Where? Where am I? Are my eyes open or closed? I think waving my hand in front of my face. Yup definitely open...why is it so dark? "HELLO?!" I call out into the abyss only to be greeted by silence. I sigh "Well...another mess eh Pyrrha?" Silence. "Pyrrha? Pyrrha! PYRRHA!?" I scream starting to panic. "Pyrrha! Please! Don't leave me...I'm...im lost with out you.." I say collapsing into my knees.
"You've forgotten..." I hear a male voice echo in the pitch black darkness.
"What? Who's there?!" I yell now on my feet looking around frantically only to be surrounded by fire. I shield my face to see a man on a cross much larger than me. I stare in awe upon him and manage to mutter the first word that comes into mind.
"F-father?" I say dumbfounded, the fire closing in on me.
"My son... have you forgotten what Salems Grimm did to us? Me and your mother?" He whales from his cross.
"No! No I haven't forgotten! Father please understand!" I attempt to reason.
"You've forgotten that her and her Grimm slaughtered our village! Our people! They took you to fight back...but you never did!" He begins to get aggravated.
"Father please! I was trapped! I couldn't!" I say tears flowing from my eyes.
"YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR PURPOSE!" He screams the flames now burning me alive.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHGGHHH!" I say jumping up and swinging randomly. I open my eyes to see myself in a lab and hospital hybrid kind of.
"White! White what are you doing?!" Pyrrha speaks up from within my head.
"Pyrrha?" I calm right down and sit on my bed "sorry...nightmare" I say shaking my head.
"Oh...anything you want to talk about?" She asks obviously worried about me.
"No...just hearing your voice again is therapeutic enough" I calmly say now fully relaxed. I hold my head in my hands. Wait, I think. I only have one arm, don't I? I think again as I look down at my arms. Not only is my missing arm replaced, but my other one has also been, upgraded? They're both now skinless, obviously made of a metallic material, probably the stuff I'm made out of. They run up to my shoulders before cutting off back to skin.
"A lot happened when you passed out White" Pyrrha says with a heavy voice.
"Well then refresh my memory will ya?" I ask still examining my new arms.
"Well...whatever attacked us, is still out there. Yang barely held them off long enough to escape into the forest again. Then an airship picked us up, once we got here someone was doing all they could to help you...fixing your arm and your stomach wound..." she says now holding back tears, I can hear it in her voice.
"Oh! Perfect you're awake!" A man of about 25 years old storms in the room and sits across from me. "I see you've caught a glimpse of your new arms. So what do you think?" He asks smiling at me.
"I think you better tell me what is going on here before I lose my temper bud." I spit not wanting to waste any time.
"Oh yeah, introductions of course. My name is Dr. P, lead scientist of bionics and everything robotic in the great kingdom of Atlas" he says like a big shot.
"Well I'd tell you my name but, I don't remember what it is, I've just been going by white. I say now calm because he's answering my questions.
"Well White...I'm sure you have a ton of questions...and that's what I'm here for." He says now staring at me as well.
"Ok...first off, do you know my real name?" I ask simply.
"Well I managed to pulled your file from the facility you spend the last while in, these atlas perks know no limit" he says turning his computer monitor my way "You are Raleigh, Raleigh König. You are 19 years old when this file was last updated." He answers.
"Raleigh...I like that better than White" Pyrrha laughs also listening.
"What else do you know...anything at this point is great.." I say as this weight on my shoulders hers lifted off as I hear my real man.
"Alright...well get ready for all I know..." he says now taking a deep breath. "I don't know why you were in Emsu, but I do know what they did there. They tried to replicate the power of silver eyed warriors, do you know what silver eyed warriors are Raleigh?" He pauses and asks me.
"Uh...kinda... didn't they have like, superpowers?" I say honestly having no idea what they are.
"Well kinda, they are beings that existed much before hunters and Kingdoms were a thing, it is said that they could kill a Grimm by simply gazing upon one. So they attempted to replicate their power. But it wasn't hat simple, they soon found out that if you aren't born with them that's it. No if ands or buts, you either have it or not." He says to me pointing to my coloured eyes. "You were one of the people they tried it on, but that doesn't explain why you're an Android..." he says still thinking.
"Yeah... that's kinda what I wanted to know.." I sigh in defeat. "Or why they wanted to replicate power in the first place..."
"Yeah...well on a happier note, you're all fixed up! Well with some upgrades and tweaks made by yours truly" he smirks and bows a little "let me walk you though your features!" He says excitedly.
"First off your arms, the skin was very roughed up when you got here, I had to replace one and I said Fuck it and I hooked you up with two. No skin on them but you still have nerve endings so you can feel things. And take a look at your palms" he says pointing to them.
I look down and see two holes in them. I get confused and look back up at him. "What are these?" I ask.
"Those are exhaust ports, with some extra oomph those things are hooked up to your main power source and you can blow some steam out from them. Like literally they can blow fire" he smiles and giggles to himself.
"Huh...hell yeah..." I say smiling also as I shoot a small flame from each of them.
"Hey you're a natural! Also I made some changes to your hydraulics" he says writing down something.
"I have hydraulics?" I ask giving him a confused look.
"Yeah! See there are four tubes running to both your arms and legs, you can use it to give yourself extra power to your appendages." He happily informs me.
"Wow..." I say flabbergasted at the amount of tech in me, most of this stuff I didn't even know. He spends the next few minutes explaining that the wound I got in my stomach was too great so he had to remove it.
"So I don't have one anymore?" I ask confused.
"Well no, I replaced it with another one, made of scrap parts here and their. The only downside is it's a bit primitive compared to your old one. See you old stomach was pretty much your engine, where all the parts were to keep everything going. Now with that gone I had to put in a central power system to keep you going instead, but with your new stomach you'll have to eat now."
"Wow...I don't know what to say thank you for saving me" I say smiling and laughing a bit.
"Hey I'm just doing my job, the real person who saved you is the young woman in the other room, you should pay her a visit" he says getting and exiting the room.
Yang! I almost forgot about her! I rush into the neighbouring room to see a sleeping, bruised and beat up girl. I look at her and feel like this my fault. It was me those things were after why'd she have to suffer for it?! I take a seat next to her and take her hand in mine. It's soft, considering all the fighting she did earlier. I squeeze it lightly; it squeezes back.
"White...?" She mutters opening her eyes and sitting up in her bed now staring at me.
I chuckle lightheartedly. "Well...actually it's Raleigh now, I found out my real name" I smile talking quietly.
"Hm...cute" she teases me and catches a glimpse at my new arms. "Oh wow, you're fixed!" She says excitedly.
I frown and look down squeezing her hand tighter. "Look...Yang I'm sorry for putting you in the middle of my problems, I mean you risked your life and almost died because of me-" I get cut off by Yangs finger pressed against my lips.
"Hey, don't get all ethical on me now. I did what I did because you also got Pyrrha with you. And I would be happy risking my life again and again for her considering what she did for all of us..." he says now sitting upright, leaning on her pillow.
"Yeah, she told me everything that happened. I couldn't imagine going through that." I say getting cut off by Yangs laughing.
"Eh-? What's so funny?" I say not to sure how to react.
"Can you stop?" She giggles more as she swings her feet off the bed.
"S-stop what?" I ask hesitantly thinking I may have offended her in a way.
"Being so adorable." She says standing up and punching me in the shoulder.
I blush a little as I see her cringe in pain shaking her fist after punching me. "Ouch! What are you? Made of meta- oh yeah..." she says smirking.
I stand up with her, now towering over her in height. "Huh, you're a lot taller in boots" I tease.
She puffs her cheeks and stands on her tip toes getting closer to my face. I can't help small blush grow across my face as she quickly kisses my cheek and backs up a little.
"Cmon, there's someone who wants to meet you" she says with a small frown and walks towards the door.
"Don't you get any funny ideas Raleigh..." Pyrrha speaks up, referencing Yangs kiss.
"Oh I'm having a lot of ideas, each more funny than the last" I say with little filter.
I follow yang through the many hallways of whatever building were in until we hit a pair of large Mahogany doors. She goes to knock on them but open before she can get close. On the other side stands a man with short hair and also very tall with a mark above his Right eyebrow.
"Yang I appreciate you bringing him here...but I need to talk to him. Alone." He says beckoning me inside.
"Yeah...right" she says stepping out of my way letting me walk in, the large doors now creaking shut. I follow the man and sit down opposite to him as he takes his seat behind his desk.
"Now don't worry, I know who and what you are Raleigh, of the Silver eyes program. But what I don't know, is how you got out." He says now looking at me.
I sit nervously not really knowing what to say but manage to mutter something "well, I didn't do it by myself. Pyrrha helped me"
His face turns to one of disbelief and and gazes at me. "Pyrrha who." He says sternly and with a stare that could kill man.
"Um...Pyrrha Nikos Mister Ironwood" I say trying to be somewhat respectful.
His eyes widen and the disbelief starts to fade from him "How'd- how'd you remember my name?" He asks.
Remember? I only just met this guy. He does look familiar though...plus Pyrrha just told me his name I think to myself before speaking up.
"Uh Pyrrha told me just now, I'm telling you the truth she's in my head" I try to make sense of what's happening to me.
"What do you mean she's in your head?" He says raising his voice, his temper now rising.
"Listen man I don't know how to explain it better! She's in my head! I can hear her talk, I know everything she knows!" I say defending myself. "I also know I'm not the first android you've dealt with..." I mention standing up.
"...what are talking about" he says taking a step back.
"I know about Penny, how you helped build her...and what happened to her" I speak exactly what Pyrrha tells me in my head.
He takes a deep breath and holds himself up by his chair. Much more calm now he sits and begins to speak.
"Do you know why you were made into, well...you?" He asks.
"No, but do tell" I say now intently listening.
"I assume Dr. P told you about the Silver eyes program correct?" I nod furiously. "Perfect, well that was implemented a few years before the Great War, it was to train kids in an attempt to gain power like those with Silver eyes kind of like modern day academies...but the silver eyed training was way more intense." He continues with what he knows.
"Well the training stopped after a bit once we found you need to be born with them...and that the training was too hard on kids your age... And that's where you come in. You were the first to um...die by training." He hesitates telling me.
His words hit me like a freight train, almost knocking me on my ass if it wasn't for the chair to catch me.
"So...so so so I died...? Is that why I'm- I'm a robot!?" I say raising my voice and hanging my head In my hands.
"Well you're an android, and yes. See I worked at Emsu around 20 years ago. Penny was the first of android to be capable of generating an aura, and have a semblance." He begins to explain again.
"What? So I don't have an aura? Are you telling me I don't have a soul?" I say now standing up.
"Took the words out of my mouth. That's not your fault, you were built for another reason Raleigh.." he says now not breaking eye contact.
"Well what was I made for then? I ask not sure if I actually want to know.
"See, Penny was made to one day save the world...You however, were made to destroy it." He says pointing at me.
My eyes go wide upon hearing this. "Destroy? The world? What's that supposed to mean?" I ask sitting once more holding my chest. This kind of emotional roller coaster can't be good for my heart.
"Hypothetically speaking...of a city or village were overrun by Grimm, instead of using the resources to send a team of hunters out...they would send you to well...destroy everything." He informs me.
"Wait...so I was operational at a point?" I ask now getting anxious about getting my questions answered.
"Yes you were. But you were very successful, and proved to be perfectly effective." He says.
"So what did I do? Where was I operating?" I ask now clenching my fists.
"Mountain Glenn. Vale's first attempt at expansion, but without Vales natural barriers, it was doomed from the start. It was overrun with Grimm eventually and when it was excavated, they sent you in...And its current state, all the destruction...broken buildings, was you." He sighs heavily.
I just don't know how to deal with all this. Pyrrha isn't talking, she's probably in as much shock as I am. I sit back down once more now just numb to everything.
"So that's it? I was made to kill?" I simply say with an expressionless face.
"In layman's terms yes. Then something happened. Something happened that got you locked up" he says making my ears perk up.
"You know? Please tell me!" I ask pretty much begging me at this point.
"You would sneak off, killing Grimm in your spare time. Directly disobeying orders and got too unruly. You were eventually detained and put out of service until we found a way to fix you" He informs me.
"So what happens now?" I ask in fear of going back to prison.
"Well, now I'm going to call off the man hunt for you. You have to understand I only wanted you so bad because I needed to know if you were still your old self which is definitely not the case."
"Well thanks" I say sarcastically.
"So what now...I want you to accompany Yang with finding her mother and team. She can handle herself but a little extra protection is always good, plus I assume Pyrrha wants to see everyone again." He says pouring two drinks.
"What I will do, is make sure Dr. P and I continue investigating Emsu and why they tried to make Silver eyes in the first place." He reassures me. "But a little bad news" he says handing me the drink.
"I love bad news." I say downing the drink rather quickly.
"Atlas' boarders are closed, you getting in was a favour Yang called in. I'm sorry but I can't get you back to Mistral" he apologizes.
I sigh and remember the calling signal Flynn gave me if I needed it. "Don't worry...I got a way..." I roll my eyes.
"Good, spend the night here and regain your strength. You can go now" he says continuing to drink.
I nod and thank him once again before I leave.
"At least we got some questions answered..." Pyrrha tries once again to cheer me up.
I sigh and smile at the sound of Pyrrha. "What would I ever do without you Pyrrha?" I laugh.