A/N Howdy all! Not much to say here, beyond a huge thank you to the RWBY Nook for inspiring this story! Y'all are great!
Now, enjoy!
…..INITIALIZING…
READING MASTER BOOT RECORD…STANDBY…
BOOTING…..
INITIALIZED
QUERY: DAILY ORDERS
RETRIEVING FROM DATABASE….
….
….
DAILY_ RETRIVED
DO: OPEN DAILY_ORDERS
DAILY_ : DO: READ
/Data Begins after # and ends at next #/
#
ORDERS FOR 8/27/3468
DO: DAILY_ORDERS
DO: SPECIAL_ORDERS
#
DO: BOOT_OS
BOOTING PIETROS….
…..
…..
….. BOOTED!
It was another snowy day in Atlas, the cold weather chilling Jaune to the bone.
He was currently on a military transport truck headed to an Atlas military base to meet General Ironwood and Winter, though what for he had no clue. All they told him when they left was that they had a task that he alone was particularly suited for. What that could mean was fairly obvious, they needed his semblance for something, but the reason why was something he simply couldn't figure out. Did they need him to boost someone? That must mean someone was injured, but if that were true, then why wouldn't it be more urgent than this? The effects only worked when he was in close contact, and if he were away it wouldn't do any good. Maybe they need some of his other skills? But he didn't HAVE any other skills! Besides his aura manipulating abilities, he was just some guy with a sword and shield. They certainly didn't need his amateurish attempts at strategy, that's for sure. They had General FRIGGIN' Ironwood! He was a career soldier! They didn't need him!
Jaune's thoughts were interrupted as the truck stopped, and Jaune stood up to get a look to see what the problem was. They had stopped in front of the base, and the driver was speaking with the guard. After a few moments, the guard returned to the guard house, and the gate began to slide open, allowing the truck to enter the base.
The truck stopped outside of the motor pool, and the driver motioned for Jaune to get out. As soon as Jaune hopped off the truck, the driver drove off without a second word.
Jaune looked around a bit, attempting to get his bearings, but a good portion of these buildings looked the same to him. The motor pool was really the only building he could recognize, namely because of the distinct difference from the other buildings.
Jaune then felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned quickly in alarm. Behind him was Winter, looking absolutely miserable in the cold.
"Greetings Arc." She said, staring him down with an icy stare.
"Oh, um, hi Winter." Jaune replied, rubbing the back of his neck in that awkward tic of his.
"Come with me." She said, gesturing with a finger, then walking away, not looking to make sure he was following.
It took a moment for this to register in Jaune's brain, and Jaune had to jog to catch up with her.
"So…. am I allowed to ask why I'm here?' Jaune asked, hoping Winter might be willing to explain the situation to him.
"No, that is for General Ironwood to explain." Winter said, not looking at him.
Jaune was a bit concerned by Winter's coldness. Last he'd seen her, while a serious as ever, she seemed to be enjoying herself, getting to know the rest of team RWBY better. Maybe it was him? What had he done to- ah…. He got it now… Beacon…
"You know, I did finally get the message" Jaune said, Winter turning to look at him in slight confusion.
"What?" she asked, slight confusion breaking through her stone-cold countenance.
"About Weiss. It took me a while, but the message did eventually get through." He said, hoping that would clear things up.
"I see…. I did not know the two of you had come to an understanding." She said, looking thoughtful.
"I don't know about that. More of I finally realized that she wasn't interested in me. After I saw her ask Neptune out to the dance, it finally clicked that there was no way to make her interested in me."
"I see…. however, from my understanding, this Neptune didn't originally take her to the dance. Why did you not attempt then?"
"Because I just wanted her to be happy, and I couldn't do that. Neptune could." Jaune explained, a sad expression on his face. "Not to mention the reason for his rejection was completely stupid." He added with a chuckle.
"That's… surprisingly mature of you." Winter replied, looking impressed.
"I figure, what's the point of ruining someone else's life, just because I can't get over myself?"
"Interesting… Well, we shall have to continue this another time." She concluded, he expression not nearly as cold as before.
"Why?' Jaune asked.
"Because we have reached our destination." She answered.
They had indeed arrived, they were outside a nondescript concrete bunker, a simple metal door on the outside of it. On top were several gun slits and at the very peak was a flag flying the Atlas colors.
Winter entered a code on a keypad by the door, and a click sounded, signaling the unlocking of the door. Jaune pulled the door open and gestured for Winter to enter.
"After you" he said, stepping back a bit.
"Thank you" she replied, entering in, with Jaune following, closing the door behind him.
They walked down a few more hallways and past several doors in silence before they saw General Ironwood standing outside of one of the doors, looking impatient.
Ironwood looked different than when Jaune had seen him back during the Vytal festival. He had grown his beard out, more likely from negligence than by any conscious choice. He had been bending over backwards to try and get the CCT system back online, but it was apparently harder than it seemed.
"Mr. Arc, excellent." Ironwood stated when the pair approached, "Thank you for retrieving him specialist."
"Just doing as ordered sir." Winter responded her arms now folded behind her back.
"You are dismissed Specialist." Ironwood, said, to which Winter nodded, and left the two of them alone.
"Now, I assume you are currently curious as to why I requested your assistance." Ironwood stated, "am I correct Mr. Arc?"
"Yes sir." Jaune answered, being careful to address the man properly.
"Before I explain, you must understand that what I am about to reveal to you is highly classified, and you may not speak of it to anyone, including your team, nor team RWBY." Ironwood said, the importance of this evident in his voice.
"I understand Sir, I'll be sure to be confidential." Jaune answered, his confusion and concern growing. What possibly could Ironwood have in mind for him?
"Excellent. I assume you are familiar with Penny? How she is the first android capable of generating her own aura?"
"I believe so sir, or at least that was what I was told."
"Well, that was not entirely true."
"Wait, you mean there are more Pennys!?" Jaune asked incredulously.
"No exactly. "Ironwood answered, "You see, to create Penny, we had to go through several different attempts to figure out how to have the machine maintain its aura. Many of the experiments failed, either through creating too much aura and imploding, or by not having enough, and the aura fizzled out unable to sustain itself."
"So, Penny was the perfect balance then, not too much, not too little."
"In a way, Penny is more of the upper limit of what could be created without the afore mentioned implosion, the Aura manifesting in a soul of sorts. However, there is the opposite of that extreme, just enough aura to be self-sustaining, but not enough to manifest."
"So… a mindless machine with aura?" Jaune asked
"In essentials." Ironwood answered, "However, it would be easier to demonstrate than to tell. Follow me"
With that, Ironwood opened the door they had been standing in front of, and ushered Jaune in.
Inside, the room was the dull grey of concrete, with several tables along the walls, arrayed with various tools, the purpose of which Jaune couldn't fathom. Blueprints also adorned the walls, depicting various mechatronic parts, which appeared to be various iterations upon the same assembly.
The real thing that grabbed Jaune's attention was the large android, standing stock still in the middle of the room. The machine was black and red, with silver accents. While it seemed to be based off the Knight androids that Atlas used as a compliment to its military, it seemed to be built with durability in mind. Instead of the empty black visor that the knights bore, it seemed to have some sort of mask or faceplate, angled and sharp, with slits on the cheeks and forehead. It held a pair of identical blades, on in a standard grip, the other in a reverse grip. The most interesting thing however, was the bright, neon-green eye-lights, emitting from the eyeholes on the faceplate. Most of the Knight's lacked eyes, and now he understood why. The glowing green eyes gave him an uncanny feeling of being watched with a cold, unrelenting stare.
"This, Mr. Arc, is the Atlas Knight-999, codenamed 'Aura Hunter'" Ironwood explained.
"This is amazing…" Jaune said, walking around the machine.
He tapped it with his knuckles a couple times, the first attempt was blocked dead in its tracks by the machine's aura, but the second went through with no resistance, his knuckle making a loud knock on the metal.
"As you can see, it's aura is very low, only enough to stop a single blow, however, this also means it regenerates faster as well."
"I mean, this is cool and all, but what do you need me for?"
"The simple answer? I want you to boost its aura."
"What? Why? My semblance's effect doesn't last."
"From some of our experiments in aura transfer, it appears the Aura Hunter is capable of absorbing and maintaining aura donated to it. Obviously, with the transfer machine, the effects were permanent, so we were only able to transfer minute amounts, but with you we believe we may be able to supercharge it, giving it a large store, increasing its survivability in the field."
"Makes sense. What would the Aura Hunter be used for?" Jaune asked, sounding a little wary, worried about what this new weapon would be used for.
"The projected purpose would be dealing with exceptionally tricky or powerful Grimm. Hopefully preventing something major attacking Atlas or mantle. Though we do anticipate that it could be effective as a stand in for hunters. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would be better than if we didn't have it."
"How many of these would I be required to boost?"
"Just this one. The process to make this, and Penny as it so happens, requires a resource that is both in short supply, and costly to acquire. So, I doubt there will be any more." Ironwood answered.
Jaune still felt a bit pensive. He would be responsible for making a powerful machine of war, and if it was abused, he would be the one responsible. He would be the one at fault for potential atrocities.
"Please Jaune" Ironwood said, noticing Jaune's reluctance. "The number of recruits to our academy has dwindled, especially after the fall of Beacon. In the span of a few generations, there may not be enough hunters and huntresses to defend Atlas and Mantle. We have Penny, but to have a second aura capable android we be a boon to generations to come. It will save lives Jaune, lives that would otherwise be lost."
Jaune still looked a bit reserved, but after a few moments, he answered, "alright, I'll do it."
A look of relief passed over Ironwood's face, but quickly passed. Apparently, he'd been worried Jaune would not consent.
"Thank you Jaune. You have no Idea how much this means to me, and to the people of Atlas."
"So, what do I need to do?"
"Simply just put your hand on the Android, and use your semblance, just like you would a human."
Jaune nodded and placed his hand on the machine. He activated his semblance, enveloping himself and the android in a bright radiance.
TARGET: "Jaune Arc" APPROACHING.
HOSTILE INTENT, NOT INDICATED.
TARGET: "Jaune Arc" HAS INITIATED PHYSICAL CONTACT, TYPE: NON THREATENING.
LIGHT LEVEL INCREASED BY 70%.
ADJUSTING OPTICS.
WARNING! AURA LEVELS RISING, NOW MONITORING
AURA LEVEL NOW 200%
300%
500%
900%
1000%
8000%
19000%
AURA LEVELS BEYOND RANGE OF INTERNAL MEASURE
ATTEMPTING TO QUANTIFY
AURA LEVEL AT SUCH HIGH
I…
I FEEL…
I FEEL GOOD…
I FEEL, EXCELLENT…
I FEEL, PAIN
I FEEL, ALIVE!