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Ozpin stood by the large glass window. He looked down at Beacon Academy.
Students walked across the courtyard. They looked small from up high.
Ozpin took a sip from his mug. The coffee was black and bitter.
General James Ironwood sat at the large desk.
He didn't look at the window. He looked at a digital map glowing on the table.
"The movement is getting worse,"
Ironwood said.
"I know,"
Ozpin replied.
"The Grimm are gathering in the western dead lands,"
Ironwood pointed at the map.
"They aren't wandering. They are moving with a purpose. She is planning something."
"Salem is always planning something,"
Ozpin turned around.
"But this is different. You are right. We need to know what she is doing."
"We need to send a scout,"
Ironwood said.
"A team would make too much noise. An army would start a war. We need one person. Someone who can get in, look around, and get out unseen."
"I have chosen someone,"
Ozpin said.
"Who?"
"Summer Rose."
Ironwood frowned. He leaned back in his heavy chair.
"Summer is very good,"
Ironwood admitted.
"Her silver eyes make her a danger to the Grimm. But this is a suicide mission, Ozpin. The western dead lands are totally dark. If she gets caught, she will die alone."
"She is the best I have,"
Ozpin said quietly.
"It is too risky,"
Ironwood shook his head.
"She needs backup."
"Who would you suggest?"
Ozpin asked.
"Qrow? He is not here. Taiyang? He has a family to watch. Raven is gone."
"Not them,"
Ironwood said.
"I have two operatives in Atlas. They are independent. But they take contracts from me."
"Elias and Dee,"
Ozpin said. Ironwood looked surprised.
"You know them?"
"I know everyone who matters,"
Ozpin smiled slightly.
"I have heard the stories. They go into impossible situations. They always come out alive."
"They have a one hundred percent success rate,"
Ironwood stated.
"No matter how bad the odds are. I just sent them into Solitas to save a trapped research team. They did it in one night. Not a single scratch on them."
"They are very strong,"
Ozpin agreed.
"They are exactly what Summer needs,"
Ironwood pushed.
"Send them with her. They can watch her back."
"I have wanted to meet them for a long time,"
Ozpin walked back to his desk.
"I want them in our inner circle. People with their skill are rare. People with their morals are even rarer. They protect Faunus settlements for free. Did you know that?"
"I heard,"
Ironwood said.
"I don't ask about their personal time."
"I wanted to approach them,"
Ozpin sighed.
"But my duties here at the Academy keep me busy. I never had the time to travel to Atlas and speak with them face to face."
"This is your chance,"
Ironwood said.
"Offer them the contract. Tell them it is top secret. Let them work with Summer. If they do well, you can bring them into the circle."
Ozpin looked at his coffee mug. He thought about it.
"It is a smart plan, James,"
Ozpin nodded. He tapped a button on his desk.
"Glynda,"
Ozpin spoke into the speaker.
"Please ask Summer Rose to come to my office."
"Right away, Headmaster,"
Glynda's voice came through.
She sounded very tired. Ten minutes later, the elevator doors opened.
Summer Rose stepped out. She wore her white cloak. The hood was down.
Her silver eyes were bright and full of life. She smiled warmly.
"You called for me, Professor Ozpin?"
Summer asked.
"Yes, Summer. Please, take a seat."
Summer sat in a chair next to Ironwood. She waved at him.
"Hello, General,"
Summer said cheerfully.
"You look very serious today. More serious than usual."
"The situation is serious, Summer,"
Ironwood said. He didn't smile back. Ozpin sat down across from her. He folded his hands.
"Summer, I have a mission for you,"
Ozpin began.
"It is not a normal hunt. It is a scouting mission. Far outside the safe zones."
Summer sat up straight.
"Where?"
She asked.
"The western dead lands,"
Ozpin answered.
"We believe Salem is moving her forces there. We need to know why."
Summer nodded slowly. She understood the name. Salem was the great enemy. She was the shadow behind the Grimm.
"You want me to go look,"
Summer said.
"Just look. Don't fight."
"Exactly,"
Ozpin said.
"If you are seen, you must run. You can't fight her army alone. Your silver eyes are a great weapon, but they are also a target. If she sees you, she will try to kill you."
"I understand,"
Summer said. Her voice was steady.
"I will be careful."
"You won't go alone,"
Ironwood added. Summer looked at him in surprise.
"I thought this was a stealth mission."
"It is not a full team,"
Ozpin explained.
"I want you to take two people with you. Their names are Elias and Dee."
"I don't know them,"
Summer said. She searched her memory.
"Are they Huntsmen from Beacon?"
"No,"
Ironwood said.
"They operate in Atlas. They are independent contractors."
"Are they good?"
Summer asked.
"They are the best,"
Ironwood said simply.
"They have never failed a mission."
Summer blinked.
"Never?"
"Never,"
Ironwood confirmed.
"Wow,"
Summer smiled again.
"That is a good record."
"I want you to invite them,"
Ozpin said.
"I want you to travel to Atlas. Meet with them. Tell them the mission requires absolute secrecy. Offer them whatever price they want. But make sure they come with you."
"Okay,"
Summer agreed instantly. Ozpin paused.
He expected her to ask more questions.
"You agree just like that?"
Ozpin asked.
"You don't want to know more about them? They are strangers."
"If you trust them, I trust them,"
Summer said.
"And if General Ironwood says they are the best, then they are the best. I would love some company on the road. The dead lands are very boring to walk through alone."
Ozpin chuckled softly. Summer's pure heart was always refreshing.
"Very well,"
Ozpin said.
"Glynda has their files. Go see her before you leave. She will give you their location."
"Will do,"
Summer stood up. She gave a quick salute.
"I won't let you down."
Summer walked to the elevator. The doors closed behind her. Ironwood looked at Ozpin.
"She is too trusting,"
Ironwood noted.
"She is,"
Ozpin agreed.
"But her trust is her strength. It makes people want to protect her."
Summer rode the elevator down.
She walked through the large halls of Beacon Academy.
She hummed a happy tune. She liked having a clear mission. She stopped at a large wooden door.
A brass plate read: *Deputy Headmistress Glynda Goodwitch.*
Summer knocked twice.
"Come in,"
A stressed voice called out. Summer opened the door. The office was a mess.
There were stacks of paper on every table. Digital scrolls glowed with endless lists of numbers.
Glynda sat behind her desk. She rubbed her temples. She wore her glasses. She looked very tired.
"Hello, Glynda,"
Summer smiled.
Glynda looked up. She sighed heavily.
"Hello, Summer,"
Glynda said.
"Did Ozpin give you the mission?"
"He did,"
Summer nodded. She walked in and closed the door.
"He wants me to go out west. He wants me to take two people from Atlas with me."
Glynda picked up a riding crop from her desk. She tapped it against her hand.
"I told him it was a bad idea,"
Glynda said angrily.
"Sending you out there is too dangerous. I told him I should go with you."
"You want to come?"
Summer looked surprised.
"That would be fun!"
"It is not about fun, Summer. It is about keeping you alive,"
Glynda stood up. She paced behind her desk.
"Salem is not a normal threat. You don't know what is out there."
"Then come with me,"
Summer offered.
"We can make it a girls' trip."
Glynda stopped pacing. She looked at the giant stacks of paper on her desk.
She looked at the glowing scrolls.
"I can't,"
Glynda said bitterly.
"Ozpin threw all of his work onto me. He says he needs time to think about the future. So I have to run the entire Academy. I have to manage the teachers. I have to manage the budgets..."
Summer looked at the paperwork. She felt a little bad for her friend.
"That is a lot of work,"
Summer said softly.
"It is impossible,"
Glynda corrected her.
"If I leave for one week, this school will burn down. The students will riot. So, I am stuck here behind a desk while you walk into the dark."
Summer walked over. She put her hand on Glynda's shoulder.
"I will be okay, Glynda,"
Summer promised.
"I am strong. And Ozpin is making me take a backup."
"Yes. Elias and Dee,"
Glynda picked up a brown folder from her desk.
She handed it to Summer.
"I put together everything I could find on them. Which isn't much."
Summer opened the folder. There were a few blurry photos.
One photo showed a man with a blank expression.
He was holding a large, heavy rock with one hand.
Another photo showed a woman with calm eyes.
She was drinking tea at a cafe.
"They are ghosts,"
Glynda explained.
"They don't have public records. They just appear, finish the job, and vanish."
"They look nice,"
Summer said. She looked at the picture of Dee.
"They are killers,"
Glynda said flatly.
"They are very efficient killers. Ironwood uses them for jobs his own army can't handle."
"Ozpin said they protect Faunus for free,"
Summer pointed out.
"That is true,"
Glynda admitted.
"Our spies in Menagerie say they built a massive defense wall for the villages. They didn't ask for a single Lien. They just did it and left."
Summer kept reading the file.
"It says here Dee likes hot tea,"
Summer smiled.
"And she bakes. She makes sweets for her daughter."
"They have a daughter,"
Glynda nodded.
"Her name is Neo. She just enrolled in Atlas Academy. Ironwood pulled some strings to get her in."
Summer's smile grew wider.
"Dee is a mom,"
Summer said happily.
"Just like me."
"Being a mother doesn't mean she is friendly,"
Glynda warned.
"Yes, it does,"
Summer laughed.
"Moms understand each other. We both have to deal with stubborn men. We both have to worry about our kids. I bet we will get along perfectly."
Glynda sighed. She adjusted her glasses.
"You always see the bright side in people, Summer. I just want you to be careful. Don't let your guard down around them. We don't know what their Semblances are. We don't know their fighting styles."
"I will figure it out when I meet them,"
Summer closed the folder. She hugged it to her chest.
"Summer, listen to me,"
Glynda said. Her voice became very serious. She put both hands on Summer's shoulders.
Summer stopped smiling. She listened.
"If things go wrong out there,"
Glynda said, looking right into Summer's silver eyes.
"If you see her. Don't try to fight. You turn around and you run. Do you understand me? You come back home to Yang and Ruby."
Summer's eyes softened. She thought of her two little girls at home.
"I will come back,"
Summer promised.
"I always come back."
Glynda let go of her. She looked a little relieved.
"Good,"
Glynda said.
"Your transport to Atlas leaves in one hour. You should go pack."
"Thank you for the file, Glynda,"
Summer said.
"And don't work too hard. Make Ozpin do some of the paperwork."
"I will try,"
Glynda offered a small, tired smile.
"Safe travels, Summer."
Summer left the office. The door clicked shut. Glynda stood alone in the quiet room.
She looked at the giant pile of work. She picked up her pen.
She felt a deep, heavy feeling in her chest. She hoped Elias and Dee were as good as Ironwood claimed.
She hoped they could keep her friend safe.
Summer walked out into the Beacon courtyard.
The sun was setting. The sky turned orange and purple.
The wind blew her white cloak behind her.
She walked toward the landing pads.
A Bullhead transport ship was waiting for her.
Its engines hummed loudly.
The pilot gave her a thumbs up. Summer stepped onto the ship.
The doors closed. The ship lifted into the air. She sat down in a metal seat.
She looked out the window as Beacon Academy got smaller and smaller.
She thought about the mission. The western dead lands were scary. Every Huntsman knew the stories.
No one went there and came back sane. The Grimm there were older. They were smarter.
But Summer didn't feel afraid. She felt ready. Ozpin trusted her. Ironwood trusted these two strangers.
And she trusted them both.
"Next stop, Atlas,"
Summer whispered.
She closed her eyes and rested her head against the cold metal wall.
She needed to sleep. She needed her strength. Tomorrow, she would meet the ghosts of Atlas.