MVRC Chapter 9

The Beacon Academy custodian was a middle-aged man. He loves his cleaning supplies, his broom, his dustpan, and how Beacon students always picked up after themselves. However, his work has been cut out for him this past year. As of now, he stands in front of the generator scratching his head at its busted open compartments and missing components. Come to think of it, most of the air ducts had several screws missing. There was also a problem in the Cross Continental Transmit tower where one of the terminals were crudely open with several components missing as well as the screen. Why was this happening? Who would need so much equipment? And for what?

Chloe: Is it finished yet?
Ryan: No
Chloe: How bout now?
Ryan: No
Chloe: Hmmm..... now?
Ryan: *sighs* No
Chloe: ….....Now?
Ryan: …..
Chloe: …..Now-
Ryan: If you keep asking me, I wont continue working on it.
Chloe: *covers her mouth*
Ryan: *rolls her eyes and gets back to working*
Chloe: …... *leans in right next to her face*
Ryan: …...
Chloe: *stares intently*
Ryan: If you're asking me if it's done in your mind, the answer is still no.
Chloe: What more do you need woman!? I got you the parts, I got you the transmitter, and I even got you the screen!
Ryan: Well.... there is one more thing that I need-
Chloe: Yes! What is it!?
Ryan: It might be very hard to find-
Chloe: I CAN FIND IT!
Max and Violet: *walk in*
Ryan: It could even be so far as to go all the way-
Chloe: JUST TELL ME WHAT IT IS!!!
Ryan: A triple-turbine holographic gradient vector projector
Chloe: *runs out*
Max: *blinks*
Violet: *raises a brow* Umm, what was all that about?
Max: Is that even a thing?
Ryan: *sighs* Yeah, but she'll never find it; they stopped making em after the war. Too high-end for commercial use. Besides, we already have a screen for it; a holographic projector would be useless.
Violet: So... what your saying is you had her go fetch something like that to-
Ryan: Keep her busy while I finish this? Yeah.
Max: *giggles* Knowing Chloe, she'll find it somewhere.  

Ryan got back to working on the nearly finished television set. Hopefully, if Ryan finishes it by nightfall, they were going to have team RWBY and team JNPR over to test it. If everything goes well, and they get a decent signal, they would be able to watch the television premier of the latest Spruce Willis movie. Everyone was surprised to hear about Ryan's technological background; she didn't really seem the type to be an engineer. Then again, it seems like everyone has their own types they don't seem. There's more of a person underneath any outer layers. Such as the Faunas they met at the docks; Blake explained who he was and his story. Sun Wukong is his name and, according to Blake, his team from Mistral will be attending Beacon as exchange students. Max watched Ryan work as Violet went over notes.

Yang: *knocks on the door frame of the room* Hey, how's it comin? *crosses arms leaning against the door frame*
Ryan: Fine. At this rate I should be done within the next few hours or so.
Yang: It still gets to me how you can do all that stuff. *walks in*
Max: What do you mean Yang?
Yang: Just all the tech stuff ya know? Ruby can do all that with weapons and stuff.
Violet: Didn't you forge your own weapon?
Yang: Well yeah but, it's nothing to be all excited about. *pulls up a chair and sits on it backwards*
Max: Are you kidding? Ember Celica is like the best pair of gauntlets I've ever seen!!
Yang: Hmm? You really think so?
Max: Of course I do. All I have is a low-tech bow and an old sword.
Yang: But your arrows explode, that's pretty cool. *smirks*
Max: Yeah I guess... I wish I could make something as cool as everyone else's weapon.
Ryan: Be careful what you wish for.
Yang: Besides Max, you work so well with your bow and I can tell you've really improved with your sword skills.  
Max: *smiles*
Yang: *looks around* Where's Chloe?
Violet: Scavenging.
Yang: Huh?
Ryan: I sent her on a fools errand so she would stop asking if I was done or not.
Yang: Are you?
Ryan: *slowly looks over with a blank expression* No.
Violet: Unless you wish to go hunting for a non-existing, useless part for the television, I suggest you leave it at that.
Yang: Geez, you sound just like Weiss.
Max: *giggles*
Yang: So!~ Snack wise. What are we thinkin? Popcorn? Chips? Cookies? Soda?
Max: They all sound good.
Ruby: *leans into the room* Did someone say cookies?  
Yang: *crosses arms* Honestly, you'd be able to smell a plate of cookies a mile away.
Max: Is that really such a bad thing?
Ruby: *walks in* So. Whatcha doin?
Ryan: ….. *stops and looks at everyone*
Max: Oh... maybe we should give Ryan some peace and quiet-
Violet: Thank you!
Yang: Sheesh *gets up* If I wanted this much ridicule, I woulda stayed back in the room with Weiss.
Weiss: *in the other room* I heard that!
Yang: See what I mean?
Ruby: Well then lets go out for a walk. Get some fresh air ya know?
Max: Sounds good.
Violet: Anything to keep you all out of my hair.
Ruby: Isn't Ryan the one working?
Violet: Well-
Max: *pushes Ruby and Yang out* Let's go for a nice walk!

The three walk along on the streets of the city. They invited Blake but she was busy with other stuff so it was just Max, Ruby, and Yang. It was fun hanging out with the two sisters and reminded Max a lot of her own sister, all the while missing her too. She watched as Yang and Ruby talked and teased poking fun at each other but laugh while doing so. She enjoyed their company and hoped they felt the same way.

Ruby: Max, you're kinda quiet. You okay?
Max: Hm? Oh yeah, I'm good. Just looking at the town you know?
Yang: It's still the same as it was the last time you saw it. Nothing really changes.
Max: I know *smiles* It's just always nice to see it. It's even better the second time. Hey, *stops* I didn't notice that shop before.
Yang: *stops and looks* Tukson's Book Trade? You like books Max?
Max: Oh yes *smiles skipping a bit to the store*
Yang: *looks at Ruby* Just like you Ruby *smiles*
Ruby: Come on lets go! *grabs Yang's hand pulling her along*

The three girls walk into the book shop. Tukson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun. Now that's one catchy catch phrase. The store sells new and used books hence the trade in the title. A younger man with dark hair and even darker sideburns stands at the counter. His eyes were hazel and he gave a smile when they walked in. They all looked around; Max following Ruby over to different genres of books while Yang just glanced at comic book covers.

Tukson: Welcome to Tuckson's Book Trade, home to every book under the sun. Can I help you girls with anything?
Yang: Just looking, but thanks.
Tukson: Alright then, let me know if you need any help.
Ruby: Whoa! They have the latest issue of Weapons Magazine!~ *picks it up flipping through the pages*
Max: *looks around at the various book covers*
Yang: Awe sweet! X-ray and Vav! *takes the comic book and starts reading*
Max: *stumbles across a certain book* Huh?
Ruby: *walks up* Oh, that looks like the one Blake was reading when I first met her.
Max: What's it about?
Ruby: Let me see... ah yeah, she said it was about a man with two souls. And each of them were trying to gain control of his body... or something.
Max: ….. Weird.
Ruby: I love books. Yang used to read to me before bed when I was a kid.
Max: I like books too. All the stories of heroes and monster slayers. People fighting for what's right and for other people that didn't have the strength to protect themselves.  
Ruby: I know right!?
Max: *smiles* My mom still reads to me. *chuckles* Sometimes its either one I've never heard before or its one I always request.
Ruby: ….Yeah. Your mom... is... is she pretty?
Max: Hmm? Yeah. She has teal eyes a bit like mine and her hair is the same color. My dad always tells me he fell head over heals for her the moment he laid eyes on her. “She was enchanting” he'd always say. But frankly I think he swoons over her a bit too much. *chuckles*
Ruby: *smiles lightly*
Max: What about your mom? I bet she's really pretty.
Ruby: …... Yeah... she was.
Max: *tilts head a bit*
Yang: *notices and sets the book down slowly walking over* Ruby?
Ruby: My mom... she went on a mission one day and... she never came back.
Max: Oh... where did she go?
Ruby: I dunno... she just.... never came back.
Yang: *puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder* She was awesome. And yes, very beautiful.
Max: …. I'm sorry, I made you sad. I didn't mean it.
Ruby: No, no it's okay *smiles reassuringly* Not many people know about it so... I don't blame you. *spots a book* Oh! *picks it up handing it to Max with a smile* Here, this was my favorite one as a kid.  
Max: *takes it and looks at the cover*
Ruby: It's about a little girl who overcomes her fears.
Max: *smiles looking at her* Thanks!~
Ruby: *smiles* Don't mention it.

They pay for their books and walk out of the shop. Yang ended up getting the comic book and Ruby got her magazine. Max started reading the book as they were walking and Yang chuckled as she tripped a bit and ran into a poll.

Yang: *helps Max up* I tell Ruby all the time, don't read and walk.
Max: *rubs forehead* You coulda let me know a little sooner.
Ruby: *looks around* I wonder where Penny is.
Yang: You mean that weird girl we met about a week ago?
Ruby: Yeah... I'm a bit worried.
Max: I haven't seen her since the docks... *gasps* You think she was kidnapped?
Ruby: I hope not.

As they walk, they pass the Beacon janitor sweeping the sidewalk. A bit of dust from a building falls on the sidewalk. The janitor sweeps it. Some more dust falls. And the janitor sweeps. A whole pile of dust and debris falls and the janitor looks up and around scratching his head wondering where it came from. Suddenly, the ground rumbles and a big boom is heard. The girls look up at a building as the side of it explodes. Thinking fast, Ruby zoomed using her speed and grabbed the janitor moving him out of the way before the destroyed building parts fell on him.

Ruby: You okay?
Janitor: *shakes and nods*
Yang: Fast thinking Ruby.
Max: *looks up at the hole in the building* I wonder what that explosion was?

Just then, Chloe jumps out from the building and lands on the debris making dust and dirt fly up. Everyone in the area coughs and Chloe walks out from the cloud looking impressed with herself.

Chloe: Sup guys. *smirks*
Yang: Uh... I know that was a pretty sweet entrance but, what was that all about?
Ruby: Chloe! You could've hurt someone really bad!
Chloe: I found what Ryan needs. *spins a smaller strange contraption* What are you guys up to?
Max: We were shopping. I got a book see! *shows Chloe the book*
Chloe: Ooo! Nice!~
Yang: Speaking of shopping, while we're out and about we should get some snacks for tonight.
Chloe: Awe yeah!
Ruby: Make sure you get cookies!
Max: *giggles*

The girls walk off leaving the messy scene. Everyone looks at the blocked sidewalk then at the janitor. The janitor lets out an annoyed sigh and starts to sweep up the mess. About an hour later, the girls return to the room with bags full of snacks and drinks. Violet didn't approve of all the junk food and requested some healthier snacks to which Yang suggested she should just get some bread from the kitchens and everyone laughed. Ryan was just finishing up on the television when the sun started to sink over the horizon. JNPR walked into the room in their sleeping attire and set up sleeping bags and pillows in the center of the room as team RWBY did the same. Violet once again commented snidely that the room capacity was exceeded and they were going to get into trouble. Everyone rolled their eyes and ignored her. They all watched intently as Ryan was plugging in the final plug that would power the television and give them a signal. Everyone was silent as they all leaned in.

Ryan: *plugs in the plug*
All: …
TV: *nothing*
Yang: Where's the picture?
Ryan: *scratches head*
Weiss: So, nothing?
Nora: No movie?
Ryan: I could've sworn I calibrated everything. *examines the TV*
Ruby: *mouth full from cookies* We need an antenna?
Pyrrha: I believe that's what the transmitter is for.
Chloe: Well you asked me to pick this up so I did. *shows the object*
Violet: It was a fools errand, idiot.
Ryan: *looks at the object in Chloe's hand*
Chloe: Hey! I had to search high and low for this damn thing, the least you could do is thank me.
Violet: Thank you!?
Chloe: You are very welcome. *smiles*
Violet: I didn't-
Max: Wait, didn't you say that was some projector thingy?
Jaune: Projector? I thought the TV had a screen?
Max: If it's a projector then maybe you could use it inside the TV.
Blake: Inside?
Max: Yeah. No one's ever thought of that before?
Ryan: Inside of it of course! *takes the object* Max you're a genius! *gets to work on installing the triple-turbine holographic gradient vector projector*    
Max: *smiles* I'm a genius.
Chloe: *crosses arms and smirks snidely giving Violet a look* And you said it was useless.
Violet: *rolls eyes and mumbles under breath*
Ryan: Alright. *picks up the plug* Now for the moment of truth.
Yang: Please work, please work, please work.
Ruby: *eats cookies*
Weiss: *watches with hands on hips* It better work
Blake: *blinks*
Nora: Movie! Movie! Movie!
Jaune: *covers eyes*  
Pyrrha: *crosses fingers*
Ren: …Wait, what movie are we watching again?
Ryan: *plugs it in*
TV: ….. AND NOW THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!! SPRUCE WILLIS!!
All: *cheer*
Ryan: *wipes forehead with a smile*
Yang: *playfully punches Ryan's shoulder*
Jaune: *sighs relieved*
Pyrrha: *claps* Well done.

Everyone had a great time watching the movie. Yang and Chloe were the most animated of watchers and tended to throw their popcorn around the room. Weiss and Violet rolled their eyes while everyone laughed. They laughed at the comedy, sighed at the drama, got pumped up at the action, and gasped at the plot twists. Max took a moment to look around the room filled with her friends. She smiled at herself happy to be surrounded by great people. Ruby looked at her and smirked shoving a small cake into Max's mouth then laughed. Max ate the cake and laughed along. Yeah, surrounded by great friends, especially Ruby.

[To be continued...]