A.N. Got another chapter for you guys after this one the next might be a little longer since I'm going to start updating this when I update my other RWBY fics. That way none of my RWBY stories are going to get neglected. With that enjoy the chapter!^^


Chapter 3

"Not that wire! Pyrrha froze, not moving a finger fearful she may damage herself. Penny had shouted through their link to stop Pyrrha from accidentally cutting a wrong wire. Currently they were tucked safely away in a deserted part of the safe zone working on repairing Pyrrha's damaged leg. Penny was walking Pyrrha through splicing the new wiring to replace the damaged wires in her leg.

It was delicate work though, and one mistake could mean breaking Pyrrha's leg beyond any repair. Mentally Pyrrha took a deep breath relaxing holding the pliers she grabbed for this. They had taken shelter in an old mechanic's workshop within the safe zone, so most of the tools they needed were within reach.

"Sorry for shouting." Penny quickly apologized, her aura shifting anxiously.

"It's okay, I'd rather have you shouting at me than messing this up. Now which wire am I cutting?" Pyrrha's leg lay stretched up on a table, and for the first time Pyrrha accounted herself lucky she couldn't feel anything. Else the position of leaning over her own leg to work on it would get rather uncomfortable pretty quickly.

"The one that runs from your knee and wraps around the main support column. After you cut that you won't be able to move until you replace it." Pyrrha nodded in understanding grateful to have Penny here helping her with this. Said wire was heavily damaged already, and Pyrrha was lucky she had been able to move this far before it failed. Pyrrha cut the wire out, and pull the damage piece out of her leg. Just like Penny said, Pyrrha attempted to move the limb experimentally to find it wouldn't respond sitting lifelessly on the table.

The next part was easier, Pyrrha knew how to splice a wire together. She just had to be extremely careful now as one mistake meant crippling herself. Penny was silent, aware that she could distract Pyrrha and cause her to mess up. Though Pyrrha still felt Penny's aura moving restlessly through their shared body.

When the wire was finally connected. Pyrrha tested the limb inwardly smiling a little upon seeing it move. Moving it off the table Pyrrha took a few steps finding the leg much easier to move.

"Sensational! It's not a permanent fix, but it should hold until we get to Atlas." Penny said, excitement clear in her voice. Despite everything that has happen Pyrrha did feel a slight sense of satisfaction at things finally going right.

"Right let's move on to replacing the armor." Pyrrha heard Penny give a hum of agreement. Before she had went about messing with the wiring in her leg. Pyrrha had removed large portions of the white metal that covered her body. Most of it was far to damage to be of any use anyway, and though some parts like her back Pyrrha couldn't do. They had picked some steel out from the city wreckage to replace the metal plating that was protecting Pyrrha's new body.

Most of the new steel was from cars that Pyrrha simply used her semblance to tear from the vehicles. Penny was less than pleased by their actions, but Pyrrha had assured her that she only took metal from cars she was certain were beyond repair anyway. They could have attempted to find some disable mechs to take metal from, but most of what they found the mechs were far too damaged for their parts to be of any use. So jerry rigging steel from old cars was their only choice for now.

Luckily this part was fairly easy as well, just time consuming as Pyrrha bolted the stolen steel to her body. It wasn't by any means a pretty repair, but it would keep the former huntress together until they reached Atlas. It didn't really matter to Pyrrha anyway, she was hardly alive right now. What did she care if she got destroyed, maybe she would actually die then. Penny's warm aura shifting reminded Pyrrha why she had to stay together though. If anything she had to get Penny back to Atlas.

With that done now scratched up metal torn from a car covered Pyrrha's leg, her shoulder, and a few other spots where Penny had suggested reinforcing the damaged metal. Before Pyrrha might have scolded herself on such shoddy work, but it would have to do.

"Wonderful! I would say we are operating at about 64.7% efficiency!" Penny cheerfully noted upon Pyrrha bolting the last piece of metal to her shoulder. Moving around experimentally everything seemed to be in working order. While Pyrrha couldn't feel anything other than Penny's aura she hoped she would notice if her arm couldn't move.

"64.7? Not even a solid 65%?" Pyrrha said not knowing where the urge to lighten the mood came from, but she has let nothing but despair consume her for the past day or so maybe. Her machine body didn't get tried and required no sleep so it was hard to pay attention to when day and night came.

"I could run the numbers again, and get a more accurate percentage?" Pyrrha inwardly sighed, rubbing the back of her head.

"It was a joke Penny." It took a moment then a small giggle came from the synthetic girl.

"Oh! Sorry, I'm not very used to people joking with me." Idly Pyrrha wondered what Penny's life was like before coming to Beacon, but she shook the thought away. Thus far Penny has been very understanding of Pyrrha. She never pressed the former huntress about anything if it distressed her, and Pyrrha remembered how Penny's aura shifted restlessly when she spoke of Atlas. So Pyrrha wouldn't mention it unless Penny brought it up first.

"It's fine, I'll keep the jokes to a minimum…" Before Pyrrha could finish that thought Penny spoke up.

"No! I mean it's nice to hear you making a joke. With everything that has happened, it's good to hear some levity from you. You're aura has been very tense, it's not healthy." Pyrrha had nearly forgotten that with their link Penny could feel Pyrrha's own aura as well as the huntress could feel her's. A stab a guilt nailed Pyrrha, hoping she wasn't bringing the the synthetic girl down with her tormented soul.

"Sorry," Pyrrha wasn't sure what she was apologizing for, but the familiar words came. Sorry, Penny was stuck with Pyrrha. Sorry, that she tore her apart in the tournament. Sorry, that she was forced to feel every bit of utter despair Pyrrha felt. Perhaps she should have given Penny over to Ironwood. The man certainly would keep her safe, and even better Penny wouldn't have to concern herself with Pyrrha.

Pyrrha was so wrapped up in her own dark musing that she didn't hear Penny trying to talk to her.

"Pyrrha, Pyrrha what's wrong? Are you okay? Please answer…" It all was like white noise, all Pyrrha could think about how wrong everything was. Pyrrha's world was narrowing repairs forgotten, Penny's voice a distant noise that Pyrrha couldn't make out. Her heart was racing, but it wasn't because Pyrrha had no beating heart. Everything was wrong, so wrong. It was cold way too cold Pyrrha felt like she was underwater and no matter how hard she tried she couldn't surface. She was suffocating.

"Pyrrha Nikos!" Pyrrha let out a gasp finally hearing Penny's voice. Everything snapped back into focus all too quickly, and Pyrrha found she was lying on the ground curl up in a ball shaking.

"Pyrrha, talk to me please…." Penny tried again attempting to get a word out of the former huntress. The first real thing Pyrrha became aware of was Penny's aura shifting around her own. Her aura stayed close, and Pyrrha felt an overwhelming warmth that slowly calmed her frayed nerves. Pyrrha clung to that sensation, almost afraid it wasn't even real and she'd be consumed by darkness again.

Pyrrha wanted to sleep, forgot everything that was happening. Her new body couldn't sleep though, couldn't eat, couldn't feel. Vaguely Pyrrha heard her body clicking as it shuddered. She was spiralling down again, everything was becoming dark.

"Pyrrha!" Penny seemed to notice it, and called out again trying to gain Pyrrha's attention. It wasn't working Pyrrha was becoming all too aware of the freezing numbness that gripped her soul. Penny's aura began feeling distant as if it was miles away despite being contained within the same body as Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha, I don't know what to do! What is wrong?" Penny's voice was frantic, but Pyrrha wasn't coherent enough to answer. She didn't know the answer anyway, everything was wrong. Her body only shuddered if possible curling more her hands coming to clutch her head while her body shook. She wasn't sure how long it was before she was able to hear Penny's voice again.

"Pyrrha you need to relax, calm down." Penny's voice was surprisingly stern, it still held a gentle tone to it though. Pyrrha heard her voice, but whatever Penny asked her was quickly forgotten as her mind went spiraling back into darkness. Pyrrha just wanted to get away and sleep.

"Pyrrha!" This time Penny's voice was sharp demanding the former huntress' attention. Her sharp instincts automatically believing Penny was calling out due to some sort of danger Pyrrha tried to focus to defend them.

"There you go, everything's okay. Calm down your aura is far too erratic." Pyrrha wasn't sure what that meant, but Penny's voice was soft calming in itself. Slowly Pyrrha became aware of her surroundings again. She felt Penny's aura around her own almost as if the synthetic girl was hugging her. Penny kept talking to her telling her it was okay that she needed to calm down.

Eventually Pyrrha was able to move her body out of the fetal position she had curled up in. Penny didn't say anything for a moment letting Pyrrha slowly stand up and move over to the closest wall before collapsing back on the ground again. This time though Pyrrha rested her back against the wall, and pulled up her knees to her chest. Her head came to rest on her knees her arms wrapping around herself. She wasn't sure how long she stayed like this. Hours maybe Penny would pipe back up every now again reassuring Pyrrha that she would be okay.

When Pyrrha finally lifted her head again she looked around at the abandoned workshop. Sunlight streamed through the broken window casting a soft glow in the room. Pyrrha herself was still bathed in shadows sitting against the wall. Several minutes passed like this until Penny broke the silence again.

"Hey Pyrrha," Pyrrha gave the tiniest of nods to show she was listening.

"Did you know there is a naturally magnetic mineral called pyrrhotite? Did your parents name you with this in mind because of your semblance?" It took a second, but then Pyrrha snorted a small laugh. Which quickly became a giggle, and soon Pyrrha started full on laughing for what felt like the first time in ages.

"Penny no, I don't think they know such a mineral exists. Where did that come from anyway?" Pyrrha said in between laughing. She felt a surge of happiness echo through their link, and Pyrrha got the feeling Penny was smiling now.

"I was curious if your name had any correlation to the mineral. It is rather convenient that your semblance is magnetism and your name is similar to a mineral that is naturally magnetic." It was clear what Penny's other goal was with this, but Pyrrha didn't care. It was working, in a funny way it was working. Pyrrha felt slightly better, it was such a random innocent question that it made Pyrrha forget the previous dark thoughts invading her mind. They were still there, but Pyrrha could now focus on the silly question Penny asked.

"My parents didn't even know my semblance until magnets from the fridge started sticking to me. That is interesting that there is a mineral that is magnetic though." It was a silly ironic fact that Pyrrha couldn't help but be slightly amused by it. Another pulse of happiness came through the link and Pyrrha felt slightly warmer.

"Yes! Sadly it is only slightly magnetic, giving it little other uses other than being a scientific curiosity." Letting her legs stretch out, Pyrrha leaned her head back against the wall behind her listening to Penny.

"Do you enjoy science?" Pyrrha asked as it sounded like Penny was ready to ramble on about the properties of pyrrhotite. Penny's aura jumped shifting as if she realized what she was about to do.

"Very much so! And not just because science allows my creation. When I was first created some of the first information I was allowed to interpret were scientific articles on the lab's database." Pyrrha hummed, it became obvious she really knew nothing about Penny other than that she wasn't human.

"You had to learn about it, you didn't already know it?...That sounded rude didn't it, I'm sorry." Penny being a robot came with assumption that she had a computer like mind, and could just download information instead of having to learn it. Pyrrha wasn't sure though, she had little to any knowledge when it came to robotics.

"It's okay! I was designed to learn just like a human. I was actually created long before the idea of creating a synthetic human came about. I was just an AI my father created to keep him company while he worked about seventeen years ago. It wasn't until Mr. Ironwood approached my father about creating an aura generating mech that I was able to be created in the state you met me in." So Penny really was just like a normal person then. Well she may not have had a body in the beginning, but what did that matter.

"Aren't most AIs' already loaded with information upon their creation?" Pyrrha didn't know much about AIs, there were few true AIs in Remnant. Artificial life was still a grey area that not many people wanted to tread in yet.

"Most do yes, but my father wanted to see how an AI would develop if it was loaded with only basic programs in order to function. He wanted to see if an AI would grow and learn just like a normal human." No wonder Penny had seemed so excited during the Vytal Festival growing up knowing nothing but the inside of a lab must have been quite mundane. Quickly Pyrrha felt a stab of guilt reminding her that it was her fault Penny couldn't see more of the world before she ripped her apart. The synthetic girl seemed to sense Pyrrha's mood downturning and quickly spoke up again.

"I got to help in the labs a lot. It was nice, the scientists wouldn't let me interfere with the more delicate projects, but the biology department let me control the sprinklers that watered all the plants!" Penny seemed so genuinely excited about controlling a simple sprinkler system that Pyrrha inwardly smiled.

"I accidentally over watered the synthetic tomato plant once, and they wouldn't let me access the department for a week though." That actually made Pyrrha let out a small giggle. It sounded like Penny had been just like a normal kid getting into trouble, and getting a time out just like anyone else when they were young.

"Did they let you control the sprinkler after that?"

"No, since I killed the tomatoes they only let me observe results with them." Pyrrha let out a another small laugh at that. This was nice, it was interesting hearing about Penny's life, but more importantly just talking to a friend gave Pyrrha a much needed sense of normalcy. Even if they were speaking through an aura link that only they could hear.

Getting back up Pyrrha tested out her limbs to make sure they were still working. Everything seemed to be in working order, and Pyrrha idly looked over the repairs she had done earlier.

"Thank you for talking with me Penny, I feel much better. We should start heading towards Atlas it's a long way to go." By airship a flight to Atlas was nearly a two day flight, on foot even longer. Penny's aura shifted restlessly, and Pyrrha titled her head wondering what was wrong.

"No, I'm greatly concerned about your aura. You should rest, and let your aura replenish before we go anywhere." The synthetic girl wasn't wrong, Pyrrha's aura felt greatly drained. Pyrrha didn't focus too much on it, as usually when someone's aura was drained they'd feel tired and they'd have nothing to protect themselves from damage. Pyrrha's body couldn't feel tired though, and it's not like it mattered if her body was damaged.

"I'm fine," Pyrrha answered curtly not wanting to rest. She couldn't rest right now, she might fall back into despair.

"You are not, Pyrrha I can sense your aura too, and it's far too erratic. Right now you seem fine, but just a few moments ago I thought you were dying. So much stress and despair was coming from you if you continue like that you'll only hurt yourself. I spent the first decade of my creation without a body I can stand to wait a day to get a new one, please rest." Penny's plea sounded so torn that Pyrrha knew she couldn't refuse her, but Pyrrha couldn't rest.

"I can't, I can't sleep or even close my eyes. I don't even have eyes anymore! I can't just sit around for a day." Too much time to think, Pyrrha didn't want to think she wanted to take action. Thinking meant her mind would spiral down on how everything was wrong.

"We don't have to do nothing, I've noticed you have been having difficulty adjusting your fighting style my sword. My sword isn't quite as sturdy as your previous weapon. We could adjust it to better fit yourself!" Pyrrha glanced at the blade that was currently leaning against the table Pyrrha had been working at. Penny was right, the old sword was built for the quick fast movements Penny made during a fight. It was made to fly through the air like a knife through butter. While they were searching the city they didn't find anything that could work as a shield, so it was still Pyrrha's only means of defense.

The thought of doing something familiar like working on a weapon sounded appealing. Pyrrha grabbed the sword brushing the tools that littered the table out of the way. She lay the blade on the table, her mind already working on how to change the blade.

"Okay, once we're done though we're heading out." Pyrrha said, then without a word she grabbed a few tools getting to work.

"Sensational!"