"This is Lisa Lavender, reporting live from Greensborough Square in Central Vale where the Human-Faunus Peace Rally is just about to commence. Behind me, supporters for the event are just starting to arrive, as well as a handful of protestors too. The Kingdom's police force is out in droves today, here to keep the peace and ensure no fights break out during today's event, which is meant to serve as a symbol of unification and peace in these trying times. The event will feature an array of influential speakers from both sides of the issue, including reformed Purifier..."

The city square is beginning to fill with countless bodies as human and Faunus alike gather to show their support for a peaceful Remnant, one where the two species can live together. Protestors too, are gathering in mass, calling for war. Still, the number of those who would seek peace seem to greatly outnumber those who want violence, a reassuring sight. Meanwhile, nine Beacon students are huddled together towards the edge of the crowd.

"So, none of them knew who hired them?" Yang asks disappointedly. "That sucks."

"I wasn't really expecting them to." (F/N) says. "If the person who hired them is smart enough to orchestrate a war between human and Faunus just to act as a distraction, they're definitely smart enough to stay in the shadows."

"Well, at least we put a handful of mercenaries behind bars, right?" Ruby offers optimistically. "That counts for something."

"Yeah." Jaune agrees. "Looks like our work here is done."

Ren shakes his head. "Not quite. Ozpin wanted us to stay for the entirety of the event."

"Aw man."

"Don't complain Jaune." Pyrrha says in a very motherly tone. "Things could still go wrong. Just because the main threat has been dealt with doesn't mean we're not needed. A riot could still break out between the protestors from the two sides."

"What are they even doing here?" Weiss asks indignantly. "This is a peace rally. They should just go home."

"It's the same old story." Blake says knowingly. "Wherever there's a cause for peace, there'll be people calling for bloodshed."

"Looks like the rally's about to begin." (F/N) says, looking at the time on his scroll. "Stick with your partners and spread out."

The group separates once more, dispersing into the now large crowd. As Pyrrha and (F/N) get swallowed by the sea of people, Pyrrha can't help but place some distance between herself and her friend.

"What's bothering you Pyrrha?" (F/N) asks gently as they walk around the square.

"Hmm?"

"You haven't said anything in the past twenty minutes. That's not like you."

"Would you... would you stop doing that?" Pyrrha asks, an annoyed edge to her voice.

"Stop doing what?"

"Reading me." She says frustratedly. "Using your semblance. It's invasive and quite frankly, it's rude. I'm entitled to have my own private thoughts."

"Sorry." (F/N) says hastily. "I wasn't trying to... I just, it's hard to control sometimes. There's no on-off switch for the thing, it just... happens."

Pyrrha says nothing, instead turning her head away from (F/N).

"But," (F/N) continues, "we are friends. You don't need to hide yourself from me."

"Then why are you hiding yourself from me?!"

"What do you mean?" (F/N) asks innocently.

"There's something you're not telling me (F/N). Something you're not telling anyone. The others might not see it, but I do."

"I don't..."

"Stop pretending!" Pyrrha says angrily. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. When we first met you told me you lost your arm to a pack of Beowolves, but when Ruby asked, you said it was an Ursa. You keep calling Atlas, Mantle. You seem to know how to plan an ambush a little too well. Your personality changes with the drop of a hat. I mean, one minute you're a little kid excited for the carnival, the next you act like some heartless monster. I mean, you tortured that man back there! And just yesterday, you told me that when you close your eyes you can see their bodies. Who's their? Why won't you just tell me?"

"Enough!" (F/N) whisper shouts, placing a hand firmly over Pyrrha's mouth.

Looking warily over his shoulder to make sure no one heard Pyrrha, he grabs her by the hand and drags away from the crowd.

"Pyrrha, there are things about me you can't know. Things I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because," (F/N) sighs, "because if you knew, you'd never look at me the same. And I don't know if I could live with that. So please Pyrrha, please, don't do this. Don't go digging up my secrets."

"I wouldn't have to if you would just tell me. I promise, whatever it is you've done, it won't change how I feel about you."

"And how do you feel about me?" (F/N) asks, stepping closer, starring deeply into her brilliant green eyes.

"I... like you." Pyrrha admits, breaking eye contact. "And I mean more than just a friend."

(F/N) steps even closer, their bodies almost touching. Gently, he places a finger under Pyrrha's chin, directing her gaze back up at him. "I like you too."

"But what you did back at the shop." Pyrrha says, turning her head. "It just proves that you're keeping something from me."

Dropping his arm, (F/N) releases a weary sigh.

"You're right." He says. "You're right, I'm keeping something from you. But don't think I'm doing it because... I don't..."

(F/N)'s voice trails off as his attention is caught by something off in the distance.

"Sniper."

"What?" Pyrrha asks, caught off guard by the sudden change.

"Brick apartment building on the right. Seventh floor, fifth window."

Following (F/N)'s gaze and instructions, Pyrrha spots it. Something's reflecting the light of the sun. It's almost imperceptible, so minute that one might pass it off as a glare off a window. Pyrrha's still staring when she notices (F/N) has already began walking in the direction of the building. Catching up, the two push their way through the sea of people now gathered in the square. Reaching the door, they rush inside. Not bothering to wait for the elevator, the two take the stairs, racing to the seventh floor. Quietly, they approach room 709, positioning themselves on either side of the door. (F/N) presses his ear against the wooden frame before nodding once. Stepping back, Pyrrha takes a running start she crashes through the door, rolling and landing in a crouched position, her shield raised, spear at the ready. (F/N) is right behind her, the Mortar in its secondary configuration, prepared to fire.

The room is empty. Still on guard, Pyrrha opens the door to the bathroom, peering inside.

"All clear." She says.

Turning towards (F/N), she sees him standing at the open window holding something in his hand.

"What is it?" She asks, approaching him.

Turning, he shows her the object; a small, round makeup mirror.

"So no sniper?" Pyrrha asks, to which (F/N) shakes his head. "This is going to be fun to explain." She says, looking at the door hanging off its hinges.

"Wait." (F/N) says. "Something's not right."

Closing the mirror with a 'snap', he sets it on a table before moving to inspect the apartment. It's extremely neat and orderly. Everything has a set place and there isn't so much as a speck of dust. On the wall is a framed picture of a group of five people, a young girl and boy, a teenage daughter, and a mother and father. Next to it is another picture of just the parents. Both are old, the color bleached by age and exposure to sunlight, but the frames are polished and new. Looking around the apartment, (F/N) finds more photos, but removing them from their frames and looking on the back, none are dated more recently than ten years ago. In the bedroom, (F/N) finds a certificate of achievement for outstanding community service mounted on the wall.

"Pyrrha."

"Hmm?"

"Look up the name Alyssa Glen, we're looking for something from about ten years ago."

"Okay, give me a minute."

Continuing to look around the room, (F/N) finds a laptop. Grabbing it, he opens the top and turns it on. Password protected. Damn.

"I've got something." Pyrrha calls from the other room. "Oh God."

"What is it?"

"Nine years ago, there was a house fire caused by a group of delinquent Faunus. The fire lit the entire building ablaze, and within five minutes it was burned to the ground. Alyssa was the only survivor, her parents and younger sister died in the fire, and her younger brother died two days later in the hospital due to lung damage caused by smoke inhalation."

On the nightstand next to the bed is a small picture of Alyssa with her arms around her younger sister. Picking it up, (F/N) asks, "what was the sister's name?"

"Olivia."

"Olivia." (F/N) mutters, typing it into the laptop.

The screen goes black, a loading icon circling the screen, and then the profile loads.

"Shit." (F/N) says.

Scrambling to his feet he grabs Pyrrha and races out the door.

"(F/N)? What's wrong?"

"The attack's still happening." He answers.

"But we stopped all the..."

"They're in the crowd."

"They can't be." Pyrrha says as they quickly descend the stairs. "The police checked everyone at the roadblocks, no one has any weapons."

"The police do."

"What?"

"Alyssa Glen, she's a cop!"

"How do you know?" Pyrrha asks as they reach the bottom landing.

"Her desktop background. It's her graduating class."

"And the mirror?"

"A distraction. She probably made one of the others earlier when we were sweeping the area."

Stepping outside, it became obvious that the damage had already been done. People were screaming, trampling over each other in an attempt to get as far away from the square as possible. Gunfire echoes throughout the sky as multiple unknown assailants shoot randomly into the crowd. Ducking behind a car is Lisa Lavender and her camera crew, eager to capture the action.

"Pyrrha! (F/N)!"

Turning at the sound of their names, the two seeTeams RWBY and JNPR running towards them. And in the center of the chaos are adozen men and women in grey uniforms donned with black Kevlar, a white + spraypainted across the chest.