It had been several hours since he had left Mistral and now the Fire Hawk flew over the lands of Vale. Taren could've easily gone into low orbit to get there faster, but he decided not to for two reasons. First and most importantly, if he did then Summer would learn his ship is space capable and it would give it away that he's possibly not from Remnant. Second, he doesn't know how far west Patch Island is. Summer did agree to mention when they got close once she saw it. Speaking of the huntress, she had taken the flight time to take a short nap. Taren guessed she must've been tired from traveling. He can't blame her though. As the trees and grass land beneath him pass by in blurs as his ship flew at high speeds, Taren's mind wandered to the Rebel Alliance. He knows it hasn't been that long, but he still cannot help the anxiety. He knows Han and the others can handle themselves, but that doesn't give him a reason not to be worried about them. They are really the only friends he has in the galaxy. Being a Bounty Hunter didn't give him many options for friends considering most hunters aren't exactly good in the morality department.
There was one person he met on his travels of the galaxy. Another Mandalorian who had been fighting the Empire her own way. She had come to him looking to recruit him to help her fight off the Empire on Mandalore. Her name was Bo-Katan Kryze and while she held the Darksaber at the time, Taren didn't bow. Clan Khor may have been Mandalorians and they would follow the darksaber, only when its wielder proves themselves worthy of Clan Khor's loyalty. Not through strength, but through morality. Taren's father was very clear on that. When Maul had claimed the weapon and the power associated with it, Clan Khor never bent a knee and kept their distance. This stubbornness was a defining trait of his Father and others in the clan. His mom was stubborn too but not like his dad, Taren inherited some of their stubbornness but not at their level. He couldn't help but smile at the memory of his mother and father. They were great people, that's why it was so devastating to lose them to the Empire. He was only 18 Years old when it happened. He hadn't answered Bo-Katan's call for help due to previous bad blood between Clan Khor and Death Watch, a group she was once a part of.
The Mandalorian hears Summer wake up from her nap and briefly turned his head to look at her to see her open her eyes and sit up straight. He turned his attention back to flying.
"Sleep well?" Taren asked, without looking at her.
"As well as I could with a nap." Summer says as she stretches to the best of her ability in the cockpit. "It was enjoyable though."
"Sometimes they are." Taren agreed. "Especially when you travel a lot."
"Amen to that." Summer said as she grabs her weapon which rested against a wall in the cockpit.
Taren then spared a glance at his ship's scanner and notices a settlement up ahead. It's quite large so he figures it's a city. It's much bigger than the village he was previously at, that's for sure. He then looked forward and at the horizon and quickly spotted a city in the distance. There was also a complex of some kind with a tall tower a distance away from the city. Summer looks up from her weapon and sees the city in the distance.
"Finally, we've reached Vale city." Summer said, clearly ready to get home.
Vale City. He remembers the Chief talking about it during their long discussion on the essentials of Remnant. It was the Capital of the Kingdom of Vale and also was the place where Beacon Academy was stationed. Now that Taren thinks about it, that complex with the large tower could be the Academy. A quick sound comes from the cockpit, specifically in Summer's direction, making her pull out her scroll and open it to see she got a message.
"Take it that was you?" Taren asked, still focused on flying.
Summer opens the message and sees the messenger's name and what the message said.
"it's from my friend Qrow." Summer reveals.
Taren heard the name during the flight before Summer decided to take a nap. She had spoken about this friend she had sent a message to before they left Mistral. Qrow Branwen was his name and from what she said, he is her teammate. He guessed it was a Huntsmen team situation that the chief talked about. He didn't learn much about them, only that they form during a Huntsmen or Huntresses time at one of the Academies.
"Checking in on you?" Taren asked as he believed that was the reason.
"Just asking how far I am." Summer said before she types up a message and sends it to Qrow.
It did not take long for an answer to come back as another notification sound came.
"That was quick." Taren comments
"He usually is." Summer explains briefly.
She then proceeds to call him, and Taren can soon hear ringing. The ringing occurred for a few seconds before Qrow answered.
"Hey, Qrow." Summer says.
"Summer." Qrow greets from his head. "Didn't expect you to get into Vale so fast."
"Yeah, I would've gotten back a lot later if I hadn't met someone who was willing to fly me to Vale." Summer explains.
"Oh?"
Qrow's tone was filled with curiosity with a taste of caution. That's something Taren picked up on quickly. He has an idea as to why he sounds cautious and he understands as well. He would be cautious too, especially with someone he knows. Even more so, knowing how the galaxy is.
"Saved his life and he offered to fly me to Vale as a way of paying me back for the assistance." Summer explained further. "Where are you?"
"Beacon, recently spoke to Ozpin about some important stuff from my last mission." Qrow reveals.
"Nothing recklessly dangerous I hope." Summer said, almost like she was ready to scold him.
"It wasn't, it wasn't." Qrow says with a brief chuckle.
"You sure? Because I remember what happened that one time in Vacuo." Summer says, falling back on a past incident.
"It was one time."
"I've heard that one a dozen of times." Summer said jokingly.
"Anyway." Qrow says, trying to change to subject. "I think Ozpin might want to talk to you."
"What about?" Summer asked.
"Take a guess."
Taren picked up on that ominous phrase but paid it no mind. Wasn't his business. Summer meanwhile spared a quick glance at Taren before responding to Qrow.
"Alright, I'll be at Beacon soon." Summer said.
"I'll wait for you at the landing zone." Qrow says. "See you when ya get here, Sum."
"Bye, Qrow." Summer says before the call ends.
She then turns her focus onto Taren who somehow knew she was looking at him.
"Could you change course to Beacon?" Summer asked.
"That complex with the large tower?" Taren asks as he lightly points at the Academy that was approaching as the ship got closer.
"Yep."
He was already on course, so he didn't need to change his flight path. But he did increase speed to get there faster.
[Beacon Academy, Short Timeskip]
At the landing zone for Beacon Academy stood one man with a flask in his hand as he took a drink. His clothing was mostly grey with black pants and a red cape. A weapon of some kind lay on his lower back. He stops taking a drink and puts the cap back on before storing it away in one of his pockets. He then grabs his scroll and opens it up. He was going to call Summer to check in before he heard engines approaching from above. He looked up and soon saw the Fire Hawk swoop in towards the landing pad. It descended as the huntsmen looked at the ship. The landing gear engaged as it got closer to the ground. The wind pushed around by the thrusters blew past Qrow who shielded his eyes from the wind. The starship touches the ground. The engines turn off letting the wind calm down. As a result, Qrow lowers his hand and shortly after the ramp in the back of the ship begins lowering letting Qrow look inside. He saw Summer and Taren inside. Once the ramp touched the ground, both disembarked from the ship. Qrow starts walking closer as the ship landed a distance from him.
As their boots touched the pavement, they took a few steps away from the ship before Summer turns to Taren.
"Thanks for the lift." Summer said with gratitude. "Not sure how I could repay you for making my trip easier."
"You saved me from that Beowolf, so consider us even." Taren says, just glad he was able to return the assistance.
"I still think you should be compensated for going out of your way." Summer says.
"Compensation isn't needed, Summer." Taren says, turning down the offer respectfully.
"You should take her offer." Qrow says as he got closer making the two look at him. "She's too stubborn to take no for an answer."
"I am not." Summer says, trying to disprove that claim.
"Summer, do I need to mention our third year at Beacon?" Qrow asked with a teasing tone as he stops his steps with him now standing in front of the two.
Summer wanted to argue but she knew she couldn't. He was right anyway. Qrow smiles victoriously before looking at Taren who returns the gaze.
"So, you're this kind person who gave her a lift." Qrow points out.
"I am." Taren confirms.
"Said she saved you, that true?" Qrow asked with narrow eyes filled with a questioning gaze.
"It is, a Beowolf caught me by surprise, and she stepped in and shot it." Taren explains briefly.
"What are you anyway?" Qrow asked.
"A Bounty Hunter." Taren says, not bothering to hide it.
Qrow gained a distrustful look in his eyes and Summer noticed.
"Qrow, he's not like other Bounty Hunters." Summer says sternly.
"Never know, could be a façade."
"It isn't Qrow." Summer said, sterner than before.
"How do you know?" Qrow asked.
"I know in the past I wasn't the best judge of character, but I've gotten better and I've seen and heard of his kindness from a village chief." Summer explains.
"Give me an example."
"He brought a bunch of survivors of a Grimm attack to the Chief's village and didn't ask for payment once." Summer said. "He did it because it was the right thing to do."
Qrow's gaze softened but the suspicion still remained.
"Fine, but that doesn't mean I trust him."
"Wasn't expecting you to." Taren said casually.
Summer, wanting to change to subject to ease tension, moved to get some way in between Qrow and Taren.
"Anyway." Summer says, changing the subject, and looking at Taren. "Is there anything I could do to repay you?"
Taren was about to turn it down again, but he thought of something. He does need more information about Bounty Hunting. He has no idea where any potential Bounty Boards were in the city and he did want to find one. Considering the selection back at that village was small, the one in the city should be much larger. A larger selection of jobs means a much better flow of Lien and greater chances on helping people.
"Well, I've never been to Vale, and I could use some help locating a Bounty Board." Taren mentions.
"Well, your best option would be the City's Huntsmen Center." Summer says. "It functions as a hub for local and traveling Huntsmen. Including Bounty Hunters. Bounty Boards are there and jobs are plentiful."
"Where in the city is it?" Taren asked.
"Not far from the port and landing zone." Qrow answers. "it's sandwiched between the two. Big building, couldn't miss it."
"Thanks." Taren said before he turned toward his ship and went up the ramp.
He got into the cargo hold and reached up to press the button to raise the ramp before he heard Summer call out to him.
"Taren!"
The Mandalorian turns his head to her location.
"Thank you." Summer says with gratitude.
A nod is all she gets in response before he pressed a button and the ramp raised up, causing the outside light to disappear. Replaced by artificial light. He then moved towards the ladder and climbed up. Outside of the Fire Hawk, Summer and Qrow start walking away from it. The engines soon kick on before it lifts up off the ground causing the wind to flow intensely around them. Once the ship reaches an acceptable height it blasts off for the city. The two continued walking towards Beacon Academy.
[Vale City, Sometime Later]
After Taren landed his ship at the landing zone, he began his search for the Huntsmen Center which was not that hard to find. Sure, he did have to walk around for a short while, but he found it. The front of the building was very decorative. A fountain in front of the building was elegantly designed. Flower beds and neatly trimmed bushes were placed around the courtyard with clean pathways leading into and out of the building. Above the front doors was the emblem of the Kingdom of Vale and beneath it were the words "Huntsmen Center." Many citizens of all shapes and sizes, both civilian, Huntsman, and Bounty Hunter went in and out of the building. When Taren got inside the building the lobby was large and spacious. Many Huntsmen and Bounty Hunters filled the room. Most talking to one another or here on official business and some over at the Bounty Boards looking through the jobs. He noticed that the boards here seem larger and more numerous than the one in that village. To be expected, considering the Huntsmen Center is in a city.
The lobby had various benches sprinkled throughout the lobby with one section of the lobby holding a collection of tables and what looks like an area to grab food. Staircases led further into the building and its collection of floors. But the lobby appeared to be the main one. Taren walks towards the Bounty Boards, going past other Huntsmen and Bounty hunters. Some of them glancing at him but paying him no mind. Only thinking he was a Huntsmen or Bounty Hunter. On one of the benches in front of one of the Bounty Boards was a man with dark orange hair with fox ears on the top of his head. His green eyes focused on the scroll he held in his hand. He wore a khaki sleeveless jacket over a dark brown short sleeve shirt with a cinnamon orange colored bandanna wrapped around his neck. He wore black fingerless gloves with a brown watch on his right wrist. He had a wide durable brown leather belt with a holster attached to his right thigh with a revolver type firearm in it. He wore dark grey pants with black boots. He sighs to himself before Taren walked past his bench making him look up at the Mandalorian. Curious at who he was.
Taren stepped closer to the Bounty Board and began searching through the jobs. Many were Grimm focused and others were rather unique. One sought help with finding lost artifacts. That one was from a man named Dr. Oobleck. That payment was decent and the job description seemed to hype up the search for relics. He went searching through more before one caught his attention, so he enlarged it. It was a protection job from the request of someone named Ghira Belladonna. He wanted help protecting a collection of vehicles moving through southeast Vale looping through the territory from the coastal settlement of Carthage through the local regions and towns and then back to Carthage. Ghira needed help with defending against Grimm. He read more into it and saw that the White Fang, a group of Faunus he's heard about from the Chief, was involved. He knows very little, but what he knows is that they seek more rights for the Faunus who are a species who also inhabit the planet Remnant. They look human but have Animal features. This has caused discrimination from the human population. He considers the job. The payment was high. Twenty thousand Lien. He then grabs his scroll.
The Fox Faunus behind him on the bench saw this and his eyes were filled with intrigue. Taren inserts his scroll into the machine and accepts the job. This surprised the Faunus. Taren removes his scroll and opens it to look at the job details. It even provided him with coordinates and directions to Carthage. He then closes the device and walks away from the board. The Fox Faunus watched him off before thinking to himself. He then stands up while Taren walked towards the exit. As Taren gets outside of the building, he walks away from the doors before a voice calls out to him.
"Hey green armored hunter, wait!" a voice called out.
Hearing the color of his armor described, Taren stops and turns around. He sees that Fox Faunus slow down behind him.
"Can I help you?" Taren asked.
"Sorry for disturbing you but, I saw you accept that job to help the White Fang." The Faunus said.
"What of it?"
"Well i…" the Faunus sighs. "I wanted to come with."
This surprised Taren but also made him cautious.
"For what purpose?"
"I've been trying to find others to go on that job with me." The Faunus said as he pulled out his scroll and opened it.
Showing it to Taren, he sees he also accepted the job.
"I haven't had any luck since well… people aren't very kind to Faunus." The Faunus said.
Taren thinks about it for a moment, weighing his options. Nothing tells him this guy has bad intentions. He could use help considering the nature of the job. He looked at the ground before shrugging.
"Sure, you can come with." Taren said.
"Really? Thank you!" The Faunus said both surprised and happy.
"Got a name?" Taren asked as he gestured for the Faunus to follow him while walking.
"Clay, Clay Marigold." The Fox Faunus says as he followed the Mandalorian.
"Taren Khor."
"So, how are we getting to Carthage?" Clay asked.
"My ship is at the landing zone; we'll use that to get to Carthage." Taren reveals.
"Works for me."
[Epic Transition and one walk later]
At the landing zone, Clay and Taren arrived. They go past other ships before reaching the Mandalorian's ship. Clay looked at the ship and was impressed by its design. His new Mandalorian partner pressed a button on his vambrace, and the back ramp lowers surprising Clay.
"Neat tech." he comments as Taren walks up the ramp.
Clay follows him into the cargo hold before the survivor of Clan Khor pressed a button and the ramp raises before closing. Taren reached for the ladder before he looked at Clay and motions with his hand for him to follow. The Mandalorian scales the ladder and gets into the cockpit with the Fox Faunus following. Sitting down in the pilot seat he turns around until he faces the controls. Clay sits down as the pilot begins turning the ship on.
"Get comfortable." Taren says. "Gonna take some time to reach Carthage."
Clay nods and gets comfortable in his seat.