Looking Through Jaune Arc's Multiverse

Redacted Episode 1: Mal0 v1.0.0

There was a large bookcase, a desk in the corner, and even a small plant by the door. It almost looked like a typical office space for a doctor.

"Is this a counseling session?" Elm asked.

"Cases like yours aren't exactly common, but they are commonly known." Jaune then responded to the doctor's assurance.

"No, it's... it's not so much that I fear him anymore, I mean, yeah, I do still jump when I see him in the morning," he admitted. As he spoke, Dr. Breynz took out a file from the box and began examining it. "It's just more of the bad connotations he brings."

"Fear of the unknown is important to any healthy mind, but I'm... not convinced there isn't more to this. A deep scar that might interfere with your ability to maintain your composure under pressure."

Jaune's eyebrows furrowed at the Doctor's suggestions. "Uh... You've read my file, Doc, there's- I've been through the exam about a dozen times. I've come to terms with what happened," he said. "I wouldn't let my experience become a hindrance."

Everyone, while only slightly uncomfortable about listening to what looked to be a private therapy session, paid more attention. This was supposedly a universe filled with things worse than the Creatures of Grimm. So what had Jaune experienced that made him respond like this?

"The events are all on paper. They speak for themselves," Dr. Breynz agreed. She paused for a moment and let out a small exhale. "But the final interview is about more than what a few heavily redacted pages can tell me."

In an instant, those who had been part of Atlas' military perked up. 'Redacted'? What could have happened that would necessitate secrecy? What's more, how was the young Arc involved?

"I... I don't see any point dancing around this," Jaune was beginning to get a little impatient. "If I still wasn't being considered, then I wouldn't be here."

Dr. Breynz gave a small chuckle. "Right you are, Jaune. Very perceptive," she complimented. Then waved off their conversation and changed the topic. "Forget about what some third party wrote in one afternoon five years ago. I want you to tell me about your first experience with him."

Jaune tensed up just a bit. "My first experience?" Dr. Breynz nodded in response.

"Yes, I want to get a real understanding of what it was like for you. Start at the beginning, and see if you can recall how you were feeling at the time."

Jaune seemed to contemplate Dr. Breynz's request. Then, after a beat of consideration, he sat up, leaned back on the couch, and started to recount his story to her.

"I've had Capone since I was fifteen. I remember my sister really excitedly telling me about some app she downloaded where this really... 'cute'..." he made air quotes with his fingers, "monster called a Mal0 follows you around and shows up in pictures of places that you've been."

"Mal0?" Yang asked. Her question was followed up by Nora.

"What does an app have to do with whoever Jaune was scared of?"

"It was odd that it had no ads, and was still free. Cerise was really excited about it, so I wanted to give it a try too."

As Jaune gave a retelling to Dr. Breynz - and by proxy, the audience - the screen displayed a much younger Jaune walking into the kitchen to meet his older sister, a woman with long blond hair, blue eyes, and wearing a button-up red shirt.

Saphron and Terra's eyes widened with recognition. Adrian smiled, seeing one of his aunts and his uncle. Jaune's friends also vaguely recognized his sister. They faintly recalled seeing someone like her in the family photo in their house with Jaune and all his sisters. The young woman in the red shirt seemed to be the oldest of the siblings.