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The Scared ones X RWBY Part 21
Here a Christmas gift for you all! Merry Christmas!
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Jak’s POV
I tap my table with my finger impatiently as I wait for Professor Port’s lesson to end. He’s telling one of his stories and I’ve completely lost interest.
There’s now one minute left of the lesson, and I see Jaune slide over to Weiss.
*In head* Jak: This should be good.
As much as I like Weiss, I don’t mind Jaune hitting on her. I can see why he would fall for her, and to be honest I wouldn’t feel too bad if she final said yes to one of his pick-up lines. It’s evident to everyone except Weiss, which Jaune is head-over-heels for her; and it’s nearly sad how she completely and intentionally ignores him.
Jaune: So, Weiss, y'know, uh, I-I was thinking after this, maybe we could go grab a bite to eat? (Turns to the teacher for a second, then turns back around.) And, uh um, I-I've got two tickets to that new Spruce Willis movie, if you wanna make the trip to Vale. I hear it's awesome. (Pauses as his words have no effect.) Aaaand maybe after that, we could study together? I mean, you're smart and I'm, uh... Y'know.
I know how much attention Weiss was going to give him but I thought it was a good attempt. He proposed a date, offered an activity and was about his intellect.
Finally, the clock changes from 3:59 to 4:00. The professor is temporarily unaware of the alarm.
Port: (Posing as a towering monster about to attack.) And then I— Oh. (Straightens his stance as the students start to leave.) Timed that one wrong, I guess. Well, the stunning conclusion to this story will have to wait. Until next time!
Jaune: (Watching Weiss as she packs up her Scroll.) Weiss? Did you hear me?
Weiss: (Not even looking at Jaune as she walks away.) No, no, no, yes.
*In head* Jak: Now that was cold!
Upon hearing this, Jaune groans and does a face-plant into his desk.
Yang: (As the rest of Team RWBY walks out of class behind him, Yang ruffles Jaune's hair without even looking.) One day.
The Outsider’s POV
Riot and I wait for team RWBY in their dorm as their final class ends.
Blake: (walking in) I thought that class would never end.
They check their weapons and gear, in preparation for their mission.
Ruby: (From her position sitting on the hanging bed) Alright, guys, today's the day! The investigation begins!
She happily leaps off her mattress and onto the floor, arms raised excitedly. She almost lands on Weiss, who is on the bottom bunk.
Weiss: (sarcastically) I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously.
Yang: Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious.
Ruby: Right! (Looks around at her teammates) Everyone remember their roles?
Weiss: You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem.
Blake: The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If Riot and I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning.
Yang: I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard...
Outsider: I know a couple of people on the outside, they should know something.
I’m planning on speaking to Dexter about the White Fang, but I’m not planning on letting anyone know about my association with Genesis.
Ruby: Great! We'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we found. (pumping her fist) Let's do this!
Alex: Yeah!
Everyone turns to see Alex sitting in the window frame.
Blake: (surprised and alarmed) Alex!
Yang: How did you get up there?
Alex: Tree’s aren’t hard to climb. And I can’t believe that you would go hunt Roman without me.
Blake: (stepping forward) We are going to investigate the situation... as a team.
Ruby: Sorry, Alex. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to.
Alex: Psh! That’s stupid. Besides, I know more about Roman than anyone. He is my father after all.
I look around the room at everyone’s expressions.
Outsider: No one seems surprised, did I miss something.
Alex: You didn’t hear?
Outsider: When?
Alex: The night of the docks.
Outsider: I was late, remember?
Alex: Oh, okay. Well, now you know.
Ruby: Alright, I'll go with Weiss; Riot, you’re with Blake. And Alex, you can go with Yang since she doesn't have a partner. Everyone good?
Outsider: Let’s begin!
Jak’s POV
I walk around Vale with Nikolai’s friend Budder, he’s very friendly. He certainly likes gold; his chest plate and swords are all made of it. His personality is very refreshing and different to the mood I’m normally exposed too. He’s childish, hyperactive, silly and very optimistic.
We’re walking past the Vale Transmit tower when we both see someone familiar.
Jak/Budder: Weiss/Penny?
We both look at each other and smile, as we both know what to do.
Jak: It was a pleasure walking with you, Budder
Budder: It was nice meeting you. See you around?
Jak: Yeah.
We both walk away from each other. Budder walks straight to Penny, but I stay hidden from Weiss. She’s with Ruby, and as far as I know, Weiss wouldn’t just come here with Ruby under normal circumstances.
Ruby also sees Penny and walks after her, leaving Weiss by herself. She then walks into the tower, and I shadow her in.
Budder’s POV
Budder: Penny, Where have you been? We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!
Penny: S-Sorry. I think you're confused. Uh... I've got to go! (She turns quickly and walks away.)
Budder: (I run up to Penny as she descends the steps) Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!
Penny: There seems to be a... misunderstanding.
Ruby: What?! (Penny continues to walk away. Ruby slides down the rail next to her.) Penny... Is everything okay? (Penny continues forward without reaction. Ruby grabs her by the arm.) Penny, please stop! (Penny stops and listens.) Look, I don't know what's wrong, but you have to listen to me! Those guys we fought at the docks, we think they're up to something big, something bad! I need you to tell me what happened to you that night! Please... As a friend.
Penny: (sighing, she looks up at my worried expression, then glancing to her sides swiftly. She walks over to my side and leans in close) It isn't safe to talk here.
Penny looks around suspiciously, much to my confusion.
Jak’s POV
I follow Weiss into the Transmit tower and take a different elevator up. I follow her into the communications room and listen to her conversation with the CCT AI.
CCT AI: (beeps are heard before the projection speaks in a polite manner) Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit centre. How may I help you?
Weiss: I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas.
CCT AI: Absolutely. (More beeping) If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through.
Weiss: Thank you!
*In head* Jak: Schnee Company World Headquarters? So, it’s not a family call. But why would she call the Headquarters of her own company?
Weiss walks over to terminal 3 and I follow, sitting down at the monitor the other side of the row to hers.
It takes a couple of seconds for the Schnee Corp Operator to get patched through.
Schnee Corp Operator: Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well.
Weiss: (pleasantly) No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list.
*In head* Jak: Files?
Weiss produces her Scroll, placing it into a slot on the keyboard, creating a series of noises as the Operator looks at the data from her side of the screen.
Operator: I see. If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?
Weiss: School project.
Operator: (nervously) Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am.
Weiss: Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care.
*In head* Jak: Why would she be looking for sensitive documents about the Schnee Dust Company?
Operator: (still nervous) Right... Very well. (more noises) The data is being transferred to your Scroll now.
Weiss: Wonderful! That will be all, then.
Operator: Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?
Weiss loses her smile, but quickly replaces it.
Weiss: Yes, I'm sure.
Operator: Well, then... Have a nice day!
The call is dropped, and so too is Weiss' happy act.
Jak: So…
Weiss suddenly looks up to see me leaning over her monitor.
Weiss: J-Jak, I-I…
Jak: Sensitive documents. Tut tut tut. That’s certainly out of character for you.
Weiss: That was a private conversation.
Jak: Yes, I heard. To Schnee Company World Headquarters.
Weiss stays silent.
Jak: So, what would you do with sensitive information about the Schnee Duct Company?
Weiss: That’s none of your business.
Jak: True. But is it yours?
Weiss narrows her eyes at me.
Budder’s POV
Penny: I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men.
Budder: Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?
Penny: Oh, no! Nothing like that!
Budder: Then where did you go?
Penny: I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot.
Ruby: Believe me, I know the feeling. (She grins and Penny grins back.)
Budder: But why not let us know you were okay?
Penny: I... was asked not to talk to you. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really.
Ruby: Was your dad that upset?
Penny: No, it wasn't my father...
Before she can continue, she and Ruby hear the sound of megaphones announcing something, turning around the corner to look at the platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is seen before six AK-130 Androids, who are in turn standing in front of two large metal storage cases with the spear-and-shield emblem on their doors.
Ironwood: The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree? (the clapping of the gathered audience causes the drones to take a jerky bow) But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it?
This line makes me smile. I’ve always tried to push myself to become better and stronger. ‘Okay’, isn’t a performance rating I want to be at. And it’s nice to see an entire kingdom set to the same standard.
Ironwood: Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200! (the doors to the cases roll up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers) Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary. (the robots flex and pose as a demonstration) These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch.
The last line draws Ruby's attention.
Penny: (nervously) Ruby..?
Ironwood: So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Bloodheart weapon Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!
Ironwood's image is replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.
Ironwood: (voice only) Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanised battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!
Ruby: (hunched in awe) Whoa...
I see two armoured soldiers pointing at us and tap Penny.
Budder: Maybe we should leave.
Penny backs away and then breaks into a dead run, I follow her, which snaps Ruby out of her weapon-awe-induced stupor.
Ruby: Penny! Wait! Where are you going?
Ruby turns to look back at the soldiers chasing after her friend, and realising Penny's situation swiftly follows her in an attempt to catch up down the winding alley.
Atlas Soldier: (gesturing to his partner) Down here! She went this way!
Penny, Ruby and I run across the street with the soldiers following us, though a honking car nearly runs one over. He manages to brace his hands against the hood, which somehow stops the vehicle, and his partner runs along after us.
Ruby is still trying to catch up with Penny and me. She sees that the guards are gaining, but a high stack of crates on a flimsy support is easily cut down by Crescent Rose, causing a wooden avalanche of boxes to block the path. Seeing Penny right ahead of her, Ruby leaps into the air and lands on the alley wall, ricocheting off to grab Penny around the middle.
Ruby: This way! (she grimaces before the two disappear in a flash of red and rose petals)
The pick up my speed to catch up with them. Ruby dashes away as fast as she can while carrying Penny, but the strain is too great, and they crash to the ground a short while later, with Ruby falling all the way into the street. She gets up slowly, and in her dazed state, she doesn't notice the large truck coming up from behind her until the honking is too late of a warning. She stands up just as she's about to be hit, but from out of nowhere, Penny pushes Ruby out of the way and holds her palms out.
In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracks and crumbles into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck is lifted a little into the air by the girl's sheer strength. The truck continues to flip over but I catch up and activate my semblance. A golden glow slightly clouds my vision as chunks of my aura extends into 4 bright yellow arms, from my torso. I leap up to the truck, grab the back of it and use my extra limbs to grab a nearby lamppost. The lamppost bends and creeks, but it holds and the truck falls back onto its four wheels. The Shopkeep stares in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like the Huntress who got saved.
Ruby: (eyes wide, terrified, uncertain) Penny..?
I couldn’t blame Ruby for her expression. Such a display of inhuman strength is enough to leave anyone a little scared.
Penny: (to the shopkeep) Are you okay?
Shopkeep: (nodding, obviously scared) Uh-huh...
Penny backs away, looking at Ruby's frightened expression, then at the bystanders murmuring to each other in an attempt to understand what just happened. I jump down from the truck, grab her arm and continue to run away from the ever-approaching Atlas soldiers. Once Penny, comes out of her daze, I let go and we run together.
Ruby: Penny! Come back!
She starts going after us as the people look at the destruction Penny caused with her bare hands and the soldiers find they lost their target.
Penny: (coming to a stop once she gets out of the alleyway, looking around for where to run next) Um... Uh...
Ruby: (coming up to Penny, exasperated) Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!
Penny: (nervous again) I-I can't! Everything's fine! (she starts to hiccup with each lie) I-I don't want to talk about it! (*hiccup*)
Budder: Penny, if you can just tell us what's wrong, we can help you!
Penny: (retreating from her friend) No! No, no! You wouldn't understand...
Budder: Let me try! You can trust me!
Penny: (she finally relents, coming up to Ruby's face desperately) You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!
Budder: Of course.
Ruby: (softly) I promise.
Penny: (silent for a second, then, looking down at her hands) Ruby... I'm not a real girl.
Penny shows us the toll of stopping the truck that would have killed her: Parts of her palm's skin have ripped away, revealing the grey metal underneath. Penny stares sadly at Ruby's face, now completely astounded by her friend's secret.
Ruby: Oh.
I decide to pretend that I’m surprised about this, as explaining how I know would be a lot harder than just faking innocence.
Ruby: Penny, I-I don't understand...
Penny: Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. (Turns her head to the side sadly.) I'm not real...
Budder: (I take Penny's hands in my own.) Of course, you are. You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less real than me?
Penny: I don't... um... (Leans in close to Ruby's face.) You're... taking this extraordinarily well.
Budder: You're not like those things we saw back there. (Taps her chest.) You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!
Penny: Ooohh... oh. (Grabs me into a hug and shakes me back and forth.) You're the best friend anyone could have!
Ruby: (giggling) I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower.
Penny: (Releases me, fully back to her happy self.) Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!
Ruby: Wow. (Giggles.) He built you all by himself?
Penny: Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood.
Ruby: The General?! Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?
Penny: They like to protect me, too!
Ruby: (Scoffs) They don't think you can protect yourself?
Penny: They're not sure if I'm ready yet... One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn. That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world, and test myself in the Tournament.
Ruby: Penny, what are you talking about? Save the world from what? We're in a time of peace!
Penny: (Confused) That's not what Mr. Ironwood said...
Soldier 1: (Off-screen.) Check down here!
Penny: (Grabs Ruby and I) You have to hide! (Lifts us above her head effortlessly.)
Ruby: (Struggles and screams as she is carried toward the dumpster.) Penny, wait! What are you doing? You don't have to go with them! I can help you!
Penny: (Throws us both in the trash and lifts the lid so she can still talk.) It's okay, Ruby. They're not bad people; I just don't want to get you in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone else my secret. Okay? (Gravely stares at Ruby.)
Ruby: I promise.
Budder: Cross my heart.
Ruby lowers her head into the garbage as the lid is put down, but she lifts it a little to peek at the scene outside.
Soldier 1: There she is!
Penny: Sal-u-tations, officers!
Soldier 1: Why were you running? And what happened to the other girl?
Penny: What girl? I've been by myself all day! (Hiccups loudly, then smiles.)
Soldier 1: You shouldn't cause such a scene.
Soldier 2: Are you okay?
Penny: (Shows off her "injured" palms.) Just a scratch.
Soldier 1: Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this.
Soldier 2: Please, just come with us.
Penny: Yes, sir!
Penny and the soldiers are heard walking away as Ruby looks on with a sad smile... until a rat screeches from below her feet, causing the young Huntress to fall and close the lid on herself. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling.
Lee’s POV
Yang’s had been missing ever since our last lesson. I couldn’t say that I wasn’t a little worried about her whereabouts. I went to a club the Yang visits every now-and-again. It’s a club owned by a man who goes by Junior. He doesn’t like Yang being around because she never pays and nearly always, beats up his guards.
I place my empty drink back onto the bar.
Junior: Are you going to pay for that?
Lee: Yeah.
I place the required amount of lien on the bar and sigh.
Lee: Are you sure you down know where Yang is?
Junior: If she came here, you’d see the damage.
Lee: Well… thanks anyway.
Henchman 1: (running inside, shouting) Hurry, close the door - she's coming! (He and another Henchman proceed to roll the doors shut and keep them closed with their bodies.)
Junior: (Walking out from the bar) What are you two idiots doing?!
The Henchmen shout incoherently until an explosion knocks them to the ground and forces the doors open, allowing a familiar face to walk in through the smoke.
Yang: Guess who's back!
Yang continues to smile and pose as eight guns are pointed in her face with an equal number of angry Henchmen behind them. Though this doesn't faze her, she stops and glares at the recording studio where the track is messing up until the frightened bear-headed DJ takes the needle off the record and retreats back under the table.
Alex: (Appearing behind Yang as the Henchmen continue hoisting their guns.) Yeah, so could you define "friend" for me?
Junior: Stop, stop! Nobody shoot. (Cuts his way through the crowd of goons, straightening his tie.) Blondie, you're here! ...Why?
Yang: You still owe me a drink. (She grabs Junior by the arm and drags him to the bar through the hired guns.)
She then sees me at the bar and I wave.
Lee: Good evening!
Yang: Lee? What are you doing here?
Lee: Looking for you. Suddenly disappearing without an alibi isn’t the best way to stop people from worrying about you.
Yang: (Rubbing the back of her neck) Ah, in hindsight that wasn’t my best move.
The Outsider’s POV
It’s dark and quiet, perfect for a meeting with ‘him’. I’m sitting on a tall building in Vale. It’s on the edge of Vale and it’s late evening. I picked this location and time because of the minimal chance of being found out.
Suddenly, a portal opens across the roof from me and two figures walk out. One; tall, familiar, and covered in blood. The other has a similar outfit, but his lab coat is spotless.
Outsider: I didn’t know you had friends, Dexter.
The new-comer speaks up.
???: So casual. It’s good to finally meet you in person, Outsider.
Outsider: And who might you be?
???: My name is Aldnoah Genoxalgia.
Outsider: Genoxalgia? So, you two are-?
Dexter: Brothers.
Outsider: It’s very nice to meet you.
Aldnoah: All you.
I remember why I asked to meet.
Outsider: Do you know why I asked to meet?
Dexter: Is it about the recent spike in criminal activity?
Outsider: Yes. What can you tell me about this?
Aldnoah: Tell us what you know and we’ll fill the gaps.
Outsider: I know that The White Fang is behind most of the dust heists, but they’re working with Roman Torchwick, for reasons I can’t explain. But Roman seems to pushing his luck like he can’t afford to lose.
Aldnoah: We’ve discovered that The White Fang and Roman Torchwick aren’t working together directly. They’re both working under a woman called Cinder Fall. We don’t know what she’s planning, but it’s a ‘kingdom-level event’.
Outsider: Vale. *sigh* Anyone I need to be aware of?
Dexter: Several. The leader of The White Fang, in Vale, goes by: Adam Taurus. He’ll be a formidable opponent if you take him on alone. Cinder has two lackeys; Emerald Sustrai, a thief who can make anyone see anything, and Mercury Black, son of Marcus Black, the assassin. Roman has one Lackey and two hire ‘helpers’. Roman’s Lackey is referred to as: Neopolitan, Neo for short. We know next to nothing about her, handle her with care…
Outsider: What about the other two?
Aldnoah: The other two are highly trained assassins. They’re about your age, but don’t be fooled. They’re dangerous. The first, is Haden Allison, also known as the Gunslinger, he can summon any gun imaginable to his hands and can rewind time.
Outsider: A weapon master who can try killing you as many times as he likes. Fantastic.
Aldnoah: The other is called Roy Bloodheart, also known as the Grimm Reaper. He is the most dangerous of all. Even with all your magic, he can overpower you with ease. With control over shadows, darkness, souls, and Grimm, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Outsider: Sounds like you’ve had trouble with them before.
Dexter: Many of our agents have fallen to them.
Outsider: I shall be wary of their presence.
Aldnoah: By the way, what is your progress on the missions we gave you?
I smile and remove from one of my satchels, three files; and hand them to Aldnoah, one by one.
Outsider: Major Schnee Dust Company records; Student records-
I lean closer and hold the back of my right hand to the left side of my mouth.
Outsider: -I filled in a few of the gaps. *standing up straight again*. And last, but not least, The Synthetic Android Program files.
Aldnoah stares at the files with an impressed look on his face.
Aldnoah: I wasn’t expecting these so soon… Err, well done.
Outsider: Thank you.
Dexter then takes a strange device out of his pocket and looks at its glowing screen.
Dexter: Looks like Roman and his friends are going to a White Fang meet up. I do hope, you’re not planning anything.
*in head* Outsider: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
Outsider: I should be going, let me know if you need anything.
Aldnoah: Farewell Outsider, until we meet again.
Dexter: Don’t die, you’re still useful to us.
Outsider: See ya soon.
With a wave of my hand and a few uttered words, I vanish from their very eyes.
Riot’s POV
Blake's fingers trace three scratch marks on a wall before peeking around its corner and seeing a pair of horned Faunus as they are ushered into a building by a bearded man.
Blake: This is it.
Riot: Shall we?
Jess: Let’s do this.
Blake: Are you sure you want to go through with this, Jess?
Jess: If we’re doing this, we’re doing it as a family.
Blake: Okay. Let’s do this.
The three of us walk inside the building to a hallway filled with cases, seeing another man announcing, "New recruits, keep to the right!" at the young pair as they follow.
The new recruits to the White Fang are moving in a line to the side of the stage, a mere few dozen compared to the hundreds of white-vested, black-hooded soldiers to their left and up above in the balconies. Blake and Riot look around themselves when they stop, and a fully-masked man with tattoos standing starts speaking before the large sheet emblazoned with the bloody wolf and claw marks.
White Fang Lieutenant: Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for, for so long!
Roman Torchwick walks out onto the stage, smiling confidently even as the crowd starts protesting.
Roman: (Waving mockingly) Thank you, thank you!
As he speaks, a small girl with Pink, Brown and White hair and walks out from behind the sheet.
Roman: Please, hold your applause!
Antler Faunus: (Pointing at Roman from her place right in front of the three huntsmen) What's a human doing here?!
Roman: I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"!
*in head* Riot: “Deerie”. Ha, I get it.
Roman: Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst. (Salutes as an example.) Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed! But, before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms! (As the crowd changes their tune and starts agreeing with him.) Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life! (Lets the crowd cheer as the three heroes share a look.) And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offence to any rodents in the room.
With a snap of the fingers, the curtain falls, and the whole mass of Faunus applaud at the sight of four Atlesian Paladin-290’s behind it, the mark of the White Fang painted on its shoulder. On top of two of the Paladin’s, two boys sit. One of them is human; he has a bionic arm and a large sword on his back. The other boy makes me tense. He’s wearing a jet-black trench coat and is resting a large scythe on his shoulder.
Riot: *whispering* Grimm Reaper. Gunslinger.
Jess: What?
Riot: Those guys are high-level assassins. We have to be carful.
Blake: I want to know how he got the robots.
Roman: As some of you may have heard, this right here... (Taps the giant mech) ...is Atlas' newest defence against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my "employer", we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, "hit the shelves". Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the south-east. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions? (The White Fang's roaring applause tells him the answer.)
Riot: We need to leave, now.
White Fang Lieutenant: Will all new recruits, please come forward!
Jess: (As the line surges forward with the three having to follow) Welp!
Alex’s POV
Junior: I don't know!
Yang: How can you not know?
Junior: I haven't talked to him! I haven't even seen him since the night you first came in here. (Leans over to point in Yang's face.) He paid up front, I lent him my men, and none of them ever. Came. Back.
Alex: Crap! Well, this was a waste of time.
Yang: Come on, let’s go.
Riot’s POV
Jess: (Whispering to Blake) What are we going to do?!
Blake: I'm thinking...
Riot: (Watching Roman lean on the robot smoking his cigar and laughing with the girl beside him before he zeroes in on the three, frowning.) He sees us... (Tries to smile and wave.)
Blake: (Noticing the junction box on the wall.) He can't see in the dark.
With that, Blake unsheathes Gambol Shroud, transforms it into a pistol, and shoots at the box, making the lights go out for the whole building.
Roman: Don't let them get away!
Blake: The window!
Roman: Stop them!
Before the three student Huntsmen crash through the window and start running as fast as they can, the mechanised sound of running power signals the Altesian Paladin's activation, and they crash through the wall of the building in pursuit of the runaways, who leap off of a car and manage to get on the roofs. The Paladins follow beside them on the street as the three run, jump, and flip from rooftop to rooftop.
Riot: We need back-up.
I get out my scroll and broadcast a message to all my student contacts. Jess does the same.
The Elegant Narrators’ POV
Riot: (Scroll-call) Everyone! If you can hear me, we need back up!
Weiss rolls her eyes and starts running out the door, a little smile on her face as she does so. Jak quickly follows.
Dymon chuckles and gears up.
Jess: (Scroll-call) Big robot! And it's big! Really big!
Ruby: *Excitedly* Oh, I am not missing this! (Runs off to join the fight.)
Kyle: *picks up scroll* Robot, you say.
Jess: That Torchwick guy is in it! But not, like, it didn't eat him; he's, like, controlling it or something!
Yang: Where are you guys?
Right on cue, behind them, Blake and Sun can be seen running through the street with the Paladin hot on their heels before they all disappear from view.
Jess: (In both person and on the Scroll) HURRYYYY!!!
Alex: Oh, it’s on!
Yang: Yeah, I got it. (Putting the Scroll away, she quickly circles her ride around - much to Alex's alarm - and drives off to follow them.)
Lee takes to the rooftops.
Eryk receives the messages and prepares for battle.
The Outsider’s Scroll vibrates and he opens it to listen to the messages.
*in head* Outsider: Wait, if Torchwick is there… that means… Oh no!
Blake, Riot and Jess somehow make it to the highways, jumping down into the busy street and continuing their escape by hopping on cars while the Paladin follows them by pushing vehicles out of the way. Riot pauses to look at their pursuer's path of destruction and offer a quick "Whoa!" before leaping onto more cars, much to the anger of Roman inside the robot, his face surrounded by blue holographic screens. The other Paladins follow Roman’s closely.
Yang and Neptune are able to follow the mech suits on their ride, coming up next to it as it runs. Lee runs at top speed along the walls of the highway.
Yang: We've gotta slow it down!
Alex: Got it!
Alex draws ‘Wrong’ and aims carefully at one of the mechs. The bullet hits its target but doesn’t seem to have any effect. The mech then crashes into a multitude of cars with the Paladin's strong bulk, sending them flying towards his chasers. Yang swerves, leaning her bike to the side in avoidance of flying debris while Alex steadies himself.
Two spikes fly out of nowhere and stab one of the mechs in the leg. The spikes have wires attached to them and they are soon followed by a cheering boy holding a trident.
Kyle: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Kyle flips onto mech and detached his weapon’s spikes.
Kyle: Wait a minute; this isn’t a robot, THIS IS POWER ARMOR!!!
Lee: Is now really the time?!
Kyle: Yes it is! There is a big difference!
Kyle then climbs down to the running legs of the mech and wraps one of his grapples around both legs. He pulls on the grapple to tighten it and the mech’s legs lock together. It falls and rolls off the road with Kyle still attached.
Lee: Kyle!
Lee jumps off the bridge after Kyle and meets Dymon at the ground.
Dymon: (Scroll-call, to everyone else) We’ve got this one! Continue without us.
Weiss: (Scroll-call) Blake! I'm in position!
She is seen twirling over a highway and landing in the middle of the road, holding Myrtenaster at the approaching Roman. He smiles as his robot charges the girl, but Weiss spins and plunges her blade into the ground, summoning a circle of ice across the pavement that causes two of the Paladins to slip and crash, actually flying over the young Huntress and falling off the ramp. The first, landing further down before Ruby, already having her Crescent Rose out in scythe form. The second lands before Alex and Jak. The rest of team RWBY join Ruby, while Riot and Jess help Alex and Jak.
The Outsider flies through the sky on a magic circle searching for something. Then, he sees them, a boy clouded in smoke and another boy running alongside him. The Outsider homes in on them, only for the second boy to spin around and shoot him out of the sky, with a sniper rifle.
The Outsider falls and crashes into the floor. The other two boys walk up to him.
Boy 2: What do we have here?
Outsider: Is it weird that we’ve never met and I already know both of your names… Haden and Roy.
A revolver appears in Haden’s hand, aims at The Outsider’s head and he pulls the trigger.
Eryk makes his way over to where the others are. He hears a loud gunshot and starts to run. He gets close, but a young girl suddenly blocks his path. Eryk was about to run past her, but he sees the look in her eyes and stops.
Eryk’s POV
I stand still waiting for the girl to make a move, but she doesn’t. I take a step forward and she does the same. I don’t break eye contact for a second; her eyes are different colours, one brown, and one pink. We both walk forward until we’re less than a foot away and stare at each other until she slowly draws a thin blade out of the umbrella she was carrying. I draw my two swords and take a step back ready for combat. I wait for her to make the first move and she doesn’t again. She tilts her head to the right and I mirror her. She fascinated me. Probably because she’s quiet, or maybe it’s because she doesn’t seem hell bend on killing me. Either way, if she wasn’t going to fight, neither am I. I sheathe my swords and try to walk past her, but she holds her sword up to my neck, stopping me from walking any further. She defiantly doesn’t want me to past, but she doesn’t seem to want to fight. I sit cross-legged in front of her and she sits down as well. I hear the sound of gunfire, and metal slicing against concrete, but I don’t move. And neither does she.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
The Paladin still standing on the road, looks around, looking for something. Like it knew ‘something’ was there, but it didn’t know what it was.
Suddenly, a sword slices through its arm and the limb falls to the ground. The sword and the user moved too fast for the Paladin to track. Shadows begin to gather under the Paladin and around its feet, preventing it from moving. The air around the Paladin soon becomes thin and hot. Its metal body parts slowly turn red and begin to melt. The faint screams of the pilot can be roughly heard through the several tonnes of melting metal.
Red: Overkill much.
Blue: It ‘was’ only one guy.
Oswalt: Meh. I didn’t feel like killing him with one quick strike. That would be boring.
The Paladin swung its fist at the armoured boy, but the boy simply raises his hand, stopping the punch with ease. The boy then releases an explosion, pushing the Paladin back. Another boy with a spear runs forward glowing turquoise. A barrage of attacks from his spear damages many on the Paladins targeting systems. It flails ineffectually at the boy, but the boy was able to dodge, thanks to his own and his friend’s semblance. The third boy keeps his distance from the Paladin, using his semblance to increase the awareness of his friends.
The Paladin is having a bad time.
The Paladin with Roman is it, tries to punch Alex, only to have its robotic arm to go through the boy. Riot’s jumps up above the Paladin and lands on the top; he does as much damage to the hull as possible before he gets flung off. When Riot is off, the Paladin open fires at the first target it sees. Using her semblance of ‘prediction’, Jess dodges the dust rounds without any trouble. Jak runs up behind it, firing with his Gunblade. But the Paladin spins around and backhands his into a concrete pillar. As the dust settles, Roman sees Jak on all fours, breathing heavily, and with blood-red aura radiating off of him and leaking from his eye sockets.
Jak: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
The Outsider analyses the bullet inches from his forehead and the gun that shot it.
Outsider: A ‘Smith & Wesson Model 500’. A Little bit overkill, shooting a defenceless child with a fifty-caliber semi-rimmed handgun cartridge.
Haden takes a step back.
Haden: But I didn’t shoot you, did I? And you’re far from defenceless.
The Outsider stands up and kicks his neck.
Outsider: True, true.
Roy: So, how do you know our names?
Outsider: I have some allies, how warned me about you two.
But Roy is now silent, staring at The Outsider’s chest like he’s looking for something.
Haden: Grimm?
Roy: (almost dreamily) Your soul. Where’s your soul?
Outsider: It’s invisible.
Roy: Why?
Outsider: (lying) I don’t know.
Haden: Wait, if you knew who were. Then why did you come here?
Outsider: Firstly, to make some friends. Secondly, to stop you from harming my friends.
Roy: Harming your friends?
Outsider: They went after Roman and The White Fang. I found out about you after they started the operation.
Haden opens his scroll and starts to flick through it.
Roy: I see. So, what did you mean by ‘friends’?
Outsider: One way or another, Beacon is going to fall before the end of the year. And I’m in need of allies of my plans.
Roy: Plans?
Outsider: One of them includes controlling the majority of all the major resources in Remnant.
Roy: And if we help you? What do we get?
Outsider: At first, all I can offer you, is all the money you can imagine. But after the first few stages, having a friend who could grant you anything you desired.
Roy: Sounds like fun. But I have a post-payment request.
Outsider: What is it?
Roy: Soon, we’ll be infiltrating Beacon, posing as Mistral students. And we can’t be discovered, if you follow me.
Outsider: I understand, consider it done.
Roy: Then it seems we have a deal.
Outsider: Well, I still need to keep you occupied. So, how about we test each other’s skills?
The Outsider takes his combat staff off his back, and Roy and Haden get the idea. Roy draws a large scythe from his back and Haden draws a sword.
Eryk’s POV
The girl and I have been sitting in silence for a while now. But soon she closes her eyes and starts to hum. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VFfz0…) It’s a very pleasant and relaxing tune. I lie on my back and listen to the sound. I suddenly feel at peace, like I’d died but was still alive inside. All the other sounds around me wash away as a start to feel tired and close my eyes.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
A severely damaged Paladin with a missing leg and nearly inoperable arms, tries to crawl away from the Demon slowly approaching it. Dymon has his angel suit in demon mode and wasn’t showing any mercy. Dymon approaches the Paladin slowly and stamps on its last leg, destroying any hope it had of escaping. He climbs on top of the Paladin and looks down at the place where the pilot would be. The mechanical jaw slowly opens, displaying razor sharp teeth. Dymon bears down on the cockpit and rips the front off with his teeth; and with an earth-shattering punch, takes out the pilot.
Kyle and Lee, lift up one ’10 sign’ each.
Riot and Jess watch in mild amusement, as the Paladin with Roman in it gets thrown into a pillar, smashing it open.
Alex: That’s enough, Jak.
Jak stops but is evidently having difficulty controlling himself. Roman stands up among the wreckage and Alex walks towards him.
Roman: Just go that cleaned.
Alex and Roman both aim their weapons and fire.
Eryk’s POV
I suddenly open my eyes, realising that I was just asleep. I’m still lying on concrete, but my head is resting on something soft. I look up into pink and brown eyes about 5 inches from my face. She had rested my head on her legs as she knelt and is staring at my face with extreme interest. I hear two simultaneous gunshots and she looks up sharply.
My vision suddenly shatters and I find myself standing next to Riot and Jess who near jump out of their skin.
Jess: Whoa, where’d you come from?
I shrug and see the girl with Neapolitan coloured hair standing in front of Roman. She’d just blocked a shot and curtsies her enemies with a bow, but Alex was having none of it. He charges forward, draws his staff with a rapier blade, and slashes at Roman and the girl. The image of them shatters like glass and a pillar several feet behind them, crumbles from the impact of the slice. Alex looks around furiously and sees the two just escape in a Bullhead.
Alex: (Angrily) Roman.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
The rest of team RWBY run up to the group who fought Roman, just in time to see him escape. Weiss sees Jak a short distance from the others and walks over to him. He’s shaking violently and has his hands over his face, breathing through gritted teeth.
Weiss: Jak?
Jak suddenly spins around and pounces on Weiss with the blade of his Gunblade millimetres from her neck, pinning her to the ground.
Ruby: Weiss!
Jak had told Weiss about his semblance but that didn’t help the fact that he was seconds from killing her.
Weiss: (Softly) J-Jak, it’s me. You recognise me, right?
Jak’s breathing changes from ‘heavy’ to ‘forced’.
Weiss: (Quietly) Please…
Jak rolls off of her and stares into the night sky with a sad expression on his face.
Jak: (just load enough for Weiss to hear) *faintly* I’m…sorry.
The others rush up to them and surround the two. Weiss is breathing heavily from the shock and Jak is still staring into the sky. Ruby helps Weiss up and Riot helps Jak. Once up, Weiss smiles at Jak reassuringly, but Jak look down at the floor; more disappointed in himself and sorry, than anything else. Weiss walks over and gives him a hug, much to his and everyone else’s surprise.
Weiss: Don’t blame yourself, I know you couldn’t help it.
Jak: *quietly* Thank you.
IT SEEMS YOU’VE ACCIRURED AN UNEXPECTED ALLY
“I have. If I assist him, my jobs will become a lot easier.”
IF THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK. GOOD LUCK. I DOUBT HE’LL ASK LITTLE OF YOU
“Understood. Any jobs before I go?”
Two hourglasses are placed in his hand. Each one different and with a name on the bottom rim.
GOOD LUCK
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Thank you for reading this story. If you liked it, leave a comment below. If you didn't, then leave a comment about how to improve.
Here a Christmas gift for you all! Merry Christmas!
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Jak’s POV
I tap my table with my finger impatiently as I wait for Professor Port’s lesson to end. He’s telling one of his stories and I’ve completely lost interest.
There’s now one minute left of the lesson, and I see Jaune slide over to Weiss.
*In head* Jak: This should be good.
As much as I like Weiss, I don’t mind Jaune hitting on her. I can see why he would fall for her, and to be honest I wouldn’t feel too bad if she final said yes to one of his pick-up lines. It’s evident to everyone except Weiss, which Jaune is head-over-heels for her; and it’s nearly sad how she completely and intentionally ignores him.
Jaune: So, Weiss, y'know, uh, I-I was thinking after this, maybe we could go grab a bite to eat? (Turns to the teacher for a second, then turns back around.) And, uh um, I-I've got two tickets to that new Spruce Willis movie, if you wanna make the trip to Vale. I hear it's awesome. (Pauses as his words have no effect.) Aaaand maybe after that, we could study together? I mean, you're smart and I'm, uh... Y'know.
I know how much attention Weiss was going to give him but I thought it was a good attempt. He proposed a date, offered an activity and was about his intellect.
Finally, the clock changes from 3:59 to 4:00. The professor is temporarily unaware of the alarm.
Port: (Posing as a towering monster about to attack.) And then I— Oh. (Straightens his stance as the students start to leave.) Timed that one wrong, I guess. Well, the stunning conclusion to this story will have to wait. Until next time!
Jaune: (Watching Weiss as she packs up her Scroll.) Weiss? Did you hear me?
Weiss: (Not even looking at Jaune as she walks away.) No, no, no, yes.
*In head* Jak: Now that was cold!
Upon hearing this, Jaune groans and does a face-plant into his desk.
Yang: (As the rest of Team RWBY walks out of class behind him, Yang ruffles Jaune's hair without even looking.) One day.
The Outsider’s POV
Riot and I wait for team RWBY in their dorm as their final class ends.
Blake: (walking in) I thought that class would never end.
They check their weapons and gear, in preparation for their mission.
Ruby: (From her position sitting on the hanging bed) Alright, guys, today's the day! The investigation begins!
She happily leaps off her mattress and onto the floor, arms raised excitedly. She almost lands on Weiss, who is on the bottom bunk.
Weiss: (sarcastically) I'm glad to see we're taking this so seriously.
Yang: Hey, we've got a plan! That's... moderately serious.
Ruby: Right! (Looks around at her teammates) Everyone remember their roles?
Weiss: You and I will head to the CCT and check the Schnee records for any other Dust robberies or inconsistencies. Seeing as I'm in the family, it shouldn't be a problem.
Blake: The White Fang has regular faction meetings to hand out orders and recruit new members. If Riot and I can get in, I can hopefully find out what they're planning.
Yang: I have an old friend on the shady side of town that typically knows everything going on in Vale. Getting information out of him shouldn't be too hard...
Outsider: I know a couple of people on the outside, they should know something.
I’m planning on speaking to Dexter about the White Fang, but I’m not planning on letting anyone know about my association with Genesis.
Ruby: Great! We'll meet up tonight near Yang to go over what we found. (pumping her fist) Let's do this!
Alex: Yeah!
Everyone turns to see Alex sitting in the window frame.
Blake: (surprised and alarmed) Alex!
Yang: How did you get up there?
Alex: Tree’s aren’t hard to climb. And I can’t believe that you would go hunt Roman without me.
Blake: (stepping forward) We are going to investigate the situation... as a team.
Ruby: Sorry, Alex. We don't want to get friends involved if we don't have to.
Alex: Psh! That’s stupid. Besides, I know more about Roman than anyone. He is my father after all.
I look around the room at everyone’s expressions.
Outsider: No one seems surprised, did I miss something.
Alex: You didn’t hear?
Outsider: When?
Alex: The night of the docks.
Outsider: I was late, remember?
Alex: Oh, okay. Well, now you know.
Ruby: Alright, I'll go with Weiss; Riot, you’re with Blake. And Alex, you can go with Yang since she doesn't have a partner. Everyone good?
Outsider: Let’s begin!
Jak’s POV
I walk around Vale with Nikolai’s friend Budder, he’s very friendly. He certainly likes gold; his chest plate and swords are all made of it. His personality is very refreshing and different to the mood I’m normally exposed too. He’s childish, hyperactive, silly and very optimistic.
We’re walking past the Vale Transmit tower when we both see someone familiar.
Jak/Budder: Weiss/Penny?
We both look at each other and smile, as we both know what to do.
Jak: It was a pleasure walking with you, Budder
Budder: It was nice meeting you. See you around?
Jak: Yeah.
We both walk away from each other. Budder walks straight to Penny, but I stay hidden from Weiss. She’s with Ruby, and as far as I know, Weiss wouldn’t just come here with Ruby under normal circumstances.
Ruby also sees Penny and walks after her, leaving Weiss by herself. She then walks into the tower, and I shadow her in.
Budder’s POV
Budder: Penny, Where have you been? We haven't seen you since that night at the docks!
Penny: S-Sorry. I think you're confused. Uh... I've got to go! (She turns quickly and walks away.)
Budder: (I run up to Penny as she descends the steps) Penny! Where have you been? It's been weeks!
Penny: There seems to be a... misunderstanding.
Ruby: What?! (Penny continues to walk away. Ruby slides down the rail next to her.) Penny... Is everything okay? (Penny continues forward without reaction. Ruby grabs her by the arm.) Penny, please stop! (Penny stops and listens.) Look, I don't know what's wrong, but you have to listen to me! Those guys we fought at the docks, we think they're up to something big, something bad! I need you to tell me what happened to you that night! Please... As a friend.
Penny: (sighing, she looks up at my worried expression, then glancing to her sides swiftly. She walks over to my side and leans in close) It isn't safe to talk here.
Penny looks around suspiciously, much to my confusion.
Jak’s POV
I follow Weiss into the Transmit tower and take a different elevator up. I follow her into the communications room and listen to her conversation with the CCT AI.
CCT AI: (beeps are heard before the projection speaks in a polite manner) Welcome to the Beacon Cross Continental Transmit centre. How may I help you?
Weiss: I need to make a call to Schnee Company World Headquarters in Atlas.
CCT AI: Absolutely. (More beeping) If you could head over to Terminal 3, I'll patch you through.
Weiss: Thank you!
*In head* Jak: Schnee Company World Headquarters? So, it’s not a family call. But why would she call the Headquarters of her own company?
Weiss walks over to terminal 3 and I follow, sitting down at the monitor the other side of the row to hers.
It takes a couple of seconds for the Schnee Corp Operator to get patched through.
Schnee Corp Operator: Thank you for calling the Atlas- Oh! Miss Schnee! Good afternoon! Would you like me to patch you through to your father? I think your sister Winter might be here as well.
Weiss: (pleasantly) No, thank you! I was actually wondering if you could find some files for me. I've compiled a short list.
*In head* Jak: Files?
Weiss produces her Scroll, placing it into a slot on the keyboard, creating a series of noises as the Operator looks at the data from her side of the screen.
Operator: I see. If you don't mind... what may I ask is this for?
Weiss: School project.
Operator: (nervously) Um... There are some sensitive documents on this list, ma'am.
Weiss: Well, then, I'll be sure to treat them with care.
*In head* Jak: Why would she be looking for sensitive documents about the Schnee Dust Company?
Operator: (still nervous) Right... Very well. (more noises) The data is being transferred to your Scroll now.
Weiss: Wonderful! That will be all, then.
Operator: Are you sure you wouldn't like me to patch you through to your father before you go?
Weiss loses her smile, but quickly replaces it.
Weiss: Yes, I'm sure.
Operator: Well, then... Have a nice day!
The call is dropped, and so too is Weiss' happy act.
Jak: So…
Weiss suddenly looks up to see me leaning over her monitor.
Weiss: J-Jak, I-I…
Jak: Sensitive documents. Tut tut tut. That’s certainly out of character for you.
Weiss: That was a private conversation.
Jak: Yes, I heard. To Schnee Company World Headquarters.
Weiss stays silent.
Jak: So, what would you do with sensitive information about the Schnee Duct Company?
Weiss: That’s none of your business.
Jak: True. But is it yours?
Weiss narrows her eyes at me.
Budder’s POV
Penny: I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men.
Budder: Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?
Penny: Oh, no! Nothing like that!
Budder: Then where did you go?
Penny: I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot.
Ruby: Believe me, I know the feeling. (She grins and Penny grins back.)
Budder: But why not let us know you were okay?
Penny: I... was asked not to talk to you. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang. Anybody, really.
Ruby: Was your dad that upset?
Penny: No, it wasn't my father...
Before she can continue, she and Ruby hear the sound of megaphones announcing something, turning around the corner to look at the platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is seen before six AK-130 Androids, who are in turn standing in front of two large metal storage cases with the spear-and-shield emblem on their doors.
Ironwood: The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree? (the clapping of the gathered audience causes the drones to take a jerky bow) But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it?
This line makes me smile. I’ve always tried to push myself to become better and stronger. ‘Okay’, isn’t a performance rating I want to be at. And it’s nice to see an entire kingdom set to the same standard.
Ironwood: Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200! (the doors to the cases roll up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers) Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary. (the robots flex and pose as a demonstration) These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch.
The last line draws Ruby's attention.
Penny: (nervously) Ruby..?
Ironwood: So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Bloodheart weapon Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin!
Ironwood's image is replaced with the hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.
Ironwood: (voice only) Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanised battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!
Ruby: (hunched in awe) Whoa...
I see two armoured soldiers pointing at us and tap Penny.
Budder: Maybe we should leave.
Penny backs away and then breaks into a dead run, I follow her, which snaps Ruby out of her weapon-awe-induced stupor.
Ruby: Penny! Wait! Where are you going?
Ruby turns to look back at the soldiers chasing after her friend, and realising Penny's situation swiftly follows her in an attempt to catch up down the winding alley.
Atlas Soldier: (gesturing to his partner) Down here! She went this way!
Penny, Ruby and I run across the street with the soldiers following us, though a honking car nearly runs one over. He manages to brace his hands against the hood, which somehow stops the vehicle, and his partner runs along after us.
Ruby is still trying to catch up with Penny and me. She sees that the guards are gaining, but a high stack of crates on a flimsy support is easily cut down by Crescent Rose, causing a wooden avalanche of boxes to block the path. Seeing Penny right ahead of her, Ruby leaps into the air and lands on the alley wall, ricocheting off to grab Penny around the middle.
Ruby: This way! (she grimaces before the two disappear in a flash of red and rose petals)
The pick up my speed to catch up with them. Ruby dashes away as fast as she can while carrying Penny, but the strain is too great, and they crash to the ground a short while later, with Ruby falling all the way into the street. She gets up slowly, and in her dazed state, she doesn't notice the large truck coming up from behind her until the honking is too late of a warning. She stands up just as she's about to be hit, but from out of nowhere, Penny pushes Ruby out of the way and holds her palms out.
In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracks and crumbles into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck is lifted a little into the air by the girl's sheer strength. The truck continues to flip over but I catch up and activate my semblance. A golden glow slightly clouds my vision as chunks of my aura extends into 4 bright yellow arms, from my torso. I leap up to the truck, grab the back of it and use my extra limbs to grab a nearby lamppost. The lamppost bends and creeks, but it holds and the truck falls back onto its four wheels. The Shopkeep stares in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like the Huntress who got saved.
Ruby: (eyes wide, terrified, uncertain) Penny..?
I couldn’t blame Ruby for her expression. Such a display of inhuman strength is enough to leave anyone a little scared.
Penny: (to the shopkeep) Are you okay?
Shopkeep: (nodding, obviously scared) Uh-huh...
Penny backs away, looking at Ruby's frightened expression, then at the bystanders murmuring to each other in an attempt to understand what just happened. I jump down from the truck, grab her arm and continue to run away from the ever-approaching Atlas soldiers. Once Penny, comes out of her daze, I let go and we run together.
Ruby: Penny! Come back!
She starts going after us as the people look at the destruction Penny caused with her bare hands and the soldiers find they lost their target.
Penny: (coming to a stop once she gets out of the alleyway, looking around for where to run next) Um... Uh...
Ruby: (coming up to Penny, exasperated) Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!
Penny: (nervous again) I-I can't! Everything's fine! (she starts to hiccup with each lie) I-I don't want to talk about it! (*hiccup*)
Budder: Penny, if you can just tell us what's wrong, we can help you!
Penny: (retreating from her friend) No! No, no! You wouldn't understand...
Budder: Let me try! You can trust me!
Penny: (she finally relents, coming up to Ruby's face desperately) You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!
Budder: Of course.
Ruby: (softly) I promise.
Penny: (silent for a second, then, looking down at her hands) Ruby... I'm not a real girl.
Penny shows us the toll of stopping the truck that would have killed her: Parts of her palm's skin have ripped away, revealing the grey metal underneath. Penny stares sadly at Ruby's face, now completely astounded by her friend's secret.
Ruby: Oh.
I decide to pretend that I’m surprised about this, as explaining how I know would be a lot harder than just faking innocence.
Ruby: Penny, I-I don't understand...
Penny: Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. (Turns her head to the side sadly.) I'm not real...
Budder: (I take Penny's hands in my own.) Of course, you are. You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less real than me?
Penny: I don't... um... (Leans in close to Ruby's face.) You're... taking this extraordinarily well.
Budder: You're not like those things we saw back there. (Taps her chest.) You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!
Penny: Ooohh... oh. (Grabs me into a hug and shakes me back and forth.) You're the best friend anyone could have!
Ruby: (giggling) I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower.
Penny: (Releases me, fully back to her happy self.) Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!
Ruby: Wow. (Giggles.) He built you all by himself?
Penny: Well, almost! He had some help from Mr. Ironwood.
Ruby: The General?! Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?
Penny: They like to protect me, too!
Ruby: (Scoffs) They don't think you can protect yourself?
Penny: They're not sure if I'm ready yet... One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn. That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world, and test myself in the Tournament.
Ruby: Penny, what are you talking about? Save the world from what? We're in a time of peace!
Penny: (Confused) That's not what Mr. Ironwood said...
Soldier 1: (Off-screen.) Check down here!
Penny: (Grabs Ruby and I) You have to hide! (Lifts us above her head effortlessly.)
Ruby: (Struggles and screams as she is carried toward the dumpster.) Penny, wait! What are you doing? You don't have to go with them! I can help you!
Penny: (Throws us both in the trash and lifts the lid so she can still talk.) It's okay, Ruby. They're not bad people; I just don't want to get you in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone else my secret. Okay? (Gravely stares at Ruby.)
Ruby: I promise.
Budder: Cross my heart.
Ruby lowers her head into the garbage as the lid is put down, but she lifts it a little to peek at the scene outside.
Soldier 1: There she is!
Penny: Sal-u-tations, officers!
Soldier 1: Why were you running? And what happened to the other girl?
Penny: What girl? I've been by myself all day! (Hiccups loudly, then smiles.)
Soldier 1: You shouldn't cause such a scene.
Soldier 2: Are you okay?
Penny: (Shows off her "injured" palms.) Just a scratch.
Soldier 1: Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this.
Soldier 2: Please, just come with us.
Penny: Yes, sir!
Penny and the soldiers are heard walking away as Ruby looks on with a sad smile... until a rat screeches from below her feet, causing the young Huntress to fall and close the lid on herself. I couldn’t stop myself from giggling.
Lee’s POV
Yang’s had been missing ever since our last lesson. I couldn’t say that I wasn’t a little worried about her whereabouts. I went to a club the Yang visits every now-and-again. It’s a club owned by a man who goes by Junior. He doesn’t like Yang being around because she never pays and nearly always, beats up his guards.
I place my empty drink back onto the bar.
Junior: Are you going to pay for that?
Lee: Yeah.
I place the required amount of lien on the bar and sigh.
Lee: Are you sure you down know where Yang is?
Junior: If she came here, you’d see the damage.
Lee: Well… thanks anyway.
Henchman 1: (running inside, shouting) Hurry, close the door - she's coming! (He and another Henchman proceed to roll the doors shut and keep them closed with their bodies.)
Junior: (Walking out from the bar) What are you two idiots doing?!
The Henchmen shout incoherently until an explosion knocks them to the ground and forces the doors open, allowing a familiar face to walk in through the smoke.
Yang: Guess who's back!
Yang continues to smile and pose as eight guns are pointed in her face with an equal number of angry Henchmen behind them. Though this doesn't faze her, she stops and glares at the recording studio where the track is messing up until the frightened bear-headed DJ takes the needle off the record and retreats back under the table.
Alex: (Appearing behind Yang as the Henchmen continue hoisting their guns.) Yeah, so could you define "friend" for me?
Junior: Stop, stop! Nobody shoot. (Cuts his way through the crowd of goons, straightening his tie.) Blondie, you're here! ...Why?
Yang: You still owe me a drink. (She grabs Junior by the arm and drags him to the bar through the hired guns.)
She then sees me at the bar and I wave.
Lee: Good evening!
Yang: Lee? What are you doing here?
Lee: Looking for you. Suddenly disappearing without an alibi isn’t the best way to stop people from worrying about you.
Yang: (Rubbing the back of her neck) Ah, in hindsight that wasn’t my best move.
The Outsider’s POV
It’s dark and quiet, perfect for a meeting with ‘him’. I’m sitting on a tall building in Vale. It’s on the edge of Vale and it’s late evening. I picked this location and time because of the minimal chance of being found out.
Suddenly, a portal opens across the roof from me and two figures walk out. One; tall, familiar, and covered in blood. The other has a similar outfit, but his lab coat is spotless.
Outsider: I didn’t know you had friends, Dexter.
The new-comer speaks up.
???: So casual. It’s good to finally meet you in person, Outsider.
Outsider: And who might you be?
???: My name is Aldnoah Genoxalgia.
Outsider: Genoxalgia? So, you two are-?
Dexter: Brothers.
Outsider: It’s very nice to meet you.
Aldnoah: All you.
I remember why I asked to meet.
Outsider: Do you know why I asked to meet?
Dexter: Is it about the recent spike in criminal activity?
Outsider: Yes. What can you tell me about this?
Aldnoah: Tell us what you know and we’ll fill the gaps.
Outsider: I know that The White Fang is behind most of the dust heists, but they’re working with Roman Torchwick, for reasons I can’t explain. But Roman seems to pushing his luck like he can’t afford to lose.
Aldnoah: We’ve discovered that The White Fang and Roman Torchwick aren’t working together directly. They’re both working under a woman called Cinder Fall. We don’t know what she’s planning, but it’s a ‘kingdom-level event’.
Outsider: Vale. *sigh* Anyone I need to be aware of?
Dexter: Several. The leader of The White Fang, in Vale, goes by: Adam Taurus. He’ll be a formidable opponent if you take him on alone. Cinder has two lackeys; Emerald Sustrai, a thief who can make anyone see anything, and Mercury Black, son of Marcus Black, the assassin. Roman has one Lackey and two hire ‘helpers’. Roman’s Lackey is referred to as: Neopolitan, Neo for short. We know next to nothing about her, handle her with care…
Outsider: What about the other two?
Aldnoah: The other two are highly trained assassins. They’re about your age, but don’t be fooled. They’re dangerous. The first, is Haden Allison, also known as the Gunslinger, he can summon any gun imaginable to his hands and can rewind time.
Outsider: A weapon master who can try killing you as many times as he likes. Fantastic.
Aldnoah: The other is called Roy Bloodheart, also known as the Grimm Reaper. He is the most dangerous of all. Even with all your magic, he can overpower you with ease. With control over shadows, darkness, souls, and Grimm, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Outsider: Sounds like you’ve had trouble with them before.
Dexter: Many of our agents have fallen to them.
Outsider: I shall be wary of their presence.
Aldnoah: By the way, what is your progress on the missions we gave you?
I smile and remove from one of my satchels, three files; and hand them to Aldnoah, one by one.
Outsider: Major Schnee Dust Company records; Student records-
I lean closer and hold the back of my right hand to the left side of my mouth.
Outsider: -I filled in a few of the gaps. *standing up straight again*. And last, but not least, The Synthetic Android Program files.
Aldnoah stares at the files with an impressed look on his face.
Aldnoah: I wasn’t expecting these so soon… Err, well done.
Outsider: Thank you.
Dexter then takes a strange device out of his pocket and looks at its glowing screen.
Dexter: Looks like Roman and his friends are going to a White Fang meet up. I do hope, you’re not planning anything.
*in head* Outsider: FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-
Outsider: I should be going, let me know if you need anything.
Aldnoah: Farewell Outsider, until we meet again.
Dexter: Don’t die, you’re still useful to us.
Outsider: See ya soon.
With a wave of my hand and a few uttered words, I vanish from their very eyes.
Riot’s POV
Blake's fingers trace three scratch marks on a wall before peeking around its corner and seeing a pair of horned Faunus as they are ushered into a building by a bearded man.
Blake: This is it.
Riot: Shall we?
Jess: Let’s do this.
Blake: Are you sure you want to go through with this, Jess?
Jess: If we’re doing this, we’re doing it as a family.
Blake: Okay. Let’s do this.
The three of us walk inside the building to a hallway filled with cases, seeing another man announcing, "New recruits, keep to the right!" at the young pair as they follow.
The new recruits to the White Fang are moving in a line to the side of the stage, a mere few dozen compared to the hundreds of white-vested, black-hooded soldiers to their left and up above in the balconies. Blake and Riot look around themselves when they stop, and a fully-masked man with tattoos standing starts speaking before the large sheet emblazoned with the bloody wolf and claw marks.
White Fang Lieutenant: Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce a very special comrade of ours! I can assure you, he is the key to obtaining what we have fought for, for so long!
Roman Torchwick walks out onto the stage, smiling confidently even as the crowd starts protesting.
Roman: (Waving mockingly) Thank you, thank you!
As he speaks, a small girl with Pink, Brown and White hair and walks out from behind the sheet.
Roman: Please, hold your applause!
Antler Faunus: (Pointing at Roman from her place right in front of the three huntsmen) What's a human doing here?!
Roman: I'm glad you asked, "Deerie"!
*in head* Riot: “Deerie”. Ha, I get it.
Roman: Now, I'll be the first to admit, humans... are the worst. (Salutes as an example.) Case in point. So, I understand why you would like to see us all locked away, or, better yet, killed! But, before the claws come out, I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy: the ones in control, the people pulling the strings, the dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms! (As the crowd changes their tune and starts agreeing with him.) Government, military, even the schools: they're all to blame for your lot in life! (Lets the crowd cheer as the three heroes share a look.) And they're all pests that need to be dealt with! Fortunately, I'm the best exterminator around... No offence to any rodents in the room.
With a snap of the fingers, the curtain falls, and the whole mass of Faunus applaud at the sight of four Atlesian Paladin-290’s behind it, the mark of the White Fang painted on its shoulder. On top of two of the Paladin’s, two boys sit. One of them is human; he has a bionic arm and a large sword on his back. The other boy makes me tense. He’s wearing a jet-black trench coat and is resting a large scythe on his shoulder.
Riot: *whispering* Grimm Reaper. Gunslinger.
Jess: What?
Riot: Those guys are high-level assassins. We have to be carful.
Blake: I want to know how he got the robots.
Roman: As some of you may have heard, this right here... (Taps the giant mech) ...is Atlas' newest defence against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my "employer", we've managed to snag a few before they, uh, "hit the shelves". Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the south-east. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine... But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions? (The White Fang's roaring applause tells him the answer.)
Riot: We need to leave, now.
White Fang Lieutenant: Will all new recruits, please come forward!
Jess: (As the line surges forward with the three having to follow) Welp!
Alex’s POV
Junior: I don't know!
Yang: How can you not know?
Junior: I haven't talked to him! I haven't even seen him since the night you first came in here. (Leans over to point in Yang's face.) He paid up front, I lent him my men, and none of them ever. Came. Back.
Alex: Crap! Well, this was a waste of time.
Yang: Come on, let’s go.
Riot’s POV
Jess: (Whispering to Blake) What are we going to do?!
Blake: I'm thinking...
Riot: (Watching Roman lean on the robot smoking his cigar and laughing with the girl beside him before he zeroes in on the three, frowning.) He sees us... (Tries to smile and wave.)
Blake: (Noticing the junction box on the wall.) He can't see in the dark.
With that, Blake unsheathes Gambol Shroud, transforms it into a pistol, and shoots at the box, making the lights go out for the whole building.
Roman: Don't let them get away!
Blake: The window!
Roman: Stop them!
Before the three student Huntsmen crash through the window and start running as fast as they can, the mechanised sound of running power signals the Altesian Paladin's activation, and they crash through the wall of the building in pursuit of the runaways, who leap off of a car and manage to get on the roofs. The Paladins follow beside them on the street as the three run, jump, and flip from rooftop to rooftop.
Riot: We need back-up.
I get out my scroll and broadcast a message to all my student contacts. Jess does the same.
The Elegant Narrators’ POV
Riot: (Scroll-call) Everyone! If you can hear me, we need back up!
Weiss rolls her eyes and starts running out the door, a little smile on her face as she does so. Jak quickly follows.
Dymon chuckles and gears up.
Jess: (Scroll-call) Big robot! And it's big! Really big!
Ruby: *Excitedly* Oh, I am not missing this! (Runs off to join the fight.)
Kyle: *picks up scroll* Robot, you say.
Jess: That Torchwick guy is in it! But not, like, it didn't eat him; he's, like, controlling it or something!
Yang: Where are you guys?
Right on cue, behind them, Blake and Sun can be seen running through the street with the Paladin hot on their heels before they all disappear from view.
Jess: (In both person and on the Scroll) HURRYYYY!!!
Alex: Oh, it’s on!
Yang: Yeah, I got it. (Putting the Scroll away, she quickly circles her ride around - much to Alex's alarm - and drives off to follow them.)
Lee takes to the rooftops.
Eryk receives the messages and prepares for battle.
The Outsider’s Scroll vibrates and he opens it to listen to the messages.
*in head* Outsider: Wait, if Torchwick is there… that means… Oh no!
Blake, Riot and Jess somehow make it to the highways, jumping down into the busy street and continuing their escape by hopping on cars while the Paladin follows them by pushing vehicles out of the way. Riot pauses to look at their pursuer's path of destruction and offer a quick "Whoa!" before leaping onto more cars, much to the anger of Roman inside the robot, his face surrounded by blue holographic screens. The other Paladins follow Roman’s closely.
Yang and Neptune are able to follow the mech suits on their ride, coming up next to it as it runs. Lee runs at top speed along the walls of the highway.
Yang: We've gotta slow it down!
Alex: Got it!
Alex draws ‘Wrong’ and aims carefully at one of the mechs. The bullet hits its target but doesn’t seem to have any effect. The mech then crashes into a multitude of cars with the Paladin's strong bulk, sending them flying towards his chasers. Yang swerves, leaning her bike to the side in avoidance of flying debris while Alex steadies himself.
Two spikes fly out of nowhere and stab one of the mechs in the leg. The spikes have wires attached to them and they are soon followed by a cheering boy holding a trident.
Kyle: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Kyle flips onto mech and detached his weapon’s spikes.
Kyle: Wait a minute; this isn’t a robot, THIS IS POWER ARMOR!!!
Lee: Is now really the time?!
Kyle: Yes it is! There is a big difference!
Kyle then climbs down to the running legs of the mech and wraps one of his grapples around both legs. He pulls on the grapple to tighten it and the mech’s legs lock together. It falls and rolls off the road with Kyle still attached.
Lee: Kyle!
Lee jumps off the bridge after Kyle and meets Dymon at the ground.
Dymon: (Scroll-call, to everyone else) We’ve got this one! Continue without us.
Weiss: (Scroll-call) Blake! I'm in position!
She is seen twirling over a highway and landing in the middle of the road, holding Myrtenaster at the approaching Roman. He smiles as his robot charges the girl, but Weiss spins and plunges her blade into the ground, summoning a circle of ice across the pavement that causes two of the Paladins to slip and crash, actually flying over the young Huntress and falling off the ramp. The first, landing further down before Ruby, already having her Crescent Rose out in scythe form. The second lands before Alex and Jak. The rest of team RWBY join Ruby, while Riot and Jess help Alex and Jak.
The Outsider flies through the sky on a magic circle searching for something. Then, he sees them, a boy clouded in smoke and another boy running alongside him. The Outsider homes in on them, only for the second boy to spin around and shoot him out of the sky, with a sniper rifle.
The Outsider falls and crashes into the floor. The other two boys walk up to him.
Boy 2: What do we have here?
Outsider: Is it weird that we’ve never met and I already know both of your names… Haden and Roy.
A revolver appears in Haden’s hand, aims at The Outsider’s head and he pulls the trigger.
Eryk makes his way over to where the others are. He hears a loud gunshot and starts to run. He gets close, but a young girl suddenly blocks his path. Eryk was about to run past her, but he sees the look in her eyes and stops.
Eryk’s POV
I stand still waiting for the girl to make a move, but she doesn’t. I take a step forward and she does the same. I don’t break eye contact for a second; her eyes are different colours, one brown, and one pink. We both walk forward until we’re less than a foot away and stare at each other until she slowly draws a thin blade out of the umbrella she was carrying. I draw my two swords and take a step back ready for combat. I wait for her to make the first move and she doesn’t again. She tilts her head to the right and I mirror her. She fascinated me. Probably because she’s quiet, or maybe it’s because she doesn’t seem hell bend on killing me. Either way, if she wasn’t going to fight, neither am I. I sheathe my swords and try to walk past her, but she holds her sword up to my neck, stopping me from walking any further. She defiantly doesn’t want me to past, but she doesn’t seem to want to fight. I sit cross-legged in front of her and she sits down as well. I hear the sound of gunfire, and metal slicing against concrete, but I don’t move. And neither does she.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
The Paladin still standing on the road, looks around, looking for something. Like it knew ‘something’ was there, but it didn’t know what it was.
Suddenly, a sword slices through its arm and the limb falls to the ground. The sword and the user moved too fast for the Paladin to track. Shadows begin to gather under the Paladin and around its feet, preventing it from moving. The air around the Paladin soon becomes thin and hot. Its metal body parts slowly turn red and begin to melt. The faint screams of the pilot can be roughly heard through the several tonnes of melting metal.
Red: Overkill much.
Blue: It ‘was’ only one guy.
Oswalt: Meh. I didn’t feel like killing him with one quick strike. That would be boring.
The Paladin swung its fist at the armoured boy, but the boy simply raises his hand, stopping the punch with ease. The boy then releases an explosion, pushing the Paladin back. Another boy with a spear runs forward glowing turquoise. A barrage of attacks from his spear damages many on the Paladins targeting systems. It flails ineffectually at the boy, but the boy was able to dodge, thanks to his own and his friend’s semblance. The third boy keeps his distance from the Paladin, using his semblance to increase the awareness of his friends.
The Paladin is having a bad time.
The Paladin with Roman is it, tries to punch Alex, only to have its robotic arm to go through the boy. Riot’s jumps up above the Paladin and lands on the top; he does as much damage to the hull as possible before he gets flung off. When Riot is off, the Paladin open fires at the first target it sees. Using her semblance of ‘prediction’, Jess dodges the dust rounds without any trouble. Jak runs up behind it, firing with his Gunblade. But the Paladin spins around and backhands his into a concrete pillar. As the dust settles, Roman sees Jak on all fours, breathing heavily, and with blood-red aura radiating off of him and leaking from his eye sockets.
Jak: RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-
The Outsider analyses the bullet inches from his forehead and the gun that shot it.
Outsider: A ‘Smith & Wesson Model 500’. A Little bit overkill, shooting a defenceless child with a fifty-caliber semi-rimmed handgun cartridge.
Haden takes a step back.
Haden: But I didn’t shoot you, did I? And you’re far from defenceless.
The Outsider stands up and kicks his neck.
Outsider: True, true.
Roy: So, how do you know our names?
Outsider: I have some allies, how warned me about you two.
But Roy is now silent, staring at The Outsider’s chest like he’s looking for something.
Haden: Grimm?
Roy: (almost dreamily) Your soul. Where’s your soul?
Outsider: It’s invisible.
Roy: Why?
Outsider: (lying) I don’t know.
Haden: Wait, if you knew who were. Then why did you come here?
Outsider: Firstly, to make some friends. Secondly, to stop you from harming my friends.
Roy: Harming your friends?
Outsider: They went after Roman and The White Fang. I found out about you after they started the operation.
Haden opens his scroll and starts to flick through it.
Roy: I see. So, what did you mean by ‘friends’?
Outsider: One way or another, Beacon is going to fall before the end of the year. And I’m in need of allies of my plans.
Roy: Plans?
Outsider: One of them includes controlling the majority of all the major resources in Remnant.
Roy: And if we help you? What do we get?
Outsider: At first, all I can offer you, is all the money you can imagine. But after the first few stages, having a friend who could grant you anything you desired.
Roy: Sounds like fun. But I have a post-payment request.
Outsider: What is it?
Roy: Soon, we’ll be infiltrating Beacon, posing as Mistral students. And we can’t be discovered, if you follow me.
Outsider: I understand, consider it done.
Roy: Then it seems we have a deal.
Outsider: Well, I still need to keep you occupied. So, how about we test each other’s skills?
The Outsider takes his combat staff off his back, and Roy and Haden get the idea. Roy draws a large scythe from his back and Haden draws a sword.
Eryk’s POV
The girl and I have been sitting in silence for a while now. But soon she closes her eyes and starts to hum. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VFfz0…) It’s a very pleasant and relaxing tune. I lie on my back and listen to the sound. I suddenly feel at peace, like I’d died but was still alive inside. All the other sounds around me wash away as a start to feel tired and close my eyes.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
A severely damaged Paladin with a missing leg and nearly inoperable arms, tries to crawl away from the Demon slowly approaching it. Dymon has his angel suit in demon mode and wasn’t showing any mercy. Dymon approaches the Paladin slowly and stamps on its last leg, destroying any hope it had of escaping. He climbs on top of the Paladin and looks down at the place where the pilot would be. The mechanical jaw slowly opens, displaying razor sharp teeth. Dymon bears down on the cockpit and rips the front off with his teeth; and with an earth-shattering punch, takes out the pilot.
Kyle and Lee, lift up one ’10 sign’ each.
Riot and Jess watch in mild amusement, as the Paladin with Roman in it gets thrown into a pillar, smashing it open.
Alex: That’s enough, Jak.
Jak stops but is evidently having difficulty controlling himself. Roman stands up among the wreckage and Alex walks towards him.
Roman: Just go that cleaned.
Alex and Roman both aim their weapons and fire.
Eryk’s POV
I suddenly open my eyes, realising that I was just asleep. I’m still lying on concrete, but my head is resting on something soft. I look up into pink and brown eyes about 5 inches from my face. She had rested my head on her legs as she knelt and is staring at my face with extreme interest. I hear two simultaneous gunshots and she looks up sharply.
My vision suddenly shatters and I find myself standing next to Riot and Jess who near jump out of their skin.
Jess: Whoa, where’d you come from?
I shrug and see the girl with Neapolitan coloured hair standing in front of Roman. She’d just blocked a shot and curtsies her enemies with a bow, but Alex was having none of it. He charges forward, draws his staff with a rapier blade, and slashes at Roman and the girl. The image of them shatters like glass and a pillar several feet behind them, crumbles from the impact of the slice. Alex looks around furiously and sees the two just escape in a Bullhead.
Alex: (Angrily) Roman.
The Elegant Narrator’s POV
The rest of team RWBY run up to the group who fought Roman, just in time to see him escape. Weiss sees Jak a short distance from the others and walks over to him. He’s shaking violently and has his hands over his face, breathing through gritted teeth.
Weiss: Jak?
Jak suddenly spins around and pounces on Weiss with the blade of his Gunblade millimetres from her neck, pinning her to the ground.
Ruby: Weiss!
Jak had told Weiss about his semblance but that didn’t help the fact that he was seconds from killing her.
Weiss: (Softly) J-Jak, it’s me. You recognise me, right?
Jak’s breathing changes from ‘heavy’ to ‘forced’.
Weiss: (Quietly) Please…
Jak rolls off of her and stares into the night sky with a sad expression on his face.
Jak: (just load enough for Weiss to hear) *faintly* I’m…sorry.
The others rush up to them and surround the two. Weiss is breathing heavily from the shock and Jak is still staring into the sky. Ruby helps Weiss up and Riot helps Jak. Once up, Weiss smiles at Jak reassuringly, but Jak look down at the floor; more disappointed in himself and sorry, than anything else. Weiss walks over and gives him a hug, much to his and everyone else’s surprise.
Weiss: Don’t blame yourself, I know you couldn’t help it.
Jak: *quietly* Thank you.
IT SEEMS YOU’VE ACCIRURED AN UNEXPECTED ALLY
“I have. If I assist him, my jobs will become a lot easier.”
IF THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK. GOOD LUCK. I DOUBT HE’LL ASK LITTLE OF YOU
“Understood. Any jobs before I go?”
Two hourglasses are placed in his hand. Each one different and with a name on the bottom rim.
GOOD LUCK
__________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for reading this story. If you liked it, leave a comment below. If you didn't, then leave a comment about how to improve.
Literature
Prologue
In the begining there was 6 different clans the mermaid, centaur, demon, wyvern, human, and angle clans. The angle and wyvern clans, the two most powerful clans, both accused each other of killing there leaders. And so the world went into a raging war. It ended three years later when the wyvern and angle clans were both wiped off the face of the earth by each other. Then one mysterious human went on a journey to seek out two things, one the wing of a vampire bat to signify the power of wyvern wings. And the second a sone wing found in the village of Haiti. When the human found the items one wyvern ad one angle was resurrected. No one has eve
Literature
Phases
Author: Minion_Of_Solitude
Disclaimer: "Star Trek" is someone else's property.{Bastards!} "Home Improvement" (and "Tool Time") belongs to a third party.{Rabid Targhs!!} And if I mention any other entities we'll have blown well past a Block-Party and into full-on Mob!!!! oops. `nuff said.
Maturity content: maybe some foul language.
Pairing: Implied F/F
Please, kindly let me know what you think, even if you don't quite do it kindly.
Well, one other item. This is my First Story Submission. But something like my 17th idea. It came to me after reading "Fear and Loathing in a Turbolift" by Ralst. At least twice.
And last but not least,
Literature
Porzeczka
Warning: crack alert!
To był dobry dzień, żeby nie być nim.
Michael westchnął ciężko i zgarbił się w barowym krzesełku. Ręka bezwiednie podążyła do szklanki, a lód zagrzechotał. Sok porzeczkowy, to było to. Tego potrzebował, nawet jeśli właściciel knajpy musiał go specjalnie zamawiać. No właśnie - zamówił, chociaż było to kłopotliwe, bo nie odmówiłby Michaelowi Jacksonowi. Michael położył policzek na blacie. Czasem miał tego wszystkiego dość...
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*And during all that time Rohan was healing a broken wing from a fight* ugh this hurts like hell