until the exact time of noon. You then pull out both your revolvers and go wild, killing all the Grimm in a second or so."

Amber chuckled sheepishly, "I wouldn't rely on old movies."

Lapis brought some rounds to the counter and placed what he assumed to be the correct amount of Lien on it.

"That'll be 78 Lien, you gave me 80, so here's your change."

The transaction went by really quick, as the old man had been doing this for many years now. Though Lapis obviously wasn't done as he reached into his pocket for something and presented it to the old man. It was a small circular symbol with a wooden wheel and a diving helmet on the wheel. The old man's eyes flashed as he immediately recognized the symbol.

"You're Mr. Gum, correct?"

"I haven't seen that symbol in a long long time. Where did you get that?"

Amber tilted her head in curiosity as she watched the scene unfold right before her.

"It was my uncle's, Johnny Topside, do you remember him?"

The old man sighed and nodded, "So you're Lapis, he always talked about you, you know?"

Lapis shook his head as his eyes lit up, "What exactly happened to him? Do you know where he is?"

Mr. Gum shook his head, "I'm afraid not. You should know that I was the one to send him on that ship. If I wasn't sick, then it would be me who would be long gone."

Lapis shook his head, "There's no need to blame yourself. My uncle loved to go on these trips. I've made peace with it a long time ago. However, unless I see a body I'm not going to stop searching."

"I admire your compassion young man, reminds me of my older days." The old man motioned for Lapis to come go behind the counter. He complied as he was led to the back.

"You can wait for me if you want to."

Amber nodded as she had no intention of leaving until his business was done. It was getting late and she didn't want to think of the possibility of him missing a flight back to Beacon. She placed the weapon back on the counter. It took longer than expected as she noted that it had been more than ten minutes, however long it takes she shall wait. There was no need to rush.

A sudden sob came to her ears. It was faint, but it was still there. She walked out of the door and tried to pinpoint the source of the crying. Her sense of hearing led her to a small alleyway. A dead end one at that, she looked everywhere else to ensure that there wasn't any thugs trying to jump her. Just to be safe she equipped her staff, yet kept it collapsed.

The source came from the side of the dumpster. She turned around the dumpster's corner to see a crying girl. Her legs covered her face as she curled them together.

"Are you okay?" Amber hesitated, but it was the right thing to do wasn't it?

"I lost my mommy!" The girl continued to cry.

"Where did you lose her?" Amber smiled at the poor child to ease her worries.

It worked as the girl sniffled a little slower, "At the market."

Amber kneeled down and offered her hand, "Well maybe she's also looking for you? Why don't we go look for her together?"

"O-okay." The child grabbed her hand and the two would find themselves searching for a mother looking for her child.

Amber would never like to admit it to anyone, but she felt a bit envious at the prospect. It was a horrible thought process that needed to be eliminated immediately, lest she fall into the greed and envy many many tales warned of.

Meanwhile back at the shop Lapis waved goodbye to Mr. Gum as he held a bundle of maps in his arms, "Thank you so much Mr. Gum. These maps will come in handy."

"It's no problem, young man, I hope to be of more service to you in the future."

Lapis smiled as he made his way back to Beacon. He assumed Amber went back or just someplace. It didn't matter as he had a lot of studying of maps to do to figure out possible locations of interest. Now he doesn't know much about map predictions, but math class should've helped with the probability of how things may have went, right?

…..

"OZPIN!" General Ironwood suddenly popped up on a holo-monitor.

"Yes, James? Is it really necessary to shout like that?" Whenever he shouted it was probably something exciting.

"I have to inform you that Atlas has decided to send a small detachment of soldiers to Vale and have secured quarters preferably in Beacon."

Ozpin raised a brow, "Why are they doing this? Has something come up? Why haven't I been informed of this first?"

"Our little 'project' has her priority set to level 6, which means that it'll head immediately to the top brass, even above me."

"What happened?" He needed to know what the hell could've been a level 6 priority.

"She had reason to believe that Brigid Tenenbaum is in the custody of the White Fang. So does the brass. If they have her, who knows what secrets she'll spill and what experiments she'll do? Her experiments could be even more dangerous and powerful as ever before. We must get her back!"

"Yet, they only sent a small detachment?"

"The best of the best for a level 6 priority. Specialist Schnee will be on the mission, leading of course."

Ozpin shook his head, he really didn't need more to add to his plate. The White Fang's forces were in Vale, the Queen's forces were in Vale, Roman Torchwick was in Vale, he was investigating his employee, Qrow is still Qrow, now he had to deal with Atlesian soldiers in his school looking for a rogue scientist in Vale!

What else wanted to appear in Vale? Everything by the looks of it. He sighed once again and took a long gulp of his Coffee.

…..

That's it for now. I think I'll skip a bit more in time for the next chapter. I need to get back in the groove of writing as I've been skimping on it for a while now. I think I'll make a one shot or a couple just to get back on my writing.

Bye for now, and let's hope I can pick up on my goddamned writing.