Ok, so it took me more than half a week to get ahold of the documents, but I'm not a miracle worker. I had to spend a day or two figuring out where The van graffs kept their paperwork and learning guard shifts to slip past. Even then I had to wrangle up a stealthboy just to get in. McLafferty put up less challenge. She kept the paperwork in the Caravan's main safe. Completely unguarded and unattended for at least most of the night. The only trouble there was getting past her boy Hostetler, but that just meant having a drink or two with him. He's a light weight, so it didn't take much.

Regardless, I made good on my word. I got the documents that the two parties wanted no one else to see. A cursory glance made it clear, this had been going on longer than most would've thought and was only going to get worse.

I met up with Cass outside of the Mojave outpost. She'd told me to meet her there if I managed to collect everything.

"I'll be damned, you actually did it." She said, looking at the papers

Apparently she hadn't expected me to do it either

"I said I'd let you rot them, now's your chance." I held out the papers "These are the tools. The only thing left to do is use them."

She took the documents and eyed them. All the proof was right there in her hands, and she couldn't believe it. I watched her leaf through the paper, double checking that I wasn't lying. Part of me worried she was looking for an excuse to do things her way.

"So… what do we do now?" I asked, worried about what her answer might be.

"… We have to get these to the NCR." She said at last, almost forcing the words out.

"Ok, do you have anyone you can trust to do it?" I asked carefully, not wanting to change Cass's mind.

"I can think of someone, he's here at the outpost. He's probably one of the more competent Rangers here too."

"Jackson?"

"Jackson."

Cass and I went into the main building. Things were as dead as ever, given the border was still closed. We headed back into the office area and found Jackson reviewing some orders from further up the chain.

"I you're looking to try and sneak your caravan through, you ought to turn around." Jackson said tiredly. "Already said I'm not letting you through."

"Aw, come on Jackson." I say "How am I supposed to get my goods through with you blocking me like that?"

Jackson looked up from his papers and took note of me and Cass. He gave a friendly smile. "Well, if it isn't my favorite bug hunter. Didn't think I'd be seeing you again after you left for Vegas."

"No need to be so surprised, figured if I came around every once in a while you'd discover you'd 'lost' more supplies"

"Heh, well you'll have to keep trying then. Didn't happen today."

"Tsk, that's… fortunate. Though I suppose that means we can move onto the second reason I'm here."

Jackson looked confused. "Oh? What would that be?"

"Just some business involving an ongoing series of murders, destruction of property, corruption, and cheap beer."

That last one was from a bottle I snagged from the Van Graffs. This really dry and nasty shit Baptiste was drinking.

Jackson's confusion grew and his head looked back and forth between me and Cass. I'd probably be confused too, if I wasn't already neck deep in it. "You're joking right?"

I looked to Cass and she handed off the documents. Jackson looked at us a moment longer before turning his attention to the papers. It took him a few minutes to read through the first page, and many more to work his way through the rest. By the time he was done, he was white as a sheet.

"This… this is real?" He asked

"It is." Cass hissed "Signed by those Bitches Mclafferty and VanGraff themselves."

"I saw. It's just… it's hard to believe."

"I know it's a lot to stomach Jackson, but that's why we came to you." I told him "Of the people we know in the NCR's military, you're the only one we can trust with this."

"I… I understand." Jackson answered solemnly, undercut with a tinge of frustration. "This explains a lot of what's been happening recently… You have my word, this will get to the right people."

"I hope that it does." I agreed

"It will, you just have to promise me one thing."

"What's that?" Cass asked

"Don't go looking for retribution in this. If they start turning up as bodies then there's nothing I can do for you. It'll take time before the courts back west can go into action. But if you kill any of them, then you'll invalidate everything. Take my advice, stay out of this now."

"Understood" I answered

"That's that then." Cass agreed

"Good, now if you two will excuse me, I've got some messages to pass up the chain. If you'd see yourselves out?"

I nodded and the two of us left the outpost. As we passed the statue at the outpost's edge, Cass slowed to a stop. She starred up at the statue and a small smile crept across her face.

"Everything ok Cass?"

"… I… I don't know. Part of me is relieved I guess. That it's over…"

" …Do you still want to kill them?"

She nodded her head. "I still do. But I know it's not going to help now. Wouldn't have helped before, either."

"It's your choice Cass, I-"

"No, I know it is." She cut me off "But that's not it. Doing what we did just now, you were right. It's worse than just killing them."

She looked away from the statue and too me. A soft smile on her face.

"With all the procedures, the paperwork, the order, everything back west, what we did is worse than shooting them. This'll make them rot, just like you said. Even if it takes a few years. Far as I'm concerned, it settles accounts for me and my men."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, it's just… I feel calm now. For the first time in a long time, I feel calm and it didn't take a bottle to do it. My ma used to talk about it, a sort of tribal thing, about finding yourself a Calm Heart after a long struggle. I never understood it…"

"But you do now?"

She nodded. "… Thank you, Six."

"It was nothing." I said, rubbing the back of my helmet "Just a bit of sneaking and lockpicking."

"Maybe for you." She said "But you've got no idea what you've done for me now."

"Hmm… Maybe not yet. But maybe it's time that I fix that."

Cass's eyes narrowed as she looked at me.

"What you said a few days ago… you were right."

"What I said?... about Benny? Look, Six, I-"

I raised my hand to silence her. "It's alright. You were right, I'm afraid to face him."

Cass's eyes widened a bit at my admission.

"Benny… Shot me in the head and put me in a ditch. To say I'm not afraid to face him would be a lie. I've had to do a lot to get to this point Cass. But for the most part, none of it has mattered to anyone but me. I'm just a guy looking to either reclaim a package, get a little revenge, gain a little understanding, or some combination thereof. I've only really been in this for me. The good I did on the way was just a bonus."

"So what's the problem now?"

"The problem? The problem is that, once I confront him I'm making a stand. House is already watching, and while I'm on decent terms with the NCR, If I stand up to a honcho of the strip, I'm making myself visible. I'm taking that target on my back and making it a flag, shouting: 'Hey! Look at what I did! Who's next?'. Things would have to change, and I'd be at the center of the storm."

"…"

"I… don't remember who I was before all of this. I don't like thinking about it for a number of reasons. But if I did that, make a stand, any chance of eventually returning to it are gone. I'd be starting something and have no way of turning back."

"So you're scared." Cass answered

"… Yea."

"Look Six, I really didn't mean to put you on the spot. I was just angry-"

"I know Cass, but you were also right. I've got Benny dead to rights now and I'm waiting. I just don't know what comes next. But I can't wait anymore."

I looked towards Vegas on the horizon. The sun was setting and the lights of the strip were reaching all the way to the outpost.

"It's time, I need to handle this."

Cass nodded thoughtfully.

"… There's just one thing I want to ask."

"What's that?"

"Can you give me a hand?" I asked "I'd feel better about this knowing I've got some people-"

Cass smacked me on the back and put her arm over my shoulder. "That's all you had to say dumbass." She chuckled

I smiled a little under my helmet. "Alright, let's go find out how much an 18 karat run of bad luck will get you."

…

My Pip-boy chimed softly, signaling it was time to get up. My eyes were heavy and my limbs as responsive as limp noodles. My sleep hadn't been the best. A good night's sleep is beautiful thing, one I normally don't have a lot of trouble getting. The nights I do, it follows me the rest of the day. Either in bad luck, bad temper, or poor performance.

Sadly, this wasn't something coffee could fix either.

I knew the cause of it too. I'd spent the majority of the previous night trying to get ahold of Cardin's scroll again. Or even just come up with a plan of action. My few attempts had been foiled by some conversation Jaune and Ruby were having in the hall, and by the members of CRDL refusing to go to sleep. I called it quits sometime after midnight. By then I figured, if they were going to sleep, I didn't have the energy to deal with it. I could deal with it in the morning. Whatever Cardin might have in store, he probably wouldn't have Jaune running it in the middle of the night.

But now it was the next morning, and I had to figure out how to get ahold of the scroll. I wasn't going to let this drag out any longer than it had to. It had already taken longer than it should have. If I didn't have to tiptoe around every rule and watch myself around the professors I could've already done it and be at peace. But I still didn't know how or when to handle this. That required watching Cardin and learning his patterns. Which requires time that I don't have.

With a sigh, I rolled out of bed and got to work on making myself some breakfast. Nothing extravagant this morning, unless I could figure out how to turn beans into a wasteland omelet. After that, I got dressed in my uniform and started walking. I'd woken up ahead of schedule in fact. Today was the day of the field trip, and I had to head out early to help organize one last time.

It was just some clerical work. Make sure the jars were ready, check the maps, double check the roster of first years, that sort of thing. Grunt work that anyone could've taken care of, but I got stuck with because of judicial reasons. But as soon as this was over, I was free of my punishment.

Which only made the situation with Jaune and Cardin more frustrating. If I did something overt, my work up until now would be for nothing. I wanted my freedom back, dammit. But I had to help Jaune.

'Wish I had Arcade or Veronica here. They'd probably have an idea of how to handle this. Hell, even Boone or Raul could run interference. '

I reached the locker room and pulled on my riot armor. I was going to have to change anyway, so getting it over with now meant saving myself the effort later. Also gave me a chance to look over my weapons. Having to research the area for the trip made it clear there were going to be Grimm around. Mostly Ursa, apparently they liked the sap the trees made. Surprising given that they were supposedly nothing but creatures of darkness and hatred.

I finished strapping my armor and began looking over my tools of trade. I still had a lot of things to consider and test. My 10mm was out, after what happened during initiation I wasn't using it again unless I was facing something small, fleshy, and vaguely human. Unfortunately, the main reason I stuck with it is because I've got so much of the ammunition to burn through. I ought to take some of it and break it down in the future. But I only had so much brass anyway.

My hunting rifle was back in working order, so I could take that. If we were staying in a group this time it was likely I wouldn't have to cover everything this time. But I wasn't too sure about using it. It'd saved my skin last time, but it was meant for long range. I only killed the deathclaw because it was close enough for me to stick it with the barrel. That and I had a grenade. While it could probably punch through the armor of your average Ursa, there was a point when it stopped working. I also had a Cowboy Repeater, it held more bullets but probably was even worse off for stopping power.

I had a few shotguns with me too. Now might've been the time to use them. But I had no clue what was going to work best in this situation. I'm pretty good with a scatter gun, but that wouldn't amount to jack-all if it didn't actually hurt them. In the end, rather than debate it any further, I grabbed the Ranger Sequoia out of my locker. Would've been my first choice if .45-70 wasn't so hard to find. The gun itself had actually been a gift from Hanlon after what happened at Hoover Dam. Kind of a thanks for giving Oliver the shaft. Though he had to do it in secret.

I checked the cylinder and my ammo stores. .45-70 had always been one of the hardest to keep on hand. Even before I got stuck here, I'd only actually find it when I paid the Gun Runners. I had maybe twenty shots with me now. Researching how to make more ammo was next on my growing list of free time activities. Assuming I didn't have to do any heavy lifting, twenty should be sufficient.

I debated whether or not I should go heavier. If things got out of hand the sequoia might be enough, but I thought the same about my rifle and 10mm. Plus, this wasn't an active combat situation. Sure the danger was there but, again, I wasn't alone.

'… maybe a grenade, just to be safe.'

I rummaged through my collection of explosives for something that would work. I had a fire bomb or two, plus some flashbangs. But I wanted to save the Flashbangs for surprise attacks, and the firebombs I was saving for an event. I had a few more frags, should be four of them. I counted them over, then noticed something was off. One of them wasn't a frag, it was EMP.

'How did I mix these up?'

I stared at the grenade a moment, then a lightbulb went off in my head.

'I could use this on Cardin. It's not subtle but they wouldn't be able to link it back to me either.'

There was just one problem: I didn't know if it would work. This place had all kinds of different technology I had no clue about. There was no guarantee the EMP would actually work on the scroll… Then again, I have taken bigger risks on more important things. If it worked, I'd have taken care of my present trouble, have helped Pyrrha, and be free of punishment.

'… It's a risk worth taking. Worst Case, I waste a grenade and find out pulse tech doesn't work here.'

My bets hedged, I closed the locker and headed towards Peach's office. Time to start the madness.

…

"Stay close students." Goodwitch said, leading the group. "Last thing you want is to get lost."

We were walking down a path through the middle of the woods. The leaves of the trees were bright red and looking ready to fall. Most of them were, in fact. Though given this was the forest of the 'Forever Fall', I suppose it was more than just a name. I was currently walking in tandem with my team, carrying jars and equipment like a pack Brahmin.

"This place is so cool." Ruby whispered, looking around at the trees.

"Yes, the Forever fall is beautiful." Goodwitch continued "But, we are not here to sight see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees within this forest and I'm here to make sure none of you die in the process."

'Right, 'cuz so far you and Ozpin have been the epitome of 'Protective Guardians.''

Our group came to a halt in a small clearing, I could hear Jaune fumbling along in the back with Cardin's group. A cursory glance showed Cardin was glaring at something. Not sure who though.

Goodwitch turned to face the gathering students and produced a jar filled with red liquid.

"Each of you will be responsible for collect one jar worth of tree sap. You are free to collect more, though do bear in mind this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm. So, for your safety, do not venture far from your teammates. We will return here at four o'clock. Any questions?"

"…You know if you want syrup you can get it from the store, right?" I asked "I'm no stranger to fending for myself, but dragging us out here for the stuff seems a bit-"

"Please begin collecting." Ms. Goodwitch said, narrowing her eyes at me in annoyance.

'it's the small victories that count the most… or was it the big ones?'

The teams began to disperse with three quarters of JNPR going one way and Jaune being dragged off with CRDL. I'd have followed them right then and there, but I needed to keep up appearances. If things worked like I intended I was going to be very overt if I messed up. Letting them get on like nothing was happening meant less suspicion on me.

Plus, it gave me the opportunity to try some of this sap out. Supposedly it was full of sugar, which is perfect for the other things I'm doing while no one is looking. Just needed to get a taste first. I pulled out an auger I'd been lent and started tapping the tree. Didn't even get a half inch in before the stuff was flowing like a leak in the dam. I stuck a spile into the hole and hooked a jar underneath it. Only took a minute or two before it was full. Don't know if there was an equivalent to this back in the wasteland, but I doubt it would've been this quick.

'Well, time to see how it tastes.'

I dipped my pinky into the sap and lifted my mask just enough to slip it to my mouth. I cleaned the sugary sap off my finger and lowered my mask. It was… odd. A bit woody, a bit vanilla-like, but most definitely sweet.

'hmm… not bad, this'll do just fine.'

I picked the auger back up and got back to tapping holes. I needed to collect as much of this stuff as possible.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

…

"Phew, glad that's over." Yang said, lazing beneath a tree.

"You make it sound hard." Blake said, colleting the last of her sap. "All we had to do was collect some tree sap"

"Speak for yourself" Weiss complained "It's all sticky and I got it all over my hands."

"But it tastes good!" Ruby said, spooning the sap from her jar with her fingers.

"Stop eating it!" Weiss said "I don't want to have to get more of it."

Ruby whined, but removed her fingers from the jar.

"So what was the point of this again?" Yang asked

"Something about testing the sugar content of the sap." Blake said, sitting down next to her partner. "Though Six also said something about it being to fending for yourself."

"So we don't really know?"

"Not really, no."

Blake pulled out the book she had borrowed from Six and picked up where she'd left off. Now having reached more than half way through. Despite the coarse and sometimes cryptic language.

"… You've been reading that book for a while now." Ruby noticed "Is it good?"

"Surprisingly" Blake said, looking up from the book. "It was hard to get into, but the more time I've spent with it the more I've come to enjoy it."

"What's it about?" Yang asked, glancing at the page. She was immediately confused "What's it written in?"

"It's written in sanusian." Blake said, surprised her teammates were taking interest "It's about a runaway boy and a slave rafting down a river."

"That's… um, interesting?" Yang offered, unsure what to make of it.

"It actually is." Blake said with an understanding smirk "It can be pretty funny too, I don't know how I'd never heard of it before."

"If you didn't know about it, how did you find it?" Weiss asked, now looking curiously at the book

"Six lent it to me."

"… Really?" Weiss asked incredulously "That knucklehead likes to read?"

"He's actually smarter than he lets on. He did manage to learn Vytalian in an afternoon."

"… I'm sorry, what?"

Blake blinked, realizing she just said that. "Uh- yeah… he couldn't… read."

Ruby, Yang, and Weiss stared at the darker hued huntress. All three of them wide eyed and surprised.

"He couldn't read?" Ruby asked "Why didn't he say anything?"

"He didn't want to say anything. He thought it was embarrassing."

"It would have been a bit funny." Yang admitted "But he didn't know how to read at all?"

"Well, he could" Blake corrected "It just wasn't Vytalian, apparently his parents taught him how to read Sanusian."

"… Why?" Weiss asked

"He didn't really explain, something about them thinking it was superior or something."

"I can get that, but he's from Mistral. Why would he be reading Sanusian instead of Animan?"

A silence fell over the group for a moment.

"I… I have no idea." Blake said, genuinely confused she hadn't noticed that.

The quartet of huntresses looked off a short distance. The courier was flitting from tree to tree, tapping them with his drill. He'd made a small collection of jars and sap and was showing no signs of slowing down.

"Does he seem… a bit strange?" Weiss asked

"Gee, the guy always wearing a gasmask, has 'mailman' for a first name, and likes to sleep with a shotgun is strange. Imagine that." Yang smirked

"Not just that." Weiss corrected in annoyance "I mean in general. He didn't know how to read, apparently, but more than that. He always seems to cut himself off or change the subject when it comes to him."

"Maybe he prefers his privacy?" Ruby offered

"That's one thing, but there's other stuff. He keeps mentioning people like they're common knowledge or how he doesn't remember the name of his home… Have any of you heard of a 'President Kimball'?"

The girls thought for a moment, then shook their heads. The name was alien to them.

"Six has, and apparently they're important."

"Where are you going with this Weiss?" Ruby asked, concerned

"I'm just saying, I think he's hiding things from us or he might be lying."

"… Well, even if he is, then we should talk to him." Ruby said "He's still our friend, and we should at least talk to him if you're worried."

"Yeah, it's not like he's an alien." Yang added jokingly "He won't zap you with a laser gun so you won't tell anyone."

"I wouldn't recommend it." Blake said "Accusing him of things without proof would probably just make him angry."

"Well he shouldn't be lying then." Weiss said defensively "If he has nothing to hide, then he wouldn't mind a few questions."

"That doesn't sound like you want to find out what's going on." Blake said angrily, familiar with that line of reasoning.

"She's not wrong Blake." Ruby said "If he's not hiding anything then he shouldn't mind the questions. But that doesn't mean we should just start thinking he's a criminal or something."

"I'm not saying he is." Weiss defended "But if he's lying to us, I would like to know why. Wouldn't you?"

"… kind of?" Ruby said guiltily

"Exactly. I won't do it now, obviously, but you should ask him."

"Me!?" Ruby squeaked "You're the one who wants to know!"

"You just said you do too. Plus, as the leader, weren't you put in charge of him?" Weiss asked with a smirk.

Ruby gave Weiss a pouty glare.

"You can ask him later Ruby." Yang said "Just chill for now."

"… Ok." Ruby sighed

"Thank you." Weiss exaggerated

"… Since we're talking about it" Ruby asked "Have either of you ever heard of company called Vault-Tec?"

"Vault what?" Weiss asked

"Vault-Tec, it's the company that made that scroll he's always wearing. I got a look at it a week or so ago during maintenance."

"… I don't think I've ever heard of it." Weiss answered after a pause

"Same for me." Blake agreed "It might be an older company."

"But he said they're still operating in the Mojav- er… Mojave? Which was it again?"

"He said it's either one…" Weiss said, slowly thinking over the pieces that were gathered. "… Didn't Ren and Nora say they'd never heard of it either?"

Before Ruby could respond, the sound of shattering glass came from a short distance away.

…

'The fuck was that!?"

I rubbed the back of my head as the pain of whatever hit me subsided. It took me a second to notice something wasn't right through the glove on my hand. I wiped the back of my helmet and looked at my hand. There were bits of glass and crimson sap on my glove.

'Did… did someone throw a jar at me?'

I turned to look around. Not quite angry enough to retaliate but more trying to understand what just happened. My eyes scanned the clearing. Everyone was visible, but Cardin's team was still missing. They'd have been my first choice for who did it, but I didn't see them. The only groups present were the Remnants of JNPR and my own.

"Hey, courier." A voice whispered from a nearby tree.

I wheeled around to look the dead man in the eye, and found Trash crouched on a high limb. Just barely out of sight. He had a shit eating smirk on his face.

"Think fast." He whispered, tossing a box on the ground in front of me.

The box hit the ground and spilled its contents. At first, nothing happened. Then the angry swarm of rapier wasps rose up like a vicious little cloud. They hovered anxiously for a moment, then dove at me. Three of them stinging my neck before I realized what was happening. The stingers hurt, but nowhere near as much as the venom. It was as though someone distilled Cazador venom and spiked it with Abraxo cleaner. My veins felt like they were on fire and the thought of breathing hurt. If I'd let more than the three get me, I'd have killed myself on the spot rather than suffer it.

"AGH, SON OF A BITCH!" I shouted, bolting away from the cloud of stinging death.

My feet pounded the dirt as I ran. At the edge of my hearing, I could tell they were chasing me. Even with the searing poison in my veins, I could just barely focus my thoughts into coherency.

'Think!... Port!... Grimm! Rapier Wasp… like open space! Sweet things!'

Just enough coherent information for me to realize they weren't just following me to kill me, they wanted to lick the back of my helmet too. Wonderful. I ran as hard as I could, weaving through the trees and kicking up leaves as I attempted to lose my winged pursuers. I hooked onto a tree and made a hard turn to the left. They could easily bank it, but the harder I made it the longer I'd probably live.

'Clean! Gotta get clean!'

I hooked around another tree and ran into the backside of an Ursa. I stopped dead in my tracks as the grimm took notice of me and turned, standing on its hind legs. The beast easily towered over me by an extra seven feet.

'Dammit no!'

I rolled out of the way as the cloud of wasps collided with the Ursa. If the enraged screams were anything to go by, a few of them probably stung the thing. To add insult, I pulled out the sequoia and fired off two rounds at its legs. The gun kicked terribly and I missed the second shot, but the first one buried itself in its left knee. With a roar it fell back to all fours and began to chase me. I bounded over logs and bushes as my growing number of pursuers gave chase.

I half turned and let off a third shot. It missed, my running and rattled mind failing to focus.

'Aim properly dammit! You can't keep missing!'

They were hot on my heels as I weaved through the trees and undergrowth. I might've been able to buy time from the ursa if I climbed one, but the hornets would just swarm me. I needed to find some place to get rid of the sap on my head. But would it be enough to get rid of them? Grimm were tenacious little bastards. That's assuming I even knew where to find the water. I had a canteen with some water in it that was supposedly from Vault 13. But I doubted the Grimm would give me a chance to use it.

'Think! Think! You've got two shots, a swarm of angry bugs and a bear on your ass, and sap on your head. How do you fix this?'

I ran through the mental notes I'd made from port's class. Something had to be useful from it.

Full grown Rapier wasps have an average flight speed of sixty knots? No, that doesn't help.

Ursa can track a scent for over twenty miles? Scary and fuck no.

Rapier wasps are sensitive to changes in temperature? …Bingo, that'll work.

As I ran, I kicked up as many dry leaves and sticks as I could. Collecting and bundling them together. The collection was loose and wouldn't burn long, But I only needed it to last a short while. I slid the sequoia back into its holster and pulled out my engraved lighter. A memento from Benny I could never seem to get rid of, despite my efforts. I lit it and coaxed the flame into the dried leaves and wood. It didn't want to take, but I made it. Before long my sparks and bundle of twigs was a spindly torch.

I slid the lighter back, stopped running, and drew my sequoia again. With a turn, I swung my feeble torch. It cut through the swath of wasps and scattered them. I continued waving with my off hand as I took aim. The wasps converged as I slowed to aim at the still charging Ursa. I shot, a bullet tore into the hide of the beast. I dove away as the beast pounced, swinging the torch wildly to keep the wasps back.

The beast stopped and faced me. The wasps hovered close by, looking for a chance to dive again. One shot left, a shitty torch in one hand, and all the bad luck in the world. Had to make this one count.

The beast roared, charging me in a frenzy. I squeezed the trigger. Sparks leapt from the gun as the round sank itself into the Ursa's skull. The roar teetered off into a strangled groan and the Ursa collapsed forward. It carried forward and landed on top of me. Even through my gas mask the beast stank of burnt hair and death. Fitting, since it was dead now. With great effort, I pushed the beast off of me and squirmed out from under it.

'Told you, just aim idiot. Now you're down five bullets.'

Free from the Ursa, I stood up, torch near dead but still smoldering. The wasps hovered close by as I palmed a little water from my canteen and cleaned my helmet. As glass and sugar water rained, the wasps dove for that and I left them behind. I put as much distance between them and me as I slid new rounds into the cylinder. I took a deep breath, trying to push back the pain that was still coursing through my veins as the venom ran its course. It hurt worse than a cazador, but it wasn't anywhere near as toxic. But instead, it made me furious. I was thinking with a scary, rage fueled rationality I'd only had a handful of time in the past. A kind where I was willing to get creative, put in effort, and remain calm enough to follow through on all of it.

'Screw subtlety Cardin. This ends now.'

I walked back, slowly plotting out what I was going to do. First step being to find Cardin. I was only ripped from it when the screams of emasculated young men pierced the air like a siren.

"Ursa!" They shouted

It sounded like Cardin's boys.

'Like hell I'm going to let Karma have its say, this is mine!'

I ran in the direction of the voices. Moving with concentration and purpose so I didn't get tripped up. The distance wasn't too far, but it took a minute or two to get there. There being a clearing just beneath a hill.

The stage was set. Jaune was squaring off against an Ursa even larger than the one that'd chased me. Cardin was sprawled out on the ground, trying to put distance between himself and the beast.

Jaune's sword was drawn and his shield was at the ready. The bear lunged. I drew, ready to send the beast to whatever awaits it after death. But I never got the chance. With hereto un-displayed prowess Jaune raised his shield, coated in a black aura, and deflected the Ursa's claws. He used the momentum as his own, with a single clean sweep he severed the head of the Ursa. Panting, Jaune hit the ground with the creature. Its head flying further and landing behind him.

'Damn… glad to see he can pull his weight.'

Jaune took a moment to collect himself, then marched over to Cardin. Jaune Hauled the boy to his feet and pulled him in close. He said something to Cardin, but I didn't hear what. Doesn't matter either. With what I was planning it'd make what Jaune said look like pillow talk.

I waited until Jaune walked away before making myself known. I didn't want anyone else to see this conversation.

"Well, would you look at this!" I shouted, stepping from beyond the bushes "A dumb little prick who got in over his head and needed to be bailed out by someone else."

Cardin turned and looked at me, surprised at my appearance. "You!? Where did-"

"Ah, ah, ah-" I interrupted "Why don't you take a seat!"

I closed the distance and crashed my fist into Cardin's nose. He buckled and fell back to the ground clutching his nose.

In the literal span of twenty four hours this boy had gone from being a petty shit stain to a dangerous sociopath. This ended now. If Ozpin wasn't going to take measures to handle this boy, I would. This couldn't go on any longer. I wasn't waiting for his antics to actually kill someone.

"The hell is your-"

I interrupted him with a kick to the ribs and a stomp on his right knee.

"Listen to me you little fucker!" I said, kicking him in the stomach. "I have had it with your shit!"

Cardin tried to push himself away and I stomped on his left ankle. I wasn't letting him go so easy.

"The assaults, the larceny, the blackmail, the racism, everything; it all ends now!"

Cardin tried to shield himself as I took another stomp at him. All he did was hurt his arms.

"This stunt you just pulled could've gotten people killed. You're going to cease your bullshit right now or so help me-"

"F-fuck! Get away from me you psycho!" Cardin wheezed

I pulled out my sequoia and leveled it at his head. His eyes went wide as he stared at the gun. For added effect I turn up the lights of my mask.

"Let me level with you, you little shit." I growled, barely holding back the contempt I had for this boy. "I come from a place where people like you get away with that shit too often."

Cardin dry swallowed and looked like he was staring death in the face. Far as I was concerned, I better look like the angel of death right now.

"-A goddamn wasteland, filled with raiders, murderers, rapists, and every other breed of human filth that's ever walked. Too often they get away with shit like you do. Too often good people die because someone thought it'd be 'fun'"

I cocked the hammer of the Sequoia and got my grip like iron.

"It would be too easy for me to put a bullet in you and make it look like the Ursa did it."

Cardin's eyes shrank to pinpricks as my trigger finger tensed. He froze like a statue.

"… But I'm not you."

I relaxed my finger and Cardin started shaking, some part of him realizing he wasn't dead yet.

"This is your last chance." I put the sequoia back in its holster "I want you and your boys to straighten the fuck out or I will finish what that Ursa started. You've come to a place where people are training to be 'heroes' and all you've been is a goddamn nuisance. You've got a choice, learn from the tale of the Burned Man or experience the tale of Legatus Lanius. Learn to be better or learn how I earned the title of Lord Death. Your choice…"

I pulled out my canteen and poured its contents onto Cardin's crotch. A large wet mark formed and, if the small crackle was any indicator, I fried his scroll.

"Choose."

I left Cardin looking like he pissed himself and went back to my sap. I was now done with today.

…

From their corner of the Glen, Ruby and Weiss watched as the Courier stalked away from a now Traumatized Cardin. They'd seen what had happened with Jaune. Pyrrha had left before Six had made himself known. They'd been about to leave as well, when the Courier made his entrance.

They watched the entire thing, heard everything the courier had said. Watched him pull a gun on Cardin and threaten to shoot him.

Ruby had been about to leap in, only for the Courier to holster his gun and walk away. The two of them were now just standing there. Too stunned to move and too confused to formulate a course of action.

"… so." Weiss said, slowly getting her color back "Can I say I was right yet?"

…

With a sigh, I rested myself against a wall in the dorms. I really wanted a drink. There were so many things I was going to need to unpack, but this needed to come first. In order of importance, doing this was damn near the top. If I didn't do this now, odds were I wasn't going to. For the sake of everyone involved, I needed to. I needed to stay honest after all the shit today brought. I took a deep breath and waited by the door to the roof. I'd seen Jaune and Pyrrha head up there a few minutes ago, probably to sort out their personal issues. I wasn't going to interrupt that, so I waited.

It took about a half hour before the door opened and Pyrrha walked out. She turned and was surprised to see me, though she at least didn't leap out of her skin.

"Hello again." She said with a smile

"Evening Pyrrha. Got a moment to talk?"

"Hmm… I do, though I should be quick. Ren's making dinner and me and Jaune are running late."

"It won't take more than a minute or two, promise."

"Alright." She said with a warm smile "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to talk to you about that, uh- 'thing' you asked me to do."

"'Thing'?... Oh! You mean… Yes, thank you for-"

"Pyrrha, stop. That's not where I'm going with this."

She looked confused. "What do you mean? Cardin isn't harassing Jaune anymore-"

"Yea, but I didn't have anything to do with it."

"Oh?"

"Mmm, should've figured he had it in him. Jaune got out from his issue with Cardin on his own."

"Alright…"

"… You didn't ask me to help. In a way, I offered. But I wound up not actually doing anything to help. If anything I might have just prolonged the problem."

"I don't think you could have-"

"No, trust me, I'm sure I did somehow. But that's not the main issue."

"… Then what is?"

"… The issue, is I promised to help, and I didn't… Which is why I'm rescinding my offer."

"Rescinding your offer?"

"Yes, to do this for you in exchange for that favor."

Pyrrha blinked, then got that warm smile back on her face. "Is that what this is about? Six, I wouldn't have ever used it in the first place."

"Regardless of that though, I promised and couldn't deliver." I sighed "I want you to know I stand by what I say. That favor? It's worth a great deal of my honor. Even if you don't think you'll ever use it, I want you to keep it. Just so that if, for whatever reason, you can't trust someone to help you with something, you'll know I'm still standing in your corner."

Pyrrha looked at me warmly and smiled a little bigger. "I understand. I promise to hold onto it then."

"Good. Happy as I am to be rid of it, I'd rather have you guys know I've got your back if you need it."

"… Well, what else are friends for?" Pyrrha asked with a small chuckle

"…Heh, yeah, what else."

The door opened and Jaune exited the stairwell to the roof. He almost bumped into Pyrrha before realizing we were standing there.

"Oops, sorry Pyrrha- oh, Hi Six."

"Evening Jaune, enjoying the night air?"

"Huh? What?"

"The night, you know, since you were up on the roof?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah… night air…"

'… hmm…'

"You know-" I start "People will start talking if they hear the leader of team JNPR and the prodigy of Beacon are spending time together."

"Wh-what?" Jaun stammered "Why would they-"

"-alone, under the night sky, where no one can see them… where no one can see what they get up too…"

Pyrrha and Jaune both stared blankly at me for a moment. Then their faces went beet red as they pieced together what I was implying. Jaune rubbed the back of his head and Pyrrha looked to the floor.

"I'm referring, of course, to near dead practice of enjoying a conversation."

They both blinked. "O-oh yea" Jaune stammered "L-lotsa talking"

"Undoubtedly, what else could two young adults be doing that involves the use of tongues and lips-"

"-Dinner!" Pyrrha exclaimed suddenly "W-would you like to join us for dinner Six?"

'Oh to be young and awkward.'

"That's a generous offer Pyrrha, but I couldn't -"

"What is taking so long!?" A voice shouted from down the Hall. I looked behind me and watched as Nora poked her head from around the corner. "Are you two coming or what!? Ren refuses to start cooking until you get back!"

"Coming Nora!" Jaune shouted as we began to walk back "Seriously though Six, You're welcome to join us."

"Much obliged Jaune, but it'd be rude of me to intrude. Not much I can offer to the meal anyway."

"Is Six Joining us?" Nora asked hyperly, back flipping towards the door to their room.

"If he is-" Ren called from the door "Then he better decide so I can start mixing the batter."

"Again, I appreciate the offer guys, but I can't offer much right now."

"That's fine!" Nora said "Food's better with company anyway! Ren always makes extra."

"It's not extra" Ren said indignantly "You just eat the company's share."

"Oh yeah~." Nora said with a guilty smile.

"Unless you guys are interested in beans, jerky, or treesap I can't really-"

"You've got extra syrup!?" Nora said, appearing right in my face

'shit!'

I resisted the urge to snap back and deck her in the face. Though she might've thought it was fun.

"uh… Y-yeah, I took a couple extra jars from the forest to use for… things. Why? Is it important?"

"Important!? Nothing goes better with pancakes than syrup! It's like trying to eat bread without jam, or beef without potatoes!"

"Or coffee without milk." Ren added sardonically

'Traitor! Coffee is to be enjoyed black, without sweeteners or cream!... wait-'

"What's a pancake?"

The entirety of team JNPR stared at me like I'd just said the strangest string of words since Caesar first opened his mouth.

"… A pancake, Six." Jaune said, unhelpfully "You know, circle shaped bread thing, cooked in a pan… pancakes?"

"Never heard of them, nor had one."

"What!?" Nora shouted grabbing my by the shoulders.

'Gah! Too close!'

I tried to shake free, but this girl was as strong as a super mutant. If I wasn't busy trying to deal with everything else, that might've terrified me.

"We have to fix this! Ren! Start making the pancakes!"

Before I could respond further, I was dragged through the door into JNPR's room.

…

I didn't eat with them, though I did take a small plate of pancakes at the team's insistence. After kindly excusing myself, I went back to my closet and sat down on my cot. It was time to unpack all the crap I did today.

Because, boy, there was a lot of it.

I reflected on what happened with Cardin. I'd lost my temper and jammed a gun in his face. I got so mad I let slip some things I hadn't told anyone except for Ozpin. Hell, I might've blown his head off if I'd been pushed a bit harder. I'll readily admit Cardin needed to be put in his place. But I'm not so blinded by my own self-righteousness to not see I might have overstepped there. For the same reason I hadn't continued to beat Trash after he'd attacked me the first time. He's still a kid.

I unconsciously clenched my fists.

He needed to be taught a lesson. That's the first thing. That stunt he and his boys pulled today, tossing sap at me, it could've been lethal. Even without my horrible luck, the forest was full of grimm that loved the treesap. What if it had been someone else? Someone less experienced or equipped to handle it. They'd have died. They'd have been mauled to death by the Ursa or stung to shit by the wasps. Things could have gone so horribly wrong, the only reason they didn't is anyone's guess but my own. Odds are, he would've gotten of Scott-free again. He needed to be called on it.

But… he didn't deserve to die. That's the second thing. He's an idiot. He's a brat. He's an asshole. But, he's also an idiot teenager. One who's probably spent his whole life having shit handed to him and isn't familiar with cause and effect. He needed a punishment of some kind, something to put him in his place. Shooting him wouldn't have been the solution. That'd be like cutting the hands off a starving orphan that stole some bread. They don't know any better, and teaching them could change them. Cardin needed to have repercussions handed to him. But he didn't need them to that point yet. There was still a chance to set him straight.

The only thing that remains, is whether or not it will actually have an impact on him. Just because I kicked the shit out of him doesn't mean he'll change. He could even come back worse for it. I had no way of knowing either.

I sighed, angry at my own stupidity for today.

'… Right or wrong, it's done now. All I can do is watch until I'm allowed to leave.'

I was starting to really miss the Mojave. Things were worse there in a number of ways. But at least I didn't have to sit on my bed and contemplate if I'd over stepped on something like this.

At least, not very often. There were times, though I'd try my damnedest to make the outcome better.

I pulled my helmet off and looked at it. Wasn't too much different about it now than when I first got here. Maybe a new nick or two that wouldn't polish out. But it was still the same. Still a grim mask that helped me scare the shit out of people and protect my head.

Looking at it right now though… I felt angry with myself for what happened today, that I let any of it happen.

The only thought it made me think was, 'could I have done better?'

Right now… I didn't have an answer. Maybe if I stayed here, dwelled on it a bit longer, I'd think of a better way to have handled it. But I didn't want to right then. I'd done enough damage, needed to let it sort itself out first. If I kept pushing it'd probably get worse, knowing my luck.

I really wanted a drink.

Then there was all the personal crap I told him. Maybe he wouldn't do anything with it. He's not smart enough to know what to do with it. I also doubt he'd be dumb enough to try blackmailing me after today either. But the truth was out there now. Thankfully, no one else except him seemed to hear it. But it's harder for two people to keep a secret than one. Plus that stupid title I just had to drop. The full thing sounded cartoonishly evil and stupid, even if appropriate. The apocalypse didn't have shit on me when I was angry.

I sighed again and set my mask on my cot. I put my face in my hands and sat there a little longer. Just trying to let the weight off for a minute.

It was right about then I noticed the sweet, warm smell of the pancakes JNPR had given me.

They were cooling down, but they were still fresh. As if to exemplify I needed to focus someplace else, my stomach reminded me I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

'… might as well see what the fuss is. Find out how new world food tastes to an Old World Gourmet.'

I picked the plate up and poured some sap from the two dozen jars I had onto them. The dark liquid sat on the pancakes for a bit before sinking in.

I took a fork and carved off a small wedge of the doughy food and scooped it into my mouth. The sap was sticky and got everywhere, but I didn't really notice it. I was too busy eating.

"… Damn, these are really fucking good."

I continued eating, putting the day behind me for now. Maybe tomorrow would be a better.