Team ALLY

Chapter 16: Truth and Deceit

I step into the room and see Leo and Lilac standing there with their arms crossed. Before I can turn around to leave, Leo's already blocked the door. "Aries, sit!" Lilac demands. I cast my gaze to the floor and sit. "Aries, you've always been a little distant. As your brother, I respect your space. But as your brother I can also tell when you're being cagey."

"Tell us what you're hiding." I look up and see the anger in her eyes and the worry in Leo's. "Sit." They share a look then sit on the floor. "Let's hope Yema's regained enough strength." I think to myself. I concentrate and link with the four of them. The world changes around us and we're in the lavender field. "Where are we?" Lilac asks.

"The four of us are in my mindscape. It's a place that's a manifestation of my mind. Lilac and Yema over at a photo album on a rock. "Those are my memories. It's become a little heavier since I came here."

"Don't dodge our question. Aries!" Lilac shouts.

"Nobody can hear us here. That's why I brought us here." I raise my hand and a photo frame manifests in my hand. I hand it to Leo and Lilac. "Lilac. Besides Leo, she's all I have left. And she's the only one I have left that knew my parents. I'd do anything to protect her." I feel tears roll down my cheeks. Even in a world I control I still can't keep myself from crying. "Tyrian's back, and he's threatened my grandmother. I'm now working with him and some of the transfer students. I'm being forced to aid them in some sort of scheme, probably the same people that were trying to ship the guns."

"Aries, why did you keep this from us?" Leo asks.

"Because I'm not supposed to clue you guys in. That's why Yema's in the infirmary. I told her and Tyrian tried to kill her. That's my fault. But I refuse to be another puppet in their game."

"What's the gameplan?" Leo asks.

"Yema, any suggestions?"

"Well Aries gives us a unique angle. He's got their trust, trust we can use as leverage. Keep working with them and sabotage their operations from the inside where you can. Keep us notified and we'll keep Oz one step ahead. But first..." I already know what she's gonna say. "We'll have to tell him everything." I finish. I release everyone and the three of us that were able to walk head to Ozpin's office and tell him everything. "This is serious, Mr, Paladin."

"I'm so sorry. They had me pinned. I-I can't lose anyone else. But I've resisted every step, made them believe I'm weaker than they expect. I even attempted sabotage their attempt to recon."

"You sent Ms. Rose after her?!" Ironwood asks sternly.

"Yes, I have faith in Ruby's capabilities so I knew she would be able to at least interrupt what she was doing long enough for someone else to arrive."

"Well because you chose not to act, she got away with some sensitive information. Including a very important scientist's information." Ironwood scolds.

"You have to understand they had me in a bad situation. No matter what I did it was going to end badly. If I'd stepped in, my family would have been dead for sure."

"So you chose to hide like a selfish coward!" Ironwood shouts. I feel my blood start to boil. "My parents died right in front of my eyes and now you expect me to sacrifice the only fragment of family I still have? Let me ask you this. Did that war take away your heart?" Ironwood looks angry as he approaches me. He grabs my collar and lifts me up. "I expect no more out if you than any of my soldiers. Your parents were skilled fighters and loyal to the b..." I don't even let him finish before I separate myself from his hand and float back. "I am loyal. To a grandmother who raised me and to the memory of my parents. I will never put her at risk. If that means my hand is put behind my back then so be it. But you'd better believe I would never wholeheartedly help that maniacal bastard. I'm simply protecting what I have left." Ironwood still looks furious but Oz grabs his shoulder. "Ironwood, relax. Besides I've come up to a solution to the situation with the scientist. These four are due to choose an assignment today. Well why don't we have them aid Qrow in escorting the scientist to a safe location."