Heart Attack

Go the distance

When I opened my eyes, the world was different.
No dreams. No flicker of visions. Only the quiet ache of waking in a place I did not know.

The bed beneath me was narrow, stiff... not like the medbays of our Titans' Tower. Above me-metal supports, a second mattress. Bunk beds. School beds, I realized suddenly, remembering Ruby's stories of dorm life.

But no one was here. The room was still. My friends were gone.

"Friends!?" My voice cracked in panic as I sat up. Normally, they answered me whenever I called like that. Silence clawed at my chest. I shot upward, floating until my hair brushed the ceiling, hands glowing with starbolts ready to fire-

The door hissed open.

"Whoa, whoa-easy, princess." Qrow's lazy drawl cut through the air. He stood in the doorway, flask dangling from two fingers, smirk firmly in place. Behind him were Ruby, Jaune, and a tall man in a blue-gray uniform I did not recognize.

I blinked, let the glow fade, and landed on the floor. "You-" My gaze swept over them. Their clothes were different. Even Jaune's hair had changed, swept back and shorter than before. "You look... different."

"Kori," Qrow said, stepping aside to let Ruby bound forward. "Glad you're finally up."

"Kori!" Ruby hugged me tightly, her cape brushing my legs. "You scared us half to death! You were out forever. Robin and Oscar wouldn't even leave your room-well, Jaune got in sometimes, but-"

"Only to check vitals!" Jaune interrupted quickly, face reddening. "We-we were worried."

I smiled, though I knew those worries weren't really for me. They were for Pyrrha-the girl he still saw when he looked at me.

Ruby pulled back, wiping her eyes and gesturing toward the tall stranger. "Oh! Right. This is General Ironwood. He runs Atlas Academy. And... basically the whole military here."

Ironwood stepped forward and extended his hand. "Miss Ander. A pleasure."

I clasped it firmly, forcing my nerves into a polite smile.
"Does he know?" I asked silently, projecting the thought into the mental link Damian had insisted we maintain.

No, Qrow's voice answered in my head. Play along.

Out loud, Jaune said lightly, "We, uh... told him we secured the relic."

"And gave him a fake," Ruby added mentally, her tone sheepish.

From your dimension, Jaune clarified. Robin's idea. We're keeping the real one hidden until we're sure Ironwood can be trusted.

I masked my relief with a nod. "It is an honor to stay at your premises, General Ironwood."

"Good," Ironwood replied, clipped and efficient. "You and your team are welcome here as long as needed. Qrow-show her around."

Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and left, boots echoing against the polished floor. Qrow followed, tossing a casual salute over his shoulder as the door shut.

"You guys really do look different," I said, finally taking in their new outfits-Atlas-issue jackets, heavier armor, cleaner lines. Even Ruby's cloak had been trimmed shorter. "Who decided my... clothing?"

Ruby laughed nervously. "Oh! That was me and Penny. She, uh... really wanted to help."

"Penny Polendina? The one from your memories?"

Ruby nodded eagerly. Jaune added, "You two have a lot in common. She even shoots green lasers."

"You even sound alike," Ruby said, grinning. "You could be sisters!"